Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-18
MAKING WATCHES.
A business That Requires the Grcatest
Care and Accuracy.

Care and Accuracy.
Matchmaking has frequently and no:
tnaptly been called profession because in
Its present state of perfection 1t is based
entirely upon scientific principles" said an
old New York watch maker to a writer for
The Star recently. 1.-The field OF practical
application of science from the correct
calculation of the vibration Of the hair
spring to the characterization of the watch
Is so vast that it can hardly be compre-
hended by any one not of a mechanical
turn of mind. From the first pocket time
piece made-called from its peculiar shape
winding watch Is such a development that
one can scarcely reconcile the two as be-
longing to the same class Of mechanical
work.
"A watch is now composed of ninety-eight
separate pieces, and over two Thousand
operators are used in its manufacture. 1t
takes just 30S.OO0 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, however. Ii is seen to be tiny
screw with 26O threads to the inch. and
seen quite clearly. These minute screws
are 4-1,OOO of an inch in diameter. and
the heads are double. The handspring Is
a strip of steel about . 1-2 inches long.
"A %o-IVUtH part OIL an men Qluerence III
the thickness of the strip makes a differ
ence in the running of a 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
On extraordinary number of turns the bal
ance wheel makes with one oiling.
A watch will run on one oiling from one
year to a year and half. Every minute
the balance wheel turns on it's axis 40
times, or 1900 times an hour. The balance
should not vary second a week, and in
order that it and other important moving
parts should work accurately every fine
watch is now tested and its rate registered
not only every day, but hourly for a week
before 1t is sold. 1t is hung up by its
pendant. hung upside down, hung on each
side, placed dial down, and back down. and
finally is baked in an oven and frozen in an
ice pail. to. make sure that it's going will
not be affected by any ordinary climatic in
f1uences, whether hot or cold.
when it is considered that a quarter
turn Of the time screws'-meaning a mil
lionth of an inch-will make a difference of
twenty seconds day. the delicacy of its
adjustments may be appreciated, as also
the risk of intrusting its repair to any but
skillful hands The two essentials of keep
ing a watch in good condition are winding
and cleaning.
THE majority of people wind their
watches before going to bed. 1t is the
worst possible time The right time g the
morning. A watch always goes faster
when the spring is tightly coiled and when
laid down over night is sure to gain a lit
tie; In the daytime 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
usht hitting one dust is certain to find its
way to the delicate and intricate works,
and interfere into the movement TIE
watch will go slowly and evince determi-
nation to stop when only half run down
This is its method of showing it needs a
cleaning and cleaning should be given as
often as once a year if the watch is valued
and expected to keep good time. With
these two points in mind a watch used
with ordinary care should last several
lifetimes."