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I). H. CHURCH. 
 
THE EVOLUTION 
 
 AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 AS APPLIED TO 
 
 THE MANlirftCTURE OF WATCH IIS 
 
 AT WALTHAM, MASS., BY 
 
 THE RMEBICflN WALTHAN WATCH COMPANY 
 
 
 
 ftY E! A. MARSH 
 
 WITH HALE-TONE ILLUSTBATIorLS. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 Geo. K. Ha/.litt & Co., Publishers. 
 
 1896. 
 
 V. 
 
TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 
 Office o f th« 
 
 JAN? 6 1900 
 
 Register of Copyright*. 
 
 54224 
 
 Copyrighted by 
 Geo. K. Hazlitt & Co. 
 
 I S. >( i. 
 
 SECOND COPY, 
 
PREEACE. 
 
 An apology, to possess its highest value to all parties 
 concerned, ought to be both prompt and unsolicited. 
 The writer of the following" pages desires, therefore, to 
 apologize in advance for the short-comings and imperfec- 
 tions which may be found in this briel review of some oj 
 the steps of mechanical progress in the manufacture oi 
 watches on the American System. The work of prepar- 
 ing this brief history was performed in connection with 
 the every-day factory duties of the writer and. therefore, 
 subject to frequent interruptions and delays. It was not 
 expected that it would be embodied in any more perma- 
 nent form than in the columns of the monthly trade jour- 
 nal for which it was written. 
 
 E. A. MARSH. 
 
 Waltham, Ma *., February, iSgb. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 As mankind develop in intelligence and culture, their 
 wants become more numerous and varied and their 
 requirements more exacting. The supply of one want 
 but briefly anticipates the creation of a new one. which 
 in turn demands satisfaction, so that the great and grow- 
 ing business of the world seems to be to supply its vari- 
 ous wants. To a certain extent this supplv business pos- 
 sesses the nature of a barter, in that it is an exchange of 
 commodities, not always a direct exchange, indeed, it 
 seldom is so simple a matter as that, yet in an indirect 
 way all business as such is simplv a channel through 
 which the multitudinous wants of mankind find their sup- 
 ply. As the great majority of people have certain wants 
 in common, the matter of providing an adequate supplv 
 becomes very important, and calls for special means or 
 agencies through which to work, so that it follows that 
 the better the means of supplv the cheaper can be the 
 supply obtained and the want satisfied. So that it is by 
 no means an indication of laziness or indolence in an 
 individual if he uses his brains in devising an easier, or 
 
 7 
 
b INTRODUCTION. 
 
 quicker, or cheaper, or better method of performing his 
 work. On the contrary, it will in many or in most cases 
 prove quite the contrary fact. 
 
 It is one of the inherent conditions of human nature, 
 especially of physical nature, that it is susceptible to 
 fatigue. It is also a fact that a condition of weariness is 
 not conducive to the attainment of the highest results, 
 either in quantity or quality of work produced. If one 
 of the qualities demanded in any certain kind of work 
 be the highest attainable degree of uniformity, it will be 
 readily admitted that the individual workmen, with the 
 certainty of constantly recurring periods of fatigue, 
 which make imperative corresponding periods of rest, is 
 at a great disadvantage when in competition with an 
 impersonal and tireless machine which is capable of pro- 
 ducing work of a like kind. The man gets tired, or 
 nervous, or is not feeling well, or is inattentive, or care- 
 less and indifferent. The machine has no such weak- 
 nesses, and though its work is not held up to the stand- 
 ard quality by any domination of its own conscience, yet 
 its mechanical functions are so invariably exercised that 
 its product of work will surpass that of its human 
 competitor, not alone in quantity, but in exact uni- 
 formity as well. How much better then is a man than a 
 machine? Within certain limits the machine is the 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 better, for the reasons already stated. Still, the powers 
 or capabilities of the machine are limited to a very nar- 
 row compass, i. e.. it can perform the particular duty 
 for which it was made, whereas the man. the human 
 machine, is capable of adaptation to the performance of 
 of a great variety of duties. But within the field of its 
 capacity the properly designed and zvell made machine will 
 outstrip the man. Especially will this fact be apparent 
 in the production of articles which from their nature 
 demand the exercise of special skill and unremitting care 
 and attention in their fabrication. Work of such nature 
 calls for a great degree of nervous strain on the individ- 
 ual engaged in producing it. The expenditure of nerv- 
 ous energy entails fatigue, which in turn reduces the 
 ability to exercise the needful skill or to concentrate the 
 operator's attention, and a lessened quantity and inferior 
 quality of product results. 
 
 If it is desired to produce large numbers of articles 
 which shall be substantially alike, and which are com- 
 posed of a variety of parts, it is evident that economy in 
 production will be best secured by a subdivision of the 
 labor, by which large numbers of similar parts shall be 
 produced bv the same workman. It is also evident that 
 if the large number of required pieces whose function is 
 the same, can be made with dimensions exactlv uniform. 
 
IO INTRODUCTION. 
 
 there will result a great reduction in cost of manufacture 
 because of the avoidance of any individual or special fit- 
 ting of the various parts. 
 
 Such a system of manufacture has within the last fifty 
 years come into very general adoption in all extensive 
 concerns, and from what has been said, it will be evident 
 that its success must depend upon the adoption of 
 machines, and the comparatively small amount of individ- 
 ual skill demanded. So far as is known to the writer, 
 the most complete and comprehensive system of manu- 
 facturing on the interchangeable system, in its earlier 
 years, was introduced by the United States Government 
 for the manufacture of army muskets, at the United 
 States Armory at Springfield, Mass. Credit for a large 
 share of the mechanical excellence of that system, and 
 for the invention of many of the ingenious machines then 
 and still in use for that work, belongs to the then master 
 mechanic at the armory, Cyrus Buckland. One of the 
 interested students and great admirers of that ingenious 
 mechanism in those early days was a young Boston 
 watchmaker named Dennison. who was convinced that 
 by the construction of suitable machines it would be not 
 only possible but entirely practicable to manufacture the 
 delicate mechanism of the pocket watch on the inter- 
 changeable system; and feeling that such a scheme was 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 1 
 
 feasible and might be made to yield a good manufactur- 
 ing profit, he endeavored to establish a watch factory, to 
 be conducted on that system of manufacturing". After 
 years of delay he succeeded in organizing a company 
 and in beginning the work of preparation. As his plan 
 was to substitute machinery for skilled labor to a large 
 degree, it was of course needful to design and build the 
 special machines required. The field was new: experi- 
 ence could afford little assistance; money was by no 
 means plentiful, and it was therefore needful to proceed 
 with caution, so that expensive mistakes might be 
 avoided. It was. moreover, an uncertain matter as to 
 the magnitude of the business to be done, assuming that 
 the new manufacturing system should prove successful. 
 It is no detraction from the ability or the ingenuity of 
 the original mechanics of the watch factory that they did 
 not at that early date attempt the use of elaborate and 
 complicated machines, such as we now have in use. 
 Such an attempt at that time might indeed have given 
 evidence of inventive or mechanical ability, but it would 
 also have been an indication of poor business judgment, 
 and would have been a waste of the little money then 
 available. Large capital is an absolute necessity in the 
 manufacture and employment of automatic watch 
 machinery to any general extent, and in this branch of 
 
12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 business, as well as in almost all others, the larger con- 
 cerns possess this great advantage over their smaller 
 competitors. 
 
 If it were possible, it would be interesting to review 
 the various forms of machines which have successively 
 been used in watch making on the American svstem; 
 which system, as has been suggested, consists in making- 
 large numbers of pieces of exactly uniform dimensions, 
 so that they may be used interchangeably. As the onlv 
 practical means of such manufacture, the system pro- 
 posed and demanded special machines for the perform- 
 ance of the work, not only for the sake of economy, but 
 also to do away with necessity for special skill in the 
 individual workman. Such a review is. however, 
 impossible. Most of the discarded or displaced machines 
 have been destroyed. But of those which remain we 
 may make a brief study, sufficient we trust to note the 
 direction and path of progress in the evolution of the 
 more complicated and costly machines now in use. 
 
EVOLUTION Or AUTOMATIC MACHINEPV. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 In the review of machinery employed in watch mak- 
 ing, it will be both natural and proper to consider, in the 
 first place, the machines employed in the production of 
 the plates. Of course the great bulk of the work on 
 the plates is in the nature of turning, which involves the 
 use of special chucks, and to a certain extent, of special 
 lathes also. By the death of the late Ambrose Webster. 
 the writer is deprived of an authority in certain matters 
 of historical nature, for Mr. Webster was, during some 
 of the early years of the Waltham factory, immediately 
 engaged in the making of tools and machinery, and was 
 well informed as to the origin of some of the foundation 
 devices which have been universally adopted in Amer- 
 ican watch factories, and which by their evident value 
 have also commended themselves to the attention of 
 manufacturers in other lines. One of those primary 
 devices, and perhaps the most important, is that of the 
 " draw-in chuck. " so called from the method of its 
 
H 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 operation, it being caused to grasp the enclosed object 
 
 by being drawn into the tapering mouth of the lathe 
 
 spindle. It is also known as the ''split chuck," from 
 
 the form of its construction. Probably the oldest form 
 
 of such chuck is found in the "Aiken's awl," (Fig. i) 
 
 which is still in use in the 
 
 hollow awl handle, rilled 
 
 ■^b>> 'WB with an assortment of awls 
 
 % m ;£ y 
 
 ^k if- and other simple tools. This 
 
 awl handle is constructed 
 with a sleeve or socket, the 
 mouth of which is bevelled 
 or tapered, and the inner 
 end tapped with a screw 
 thread. The chuck, at its 
 inner end, is threaded, while 
 its outer end is bevelled to 
 correspond with the socket which receives it. The 
 projecting part is made square, to fit an accompanying 
 wrench, and the chuck being split nearly to the inner 
 end, forms two jaws which grasp the tool as the chuck 
 is screwed in. It is not now known whether in origin- 
 ally adapting this chuck to watchmaking lathes, the 
 projecting squared portion was retained, though it is 
 believed that it was so retained for a time, but was 
 
 Fig. i. 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 1 5 
 
 succeeded by a solid rod or screw which extended 
 through the axis of the lathe spindle and was operated 
 by some sort of wrench applied to its outer end. This 
 form of construction naturally suggested the use of a 
 permanent handle, i. e.. the " hand wheel " which is 
 now in universal use. Still later the solid rod was suc- 
 ceeded by a hollow one. and the form of the closing 
 chuck modified, until there was evolved the spring- 
 chuck and draw-in spindle, as now used in all watch- 
 maker's lathes. Credit for the latter stage of improve- 
 ment doubtless belongs to Mr. C. S. Moseley, who intro- 
 duced it while the original of the Waltham watch 
 factory was located in Roxbury, Mass. 
 
 Without doubt the early form of this split (or spring ) 
 chuck was used for holding wire, or small pieces of 
 cylindrical form, but later the outer end of the chuck 
 was enlarged, so as to hold the round discs of brass used 
 for plates and wheels. But for holding work to be 
 turned on its face, and which it was desired to duplicate 
 or multiply in large numbers, and of exact and uniform 
 thickness, the " draw-in chuck " possessed an inherent 
 imperfection. If. in operating upon a succession of 
 pieces, which it was desired to have of uniform thick- 
 ness, one piece should be a little larger than another, 
 the chuck could not be drawn into the taper mouth of 
 
1 6 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the spindle to the extent which the smaller pieces 
 would allow, consequently the larger pieces would be 
 turned thinner than the smaller ones. A similar effect 
 would be produced by unduly straining the draw-in 
 spindle. To overcome this inherent fault, some one 
 (probably Moseley). very ingeniously modified the 
 construction of the lathe so that the chuck should be held 
 stationary, as to any lengthwise motion, and the clos- 
 ing of the chuck be effected by the endwise movement 
 of the outside spindle. This form of construction, 
 although varied in some particulars, has been in 
 almost universal use in all watch factories for about 
 thirty years or more, and w r ill doubtless continue. This 
 form of lathe is known as the ''three bearing," or more 
 properly, "the slide spindle lathe." (Fig. 2.) 
 
