Interesting show on the Computer Garage

From: jpero_at_sympatico.ca <(jpero_at_sympatico.ca)>
Date: Tue May 8 15:16:31 2001

> Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 20:15:37 +0100 (BST)
> From: Peter Joules <peter_at_joules0.demon.co.uk>
> To: Bryan Pope <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Interesting show on the Computer Garage
> Reply-to: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org

> On Mon, 7 May 2001, Don Maslin wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > On 8 May 2001, Iggy Drougge wrote:
> >
> > > Bryan Pope skrev:
> > >
> > > >New York! ewwww.... I am from Ingersoll, a little town (Pop. 9500)
> > >
> > > Ingersoll... That name sounds familiar. Isn't that the name of some late 70s
> > > video game console?
> >
> >
> > Not sure about that, but it was half the name of an outfit that built
> > air compressors :)
> > - don
> >
> They made watches in the 60s didn't they?

Hmm not just that, there was a gentleman by this Ingersoll who
invented inexpensive watches by using stamped plate movement on
hollow pillars riveted to one plate, tapped for screw to
secure other plate. Both plates has stamped out and drilled holes
for bearings and key items by the "bridge" plate over one of pillar
with a screw like escapement lever and balance wheel. Also did this
also with hardened steel conical bearings design. Balance rests it's
snightly rounded points in a small rounded bottom of conical caps
instead of expensive drilled brass and hardened end plates for steel
or jewels for balance wheels. Two more innvotive items that made this
watches cheaper in that old days was the main
spring made weaker and thinner and the barrel mainsping sits in more
large with fiction fit for time adjustment gear to drive both hour
and minute hands. Finally the escapement lever and it's escapement
wheel, The wheel has series of "nubbins" stamped out of brass plate
to draw in the two pin lever while out of engagement with balance
wheel and when tripped imparts impulse to the balance wheel.

All of this makes this design bit more durable in use and rough
handling.

Wear problem is not a big issue on a well built Ingersoll watch types
if the steel is good quality and brass work-hardened properly. Worn
bits is easily repaired or replaced quickly and easily. Cannot do
this to Timexes it's too low quality.

At that time manufacturing process was mostly milling parts out of
brass either by hand or machine and less on stamping process. At
same time many of them were hand-made or hand-built out of pieces and
individually adjusted.

If anybody have worn out wind up timex watches snap the back off
and look, failing that, find a old westcox clock and unscrew back
off. That's clone of Ingersoll's design mostly, if you manage to
have a true photo or diagram of Ingersoll's design, it's completely
different but the idea is remains the same.

Cheers,

Wizard

>
> --
> Regards
> Pete
>
>
Received on Tue May 08 2001 - 15:16:31 BST