Rules and Practice for Adjusting Watches

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Walter J. Kleinlein

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Title: Rules and Practice for Adjusting Watches

Author: Walter J. Kleinlein

Release Date: December 19, 2011 [EBook #38340]

Language: English

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RULES AND PRACTICE

FOR

Adjusting Watches

BY

WALTER J. KLEINLEIN

AUTHOR OF THE WATCH ADJUSTER AND HIS WORK

Copyright, 1920, by Walter J. Kleinlein

All rights reserved

PREFACE

In the early days of horology the apprentice was taught the art of making a complete watch. Production was slow, very few duplicate watches were constructed, and it was necessary that extra material be made individually by hand in the same way that the original part was produced. As time passed the value of the repairer was indicated by his ability to make new parts and to replace them so that the watch would again be in running condition. This was the prevailing situation for many years and the repairer was judged according to his skill in making and finishing the various parts.

A similar method of judging ability is still in force among some employers, although the development of the industry into machine and specialized work has made many changes in regard to the most important duties of the repairer.

It is no longer necessary for him to know how to make a complete watch and only on occasional instances is it necessary for him to make a part. Genuine material for modern watches is supplied by the manufacturer at less expense than it can be produced by the individual and in this particular branch of the work the repairer's requirements have been very considerably curtailed.

A more exacting and a higher standard of timekeeping has developed, however, and in this field the requirements of the watchmaker have increased to the extent that it is no longer sufficient to merely restore a good watch to running condition. It must keep time. This development has grown gradually and surely and the past twenty-five years may be assumed as the period of greatest advance.

It has been made possible by scientific and practical refinements which permit the adjustment of watches so that they will keep time within closely defined allowances under varying conditions.

The larger problem of the successful repairer of today, therefore, is that of understanding the principles governing close time and of knowing how and where to look for the causes of variation, so that the higher standard of timekeeping may be restored in case of damage since the original adjustment.

It is naturally essential to know when material is correct, how to make it fit in its proper place, and how to make and finish some of the individual parts. It is also commendable to be skilful in all classes of lathe work, as this at times gains prestige for the workman through restoring old model watches to running condition.

It is, however, a disadvantage to develop one's ability in making parts for watches of a bygone age and neglecting the training that happens to be most essential and of daily advantage in repairing modern watches so that they will keep time as consistently after repairs have been made as they did when new.

The object of this book is to present the essential points of watch adjusting in an elementary and non-technical way that will interest the average watchmaker and to enable him to have a convenient source of information, covering the necessary refinements that are fundamental in repairing, regulating and adjusting the better class of watches.

The author trusts that the experienced successful watchmaker will read the book with interest and also with profit and that the novice will be enabled to foresee that there is something more to the art of watchmaking and repairing than that of merely assembling a watch and making it tick.

It so happens that the author has had many years of experience in both factories and repair shops and that a considerable part of his duties have been devoted to instruction.

He has for a long time felt the need of a book that would, above all else, be practical in its description of the rules that an adjuster follows and which would prove its value in actual experience by being personal as far as permissible in the same sense that detailed shop instruction would be.

Since writing the article entitled The Watch Adjuster and His Work several years ago numerous inquiries have been received, for this class of information and the present book is an effort to meet this demand in a manner that can be followed without highly technical or theoretical education.

To promote advancement and interest in everyday practical results is the foremost consideration, and to this end definite means are presented for personal development and for obtaining better results from high grade watches than can possibly be obtained without a fair knowledge of the final details which go so far toward assuring close time.

WALTER J. KLEINLEIN,

July 21, 1920

Waltham, Mass.

CONTENTS

PART I.—THE ADJUSTMENT TO TEMPERATURE

CHAPTER I

The Compensation Balance, Controlling Factor

1. General Method of Obtaining Results

2. How to Place Screws When the Rate is Either Slow

or Fast in Heat Compared to Cold.

3. Composition of and Distortions of Compensation

Balances.

