Which of these is NOT a reason why conical pivots are better than straight pivots?
- Conical pivots are stronger
- Conical pivots are smaller
- Conical pivots are easier to polish
- Conical pivots are cheaper to produce
Correct Answer: Conical pivots are cheaper to produce
Correct Answer Explanation: Conical pivots are stronger, smaller and easier to polish, but the extra steps in the manufacturing process make them more expensive.
What material is commonly used to make pivot drills?
- Gold
- Tungsten
- Stubb’s steel
- Brass
Correct Answer: Stubb’s steel
Correct Answer Explanation: Stubb’s steel is the ideal material for pivot drills as it balances strength and flexibility.
What is the ideal temperature to draw down the temper of a balance staff?
- 350°F
- 500°F
- 750°F
- 950°F
Correct Answer: 500°F
Correct Answer Explanation: Drawing down the temper of a balance staff to 500°F strikes a balance between the hardness and workability of the steel.
What type of chuck uses wax to hold a balance staff during pivoting?
- Cement chuck
- Wax chuck
- Spring chuck
- Magnetic chuck
Correct Answer: Wax chuck
Correct Answer Explanation: A wax chuck uses a wax material to hold the balance staff during pivoting. This provides a secure grip while also allowing for easy removal of the staff after the pivoting process is complete.
What is the main purpose of side shake in a pivot and jewel hole?
- To allow for the oil to move between the pivot and jewel hole.
- To give the pivot some freedom to rotate in the jewel hole.
- To provide a small gap for the pivot to wear.
- To provide a small space for dust to settle.
Correct Answer: To allow for the oil to move between the pivot and jewel hole.
Correct Answer Explanation: Side shake provides the necessary clearance between the pivot and jewel hole to allow for the movement of oil for lubrication.
How much smaller should a pivot be than the jewel hole?
- 1/2500 of an inch
- 1/1000 of an inch
- 1/500 of an inch
- 1/100 of an inch
Correct Answer: 1/2500 of an inch
Correct Answer Explanation: A pivot should be 1/2500 of an inch smaller than the jewel hole to allow for a proper fit and for lubrication.
What is the purpose of a back-slope on a conical pivot?
- To allow for easier oiling
- To help retain oil
- To make the pivot stronger
- To make the pivot more accurate
Correct Answer: To help retain oil
Correct Answer Explanation: The back-slope on a conical pivot helps to prevent oil from being drawn away from the jewel hole.
What kind of slips are used to polish balance staffs?
- Wood slips
- Metal slips
- Leather slips
- Plastic slips
Correct Answer: Metal slips and wood slips
Correct Answer Explanation: Both metal and wood slips are used in the polishing process of balance staffs, providing different degrees of abrasion and smoothness.
What is the purpose of a joint wire in the pivoting process?
- To ensure the balance staff is straight
- To help secure the cylinder
- To provide a guide for the pivot drill
- To hold the pivot in place while it is being polished
Correct Answer: To help secure the cylinder
Correct Answer Explanation: A joint wire acts as a holding point for the cylinder during pivoting, preventing breakage.
How much side shake is generally required for a pivot?
- 1/1000 of an inch
- 1/2500 of an inch
- 1/5000 of an inch
- 1/10000 of an inch
Correct Answer: 1/2500 of an inch
Correct Answer Explanation: A side shake of 1/2500 of an inch is considered sufficient for allowing the oil to move between the pivot and the jewel hole, while also minimizing any unnecessary play in the movement.
What is a graver used for in watchmaking?
- To shape balance staffs
- To drill holes
- To polish the balance staff
- To cut teeth on wheels
Correct Answer: To shape balance staffs
Correct Answer Explanation: A graver is a tool used to shape and cut metal, including the shaping of balance staffs in watchmaking.
What is a cement chuck used for in watchmaking?
- To hold workpieces in place during turning and shaping.
- To polish watch components
- To assemble watch parts
- To make pivot drills
Correct Answer: To hold workpieces in place during turning and shaping.
Correct Answer Explanation: A cement chuck utilizes a cement-like substance to hold workpieces in place during turning and shaping on a lathe, offering a secure grip for intricate work.
How does capillarity affect watchmaking?
