The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-19
american JeweIer" Says Sys-
tenn Used on Santa Fe
is BEST IN THE WORLD
Mr.. Montgomery Employs 4 As
sistantS and 46 Inspectors.
List of the Local Santa Fe
Watch Inspectors.


| lowing article, extolIing the system and
services of H. S. Montgomery, of Tope-
ka, general watch inspector, and class
| ing the Santa Fe watch inspecting sys-
! tenn as the best in the railroad world:
| w atch inspection, as conducted on the
A, l. q ). r Ry., means very much
! more than the term signifies on most
! any other railroad in the world 1t is
/ systematic, up to date, and leaves little
! embraces.
/ The grade of watch adopted by the
company June 1, 1896, when Mr.. H S.
| montgomery was appointed general
/ watch inspector, is designated as 1T
! jewels, adjusted" to temperature. posi-
! tons and isochrOnism, and may be the
product of any factory as long as it
| conforms to the rules in its performance
| All watches IN service, however, when
! the new rules went into effect which in
| grade were up to the former standard
| 10 jewels, adjusted and which, upon
| being rated were in accordance with
| the present rules, were passed.
! Mr.. Montgomery is particularly rigid
/ in his requirements concerning the run
| ming qualities of watches passed into
! service. He is the first inspector of a
railway to require watches to run in
position.
! His ultimatum that no watch would
| be passed in the service of the Santa Fe,
! which would vary more than six sec
/ Onds from one position to another in the
/ three positions: Pendant up; dial up;
cock up ;created a hubbub among watch
factories and called down upon him an
athemas without end. He was relent-
less, however, and the rule stands. The
wisdom and prudence of such a depart
ure the general public will indOrSe. The
travelling public is very much interested
in the time service of any railroad COM
pany and the rigorous departure taken
by one of the largest railroads in the
world is in keeping with the roads 9th
er popular innovations in looking after
its patrons interests and welfare. By
the present system of watch inspection
the Santa Fe guards every avenue
against possible accident by collision
from variation in time.
Time signals are sent out every day
at 10 o'clock from St. Louis Observable
~. All clocks or other standard time
pieces in use on the road are correct
ed daily to the second, if found in err
rOr from the time transmitted.
In these days Of rapid transit and
burdensOme handling of trains, too much
caution caanOt be used. The Santa F'e
claims to lead the railroad world in its
system of time inspection and does not
stop in its progress.
The company's general watch inspec-
tor is a practical watch maker in the
broad sense of the term and devotes his
entire time and attention to the details
of his excellent methods. The present
system is due to his proficiency and his
knowledge of the duties deVolved upon
him. Working under the instructions of
the capable general manager, he has es-
tablished system of time inspection
which is attracting the attention of the
press and railroad circles of the entire
country.
He is an indefatigabIe worker and
studies improvements as the student
delves in the depths of researches. I'm
der rules promulgated by the general
manager, the general inspector does not
deal in watches, his sole province being
the sponsorship of watches passed into
service. Any watch graded to the stand
ard required by the company is judged
specifically upon merit of performance
regardless of name or make and favor
itiSm is shown no quarter.
With the original Inauguration of the
new system, in effect June 1, 1896, pro-
visions were made for the sale to en-
ployes of a watch manufactured by the
WaItham Watch company, branded with
the cOmpany'S trade mark In order to
avoid semblance of Partially, the gen
eral manager very wisely removed the
sale of that or any other watch from
the general inspectors privileges, and
placed him as an official without preJu-
dice.
He is therefore cautious to discharge
his duties with care, that the service IS
not impaired by a poor watch, and on
the other hand that manufacturers of
watches are not Disseminated against
or a good watch condemned Before be
ing passed into service every watch is
rated in three positions, viz: Pendant
up; dial UP; cock up
The extreme variation permitted is
other As an example: A watch run
ming exact in "A hours pendant up,
would not pass if it accelerated or re
tarded more than six seconds IN the
next "a hours, dial up; and ditto cock
up watch not having been stopped,
changed or otherwise disturbed except
winding A movement might run say,
20 seconds slow pendant up; IA seconds
slow dial I'D and 16 seconds slow cock
up.
In this case a question of regulation,
only would arise; the watch would De
passed. AS a matter Of fact, IN the or
binary way of wearing a watch, II
would be in an upright or pendant po-
sition about 10 hours out of each "A, ana
under the pillow dial or cock up) the
other nine therefore Mr.. Montgomery
contends with evident good grounds
that no greater variation than six sec
onds should be allowed for good watch
in a a hours test in the dial and cock
positions.
A watch running within this limit.
once regulated to given rate, viii
avoid much tramping to the jeweler Tor
correction of error and setting"
The rules of the Santa Fe instruct
employees to avoid setting or regulating
their watches, but recommend calling
inspectors into service for these feat
ures Finally, a watch must be regulat-
ed to run within a limit of error of 30
seconds per week in wearer's possession
This test is made by comparison with
accurately performing chrOnometers,
and there is no guess work about it.
1t will thus be seen that all watches
passed into service are as near perfec-
ton as it is possible to obtain
No watch which is received from the
owner run down. is rated for proof OF
its performance until it has been run
for at least "A hours to establish its in
dividual variations. After a watch has
been tested as described, and its record
proven to conform TO the rules, an ZAP
prevail card" is issued to the owner,
good for one year.
The regular monthly certificate is is
sued by local inspectors. only upon pre-