The Project Gutenberg eBook, Friction, Lubrication and the Lubricants in Horology, by William T. Lewis

Title: Friction, Lubrication and the Lubricants in Horology

Author: William T. Lewis

Release Date: January 19, 2011 [eBook #35001]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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FRICTION, LUBRICATION
AND THE
LUBRICANTS IN HOROLOGY.

BY

W. T. LEWIS,

Prest. Philadelphia Horological Society.

ILLUSTRATED WITH HALF-TONES AND
DRAWINGS BY THE AUTHOR.





CHICAGO:

GEO. K. HAZLITT & CO.

1896.


Copyrighted 1896, by W. T. Lewis.

Copyrighted 1896, by Geo. K. Hazlitt & Co.

Page.

Introduction, 7

CHAPTER I.
Lubricants in Horology—their Source and Methods of Refinement, 9

CHAPTER II.
Elementary Physics Relating to Friction and Lubrication, 21

CHAPTER III.
Friction—its Nature and Theory, 29

CHAPTER IV.
Application of the Laws of Friction and Lubrication in
Horology, 43

CHAPTER V.
The Properties and Relative Values of Lubricants in Horology, 61

INTRODUCTION.

Many books have been written on the various escapements, describing their action, construction and proportion, and the laws governing the same; learned writers have contributed much valuable information on adjusting; excellent attachments for the various lathes have been invented; and factories have expended fortunes to produce machinery of wonderful construction to finish all the parts of a watch in the most approved manner; but all this scientific research, all this painstaking effort, all this care and labor, are rendered abortive by the maker or repairer of a time piece if he does not thoroughly understand and apply the physical laws which govern the science of lubrication.

Many a watch, or chronometer, most excellent in all other respects, has come to an untimely end by an almost criminal neglect on the part of its maker to provide against wear in its various parts by such construction as would retain the oil at the places needed.

How often the repairer—clean he his work as well as he may—replace he the broken or worn part to put the time piece in as good condition as new—finds that its rate changes, that is loses time before long, and, at the end of one year is badly out of repair, solely the result of lack of knowledge, or negligence, in properly lubricating, or on account of an oil having been used which was not suitable.

The object of this paper is to present in concise form the best of that which is furnished by the literature of the profession, together with that which has been written on friction and lubrication in general (so far as it may be applicable), by those not connected with this particular vocation; as well as the result of the practical experience of the manufacturers of time pieces in this country most of whom have furnished much useful data in answer to queries on the subject. The manufacturers of oils have also assisted by contributing valuable information.

The result of the author's experience, observation and experiments will also be incorporated; and he will be grateful to any who may read this work, who will call attention, through the trade papers, to any errors of omission or commission that they may find therein.

CHAPTER I.

LUBRICANTS IN HOROLOGY—THEIR SOURCE AND METHOD OF REFINEMENT.

1. As but little is to be found on the subject in the literature accessible to most of the craft, a few remarks concerning the source and general methods of refining the oils used in horology will, no doubt, be of interest.

A mechanic who would work intelligently should possess a thorough knowledge of the materials constantly used, and oil is used on every horological mechanism. In order that this paper may be of maximum benefit and interest, the author has spared no pains in procuring useful data.

2. Porpoise Jaw Oil and Black Fish Melon Oil (64) have become widely known and justly celebrated in all parts of the world, as they were found to be better adapted for the purpose of lubricating fine and delicate machinery than any substance previously used.

3. Blackfish-Melon Oil[1] "derives its name from the mass taken from the top of the head of the animal reaching from the spout hole to the end of the nose, and from the top of the head down to the upper jaw, from which it is extracted. When taken off in one piece this mass represents a half watermelon, weighing about twenty-five pounds ordinarily. When the knife is put into the center of this melon the oil runs out more freely than the water does from a very nice watermelon. Porpoise jaw oil and blackfish melon oil are worth from $5 to $15 per gallon, according to supply. They are not only used in horology, but by manufacturers of fine firearms, philosophical apparatus, and in government lighthouses for the clocks of revolving lights."

4. The Blubber, or fat, taken from the jaw of the porpoise or the head of the blackfish was formerly rendered in iron pots over a fire, but the modern method of extracting the oil by steam is said to be much superior. The oil is washed with water by thorough agitation, after which it is allowed to stand for several days, when it is drawn off and the last traces of