CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



under whom a perfection nearly equal to that of 

 the present day was obtained. The subsequent 

 progress of watch-making has been chiefly directed 

 to the construction of pocket-watches on the prin- 

 ciple of marine chronometers, or to the combina- 

 tion of accuracy with convenient portability. The 

 adjusted lever watch is now made in Clerkenwell 

 with a degree of accuracy which enables the per- 

 formance to be warranted within an error of one 

 second a day. 



USEFUL HINTS. 



For the attainment of habits of punctuality, for 

 the regulation of the usual routine of business and 

 of everyday life, much often depends on the judi- 

 cious selection of a time-keeper. Although, there- 

 fore, none but a workman possessing a thorough 

 knowledge of his art is capable of forming a cer- 

 tain judgment regarding the merits of a particular 

 watch or clock, yet a few general hints may not 

 be without use. With this view we select the 

 following remarks from an excellent little work 

 published some years ago Thomson's Time and 

 Time-keepers. 



And first of clocks : These, in general, measure 

 time more accurately than watches, especially 



or third year ; small, flat, or complicated ones 

 oftener. All require care in handling. They 

 should be regularly wound as nearly at the same 

 hour as possible ; and while being wound, should 

 be held steadily in the hand, so as to have no 

 circular motion themselves. When hung up, let 

 the watch have support, and be perfectly at rest ; 

 or when laid horizontally, let it be placed on a soft 

 substance for more general support, otherwise the 

 motion of the balance will generate a pendulous 

 motion of the watch, causing much variation in 

 time. Should a watch vary by heat or cold, as 

 when worn or not worn in the pocket, the hands 

 may be set to time ; but the regulator should not 

 be altered, if set to the ordinary temperature of the 

 season. Compensation watches, if properly con- 

 structed, do not so vary. A trial even of a year or 

 two is no proof of the substantial worth of a watch. 

 Dealers themselves may be deceived. A duplex 

 watch may be very bad, while a vertical one may 

 be very good, so that workmanship is as important 

 as principle. Many low-priced and bad watches 

 have eight or even ten holes jewelled, while many 

 good and costly ones have but four : a hole can 

 be jewelled for three shillings. ' The high-sound- 

 ing description, the handsome exterior, the offered 

 trial, and enticing cheapness, are effective baits to 

 the short-sighted.' External ornament forms but 



eight-day weight or long clocks, which are also i a small item of expense, and the prices therefore 



cheapest. Long and heavy pendulums are to 

 be preferred. A light pendulum shews a clock 

 to be badly constructed, or deficient in power. 

 Steel rods are better than brass, well-seasoned 

 and varnished wood than steel, and compen- 

 sation-rods than either. The clock should be 

 steadily fixed to the wall, or firmly placed on three 

 feet sufficiently far apart, so that the mechanism 

 may be uninfluenced by the oscillations of the 

 pendulum. Clocks are regulated by lengthening 

 the pendulum, to make them lose, and by shorten- 

 ing it, to make them gain ; this is very generally 

 done by turning a nut or screw below the weight 

 or bob of the pendulum, to the right to gain, or to 

 the left to lose; or, if the screw is above the weight, 

 the rule is reversed. Many French clocks, and a 

 few old English ones, are liable to derangement in 

 striking, unless the hands are moved rapidly for- 

 ward. The hands of English clocks, in general, 

 may be turned either way without injury, and the 

 same with a watch, unless it has an alarm. 



An intelligent, careful man may be safely trusted 

 with the cleaning, adjusting, or repairing of clocks, 

 while a diversity of talent and experience is neces- 

 sary to qualify him for the manipulation of watches. 



will, in general, point out the comparative qualities 

 of the work in the shop of an artist of known 

 integrity and ability. 



The large thick old watch is less absurd than some 

 of the more recent kind, little thicker than half-a- 

 crown, or even much smaller. The lever watch is 

 capable of great accuracy, and is preferable to the 

 vertical, though the principle of the latter is more 

 generally understood, and more easily repaired ; 

 lever watches, however, are neither expensive to 

 repair nor liable to derangement. The horizontal or 

 cylinder watch is liable to great tear and wear, but 

 performs with considerable accuracy. The duplex 

 watch, with a compensation-balance, when well 

 constructed, and treated with ordinary care, will 

 keep time with the greatest accuracy ; but being 

 delicate, it does not stand violent exercise : a bad 

 duplex watch is most expensive to repair. The 

 detached watch, the escapement of which is the 

 only one used in marine chronometers, is the most 

 perfect, but requires care. Repeaters are expen- 

 sive to repair as well as to purchase, but may be 

 as accurate as others. Watches shewing seconds 

 are often useful, and, if well made, are neither 

 expensive nor easily deranged. A watch may be 



' The possessor of a good picture would doubtless ; handsome, yet bad ; but a good watch is seldom 



unsightly. The spring for shutting the shells is 

 not so good as the snap ; it often allows dust to 

 penetrate to the works. The covers of hunting- 

 watches will not protect the glass when the hunters 

 are very flat The extreme accuracy of marine 

 chronometers is partly produced by their being 

 kept constantly in a horizontal position. They are 

 only required to shew equal time ; whether they 

 gain or lose is of little consequence, provided they 

 are regular, and keep their known rate. 



inquire into the ability of the artist before he in- 

 trusted him to retouch it ; and this caution is 

 equally necessary for a watch, as many of the best 

 construction have sustained irreparable injury from 

 the hands of unskilful workmen. Even bad 

 watches which are by far the greatest number 

 require the aid of better hands than those which 

 constructed them.' A clever artist may enable 

 even a bad watch to perform tolerably well. 

 Watches should ordinarily be cleaned every second 



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