Dr Guillaume, Discoverer of Invar, Passes

From Horology magazine, July 1938

DR. GUILLAUME, DISCOVERER OF INVAR, PASSES

DR. GUILLAUME, DISCOVERER OF INVAR, PASSES Dr. Charles-Edouard Guillaume, famous for his researches with nickel steel alloys, died at Sevres, France on June 13th at the age of 77. A native of Switzerland, Dr. Guillaume grew up in the Jura mountain region where the manufacture of watches is a leading industry.

While yet a young man he was given a position at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures where he began his now classic researches into the behavior of nickel steel alloys, which culminated in the discovery of invar and elinvar. He was the recipient of many coveted honors among which were membership in the French Academy of Science and the Nobel Prize in 1920.

In January 1937, upon his retirement from the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, a medal commemorating his services was struck off.

The horological industry in particular has benefited from Dr. Guillaume's work and mourns the passing of its most distinguished research engineer. Funeral services were held on June 17th in Fleurier, Switzerland, where he was born. 

The Influence of Observatory Trials on the Progress of Chronometry

From Horology magazine, July 1938

The Influence of Observatory Trials on the Progress of Chronometry

The Journal Suisse d'Horolgerie has recently concluded an interesting series of articles on this subject. Opening the discussion the author traces the history of chronometric trials in the leading European observatories. He points out that the first tests for ordinary watches were given at the Geneva observatory in 1790 by the Societe des Arts. A total of 19 pieces were submitted.

Until 1847 manufacturers were allowed to select the tests to which their watches were submitted. This freedom of choice, however, did not provide any basis of comparison of competitive makes and in that year a series of uniform tests was adopted. They included trials in 6 positions and 3 temperatures.

While the observatory at Geneva was in existence prior to the institution of chronometric trials, the observatory at Neuchatel was created specifically for this purpose upon the demands of watch manufacturers in the vicinity. The first trials, started in 1860, required watches to be tested in only 2 positions. This was soon found inadequate and in 1873 the 5 position tests were adopted. In 1876 an annual prize award was created, which was given to the manufacturer submitting not less than 12 pieces and obtaining the best results. This was intended as a safeguard against awarding the prize for an isolated .piece. Later the requirements were changed from 12 to 6 pieces as the minimum. In 1873 the tests were extended to cover 5 positions and a few years later a third temperature test was added.

In France, the observatory at Besancon first inaugurated chronometric tests in 1885. These were based on the Geneva trials. Kew observatory, in England, likewise followed the Geneva trials when its own tests were started in 1884.

Coming to the technical portion of his subject, the author, E. Guyot, cites the results obtained at the N euchatel observatory with the various forms of escapements during the period 1862-1900. He follows with a comparison of the results obtained with various forms of hairsprings and balances. One fact stands out most clearly as a result of the figures quoted and it is that since the introduction of the Guillaume balance in 1899 the temperature variations have been greatly lessened and the secondary error reduced. Of the watches submitted to the observatory since that time, the number of brass and steel bimetallic balances dropped uptil in 1910 there were only 5 out of 181 watches which had them. The last portion of the article deals with the apparent improvement in the rate of a timepiece with an increase in its diameter.

The conclusions derived are summarized by the author in four statements:

1. They serve to stimulate the watch manufacturers by inducing them to make better products.

2. They play an important role in watch factory advertising. By improving business they are enabled to devote more money to chronometric research.

3. They supply important information about the various systems used: escapement, balance, hairspring, etc. and permit the elimination of unsatisfactory systems.

4. They contribute to the maintenance of a high standard of horological workmanship.

Elgin Advertising, 1924 - Timed By The Stars

Elgin takes the time from the stars and puts it in your pocket

The Celestial Timepiece - 
and how Elgin uses it to make watches better

A few centuries ago men thought that their destinies were controlled by the stars.

Today we no longer look to the stars to forecast the future.

But sill, in another way, the stars control us.

The stars are the final arbiters of time - and by time almost all human destinies are governed.

Every time you look at your Elgin Watch you come in contact with the stars.  For Elgin maintains its own Time Observatory - in charge of astronomers of national prominence.

It is in daily use, every working day of the year - practical use.

Here the Elgin astronomers take the time direct from the stars.

With star observations almost unbelievably exact they check the master clocks.

And second after second, hour by hour, the master clocks send out the precise time to the Elgin work-rooms and timing laboratories to control every operation in making and timing your Elgin Watch.

If you should wonder why it is that Elgin goes to all this pains and expense of maintaining its own observatory, please bear in mind that Elgin is the professional time-keeper.

Everything that Elgin does is done in the professional spirit.

More than any other one thing it is this spirit - as it shows itself in practical timekeeping quality - which is leading people to buy better and better watches.

ELGIN

The Professional Timekeeper

The new Elgin "B. W. Raymond" Railroad Watch is supplied with two types of balance wheel - the Elgin regular steel balance and the Elgin special Invar balance.