ion of 8 on an intermediate staff. A wheel of 60 on this staff drives
a pinion of 10 on the escape-wheel staff. A pointer on this last staff
also carries the hand that indicates fractions of a second. (In the
author's collection.)]
William B. Fowle's cash book shows, on July 14, 1876, payment to Geo. E.
Lincoln "For large building used $200" and "For small building used $30."
On July 21 is an entry "Milo Lucas bal. of Building Contract $1605.25."
These with an entry on the preceding June 30, "Milo Lucas on a/c Contract
for Building" seem, with a July 25 entry "W. E. C. Fowler, Painting
Factory $64.91," to cover the expense for the bare factory. The
buildings, two stories high and measuring 40 x 20 and 32 x 20 feet,
respectively, were located on the Weston bank of the Charles River,
opposite Fowle's home, from which they could be reached by a private
ferry. This pleasant bucolic location was not far upstream from that
originally sought by the Boston Watch Co. when that firm was looking for
a spot to move to from Roxbury in 1854. The situation of the factory was
described as a wild and secluded glen.[27]
Another account[28] says:
The well appointed little steamer _White Swan_, owned and commanded
by a Captain Gibbs, veteran of the last war, now plies regularly
between Waltham and Auburndale Bridge, carrying picnic parties,
etc.... Along the banks of the river are located the summer
residences of Messrs. Cutter and Merrill, the elegant residence of
R. M. Pulsifer, Mayor of Newton, the splendid mansion of Ex-Mayor
Fowle, the Benyon mansion and others.... At sunset the river is
alive with canoes, row-boats, shells and sailboats filled with
ladies and gentlemen adding, with the delightful music, greatly to
the natural charm of the scenery.
[Illustration: Figure 14.--ESCAPE WHEEL AND PALLETS of an Auburndale
timer. With four pins in the escape wheel, this particular one beats
eighths of a second. (In author's collection.)]
This idyllic pastoral setting surely must have been a joy to all
connected with the little watch factory. It seems to typify the
atmosphere of wealth and leisure into which the infant industry was
brought without adequate study of the problems it would be called upon to
surmount.
The Auburndale machinery came from the United States Watch Co. factory at
Marion, New Jersey, which, as we have seen, was closed in 1874. William
A. Wales, who was associated with Fowle in the Auburn
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