Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1853-06-30


} the demand increased for the others
The patent was a source of no littl,
trouble, strife and litigation. Patents
we're not unfrequently granted at tina
time, with very imperfect specifications
the inventors not being aware of tn,
Importance Of an exact definition of thei
claim. independent of general descrip
ton. An inventor, however meritolious
could be easily defeated in bis rights
A patentee in those days, needed mo1'
thorough acquaintance with the law
relating to patents. than with anything
pertaining to the art or improvement
whi;h might be the subject Of his patent
Sc far as the writer has any means o
Judging. the remark holds true TO thi
day. The less meritorious are as likel,
to derive pecuniary benefit from a mo
lthopoly of this kind. as the inventor mos
worthy and deserving. The day of :" Z.
however, has gone by. The q, ~,
familiar with all the difficulties and con,
tlicting claims Of the oontending parties
and knows-full we'll that tho improves
ments made by Mr.. Terry, at this time
! and subsequently,, marked distinctly a
new era in clock making, and laid the
foundation for lucrative business, by
which many have gained their thousands,
however willing or unwilling they may
be to acknowledge it. Some Of the
important improvements which should
have been secured by this patent, are
in use to this day. and cannot be dis
pensed with in the making of low priced
| clocks, nor indeed with any convenien.
mantle clock. The model or method Of
escapement universally adopted at this
time in all common shelf clocks was his
plan or invention. The construction oil
the clock so as TO allow the carrying oil
the weights each side Of the movement
or wheels Of the clock, to the top of the
case. bringing the pendulum, crown
wheel and verge in front, the dial wheels
between the plates. making the pendu,
lum accessible by removing the dial only,
we've his arrangement and invention
These things cannot now be dispensed
with, even in the clocks driven with a
spring, as the motive power, much less
in those carried by weights. Millions of
them have been mad during the last ten
years, the precise model of the one Gin
these par,iculars.) now in the possession
Of one of his family. cad made by him
il 1914. No clock either in this or any
foreign country. WAS ever made previous
'o ihis time with she weights carried
each side the movement tex ushela lenyth
Of tie case; The dial wheels inside The
plates, the pendulum, crown wheel, vergs
or pallet together in front of the other
wheels. This mode Of escapement is
one of great value still, and will proha.
bly, never ke abandoned, SO long as low
priced clocks are needed.
1t is true, tiane pieces Il a small size
werc imported many years before. tits
also true that time pieces were made in
Boston (Willartl's time pieces aud are
made to this day with one weight back
Of the movement. and moving below it
but this and the imported smaller size,
were mere time pieces. that is, destitute
of the parts striking the hour. and had
none Of the three peculiari,ies above
mentioned. so universally adopted at this
time.
Chauncey Jerome commenced his ca
reer ia clock making at a later period
gaining his first knowledge Of the bust
ness under the tuition and encourages
ment of Mr.. Terry. He commenced some
part of the clock business in Plymouth.
as early as the year 1921. He afterwards
removed to Bristol, where he embarked
10 making clocks. introducing clock cases
of different sizes. and clocks adapted to
the new forms of cases made. At still
later period, and according to the recol-
lection of the writer, not far from the
year 1887. he introduced, or did much
towards the introduction Of the most
common form of the brass clock now 10
vogue. The pinion leaves or cogs are
made of round wine. This is cheap
way OF making pinions, never before
pracliced, whatever may be said as to the
quality and durability Of the clock so
made. The present form of the b'ass
counL>wheel, SO divided as to allow the
stop dog to drop between the teeth. and
being driven by a pin in the fly wheel,
Mr.. jerome claims as bis improvement.
for which he obtained letters patent
The success attending the prosecution OF
his business after his removal to New
Haven, a few years since. and his reveIses
of fortune, need not be rehearsed.
IT, justice, however, it should here be
stated that some anterior TO. and Others
soon after the period Mr.. Jerome COM
menced business in Bristol. embarked in
this occupation. to wis: Mark Leaven'
worth Of Waterbury: Samuel Terry
afterwards removed 10 Bristol, and Ell
Terry. Jr.. of Plymouth Chauncey
Boardman. Ives. Brewster and others in
Bristol, filling The market with q great
variety Of clocks. of an exterior in every
conceivable form, until some OF those who
had Immediately succeeded Mr.. Terry
were ready 10 abandon the business. and
| Aid 81 .Nu announL af tina very reduced