Illinois Watches and Their Makers (1921)

25” 7710\ ILLINOIS WATCHES AND THEIR MAKERS Talks, articles and letters which have appeared in o u r little fadtory paper aswell as in our advertisingliterature. We hope these extrac'ts will prove as interesting to y o u as they are to the more than twelve hundred of us. ILLINOIS WATCH COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS A ILLINOIS WATCHES AND {THEIR MAKERS A Half Century Of Illinois Watches To survive and grow through the years an industry must produce and deliver merchandise of superior merit. To continue to produce such merchandise requires the hearty and loyal co-operation of a highly trained and efficient corps of workers who realize that the success of an industry, as a Whole, depends upon the faithful performance of the duties assigned to each. That the Illinois Watch Company, which is n o w rounding out the fiftieth year of its existence, has had such a loyal organi‐ zation and has produced such superior merchandise, is evident, not only from the constantly growing demand for its product, but from the steadily'increasing size of its plant, aswill be seen from the foregoing illustration. The company’s first building is shown immediately back of the flag staff on the new building. This was erected in 1870 and for some time housed all the departments of the original Springfield Watch Company. In May, 1871, under the presidency of J. T. Stuart, the Springfield Watch Company began the manufacture of watch parts and in January, 1872, the first watches were completed. These were 18 size, full plate and key wind. In 1873 the company had 125 employees and made five watch movements a day. The panic of 1873 found the newly organized company with a hundred thousand dollar stock of watch movements on hand, but no funds. To tide over this period it borrowed to the limit on thin stock of watches and issued an additional $50,000 wOrth of preferred stock. B u t the business languished and, as the stock‐ holders refused to finance it any further, their investment was a total loss. A reorganization was effected in 1875. This time the busi‐ ness was incorporated as the Illinois-Springfield Watch Company with an authorized capital of $250,000, of which $110,000 was paid in. The n e w organization took over the assets of the former company and assumed its liabilities, amounting to $100,000. The central building‐the one With the square roof‐and the south wing of the old factory were erected shortly afterward. Under the presidency of Gen. E. N. Bates the Illinois-Spring‐ field Watch Company began the manufacture of stem wind movements for men and both key and stem wind watches for women. In a short time the production amounted to 100 move‐ ments a day, but the business was not successful and steadily continued to lose money, which necessitated another reorganiza‐ tion in 1878. The third companywas and still is known as the Illinois Watch Company and has been under the same management for over forty-two years. Jacob Bunn was elected president in 1878 and continued in the direction of the business until his death in 1897, when he was succeeded by his son, Jacob Bunn. The pro‐ gressive policy adopted by the third management has been maintained to date. 8 g , The Illinois Watch Company has over 1,200 employees and n o w produces more than 700 high-grade watch movements a day. In 1878 this company manufactured the first open face watch movement made in the United States. In 1879 it made the first nickel watch movement made in America. Up to 1886 it made but two sizes of movements. That year it added two more‐the 4 and 6 sizes. In 1890 it added the 14 and 16 sizes. In 1896 it brought out a n e w thin model 16 size, which became very popular with railroad men everywhere. In 1905 it produced the O and 12 sizes. In 1915 it broughtout the 6/0 size This movement is the size of a quarter dollar Up to 1902 the product of the Illinois Watch Company and its predecessors had been almost altogether cheap and medium grades. In 1903 the making of cheap movements was discon-V tinued, and the company has since confined itself almost entirely to the making of the higher grades in 17, 19, 21 and 23 jewels, and makes a specialty of high-grade railroad movements known everywhere as the Sangamo Special, Bunn Special and the Bunn. The increasingdemand for these high-grade Illinois.Watches has made necessarya number of additions to the factory. In 1910 atwo-story wing‐the one shown at the left of the'birdseye view‐was erected to allow for the expansion of the dial and timing departments. In 1912 a