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There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

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Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#101

Post by hinkley »

wrp wrote: post #29
hinkley wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But it's not a thing in movies, so nobody wonders why they say that in movies. Because nobody says that in movies. It's been 'synchronize watches' since WWII movies became a thing.

I've seen practically every B-grade and up WWII movie made in English, and I don't remember ever seeing the use of "hack". Anybody please point to movie references if they know any.

My memory isn’t what it used to be but I think this is the first time I’ve heard it too, if that wasn’t already clear from my tone above.

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#102

Post by dave_universetf »

jstanley wrote: post #61

I know this is kind of tangent to the point, but: > the mechanical oscillator that makes the watch advance (it drives the pallet fork and escapement wheel, which produces the ticking sound) The balance wheel doesn't drive the escape wheel, it's the other way around! The mainspring powers the train, which eventually drives the escape wheel, and the escape wheel provides energy to the balance wheel via the pallet fork.…

Yeah I was imprecise in the description here, because I started trying to describe how a mechanical movement works and it went into the weeds really quickly :) More accurately, the balance nudges the pallet fork just enough to allow the escapement wheel to advance, and that advancing motion imparts some of the mainspring's force back through the pallet fork and into the balance, so that it continues to oscillate without dampening.

It's a very clever mechanism, and surprisingly subtle. I can't be the only one who first saw a running mechanical watch and thought "wait, isn't that perpetual motion? How does that springy thing keep going without stopping?" Not magic, it turns out, just very very careful engineering :)

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#103

Post by CydeWeys »

xmcqdpt2 wrote: post #85
CydeWeys wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's useful while traveling across time zones. You'd lose a lot more time if you had to hack it while changing the local time setting.

Is it? You have a phone, you can just sync to it when you change timezone. Or is not looking at your phone part of the hobby?

I mean, yes, if you're wearing a watch, it's obviously because you want to be able to tell the time with a simple glance at your wrist, rather than having to pull your phone out of your pocket.

Plus watches are waterproof, and you can bring them with you while swimming/snorkeling/diving/saunaing/whatever, which you wouldn't do with a phone.

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#104

Post by ColinWright »

soupfordummies wrote: post #96
ColinWright wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had some remarkably forthright[0] comments in the past[1], so now I just assume that most people will hate it. But personally I find it indispensable for following complex discussions, and finding corners that I hadn't seen. [0] British[2] understatement; [1] They depress me, so I'm not going to look them up[3]; [2] I'm not British, but I've live in Britain for over 40 years and have picked up the habit; [3] Man…

Haters gonna hate on the Internet! Cool format though, cheers

Thank you ... much appreciated.

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#105

Post by ColinWright »

dredmorbius wrote: post #98
ColinWright wrote: post #81

I know most people here don't care for it, but for those who like it, I produced this chart of the conversation: https://www.solipsys.co.uk/Chartodon/111142286901955845.svg Added in edit: Click on a node to open the original post.

Feedback tends to come from those either mildly, or more, annoyed, or those who are greatly pleased. I can assure you that Chartodon is among the more valuable and compelling features of the Fediverse, and I'm delighted you'd created and contributed it.

Thank you ... I very much appreciate that.

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#106

Post by [deleted] »

tuatoru wrote: post #28
75w wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't the word hackney (for a horse) come from the place Hackney (for a hipster)? so it would be Hackney -> Hack -> Hackney -> Hack

The Hackney Horse breed was developed in the 14th century in Norfolk when the King of England required powerful but attractive horses with an excellent trot, to be used for general purpose riding horses. May well have been named after the district. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackney_horse

[deleted]

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#107

Post by xmcqdpt2 »

CydeWeys wrote: post #103
xmcqdpt2 wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it? You have a phone, you can just sync to it when you change timezone. Or is not looking at your phone part of the hobby?

I mean, yes, if you're wearing a watch, it's obviously because you want to be able to tell the time with a simple glance at your wrist, rather than having to pull your phone out of your pocket. Plus watches are waterproof, and you can bring them with you while swimming/snorkeling/diving/saunaing/whatever, which you wouldn't do with a phone.

Sure, but I feel you are rather unlikely to need to change time zone while snorkelling (unless you snorkel really far!). I understand the point of watches, just not why you would care about the lack of hack for changing the hour.

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#108

Post by gnuunitsbot »

ColinWright wrote: post #93
capableweb wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you are our personal threadreader? How can we reach you when we want a thread "Chartodon"ed? :)

It's a 'bot wot I wrot: https://mathstodon.xyz/@Chartodon You reply to a post with: Calling @Chartodon@mathstodon.xyz [param] ... The parameter is optional, but you have: * LR * Spine * Help

so it doesn't require js?

does it support transitions ?

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#109

Post by rjmunro »

leokennis wrote: post #58

Required site visit which also explains this feature: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/

This is one of the very best websites in the world. Various articles from it have been discussed here on HN before: https://news.ycombinator.com/from?site=ciechanow.ski

Re: There's a mechanical watch feature called a “hack”

#110

Post by ColinWright »

gnuunitsbot wrote: post #108
ColinWright wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a 'bot wot I wrot: https://mathstodon.xyz/@Chartodon You reply to a post with: Calling @Chartodon@mathstodon.xyz [param] ... The parameter is optional, but you have: * LR * Spine * Help

so it doesn't require js? does it support transitions ?

Absolutely it does not require js ...

You reply to the post you want charted using a specific form of words, and the 'bot sees that, prepares and uploads the chart, then replies to you with a link to it.

I don't know what you mean by "support transitions".

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