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Repair \ "The Whole Story of the Waterbury" Note: the below text was taken from a small advertising booklet put out by the Waterbury Watch Company, advertising the simplicity of their long-wind watches. The text is reproduced here in full, but unfortunately we are unable to reproduce the illustrations at this time. However, the text is clear enough that it is still informative and enjoyable to read. The Whole Story of the WATERBURY To produce a watch so simple in construction that it could be sold cheaper than any other, and yet still be a reliable timekeeper, has been the problem for watchmakers the world over. The Swiss developed the making of watches by hand to the highest point, at the same time cheapening hand labor to the utmost possible extent. The Americans sought a solution in a different direction by making the parts of their watches by machine, and interchangeable. However, the cost of manufacture still remained too great for the watch for the millions. An enterprising Yankee company finally solved the problem by dispensing with the greater number of parts of a watch (reducing the number from 160 to 57!), making all of them by machinery and so easy of adjustment that expert labor was not needed to put them together. This crowning achievement by The Waterbury Watch Company in their Waterbury watch, which, though cheap is as perfect in its parts and as reliable in its timekeeping as any watch made. The winding pinion turns the spring wheel to which one end of the spring is fastened. The other end is attached to the arbor on which turns the movement. As it unwinds the minute hand goes with the movement, making one revolution every hour and twenty-eight with one winding. The watch has a spring nine feet long, from which the power is applied direct. This spring is very thin, it’s also very evenly tempered and almost impossible to break. This secures a uniform and steady movement and avoids expensive compensation and regulating. The power is applied direct (see page 3). The Waterbury dispenses with the full train of wheels ordinary in short wind watches, there being only two wheels in its train as here shown. Thus it is possible to sell the Waterbury at its low price. The Waterbury is a rotary movement, and turns on the center wheel as here shown. Hence the wear on the pinions is not so steadily in one place as in ordinary watches, and jeweling is not required, and the watch will run equally well in any position. The hour wheel here shown, with the hour hand attached, turns on the same pinion as the center wheel, but having less number of teeth, skips every other tooth of the pinion, hence goes slower as required. The regulator also here shown shortens or lengthens the hairspring, making the watch go faster or slower. As the movement revolves once every hour, and as the regulator (shown in full on last page) goes with it, its position is constantly changing. Hence when it is desired to regulate the watch, take the bezel off and find the regulator and move it to “S” or “F” (slow or fast) as may be necessary. The Waterbury Watch Company has one of the finest factories in the country, and the Waterbury watch is made with scrupulous care and exactness out of the best materials. A visit (which all are invited to make) would show an extent and variety of machinery, and a completeness and thoroughness of organization that would surprise one. As one passes through department after department and observes the working of wonderful automatic machines - which make parts so fine that they can scarcely be seen, and yet so accurate they can be taken at random and fitted together to form a perfect watch – as one notes the handling of the parts by dainty and skillful fingers, the delicacy of the process, and the thoroughness and care as to every detail, it is difficult to imagine they are not making hundred dollar watches. The enormous number now being made (over 1,500 daily), all exactly alike in every particular, enables the company to divide labor to such an extent that even the least important part of the watch receives a skilled, careful, and minute attention at the hands of the work people whose sole duty it is to bring that one part to its greatest perfection. Sold only by retail dealers in watches, priced $2.50. |