# Grandpa, what does "wind up a watch" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 20, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080 "2005-10-20T14:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/141 "2005-10-21T23:38:17Z")
When I was in the third grade, we had to write reports about our families’ country of origin. I took West Germany and some other boy in the class took East Germany. I was surprised to find out just how recently (at the time) the two had split, and kept wondering if they would be rejoined by the time I grew up. It still surprises and amazes me to think that there is just one Germany (again). Some things on the list that I still use regularly: - T.V. rabbit ears (and my bedroom TV gets only 5 or 6 channels) - paper rolodex – sitting on my desk beside me right now - checks/checkbook (which I record and add/subtract by hand – although I do use a calculator when I balance it every month) And can I add to the chorus of people who hate the way change is given now? My very first job at age 14 was in retail, and I can remember being taught to hand the change into the person’s palm, and then the bills. I think of that every time my change has gone flying because someone just dumped it on top of the bills and receipt. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/142 "2005-10-22T00:32:11Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > “Take the tubes out of the set, go down to the store and test them.” > > My children have no concept of “tubes” (except for a CRT) and the idea that an owner could actually remove a part, test it and obtain and install a replacement is so completely foreign to them I may as well speak Latin. Actually, many of todays kids get to know what “tubes” are when they turn 14, buy an electric guitar and, sometime later, buy a tube driven guitar amp because it’s what their hero guitarist uses. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/143 "2005-10-22T01:41:08Z")
Watching a black-and-white movie on cable, and having a four-year old ask what’s wrong with the TV. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/144 "2005-10-22T02:10:19Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > How about Mimeograph machines? I remember my teachers would eschew the copier in favor of the much more familiar mimeograph. They wouldn’t let any of the kids in the same room as the mimeograph, which was smart - the one pictured in the link is hand cranked, but by the 70’s they were driven by an electric engine, and that thing would rip your hand off if you got too close. We still have them, but they’re the great-grandsons of the hand-cranked ones that I remember. They automatically feed the original through, and spit out over one copy a second, and in black ink, not purple. It’s a “Duplo”. I think that might be the brand name. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/145 "2005-10-22T02:57:42Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > Hey! Does anyone work in a place that still uses pneumatic tubes to send memos? Look at the ceiling of your local Home Despot around the Pro Desk and customer service area. Likely you’ll see one or more 4" diameter tubes entering and leaving shuttle boxes. In banking, most of the underground systems are gone. Overhead systems proved to be cheaper and easier to maintain-called motor bank systems in financial parlance. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/146 "2005-10-22T03:58:18Z")
The acoustic coupler. Whistling into an acoustic coupler to make noise characters appear on the receiving computer. Meter maids. Adjusting the carb on your car. The manual typewriter. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/147 "2005-10-22T04:54:19Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Actually getting up to turn the channel on the T.V. And only having 12 to choose from. _TWELVE ???_ We had _ **FOUR** _ - ABC , NBC, CBS , and PBS. That was IT till we got cable in the 70’s. You musta been rich folk. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/148 "2005-10-22T05:07:36Z")
Grandpa, what’s this keyring full of metal plates for? They’re for adjusting the gaps on your spark plugs. What’s a spark plug? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/149 "2005-10-22T05:12:34Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > I don’t know if you had them in the USA, but I had to tell one of my daughters about dynamo-driven lights on the bike. She thought they sounded super cool. Man do I remember feeling like a mule driving those beasts. Those are old? In about five minutes, I’m going to be lighting my way home with one of them. Oh, and twelve channels is what I have now. When I grew up, we had 3. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/150 "2005-10-22T05:24:55Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > AWhen my parents bought me the bike that I would ride to school (ten miles, uphill, through 5 ft. of snow) they also (at my insistence) threw in a speedometer, a rear view mirror, that generator light, reflectors all around - all of which was promptly removed by hooligans on Day One. > > Grampa, what’s a hooligan? Somebody who will steal the accessories, but leave you the bike. Those were the daaays… ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/151 "2005-10-22T13:02:06Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Just when I thought I was the only one who had noticed this tragic, um, change. I’m not kiddin’ ya…I’m just about ready to instruct the kids on how to do this the right way. I have small hands and it’s a freekin’ disaster nearly every time. PARTICULARLY at a drive-thru. I’m tempted to pay for everything in the same manner…just to turn the tables on 'em. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/152 "2005-10-22T14:08:20Z")
We had a thread about the “change given as coins on top of bills” method awhile back and several current cashiers commented that that is how they’re taught/required to do it. I agree 100% it’s backwards & awkward for the customer receiveing the change. Yet another example of corporate stupidity. Oh, and last week I had to explain to one of my programmers what “core” is/was. I slipped up and used that archaic form and he had no idea … ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/153 "2005-10-22T14:10:59Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > …just to turn the tables on 'em. Turntables? What are those? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/154 "2005-10-22T15:39:08Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > Turntables? What are those? Heh-heh… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/155 "2005-10-22T15:45:15Z")
A secretary-receptionist friend of mine, early in her career, was required to take the boss’s hat out to get it blocked. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/156 "2005-10-22T15:46:29Z")
Okay, you got me on that one… What does “getting your hat blocked” mean? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/157 "2005-10-22T15:48:31Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > Okay, you got me on that one… What does “getting your hat blocked” mean? [Hat blocking](http://brentblack.com/styles_blocking.htm) ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/158 "2005-10-22T16:21:44Z")
The whole receipt, bills, coins in the hand thing bugs me also, I thought I was just being anal, glad to hear I’m not alone. I’m might add that bills being turned in all different directions must be the cause of many errors. How about using a clothespin (?) to attach a playing card to your bike spokes? We didn’t have TV until I was 10-11 and I still preferred playing outside, most of the programs were for grown ups. 🙂 The DuMont channel? Howdy Doody? I was a little old for that, but I watched sometimes. For some reason I was fascinated by Princess Summerfallwinterspring. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/159 "2005-10-22T16:44:47Z")
Getting in your car and having to drive somewhere to find porn. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/160 "2005-10-22T16:48:38Z")
> [@beckwall](#): > > Getting in your car and having to drive somewhere to find porn. 🆒 Sometimes, progress is good. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080.md?page=9)