PREFACE. THE great desire for education which has sprung up among all classes of the community during the last few years may seem to some persons surprising, and may possibly be said to be overdone; but when we consider the extraordinary facility which now exists for imparting every kind of information; the cheapness of the press; the rapidity of news by electricity; the quickness of travelling, enabling the visiting of far distant noted sites; the general bringing together of great masses for any purpose whatever, more particularly exhibitions and music meetings: it is not to be wondered at, that the desire daily increases to investigate more and more all subjects, and to obtain such information as will make man and man equal to each other, if not in fortune, at least in the possession of useful knowledge. And as a consequence of this thirst for knowledge, schools of every description have multiplied to such an extent that it is no longer a difficulty, as it used to be thirty years ago, to find a school suited to the age, station, and capacity of the pupil. And further, whereas at one time it was almost impossible to provide instruction in foreign languages, or the fine arts, now eminent professors may be had at the turn of nearly every street. Added again to these advantages, are the great benefits which the population as a whole must derive from the establishment of public libraries, and fine art collections; which are not alone confined to London, but are springing up in all centres of wealth. The consideration of all these things has induced me to devote a portion of my leisure time to the drawing up this Treatise on Watch-work; and the hope has encouraged me that it may be the means of attracting the attention of students to a subject long and much neglected, but yet exceedingly interesting. Books have appeared of late on nearly every given subject; and, at but a small price, highly-illustrated works on art and science daily attract the attention of the anxious inquirer. Strange, however, to say, with the exception of a 'Rudimentary Treatise on Clocks and Watches,' by E. B. Denison, Esq., published some years back, no one has ventured again to treat on the subject. During the last century very many books were printed giving excellent information on the making of clocks and watches-more particularly in French-but all these works have become extremely scarce, and as a matter of course expensive, far beyond the means of ordinary persons to buy the same. The present treatise is designed to supply the deficiency by putting it within the power of all to obtain information at a trifling cost. Perhaps it may be urged that the subject is not of sufficient interest to induce many to give any time to its study-from this I beg to differ. In an archæological point of view it deserves to be studied. Is it not absurd for persons to visit the South Kensington or other museums deficient in the knowledge of a subject of which there are so many fine examples exhibited ? Of what use the many watches of every date, size, and style, when the looker-on can only exclaim, Here is a watch! or is indebted to the printed label for information? How is it possible for even educated men to feel any interest in the exhibition of articles of vertu, if they have never read, or marked, or learnt for themselves the history, the theory, and practice which have made all these objects so much prized and sought after? Besides, if there is an indescribable pleasure felt by every individual, no matter of what degree, in becoming the possessor of a good going watch, surely that pleasure ought to be enhanced by being able to give a satisfactory reason for the working of the little machine which is carried daily in the pocket. Will then men who are proud of their knowledge remain satisfied to be considered the mere porters of an article sold to them by a dealer for a purpose? and which is well or ill repaired according to the honesty of any jobber employed at random, for it is calculated as a certainty that the possessor lacks the needful knowledge which would make him able to appreciate the really scientific work man. |