- It helps with oil retention in the jewel hole
- It allows for easier polishing of watch components
- It makes the balance staff stronger
- It reduces friction between the pivot and jewel hole
Correct Answer: It helps with oil retention in the jewel hole
Correct Answer Explanation: Capillarity is the phenomenon of a liquid rising in a narrow tube or between closely spaced surfaces. In watchmaking, this applies to oil retention within the jewel hole. The oil adheres to the surfaces of the pivot and jewel, creating a thin layer that lubricates the movement.
What is the purpose of an end stone in a jewel hole?
- To hold the pivot in place
- To lubricate the pivot
- To help retain oil in the jewel hole
- To prevent dust from entering the jewel hole
Correct Answer: To help retain oil in the jewel hole
Correct Answer Explanation: An end stone, a small jewel placed near the jewel hole, plays a crucial role in oil retention. Its shape and placement help to create a small chamber for oil to pool, ensuring a continuous supply of lubrication to the pivot.
What is the process of poising in watchmaking?
- Adjusting the weight of the balance wheel
- Aligning the balance staff with the jewel hole
- Polishing the pivot
- Shaping the balance staff
Correct Answer: Adjusting the weight of the balance wheel
Correct Answer Explanation: Poising involves carefully adjusting the weight distribution of the balance wheel, ensuring that it oscillates accurately and consistently, thus impacting the overall precision of the timekeeping mechanism.
What is the purpose of the hole for air release in a wax shell?
- To allow the shellac to flow into the shell
- To ensure that the shell is properly heated
- To provide a vent for the wax
- To help with the removal of the shell
Correct Answer: To allow the shellac to flow into the shell
Correct Answer Explanation: The air release hole in the wax shell during the pivoting process allows for the shellac to flow into the shell, forming a strong and secure mold for the balance staff.
What is the purpose of the V-shaped center for the wax chuck?
- To hold the balance staff securely during turning
- To help with the removal of the balance staff from the chuck
- To align the balance staff with the chuck
- To center the balance staff in the chuck
Correct Answer: To center the balance staff in the chuck
Correct Answer Explanation: The V-shaped center on the wax chuck acts as a guide, ensuring that the balance staff is positioned accurately and centered in the chuck, resulting in a balanced and precise turning operation.
What is the purpose of the taper chuck in the pivoting process?
- To secure the balance staff during turning
- To help with the removal of the balance staff from the chuck
- To align the balance staff with the chuck
- To center the balance staff in the chuck
Correct Answer: To secure the balance staff during turning
Correct Answer Explanation: The taper chuck is designed to hold the balance staff securely during the turning process, ensuring stability and precise manipulation of the delicate component.
How does the use of a sewing needle illustrate the concept of capillarity?
- The oil quickly ascends the needle’s point, demonstrating the adhesive force between oil and the needle.
- The oil spreads out evenly on the needle, showing the viscosity of oil.
- The oil does not stick to the needle, highlighting the hydrophobic nature of oil.
- The oil slowly drips from the needle, demonstrating the gravitational pull on oil.
Correct Answer: The oil quickly ascends the needle’s point, demonstrating the adhesive force between oil and the needle.
Correct Answer Explanation: The oil ascends the needle’s point, illustrating the adhesive force between the oil and the needle’s surface, creating a thin layer that rises up the needle due to the capillary action. This adhesive force is essential for the retention of oil in the jewel hole of a watch.
What does the term “side shake” refer to in watchmaking?
- The movement of the balance staff in the jewel hole.
- The shaking of the watch when it is worn.
- The amount of clearance between the pivot and its jewel hole.
- The vibration of the balance wheel.
Correct Answer: The amount of clearance between the pivot and its jewel hole.
Correct Answer Explanation: Side shake refers to the small gap or clearance between the pivot and the jewel hole, allowing for the movement of oil within the jewel hole, ensuring proper lubrication and preventing excessive friction.
What is the purpose of mercury hardening in the process of creating pivot drills?
- To make the drill extremely hard but brittle.
- To make the drill softer and more flexible.
- To make the drill more resistant to wear.
- To make the drill easier to polish.
Correct Answer: To make the drill extremely hard but brittle.
Correct Answer Explanation: Mercury hardening involves heating the drill to a specific temperature and then plunging it into mercury. This results in an extremely hard drill that can effectively penetrate hard steel, but it also increases the drill’s brittleness, making it more susceptible to breakage.
How does the use of a triangular piece of steel wire illustrate the importance of pivot and jewel hole accuracy?