 In 1873. Mr. C. V. Woerd designed and patented a 
 modified form of " slide spindle lathe." which was 
 nominally a two-bearing lathe, the third bearing being 
 obtained by making a long telescope fit of the draw-in 
 spindle in the rear end of the running spindle. With 
 very nice fitting, such a lathe would run fairly well for a 
 time, but it never was a satisfactory form of construc- 
 tion, and was abandoned. In the view of this lathe, as 
 shown (Fig. 3), it will be observed that it is made to 
 close the chuck without the use of the ''hand-wheel," 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 17 
 
i8 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the closing being performed by the action of a stiff 
 spiral spring, mounted on the draw-in spindle, while the 
 opening was done by means of a foot lever connected 
 
 Fig. j. — WoercVs Two-Bearing Slide Spindle Lathe, 
 
 with] the forked bell crank lever attached to the lathe 
 head. While this was not the original form of self-clos- 
 ing lathe, (as springs had for many years been used to 
 operatt^the draw-in spindle of small lathes for very light 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 19 
 
 work ) . yet it was an advance toward a better form of 
 self-closing lathe (Fig. 4). which has. by successive 
 steps, reached a form of construction so useful as to be 
 extensively employed, largely for the reason of its 
 adaptability to automatic operation, and. from that fact, 
 being peculiarly fitted to be incorporated in the more 
 
 Fig. 4. — Self-Closing, Three-Beating Slide Swindle Lathe. 
 
 complex forms of machinery which are made automatic 
 throughout. 
 
 Having thus briefly sketched the growth of the chuck 
 and the lathe, we reach the point of their joint operation 
 in the manufacture of watch plates. It was the early 
 method in this factory to employ the slide spindle lathe, 
 above described, with hand wheel for closing and open- 
 ing the chuck for holding the plates, in conjunction with 
 the common form of slide rest with the two slides, each 
 
20 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 movable by screws turned by the two hands of the 
 operator. Later the hand wheel was succeeded by 
 the self-closing form of lathe, the opening of the chuck 
 being performed by a combination of levers operated 
 by foot. Then came the substitution of levers in place 
 of the feed screws for manipulating the slide rest. 
 Still later came an attachment to the lathe head for 
 operating another tool, which served to round or bevel 
 the edge of the plate after being faced by the slide rest 
 tools. 
 
 A story is told of a young musical student who 
 claimed that he could write a musical composition which 
 should be correct, and yet be beyond the ability of his 
 teacher to play. As his teacher expressed doubts as to 
 the young student's ability in that direction, he was 
 requested to submit his composition for trial. On lay- 
 ing it before his teacher for him to plav on the piano- 
 forte, there seemed to be nothing unusually difficult, 
 until he came to a passage which demanded the use of 
 the two hands at near the extremities of the kevboard, 
 while there was call for a note to be struck on one of 
 the keys near the center. Of course the professor 
 stopped, with the exclamation that "such a passage 
 could not possibly be played by any one." But the 
 youth assured the master that it was not only possible 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 21 
 
2 2 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 of execution, but was by no means difficult, and seat- 
 ing himself at the instrument, he began the composition, 
 and when he reached the peculiar passage he bowed 
 his head and struck the required key with his nose. 
 In the case of this plate-turning lathe, the operator's 
 two hands are engaged in manipulating the slide rest, 
 and his two feet in stopping and starting the lathe, and 
 opening the chuck. As a means of operating the cor- 
 nering stool above mentioned, the knee of the operator is 
 brought into service with perfect success. 
 
 It is obvious that a person could attend to but one 
 lathe of the kind described, and that the watch plate 
 would require a large succession of turnings, each of 
 which would require a special chuck, consequently a 
 very large number of lathes would be demanded, beside 
 the consumption of much time in changing chucks and 
 adjusting the tools. 
 
 Within two years, however, Mr. D. H. Church has 
 constructed two machines for plate turning, which mark 
 a new departure in that direction, the novelty being in 
 their adaptation to the performance of a number of turn- 
 ings, equivalent to a number of machines and operators. 
 The first of these machines is designed for turning the 
 recesses in pillar plates, such as are shown in the accom- 
 panying illustration (Fig. 6), which shows the train side 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 2 1 
 
 of a 16-size plate, with recesses turned for the barrel, 
 the escape wheel, the pallets, the balance, and the bear- 
 ing for the intermediate setting wheel, also a small 
 recess for the center pinion. The blank plates, having 
 been faced on both sides, and having the diameter 
 turned, and the dial feet holes made, are placed in a 
 tube at the left hand end of the machine, whence, they 
 are taken, one at a time, 
 by a swinging carrier arm, 
 and are placed in the chuck 
 of the first running spindle. 
 By the action of a cam on 
 a shaft below and parallel 
 with the running spindle, 
 which is at rest, one of the 
 slides of the compound tool 
 carriage is moved toward 
 the work, which carries the 
 turning tool into operative position, and the chuck spindle 
 being at the same time set in motion, the tool com- 
 mences its work of cutting the recess, beginning at its 
 outer edge. When the tool has cut to the proper 
 depth, another cam comes into action, and the tool is 
 moved across the work, turning toward the center of 
 revolution. If a slight boss is desired at the center of 
 
 Fig 6. — Sixteen size Pillar Plate, 
 
 showing six recesses made by 
 
 Automatic Machine. 
 
24 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the recess, the tool is withdrawn at the proper time and 
 distance, and when the recess is complete the turning 
 tool is automatically drawn back and returned to its 
 original position, which allows room for a second car- 
 rier to swing over into position to receive the recessed 
 plate. By this time the revolution of the chuck spindle 
 has ceased, and this second carrier moves up into con- 
 tact with the plate, and as it recedes again it carries the 
 plate with it, and swinging over, it moves up and 
 deposits it in the chuck of the second spindle, but in 
 such position that the succeeding recess will be made in 
 its proper location on the watch plate. Another and 
 suitable tool is now brought into action in a similar 
 manner to the first, and when its work is completed it 
 retires, and a third carrier takes the plate and places it 
 in another chuck. In the meantime the two preceeding 
 chucks have received new plates, and so the work 
 progresses simultaneously, six recesess being made suc- 
 cessively in as many plates, each unlike all the others in 
 size, position and form. 
 
 The last carrier in the series deposits the recessed 
 plate in a tube at the extreme right hand end of the 
 the machine, By a change in chucks, etc., the turnings 
 on the dial side of the plate can be made in a similar 
 manner. The boldness in the conception of this 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 25 
 
26 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 machine. (Fig. 7) will be appreciated when it is 
 realized that the watch plate must be placed in each 
 succeeding chuck in a different position, and that it is 
 required to be placed on three pins which fit in the 
 three dial feet holes. 
 
 Another form of plate turning machine is designed for 
 turning recesses in top plates, which are held in self- 
 closing chucks, instead of being placed on pins as is the 
 case with pillar plates. This machine, which is shown 
 in the accompanying view, (Fig. 8) is exceedingly novel 
 in its movements, especially in the action of the transfer 
 carriers, which instead of swinging over, like those on 
 the pillar plate machine, are made to swing around. 
 This form of motion involves the necessity for an addi- 
 tional movement in a vertical direction to clear the tool 
 carriage. In this case, as in the other, the blank plates 
 are taken from a tube, where they have been placed by 
 the attendant, and placed in the chuck, and are also 
 delivered in another tube when completed. Another 
 difference in action consists in the movement of the 
 work toward the tool, instead of the tool toward the 
 work. But the most novel and curious action is that 
 of the transfer carrier. As this arm swings around, 
 its ordinary effect would be to reverse the watch plate 
 so that it would be placed in the succeeding chuck with 
 
EVOLUTION* OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 *i 
 
2© EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the opposite face presented to the cutting tool. In some 
 cases that change would be desired, but where it is 
 desired to make the successive recesses on the same 
 side, the carrier reverses the plate during its transfer, 
 so that it is placed in the second chuck with the same 
 
 Fig. Q. — Showing Recessing and Facing of Top Plates. 
 
 side out, but with the center of revolution at what 
 ever point desired. The accompanying illustration, 
 (Fig. 9) shows the several recesses and the facing of 
 both sides of plates. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 It should be understood that this work is not intended 
 to describe the manufacture of watches, for that would 
 require volumes, but to briefly note some of the steps in 
 the evolution of special machines, which characterize the 
 ••American system" of watchmaking. It must be 
 understood that only a few of the more prominent 
 machines can be considered, and that only a general 
 description of those can be given. 
 
 Having briefly considerd the turning of the plates, we 
 will defer, for a time, anv mention of other operations on 
 that part of the watch movement, and review the suc- 
 cessive forms of the machines for turning the various 
 arbors, staffs and pinions, which constitute some of the 
 moving parts of the watch. 
 
 The history of the American Waltham Watch Factory 
 does not extend back to that indefinite period when 
 power was obtained by means of the foot wheel, and the 
 turning tool was simply a graver held in the hand of the 
 operator; but only to the time of the lathe and slide-rest, 
 whose feed-screw was operated by hand. For a time, 
 the turning of all staffs and arbors was performed in this 
 
 29 
 
30 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 way. But this method was succeeded by a form of 
 semi automatic turning lathe, the exact form of which 
 the writer is unable to learn. Succeeding this, came 
 an improved form of lathe, in which the tool was caused 
 to move with a uniform speed and to a desired distance 
 
 Fig. 10. — Moseley- Webster Staff Turning Lathe. 
 
 and then automatically withdrawn from contact with 
 the work and returned to the point of starting. The 
 accompanying illustration, (Fig. 10), shows one of the 
 oldest form of lathes used in this factory, which can be 
 found (and unfortunately minus one of its spindles). 
 It will be observed that at the left hand end of the 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 3 1 
 
 machine there is a combination of levers, designed to 
 provide for turnings of various lengths without neces- 
 sitating a change of feed cams. It is the understanding 
 of the writer that the combination levers were designed 
 by Mr. Ambrose Webster, while the invention of the 
 lathe should be credited to Mr. Chas. S. Moseley. 
 
 The next illustration (Fig. n). shows a later form of 
 automatic staff turning lathe, which embodies substanti- 
 
 Fig. 11.— Staff Turning Lathe (Vander Woerd Pattern.) 
 
 ally the same principle of mechanism as the earlier 
 machine, but differently arranged, and of much heavier 
 construction. The cam shaft, at the back of the 
 machine, is driven bv a worm and worm-gear, not 
 
32 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 shown. At the extreme left hand end of this shaft is 
 shown the feed cam, the acting face of which gives 
 motion to a rack lever, which indirectly communicates 
 motion (endwise) to the tool carrying spindle, one end 
 of which is seen projecting through the end of the 
 machine. The opposite end of this spindle enters the 
 projecting cylinder at the right hand side of the 
 machine, which cylinder contains a spiral spring, which 
 serves to carry the spindle in the reverse direction to 
 that imparted by the feed cam. About midway of the 
 length of this spindle is attached the tool holder, 
 which is compound in its construction, to allow for the 
 desired elevation of the turning tool, and also to provide 
 a means of moving the tool at a right angle to the axis 
 of the staff or arbor to be turned, this latter motion 
 serving to withdraw the tool from contact with the work, 
 or. when so desired, to enable the tool to perform a 
 " squaring out " or " facing " cut. To effect this motion 
 an arm of the tool carriage extends back underneath the 
 cam shaft and is acted upon by a suitable cam. which 
 depresses the arm, and thereby slightly turns the feed or 
 tool carrying spindle, thus moving the tool away from 
 the work, and, while thus held back, the action of the 
 feed cam allows the tool to return to its starting point, in 
 readiness to act upon the next piece of work. Devices 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 33 
 
 for so governing the action of the tool as to turn tapering- 
 staffs are also provided, but cannot be seen in a general 
 view. In staff turning it is sometimes desired to have 
 one of the spindles in which the work runs fixed and the 
 opposite one movable, to allow of the reception and 
 removal of the work, and at other times it is needful to 
 make the opposite spindle the tixed one. Readv pro- 
 vision is made for these requirements by means of suit- 
 able binders, or clamps provided with milled nuts, shown 
 on the front of the spindle heads. When one of these 
 nuts is screwed down so as to clamp the spindle firmly in 
 place, the opposite one is turned back so as to leave the 
 spindle on that side free to slide. When the staff to be 
 turned is inserted in position, the free spindle is moved 
 up into proper contact with it, and as the lathe is put in 
 motion, a suitable cam on the rear shaft acts through an 
 adjustable lever, and binds the slide spindle in place until 
 the turning tool has completed its work and has returned 
 to its starting point, when the spindle is released and can 
 be slid back, and the completed arbor removed. 
 
 This brief, and perhaps not very clear explanation of 
 the action of this staff turning lathe, is given for the 
 benefit only of those readers who have had no oppor- 
 tunity of visiting a watch factory. As has already been 
 said, this is substantially the form of staff turning lathe 
 
34 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 in use in American watch factories, and probably to 
 some exent may have found its way into some European 
 factory also. 
 
 Some years ago the writer designed another form of 
 staff lathe, which, while in many respects similar to the 
 
 Fig. 12. — Marsh Staff Turning Lathi 
 
 foregoing, yet possessed several features of novelty and 
 special advantage. The accompanying illustration, (Fig. 
 12), will serve to give a general idea of its appearance. 
 It was much more heavy and solid, and consequently 
 assured a greater accuracy. It also had superior devices 
 for taper turning in either direction, and in connection 
 with such turning, it provided for facing either, hollow, 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 35 
 
 crowning, or at a right angle to the axis. It was also 
 arranged to turn special pieces in which a part of the 
 turning was to be straight and when a certain point was 
 reached the turning continued at any desired angle. 
 
