First Week At Watchmaking School

[DouglasSkinner]

This is the first installment of what I hope will be a series of updates on my experience at the York Time Institute.

 

In Lesson 1 of the Chicago School of Watchmaking's Master Watchmaking Shop Training and Job Guides, Thomas B. Sweazey says, 

 

In our lessons, Watchmaker refers to the repairer of watch movements.  However, the man who really wishes to qualify as an expert must be able to calculate and make some of the parts, and thoroughly understand the relations and actions of the different mechanisms that go to make up the complete watch.

The second sentence of this quote spells out the ethos of the York Time Institute as expressed by its director Daniel Neid.  "Dan" is firmly committed to the idea that his students will not only be able to make repairs from stock parts but also, if necessary, be able to make parts when necessary.  Not only that he will also be able to understand all the different mechanisms that go to make up the complete watch--including but not restricted to casemaking.

 

My experience so far is that Mr. Neid not only has the knowledge but the tools to put paid to this claim--we shall see.  I hope to be able to provide vignettes of how much I will be able to learn and put to practice.

 

For now I am totally amazed--one might say overwhelmed--by not only Dans knowledge of current practices but his avid knowledge of the history of the techniques and tool of this honorable and difficult craft.  He has an absolutely amazing array of tools, many of them very rare and practically unattainable.  I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon inspecting a multitude of watchmakers lathes; ranging from small bow-driven lathes to modern motor driven ones.  Add in a huge number of examples of all the tools mentioned in the Chicago School's manual.  He not only has examples of modern tools but their predecessors that date back well into the 19th century.   I am looking forward to the chance to try them--especially the bow and treadle-driven lathes.

 

We spent several hours today examining measuring devices, many of them factory pieces once used at places like Hamilton, Waltham and Bulova factories.  It is amazing how many kinds of devices have been developed to perform the many types of measurements required for watchmaking.  Again, I was overwhelmed and am looking forward to trying some of them.

 

Dan has a good rationale for spending a good amount of time inspecting the tools of the trade: he says it will be invaluable for being able to identify tools at various kinds of sales such as estate sales, yard sales (yes many of his tools have come from such sources).  The student (like me) will be able to sometimes get great bargains by being to identify a tool that perhaps its owner doesn't recognize.  The other students confirm that they have, in fact, put their knowledge to acquiring lots of interesting pieces themselves.

 

We work in close quarters in a shop chock-a-block full of watchmaking tools and a huge inventory of parts.  I once spent some time at sea on a nuclear submarine every facet of which serves some importance towards its mission.  It was like living inside a machine.  I get this same feeling at the institute. The close quarters serves to create an espirit de corps that I hope I will be able to share someday.  The students are inculcate with sense of being a "breed apart" from the ordinary person and take pride in their work.  It's also informal but serious and sometimes not so serious.  Dan seems to be a good psychologist recognizing emotional ups and downs that can accompany success and defeat. The former receives praise but a gentle reminder to keep focused and not to let them swell the head.  The latter is met with the reassurance that our foulups and fumbles are a necessary part of the learning experience; the even experienced students and masters loose parts and break things--underscoring the need to be able to make what one does not have or has lost or destoryed.  When  we get into a dudgeon over repeated failures Dan says, "Go take a break and don't let it get under your skin."  Because it is through failures and even catastrophes that one really learns.  One must develop patience and take the time to get the task right.

 

He pays attention to how our tools are organized by task and frequency of use.  He helps his students acquire their tools from the least expensive sources--though considerable expanses will be incurred event the. Though students are encouraged try out his many tools and devices to further direct acquisitions by the student.  I just bought a nice lathe with complete sets collets.  I will spend some of my time restoring it to mint condition.  And its not jjust Dan, the other students are willing pitch in by selling the beginner some ot their surplus tool at very reasonable prices.  I too donated to the Institute several of my supplies to the general pool can be of help to all students.

 

We are constantly being giving spot tests to see what we've learned.  For now my tests are ones of recognition.

 

I'm getting tired to I'll cut this short by showing you a couple pictures of my bench.  It's an old bench as you can see with a place for a treadle on the left.  I love the feeling that I am working where generations of watchmakers worked before me.  My I do them honor and justice.  My bench is the one in the middle with my laptop on it.  Today they are indispensable for research.

Edited September 4, 2015 by DouglasSkinner

[DJT2]

Great first installment Douglas, I look forward to many more & I'm so jealous of the opportunity you have. Thanks for taking the time to share [emoji1]

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[Geo]

That's a great report Douglas, I wish you all the best with the course and look forward to further episodes! :)

[clockboy]

Good first report Douglas keep them coming.

[dadistic]

Thank you for this post, you are a capable writer and it's great to read about your experience. I'd really like to read more about your time at school, but hey, concentrate on why you're there and don't worry too much about us!

 

Love the pay phone  :biggrin:

[frenchie]

Thank you Douglas, this is very exciting !!!

[mike]

Again, I'm jealous! Thank you for your updates and keep them coming when possible. Mike

[oldhippy]

I'm glad you are settling in ok. It sounds very interesting and as you all ready know you will in time qualify as a watchmaker not just a repairer. I expect you will learn how to make a balance staff a stem and various other parts. I did when I did my apprenticeship I studied for 5 years as an apprentice and another 2 years as an improver. Being able to use all those tools and even the old ones will be a great experience for you.  What lathe have you bought?  The bow and treadle-driven lathes will be a big challenge I've never used on myself but I have been told its hard to get a even finish like you can with the modern type. Do keep us up to date with your progress.

[Vich]

Thanks for this thread Douglas,

I like your style of writing and look forward to future instalments.

Cheers,

Vic

[Edmund]

It looks like you are being trained in an old good fashioned way. I can imagine the drawers of your workbench full of spares. Please let us know more about your latest achievements at the school and about your comrade students.