Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1901-04-19
COOKING WATCHES.

Kew observatory has lately been much
a the public mind consequent upon the
threatened arrangement Of its delicately
made instruments by the installation Of
ectric tramways at Hammersmith, some
YES distant.
The very position Of the observatory is
ample testimony to tile sensitiveness Of
the wonderful machines it contains. Sit
uated about two mics from Richmond,
the solitary building stands like a beacon
in the midst Of q far stretching sea Of
meadow land. But The observatory is
more than a home magnetic mystery.
They cook watches there!
If you contemplate buying an expensive
watch, you can have it sent to the OBJ
servatory, where for 10 days it will I'M
dergO an ordeal that win test its capabil-
tiles to the utmost.
The branch Of the observatory where
this interesting operation is carried on
is known as the rating department Of the
National Physical laboratory. The OBJ
server, E. G. Constable, explained to a
representative Of The Daily Mail who
visited the observatory that about 500
watches are tested yearly and that l0,400
h"' nassed through their hands since
'nent was opened.
'i'r'ar day 40s1atehes were
An ambitious watch
st class certificate COM
41reel at Kew by standing up
i've days in an ordinary safe. 1t
J.. similar period in three other POI
and is then placed on its back in
frigerator. After five days Of that
abode it is removed to an oven kept
temperature of SO degrees +. and is
at last restored to normal temperature
All this time the watchful eye of the OBJ
server has been upon it, and the watch's
behavior duly noted in books.
Every variation of a second the watcl
makes in the different positions and TEN
peratures is carefully entered and certain
marks for or against are given it. Wha
this means will be the better appreciated
when it is explained that Kew possesse,
instruments capable of Indicating tn,
hnndredth part of a second.
The highest marks awarded to a watcl
are 100. and if it gains over so the word
especially good" are written on its Ger
tihcate when the watch leaves the Obser
vatory. Last year the lowest marks re
ceived by watch were A and the high
est 9O.l. The latter was English made
Quite number Of watches were in tn
oven stage. The even is an ordinar
safe. heated with a tubular boiler, an
over II constant supply of hot water i
kept. The refrigerator is of the ordinar
kind.
All kinds Of watches were there. Their
was an explorers watch. so water tigh
that it would keep ON ticking merrily q
the bottom of the sea. There was til
watch Of an important official of the n,
tiOnal Cyclists union, which splits Sc,
Onds TO infnitesimal degrees and come
to Kew every year In racing time
not accepted as official unless the waite
has gained Kew certificate. Then thei
were watches destined to accompany a
expedition to the south pole and prob
TO tick where watches never tiekc
ere. There were cheap looking silv,
hes. really worth between Els an
- appearances are deceptive
ehes-and there was a wonderful 20
eh that cost f3OO and does mo-
than there is space to enumera
most remarkable watch thi
N baked and frozen"
~e upon $4,000. 1t W,
Sman with his winnin,
The owners mon
Use was surrounds
a picture of Il
'er side in G
" a week
'rawing.
Ne us