The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-26
MAKING WATCHES.
A Business That Requires the Great.
est Care and Accuracy.
Washington Star.

washington Star.
Matchmaking has frequently and not
inapty been called a profession because in
It's present state of perfection it is based
entirely upon scientific principles" said an
practical application of science from the
correct calculation of the vibration of the
halr spring to the demagnetiZation of the
watch is so vast that it can hardly be COM
pretended by any one not Of a mechanical
turn of mind. From the first pocket time
piece made-called from it's peculiar shape
a Nuremberg egg-to the modern stem
winding watch is such development that
on can scarcely reconcile the two as be-
longing to the same class of mechanical
work.
"A watch is now composed of nine sepa-
rate pieces, and over two thousand opera
lions are used in its manufacture. 1t takes
just 3OS,0O0 of the small screws which are
used by watchmakers to weigh one pound
The fourth jewel wheel screw is the next
thing to being invisible. and to the naked
eye it looks like dust. With a glass, how
ever, 1t is seen to be a tiny screw with $50
threads to the inch and with very fine
glass the threads may be seen quite clearly
These minute screws are 4-1000 of an inch in
diameter. and the heads are double. The
hair spring is a strip of steel about 91a
ference in the thickness of the strip makes
81 difference in the running of the watch of
about six minutes an hour.
Very few of the millions of people who
carry watches realize to what a wonderful
extent fabrication is developed, and what
an extraordinary number of turns the bal
A watch will run on one oiling from one
year to a year and a half. Every minute
the balance wheel turns its axis 450
times, or 1900 times an hour. The balance
should not vary a second a week. and in
order that it and other important moving
parts should work accurately every fine
watch is now tested and it's rate registered
not only every day, but hourly for a week
before it is sold. 1t is hung up by its pend
ant, hung upside down, hung on each side
placed dial down. and back down, and
finally baked in an oven and frozen in an
ice pail, to make sure that its going will
fluences, whether hot or cold.
when it is considered that a quarter
turn of the time screws'-meaning mil
lionth of an inch-wiIl make a difference
adjustments may be appreciated as also the
risk of intruStng its repair to any but skill
full hands The two essentials. of keeping a
watch in good condition are winding and
cleaning.
1.-The majority of people wind their
watches before going to bed. 1t is the worst
possible time. The right time is the morn
ing. watch always goes faster when the
spring is tightly coiled and when laid down
over night is sure to gain little. In the
day time the shaking of the body oscillates
the spring and retardS the movement. If
however, the watch has been wound in the
morning, the effort of the coiled spring to
send the hands faster is eQualiZed by the
shaking of the body, and thus the watch
goes neither too fast nor too slow.
Unless the watch case is an unusually
tight-fitting one dust is certain to find its
way to the delicate and intricate works
and interfere into the movement. The watch
to stop when only half run down. This is
its method of showing it needs a cleaning,
and cleaning should be given often as
once a year If the watch is valued and ex-
pected to keep good time. With these two
points in mind a watch used with ordinary
care should last several lifetimeS."