 Machines of all the above forms are to a large degree 
 becoming obsolete in the American Waltham Watch 
 factory, they having been largely displaced by the radi- 
 cal improvements designed by Mr. D. II. Church. It 
 should be said in connection with all the forms of staff 
 turning lathes above described, that they are but semi- 
 automatic. Each piece to be turned, required to be 
 "dogged" as a means of driving; the dog engaging 
 with a suitable linger, or horn, on the driving whirl. 
 The applying and removing of the " dogs " giving con- 
 stant and lively employment to the attendant, and mak- 
 ing impossible the running of more than a single lathe 
 by one operator. 
 
 In the earlier days of American watchmaking the pin- 
 ions were to a great extent made from ''drawn pinion 
 wire." but in later years the use of such special wire was 
 discontinued, and the use of plain round steel wire was 
 adopted. For years it was customary to cut the plain 
 wire into short pieces, making suitable allowance in 
 length for finish. The common way was to "chop off" 
 the wire by means of an ordinary wire cutter or by a 
 
36 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 special chopping machine. These short pieces were 
 then placed one by one in a spring chuck in a lathe, and 
 one end carefully pointed. After the entire lot had been 
 pointed on one end, they were placed in another chuck, 
 provided with a suitable interior stop, against which the 
 pointed ends of the blank should bear, in order to insure 
 exactness in the length of the blanks. Subsequent 
 " rough turning " of these blanks, which were still held 
 in spring chucks, removed a large portion of the surplus 
 metal, bringing them into a suitable condition to be 
 turned in the automatic staff lathes. When acted upon 
 in the staff lathes the blanks were held and revolved on 
 " dead centers," each piece as has been said, requiring 
 to be dogged by the operator. 
 
 Some of the smaller staff blanks, like pallet arbors, 
 were cut off in a lathe and one end pointed at the same 
 time, but all blanks, whether large or small, required to 
 be dogged at each individual turning. And, owing to 
 the minuteness, and consequent weakness of most of the 
 pieces, only a small amount of metal could be removed at 
 any single turning, consequently the required turnings on 
 some staffs were quite numerous, and in pieces such as 
 the balance staff, which contains numerous sizes and 
 shoulders, the number of individual turnings would be 
 ten or twelve, and in order to avoid injurious springing 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 37 
 
 of the staffs it was needful to alternate the turnings, so 
 that the reduction in size should be gradual and uniform 
 on both ends. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 In the preliminary, or rough turnings of the various 
 staffs, a radical improvement was initiated by Mr. C. V. 
 Woerd. about fifteen years ago. consisting of an auto- 
 matic roughing out machine, which was so designed as 
 to receive a rod of steel wire about twenty inches long, 
 which was held by the ordinary self-closing chuck, whose 
 evolution has been described. In suitable relation to the 
 mouth or face of this chuck, was a turning and pointing 
 tool, mounted on a movable carriage or frame which was 
 actuated by a suitable cam. so that as the wire rod. 
 which projected the proper distance out of the chuck, 
 revolved, this tool was gradually moved forward into 
 contact with it. and cut away a portion of the metal and 
 carefully pointed the end. When this operation was 
 completed the cutting tool quickly retired, the revolution 
 of the running spindle was arrested, the chuck loosened 
 its grasp on the rod, which was then automatically fed 
 forward a proper distance, and again grasped by the 
 chuck, the spindle again started, and a second cutting- 
 tool moved forward, which immediately commenced its 
 work of cutting off the steel rod; the severed piece to be 
 
 39 
 
.jO EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 of proper length to form a desired pinion or arbor. But 
 just before the completion of the severing operation, a 
 tubular carrier was moved over into axial line with the 
 revolving rod and then moved back so as to enclose the 
 severed piece, which, when entirely detached from the 
 rod, was left in the carrier, which immediately moved 
 forward and out of the way. The running spindle was 
 again stopped and the chuck released its hold, and the 
 rod was fed forward again, and the first tool was again 
 brought into action, and so this part of the work pro- 
 ceeded. In the meantime, the above mentioned carrier 
 was moved over into axial coincidence with the second 
 spindle whose chuck was in readiness to receive the 
 severed blank contained in the carrier. Immediately the 
 carrier reached its position in front of this second chuck, 
 a push rod moved forward and entered the rear end of 
 the carrier tube and forced the enclosed blank into the 
 mouth of the second chuck, which at once closed upon 
 it. The carrier then retreated a short distance, the push 
 rod was withdrawn and the carrier moved to an inter- 
 mediate position to await its proper time to secure a 
 second blank from the first chuck. As soon as the 
 carrier was out of the way, the second spindle was 
 revolved, and a cutting and pointing tool began its work 
 of forming the second end of the blank, and when its 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 4 1 
 
42 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 work was completed the spindle was stopped, the chuck 
 opened and the completed blank ejected and fell into 
 a chute, which deposited it in a receptacle entirely 
 separate from the cuttings, so that the work of separat- 
 ing blanks from chips was entirely avoided. This 
 machine was so arranged that when the wire rod had 
 been entirely converted into blanks, the machine would 
 stop itself, and. unlike some human machines, it would 
 not go through the motions unless it was actually doing 
 work. Inasmuch as these machines were so completely 
 automatic in action, and the wire rods were of a length 
 capable of being cut into a large number of pieces, a 
 single attendant could care for the running of six or 
 eight machines. The establishment of these automatic 
 roughing machines (Fig. 13) served to greatly reduce 
 the cost of staff turning, but there still remained the 
 numerous " finish turnings " to complete the pinions 
 or staffs; and, as has been said, each individual turning 
 required the application of a driving dog. To supple- 
 ment the work of this machine a radical improvement 
 has been made by Mr. D. H. Church, who has invented 
 and patented an automatic turning machine, which is 
 really a complete battery of staff turning lathes which 
 are located on a single bed or table, and all of whose 
 operative mechanism is driven by a single belt. 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 43 
 
 A detailed description of any of these complicated 
 machines would be somewhat difficult, and would be 
 uninteresting to the general reader, and will not be 
 attempted. It may be briefly said that at one end of a 
 long bed or table is located a suitable frame, provided 
 with a vertical shaft which at its upper end, carries a 
 disk or plate. On the face of this plate, and near its 
 edge, are turned suitable concentric grooves which are 
 crossed by radial V shaped grooves of proper size and 
 equally spaced. In these grooves are uniformally placed 
 the roughed out blanks, from which are to be formed 
 arbors or staffs. Adjoining this blank holding device is 
 located an automatic staff turning machine, and at 
 uniform distances beyond it are similar machines, suf- 
 ficient in number to perform all the required turnings on 
 any given staff. Alternating with these machines are 
 upright stands or columns, through whose centers project 
 spindles or shafts. From near the top of these upright 
 shafts extend arms, from which, at their outer ends 
 depend suitable clips or fingers. These shafts have 
 reciprocating motions in both rotary and vertical direc- 
 tions. The foundation device, that which makes this 
 machine entirely automatic, is the one for grasping the 
 blanks while being turned, so that the applying of a 
 separate " dog " is rendered unnecessary. A very 
 
44 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 important gain is also obtained by this method of driv- 
 ing, viz. : the ability to remove a much larger amount 
 of metal at a single turning than could be done with 
 the ordinary method of dogging, so that a single 
 attendant is able to produce as many finished pieces as 
 would six, or more, people under the old system. We 
 have mentioned, above, that this machine was arranged 
 to do the finish turnings on staffs or arbors which had 
 been roughed out on another machine, but by the sub- 
 stitution of a cutting off head for the above mentioned 
 blank holding plate, a class of work which requires the 
 removal of a smaller amount of metal can be turned 
 direct from the wire rod. which may be of considerable 
 length, say five feet. The accompanying illustration 
 shows the machine arranged in the latter form. (Fig. 14.) 
 In operation, a long piece of suitable steel wire is 
 placed in the tube, extending to the left of the machine, 
 with the inner end of the wire projecting slightly from 
 its holding chuck. The machine is then started, and 
 a suitable cutting tool advances and carefully turns the 
 projecting wire to a suitable point. Then by suitable 
 mechanism the revolution of the spindle is stopped, the 
 tailstock spindle is moved toward the chuck to a definite 
 point, the chuck is opened and the pointed wire fed for- 
 ward till it comes in contact with a suitable center in the 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 45 
 
46 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 tailstock spindle, the chuck is then closed, the tailstock 
 spindle is clamped firmly in place, the spindle is revolved, 
 and the cutting tool moves forward and begins its work 
 of severing the wire^/ Just before the piece is completely 
 severed, the arm of the upright shaft swings around so 
 as to bring the clip directly over the piece. It then 
 moves down, and the fingers grasp the then severed 
 blank, the tailstock spindle recedes so as to clear the 
 blank, which is then lifted clear of all obstructions and 
 carried around exactly 180 degrees, and then again low- 
 ered to a position exactly between the centers of the next 
 machine, which centers then advance and close upon the 
 blank. The fingers are then lifted out of the way. a 
 driving clamp closes upon the blank, the spindle is 
 started, and a suitable cutting tool moves up and com- 
 mences its work of turning. When this turning opera- 
 tion is completed the tool is withdrawn, the spindle is 
 stopped, the driving clamp is loosened, and the partly 
 turned blank left clear of all obstruction, when a second 
 arm is swung over and another set of fingers descend 
 and grasp the blank, and, lifting it. gets it out of the way 
 just in season to allow a second blank to be inserted, 
 which is then treated in the same manner as the first one. 
 It will be understood that in carrying the blank from 
 one machine to another, the blank is reversed as to its 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 47 
 
 relation to the head and tail stocks and the cutting tools, 
 the second carrier placing the blank in the third machine 
 so that its opposite end is to be acted upon by the cut- 
 ting tool. When the work in the third machine is com- 
 pleted, the blank is in the same manner passed along 
 to the fourth machine, and then the fifth, which com- 
 pletes the turnings, and the next carrier drops the com- 
 pleted blank in a proper receptacle. It must be under- 
 stood that the completion of the turnings in four 
 machines is made possible by the fact that the machines 
 are so arranged that more than one turning is performed 
 in a single machine. It will also be understood that all 
 the machines are in operation simultaneously, each on 
 its own blank, so that after the first blank has reached 
 the receptacle the procession is constant until the rod of 
 wire is completely gone; so that a completed blank is 
 dropped into the dish at the last machine as often as 
 another one is severed from the wire rod at the first 
 one — time about fifteen seconds. 
 
 We have already explained that the operation of this 
 machine is made possible by the invention of the auto- 
 matic dogging or driving device. This device was, how- 
 ever, first applied to ordinary or isolated staff turning 
 lathes, which were modified to adapt them to this 
 improvement. In the first form of such adapted lathes. 
 
4* 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the blanks were placed in a suitable hopper, from which 
 they were taken, one at a time, automatically. This 
 form of machine is in quite extended use also. 
 
 In all the foregoing forms of turning lathes, the appli- 
 cation of some form of dog or driving device is an indis- 
 pensable feature; but within a year Mr. Church has per- 
 
 Fig. /j. — Progressive Steps in Alaking a Balance Staff. 
 
 fected a new form of machine in which that feature is 
 rendered needless, and in demonstrating that fact he 
 adopted the most difficult, delicate and complicated staff 
 in the whole watch movement, viz., the balance staff. 
 These are now made complete, every turning on the 
 entire staff, including both pivots, being done at the rate 
 per machine of 400 per day, or one staff each 90 sec- 
 onds. We believe that nothing in the way of turning 
 has heretofore been done which could at all compare 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 49 
 
 with the work of these machines in delicacy, complexity 
 and accuracy. (Fig. 15.) 
 
 The illustration will serve to indicate some of the pro- 
 gressive steps in the production of this complicated staff, 
 and will also furnish an excellent specimen of micro- 
 photography, credit for which belongs to Mr. H. E. 
 Duncan, who is known to many watchmakers. 
 
 To better indicate the extreme delicacy of this work, 
 a No. 9 or No. 10 sewing needle is photographed in the 
 same group, and serves to show the relative size of the 
 two articles. Unlike the previously described machine, 
 this machine operates only upon a single blank at a time, 
 completing one blank before beginning upon another, 
 whereas the former carried on all the successive turnings 
 simultaneously, there being as many blanks in progress 
 as there are separate heads to the machine. (Fig. 16. | 
 
 The accompanying illustration shows the appearance 
 of two of these balance staff-making machines, but the 
 large number and complication of the different move- 
 ments required, render it difficult of description; we will 
 therefore make no attempt in that direction. 
 
