The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-16

parts Of the best Swiss watches are still
made by hand, both In the homes OF the
workmen and at the numerous factories
in the cantons OF Berne and Neuchatel
But American watches are the best for
railroad use because they are less COM
plicated and keep just as accurate time.
Our clocks are unauestlonably the finest
in the world. although the Germans make
a clock that sells for 1880.
Some Large Factories.
There are twelve large watch manu-
factories in the United States.T Mr. Ball
said. "One company has a capitalization
OF sl2 100000 and produces five watch
movements a minute during every work
ing hour OF the year OF course. the in
dustry goes back 10 clOcks-first brass
clocks. the parts Of which were made By
hand. and then the celebrated wooden
clocks that helped to spread the fame of
Connecticut all over the world. bat more
particularly In China and Japan. in which
countries they were traded for tea, silk.
and other Oriental Injuries. ELI Terry
was making brass clocks right after the
Revolutionary War. He substituted wood
because ii was cheaper than metal. While
two men worked in his shop he Travelled
on horseback and peddled his product.
A contract to supply firm IN Waterbury
with 1000 wooden movements, an order
, that required three years Of time was
really the beginning of the clock indus
try in this country. Seth Thomas was
a joiner i'm Eli Terry's factory, lie
succeeded TO the factory by purchase and
his son. also named Seth. returned 10
metal and built up an immense business
/ About 1880. II 1 am right as to the date
Aaron /. DeHnisOn. a repairer or watches
in Boston, got $4,000 from Samuel Curtis
| also a citizen OF Boston. and began 10
make watches in the factory OF Edward
/ Howard, who manufactured clocks. as
we'll as Weights and measures. DennsOn' =
| idea was 10 produce watch that would
run eight days without winding. But the
| idea was Impractical, and he and Howard
turned their skill 10 designing machinery
for the making Of all the parts OF watches
! except dals. hands. jewels. balances,
hairsprings, and mainsprings, all of which
/ for a long period were bought in Europe.
War Aids Him,
| Lack Of expert workmen and the high
cost Of production brought about an as
signment during the panic Of 1851 Royal
f. Robbins had loaned the company
So, COO. and he bought the factory at auc-
ton in the hope Of getting his money
back. He kept afoat by borrowing funds
! from banks in Boston and giving watch
movements as security The factory, IN
1860, paid a dividend of > per cent on a
yftal Of 10000 Then the war came Oh.
nearly all the hands marched away 10 the
front. and another assignment seemed
unavoidable Unexpectedly. soldiers in
the field began 10 call FOR watches New
hands were hired. and the factory pros
pered and has pFospered ever since. In
a little while the capital was Increased 10
$4,000 and ultimately 10 100000 Mean
while. practical watchmakers from the
| Massachusetts factory carried the in
dustry on to the prairies OF Illinois, and
out OF a little shop developed a very large
establishment
Watches were never so cheap as now
and never so accurate" Mr. Ball said
II am sure that the standards have
established for railroad purposes have
greatly helped 90 bring the American
watch 10 its present state Of regularity
and precision, which is good for the man
who stays al home. bot is infinitely better
for the man who travels"
lCougrish; 1910. hy James 2. Morrow