36o WILLIAM A. COUNTRYMAN 



for heat and cold, from 95° down to 38° or 40°; tests in three 

 vertical positions, and in dial up and dial down. The balance 

 in most modern watches is required to make 18,000 vibrations 

 an hour. The change of one beat will cause an error of four 

 and four fifths seconds at the end of twenty four hours. This 

 statement indicates the extreme delicacy of the tests and the 

 necessity of the demagnetizing of all the parts of the escape- 

 ment so that electrical disturbances in whatever form will have 

 no effect whatsoever. Not many years ago a watch would 

 have been ruined by magnetic influences. Now it is made 

 with a balance, roller, hairspring, pallet, and fork of non- 

 magnetic metals or alloys which are elastic in just the proper 

 proportions to meet the varying conditions of heat and cold. 



Between the manufacturers of the higher grades of watch 

 movements and what may be called the dollar grade, includ- 

 ing case, are a number who make a variety of grades of great 

 utility and of considerable value. Much of the work is done 

 by automatic machinery, but the hand finish is not so com- 

 plete nor the testing so minute. These manufactures are a 

 development of the cheap watch. Such movements are made 

 largely by regular watch establishments, but in one case at 

 least, T30ssibly in others, are n-ide by clock companies and 

 classed as a by-product. 



The rise of the low priced grade of watches dates from 

 the time of the long wind Waterbury watch. The foundation 

 patent for this was issued to D. A. A. Buck, May 21, 1878. 

 The feature that made the watch a success was the improve- 

 ment of the old duplex escapement, by which the parts were 

 simplified so that they could be cheaply stamped out. None 

 of these watches are now made. They have given place to a 

 much higher grade, in which, however, the improved duplex 

 escapement is still used. But the demand they excited con- 

 tinued and had to be satisfied. A number of clock companies 

 now make the low priced watches, case and all, as a l3y- 

 product. Whether the evolution can be traced wholly to the 

 Waterbury may be questioned. The clock companies for 

 years have been making clocks of increasingly small dimen- 

 sions, all with lever movements, such as the marine and the 

 small shelf and alarm clocks. Some of these sizes become 



