Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-07-24
WATCH MAGNETISM
what Causes the Trouble, and How
Can BE Ea silly Kcnedicd.


Watch your watches! is generally
the instruction impaired to sight-seers
on entering the dynamo-room of an
electrical establishment while dyna-
mos are in operation. Now, the natu-
raj tendency Of the minds OF these
sight-secrs is to ask, whyP If they do
not d. it audibly it is there all the
same, and keeps turning itself over
and over until the owner is tempted to
do just what he or she is told to, but
not intended should be done, take it out
of the pocket and look ut it. My advice
would be, ''leave il ut home" or with
your ''uncle" while on u tour of inves.
tigation of this sort, for just so sure
as you enter that room your watch will
be magnetized and then you will have
the confidence in your watch maker
shattered, if not entirely destroyed, by
finding that since he last repaired it il
does not keep time. You go to him
again and he looks ut it, then exam
ines and pronounces the awful SEN
tence, .Magnetized. - You look at
him with contempt and say you
know better; If it was magnetized il
would stop like our grandpa's clock,
mover to go again.
Now, there is no greater mistake,
yet so generally believed, us this. A
watch when magnetized stops only
from this cause while in very strong
magnetic field" and will start of
again on being removed from that
"feld" If given a slight jar.
Then comes the query: What does il
do, then? What effect does ii exert
over itp Now this is the point which
| wish you TO note. at loses time.
But how much? you ask. This is very
hard to answer, as u great deal de-
Ponds upon the construction OF the
movement, the style of case-hunting
or open face - whether you work
around or come in contact with iron or
steel objects, such as safes, engines,
iron pillars, girdcrs or even smaller
objects, as these will change the d.
rections of the lines OF "force." |
have found from observation that the
variations range from | minute to
20 in twenty-four hours, according to
conditions, the general average being
from 81 to minutes per day.
Many persons suppose that electric
ity is magnetism, and vice versa.
Electricity is no more magnetism than
steam is water, or apples are apple
trees. but the one is the production OF
the other. Electricity is generated
from magnetism by permanent or
electromagnetic under certain con-
ditions and operations known by
electricians and some others. and is OF
itself perfectly harmless to watches
even were they to be put in circuit
with electric lights, as ! last week
placed u fine movement in circuit OF
one thousand volts for ten minutes.
and on removing could not find the
slightest trace OF magnetism in It,
Another very false idea is the finer
the watch the less liability to mag
netic action, when the truth is the
finer it is the more magnetism it will
retain on being charged" /. G.,
magnetized, and. in consequences, the
more time it will lose, for the finer
the watch the finer the adjustment,
and, in consequence, the closer contact
of the parts affected. Some say:
"Oh, never was in dynamo room,
and my watch could not be magnet
lied.
1t is not in the electric light plants
that all tho magnetism exists, for
since electricity has been used as n
motor force IL exists around every mo-
tor, whether under street car, in an
Office running n fan or printing press,
or exciting plating battery. Yet who
ever suspected the relay or sounder
on telegraph operators desk, the
wonderful telephone and many other
appliances too numerous to mention
with which you come in contact every
day.
Another new invention has just
made its appearance in Cleveland, by
which u crane is fitted with a large
magnet and used to. load cars with
steel rails and large pieces of iron, i'm.
parting It's influence to all steel oh.
jects within its range. thus practically
bringing the laboring men In daily
contact with this unsupported trouble
TO watches
Some say when watch is magnet.
lied IL is destroyed. This is again
false. for by demagnetizing IL can be
made to operate as we'll as ever DC
not trade them off as worthless, but
take and have them demagnetized,
and all will be delighted at home to sec
the head OF the house on time for din.
ner. Pittsburgh Dispatch.