two-story addition was built at the rear of the original main building, and a year or solater this was raised an additional two stories to provide necessary room for the jeweling and finishing departments. In 1913 the astro‐ nomical observatory shown at the right of the illustration was built. This is used not only as an astronomical observatory, but as a wireless station from which the Illinois Watch Company sends out the correct time twice daily for the Central Time Zone. The last addition to the plant was made in 1918 and consists of the four-story office and factory building shown in the fore‐ ground of the illustration. This building is 140 feet in length and 40 in width and is connected with the original building by an 80x30 foot four-story annex. The lower floor of the n e w building is occupied by the plate department; the second is devoted to the offices; the third to the train department, while the timing and adjusting department is located on the fourth floor. to come. Charles DeC‘amp . . . .Machine Herman Burkhart ......Plate Charles B. Nichols ......Dial William Keene ........Train ...................J e w e l i n g J.P.Scharf..........Teaming Oliver Fultz ..........Janitor Wm. M.Clarke..........Stafi Thomas Billington. . .Jeweling Charles H. Munn. ...Finishing Alexander SteinhauserEscape James M. Murray...Springing Miss Margaret Dee. ..Damask Herman H a h n ........Escape George F. Johnson. . .Supt. Wm. F. Freidinger..Finishing Stephen B. Throop. . . .Janitor Robert Finnegan......Escape Fred Bergman . . . . ...JeWeling Wm. H. Wood. . . .Jeweling William Wood .........Train William Sower .....Finishing , George Kinehan .Hospital John J.Walsh........Escape Hugh Bryce ..........,Screw 1878 Cyrus L. Shinkle. . . . .Plate 1879 Maisenbacher.. .Screw 1879 Joseph Phillip Maisenbacher...Screw 1879 E. H. Hood.. . . . .Finishing Mrs. Sarah Corriea..Jeweling 1879 Joseph Silva ........Damask 1880 George J. Haendle.. .Jeweling 1880 John Smurr .............Dial 1880 Frank Gough . . . . .. .Material 1880 James E. Knox. . . . .Escape 1880 John Haendle ......Jeweling 1880 James Hickox . . Fred Clarke . . . . George A. Reisch. . Samuel J. Gordon. ...Jeweling 1881 Charles Schlipf .....Jeweling 1881 John Schlipf . . . . .Jeweling 1881 John Brennan ..........Plate 1881 Mrs. Mollie Bane. . . .Screw 1881 Charles Maurer .Damask 1881 Sarah Sherlow ........Screw 1881 Richard Jones . . . . ...Machine 1881 Clinton E a r l y ...........Dial 1882 .Finishing 1880 .Finishing 1880 .Escape 1881 1882 Wm. H. Birt.......Engraving 1882 Miss Agnes Shouldis....Train 1882 John T. Weisz......Finishing 1882 Miss Margaret Doocy...Train 1882 John Watkins ........Escape 1882 George Scharf ......Jeweling 1882 J.H.Van Hook........Screw 1882 David Jones ............Staff 1882 Herman A. Goetsch.Carpenter 1882 Wm. D. Phillips.......Escape 1883 Wm. Maurer ...........Plate 1883 Rene Louiseau ........Train 1883 Jacob Bunn . . .President 1883 Ed. Gathard ........Jeweling 1883 Herbert L. Shultz...Springing 1883 Wm. Rabenstein ... .Screw 1883 C. Christiansen.......Timing 1883 Sidney Owen ......Finishing 1883 Miss Louisa Hoge...Jeweling 1883 Wm. H. Hibbs.....Asst. Supt. 1884 Miss Agnes McCoubrey.Plate 1884 John Bergman. . . .Jeweling 1884 Louis H. Amundsen..Finishing 1884 Mrs. Mary Phillips..Jewe1ing 1884 Charles McKee . . . . . .Plate 1884 Frank M. Delaney. ..Finishing 1885 Joseph Craft ...........Train 1885 William Chester ..._.Jeweling 1885 John Edwards ......Machine 1886 George 0. Hamel... ..Machine 1887 James M. Keithley. .Fireman 1887 Fred N. Morgan....Secretary 1887 M. F. O’Brien. . . . . .Auditor 1887 Mentor Hatfield . . . . .Plate 1887 Temperature Adjusting Facilities Enlarged The continually increasing demand for the higher grades of Illinois watches has made necessary enlarged and im‐ proved apparatus for making the temperature adjustments. Our former facilities enabled George Furrow . . . . . .Plate 1887 Charles Beck ..........Punch 1887 Charles Radcliffe ......Screw 1887 Axel T. Smith. . . . .Hospital 1887 Miss Harriet Howard..Timing 1887 Hans Swensen . . . . .Timing 1887 Karl Larsen ..........Timing 1887 Charles A. Nass. .Finishing 1887 H e n r y Metz ..........Motion 1887 Frank Vandervoort..Finishing 1887 Herbert Fountain.. .Finishing 1887 Fred Casdorf . . . .Finishing 1887 John O'Brien . . . .Finishing 1887 John Trotter .......Jeweling 1887 Wm. C.Smith..........Train 1888 Paul Hansen Carl Hoff Fred Eifert _ Charles Woodward..Finishing 1888 Miss Emma Fitzgerald........... .................'