The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-08-05

Pieces are Affected Causing Them
to Go "Bad''-Somewhat a 1ystery
How a Watch Becomes Magnetlzed
-r1ethod of Treatment Very Simple
Once the Trouble Is Known.
1t occurs to US that many persons
have trouble with their watches with
out knowing the cause. In some un-
accountable manner a watch may
become magnetized-'' loaded" with
electricity-so that it will run irreg-
ularly and fail to keep correct time.
1t is taken to the ieweler TO be "dOc-
tored." He makes an examination,
cleans, oils, tightens up few screws
repaired. 1t may keep better time
for awhile but goes "bad" again be-
fore it has been carried very long.
Then the owner takes it back to the
"shop" or has thoughts about the
man who worked on it feeling mean
while that he was "wOrked" on more
than the watch. The jeweler may
have done his part all right, as far
as he went, but he failed to locate
the trouble. The watch may not
have needed 'repairing' at the out
set-that is there was nothing worn,
or broken, or loose about the mechan-
ism, but it was out of order. 1t was
magnetized and the trouble had not
| been located
These remarks were suggested by
an incident that came to our notice
recently. A watch that had been fit
| ted with a new main spring and put
| in perfect condition did not run reg
ularly. 1t was taken back to Mr..
H. W. Nixon, the expert in charge of
the work department at A. ". GhOl-
son & Company's, for further ''treat
nent" A careful examination failed
to locate the trouble Mr.. Nixon
asked to be allowed to keep the watch
and wear it a while and study the
symptoms to see if he could locate
and regulate the difficulty. Finding
nothing wrong with the watch as far
as an examination with the eye could
reveal he decided to test it for mag
netism. There he found the trouble
and the matter of correcting it was
easy enough.
Being ignorant of how watch is
found to be magnetized and the
method of demagnetizing it we piled
Mr. Nixon with numerous questions
which he readily and intelhgently ex-
planned and demonstrated by a num-
ber of tests. In a lot of watches, num-
bering something like half a dozen
left for repair, all but one was found
to be magnetized, some much more
than others, but each one enough to
affect it as an accurate time keeper.
Yet in all probability the wearer OF
not one of those watches had been
near an electric plant. But in some
mysterious way they had become
heavily magnetized, and consequent
ly unreliable as time keepers.
Mr. Nixon says that he has learned
in his experience and ''practice" as
doctor of watches to treat them for
being magnetized as we'll as for
broken springs, worn parts, loose
pinions and other ailments watches
are heir to. This for his own reputa-
ton as well AS the satisfaction OF his
customers. However we'll and skill
ful Job of repairing may be done If
the watch is magnetiZed to knock the
rim off of a wheel and expect the
vehicle to run evenly would be just as
reasonable as to expect a watch to
run regularly and keep good time il
it is not demagnetized.
Commenting OF the marked i'm
provement shown by one OF its ex-
changes, and the good work it has
done for its community, the North
Wilkesboro Hustler says: More peo-
pie are reading their own home pa
pers today than ever before because
they get more practical good out of
it for the money than anything else.