Scientific Progress In The Jewelry Store

From Horology magazine, October, 1939

Scientific Progress In The Jewelry Store

A few years ago, in one of our large cities, several hundred horologists assembled to witness the first demonstration of a watch rate recorder in that part of the country.  The demonstration was conducted by an electrical engineer in charge of sales development.


In the brief time which he had had to get acquainted with the machine he had discovered that watches producing fine records were quite rare. But he had expected that at a meeting of horologists he would find a number of fine timepieces. However, when the demonstration started he found that many of those whose watches he tested protested that the indicated rates were not correct. Some claimed that their watches ran closer than the records showed, while others were surprised to get good records from watches which were known to perform poorly.


Although he could not explain the matter, the demonstrator knew that, just as it is impossible to fool a camera, the timing machine recorded the true rate of a watch at the time it was tested. For want of a satisfactory explanation, some of those present questioned the accuracy of the instrument and its reliability.


Within a short time, however, as a few horologists began to use timing machines and further information on their use was published, the trade as a whole began to appreciate their value and today it is no longer in question. The watch timing machine is accepted everywhere as the latest scientific contribution to horology and it is regarded as a necessary part of the equipment of every watch factory and watch repair shop. The only criticism heard is that it is an expensive instrument. While this may be so, it is also true that the ordinary fixtures in a jewelry store or repair shop are likewise expensive, but are considered necessary for the conduct of business.


As a result of the advent of the timing machine it can be truthfully said that watches today are being made better and serviced better than ever before. In shops having timing machines it is not at all unusual for watches to be tested in several positions and often at several stages of winding.


An indirect result of the use of these instruments has been the stimulation of interest in education. Horologists have found that while it is easier to do work properly, each technical addition to their equipment requires more knowledge. At no time within the history of the present generation of horologists have so many technical books been sold and so much interest shown in tools as at present.