The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-10
The Story of a watch.

No better illustration of the extent to
which the supersedure of hand-labor by
machinery has cheapened manufactures,
could well be found than is afforded by the
American" because it is in this country
that the first radical Improvements in its
been brought to the highest state of perfec-
ton. Formerly, as everybody knows, the
best and, indeed, the Swiss makers virtu-
ally had a monopoly of the trade; but from
the idea that all the multitude of parts
that enter into the delicate mechanism of a
cheaply-fashioned by machinery, re ceased
to be dependent on foreign manufacturers,
and to-day the home demand is almost en-
tirely supplied by our own factories. So
great, indeed, is the reputation which the
chronometers turned out by the mammoth
establishments at Waltham and Elgin have
won as accurate time-keepers, that there is
no longer any demand for foreign-made
watches at all
But, although American enterprise thus
succeeded, some years ago, in supplanting
that of other countries in the manufacture
Of watches, it is but recently that it has
succeeded in reducing the cost to such an
extent as to take watches out of The list Of
luxuries and place them among the neces-
saries, which it is within the means of
everybody to buy. The fact. is that it was
not until May, 1881, that this result can be
said to have been reached. And it was
brought about in this curious way: Among
the wonders of the Centennial Exhibition, at
Philadelphia, was practical steam-engine,
SO fairy-like in its dimensions that an ordi-
nary thimble would easily enclose If, yet,
with three drops of water in the boiler,
working as smoothly as the great Corliss
engine, beside which, in startling contrast,
it was exhibited. It had been designed and
constructed with common watch-repairer's
tools, and so ingenious and def piece of
work was it, that some New England manu-
facturers were prompted thereby to propose
to the inyentor-Mr. D. A. A. Buck-the
| construction of watch that should possess
all the qualities of a tinle-keeper, yet be
capable of production at a nominal cost
the watch, In other words. now known in
every part of the country as the Waterbury.
Mr.. Bucks first attempt was failure, the
second complete triumph. He had sue
ceeded IN making watch of such few parts
| but fifty-eight in all-that, by the use of
proper machinery, it could be manufactured
| by the million and sold for song-three
| dollars and fifty cents. That was but three
or four years ago, yet now-so eagerly have
the public welcomed this notable invention
the mammoth factory where the watch is
made is unable to meet the demand, al
though it last year turned out a quarter of a
million of these watches.
| Such is the history of the time-piece,
which, under the name of the Waterbury,
The TRIBUNE, for more than year past,
has been offering as a premium to its sub
scribers. and of which many thousands are
now in daily use among them; and it only
remains to be added that by special ar
rangement with the manufacturers we have
| just secured Gas will be seen by reference to
the advertisement on our eighth page this
week. new pattern of this watch, designed
exclusively for THE TRIBUNE, which leaves
nothing in the way of excellence Of interior
workmanship or beauty Of exterior finish to
be desired.