Part 14 (1/2)
”Not at all. Records show that a great many of the best clockmakers belonging to the Clockmakers' Company were, or had formerly been, blacksmiths.”
”But it seems odd, doesn't it?” mused Christopher. ”And did everybody start making watches after this queer article of Peter Henlien's was produced?”
”Not very extensively. Indeed, there was nothing very appealing or attractive in Peter Henlien's watch. Moreover, since such objects failed to keep good time, what earthly inducement was there for owning one?
Nevertheless horologers themselves were not discouraged. They kept right on trying to turn out something better, and in 1525 Jacob Zech, a Swiss mechanic from Prague, hit on a remedy to prevent these crude watches from running fast when first wound up and slower when they began to run down. In other words he discovered something that would equalize the mechanism.”
”And what was that?”
”A fusee.”
”I'm afraid that doesn't help me much,” was Christopher's rueful plaint.
”Well, a fusee was a short cone having a spiral groove round it, with a cord or chain wound to the groove and fastened at the big end of the cone. It was a simple device but it did the work. The shaft of the fusee was attached to the large wheel that moved the gears, and the other end of the cord was fastened to the mainspring barrel. Therefore as the mainspring slowly turned the barrel, it gradually uncoiled the cord from the fusee, making it turn and as soon as it turned, the wheels had to turn too, and the watch began to go. Since from the very start the cord unwound from the small end of the cone where the leverage was least, and as the force of the mainspring decreased it, the leverage of the cord strengthened in the same proportion. So you see, the power which turned the wheels was constantly the same. Do not dream, however, this result was reached all in a minute. The crude fusee of Zech had to be perfected by Gruet, another Swiss clockmaker, and by still others. Nevertheless the scheme did work and caused a revolution in clock and watch making.
There was now some hope that ultimately timepieces would furnish correct time, which after all is, I suppose, the only excuse a clock has for being.”
McPhearson brought from his bag a small copper oil can.
”Wants oilin', does she?” interpolated the butler, who had been standing anxiously near by.
”A drop won't hurt her.”
”Much wrong with her, sir?”
”Next to nothing, Ebenezer. She just needed a little readjusting and tightening up.”
”Praise de Lord! Then you're most through, sir.”
”Pretty near.”
”I'm clean afraid Mr. Hawley won't get back before you finish.”
”I'm not gone yet.”
”Oh, I ain't in any hurry to shoo you out, Mr. McPhearson,” declared the darky hurriedly. ”No, indeed, sir. I could listen to you talk all day.”
”I forgot you were listening, Ebenezer.”
”Listening? 'Deed an' I was listenin'! My two ears was p.r.i.c.ked up like a rabbit's.”
The clockmaker flushed and smiled.
”They's silver to clean; an' bra.s.ses to polish, an' I dunno what--”
continued the butler, ”but I'm lettin' 'em all lie 'til by an' by--I's improvin' my mind--I is!”
”So am I,” rejoined Christopher, laughing.
”I seem to be furnis.h.i.+ng a lecture free of charge to a very select audience,” the Scotchman returned drily; ”and having once started, I suppose I may as well finish it. You can testify that at least I have not been idle while talking.