50 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
CHARLES S. NOSELEY 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 To a person who is familiar with the machines now in 
 common use for the cutting of the teeth of wheels and 
 pinions, the means for the performance of such work 
 which were in early use would seem exceedingly crude 
 and unsatisfactory. Possibly they may have been so 
 regarded at that time, but it must be bornein mind that 
 the crude appliances which were first used did serve to 
 produce material sufficient in quantity, and of enough 
 excellence in quality to demonstrate that American 
 watchmaking was possible. Improvement in quality and 
 facility in manufacturing were but matters of time and 
 money. 
 
 Mention has been made of the fact that pinions were 
 made from specially drawn wire, in which the number 
 and approximate form of the teeth, or " leaves " was 
 given by the drawing dies. This wire was imported, 
 and was received at the factory in pieces about twelve 
 inches long. These were cut into lengths desired for 
 the various pinions, the ends pointed, and the staffs 
 turned. Then came the cutting of the leaves. The 
 form of machine first employed for this work is 
 
54 
 
 EVOLUTION OK AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 unknown to the writer, but he recalls the fact that 
 one of the first jobs of work which he did at the 
 Waltham factory was to make drawings for the 
 remodelling of two of these pinion cutters. But as 
 
 Fig. 17 -Old Style Pinion Cutters 
 
 the work had already been commenced, he is ignorant 
 of the original form of the machines. We have, how- 
 ever, preserved these machines in their improved 
 forms, which are shown in the two accompanying views, 
 and are so placed as to show the mechanism which was 
 largely automatic in action (Fig. 17.) 
 
 It will be observed that this machine has no index for 
 the spacing of the leaves, so that it is a matter of 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 55 
 
 surprise that a safe degree of accuracy could have been 
 attained, but we believe there was seldom any serious 
 trouble from that source. Aside from the fact of these 
 machines being very ingenuous ( as will be evident from 
 examination of the illustrations), they afford very good 
 examples of the relative size of machines of those earlier 
 dates, as compared with machines now constructed. 
 These machines occupy a space of considerably less 
 than six inches each way, while machines for similar 
 use as now made, would occupy at least four times as 
 much space, and be proportionately heavy. Just here it 
 may be proper to say that examination of a variety of the 
 earlier forms of the American watch machinery makes 
 it very evident that the idea then obtained that delicate 
 machines were necessary for the manufacture of the 
 delicate mechanism of the watch. This idea was. after 
 the experience of a few years, found to be a greatly 
 mistaken one. But the writer recalls that very early in 
 his connection with the Waltham factory, as he had made 
 a drawing of some new machine. Mr. Ambrose Webster, 
 then master mechanic, said to him. •• You are running us 
 to cast iron." But certainly there has been since that 
 time no tendency to return to the practice of building 
 light machinery. At the time of which we are writing 
 the Waltham factory was run under two almost distinct 
 
56 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 departments, the " Full Plate Department," under the 
 general charge of Mr. A. T. Bacon, with Mr. A. Web- 
 ster, at the head of the mechanical department; while 
 the three-quarter plate movements were under the super- 
 vision of Mr. Chas. W. Fogg, with Mr. Chas. Vander 
 Woerd in charge of the mechanical work. This arrange- 
 ment resulted in the establishment of a branch machine 
 shop in connection with the three-quarter plate depart- 
 ment, and gave Mr. Woerd the opportunity to exercise 
 his inventive ability in designing and building some 
 special machines, of which mention will be made at 
 appropriate times. One of his earlier machines was 
 an automatic pinion cutter, which was quite ingenious, 
 and also somewhat complicated in action. It used to be 
 remarked that one who was not familiar with this 
 machine could get it into a " snarl " quicker than any 
 machine known. But. when understood, those machines 
 were capable of doing good work and in good quant- 
 ities. These machines were provided with three cutter 
 spindles, mounted in a revolving head, which were suc- 
 cessively brought into action, so as to form the pinion 
 leaves from plain round wire instead of the English 
 pinion wire. We are unable to present an illustration of 
 those machines, for the reason they have all been some- 
 what remodelled within a few years so as to make 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 D/ 
 
 them entirely automatic in action. We will therefore 
 defer further mention of them at this point, but will 
 speak of them hereafter. Shortly after the introduction 
 of the three -spindle machine above mentioned, Mr. 
 
 Fig. 18— Improved Pinion Cutter. 
 
 Webster suggested the plan of making a pinion cutter 
 in which the three cutters, instead of being on separate 
 spindles, should be mounted on a single running spindle 
 which should have an endwise movement so as to brin<>- 
 
58 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the several cutters successively into operative position. 
 Such machines were made, and subsequent alterations 
 and improvements brought them into the form shown 
 in the next view (Fig. 18.) 
 
 These have proved to be very serviceable machines, 
 and especiallv adapted to cutting a certain class of 
 pinions which are more difficult to cut than others. In 
 the original Woerd machine there was no provision for 
 adjusting the individual cutters to depth, other than could 
 be made by variation in the relative diameters of the cut- 
 ters themselves, which rendered the desired accuracv an 
 attainment of a good deal of difficulty. But the single 
 spindle machine was provided with means for adjusting 
 each cutter in two positions, so that although the cutters 
 are fixed in their relation to each other on the running 
 spindle, yet in operation they are entirely independent. 
 The single spindle machine has proven to be most 
 excellent in plan, and has been adopted in subsequent 
 forms of pinion cutters, and has to a certain extent been 
 copied by builders of machinery for use in other 
 factories. 
 
 It is generally a fact that an individual who is to any 
 considerable extent, engaged in the production of 
 articles of any given nature, will naturally have some 
 favorite form of construction. Particularly is this true 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 59 
 
60 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 in the designing of machinery- It has for many years 
 been a theory of the writer that in the production of 
 large numbers of pieces, or articles of uniform dimen- 
 sions, the economical method of manufacturing is to 
 '•maintain a procession," and a procession to be end- 
 less must of necessity proceed in a circle. Circular 
 machines have therefore been a favorite form. The 
 most serious objection to such a form of construction 
 lies in the essential fact, that a great degree of accuracy 
 of workmanship is required. But if such accuracy can 
 be secured there can be no question of superior 
 efficiency. 
 
 The next illustration (Fig. 19) shows a machine of 
 this nature which was used for several years in cutting 
 cannon pinions. In this machine there was a plurality 
 of spindles for the holding of the pinions. Each of 
 these spindles was provided with an index, and, as they 
 were arranged around a common center, the entire 
 number were operated simultaneously. After the 
 indices had completed a revolution, the spindle-carry- 
 ing-head was caused to automatically make a partial 
 revolution, which brought each spindle into operative 
 relation to another tooth-forming-cutter. These cutters, 
 to the number of three or more, were mounted on 
 double slides, and were moved in unison, the cutters 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 6 1 
 
 performing their work, then being' withdrawn and 
 returned to their former position, and then moved for- 
 ward, and, the index having in the mean time moved 
 one space, the cutter advanced and cut a second tooth. 
 After all the teeth in the pinion had been cut. or blocked 
 out. bv the first cutter, it was presented to the action of 
 the second cutter, as has been said, and then to the third, 
 and. if desired, to a fourth also. As this machine had 
 one more work spindle than it had cutters, there was 
 alwavs a vacant spindle into which the operator could 
 insert a new blank. And as fast as one cutter could 
 perform its work on the pinion presented to it, just so 
 fast would a pinion be completed and removed, and its 
 place be filled with a fresh blank. The objectionable 
 feature in this form of machine has already been stated, 
 viz. : the difficulty of obtaining sufficient accuracy in 
 construction to secure the absolute ••tracking" of the 
 several cutters. To overcome this difficulty, and at the 
 same time produce a machine of great productive 
 capacity, the machine shown in the next view was made. 
 (Fig. 20 | . In this machine another advanced step was 
 taken, by the incorporation of the self-feeding feature. 
 This machine is practically the combining of eight 
 machines in one, and is capable of cutting pinions 
 having 7 to 12 leaves; indeed, several kinds may be 
 
62 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 cut at the same time. A brief description will serve 
 to explain the operation of the machine, which as is 
 shown in (Fig. 20) is circular in form, and consists of a 
 central column supporting a circular bed. on which is 
 placed a corresponding carriage, on the upper surface 
 of which are eight radial dovetailed grooves in which 
 move a like number of slides each of which carries a 
 complete head and tail stock, the tail stocks being 
 located on the inner end of the slides. At one side of 
 each of these slides is mounted a frame carrying a 
 running cutter spindle. These frames are capable of 
 a sidewise motion, so as to bring successivelv into 
 operative relation to the pinion blank each of the three 
 cutters on the cutter spindle. Suitable stops are pro- 
 vided for the accurate adjustment of each of these cut- 
 ters; both as to depth and position of cut Directly 
 over each of the slides which carry the head and tail 
 stocks, is located a suitable magazine, or pinion blank 
 holder, open at the bottom, where are arranged suitable 
 elastic fingers designed to grasp a single pinion blank. 
 
 An upright shaft, located in the center of the machine, 
 gives motion to the entire mechanism. The operation 
 of the machine may be described briefly, as follows: 
 The various cutters being properly adjusted, and the 
 magazines loaded with blanks, the shaft is started, and, 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 63 
 
 Fig. 20. — Marsh's Continuous Self-Feeding Pinion Cutter. 
 
64 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 through the several belts running from the multi- 
 grooved pulley at the top of the machine to the several 
 cutter-spindles, they are put in motion. The circular 
 table begins to travel, carrying all the radial slides 
 above mentioned. When a certain point in its orbit is 
 reached, one of the magazines descends until the axis of 
 the pinion blank, which is grasped in the ringers at its 
 lower end, comes in exact line with the centers of the 
 head and tail stock of that slide. Both the head and 
 tail stock spindles advance toward each other until they 
 close upon the waiting blank, the taper staff of which is 
 forced into a suitable socket in the head stock spindle. 
 The magazine now rises, and as it loses its hold of the 
 pinion blank, it receives into its grasp a second blank 
 which it continues to hold until it shall arrive at the 
 place of deposit, as before. 
 
 Immediately the magazine has taken itself out of the 
 way, the slide begins to move in a radial direction in 
 relation to the revolving, thus carrying the pinion blank 
 back and forth over the revolving cutter. As the slide 
 reaches its limit of outward motion, the index on the 
 head spindle is revolved one division, and during the 
 return motion a second tooth is cut. When all the 
 teeth in the blank have been blocked out by the first 
 cutter, the frame which carries the cutter spindle is 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 65 
 
 moved sideways, so as to bring a second cutter into 
 acting position, which proceeds with its work, and then 
 gives place to a third and final cutter, which completes 
 its work just a little before the revolving table has 
 reached its starting point. The tail stock spindle is 
 now withdrawn, and a little lever on the side of the 
 stationary bed of the machine springs forward just as 
 the outer end of the head spindle is passing it. and 
 quickly drives the completed pinion from the socket, 
 which is then ready to receive a second one. The 
 magazine now descends and the second blank is taken, 
 as before. 
 
 It will be understood that while we have been follow- 
 ing this first blank in its travel and progress, each of the 
 seven other slides has received its blank, and those are 
 also in all stages of progress, from the first cut of the 
 first tooth to the finishing cut of the tast tooth. The 
 procession is uniform and continuous, and when each of 
 the eight radial slides, in its continuous travel, reaches 
 a certain point in its orbit, it delivers a completed pinion, 
 and immediately receives another blank and continues on 
 its way. Unlike the previously mentioned machines, 
 these blanks do not pass from one part of the machine 
 to another to be acted upon by local cutters, but the 
 group of three cutters accompanies the blank on its 
 
66 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 travel. This arrangement permits the cutting of differ- 
 ent kinds of pinions to be performed simultaneously. In 
 this machine the work of the operator is reduced to the 
 occasional examination of the completed pinions, and 
 the supplying of the magazines with blanks. Simple 
 devices are provided for rendering each of the slides 
 inoperative whenever so desired, without in any way 
 affecting the action of the others. 
 
 The success of the automatic feeding of the blanks 
 and discharging of the finished pinions led to the adop- 
 tion of equivalent devices on machines formerly in use. 
 The next illustration (Fig. 21) shows a long row of 
 remodelled machines of the Woerd type previously men- 
 tioned. As these machines are in a row, the attendant, 
 who is able to care for six or seven machines, is obliged 
 to pass from one to another. To permit such move- 
 ment and. at the same time, to avoid the fatigue 
 incident to long hours of standing, a track is laid on the 
 floor in front of the machines, and chairs are provided 
 with grooved rolls which follow the track, allowing 
 the attendant to glide easily and quickly the entire 
 length of the group of machines under her care. In 
 contrast to this method the previously mentioned 
 machines regularly presented themselves to the attendant 
 whose seat was stationary. Since the inauguration of 
 
6S EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the foregoing' machines, another form of machine has 
 been also put in use, which embodies some of the 
 features already noted, but which substitutes a different 
 and improved form of automatic blank feed. These 
 machines, bv the employment of a large amount of oil. 
 are able of working more rapidly than any heretofore 
 used, and are also adapted to the cutting of wheels of 
 all kinds, and will be considered in a subsequent chapter. 
 
