The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-07
WILL N6T WORK IN FACTORIES.
The Finest Swiss Watches Are All
Made In Little Cottages.
From Cassier's MagazIn


1t is most interesting to compare the
different methods by means of which the
highest grade of mechanical perfection is
attained in various countries Notwlth-
standing the high character of American
watches, for example, the finest Swiss
watches still maintain their great reputa-
ton. The Swiss workman receives the
parts from the manufacturer in the
rough, takes them to his home puts his
best individual skill into the finishing
and assembling. and brings the completed
watches to his employer. The latter in
spects the work, and out of a batch of.
say fifty watches, he selects five as
worthy of his own attention, and puts
the others into his regular trade under
some general trade name. The selected
watches he readjusts, working over them
for days, weeks and months before he
considers them worthy TO bear his own
name, and it is these watches which 90
to those who not only have the money TO
buy, but also the patience to wait.
A prominent firm of American jewelers..
chatting under the inconvenience OF. this
old world method of doing things, sought
TO introduce American methods and see if
the highest grade of Swiss watches could
not be made more methodically a fac
tory was built, enticing rates of wages
were offered 10 the most skillful work
men, ana the experiment was tried. But
alas! The Swiss workman soon found that
no regular wages could pay him for his
loss of liberty. To be on hand when the
whistle blew in the morning 10 have his
stated hour for dinner ana his fixed hour
for quitting at night-these restrictions ne
could not long stand. Formerly he had
worked when ne felt like it and stopped
when it pleased him. and when he was
paid for one job he took his time to begin
the next, generally waiting until his funds
low the factory plan did
for long, and the idle building now bears
silent testimony to the Swiss love for in
dependence, which is Is much a factor in
present life as it has been in past history
The fact that much of the work of the
Swiss watchmakers and instrument max
ers IS done in this primitive manner does
not in the least detract from its hign
quality, but rather adds to its perfection
by embodying in each article the indi-
vidual skill Of the workman The writer
desired 10 procure one of the famous Cold
schmidt anerOid barometers, and only sf-
ter some difficulty ana many inquiries did
he succeed in finding the Wherea bouts of
the maker at all AT last he was direct
ed TO the quaint street in the Quarter
OF the city OF Zurich knOkn as the "'Pr!ttH-
gasse" the street Of the little steps, There
he found gate IN wall bearing the
desired number, but no name or sign of
any description to indicate what was
within. Knocking to obtain admission he
was finally let into a garden, over an
other wall and up picturesque set Of
steps, and ushered into little room in
Wnlcn was WOIh OF me HHeSL description.
A few men and boys, a couple of women
this was the working force, but mere
were products which surpassed the finest
instruments Of any he had ever seen
Each article was shown and handled as
if It had been a personal pei hardly to
be parted with; and 1t was, indeed, in
teresting 70 see how every instrument
was cAlibered and tested and recorded in
a manner which could not 5GC pIUve that
for such work indiv.dualism aad its adj
vantages over cOllectiyism. The articles
were indeed manufactured" II the true
genealogical sense Of the torn, hand
made" and head-made, too. for hat mat
ter; and all this in a little outbuilding
accessible only after d.ligent search AM
many misadventures.