The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1915-06-04
CARE OF A WATCH.
|OIscIe Sans Experts Will Tell You
All About It.
WINDING IS ALMOST AN ART.

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It Should Be Done Cautiously and With
the strictest Regularity = Even the
Size of the Watch Pocket May Affect
the Accuracy Of Timepiece.
Do you know how to handle, carry
and wind your watch properly? Do
you know at what time of the day you
should wind it. the pocket In which it
Is best to carry it and the position in
which you should leave your watch at
night or when it is not in use?
These are some questions which I'm
Gle Sam viii answer for his 100000, 600
nieces and nephews or such of them
is are the possessors of pocket watches.
Instructions as to the use and care of
watches are given in publication is
sued by the bureau of standards. They
are based on conclusions reached by
scientists after careful tests and on
the practical experience of some of
the leading watch manufacturers Of
the land.
The Importance of handling a fine
watch carefully and Of winding it reg
ularly is known to almost every one.
But rules for the proper treatment Of
watches always have varied greatly,
and it is for this reason that the bu-
reau of standards investigated the mat
ter and prepared standard Instructions
which it advises owners of watches to
follow.
The bureau, in its set of rules, first
cautions against allowing watch to
fall or receive severe jar, either Of
which is liable to injure the mocha
nism, especially in the bending of pivot
or the breaking Of jewel. The mere
fall of watch to the end of its chain
or the jar it may receive when the ar
ticle of clothing in which it is being
may cause serious injury to the move
ment. Even the sudden motions or jar
of jumping on or off street car may
injure it seriously.
Likewise care should be taken to
keep a watch from becoming magnet
lied by proximity to electrical appa-
ratus, although the troubles from this
cause are being reduced by the pres
ent type Of construction of dynamos
and motors. The watch case should be
opened as seldom as possible and then.
only In places where there is little
chance Of dust getting into the move
ment. A broken watch crystal should
be replaced promptly. even If the
watch has hunting case.
Concerning the Importance Of wind
ing a watch regularly the bureau Of
standards states:
Even the delay of an hour In the
time of winding may cause considera-
Bile variation in the rate in some in
stances. The winding should not be
done jerkily. but steadily and not too
rapidly. and its conclusion should be
approached carefully to avoid injury
to the spring or winding mechanism
ut is generally regarded as slightly
better to wind the watch in the morn
ing than at night. as the large varia-
tons of the balance under the tight
spring will perhaps give more uniform
results with the movements and jar
of the watch during the day than II
the balance wheel were subjected to
the lesser tension twelve hours after
winding. The difference is. however.
not SO important as the regular wind
ing or the watch.
''The pocket In which one carries his
watch, the size of the pocket and the
hind of watch chain or fob used have
more important effect ON the uni
formity of a watch's rate than is gem
orally realized. In large pocket the
watch is apt to turn to the right or
left by various amounts, giving irregu-
lar rates, unless one adopts some meth
cd of holding it upright. Perhaps the
best method to prevent watch turn
ing In this way, other than actually pin
ming it in place, is to keep the watch
in a chamois or kid watch bag, such
as may be obtained from jewelers., in
correct size to fit ones pocket. The
watch cannot turn in this If of the
proper size, and the friction of the bag
in the pocket prevents 1t turning. The
bag also protects the watch and keeps
It cleaner"
Tne care OF the watch at night or
when it is not in use Is another impor-
tant item concerning which the bureau
of standards states:
"At night or when the watch is not
In use it is desirable to leave the
watch in the same position as during
the day. and preferably in some place
where 1t viii not be subject to any
great temperature change. If it is de-
sirable to leave the watch in a hori-
zontaI position during the night for the
sake Of compromising any considerable
gaining or losing of the watch in the
pendent up position during the day the
same precaution to avoid marked tenn
perature changes should be observed,
and the regularity with which such a
change of position is carried out may
be as important as regularity Of wind
ing. Washington Star.