Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-04-07
Matchmaking.

Matchmaking.
AS long as the year 1900 watches
were made in Geneva, and, for many
years after, that city held the only
important position in this industry.
Although watches are now mauufac-
tured in England and America, still
the hereditary skill of the Genevese
hand causes the art of watch manu-
facture in Geneva to be held in high
esteem all over he world. 1t is not
to be wondered at that the Swiss have
made watch manufacture a national
industry, aud, in order to perfect the
art, schools of matchmaking have
been established. Foremost among
these institutions is J. 'Ecole Munici-
pile d Horlogerie, situated in Geneva.
Here Swiss boys pay only one dollar
a month for their instruction, while
foreign boys pay a tritle more. The
pupils pay for the material employed
III their work SO at the end of five
years, whentbey leave the institution,
the twelve watches manufactured by
each boy are his own property
A boy enters the school at fourteen
years of age, and begins in every class
by making the utensils required in
the manufacture of a watch, even the
wooden handles then lie makes the
model Of a watch in wood. They
work from September until July, hav-
ing only one month for vacation
From five to six months are passed q
in this class. Ten hours a day are
passed in school, but not all at the
work bench, for each pupil gives sev
en- hours Of every week to the study
Of drawing, the elements of physics,
mathematics, mechanical science and
chemistry. There are different class
es for each of these studies III the
school, which the boys are required
to attend.
The second class requires stay OF
seven or eight months. This is called
the classe de blanc. Here are made
by hand the inside cases for watches,
chronometers and repeSters. The
cage or inner case and some OF the
wheels are made of metal which IS
Il mixture OF copper and zinc other
wheels and screws are made OF steel.
The apprentices are required TO make
twelve lever escapement cases, one
cylinder escapement case aud one case
for a watch that strikes tue nOur, half
and quarter hour. You can get an
idea of the amount Of patience and
work required in this class when you
learn that there are twenty-one small
pieces to be made by hand for the IN
side case Of every ordinary watch aud
thirty pieces for n repeater.
In the third class, where from six to
seven months are spent, the mecnan-
ism for winding the watch is made.
There are seven small pieces in each
mechanism. all made by hand.
A period OF six months is required
in the fourth class. where the art of
MAKING the different parts of the
cbronoorsph ar. learned. Here the
nrniI makes one hundred different
small nieces for watches that strike
IN. bour and perpetual calendar
watchesthat denote the days. months,
year and change of moon. As the
WORK nroceed. II becomes more COM
rIicatsd Eight months are given up
- +ho Gfth class IN tha making Of
ai,h+ ,,iacos to tbsw watch the wheels
opd ocrsws which move the works
.nd r.ru,.ta IN. hands q, the time
,,;aoo uara+he ,nniI i raon,red also
.La ,,ioromatar whicn i An in
.+rr,u.nt which csn measure the least
ros.i,,,a tbickna.s of either wheel or
scrav The exact position of the diff
fsrent movements Is determined by
mathematical problems. Given the
positions on the inner case OF the
watch. the pupil can determine the
exact diameter of the Wheels and
screws. Machines are used 10 pierce
the metal, and also to make the teeth
Il kWuH- NnaafN IA ~