REELS AND THEIR CARE 49 



as you must set the screws, test it, and perhaps 

 repeat this two or three times before all is 

 well. 



The cap screws should be turned down easily 

 and the spool tried, to see if there is any play 

 longitudinally. Some reels require a little play, 

 while others do not. 



Before touching a screw try the spool and 

 ascertain how much play it has. Then lay your 

 watch in front of you, and holding the reel in the 

 left hand with the handle up, so that the handle 

 and gears will revolve horizontally, grasp the 

 handle with the thumb and first two fingers of 

 the right hand, the second finger on the handle- 

 knob, and spin the reel smartly as the second 

 hand of your watch passes a certain point, not- 

 ing how long it takes for the handle to lose all 

 motion. Try this three or four times until you 

 are certain that the spool will spin just so long 

 each time. If there is a line on the reel, tuck 

 its ends under with a toothpick, to prevent it 

 from striking the pillars and retarding the 

 spool. 



In turning the cap screws down, test the spool 

 for play and speed, bearing in mind that since 

 cleaning and oiling all bearings it should spin 

 several seconds longer than when foul with 

 gummed oil that is, unless you have put too 



