RR Watch Adjustments

[gbrewer]

Were adjustments actually made by RR watch inspectors (or jewelers) for temperature, position or isochronism, or were these "adjustments" generally only a part of the design and manufacturing process?

[Don Dahlberg]

Watches go out of adjustment through rough treatment of the watch in use and due to handling during the cleaning and overhaul process. Major repairs like replacing the balance staff require major readjusting. The RR inspector would need to have the skills to put the watch back right.

The temperature adjustment is not one that a watchmaker would have to do. This is based on the location of the screws on the balance. Maybe if the hairspring were replaced, the temperature rates should be checked, but that would be about the only time.

Isochronism is a matter of having good action and proper overcoil shape to the hairspring. The watchmaker had better be able to put the hairspring shape right. Having good action is part of the goal of cleaning and overhauling the watch.

Finally the positional errors are due to distortions in the shape and poise of the balance as well as distortions in the hairspring shape. Again a watchmaker should be able to correct these problems.

Watches are like a race car. To run at peak performance, they require continuous monitoring, overhaul and tuning.

The standards for a RR watch were not all that high. 30 seconds per week is not hard to achieve. If the watch came in every two weeks and was within a minute of the right time, it was withing requirements. If it failed, a good cleaning and simple adjustments should be easy to achieve. After taking the first three courses at NAWCC, I was able to bring even my low jeweled watch to railroad standard or much better. It is not that hard. It does take time, because it is trial and error to get it right.

Don

[Joe Straub]

Don,

Thanks for the nice explanation.

You have confirmed the timekeeping capabilities of a well maintained pocket watch that I have been observing with my own watches, even a couple of seven jewel Elgins I have.

Having available the services of a good watchmaker, as I have been fortunate to have, allows me to carry a pocket watch everyday.

Without the services of a good watchmaker, I would have shortly put my carry watches in a drawer and just got them out to look at once in a while.

My observation of my likes and dislikes in watches is about the same as with guns - - - the more accurate they are, the better I usually like them - - - and to find that out, I need to carry the first and shoot the second.

Joe Straub