. F i n i s h i n g 1888 Miss M a r y Bauman.. . .Motion 1888 Miss Laura Ansell. . . .Motion 1888 Miss Barbara Doerfler.Motion 1888 T. A. Somdal........Finishing 1889 Wm. Payran ........Machine 1889 George Paul Wendling.Timing 1889 W. 0. Thiery.......Salesman 1890 Peter Larsen ......Finishing 1890 Walter Chapin . . . . . .Train 1890 Mrs. Emma Loeb....Jeweling 1890 J. W. Armbruster...Salesman 1891 Samuel Hood Oliver Lawrence us to adjust but 360 movements, but with the new cabinets de‐ signed by Messrs. Johnson and DeLong we will be able to adjust 1,000 movements at a time. The l o w temperature cabinet has already been in‐ stalled and the high tempera‐ ture one will be set up in the very near future. Illinois Movement No. 9 Still In Ac’tive Service In her feature story of the the back had this inscription en‐ graved: “A token of love from M o r g a n L. Reese to his stepson, Roland W. Diller, 1872.” It was originally a key wind, but he later Illinois Watch Company, pub‐ had it changed to a stem Wind. He lished in the October 24th issue carried it for m a n y years, and a of the Illinois State Journal, Miss Nellie Browne Duff men‐ tioned that Illinois Watch No. 26 was still being worn by Mr. Frank V. Partridge, of this city. The story of the company and of its achievements proved v e r y interesting to a number of the older residents of Spring‐ field, and among those who gave expression to their pleas‐ ure.and approvalwas Mr.Isaac Diller, who mentioned that he is still carrying Illinois Watch N0. 9. Mr. Diller’s letter contains much of interest to us and we will quote his letter in full: Springfield, Oct. 25, 1920. Dear Miss Duff: ‘ I was greatly interested in y o u r story about the Watch Factory in yesterday’s Journal. In d r i v i n g by there last week and looking at the magnificent group of buildings I had a mental vision of the first wing built in 1870, with the en‐ trance up the wooden steps at the south end, and that part of the illustrationlooksvery natural. few years before his death gave it to me and I am still carrying it every»day. I thought that in congratulating y o u upon the interesting facts given in your article,_Iwould men‐ tion these facts for your informa‐ tion. ISAAC R. DILLER. Mr. Johnson Attends Astronomical Convention , To be one of 315 persons in the United States who are com‐ petent to write acceptable papers on astronomy, astro‐ physics or related branchesof physics, is t h e enviable dis‐ tinction of one of our associ‐ ates, Mr. George F. Johnson. Volume I I I of the Proceed‐ ings of the American Astro‐ nomical Society has reached the office. The officers of the Society are: Professors Pickering of‐ Harvard University Observa‐ tory, Schlesinger of Allegheny Observatory and Campbell of Lick Observatory. In a full In 1872 my father purchased one of the Stuart movements made by page group of these distin‐ the Springfield Watch Factory, then the highest grade manufac‐ tured, and it is No. 9. This makes it one of the first tray of this move‐ ment made. He had it installed in a gold, open-face case and inside guished men we recognize the features of Mr. Johnson, Sup‐ erintendent of the Watch Company and Custodian of the Watch Company Observatory. We werevery glad for the invitation. Promptly at 8 o’clock we assembled at the observatory. Mr. Johnson was there before us and had everything in readiness. Keeping on o u r heavy coats and wraps we ascended to the dome room on the second floor. This was lighted and we had a splendid opportunity to examine the great equatorial telescope whose searching eye pierces the depths of the heavens. This telescope is a wonderful instrument with a lens eight and a half inches in diameter, set in a tube measuring over twelve feet in length. The whole is mounted on a substantial hollow iron pedestal, inside of which there is a clock which automatically keeps the telescope focused on the star or other celestial objects on which it is set. When the instrument and its uses was explained to us, Mr. Johnson said he wanted us to see the m o o n through it Going to one side of the circular room, he pulled two cords which opened the great dome shutters so that we could look out at the wintry sky. But the moon was not in sight. Suddenly we heard a rumbling noise and all of us were more or less startled as we seemingly felt the entire building turning around from west to east. M r . Johnson, seeing o u r surprise, smiled as he pointed to a little lever by meansof which he could turn the great dome around from right to left or the reverse until the opening was turned toward the part of the sky he wished to study. In a moment the