The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-10
CARING FOR A WATCH.
Advice from Jeweler About the Best Way to
Treat Your Waterbury-Read, Digest, Ponder.
Il, Ill


A watch, even of very good quality, can only
give satisfaction if it is treated according to its
subtle construction. Its possessor must pre-
vent it from falling or being knocked about.
A jump from a street-ear has more than once
caused good timepiece in the jumpers pocket
to change its rate. A watch must be kept
clean and in q clean place. Dust and small
PARTICLES of the pocket lining gather continu-
oHsly in the pockets, and even the best fitting
case cannot protect the movement from dirt
finding its way to the wheels and pivots of the
movement. Watch pockets should be turned
inside out and cleaned at regular intervals.
watch ought to be wound up regularly
Mt about the same hour every day. The best
time to do it is in the morning, for two rea-
sons: Firstly, because The hours Of rising and
dressing are moro regular with most people
than their hours of disrobing and retiring;
secondly, because the full power of the main
spring is more likely to reduce to minimum
the Irregularities caused by The movements of
the owner during the day.
When not carried in the pocket a watch
shoud always hang by its ring in the same
position that it is worn. As a rule watches will
run with different rate when laid down. Only
high grade watches are adjusted to positions,
and will show only q few seconds difference in
"a hours, while common watches will be out
of time several minutes in one night
Ladies often complain that their watches do
not run regularly. This may be on account Of
smaller size and more difficult regulating, bub
the main reason for the faulty rate is to be
found In the fact that ladies do not always
carry their watches and consequently often
forget TO wind them.
Never leave n hunting-ease watch open dur
Ing a considerable length of time. A careful
observer will find in the morning a layer of
dust on the crystal of watch that has been
open during the night That dust will find its
tz,a.r into i. Il l..
side of the ease will be unconscously rubbed
oil by the wearer. but when the watch is closed
the dust inside of the case must remain there.
MainsprinRs cannot be prevented from break
ing. Like china, they are made TO go 10 pieces.
But breakage will occur less frequently il the
watch is wound carefully. Do not take il from
your warm pocket and hang it against the cold
wall. Protect it from direct contact with the
cold object by an ornamental piece of cloth,
plush or velvet being preferred.
The regular running or ratio Of q watch de-
ponds entirely upon It's construction and lower
or higher grade of perfection and finish. 1t is
useless to worry oneself about the Irregularities
OF watch of ordinary quality. Watch move
ments of low or even middle prices cannot be
| expected to have n steady and regular rate.
They may run fairly well for every day use,
but nobody should require them to bo abSo-
lutely correct. No absolutely correct timepiece
has yet been made. The rate of watch will
change from the moments il Is carried. Although
it has been correct on the rack, the watch when
| delivered to its purchaser changes its rate. 1t
will run fast or slow--the matchmaker cannot
fortel which way it will vary.
watch ought to be cleaned every two, or at
the utmost every three years, II it is not to be
spoiled. The Oil will change. 1t will become
thiekened by the dust that cannot be kept out
OF the best-closing case. The dust will work
like emery, and grind the surfaces of the pivots
OF the train. Tho best OF movements will be
| spoiled If this requirement is neglected. Even
| after being cleaned and put in order they will
not recover their former exactneSs. Many times
| 1t has been observed that a watch ran we'll for
| years, and that 10 was unreliable after having
been cleaned. The reason is TO be found in the
fact that the pivots and their thick oil it the
jewel holes aud the cleaned pivots aud their
clean oil do not ft the same jewels.
Anybody who has the misfortune to drop his
watch in the water will find il to his advantage
TO put 1t Immediately in pure alcohol mot
whisky or ginl. and to leave it there until the
matchmaker can take IL apart and put it In
order OF course delay is not advisable in such
| cases.