CHARLES YANDER WOEM). 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 In the last chapter we remarked upon the apparent 
 crudity of many of the machines in early use in the 
 original American watch factory. They were primi- 
 tive, certainly; but the conditions under which they 
 were made were of the same character, and the fact 
 of such tools being made and used is not to be taken 
 as evidence of a lack of inventive ability on the part of 
 those who used them, but rather as showing an ability 
 to accomplish desired results by the simple means to 
 which a lack of capital restricted them. 
 
 The limited market for the early product of American 
 watches, would of necessity forbid the expense of build- 
 ing special machines of restricted character or capa- 
 bilities, and compel the use of appliances of limited cost. 
 and of a nature adapting them to a variety of uses. 
 
 In this paper we will consider some of the numerous 
 and successive forms of machines for the cutting of 
 teeth in watch wheels of brass. The earliest of these, 
 within the knowledge of the writer, was a machine for 
 cutting train wheels, and was simply a small iron planer 
 such as is used in machine shops, or by model makers. 
 
 71 
 
72 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 It had the ordinary reciprocating bed, or table, which 
 was moved back and forth by means of a hand crank. 
 the connection probably being by the old-fashioned 
 chain, such as was formerly used in the feeding of the 
 
 Fig. 
 
 ■Webster Train Wheel Cutter, /mf>>oved. 
 
 carriages of engine lathes. On the cross head of this 
 little planer was mounted a suitable frame which carried 
 the fly cutter spindle, which was driven from above by 
 belt in the ordinary manner. On the movable table was 
 placed the head stock, whose index w r as operated bv 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 73 
 
 hand. While this arrangement was somewhat crude, 
 it served its purpose, and had its day. But in 1865 
 Mr. Ambrose Webster designed a new and excellent 
 machine for train wheel cutting, with mechanism for 
 automatically moving the carriage, and also for operat- 
 ing the index. (Fig. 22) which, in an improved condi- 
 tion, is shown in the accompanying view. The most 
 serious fault in this machine was the manner of adjust- 
 ing cutters for depth, which adjustment was effected 
 bv means of an eccentric quill, in which the cutter 
 spindle was journaled. It would probablv be a true 
 statement of fact to assert that this machine has cut 
 more millions of watch wheels than any other machine 
 in the world, it having been in almost constant use for 
 thirty years. Following this, and possessing several 
 advantages over it. was one designed bv the writer 
 about 1872. which is shown in the next view. I Fig. 
 23. 1 As this machine was. at a later , date, modified so 
 as to adapt it to the cutting of steel wheels, we will 
 defer further mention of it at this time, and consider 
 some of the earlier forms of machines for brass wheel 
 cutting. 
 
 The next illustration shows a machine with a his- 
 tory; more of history than will ever be written. It is 
 doubtful if there is a person living who knows the 
 
74 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 O 
 
 original form of this machine (Fig. 24,) or one who 
 could accurately narrate the numerous changes, addi- 
 tions, and improvements which were made in it. 
 Within the knowledge and recollection of the writer, 
 this machine was used for cutting the teeth of minute 
 
 1 
 
 III ^^fl'l 
 
 
 
 /'fe. 24..— Old Minute Pinion and Hour Wheel Tooth Cutter. 
 
 pinions and hour wheels, and it would probably be 
 safe to assume that it was originally designed for such 
 use. The work was placed on an arbor at the top of 
 the vertical quill spindle, shown in front, and held in 
 place by a yoke which served as a sort of tail stock. 
 The flv cutter was mounted in a short arbor or spindle, 
 which revolved on centers, and also carried the belt 
 
76 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 pulley. Reciprocal motion of the cutter was obtained 
 by the vibration of a frame, which was mounted in 
 suit ible bearings on an adjustable carriage, which could 
 be moved toward or from the stationary quill, for the 
 purpose of adjustment to size. On this vibrating cutter- 
 frame was mounted an adjustable arm which extended 
 bevond its axis and terminated in a sort of toe, against 
 which pressed a cam. which was mounted on a driving 
 shaft; on one end of which shaft was a loose running 
 clutch pulley, while on the opposite end was another 
 cam. which, through a system of levers, slides, springs, 
 and catches, performed the operations of unlatching and 
 turning the index. It will be observed that the path of 
 the cutter through the work, instead of being in a 
 straight line, described a short arc of a circle. Of course 
 such a motion involved a theoretical imperfection in 
 work produced, but inasmuch as only a single thin 
 wheel or pinion was cut at a time, the error was indis- 
 tinguishable. This machine just failed of being auto- 
 matic in action, for the mechanism always stopped before 
 the last tooth was cut, but as the driving of the fly cutter 
 was independent of the other movements, the operator 
 was able to depress the swinging arm for the cutting of 
 the last tooth. When in operation, this little machine 
 produced an impression that something was being done. 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 / / 
 
 for the combination of noises caused by the operation of 
 the various slides, clicks and latches, mingling with the 
 hum of the fly cutter, was quite unlike any other com- 
 bination in the factory. But it accomplished a good 
 deal of work, and if it were human we would give it a 
 
 Fig. 25. — Improved Minute Pinion and Hour Wheel Tooth Cutter. 
 
 most respectful salute. The foregoing machine was some 
 years since displaced by the machine shown in the next 
 view (Fig, 25), which, while resembling its predecessor 
 in the matter of the vertical index spindle, possesses 
 no other similar feature. But it has one mechanical 
 feature which, we believe, is novel in machines of this 
 character, namely, the absence of all springs in the 
 
78 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 mechanism for operating the index. These machines, 
 of which several were used (and some of them are still 
 in use), were very satisfactory in operation. 
 
 The cutting of minute pinions is now performed in 
 
 Fig. 2b. — The Church Automatic Minute Pinion Cutter. 
 
 direct connection with the turning, and thereby insures 
 axial truth. For this work an automatic machine was 
 designed by Mr. D. H. Church, which is shown in the 
 next view (Fig. 26). In this machine is placed a long 
 rod of wire, which is acted upon by turning tools until a 
 blank is formed in proper shape for cutting the teeth, the 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 79 
 
 turning tools then retire and a suitable fly cutter comes 
 into action, the blank is indexed step by step, and when 
 all the teeth are formed, the fly cutter moves away and a 
 cutting-off tool moves forward and severs the completed 
 
 First Cut. 
 
 Cutting Off and Pointing. 
 
 Fig. 27. 
 
 Teeth. 
 
 pinion. The accompanving diagrams will serve to indi- 
 cate some of the successive operations (Fig. 27). 
 
 The proper cutting of the teeth of escape wheels is 
 certainly a matter of great importance und of no little 
 difficulty; the peculiar form of the teeth demanding the 
 utmost accuracy in workmanship, and requiring a succes- 
 sion of cuts by as many different shaped cutters. It is 
 probable that quite early in the experience of the Wal- 
 tham factory it was found practicable to mount these 
 
8o 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 different cutter spindles in a single rotatable block or 
 head, so that the several cutters could be brought into 
 operative position as required. The writer is not pos- 
 
 Fig. 28— Old Escape Wheel Cutter. 
 
 itive as to the form of the machine first used for this 
 purpose, but it is quite likely that the machine shown 
 in the next view was at one time employed in that work 
 (Fig. 28). 
 
F-VOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 8 1 
 
 The late Ambrose Webster used to take considerable 
 pride in saving that he made the first wheel tooth-cutting- 
 machine with automatic motions which was ever used in 
 American watchmaking. But that machine was only 
 
 Fig. 2q. — Webster Escape Wheel Tooth Cutter. 
 
 claimed to be semi-automatic. It was the machine 
 shown in the accompanying illustration (Fig. 29), and 
 was made for cutting the teeth of escape wheels, and 
 was automatic to the extent of moving the carriage and 
 operating the index, and also stopping itself on the 
 
82 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 completion of the work of each of the six cutters 
 required. The operator had then to bring the succeed- 
 ing cutter into operative position and again start the 
 machine. Some years later Mr. Vander Woerd con- 
 structed a machine of a different form for performing 
 
 Fig. 30. — Woerd Escape Wheel Tooth Cutter. 
 
 the same kind of work. This machine was automatic 
 to about the same extent, and in the same features, as 
 the Webster machine, but it omitted one motion which 
 the Webster machine obtained, viz.. the lifting of the 
 cutter to avoid contact with the work during its return 
 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 «3 
 
 movement. Mr. Woerd's machine is shown in the pre- 
 vious illustration. (Fig. 30.) To meet the requirements 
 of the increasing product of the factory, and at the 
 same time to reduce the cost of the work, the writer. 
 
 Fig. 31. — Marsh Escape Wheel Tooth Cutter. 
 
 about eleven years ago. designed another form of 
 escape wheel cutting machine which extended the auto- 
 matic features, so as to embrace all the movements of 
 the machine, viz.. the reciprocating movements of the 
 
84 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 carriage, the lifting of the cutters during the return 
 movement, the step by step motion of the index, the 
 successive changes of cutters, and the stopping of the 
 machine at the conclusion of the ninetv cuts required. 
 This machine is illustrated by Fig. 31. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 All forms of machines for the cutting of the teeth oi 
 watch wheels doubtless possess certain features in com- 
 mon; but while this is true it is also true that there can 
 be. and indeed is. a great variety in forms of construc- 
 tion, and a diversity of ways in producing the various 
 mechanical movements required. In the simpler or more 
 rudimentary forms of such machines only the driving ol 
 the cutting tool would be accomplished by power, leaving 
 the movement of the work into contact with the cutter, 
 and the shifting of the index wheel, to be performed by 
 the hands of the individual operator. Such a form of 
 construction, of course, restricts the attention and labor 
 of the operator to a single machine; and the capacity or 
 the faithfulness of the individual largely determines the 
 productiveness of the machine. So long as a very lim- 
 ited product is desired a machine of the simple form 
 above mentioned would not only answer the desired pur- 
 pose, but would, doubtless, be the most economical form 
 to use. With increased demands, however, the cheap 
 machine would prove to be expensive to use. It is also 
 true that up to a certain point it is good economy to 
 
S6 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 construct machines in such form as renders them capa- 
 ble of a variety of uses, thereby avoiding the expense 
 of building a multiplicity of special machines which 
 
 Fig. 32. — The Woerd Stem Wind Wheel Cutter. 
 
 might remain idle during quite a portion of the time. 
 The adoption of stem-winding mechanism in watches 
 made needful the employment of steel wheels and pin- 
 ions, many of them being of other than the ordinal}' 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. Sy 
 
 form of construction, and therefore complicating the 
 matter of cutting the teeth. Experience, also, long ago 
 demonstrated that it is not economical to attempt to 
 remove with a single cutter all of the metal required to 
 form finished wheel teeth. Saws are much cheaper to 
 furnish than epicycloidal cutters, and will remove metal 
 quite as easily. Therefore, in cutting steel wheels, a 
 saw is used to remove a large portion of the metal, and 
 this is followed bv a forming cutter. The steel ratchet 
 wheels, used on key-wind watches, whose shallow teeth 
 could be formed without the removal of very much 
 metal, were cut with a single mill or cutter, and that 
 work could, therefore, be done with a simple machine, 
 but when the American Watch Company commenced 
 the manufacture of stem-winding watches, Mr. Vander 
 Woerd constructed the form of machine shown in the 
 accompanying illustration. (Fig 32.) This form of 
 machine embodied two features which were of great 
 convenience. They were, first, the incorporation of a 
 plurality of cutters, the illustration shows three spindles, 
 each carrying a cutter. The rear end of each of these 
 spindles carried one member of a toothed clutch, which, 
 when the spindle was brought into operative position, 
 would engage the corresponding member which was 
 carried by a running spindle or shaft. The disengaging 
 
88 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERV. 
 
 of the clutch and partial revolution of the spindle-carry- 
 ing drum were performed by means of two hand levers 
 (one of which is shown). A second feature which was 
 of very great convenience, was the provision for holding 
 the work at any desired angle relative to the line of 
 cutting, so that any of the bevel wheels and pinions 
 required for stem-winding watches could be cut. This 
 form of machine, however, was in no sense automatic in 
 any of its movements, but has proved to be a very con- 
 venient machine to have in the factory, because of its 
 ready adaptability. 
 