moon shone in upon us and the telescope was trained upon it. Each in turn gazed in wonder at the silvery ball, seem‐ ingly suspended by nothing in the depths of space. I t s whole surface was more or'less pitted with immense volcanic craters and r i n g mountains which were clearly visible through‘ this great magnifying lens. The sight of this cold, desolate looking globe made a deep im‐ pression upon all of us. While we were discussing the moon the telescope was trained upon Jupiter, the fiery planet n o w seen in the eastern sky. Jupiter is surrounded by a re‐ markable ;family of satellites which werefirst seen by Galileo in 1610, and these have the dis‐ tion of being the first celestial objects discovered by means of a telescope. Then one of the ladies asked to see the North Star. The dome was moved again and the telescope pointed to a spot far up in the northern heavens. Judge of o u r surprise when we found that the Pole Star is not a single, but a double star. We also learned that the present North Star has not always been and will not always continue to be the Pole Star. Thousands of years hence the great star Vega will be the Pole Star of our planet instead of Polaris, the present one. Near Polaris is the B i g Dipper and Mr. Johnson suggested that we see if we could make out the double star in the handle of it without the use of the telescope. This, he told us, was a test of eyesight among the Arabians, who named these stars Alcor and Mizar. Interest in the Big Dipper naturally led some of the party to ask to have a few of the constellations pointed out to them. As these could not be seen in their entirety through the telescope, we went out upon the balcony surrounding the dome. There in the heavens to the south appeared the belted Orion‐possibly the most glorious constellation in the northern sky. As we gazed at it we were reminded that thousands of years ago it was asked of Job if he could bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion. In the belt of this mighty celestial hero we saw three stars which point to the brightest star in the heavenly vault. This we were told is Sirius‐the Dog Star, the star of ancient lore which, for untold ages, has foretold the annual overflowing of the River Nile with its life giving waters. Thus we passed a most delightful evening and, aswe thanked our host and bade him good-night, we were pleased to be asked to come again. ' United States Nautical Almanac Lists Illinois Watch Company’s Astronomical Observatory The American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac has just been received by Mr. Johnson. to many of us, for we find that the United States heads the list with 84. Germany comes next with 33, while Italy ranks third This volume is published by “with 13. England, France and the Nautical Almanac office Of Austria have 10 each. Austra‐ the United States Naval Ob- servatory‘and ln lt we find the Astronomlcal O b s e r v a t o r y Of the 111111015 W a t c h C o m p a n y m e d as N°~ 205 Altogether there are 256 ob‐ servatories throughout the world which are considered of sufficient importance to be listed in this publication. An analysis of the distribu‐ tion of these scientific institu- tions will be a great surprise lia has 7; Canada, 6; Hungary, 5; Ireland, Scotland, Spain, S w i t z e r l a n d a n d Sweden, 4. each; India, Argentine, The Netherlands, Chile, Belgium, and Turkestan, 3 each; Portu‐ gal, Slelly’ China and Japan, 2 each; Algeria, Peru, Greece, Colombla, Cape Of GOOd Hope, . Transvaal, Sardinia, Norway, Denmark, Finland,>Brazil,West Indies, New Zealand, Philip‐ pines, Ecuador, Mexico and Mauritius (Africa), 1 each, Time is a meas‐ u r e of duration. We reckon it in various ways. Take, for instance, a day. This is the time it takes the earth to rotate once on its axis. With reference to the sun, we call t hi s rotation a solar day; Wi t h reference to a n y fixed star, a sid‐ ereal day. A year, consisting of 36514 days, is the time it takes the earth to make one revolution in its orbit around the sun. The first motion of the earth causes day and night; the sec‐ ond, the changing seasons. These revolutions, then, give us o u r idea of the passage of time. But the sun standard is not an accurate one. F o r six months of the year the sun is south of ‘the equator, while during the other six months it is north of it. Twice in the year‐at the equinoxes‐the sun crosses the equator and we have days and nights of equal length. Twice in the same period the s u n is farthest north and farthest south and we have t h e longest a n d shortest