The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-05
HONOLULU, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, THURSDAY MARCH 5, 1885
TRICKS OF MACHINES.
UNAcCOUNTAsLE STOPS AND STARTS
WHICH PUZZLE MECHANICS.
Watches That Have Needed Only a Little
Rest-The Shoemaker and His
Cranky Machine-A LocOmo-
tive's Queer Freak.
PHILADELPHIA Tinnes.I


There are times, " said a we'll known
machinist, when nearly all machines get
cranky. The trouble is often a simple
one and is not infrequently owing to the
machinist not knowing his business But
that is not always the case The very
best mechanic in the world gets hold of a
nut sometimes that is difficult to crack A
machine, no matter of what kind, may
work perfectly for months, and then one
day something goes wrong with it. The
machlnlst looks at 1t. examines it, perhaps
even takes it to pieces and puts it up
again, but all of no avail; the machine
remains like balky horse, which
nothing will make go. At last the ma
Chinist gets tired and goes home, sick of
pottering with the troublesome thing.
He comes to work the next day, per
haps having forgotten the previous
trouble touches a handle here, a wheel
there, drops little oil in half a dozen
places, turns on the steam and of she
goes without a murmur, us if nothing had
ever happened. 10, ! cant explain it
neither could he. The only conclusion to
be drawn is that he omitted on the oc-
casion of the stoppage those little neces-
sary touches of handles, turning of wheels
and droppings of oil. But there are other
cases of slightly different nature.
Watches are SO small and their mech
anism is so delicate that it requires a care
full inspection to find the cause of any
trouble, said jeweler THE causes of
sudden stOppage are very various, but
among the most frequent is want of oil
A drop of oil in a watch will last from
eighteen months to two years as a lubri-
Gator. At the end of that time the works
become dry and considerable wear ensues.
Still watch may run five years before it
stops If a watch is brought to me | can
not always say Instantly what is the mat
ter, though l often have to make
some statement to satisfy lady
or an inconsiderate man Some
times have had watch to cure and
l could not get it right. Then lay it on
one side and go to work on something
else When l come back to the watch it
is just as likely as not that everything will
slide into place as easily as possible. OF
course. the reason of my trouble has been
a little nervousness. l have been tired or
anxious, or my eyes or fingers have been.
Sometimes l have repaired a watch
and hung it on rack for few days be-
fore returning it to its owner in good
working order. Then perhaps in two or
three days he brings it back stopped
again. That is sometimes a poser but in
such a case put the watch in my pocket
and carry it round with me for few days
Hanging q watch on the rack, which is
not fair test. By carrying it in my
pocket often discover the trouble, which
is generally a very simple one.
SEWN machines are jest as pesky an
cranky as women. said old Tom Nc
Clane, one of the oldest shoemakers in
Philadelphia Eve worked 'em all
There's Mackay's machine you've heerd so
much about. I used to work at one o.
MacBay's and was considered a pretty
9TH 7 In hat
machine like book. but it went back on
me one day. 1t played possum for two
days. 1t went so stiff l couldn't do
nothin' with it, then it broke all my
threads, and at last it took and tore about
a inch and half into one of my uppers
We'll, [ couldn't find out what was the
matter l guessed the thing was be-
witched. Anyhow, l went out and bought
some spirits o. turpentine and cleaned up
every part of it. then | oiled it afresh and
let him be for whole day. l member
me an my ole woman took holiday that
day an spent it on the river in Delaware
steamer. Well, l don know what did it.
whether it was the rest had put it in good
humor. or the cleaning, or the oil, but
when went down to the shop next day
the old thing went along like a house
a fire, as though there hadn't never been
nothin' the matter with it
Ever had any bother with my engineer"
said Ed Murray. an engineer on the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad mo, | can't say
l ever did, but I've heard old Jake Fin
lay, who used to run the express between
Philadelphia and New York, tell a queer
story of a trouble he got into once.
He was considered a good engineer and
was undoubtedly a thoroughly capable
man 1t was one winter a good many
years ago, he was running his usual en-
CINE on the evening express. He reached
Trenton safely and stopped there twenty
minutes for refreshments The rest
was over, the passengers all seated the
line Signaled clear, the bell rang and
old Jake took off the brake and turned
the steam on. The engine gave sort of
a feeble kick and the big driving wheels
revolved half a dozen times. but didn't
grip the rails and the train didn't move.
Jake thought the train was too heavy,
so he backed it little to gain an impetus.
Then he put on the steam full again to go
forward, but the old engine Just kicked
again and the driving wheels went round
again, but the train never moved. Jake got
mad at last and got off the cab to look for
the trouble He shouted to the fireman to
turn on steam. His order was obeyed and
without the slightest trouble the engine
glided out of the station as if she were on
a soaped board Jake was so worried about
it that it proved on his mind and about
six months after he resigned his position.
l haven't the least idea what was the mat
ter, but l guess Jake had forgotten some
thing he ought to have done, and the fire
man, being Just told to let her go, went
through the proper business. Jake
thought the engine was bewitched and