 The first automatic machine for steel wheel cutting 
 was designed by the writer, and. by some modifications 
 has been adapted to a variety of other uses. In a sim- 
 plified form it has been used for a number of years as a 
 train wheel cutter, and was alluded to in the last chapter. 
 In the form shown in the accompanying view (Fig. 33 | 
 which shows a group of three, arranged to be attended 
 by a single operator, they are arranged to employ two 
 cutters, the change from one to the other being auto- 
 matic, as is also the movement of the work, the turning 
 of the index, the lifting of the cutters during the return 
 movement of the carriage, and the stopping of the 
 machine on the completion of the work. For some 
 classes of work it is desired, or required, to have the 
 
90 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 additional support of a tail stock, and one of these 
 machines is shown as so provided. Thev. however, 
 come short of being entirely automatic, in that they 
 require the services of an attendant to supply the blanks 
 and remove the completed work. Prominent in the 
 stem-winding mechanism of the watch is the duplex 
 or crown wheel, which wheel is in many cases provided 
 with two sets of teeth, one of which is on the periphery 
 and the other on the face, the latter meshing with the 
 teeth of the winding pinion, and the former with the 
 winding wheel. Sometimes the face teeth are located 
 near the outer edge of the wheel so that the teeth are 
 practically continuous with those on the periphery. It is 
 not only possible but practicable in cutting the edge 
 teeth of these wheels, to hold them in "stacks" on a 
 suitable arbor, but of course in cutting the face teeth, 
 only a single blank can be cut at a time; and great care 
 is required to insure exact coincidence of the teeth on 
 the face with those previously cut on the edge. The 
 machines shown in the last two illustrations are adapted 
 to the two classes of cutting required on crown wheels. 
 But some years since the writer designed a machine in 
 which both series of cutting should be performed simul- 
 taneously. The next illustration will indicate the nature 
 and appearance of the machine (Fig. 34), which, it will 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 9 1 
 
C/2 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 be seen, is in the favorite circular or continuous form. 
 and may be briefly described as provided with four 
 cutting spindles, each of which is adjustable in two 
 directions. The first two of these are for cutting the face 
 teeth, and the other two for the edge teeth. The first 
 of each set carrying a saw. and the other two the form- 
 ing or finishing cutters. These four spindles are 
 mounted on double slides, and are suitably disposed 
 around a central carriage or turret, which turret carries 
 rive vertical quills, in which are the work-carrying 
 spindles; the wheel blanks to be cut being held by suita- 
 ble chucks at the top. while the lower end of each 
 spindle is provided with an index, which is accompanied 
 with a holding latch and a suitable arm and pawl for the 
 step by step movement of the index. It will be observed 
 that while there are but four culler spindles, there are 
 five work holding spindles. This fact allows the operator 
 to place a blank in the chuck of the fifth spindle while 
 the work of cutting is progressing on the other four, so 
 that the work of the machine is continuous. After the 
 blank has been secured in place, the turret turns one- 
 fifth of a revolution, which carries the blank into posi- 
 tion to be acted upon by the first cutter, which is in the 
 form of a saw. and as the index is operated step by step, 
 the saw passes down and out at the proper angle to the 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 93 
 
 face of the wheel, each movement removing a portion 
 of metal, therebv blocking out the face teeth. In the 
 meantime the operator places a blank on the second 
 spindle. When all the face teeth in the first blank have 
 been blocked out, the turret again makes a partial revo- 
 lution, which carries the tirst blank to position to be 
 acted upon bv the finishing cutter, and the second blank 
 to the position just vacated by the first. The third posi- 
 tion is for the saw for the edge teeth, and the fourth is 
 for the finish of the edge teeth. The next movement of 
 the turret brings the finished wheel to its starting place, 
 when it is removed and another blank put in its place. 
 All the operations proceed simultaneously, so that a 
 completed wheel which requires the four milling cuts, is 
 produced during the time occupied by one operation, 
 and inasmuch as the somewhat large number of teeth in 
 the wheel necessitates a corresponding length of time for 
 cutting, the operator is able to attend another machine 
 also. The latest form of wheel cutter, which is shown 
 in the next view (Fig, 35), is the invention of Mr. D. H. 
 Church, and, by a suitable arrangement or combination 
 of cams, can be adapted to the cutting of stacks of 
 wheels (as shown in the cut), or to the cutting of single 
 wheels on the face. This machine, by reason of its 
 automatic feeding mechanism, requires no individual 
 
94 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 operator, but allows him or her to attend to a large 
 group of similar machines, which may be employed on 
 
 Fig. 35 . — The Church Automatic Wheel Cutter. 
 
 a great variety of cutting. The use of a liberal amount 
 of oil allows these machines to produce an unsurpassed 
 amount of work. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 It will be understood that in this work it is not 
 intended to describe, nor even mention, all of the various 
 machines used in the manufacture of watches, but rather 
 to select a few tvpes. and note the progress in their 
 productiveness, which the growth of the business has 
 demanded, and which has been a large factor in the 
 reduction in manufacturing cost, and of which the great 
 public has reaped the larger benefit. 
 
 Next to the plates, and the wheels and pinions, the 
 numerous screws required may be regarded as promi- 
 nent. We will, therefore, devote a short chapter to the 
 consideration of some of the various forms of screw- 
 making machines which have been in use in the Ameri- 
 can Waltham Watch Factory. The original threads, or 
 rather, the threads used in the early Waltham watches 
 are said to bave been obtained from Swiss ''jam plates," 
 and when, in later years, definite pitches for all the sizes 
 of screws were determined upon, they were established 
 on the inch measurement, which system was in use in 
 the factory previous to the adoption of the "metric sys- 
 tem " which is now used. So that while the various 
 
96 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 numbers of threads per inch were somewhat systematic 
 (varying from no to 240 per inch) yet their equivalents 
 in metric measurements seem not to be so systematic. 
 
 The early method of screw-making, consisted of 
 the use of a small bench lathe, with the ordinary split 
 chuck for holding the wire rods, which chucks were 
 closed by means of the regular draw-in-spindle and hand 
 wheel. On the lathe bed was a double slide rest with 
 one tool for turning down the wire to form the body of 
 the screw, and another tool for '-cutting off." The 
 lathe was also provided with a swing, or ••tumble tail 
 stock " containing two or more spindles, one of which 
 served as a -'stop" to regulate the length of the screw, 
 another spindle carried the threading die. For turning 
 the lathe during the threading process, the hand of the 
 operator was employed, so that care was required in 
 running on the die to avoid twisting off the slender 
 screw when the die came in contact with the shoulder 
 which formed the under side of the head. After the 
 threading operation the cutting off tool was brought into 
 action, and the wire rod partially severed, enough metal 
 being left to sustain the screw. At this point the oper- 
 ator would pick up a " slotting plate," and holding it to 
 the nearly severed screw, turn the lathe and run the 
 screw into a tapped hole in the plate until it came in 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 97 
 
 contact with the head, when the severing process was 
 completed by twisting it off. This method of screw- 
 making in the Waltham factory was so long ago dis- 
 carded, as to make it a matter of some difficulty to 
 
 Fig- 3t>. Early Form of Screw Cutting Lathe. 
 
 gather the material required for an illustration, but the 
 accompanying view will serve to show what was at one 
 time in use, (Fig. 36). Mention has been made of the 
 "slotting plate;" in this view such a plate is shown lean- 
 ing against the bed of the lathe. When all of the two 
 rows of holes in the slotting plate had been tilled with 
 
9 8 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 screws in the manner above mentioned, it was fastened 
 to the carriage of the slotting machine, which, on being 
 started, would steadily carry one row of screw heads 
 into contact with the running saw. the workman in the 
 meantime taking another plate and continuing his work 
 of turning, threading and cutting off. When the first 
 row of screws were slotted, the carriage was drawn 
 
 Fit 
 
 -Early Form of Screw Head Slotting Machine. 
 
 back to its former position, the plate removed and 
 reversed, and the other row slotted as before. The 
 plates were then taken by a boy who removed the 
 slotted screws, and returned the plate to the workman 
 for another rilling. The next figure shows one of 
 the above mentioned slotting machines (Fig. 37). 
 The brass screws to be used in the rims of balances, 
 while made in a similar, but not identical manner as that 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 99 
 
 just described, were taken off in a sort of block instead 
 of the above mentioned slotting plate. The reason for 
 this method being the readiness of releasing the slotted 
 screws from the slotting block, or holder, which was 
 desirable from the fact that the threads of balance 
 screws are very line and delicate, and therefore liable to 
 
 
 
 §Uta*a&**^ 
 
 
 ?• 
 
 ,,'A Old Balanct Screw Slotting Machine. 
 
 injury. This slotting block was circular in form, and 
 consisted of two plates held together by a screw nut. 
 The joint between the two plates was drilled with a row 
 of radial holes, tapped to fit the balance screws, which 
 were inserted, as made, in a manner similar to that 
 already described When this block was tilled it was 
 placed on the arbor or spindle of the special slotting 
 machine shown in the next view. (Fig. 38). which also 
 
IOO EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 shows the slotting block. On starting the machine 
 the block was slowly revolved, carrying the heads of 
 the radiating screws into contact with the slotting 
 saw. When completed the block was removed from 
 the machine, the clamping nut turned back to allow the 
 two halves of the block to separate, when the screws 
 would readily drop out. 
 
 The large number of screws required in watchmak- 
 ing, when carried on to the extent which it had been 
 for years at the Waltham factory, led to the attempt to 
 improve upon the above described methods, and to 
 Mr. C. V. Woerd belongs the credit of taking the first 
 step in that direction. The next view (Fig. 39) shows 
 the first Automatic Screw-making Machine. This was 
 made in 187 1, and has been in constant use ever since 
 that time. This particular machine was designed for 
 making "Jewel Screws," this screw doubtless being 
 selected for two reasons; first, because of the large 
 number used, and second, because being so very small, 
 it would be more easily made by a machine. About 
 four years of successful use of this machine led to the 
 designing of a larger machine, substantially the same in 
 principle, but adapted to the production of the larger 
 watch screws. This heavier machine is shown in Fig. 
 40. Examination of this picture will show that a 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. IOI 
 
■s 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 103 
 
 machine of this kind must of necessity be expensive to 
 build; and this fact led to the designing of a machine 
 more compact in form as well as more simple, and 
 therefore of cheaper construction. This latter form, 
 which was designed by Mr. D. H. Church, possesses 
 some features, besides cheapness, which are not found 
 in the Woerd machine, and which enable it to perform 
 some kinds of work which it would be difficult, if not 
 impossible, to do on the older machines. The Church 
 machine is shown in the next view (Fig. 41.) 
 
 In all the foregoing machines the various and 
 requisite operations of loosening the chuck, feeding 
 forward the wire rod, tightening the chuck, turning the 
 bodv of the screw, cutting the thread, and severing 
 the blank from the rod, are performed successively. 
 while the slotting of the head could proceed during the 
 time occupied by one or more of the other operations. 
 
 It was the conviction of the writer that a great econ- 
 omv would be secured by the adoption of a machine so 
 designed that all of the above operations could proceed 
 simultaneously. Such a machine was made, and has for 
 ten vears been employed in making the largest screws 
 used in full plate watches, making pillar screws at the 
 rate of twelve per minute. In a slightly modified form 
 these machines are used for making balance screws. 
 
104 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 In 
 
 
 
 
 tJSikiv 
 
 i**»^M ' ; ' 
 
 Hf 
 
 .far .**3 
 
 tnh&Y^ w 
 
 
 
 IB 
 
 F M\M7 ■ 
 
 'P»<J/ If 
 
 w 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. IO5 
 
 which, being of brass, are capable of more rapid pro- 
 duction, so that twenty screws per minute are made on 
 a single machine. (Fig. 42). 
 
 But a single operative can readily attend to six or 
 more of any of the above mentioned forms of automatic 
 machines, so that while by the older method a man 
 might make 1,200 to 1.500 screws per day with a little 
 aid from a boy. it is possible for one man alone with 
 these machines to easily make 50.000 to 60.000 per 
 day. This result is attained bv the adoption of the auto- 
 matic features, by which it is made possible for one per- 
 son to attend to a number of machines, and also the 
 arrangement of the machine which provides that all the 
 successive operations involved in making the screws are 
 carried on simultaneously. This latter fact is accom- 
 plished by the use of a multiplicity of spindles, each of 
 which carries a rod of wire, and which successively pre- 
 sent themselves to the various tools, in the favorite 
 '•procession," which continues until the rods of wire 
 are exhausted, when the machine will stop until replen- 
 ished. 
 