days of the year. Refer‐ ence to a table of sun and clock time will show that on‐ February 10th sun time is 15min‐ utes slow. I May 14th sun time is 4 minutes fast. July 25th sun time is 6 minutes slow. November 2nd suntimeis16min‐ utes fast. In the earlier ages the sun time standard answered every purpose. But it is not suffi‐ ciently accurate for the age in which we live. We must have an unvarying standard‐one that is absolutely the same on every point of the globe. That ’s why we take our time from the stars. Nowletusascertainhow this is done. First, examine this illustration of the trails of the stars in the vicinity of the North Star as they were photo‐ graphed through a largetele‐ scope during an exposure of a little more than an hour. The North Star is not the pole of the heavens, but it is nearly in tained by astronomers every‐ that position. Note how the where. Longitude is reckoned fr'om Greenwich and its meridian is m a r k e d zero. Springfield’s longitude is 89° 38’ 33”, or nearly, 90° west. As there is a difference of one hour in time for points every 15 degrees east or west of Greenwich, o u r Cen‐ tral Standard Time is 6 hours earlier than Greenwich. The exact time on o u r meridian given above is 5 hours, 58 min‐ utes and 34.2 seconds earlier than Greenwich. A l l that is needed, then, to determine local time is to observe the passage of any of the fixed stars over the meridian of Springfield and to note the time of crossing by a Sidereal Clock. The object of the star observation is to de‐ termine the error of the Sid‐ ereal Clock. This done, .the error of the Mean Time Clock is easily found by a simple for‐ mula which reduces Mean Time to Sidereal Time. These observations are made through a transit, a small tele‐ scope set in the east room of the observatory. This instru‐ ment swings on the meridian and can be directed toward any star which crosses it, Whether north, south or over‐ head, as the observatory was stars all seem to revolve around this point. They do this once in every twenty-four hours. This, then, becomes the earth’s standard for accurate time and is the basis of time measure‐ ments at all astronomical ob‐ servatories. The one most fa‐ miliar to us is located at Green‐ wich, England, where the true sidereal or star time is calcu‐ lated from the host of fixed stars which cross that meridian. The time each star crosses the meridian of Greenwich is r e ‐ corded in a volume called “ T h e Ephemeris” and can be ob‐ built with openings for this purpose. In the eyepiece of the tran‐ sit we find 'a series of vertical spider lines, as well as several horizontal ones. The observer turns the telescope to the alti‐ tude where the particular star he has in mind will cross the meridian. As the star crosses the various spider lines he touches the k e y shown in the f r o n t of the'instrument. This key is connected with the chro‐ nograph which records Sidereal Time by one pen while the other pen records the time of the star’s crossing of our me‐ ridan. Each span marked by these pens on the chronograph is a half inch in length and measures just a second of time. Each time the key is touched to record the crowing of a star the pen connected with the key “jumps.” When the observa‐ tion is concluded, the space between the marks made by in turn supply the standard the Sidereal Clock pen and the which is so rigidly followed observation pen are measured by a rule divided into hun‐ dredths of an inch. As each Experts Treat Black Alders corner of the punch roombuild‐ ing, while a number of cement fillings were put into the European black alders growing in front of the n e w building. These black alders are said by these experts to be very rare The Davey tree experts have been working on some of the trees in the Watch Factory grounds. Two large branches were removed from the large sycamore tree located at the in this country. pen covers a half inch of space in a second, -a difference of 1/100 of an inch between the “jumps” indicates that the Sidereal Clock is just 2/100 of a second fast or slow. These observations are taken daily and afford an unvarying stand‐ ard by which our master clocks are kept regulated, and these in adjusting and timing of “ Illinois’’ ‐ t h e world’s finest watches. Twice daily, at 12 noon and at 8 in the evening, correct time for the Central Time Zone is sent out from the Illinois Watch Company’s wireless station located in the astronomical observatory. The sending of these signals seems a very simple matter, for a switch or two is closed and the great sending machine, shown at the