The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1904-04-09
THE M Rim ER'S GUIDE.
The Most Valued Possession q Is.
Sea captain.

: ~ - YS&S
The Malking o1aChronons4srss atSRe.
NJ Aaed Art That 10 believed b. .
But Eew-Bxpsnstvo In ##
New York, az the leading seaport 81
the country, ID the center Of IN i'm
portant industry on which depends in
. large measure the safety Of tnou-
sands Of ocean travellers, says the
Philadelphia Ledger. This Is the man
ufacturing, and particularly the rating,
of marine chronometers. Nearly
every shipmasteF, upon entering New
York after an ocean voyage. Obtains
from the customhouse . permit to lana
his chronomster, SO that 1t may be
rated according to standard time.
This rating may be Mkeued to the
daily comparison which the man with
the fine watch makes with his Jew
eler's timepiece.
In the case OF chronometer the ad-
juster keeps careful record Of it's
variation, and this record goes with
the CLOCK when 1t is returned to the
ship. The importance to a captain OF
knowing whether his thermometer is
running fast or slow cannot be over
estimated, for, although it may vary
only five seconds a month, each Sec
ond makes difference Of four miles
In ships course, and Z mistake of
such short distance. II not corrected.
might result in a wreck and the loss
OF many lives. Knowing the exact
variation OF his thermometer, the CAP
tain is, therefore, able to make the
necessary allowance for 1t when he
ascertains the latitude and longitude
OF the vessel after taking his sight, or,
In other words. aver determining the
angular position Of tho sun through
the use of the sextant.
Many Of the large ocean liners carry
three chronometers, the ordinary YES
sci one and the deep-water ships
sometimes two or three, but the life
of an ocean timepiecs. ii we'll taken
care of, is 100 years and more, and
accordingly the maker has to meet no
great demand. As matter Of fact
chronometer really goes out of serv-
ice only when it sinks with a vessel
A shipmaster, when about to abandon
his command at sea, invariably thinks
OF four things that should be saved
his logbook, sextant, compass and
R~:~
supply Of provisions he feels a Ger
tain sense OF security when he risks
his life In an open boat. A derelict
with a chronometer on board is Indeed
8 rarity. And when one reads of a
captain who has been unable to save
his chronometer the story IL In
dubitable proof that the summons to
leave the vessel was 30 urgent as
not to admit a moments delay. Leave
tho ships cat II you will, but save the
ehronometer. might we'll be taken a.
an ocean maxim. ,.-4. : ~-s-.4--r :
Though carefully nursed, the chro-
nometer meets with many adventures.
It may go through fire. shipwreck and
other perils of the sea, but rarely does
the regular, distinct ticking ever stop
forever. II captain dies or his YES
sci 10 condemned it finds another own
or or another berth and this it shifts
about from ship to ship. changing
hands continually and travelling ut odd
times all the seven seas.
The manufacturing OF marine ohro-
In this country Is confined
to four firms, three Of which are To-
Gated in New York, and probably the
whole output for q year amounts to
$50 or even fewer. Al with other arti-
cles. the price of chronometers varies
according to quality and workmanship.
The cheapest cost about $500 each,
while the United States government,
which naturally buys the best, pays
sometimes as much as 1915.
The movements OF chronometers are
usually imported blank" from Eng
land-that 10, only the plates and
wheels are brought over. The manu-
facturer here provides the balance,
springs, pivotS. jewels and other
parts needed to complete the whole,
together with the brass-bound box in
which the clock Is placed. Being set
in gimbals within the box. the
will remain in horizon
tai position when the vessel rolls or.
pitches, and by this means the poise OF
the balance 10 not disturbed.
1t takes about three months to man
ufacture q chronometer and another
three months to adjust 1t. though max
srs declare that the timspiece should
not be sent to sea for two years after
completion. as the delicate mechanism
must be tested in various ways to obtain
q perfect regulation. This adjustment,
as the regulation IL called, is something
that requires the utmost skill and really
Is the most important feature Of the
makers art. Sudden changes Of temper
allure. humidity, and electric currents
will affect the speed, balance and hair
spring, and therefore all the running
parts must be 10 compensated and regu-