It will be noted that there is considerable difference between six or ten second allowances of this description and straight limits of six or ten seconds.
Some manufacturers have greater limits of allowance, sometimes as great as twenty-five seconds for the five positions, but as a rule the first three positions are required to rate within seven seconds and the difference of eighteen seconds is divided between the right and left positions.
Under limits of this description a watch that would not be tolerated under the six or ten seconds class would be considered as good. Watches having such large allowances, however, and rating close to the limit are hardly justified in being considered as adjusted to five positions. The fact that they are so considered however, is the reason why watchmakers will sometimes fine wide variation in new watches before they have been damaged or mishandled. The following five position examples were selected with the same care as were the three position specimens and will be found to cover a wide field of variation for comparison with rates that the adjuster may desire to correct.
Hamilton, No. 248027; Open Face, 21 Jewels.
Repairs made. New balance staff and cleaned. The first test in five positions showed a variation of twenty seconds as per second column Fig. 20. It will be noted that in four of the positions the rate was quite close and that the pendant right position had an extremely fast rate.
A casual investigation indicated that all points relating to the spring, regulator pins and balance were reasonably satisfactory but that there was a slight falling off in motion in the pendant right position. Further investigation of this feature disclosed a slight striking sound when the watch was held to the ear in this position. The dial was removed and the bankings were closed to drop whereupon it was discovered that the fork was long on the inside, or when the receiving stone was locked on the escape teeth. This prevented the roller jewel from passing through the fork freely as it did on the opposite side.
The balance pivots had the limit of allowance for side shake which aided the cause of the roller jewel in striking.
+--------------------------------------------------+ | No. _248027_ Make _Hamilton_ | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | D U | + 1 | + 1 | + 3 | + 3 | | | P | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | D D | + 2 | + 1 | + 7 | + 4 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | P U | + 4 | + 2 | + 8 | + 1 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | P R | +22 | +18 | +12 | + 4 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | P L | +20 | - 2 | + 8 | - 4 | | | | +--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ 20 8