- It highlights the detrimental effects of imperfections in both the pivot and the jewel hole on watch performance.
- It shows the process of making a pivot drill.
- It demonstrates the importance of using a graver for shaping pivots.
- It shows how to properly clean a jewel hole.
Correct Answer: It highlights the detrimental effects of imperfections in both the pivot and the jewel hole on watch performance.
Correct Answer Explanation: The triangular piece of steel wire demonstrates that even a small imperfection in either the pivot or the jewel hole can lead to significant problems with the watch’s accuracy and overall performance. This emphasizes the crucial need for precision in watchmaking, particularly in the creation of balance staffs and pivots.
What is the significance of the balance seat being slightly undercut in watchmaking?
- It allows the balance to be tightly driven on, eliminating the need for riveting.
- It makes the balance more stable and less prone to vibration.
- It allows for easier lubrication of the balance staff.
- It helps to align the balance wheel with the balance staff.
Correct Answer: It allows the balance to be tightly driven on, eliminating the need for riveting.
Correct Answer Explanation: The slightly undercut balance seat provides a secure fit for the balance wheel, allowing it to be tightly driven onto the staff without the need for riveting. This ensures a secure and stable connection, eliminating the risk of the balance wheel coming loose during operation.
What does the use of turpentine as a lubricant during drilling indicate about the process of creating pivot drills?
- Turpentine lubricates the drill, reducing friction and heat during the drilling process.
- Turpentine helps to harden the drill.
- Turpentine removes any burrs from the drill.
- Turpentine helps to align the drill with the hole.
Correct Answer: Turpentine lubricates the drill, reducing friction and heat during the drilling process.
Correct Answer Explanation: Turpentine acts as a lubricant during the drilling process, minimizing friction between the drill and the material being drilled. This reduces the heat generated during the drilling process, preventing the drill from overheating and potentially losing its temper.
How does alternating drill rotation during the drilling process contribute to the quality of the pivot drill?
- Alternating drill rotation prevents overheating, reducing the risk of temper loss in the drill.
- Alternating drill rotation makes the drilling process faster.
- Alternating drill rotation makes the drill more accurate.
- Alternating drill rotation makes the hole smoother.
Correct Answer: Alternating drill rotation prevents overheating, reducing the risk of temper loss in the drill.
Correct Answer Explanation: Rotating the drill in alternating directions helps to distribute heat more evenly, reducing the risk of temper loss in the drill. This ensures that the drill maintains its hardness and sharpness throughout the drilling process, resulting in a cleaner and more precise hole.
What is the advantage of using copper wire to reduce the temper of a staff in specific areas?
- It allows for controlled temper reduction in specific areas, minimizing the risk of damaging the overall staff.
- It makes the staff easier to polish.
- It makes the staff stronger.
- It helps to align the staff with the chuck.
Correct Answer: It allows for controlled temper reduction in specific areas, minimizing the risk of damaging the overall staff.
Correct Answer Explanation: Using copper wire to reduce the temper in specific areas allows for a more targeted and controlled approach, minimizing the risk of accidentally softening the entire staff. This method is often used to soften specific areas of the staff that need to be drilled, without compromising the overall hardness and strength of the balance staff.
Which of these is a common size of Stubb’s steel wire recommended for balance staffs?
- No. 36
- No. 40
- No. 46
- No. 50
Correct Answer: No. 46
Correct Answer Explanation: Stubb’s steel wire, No. 46, is a common and recommended size for creating balance staffs because it offers a good balance of strength and workability, allowing for precise shaping and manipulation during the balance staff construction process.
What is the purpose of the “American-made lathe” mentioned in the treatise?
- It provides a more precise and efficient way to turn and shape watch components.
- It makes the drilling process easier.
- It helps to align the balance staff with the chuck.
- It is used to polish watch components.
Correct Answer: It provides a more precise and efficient way to turn and shape watch components.
Correct Answer Explanation: The treatise mentions the “American-made lathe” as a tool for precise and efficient turning and shaping of watch components, highlighting the advancements in machine tools and manufacturing techniques during the early 20th century.
What does the use of a degree gauge to measure the balance staff length suggest about the era of the treatise?
- It suggests the increasing importance of standardization in watchmaking during this era.
- It suggests that watchmakers were not very skilled at measuring during this era.
- It suggests that the balance staff was not a very important component.
