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Handy (Jam) OrganizationHow a Watch Works (1949)

A simple demonstration of the basic design and operation of a watch, including stop-motion animation showing a watch being assembled from many parts.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: Hamilton Watch Company
Audio/Visual: Sd, C
Keywords: Animation: Stop-motion; Timekeeping

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - October 30, 2003
Subject: Ticked Off.
A film documenting how a watch works which combines many different Jam Handy techniques seen before..
1) Having inatimate objects fit together into a watch (eg Just Imagine and the walking telephone parts)
2) trying to make how something works as interesting as possible (Around The Corner)
3) trying to distract the viewer by showing something completely different (Nearly every Jam Handy short made)
It doesn't all work. The demonstration is a bit bring, the animation is a bit sloppy and the beginning "let's see what we come up with" doesnt quite gel.

Reviewer: JimT - - February 16, 2003
Subject: Wow! It really works!
I saw this film in the sixth grade, and thought it was the coolest thing ever. It's still cool if you're into mechanisms. Goes into great detail, including the reason the hairspring is shaped the way it is.

Shotlist

A simple demonstration of the basic design and operation of a watch. The inside "works" are shown on a giant 71/2 foot, in-line movement, exact and to scale in every detail. The function of each part is demonstrated as the huge watch is assembled and disassembled.


TIME MEASUREMENT WATCHES CLOCKS PRECISION MACHINERY MINIATURES