 But the turning, threading, cutting off and slotting of 
 the screw does not complete it. for there remain the fin- 
 ishing operations, which involve much more of expense 
 than attends the making operations. Formerly, it was 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 I07 
 
 needful to handle each individual screw as many times 
 as there were distinct operations involved in the finish- 
 ing process. But improved processes and machines 
 have reduced the expense of finishing the heads to 
 quite an extent. 
 
 The next view shows a lathe once used for finishing 
 screw heads, (Fig. 43). The running spindle carried a 
 
 chuck, whose center was 
 threaded to receive the screw, 
 which was held in the fingers 
 of the operative, and when 
 properly presented to the re- 
 volving chuck, it would be 
 drawn in, till the screw head 
 came in contact with the end 
 
 Fig. 43--OUI Screw Head Finish- Q f t } le c huck. The Opera- 
 
 ing Lathe. 
 
 tive then applied the surface 
 of a tine oil stone to the head of the revolving screw, 
 and moved it back and forth until the surface of the 
 screw head was carefully ground; following this came 
 a stick of boxwood whose surface was charged with 
 Vienna lime and alcohol, a similar manipulation of 
 this stick would produce the desired glossy surface. 
 The operator then applied a suitable screw-driver to 
 the slot of the screw head, and, bv the left hand, turned 
 
io8 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the lathe spindle backward, unscrewing the finished 
 screw from the chuck. To insure the proper position 
 of the above mentioned oil stone and stick, when in 
 operation, a suitable rest was provided. 
 
 In the case of the brass balance screws, which must of 
 necessity be entirely uniform, to insure poising, a double 
 
 Fig. 44.— Balance Screw Head Finishing Lathe 
 
 rest was provided, and a file was also employed to 
 bring the heads to the requisite length. In this machine 
 (Fig. 44) an attachment was used for polishing the sides 
 of the head as well as the end. The later practice is to 
 grind and polish the ends in large numbers at a time, and 
 for finishing the sides of the head, the machine shown in 
 the next view was designed (Fig. 45 ). This will be 
 recognized as one of the continuous running type of 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. IO9 
 
IIO EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 machines previously mentioned. This machine has a 
 revolving head, containing eight spindles, each of which 
 is provided with an interior threaded chuck. The head 
 revolves by a step by step movement, and the spindles, 
 when they successively reach certain positions, are put 
 in rapid -motion. 
 
 When in one of these positions the operator presents 
 the point of a screw to the chuck, and it is at once 
 screwed in. That spindle then moves to another posi- 
 tion, and in its progress passes under the action of a tine 
 hie. which removes any burr which may have been 
 made by the slotting saw. At a later period the screw 
 reaches a position to be acted upon by a swiftly revolv- 
 ing wood lap, which also has a vibrating motion. 
 Another step or two carries the screw head to the 
 action of a buff wheel, which gives additional gloss to 
 the surface of the metal. At the next step the screw 
 disappears, so that when the spindle reaches its first 
 position the chuck is empty and ready for another 
 screw; and so on. Another form of screw head finish- 
 ing machine was originally made for finishing the 
 minute screws used in holding jewel settings. Some 
 girls acquire such skill in handling these screws that 
 they could readily put them into the chucks of the 
 running spindles, but it was entirely a matter of feeling. 
 
EVOLUTION OP' AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 A later form of machine has made this skill unneces- 
 sary, as each spindle, when it reaches the proper posi- 
 tion, receives its screws automaticallv. or if it fails to 
 
 ( it a. 
 
 Fig. jt>. — The Wood Machine for Finishing the Heads of Jewel Setting Screws 
 
 do so. that failure stops the machine, and so avoids 
 injury to the empty chuck by the action of the grinding 
 and polishing mechanism. This machine (Fig. 46) is 
 the invention of Mr. Gleason Wood. Other forms of 
 
112 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 machines have been made for finishing round -topped 
 heads, but this chapter is quite long enough, and we 
 will not attempt any description of them. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 In the last chapter we very briefly described the 
 machines for the making and finishing of the balance 
 rim screws. 
 
 In this chapter we will review some of the machines 
 which have been, or are now employed in the produc- 
 tion of the balance itself. The making of the balance 
 involves a larger number of successive operations than 
 any other single piece of the watch movement. It also 
 demands the utmost care in manufacture, to insure its 
 absolute truth and reliability of action under the varying 
 conditions to which it is subject when in the performance 
 of its important and delicate work. 
 
 It is to be understood that we refer to the bi-metallic 
 or expansion balance, \ which is the only form of balance 
 used by the American Watch Company) and that from 
 the nature of its structure it is absolutely essential that it 
 be as near perfect as possible in every particular. We 
 are however to consider, not the balance itself, but the 
 machines used in its production; we will begin with the 
 operations required after the brass portion has been 
 united to the steel body of the balance blank. 
 
 [13 
 
114 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 For the satisfactory action of the completed balance 
 under varying temperatures, it is desired that the more 
 expansive brass be made as dense as possible. This 
 density is ordinarily secured by some sort of a com- 
 pression process. Quite possibly this may at some time 
 
 Fig. 4j. — Early Machine for Hammering Balance Brass. 
 
 have been accomplished by a long succession of blows 
 by a hand hammer, if so. the operation must have been 
 a tedious one. and probably not entirely satisfactory in 
 its results. 
 
 The first mechanical means known to the writer for 
 performing this work was in the form of a small trip 
 hammer designed for this special use (Fig. 47.) 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 115 
 
 This machine was provided with two grooved rolls 
 mounted on and near one end of two parallel shafts. 
 which near their other extremities carried rolls of differ- 
 
 Fig. 48. — Another Early Machine for Compressing Balance £>><:<<. 
 
 ent form. By means of two little belts one of these 
 shafts was made to drive the other, the rirst one receiv- 
 ing its motion through a belt from a countershaft. 
 
Il6 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 A count wheel was so arranged as to receive a step 
 by step movement by means of an arm and pawl attached 
 to the axis of the trip hammer. 
 
 The balance blank to be operated upon was held in 
 position by a detached arbor which at one end was made 
 slightly tapering and of such size as to fit the center hole 
 of the balance. The other extremity of this arbor car- 
 ried a role or disc of substantially the same diameter as 
 the balance blank. 
 
 When in position the blank rested on the periphery 
 of the two grooved rolls, and the disc rested in a 
 similar manner on the two belted rolls at the other 
 end of the parallel shafts; a suitable spring was 
 arranged to maintain sufficient pressure to compel the 
 motion of the two drive rolls to rotate the balance 
 arbor. The balance blank being in position, the 
 machine was put in motion and the feed rolls would 
 slowly revolve the blank. 
 
 At every stroke of the hammer the pawl would move 
 the count wheel a single tooth, and by means of a 
 suitable stud attached to the wheel it would at a proper 
 time lift a latch and release a shipper lever and stop the 
 machine. 
 
 The object of this counting mechanism was to insure 
 uniformity in the hammering of the rim, so that the 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 117 
 
 Fig. 4Q— Self-Feeding Automatic Compressor for Balance Brass. 
 
Il8 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 metal on the entire periphery of the balance blank 
 should be of uniform density. 
 
 This form of machine was succeeded by the one 
 shown in (Fig. 48) which, while more efficient in every 
 way than the hammering machine, was displaced by 
 the self-feeding and automatic acting machine shown 
 
 in t Fi g- 49-) 
 
 In this machine the blanks to be compressed are 
 placed in the feed tube whence they are taken one by 
 one from the bottom of the pile and carried forward 
 and deposited on a suitable lifter which elevates the 
 blank to a position where it can be grasped by the 
 grooved rolls which gradually but relentlessly close in 
 upon it. not "to squeeze the life out of it," but to give 
 it a greater life. When the blank has been compressed 
 to a definite size the rolls retreat and allow the com- 
 pressed blank to drop, when it is pushed out of the way 
 by a suitable arm, just in season to make way for 
 another victim, which is "put through the mill" in the 
 same manner. 
 
 This machine has only to be kept loaded with blanks 
 and itself " does the rest." 
 
 The facing and recessing of the blanks then follow; 
 and these operations were formerly done in ordinary 
 bench lathes, each of which required an operative 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 II 9 
 
 (Fig. 50.) The later practice is to employ an automatic 
 lathe, which takes the blanks from a loaded tube and 
 automatically places them in the chuck, when the cut- 
 ting tool advances and does its work and then retires, 
 
 Fig. jo.— Early Balance Facing and Recessing Machine. 
 
 when the chuck opens, the turned blank is ejected, and 
 a new one received, and so on. The attendant, who 
 can care for a number of machines, has for his principal 
 work the sharpening and renewing of the cutting tools 
 (Fig- 5*0 
 
I20 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 Fig. 51. — The Church Automatic Facing and Recessing Machine. 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 121 
 
 The blanks being turned and recessed, there follows 
 the removal of two sections of the thin web of steel, 
 leaving a transverse bar of metal, forming the arms of 
 the wheel. As this bar is widest at the middle, tapering 
 
 Fig. 52.— Balance Webb Cutter. 
 
 on both sides towards the rim, the removal of the two 
 sections of web is not so simple as it would otherwise 
 be. Years ago it was the practice to make four cuts 
 through the web with a suitable shaped mill which was 
 sunk into one side. 
 
122 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 The next operation was performed in a lathe, the 
 spindle of which was given a reciprocating motion, and 
 in connection with it a special crossing tool was made to 
 cut through the web near the rim, thus completing the 
 rim. (Fig. 52.) 
 
 The modern practice is to remove both sections of 
 the web by means of a specially constructed punch and 
 die. 
 
 The drilling and tapping of the numerous holes in the 
 balance rim, for the reception of the adjustment screws, 
 is unavoidably an operation of considerable extent, inas- 
 much as from fourteen to eighteen holes in each balance 
 must be accurately located and carefully drilled and 
 tapped at the proper stage of the work, and retapped 
 when the balance is finished. 
 
 The earliest form of machine known to the writer for 
 this drilling, consisted of a bench lathe with a swing tail 
 stock containing a number of spindles, each carrying a 
 special form of tool. In the running spindle of the head 
 stock was a chuck, in which the balance was mounted, 
 and provided with a transverse spindle, the outer end of 
 which carried an index, graduated to correspond to the 
 desired number and position of the holes in the balance. 
 
 The inner end of this little spindle carried a face plate 
 to which the balance was clamped, and in such position 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 123 
 
 as to bring the desired location for a hole in the axial 
 line of the lathe spindle. By having the chuck care- 
 fully counterbalanced it could be safely revolved at suffi- 
 cientlv high speed to drill the holes, etc. This lathe is 
 shown in (Fig. 53.) 
 
 The transition from the slow and somewhat expensive 
 
 Fig 53.— Early Balance Rim Drilling Machine. 
 
 method of drilling just described, to a method both rapid 
 and correspondingly cheap, was in this case a radical one, 
 omitting the steps of gradual progress which has marked 
 improvements in most directions. Yet there was at least 
 one preliminary step in a direction allied to these opera- 
 tions. The operation of tapping the numerous holes was 
 
124 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 one of some delicacy and yet demanding rapidity in order 
 to avoid undue expense; the speed was secured by mount- 
 ing the tap in a small running spindle driven by power, 
 but great watchfulness was demanded to avoid running 
 the threading tap in too far, before reversing the direc- 
 tion of revolution. 
 
 The form of tapping machine shown in the next view 
 
 Fig. 34. — Eany Balance Tapping Machine. 
 
 (Fig. 54). was therefore designed, wmich insured both 
 speed and safety, inasmuch as it was arranged to give the 
 tap a yielding pressure when entering the hole, and also 
 allowed only a definite number of forward revolutions. 
 
 This tapping device was incorporated by Mr. C. V. 
 Woerd into an automatic drilling machine, in the form 
 shown in the next view (Fig. 55), and being automatic, 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 1 25 
 
 Fig-j5- — WoercPs Automatic Balance Drilling Machine. 
 
126 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 save only in the supplying and removing of the balance, 
 two persons are able to attend to twelve machines or 
 more, which are arranged in close order. 
 