- It suggests that there were no other tools for measuring during this era.
Correct Answer: It suggests the increasing importance of standardization in watchmaking during this era.
Correct Answer Explanation: The use of a degree gauge for precise measurements in the balance staff construction process, as mentioned in the treatise, reflects the growing emphasis on standardization in watchmaking during the early 20th century. This standardization aimed to ensure consistency in production and improve the quality and accuracy of watch movements.
What does the treatise’s emphasis on skill, tools, and precision suggest about the practice of watchmaking during the early 20th century?
- It highlights the artisanal nature of watchmaking, where skill and meticulous craftsmanship were highly valued.
- It shows that watchmaking was becoming more automated and less reliant on skilled labor.
- It suggests that watchmaking was a very simple and straightforward profession.
- It shows that watchmaking was a very expensive profession.
Correct Answer: It highlights the artisanal nature of watchmaking, where skill and meticulous craftsmanship were highly valued.
Correct Answer Explanation: The treatise’s focus on the importance of skill, precision, and the use of specialized tools underscores the artisanal nature of watchmaking during the early 20th century. Watchmaking was recognized as a demanding craft that required a high level of expertise and dedication.
Why does the treatise consider watchmakers who cannot create a new balance staff from scratch to be essentially apprentices or students?
- It emphasizes the importance of traditional watchmaking skills and the value of having a deep understanding of the intricate workings of a watch.
- It suggests that watchmaking was a very difficult profession to learn.
- It shows that watchmaking was a very competitive field.
- It suggests that there were not many watchmaking schools at this time.
Correct Answer: It emphasizes the importance of traditional watchmaking skills and the value of having a deep understanding of the intricate workings of a watch.
Correct Answer Explanation: The treatise’s statement about watchmakers who cannot create a new balance staff highlights the importance of traditional watchmaking skills and the value of having a comprehensive understanding of watch mechanisms. This emphasizes the depth of knowledge and experience required to master the craft of watchmaking.
What is the significance of the statement that the balance staff is the most intricate turned watch component?
- It emphasizes the complexity and skill required to manufacture balance staffs compared to other watch components.
- It suggests that the balance staff is the most important component of a watch.
- It shows that balance staffs are very expensive to produce.
- It shows that balance staffs are very difficult to repair.
Correct Answer: It emphasizes the complexity and skill required to manufacture balance staffs compared to other watch components.
Correct Answer Explanation: The statement about the balance staff being the most intricate turned watch component emphasizes the high level of skill and precision required to manufacture this delicate and critical part of a watch. It highlights the demanding nature of the craft and the importance of meticulous craftsmanship in achieving high-quality watchmaking.
What does the treatise’s mention of “foreign-made lathes manufactured on American lines” suggest about the watchmaking industry during the early 20th century?
- It suggests that there was a growing exchange of technological knowledge and advancements between different countries.
- It suggests that American watchmaking was superior to European watchmaking.
- It suggests that watchmaking was becoming more standardized globally.
- It suggests that watchmaking was a very competitive industry.
Correct Answer: It suggests that there was a growing exchange of technological knowledge and advancements between different countries.
Correct Answer Explanation: The mention of “foreign-made lathes manufactured on American lines” reflects the growing exchange of technological knowledge and advancements between different countries during the early 20th century. The watchmaking industry was becoming more interconnected, with manufacturers adopting and adapting innovations from different parts of the world.
What is the main takeaway from “A Treatise on Staff Making and Pivoting” for both novice and experienced watchmakers?
- It serves as a valuable resource for understanding the intricacies of balance staff construction and pivoting, providing a detailed guide for both novice and experienced watchmakers.
- It emphasizes the importance of relying on readily available materials and interchangeable parts.
- It suggests that watchmaking is becoming a less demanding profession due to advancements in technology.
- It highlights the declining importance of traditional watchmaking skills.
Correct Answer: It serves as a valuable resource for understanding the intricacies of balance staff construction and pivoting, providing a detailed guide for both novice and experienced watchmakers.
Correct Answer Explanation: The treatise, “A Treatise on Staff Making and Pivoting,” serves as a valuable resource for both novice and experienced watchmakers, offering a comprehensive guide to the intricate world of balance staff construction and pivoting. It provides detailed insights into the processes, techniques, and principles involved in crafting these crucial components, enhancing the knowledge and skills of watchmakers at all levels of expertise.