If you work and write it down from right to left instead it really helps to tell what the next number is. That is from the faster lower (1s) towards the higher (10000s).
If the first needle (1s) has past 9 but not made it back to zero then the next needle (10s) will be close to a number but should read at the one below - imagine the reading for 19 when it is not quite 20. The second needle is approaching the 2 but you know it is not there because the first needle has not past the zero yet.
As you know what the lower reading is when you are looking at the next dial you know what to expect when it is close or on a number. In this way you can get accurate readings.
11826
Sorry. Bit hard to explian in 300 characters.