The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-10-10
ELECTRIFIED.
Danger to the Time-Pieces of Visitors
to tho Electrical Exhibition.
Watches Magnetizsd when Brought
Too Near the Dynamos-Demag
neuzing Tfme-PIeces-Freaks
Of BODILY Electricity.
fPhiiadeIDhia Times1

philadelphia Timesl
Behlnd the counter Of an unpretentious
little watch-repeiring shop, situated nearly
opposite tho main entrance to the Interna-
tonal Electrical Exhibition building hangs
this sign
BEWARE OF THE DYNAMos
Watches Of visitors to the Electrical Exhibi-
ton checked and taken care OF.
"D-y-na-m-o-s that must be a new name
they have got for pickpockets," " said young
fellow, who spelled the word for his COM
panions.
AS the reporter crossed the threshold the
matchmaker looked up from his work
How do you dot | merely wished to in
quire about the sign"
"The sign; yes, everybody seems to think
1t strange, but just wait until the exhibition
opens, after the great electrical machines get
In running order, then you will sec the people
coming in here to leave their watches after
the first experience"
"Of whatr
"Why. the effect Of an atmosphere SUR
charged with electricity acting upon tho del
icately adjusted steel parts Of a watch
Those parts become magnctizcd charged with
electricity Simply standing beside one Of
those powerful machines is sufficient to mag
notizs delicately adjusted time piece Have
you never sren a mngnetized watch. Here
Is ono ! allow 10 remain so for the purpose Of
showing skeptics. Wait moment until
wind 1t up.
Its un old Swiss movement that belonged
to young man who worked in one of the
electric light and power companies down
town. He came in here about two months
ago to have tho watch put in order. He SUD
posed it merely wanted overhauling and
cleaning. 1t had run down, so wound it I'D
and examined tho movement. In a minute
know what was the matter said to him:
You work in some place where there is a great
deal Of electricity, don't your Oh yes, he
answered, i work at tho Electric Light Il
Power companys place SO | told him that
the watch was magnetizsd He bought an-
other one OF me and took his in trade
There, now, just notice those two springs;
SEQ how the coils strike and quiver. Every
pinion In that watch Is magnetized. Look at
that pinion cap through tho magnifier: SEQ
how it temblss The watch may run ten
hours all right, then stop for two or three
hours and 90 on, or 1t may stop dozen times
i'll an hour. In fact a magnetized watch acts
as il it were bewitchsd In fact people have
declared TO me that their watches were be-
witched. ] laugh at ths notion and demag-
practice the black art.
You remember the electrical exhibit I'm
Paris in 1881 and -. Well. It was then that
horologists took cognizance Of the to them
startling fact that watches were affected by
electrical currents. Watchmakers there for
time were completely puzzled mt the errntic
actions Of the time, pieces brought them for
repair. At length n bright young fellow
named La Force discovered the cause and
almost made a fortune dcrnagnetizing
watches. He charged a high price for his
work, for he kept his knowledge To himself"
"Mngnetized watchost oh, yes; W. now and
then have them brought 10 us for treatment"
said an expert watch rppaIrer in the estab-
lishment at Seventh and Chestnut streets
~ had a Gaze OF that kind only short time
ago. gentleman brought me valuable
chronometer balance watch. II had fits rs
he expressed it. The watch would stop for
twenty or thirty minutes, then go Oh as well .
as ever, then stop again, and on. II was
not q very bad case OF magnetism; he had
only been in the habit OF visiting
the electric light works on Arch street and
standing by the machine. l demngnetized
his watch in forty-eight hours by using the
English garlic juice remedy, but 1t Is very
slow work. Thres or four days arc USUALLY
required 10 demagnetize a serious case 1t is
very common 10 have watches affected dur
ing display OF aurora borealis. Some very
curious things concerning Watches come
under a watchmakcrs observation at times.
remember lady a who used TO bring me her
watch sometimes often as once a week; 1t
was either too fast or two slow with her,
while it hung up In the shop It ran as steady
the state house clock. I studied that
wat b and one day / came across something
in an English horologtcal magazine that
opened my eyes. It was simply little item
aging that sometimes delicatcIy adjusted
watches were affected by tho temperament
OF their wearers
THE whole thing flashed upon me in mo-
ment The womans watch was affected Ivy
herself found out that she was Of a highly
nervous temperament, but woull |
at times suffer from attacks Of
The watch only recorded hcr
When she was vivacious II
went fast, when she was In a low mood il
went slow. Very often 1t Is Impossible to
regulate a watch for some men by keeping
the timepIsce in the shop. There is some
physical peculiarity about ths man; IL NAV
be his gait, his temI~r:.nent or all excess II
bodily electricity. IN thoc cases let tho
man wear the watrh continually and then
regulate 1t TO his pec'iiliarities.
Bodily electricity i very marked IN GER
tain persons. knew young matchmaker
IN whom 10 became strong that he was
obliged 10 give up that branch Of the trade,
because 1t was found that he mague tized tho
delicate hair.springs."