New-York tribune., 1901-03-10
COOKING WATCHES.
HOW ENGLISH TrMErIEcEs ARE TESTED IN THE
KEW OBSERV ATORY.

From The London Mail
Kew Observatory has lately been much in the
public mind consequent upon the threatened de
rangement Of its decately made Instruments
by the installation of electric tramways at Ham
mersmith. some miles distant.
The very position II the observatory is ample
testimony to the sensitiVeness of the wonderful
machines it contains. Situated about two miles
from Richmond. the solitary building stands like
a beacon in tn" midst of far stretching sea of
meadow land. But The observatory is more than
a nome magnetic mystery. They cook watches
there,
If you contemplate buyiu, an cxpensive watch
You can has" il sent to the observatory. where
for forty five days il Will undergo ord al that
will test its capabilities - thu utmost
Thc branch II the observatory where this in
teiestir@ operation is carri i on Is known tn.
rating department of thc National Physical
La hoIatort. TIL oNs.rs T.. g Constable. cN-
planned to "a repr,-,i.t.ti> ~ -rh, DAILY Mair'
y no visited he observatory that about ave hun
dred watches aIe tested Yearly. and that lo.ln
haN" Tass'I through their hands since the de-
pdrtrl-ut MAS ou,n,I.
ON this particular dav forty watches We're
under observation. An ambitious watch in pur-
suit OF u first class cvrtId,atr commences its
CaIvrr al XIV 10y standing upright for n.c day $
m an ordinary safe 1t -. uds similar period
in three other positions. aui is then placed it-
back iu q refrigerator After live day. Of that 10y
abode IL is removed 70 an oven kept at a tenn
peiiturr II 90 degrees Fahrenheit. and j. At last
restored L. a normal temperature. All this tim-
the Watchful eye of tn observer has ben upon
IL, and ths "a''h's behavior duly noted IN hoo@S.
Every tiiiatIe If a second the watch rnak.S
ia Tho different positions AMI temperatures IS
car fully enter, q. and certain u.trt- fur or
AGAINST are given il. What this means Nill t.-
the tier arpF ri1f't .n.n o. D. -Nl'I ned th II
Kew possesses Instruments capable, If indicating
tn" huudrcdth part oi q second.
tn" A.eh's marks awarded 20 a watch arr
ltb and If L gains over - III" words especially
good" are written on its certificate Wh-l tn.
watch leaves TN" "ts'ry .toIF. Last year .h.
lowest marks received il a watch were ! I al.I
the highest 9hl. The latter MAS English mad
QUIT number OF watches We're in the oven
stage. Tn oven is an ordinary safe. heat-,i
Wlih a tubular boiler. ana over il a constant
surpiy OF hot water is kept The refrigerator is
of th- ordinary kind.
All kinds of watches were there There vas
an "N'l"r'rs watch. So vAtcrtisht thai 1t would
Keep on ticking mcrrily at the buttoul of the
sea There was III" watch II an important ofIi-
cial Of the National Cyclists Union which splits
seconds to iufuit. sinai degrees. and comes -
Kew every year. In racing time is not accepted
As official unless tho watch has gained "A Kew
certificate. Then there vvtr- watches destined
ana probably 10 tick whore Watches never licked
before. There We're cheap luoknE silver
watches, really worth between 40 and t-ILap-
F"aranccS are deceptive in watches and there
Was wonderful gold watch that 600. and
docs more things than there is space to enumor-
ate here.
Bun the most remarkable watch that has ever
h- baked ana frozen AZ Kew cost close
upon L;,uIn. II was bought 10y sportsman
with his winnings ~ one horse race. The own
with twenty four diamonds, and picture of the
hnrsr appeared on the other side in enamel. thu
artist having spent a week III the stables TO get
an accurate drawing.
The watch, however. proved t. be- useful
we'll ornamental, and kcty ahle 10 send
IFS DISTINGUISHED visitor home accompanied 10y
certificate worthy of its position in the watch
world