right in the illustration, transmits the signals which reach 500 to 1,000 miles in all directions from Springfield. Let us visit the observatory about ten minutes before neon. Mr. Johnson has checked his master clock and everything is in readiness. He will start sending the time signals at 11:55 sharp. A few minutes before this he will go to the key shown at the right side of the table and send out notice that the time signals will follow immediately. Then, on'the second, a switch is thrown and the master clock automatically controls the great 55,000 volt sending machine which throws the vibrations out into space. The seconds are ticked ofi from 11:55. The 29, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59th seconds of each minute for four minutes are omitted. During the fifth minute the 29th as well as the ten seconds from the 50th to the 60th are likewise omitted. Then on the 60th a prolonged final signal indicates 12 noon‐Central Time. The Illinois weather report for the day is sent out immediately afterward and is picked up by operators with receiving apparatus such as shown on the table. The Illinois Watch Company’s wireless station is officially known as 9ZS and the operators have had m a n y interesting expe‐ riences with their work. Some time ago a professor in the University of Minnesota wrote that his mother lives on a farm in the northern part of that state. On one of his visits home he installed a wireless station for her and now, he writes, she keeps in touch with the outside world and listens daily for our time signals. On another occasion a Standard Oil boat lay oif St. Augustine, Florida. The operator heard our evening signals and located the station sending them. He wrote 11s that it made him homesick when he learned Where they came from, for his,home is in Lincoln, Illinois. > This station was a great school for amateur wireless operators during the war and Mr. Johnson is known far and wide for his work in connection with it. Magazine Writes Up Illinois Wireless Activities We need not rack our brains in this case f o r the prime motive. A concern making a watch is naturally anxious that the watch will keep good time. If that concern is reasonably certain the finished watch is accurate they naturally enough want them to have a likewise accurate means of.comparison. The sending of daily time sig‐ nals, so that nearby owners of watches m a y have a depend‐ able source of “checking u p ” is therefore a step in the right direction and in keeping with The September issue of Radio News, published in New York City, has a full pageillustrated article on the wireless activi‐ ties of the Illinois Watch Com‐ pany. Among other things, the editor writes: “ T h i s concern is probably the first one -in this country, if not in the world, to actually transmit time signals and weather reports each day. The transmission of time sig‐ nals is, of course, not a neW thing, but it is new for a watch making organization to do i t . the gospel of service.” The names of Sp r i ngfield, Illi‐ nois, and of Abra‐ ham Lincoln are inseparably linked together. Here he lived and practiced law. From here he went as chief magistrate of the nation. ~ Here it was in 1865 thathisbody was brought to be placed in its final resting place. S p r i ngfield is r i c h in memories of the martyred President. His old home is open to visitors. The site of his office, near the court house, is marked by a bronze tablet and his monument in Oak Ridge Ceme‐ tery isvisited every month by thousands of people from all parts of the world. Until recently a few of Mr. ognized by him in i an official appoint‐ ment after the formation of his cabinet. It is altogether fitting, then, that at this time we should reproduce an illustration of O’Connor’s great statue of Spring‐ field’s most illus‐ trious citizen. This represents him as he appeared on the morning of February 11, 1861, when, in the fol‐ lowing words, he said farewell to his Springfield friends and neighbors: “ M y Friends: No one, not in my situation, can ap‐ preciate my feel‐ i n g of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century", and have passed from a y o u n g t o a n old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, Lincoln’s most intimate friends were still living here. ”Notable among them was Mr.