220 



Report of the Kew Committee, 



the Committee to apply similar tests to telescopes submitted to them 

 for verification by opticians and others. 



VI. Rating of Watches. 



The arrangements for rating watches mentioned in previous 

 Reports have been carried on during the year with continued success, 

 and up to the present 1344 watches have been examined and reported 

 upon. 



510 entries of watches were made as contrasted with 490 during 

 the corresponding period of last year. They were sent for testing 

 in the following classes : — 



For class A, 463 ; class B, 25 ; and class C, 22. 



Of these 174 failed to gain any certificate; 19 passed in C, 21 in B, 

 296 in A, and 13 of the latter obtained the highest possible form of 

 certificate, the class A especially good. 



In Appendix III will be found statements giving the results of 

 trial of the 26 watches which obtained the highest numbers of marks 

 during the year, the premier position being attained — with 88*1 marks 

 — by a keyless, double-roller, going-barrel watch, submitted by Jos. 

 White, Earlsdon, Coventry. 



This total exceeds that of last year, and it is also extremely satis- 

 factory to note that a very marked increase has taken place in the 

 number of watches which have gained more than 80 marks. 



As some inconvenience was caused by the employment of tempo- 

 rary expedients to maintain the large watch-safe at an average of 

 65° F. for the " middle- temperature " test, a burner was procured and 

 fitted up with a shield, and the safe can now be kept at the desired 

 point, whilst at the same time no deleterious fumes of coal-gas can 

 penetrate into the interior chamber. 



The three rating safes are therefore now maintained by means of 

 gas and ice at practically the three constant temperatures of 40°, 65°, 

 and 90° F. respectively, all the year round. 



Special attention continues to be given to the examination of pocket 

 chronographs, in accordance with the request of tbe Cyclists' Union. 



Mating of Chronometers. — Since the institution of chronometer 

 trials, as mentioned in last year's Report, 27 movements have been 

 examined, and certificates issued giving the mean daily rate and 

 variation of rate at each change of temperature. 



The trial occupies 35 days, divided into 5 periods of 6 days each, 

 and 5 intermediate days, namely, 1 day at the commencement of each 

 period of test : — 



