The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-17
TRICKERY IN WATCHES.
Am Expert Gives Some Hints About
Time. Pieces,

Ilme-F1eCcS.
The main object Of Il watch is certainly f
indicate time. But let us look at the man.
watches that are worn around uS. AZ we fint
them and we will find good ones and bad ones
such In fact So bad, that the writer IS con
vinced the maker knew IT would not heel
tin. e. or hardly run. In fuct, these so-caiieo
time pieces were scarcely made TO sell, not oJ
legitimate jewelers., but by high sounding
ad reftlsetuents.
$l95 will buy fine Elgin style richly jew
eled movement with compensation balance
In n fine gold filled case mnde OF Two plates
OF poid over a composition metal aud Is guar
intced for ~ lcars. Such ads are lounu IN
nearly every paper. Now let us eXaullne tme
watch when II arrives here. VI course we
expect an Elgin movement but alas: IL mas
some other name we never heard OF. IL is
made in the Styles of au Elgin movement. II
Is? No not even that, II Is simply an import
ed movement of the lowest grace, suG,i lIia NJ as
YOUR local dealer will sell yoa for Two dollars,
Du, he Will tell you at the same time that ne
can't afford To guarantee such q movement
as II Is absolutely no good. he lives anons
you, tries to uakea honest living ny nones'
dealing and can't afford 10 lose his reputation
by selling trash and making out 1T Is the best
thug Oh earth. u.oo
the maker cant afford 10 let the case 10 come
very much in contact with gold, as IL VIII
have to be sold for ABOUT S2.05. II Is simply
an electro plai9d bi IS case, that just received
a toscn of gold, just enough 10 Keep the oraSs
from furnishing before dlspoSing ol tne wa.cu.
The ad simply tells another lie and the buyer
finds IT. out 10 his sorrow Unless than lnoitn
But you say 1t is guaranteed; yes, so IL Is, Out
II YOU try 10 ind the seller, be has le1t lor
other quarters and you nre minus your
money. ,,, :.
but suppose you have fine watch, Will IL
keep time under all conditions? NO.
watch TO keep time must have proper anu rcS,
ular treatment. A careless Watcn owner WIN
have bad lime no inaLter Wnal hiho vi "
watch he has.
RniIroad people as rule know and apprecl-
ate tn is fact, because their watches must keep
time within 30 seconds week or seconus =
duy Their watches are inspected every week
and watch that does not come up 10 lhls lS
not permitted to be used. or course only the
best American or foreign Watcnes VIII 40
this and the Il. II. employee Is forced 10 BUY
Some people seem 10 have the idea that a
watch Is something out of the general run,
wonderful, mysterious, anu any
one who learns the tricks OF the little thing
Is at once luli fledged matchmaker aud can
properly repair any Watch Ill It" miuutes.
Let US see ABOUT this.
When watches were first invented, they
did not keep time, no train could nave Deen
run by them. NJ ocean steamer coula nave
Since The invention of watches, the BEST me-
chanics IN the world, the best astronomers
and mariners have aided TO bring them 10
pei feclion OF to-day. Millions OF dollars have
been invested 10 build machines TO make
them with and perfect them In this mechanl-
cal detail. Measuring tools that measure u
five thOusandths part OF an inch were eSpeclal,
ly made for watch making.nn nd only by the ala
of trigonome:ry 1t could be determined oi
what Shape and sizes TO make the most I'M
portant paris. Watches Will gain III colo
weather aud loose in the warm; this defect
could only be overcome ny nechanlcal ap.
pliance, cAled the compensation balance,
which is founded upon physical laws Of na-
ture. . ooo ,
minute, lS0JO times an hour, or 43Z ,O0O DAY,
did you not think that friction has TO be over
come here and tbatn wheel turning this oilen
Il day needs oil u keep II from wear! But
how many watches are there that never zee
oil In the covrse OF tive years or more. Is IL
wonder. then. that they refuse to Keep time
even after cleaning? You grease your buggy
when coming To town, oil your gin once IN
while and have 1t ceaned too, but The watch,
well, we wait until II stops. THIS Daiance Is
the most vital part in the watch. On It's true
performance depends the accuracy or the
tiine.piece. Should It's staff (axie) be one
part oi an inch out OF centre or
be the friction more or less In different po'
different positions. You may see from this
that u workman having poor TOOLS ana Ilttle
skill, may De able 10 make watch 10 run,
but not 10 keep time.
Just as the factories or the U. y. put stress
upon accurate machinery TO make their
watches with, 20 the repairer in order 10 give
sai isfction III ust have the finest tools ana APP
pliances aud high skill, otherwise lie Is u iali.
ure. Not the luau That works for the least
money, but the man that does the best work
ev ell at a higher price Is the cheapest put In as
watch once ruined Ia no good forever and
man on Il. z. would buy new one ut once,
because life depends upon its performance,
and for this reason the best watch max ers in
tee country are generally employed by the
roads 10 look alter the watches Of their en'
ployees. II. Y. Bernau.