WATCHES AND WATCHMAKING.
Since the article with the above title appeared in these columns, we have extended our researches somewhat further into the matter, for the purpose of discovering whether there were not other causes operating, besides those we mentioned, to destroy the watch trade of the country. We find the watchmakers are guilty of other sins than that of obstinacy— they are guilty of being totally ignorant of the commonest principles of political economy. Otherwise they would never persist in charging so exorbitantly for their goods as they now do. Mr. Watkins talks about revolutionizing the trade with his cheap English watch—and we believe he will. Has it never occurred to Mr. Watkins and his brother watch- makers, with the present mode of making watches, and the present prices given for the labour and materials, good sound watches could and ought to be sold for considerably less price than they are. Let us see. We will place on record the prices paid for the single pieces of which the watch is constructed—Movement, 4s. 6d.; escapement, 7s. 67 ; if jewelled in two holes, 3n; if four holes, 68.; dial with sunk seconds, 38.; gilding, 3s. engraving, handing, and motion-making, 78.; finishing, 1-18.; a good silver case, 21s.' making altogether, 638. Every one of these items admits of a profit to the maker. And the watch might be sold to the public for a trifle beyond the three guineas. But no : "five guineas" must be had. The movements in a "four guinea" watch cost 11. 128.' and the case 17s—this watch could be sold with a fair profit at-31. Good lever watches, with silver cases complete' can be obtained in Coventry for 1/. 12s. each. No wonder then, a cele- brated watchmaker of Clerkenwell could not eat his last Christmas din- ner, because he had just heard that the Americans had invented a watch. That an American watch has been invented, there cannot be a doubt More, it is of a most simple construction having a single train only with lever escapement, of an entirely new character; and that a company has been formed for manufacturing the watches in large numbers.
In the previous paper we clearly showed our best customer for watches is America. It is also equally clear we shall shortly lose her as a customer. What then is to be done? Extend our own pur- chasing area by reducing the price—this can be done, not by lessening the wages paid to the workman; but by realizing the same profit as now, in an extension of the number of watches sold. For we find the number of working watchmakers are decreasing yearly, because the remuneration is so small, they do not put their children to the trade as formerly; and they themselves leave it for gris.fitting and clock- making—to earn more money and save their sight. We trust our re- marks will have the desired effect of awakening the watchmakers to the perils before them, and that they will by the aid of improvements and machinery and a more enlightened policy in prices, regain that trade vvhieh has of late years so lamentably fallen off.
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