How Freedom?

From The American Horologist magazine, January 1942

How Freedom?

How can freedom be acquired? By force? No. By knowledge and the proper application of scientific knowledge.


This applies to wars, to personal desires and business.


You and I are interested in our Government's safety; in our personal safety; in freedom from any and all exactations, which may include personal or freedom from financial obligations. How this freedom; how can I better serve my Government, self and family?


The answer is extremely simple and certainly possible. "Better and more complete knowledge of my profession."


How to acquire it? Use the National's Group Educational program.
It is available to you individually if your guild is not utilizing this educational program. Just write to the National office or this paper and full details will be sent at once. There are no obligations.


"Seek knowledge and acquire freedom."

Making the Elgin Grade 455

http://www.rdrop.com/~jsexton/watches/museum/elgin22630355.html

Follow this link for images of the Elgin 16 size, grade 455, B. W. Raymond railroad grade watch. Enjoy...

Question Box

From Horology magazine, April, 1939

Question Box

Trouble in the Train

Editor Horology, 
Dear Sir:
I have a problem that I would like to have answered in your Question Box.

I have had several watches with the same trouble and now have an eight day Swiss traveler's clock. I use a cleaning machine and on this particular job, which was a little more gummed than usual, I brushed and pegged the plates and cleaned the pinions with pegwood also, before cleaning in the machine. After assembling this clock the train is perfectly free and runs completely down, but when I put the fork in and escape it either by pushing the fork back and forth or by putting the balance in and letting it escape normally, it locks up in the train tightly enough to stay locked even with the balance and fork removed. The least touch frees it and it runs completely down again.

I have examined every leaf in every pinion and every tooth in every wheel with an 18X loupe and simply cannot find the trouble. I have encountered this trouble several times before in small watches and by sheer luck got them going, but I do not know why. If you can enlighten me on this problem it will be a very big load off my shoulders and will be greatly appreciated.

R. T. W.

Answer : Your description seems to indicate that the watches and clocks stop chiefly on account of worn bearings. As soon as power is applied to the train, either a pivot sticks in an oval shaped hole or the relations between gears become altered. Such faults may escape notice when allowing the train to run down but become apparent as soon as the power is checked by the escapement.

The Waltham Model 1883

The Waltham model 1883 is a big, heavy 15 jewel watch.

Here's a few photos...

http://www.rdrop.com/~jsexton/watches/museum/waltham14374603.html

Watch Anatomy

The TimeZone watch school has posted a really nice PDF glossary of watch parts, loaded with information.

Check it out here:

http://people.timezone.com/mdisher/WatchSchool/pdfs/TZIllustratedGlossary.pdf

To U. H. A. of A. Members

From The American Horologist magazine, January 1942

To U. H. A. of A. Members

During the past year the United Horological Association of America has completed many accomplishments. These have been enumerated from time to time in your copy of THE AMERICAN HOROLOGIST.  During the same period the industry is proud of the things we have done and the gains we have made.


All this has been possible because of the interest the individual member took in the organization. The strength of the United Horological Association is not in the State or in the National organization, but in the individual member and his Guild. You are the contact we have with the public and on your actions depends our standing in the communities.


Your officers deeply a pprecia te the fact that you have seen fit to associate with us and help us this year. We hope to see you at a meeting of your Guild so that we may personally tell you how much we enjoy your support.

With the coming of another year many problems confront the Horologist. The problem of war and possibly the problem of the sort of peace which will follow the war. Two duties also confront us; the duty we owe our country and the duty to our fellow watchmaker. While we can accomplish some good while working individually, the most beneficent results can be obtained when working thru an organization such as the United Horological Association of America.


Won't you get in touch with your Secretary if you have not already done so and renew for 1942 today. We need your help and membership more than ever.

Fraternally yours,

ORVILLE R. HAGANS,

National Executive Secretary

U. H. A. of A.

Elgin Grade 303

Here is another Elgin 12 size, Grade 303.


This style of dial and this watch size were very popular in the 1920s.