More golden oldie watchmaking pics...

[Curtis]

Hi all,

Here are a few more dusty pics... Life Magazine, Swiss workshop... Enjoy!

















Cheers,

Curtis

[weekeat]

Do the watchmakers still use the aprons? I thought that's a nice touch. But it's probably more for assembly line processing kind of watchmaking because I can imagine it being a hassle if you need to work with many different kinds of tools.

[Curtis]

Hi Weekeat,

Aprons were used to help keep track of pesky parts that tried to escape from the bench and/or tweezers. That is, it is better for them to land in the apron than the floor. Aprons aren't seen in workshops anymore, at least none that I have visited, but some benches have a sliding tray, cloth bottom, that is pulled up to the body while working, thus serving the same purpose as the apron in the photo posted.

It is a good idea (apron or tray) but both have fallen out of favor for the most part. I don't know why. I don't use an apron or a tray... hmm....

Cheers,

Curtis

[Smithy]

Where I trained we used an adaptation of this idea that was a cross between an apron and a bench skin. One side was permanently fixed to the bench and the other side attached to a Velcro belt on me.
Now I find that a normal leather bench skin catches just as much, without the hassle when you want to move.