Chapter 3, No. 13. The watch should first be timed closely and then

rated for twenty-four hours in each position. It should be wound before being started in each position but should be set only on the first day so that the time is never disturbed.

The first position to be rated is universally Dial Up, then in succession Dial Down, Pendant Up, Pendant Right and Pendant Left. The daily total number of seconds fast or slow should be entered in the first column of the rate card after each twenty-four hours run. This column then constitutes the progressive rate from which the actual variation between the different positions is ascertained.

The figure in the upper square is first carried out to the adjoining column at its full value and then the difference between this figure and that of the second square is entered in the second square of second column, and so on until the difference between each of the succeeding squares of first column is registered in the second column.

If the figure in a square of first column is greater than that in the preceding square the carried out figure would be entered in second column as + If the figure is less than the preceding square it would be carried out as-.

The total variation in positions is obtained from the figures entered in second column. If these figures are all entered as either plus or minus it is necessary to merely subtract the lesser figure from the greater. If, however, some figures are entered as plus and others as minus it will be necessary to add the greater figure of each of the two denominations.

62. _Example No. 1, Three Positions._

Columbus, No. 358846, Open Face, 17 Jewels.

Repairs Made. New balance staff, two balance screws changed, hairspring trued and cleaned.

After timing the watch closely it was tested in three positions and found to have a variation of eleven seconds fast pendant up as per second column, Fig. 16.

Fig. 16

+--------------------------------------------------+ | No. _358846_ Make _Columbus_ | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | D U | + 1 | + 1 | + 4 | + 4 | | | P | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | D D | 0 | - 1 | + 7 | + 3 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | P U | +10 | +10 | +14 | + 7 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ 11 4

Investigation showed the hairspring to be pinned nearly correct, true level and in circle; balance true; regulator pins closed and motion satisfactory. A correction could have been made in one of several ways; either by making a slight alteration of the pinning point at the collet; correcting a possible slight error in poise or by slightly spreading the regulator pins.

As the extent of variation did not indicate any serious error at any particular point for a watch of this description the possible poise error and the slight variation in the pinning point were waived and the regulator pins were spread just enough so that slight equal vibration of the coil could be seen with a double eyeglass. After this alteration the mean time was found to be one second per hour slow which was corrected on the mean time screws and the next test showed that the variation had been reduced to four second as per fourth column, Fig. 16. The time consumed in making the alteration aside from the repairing was less than ten minutes.

63. _Example No. 2, Three Positions._

Ball No. B060816, Open Face, 17 Jewels.

Repairs made. Refinished balance pivots and cleaned. The first test in positions disclosed a variation of thirty-five seconds as per second column Fig. 17.

Investigation found the balance true; hairspring true, level and circle; regulator pins very nearly closed and the motion one and one-eighth turn. This rate like example No. 1, was also fast in the pendant up position, but the greater extent of the error indicated that there must be some serious poise error, and upon investigation this was found to be the case. A screw on the roller jewel side or at the bottom when the balance was at rest was found to be heavy. This was corrected and the next test showed a much improved rate although there was still a variation of eight seconds fast pendant up as per fourth column Fig. 17.

Fig. 17

+--------------------------------------------------+ | No. _B060816_ Make _Ball_ | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | D U | + 2 | + 2 | + 7 | + 7 | + 7 | + 7 | P | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | D D | + 2 | 0 | +14 | + 7 | +14 | + 7 | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | P U | +37 | +35 | +29 | +15 | +24 | +10 | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ 35 8 3

A better rate than this was desired and further examination proved that the locking of the pallet stones and escape teeth was quite strong and caused the pendant up motion to have a shorter arc than would have been entirely desirable. An alteration was made by pushing the receiving stone further back into the slot and rebanking the escapement. The third position test showed an improved motion and a variation of three seconds as per sixth column. The total time required for making the alterations was about three quarters of an hour.

64. _Example No. 3, Three Positions._

Elgin No. 7457488. Open Face, 21 Jewels.

Repairs made. Cleaned; polished pivots and new mainspring fitted. The first position test showed a variation of nineteen seconds as per second column, Fig. 18.

It will be noted that this example differs from Nos. 1 and 2, in that the rate is slow in the pendant up position. Examination showed all points satisfactory except that the regulator pins were spread considerably and allowed too much freedom of vibration for the coil.

Had this vibration been slight it would have been advisable to examine the poise. As it was considerable, however, the alteration made was to close the pins so that only slight vibration was visible with a strong glass.

Fig. 18

+--------------------------------------------------+ | No. _7457488_ Make _Elgin_ | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | D U | - 9 | - 9 | + 5 | + 5 | | | P | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | D D | -18 | - 9 | + 8 | + 3 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | P U | -46 | -28 | + 9 | + 1 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ 19 4

This watch was not equipped with mean time screws and it was therefore necessary to fit a pair of thin timing washers because closing the pins caused a gaining rate of two seconds per hour in the mean time. The next position test showed a variation of four seconds as per fourth column Fig. 18.

The time consumed in making the alteration and fitting the washers was about ten minutes.

65. _Example No. 4, Three Positions._

Hampden No. 1438676, Open Face, 21 Jewels.

Repairs made. New balance staff and hole jewel fitted and cleaned.

The first position test showed a variation of twelve seconds slow pendant up as per second column Fig. 19.

Fig. 19

+--------------------------------------------------+ | No. _1438676_ Make _Hampden | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | D U | + 2 | + 2 | + 2 | + 2 | | | P | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | D D | + 4 | + 2 | + 6 | + 4 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | P U | - 6 | -10 | + 9 | + 3 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ 12 2

Investigation found all points such as balance true, hairspring true, level and circle and the regulator pins reasonably satisfactory. The motion, however, was not as good as it should have been when the spring was nearly wound up. It was let down to where it would ordinarily be after about twenty-hours run and found to have barely one turn pendant up and a trifle over one turn in the flat positions. This proved that the motion was not satisfactory for a watch that had just been put in order and all pivots were examined for close end or side shake; they were found to be satisfactory and the mainspring was removed for examination and found to be somewhat set and about 0.01 mm. thinner than those generally used for this grade watch. A new mainspring was fitted and the motion was improved by about one-fourth of a turn and the next position test showed a variation of two seconds as per fourth column Fig. 19. The time consumed in examination and changing the mainspring was about twenty-five minutes.

The three position limit of variation allowed by most manufacturers and railroad inspectors is seven seconds from one position to any other. Records of thousands of watches on which the work has been carefully done in putting the watches in order, show that about seventy per cent of the watches will rate within five seconds in the three positions without making alterations and that only ten per cent will be close to the limit of seven seconds, while about twenty per cent will require alterations such as shown in the four examples above. (See Chapter XII, No. 60.)

One or two more examples might be introduced to show variations and corrections between dial up and dial down; this feature has been pretty well covered however in Chapter XI, and five position example No. 9 also shows a variation of the horizontal rates with correction.