The Washington times., 1901-07-07
THE LIFE OF WATCHES.
Influences and Conditions Which Af-
feet All Timepieces.

Watches" said the jeweler, as he
| screwed a little glass into one eye and
squinted into case Of wheels, ARE like
human beings in many ways. They are
; delicate; they run well only when in per-
feet order. and they require attention
once in so often, whether they stop or not.
They become sick. in "a way, as We do.
and they get off their balance. But. un-
I like US, when their handspring breaks
they are not necessarily done for. unless
IN another world. They can have new
mainsprlnSs. We can L
Watches, all jokes aside, are really al
most human sometimes. They take cold
readily. Never lay watch on cold mar
bic table or near an open window all
night after you have worn it next TO your
warm body all day; il will contract sort
OF pneumonia, and ten to one il will stop
before long If the practice be continued
The cold contracts the metal pivots
which, small as they are. must not be
smaller, and they shrink. Thus the wheels
cannot move.
Watches are magnetized. too. by the
persons who wear them. l have seen
the statement that watches vary in
tlmekeeping with the health OF the wear
er, and that if changed from one person
TO another they viii also show slight va
rlations- All Of that Is true. The static
electricity OF person many affect
watch All Of US throw this of; some
more than others. Dark persons give off
more than light ones do. and a dark
woman more than anyone else. Dark
women should have rubber cases for
their watches If they wish TO have them
keep perfect time.
Never lay watch fat at night. after
II has been worn in q vertical position
all day II throws it of its base. so TO
speak. II the pivOts be worn, the wheels
viii not run level.
A sudden jar viii often stop a watch,
which runs regularly at that; such a jar
hairspring's catching does this. The Jolt
comes at the exact fraction Of d second
when the spring Is in a position TO
catch This occurs at fnfreduent inter
walls. as may be readily imagined A
watch should be fed or oiled every
eighteen months, even If running in the
best of time The oil dries in that time,
and the wheels are likely to wear one
another.
'Al jewelers. examine watches in the
same way; il seems to be tradition Of
the craft First, a man viii look at the
hands. as I have been doing. II they are
not caught, they viii take out the bal
ance wheel and examine the pin and the
piyOts which You see here. Sometimes
hardest thing 10 detect !s a slight burr
on one Of the wheels, this may throw the !
entire watch out Of gear.
Nov I will wind this watch OF yours.
and show you that all the trouble with II [
is that IL is run down. Unusual! Oh. no;
that frequently happens. Some one is /
here every day with an unwoUnd watch. |
thinking that il is out Of kelter because it !
VIII not run. They forgot TO wind II. and !
are afraid 10 do IL over again. Women |
are cur best customers in that line OF !
course, I could get 81 for this, but the talk /
Will answer.
Now. when you 20 home wind your /
watch u the morning. No; not at bed |
uMe, but when YOU get up. That gives it /
the fun spring TO work on during the day.
when the jars and jolts are more numer-
Gus And hold your watch still when YOU
WIND II, and wind the key. That's all, |
try that"
And the jeweleI handed back the watch
ruEiing beautiluliy.-f<au City Jour