The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-09
Frederick Haskin's Letter
Correspondents Of Arvusl
Rice Dope.

Most people do not realize H..
the man who fixes their ALL I1-.
F.; umepieces is, or should b. a h'rts
iy trained technician. tn IS. IS
a railroad watch, watcb., Vt1lf
should not only be tborore sgE
familiar with its mechanics, 9sa,!
himself an expert craftsman b.. an
, should know something of 81 - Ie
; and metallurgy. KnowIa,,s. - sils
these subjects and also of astr,n'
omy and trigonometry can bs :, re ~,
by the expert MATCHMAKER in ~
work IL MS
Fewer and fewer students ,r,
: tering the schools OF hornlos,. IN gu
/ watch factory in New FngIsr4 l-e
perlmented with the idea of an
the depleted ranks of the VAS
makers from the high schools s.,
dents in the senior wear wn,s
cred the chance of spending hal,
of their time in the watch fsct or.'
with credit for study there
This was intended to intarss. e.,
dents in the work. so that ~.
would enter the factory or a srbo,i
of horology, when they graduate
The plan did not work. re,..
sentative of the company told tlo
Theological Institute that fhe 10.
were more strongly attracted +,
the short courses that would ii
them for more remunerative trasAs
The Neurological Institute hone
to interest more students in n,
profession OF horOlOgv. where I,
says. chances for advancement arc
good. 1t also hopes to improve sal
aries.
The institution hopes also IN
raise the standard of repair wort
and to encourage research. work
in order to advance our technious
of Matchmaking.
Certified Watchmakers.
This is to be done by certifying
watchmakers. No matchmaker will
be required to take an examination
But those who wish to be certified
will be given a chance to take A
test This test will probably be
prepared by the Time Section Of
the Bureau of Standards. Tie
matchmaker will be given d watch
to repair and will be asked ques-
tons to test his understanding CT
tie work.
Three examinations for three
grades are to be given. according
to the Institutes decision. These
will be for certified junior watch
maker" certified MATCHMAKER"
af,a~T1EAI L@z~y1-i-A
The man who passes the first
grade test-the last named-must
be a specialist. Such a man is an
engineer in horology, and the fact
that he deals with springs and
screws that are almost invisible,
instead of with iron girdeTs, makes
his work no less technically eX-
acting.
The tests are TO be of value 70
the public in that certificate from
the Theological Institute should be
a sign of ability. On the Other
hand, as the tests are not cempul-
sorry, lack OF a certificate will not
imply incompetence.
The tests are also designed to
promote the interests of the watch
makers themselves. They vii!
know that by taking these tests
and perhaps studying to gain the
higher certificates, they can earn
more money and reputation for
greater skill.
Members of the Neurological In
stitute have said that the work o,
their organization now IS chiefly t0T
the future. Men who have been
earning their livings for years do
not always take kindly 10 examine
lions and certificates though the
Institute has found that its own
members from big watch compan-
les and repair shops are Wiling
to stand the tests for the example
OF the thing.
The certificates will be Of nc,
interest to young students Of ho'-
ology who will be encouraged 10
study longer and become more eX-
pert, instead of accepting the poor
" paid Jobs that are offered W1s2
they are half way through a course,