 
 
 mfr msm^M 
 
 
 
 
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 ¥ 
 
 
 
 f&$i~~ 2'1 
 
 
 
 
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 II 
 
 
 
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 Fig. j6. — Marsh Modern Balance Tapping Machine 
 
 For the final tapping of the holes, the machine shown 
 in the next view has proved to be most excellent, as the 
 entire number of holes are tapped simultaneously (Fig. 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 127 
 
 56). The finish turning and glossing of the balance rim 
 is an operation demanding special care and accuracy, 
 absolute truth and accuracy in diameter being required. 
 The earlier practice was to bed the balance in cement on 
 
 Fig. sj.— Finish Turning and Glossing Machine. 
 
 chuck, which was provided with true running arbor or 
 pin. As the cement required to be softened by heat, 
 both when securing the balance to the chuck, and when 
 removing it after being turned, considerable time was 
 necessarily consumed in securing the balance and getting 
 it in readiness for the turning operations. At one time 
 
128 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 the turning tools were in removable holders, which were 
 taken in succession by the workman, and laid on a hard- 
 ened tool-rest, in front of the work, and carefully passed 
 over the running balance, each tool removing a small 
 
 Fig. 58— Marsh Modern Finish Turning and Glossing Machine. 
 
 portion of the metal. A later form of machine, or rather 
 a modification of the foregoing machine, is shown in the 
 next view (Fig. 57). This shows the turning tools 
 mounted in a holder which is arranged to swing on an 
 arbor, and also to slide on the same arbor, the holder 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 1 29 
 
 resting on a suitable guide; the movement of the slide 
 being imparted through a suitable hand lever. 
 
 The illustration also shows the revolving polishing 
 disc, for giving the finishing gloss to the rim. 
 
 This form of machine has been superceded by the 
 one shown in the next view (Fig. 58), which is another 
 application of the " procession " idea. 
 
 This machine is arranged with a turret carrying four 
 running spindles, each of which at its upper end carries 
 a specially made chuck for holding the balances to be 
 turned. Suitably disposed around this turret are three 
 tool rests, two of which are provided with turning tools, 
 while the third carries a revolving polishing disc. This 
 arrangement allows of the simultaneous performance of 
 the two turning operations, and also of the polishing, 
 while the fourth spindle is receiving a fresh balance, 
 which will duly follow the others step by step around 
 the circle, each spindle when arriving at the starting 
 position bringing with it a completed balance; which the 
 attendant will remove and supply its place with a fresh 
 one. This arrangement enables one man to accomplish 
 at least two and one-half times as much as by the previ- 
 ous method. 
 
C. A. i x IAI^H. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 In the last chapter we reviewed some of the special 
 machines used in the manufacture of balances; and it 
 may not be inappropriate at this time to consider the 
 companion of the balance — the hairspring, and its stud 
 and pins. 
 
 It is probable that hairsprings are made in the same 
 general way, by all makers, while the tools and machines 
 employed in any one factory may be, and doubtless are, 
 entirely dissimilar in form to those used for a like pur- 
 pose in other factories. Of these various tools we can 
 make mention of but few, and of them it will not be 
 possible to illustrate the successive forms or steps in the 
 long process of evolution. 
 
 We believe that there was a period in the history of 
 this factory when hairsprings were purchased, instead of 
 being manufactured. At a later period the finished 
 wire was purchased, from which the springs were made. 
 But about twenty-five years ago a machine for form- 
 ing the wire was built. Subsequent modifications and 
 improvements have resulted in the production of the 
 machines shown in Fig. 59. These machines are so far 
 
 133 
 
x — <9HHHHHH HH^B 
 
 
 
 
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 Jm-te^ll 
 
 *&j w 
 
 ,, | 
 
 ^^-SFH 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 — ■ 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 1 35 
 
 automatic in operation that one man only is required to 
 keep them busy. The character of the work done 
 by the several machines is modified by the successive 
 requirements of the wire, and include the drawing of the 
 round wire to the exact diameter desired, then flattening 
 of the wire by repeated rollings, and lastly by repeated 
 and careful drawings through the finishing dies, by which 
 the exact dimensions desired are obtained, together with 
 the smooth and glossy surface which is indispensable to 
 the production of a highly finished and bright colored 
 spring. 
 
 The coiling of hairsprings seems to belong among the 
 class of mechanical operations, or manipulations, which 
 are not susceptible of marked improvement. There may 
 be obtained a measure of superiority in the quality of the 
 tools employed, but the processes of production admit of 
 little variation. One exception may be made to the fore- 
 going statement, it being the method of forming the 
 overcoil of Breguet springs, which method was devised 
 by the late John Logan, and by which it is possible to so 
 form and confine the over-coil that it can be tempered 
 complete, not requiring the careful and somewhat tedi- 
 ous manipulation otherwise demanded. The round hair- 
 spring stud is one of the small parts of a watch move- 
 ment, and quite simple in form as compared with the 
 
136 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 older pattern, which was a long wedge-like X piece of 
 steel which was attached to the watch plate by a screw 
 and two steady pins, and projected toward the spring 
 like a balance cock. But, although quite simple in form, 
 the diminutive size of the round stud makes it an incon- 
 
 Fig. bo.— Form and Relative Dimensions of Hair Spring Stud. About Twenty- 
 five Times Actual Size. 
 
 venient piece to manufacture — at least this was true 
 during the early years of its production. The accom- 
 panying diagram (Fig. 60) will serve to indicate the 
 form and relative dimensions of the studs, the largest of 
 which are less than 4-100 of an inch in diameter, by 
 about 9-100 of an inch in length, and at one end is flat- 
 tened on two sides so as to form a sort of tongue, near 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 1 37 
 
 one corner of which is drilled a hole to receive the outer 
 end of the hairspring. The opposite end of the stud is 
 provided with a slit to receive a screwdriver. At one 
 time it was the practice to cut off from a rod of wire, 
 pieces of suitable length for one stud each. Then fol- 
 lowed the operation of milling one of the ends, and fin- 
 ishing the other to the proper length. Next came the 
 drilling of the hole for the spring. It is essential that 
 this hole should be at an exact right angle to the axis of 
 the stud, but with so little of total length, as compared 
 to its diameter, it proved a very difficult piece to hold 
 during the drilling operation, so that when inspected a 
 large number were discarded for imperfections. But all 
 that is a thing of the past. A special form of continuous 
 running automatic machine, shown in Fig. 61, now does 
 the work of milling the two sides, drilling and broaching 
 the hole, and cutting to exact length, and producing a 
 stud every six seconds. This is another instance of the 
 efficiencv of the "procession," or continuous running 
 system. 
 
 The writer was once told by Mr. Chas. W. Fogg, the 
 Patentee of the Safety Pinion, that when in his youth he 
 was an apprentice to learn the watchmaking trade; on 
 one occasion the boss was to be absent the whole day; 
 he therefore told the young apprentice that he might 
 
i38 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 employ himself making hairspring pins. "Well, how 
 many shall I make?" "O, make about a pint." Hair- 
 spring pins are not bulky articles, and filing them by 
 
 Fig. bl. — Marsh Automatic Hair Spring Stud Machine. 
 
 hand on wire held in a pin vise, twirled by thumb and 
 finger, is not rapid work, but that was the old way. An 
 improvement was made when the wire was held in a 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 1 39 
 
 spring chuck which was in a spindle removably con- 
 nected with a spindle driven by a belt. With this was 
 also employed a rotary tile, as a substitute for. and 
 improvement upon, the common hand rile. This method, 
 while probably producing better and more uniform pins 
 than the primitive method, was by no means rapid, inas- 
 much as it was required to remove the inner spindle 
 from the outer driving spindle, and after cutting off the 
 completed pin. to loosen the chuck and pull out the wire 
 to a distance required for another pin. Only a few 
 inches in length of wire could be handled in this 
 machine. But for several years past automatic machines 
 of the form shown in Fig. 62 have been used. These 
 take pieces of wire about 30 feet long, and produce pins 
 at the rate of 20 to 35 per minute, according to the 
 material used. 
 
 The proper adaptation of the hairsprings to the bal- 
 ances of watches is an indispensable requisite in the 
 obtaining of a correct time rate. It is a matter of abso- 
 lute exactness, and therefore one demanding special care 
 and accurate tests. Until within comparatively a few 
 years this work was done by the " cut and try " method, 
 that is. by repeated trials of different springs, until one 
 was found which would meet the requirements of each 
 individual balance. The testing or trial could not be an 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINKKV 
 
 I 4 I 
 
 instantaneous matter, and often involved many changes; 
 but in the case of the ordinary flat hair springs admitted 
 of such latitude as could be corrected by "taking up* 1 
 or •• letting out " the spring. 
 
 Extended and careful tests have demonstrated that the 
 correct action of a Breguet hair spring demands that the 
 
 Fig\ 63.— Device for Testing Balances an<l Springs. 
 
 stud be applied at a certain point in the overcoil. and 
 that only a very slight deviation from this position can be 
 allowed without destroying the proper action of the 
 spring. 
 
 The late John Logan, who was extensively known as 
 a maker of hair springs, was for several years employed 
 as a '• watch springer." and gave a great deal of thought 
 to the problem of cheapening the cost of his work. As 
 
I 4 2 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 a result of his thought and stud}', he invented a system 
 of testing all hair springs by a standard balance, and all 
 balances by a standard spring, and grading the springs 
 according to their relative strength, and, by means of a 
 long studied and carefully prepared schedule, or table, 
 
 Fig. 64. — Logan Device for Testing Balances and Springs. 
 
 selecting the springs adapted to the various balances. 
 This scheme was the occasion of a long and expensive 
 lawsuit, resulting in favor of Mr. Logan. Some -of the 
 various devices for testing balances and springs are 
 shown in the accompanying illustrations. Figs. 63 and 64. 
 Mr. E.J. Hall devised and patented the little compara- 
 tors shown in Figs. 65 and 66, which are of value to a 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY 
 
 H3 
 
 certain extent, but their use demands an amount of keen 
 and accurate perception which not every workman 
 possesses. 
 
 Fig. 67 shows a special form of balances, or weighing 
 
 Fig. 6j. — The Hall Patent Comparato 
 
 scales, by which the " avoirdupois " of the complete 
 watch balance could be determined. This was devised 
 by Mr. Thomas Gill, who also designed the very ingen- 
 ious and useful gauge shown in Fig. 6S for weighing the 
 
i 4 4 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 relative strength of springs. By the use of these two 
 devices, an approximate selection of springs, as to their 
 adaption to balances could be made. This system, while 
 helpful to a limited extent, was far from perfect, as it was 
 manifest that while the total mass of each of a large num- 
 ber of balances might be exactly equal in weight to that 
 
 Fig. bb. — Another Hall Patent Comparator. 
 
 of each of the others, yet the metal might be so disposed 
 as to give vibrational weight in some cases much greater 
 than in others. So that the only accurate means for 
 ascertaining the effective weight of balances is by vibra- 
 tion. The same method is also required to measure the 
 strength of hair springs with the accuracy required. 
 Such careful and minute gauging of necessity demands 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 1 45 
 
 that the determining vibrations shall be continued through 
 an interval sufficiently prolonged to disclose or reveal the 
 peculiar condition of each individual balance or spring. 
 To do this work thoroughly without entailing a large 
 
 Fig. 67. — The Gill Scale for Weighing Balances. 
 
 additional expense, a form of special machine was 
 devised, which has proved to be very efficient and relia- 
 ble. Fig. 69 shows a number of these machines as 
 arranged for use, some of them fitted for vibrating bal- 
 ances, others for springs, and still others for testing. By 
 
146 
 
 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 means of this system the springs and balances are 
 selected entirely independent of the movements to which 
 they have been assigned, so that they do not come 
 together until they reach the hands of the finisher. 
 
 In closing this series of papers, which have extended 
 far beyond the original intention of the writer, it is 
 
 Fig. 68 — The Gill Gauge jor Determining the Relative Strength of Hair Springs. 
 
 proper to say once more that it is impossible to convey 
 more than a general idea of the direction and nature of 
 improvement in machinery for watchmaking, and to 
 indicate some of the steps in which progress has been 
 made. The list of improved machines is by no means 
 complete. No mention whatever has been made of 
 
EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 1 49 
 
 some of the most recent changes. At no time in the 
 history of this company have changes been so numerous 
 nor so radical as within the past two years. Enough, 
 however, has been written to show that very great 
 changes in manufacturing methods have been in progress 
 during almost the entire existence of this factory. Many 
 of the earlier methods and machines now seem crude; 
 possibly they were known to be such at that time, but it 
 is difficult for us at this day and in the light of recent 
 mechanical achievements to realize the primitive condi- 
 tions of forty years ago. 
 
 Perhaps no one of the past two score years has failed 
 to witness some degree of improvement in machinery. 
 Doubtless succeeding years will also bring additional 
 changes, but it is not probable that the future student of 
 the history of watchmaking will be able to discern in any 
 like period as much of progress as will mark the last 
 decade of the present century. 
 
 We have aimed to write of methods and machines, and 
 not of men. But it seems proper in these closing words 
 to make mention of two who are deservedly prominent; 
 the first as being to a certain extent a pioneer in the field 
 of designing and building watchmaking machinery, and 
 the second who has by his fertility and originality in the 
 field of invention, achieved so much in the embodiment 
 
l50 EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATIC MACHINERY. 
 
 of automatic features as render his recent machines won- 
 ders of mechanism. We refer to Mr. C. S. Moseley and 
 Mr. D. H. Church. 
 

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