Winding A Watch Or Clock

Old watches were powered by springs which had to be periodically tightned, or re-wound, in order for the watch to keep working. One simple put a finger alongside the winding knob and pushed the wheel gently in a clockwise direction. It was important not to overwind the watch as that could break the spring.

For most wristwatches, the crown had a ratchet and could be turned backward without damaging the watch. Many people wound their watches with a back-and-forth, back-and-forth motion. Most watches needed to be wound once a day.

You often heard someone say, “Dang! My watch stopped again.”