“John W. Bunn, who was one of Mr. not knowing when» or whether Lincoln’s most intimate friends and perhaps the first man rec‐ ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever at‐ tended him,’ I cannot succeed. W i t h that assistance I cannot fail. TrustinginHimwhocan go with me and remain with A. Lincoln Relic Of Great Historic Interest In the rear of the Memorial Hall of the Lincoln Monument in Oak Ridge Cemetery lies a block of stone whose history goes back nearly 2,500 years. you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet “be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.” “ T o Abraham Lincoln, Pres‐ ident for the'second time, of the American Republic, citizens of Rome present this stone, Tullius ‐ a great In 1865 Roman admirers of Abraham Lincoln ‐ another great lover of the common people‐sent him one of the stones taken from this wall, on which they had inscribed the following inscription: The stone, evidently by Mr. Lincoln’s direction, w a s depos‐ ited in the basement of the White House, where it lay until it was discovered in 1870. In that year a joint resolution was introduced into Congress to have it placed in an appropri‐ ate place in a conservatory of the U. S. Botanical Gardens, of the A. Lincoln watch, I bought one of the much advertised watches. After struggling with it but'through the efforts of the nearly two years in an effort to Hon. Shelby M. Cullom, the make it keep fairly correct time, I resolution was altered and the architect of the Capitol was directed to send the stone to Springfield to be deposited in the Lincoln Monument. The resolution passed both the Sen‐ ate and the House by June 17, tured. The watch in question was 1870. The stone was immedi‐ ately shipped to Springfield and has been in the Memorial Hall since August, 1871. A Rear Admiral Praises The A. Lincoln Watch There is, perhaps, nothing which brightens the day more than the receipt of kindly let‐ ters. They are a source of encouragement and inspira‐ tion. As an evidence of this read the following‐the first came from a rear admiral of the United States Navy, located in Washington; the second from a gentleman living in Milwaukee, while the third was written by a prominent busi‐ ness m a n of San Antonio, Texas: “About a year ago I secured from a jeweler in Washington, an Illi‐ nois watch, twenty-one jewels and known as the A. Lincoln. It keeps such perfect time and is in every way so satisfactory that I take much pleasure in bringing these facts to your notice. “Before coming into possession set two months a g o and on that day it was five seconds fast of Naval Observatory time; today, just sixty days later, it is fast fif‐ teenseconds,havinggainedin that time ten seconds. In the last sev‐ enteen days it has not varied the fraction of a second. It is a com‐ fort and a pleasure to own such a Possibly I am intruding, but I hope I am not and trust that my letter will give you some satisfaction.” The writer of the second letter wanted to buy a watch. He wrote for literature so that he could make an intelligent comparison of values offered by the various makers. We sent him our booklet and with it a copy of a recent issue of “Doings.” Note the conclu‐ sion he reached: “Received the literature of the B u n n Special and other'Illinois watches and was very glad to see the fine line of Illinois Railroad Watches. “The prices of the Illinois Rail‐ road Watches are reasonable com‐ pared to other makes of watches. “1 went down to my jeweler Sat‐ urday and bought an A. Lincoln Illinois Watch and find it to be one returned it to the jeweler and he gave me the Illinois watch in ex‐ change. “I had never heard of the make until that time. N o w all my friends know what a fine watch I own and where it was manufac‐ of the finest 16-size railroad watches made.7 The third letter follows: “I Wish to thank you for the three copies of ‘Doings’ y o u were kind enough‘to send me. I enjoyed reading them, especially the Janu‐ ary issue with a picture of your fine observatory. rings, and the great nebula in Orion, with its coal black spot, and Trapezium, and m a n y double stars. For good seeing an eight-inch telescope is ideal, as the great telescopes: are affected by the un‐ steadiness of the atmosphere. I feel sure your Mr. Johnson will be looking forward towards the time when Saturn’s rings will only show a narrow strip of light,which, “I have a small four-inch tele‐ scope which I, use frequently in if I remember right, will be in looking at the heavenly bodies, such as Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s We Make Good Watches As Well As Good Friends Visitors to Springfield have frequently spoken most appre‐ ciatively of the fine courtesy Visit Springfield during the accorded them by the Illinois fair. He has been given a most Watch Company in showing cordial invitation to