4. Tests and Experiments.

5. Effect of Shifting Screws to Different Locations.

6. Permanency of the Temperature Adjustment.

CHAPTER II

Equipment for Temperature Adjusting

7. Various Methods Available.

8. Electrically Equipped Oven, Description and Dimensions.

9. The Lower Temperature Box.

CHAPTER III

Difference in Observatory and Commercial Systems

10. Observatory System.

11. Commercial System.

12. Rating Card and Method of Calculating Variation

13. Value of the Normal Period Rate.

14. Definition of the Characters Used on Rate Cards

for Gain or Loss in Time.

15. Increasing or Decreasing the Extremes of Temperature.

CHAPTER IV

Some Practical Methods of Correction

16. Example of Maintaining a Pleasing Appearance of

the Balance.

17. Correction Varies When Screws are Above or Below

Normal Size and Weight

18. Over or Under Compensation.

19. Special Corrections for Over or Under Compensation.

20. Example Illustrating that Temperature Variation

is Not Always Due to the Balance and Spring.

CHAPTER V

The Middle Temperature Error

21. Why this Error Exists and What it Consists of.

22. How Nickel Steel Balances Overcome this Error.

PART II.—THE ADJUSTMENTS TO ISOCHRONISM AND POSITIONS

CHAPTER VI

General Consideration

23. Optional Allowances for Variation.

24. Some Necessary Requirements for Learning Adjusting.

25. Train and Escapement Freedom.

CHAPTER VII

Theory and Practice

26. Theory of Frictional Errors and the Isochronal

Hairspring.

27. How Theory Works Out in Practice and what

Isochronism Consists of.

28. Common Causes of Extreme Isochronal Variation.

CHAPTER VIII

Relative Pinning Points of the Hairspring

29. Original Springing of Watches.

30. How Pinning Point Alterations are Made.

31. Even Coil Hairsprings Very Incorrect for Some Watches.

32. How to Find the Correct Collet Pinning Point for Any Watch.

33. Results in Vertical Position Rates due to Changing

the Pinning Point.

34. The Natural Position Error and Why it Cannot be Eliminated.

35. Principle of Pinning Point Alterations.

36. Same Principles Apply in Case of American Hunting Models.

CHAPTER IX

Manipulation of the Regulator Pins

37. Altering the Length of Spring by Regulator Pins

38. Method of Examining Vibration of Over Coil

Between the Pins.

39. Position Corrections Obtained by Spreading or Closing

the Regulator Pins.

CHAPTER X

Factory and Repair Shop Adjusting

40. Routine Varies According to Circumstances.

41. Considering the Watchmaker in the Small Shop of

One or Two Workmen.

42. Advantages of Understanding Adjusting Even

Though Watches are Not Tested in Positions or

Isochronism.

43. Concerning Watchmakers of Limited Experience.

CHAPTER XI

Preliminary Notes and Practice for Beginners

44. Practical Suggestions.

45. The First Point of Consideration in Learning to Adjust.

46. Causes of Variation Between Dial Up and Dial Down.

47. Short Motion Generally Indicates Where to Find Trouble.

48. Short Motion Sometimes Caused by Burr on Opposite Pivot.

49. Examining the Hairspring.

50. Exceptions in Regard to Gaining Rate and Short Motion.

51. Detailed Practice.

52. Which Rate to Use as the Unit for Comparison.

53. Damaged Pivots, Pitted End Stones and Methods of Correction.

CHAPTER XII

Preliminary Notes and Practice on Vertical Corrections

54. Five Principal Causes and Corrections for Pendant Up Variation.

55. Poor Motion, Cause and Effect.

56. Regulator Pin Practice for Pendant Up Variation.

57. Pendant Up Corrections Through Poise of Balance

58. Concentricity of the Hairspring.

59. Correcting Pendant Up Variation Through Pinning

Point Alterations.

60. Percentage of Watches Requiring Correction of

Position Rates

CHAPTER XIII

Concrete Examples Showing Definite Three Position Alterations and Labor Utilized

61. Order of Position Timing and Method of Calculating the Variation.

62. Example No. 1, Three Positions, Columbus.

63. Example No. 2, Three Positions, Ball.

64. Example No. 3, Three Positions, Elgin.

65. Example No. 4, Three Positions, Hampden.

CHAPTER XIV

Concrete Examples Showing Definite Five