Action of Oils on Metals.
| OILS. | IRON DISSOLVED IN 24 HOURS. | COPPER DISSOLVED IN 10 DAYS. |
| Neat's foot | .0875 grain. | .1100 grain. |
| Sperm | .0460 " | .0030 " |
| Olive | .0062 " | .2200 " |
| Paraffine | .0045 " | .0015 " |
76. Various Experiments have been made by the writer with a number of oils that may be, or have been, used in horology, as well as with the principal watch oils on the market. At first he did not intend to mention the names of the manufacturers; but, after seeking advice of several eminent watchmakers, and on mature consideration, he decided to do so for the following reasons:—
1. The object of the Society before which these lectures were delivered[21] is "to promote and to secure concerted action for the purpose of mutual improvement in the practice of our profession as horologists, by a study of both the practical and theoretical divisions of the science and art of horology; to publish the results of such study for the benefit of all in the profession; to preserve the same for the use of our successors; to elevate the standard of workmanship; and to encourage in the members a higher conception of what our art really is."
As this object cannot be attained without the names of manufacturers being mentioned in connection with their oils, the author considers that this is sufficient justification.
2. No injustice can have been done the manufacturers when the author states that the results obtained by him are not to be considered as conclusive evidence regarding the properties of the oils tested, as the samples he used may have been better than, or not so good as, the usual output of the manufacturers whose names were on the labels.
3. Some of the manufacturers of oils sent samples subject to the condition of the publication of the results, with the request that the oils should be submitted to test, and if found wanting, they (the manufacturers) certainly wished to know it.