Improvements in Watches and Clocks for Indicating Dates.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watches and Clocks for Indicating Dates.
We, THE ENGLISH WATCH COMPANY, LIMITED, of Villa Street, Aston, in
the County of Stafford, Watch Manufacturers, and JOHN COLLETT, of 86 Wills
Street, Lozells, Aston, in the County of Stafford, Watch Maker, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the manner in which I construct and arrange a watch or
clock, whereby it is possible to indicate the day of the month upon a prominent
position of the dial or face of such watches or clocks, without interfering with the
existing mechanism or movements of the same.
This
In carrying our invention into effect when applying our improvements to an
ordinary key winding watch, we attach a second or supplementary plate or bed, on
to the existing pillar plate or bed foundation of the watch movement.
secondary plate or bed we hollow out or recess to a depth sufficient to receive and
contain two wheels having teeth cut upon their circumferences. These wheels we
construct in a peculiar manner so that one wheel will be beneath the other, while
working upon it as a centre. One wheel we form with 31 teeth for indicating the
days, and the other with 12 teeth for indicating the months. Upon one wheel we
paint or otherwise cause to be displayed the names of the months, and upon the
other the number of the days.
The centre of one wheel we cut away to form a bearing for the other, while the
wheel which works within this central portion of the other wheel we make with a
rim or projection upon which the teeth are cut; thus one wheel with its teeth works
beneath the surface of the other wheel; the lower wheel giving a bearing surface
or support to the protecting or cover wheel. Upon the opposite side of the lower
wheel we form a corresponding boss or ring to fit into the hole which we form
within the secondary bed, which thus keeps the wheels correctly placed in their
working positions. From the centre of the combined wheels we cut a hole or space
large enough to permit of the free motion of hands and also for permitting the
seconds hands to be brought through the opening to appear on the dial or face.
The dial or face we place over the wheels and the levers, springs and clicks, con-
stituting my calendar motion, thereby forming an an effectual cover or protecting
plate for the same. Within the dial we cut a suitably shaped hole or aperture to
permit of the month and date being readily seen without disturbing the mechanism
of the watch or clock.
We actuate the wheels of our indicators by means of levers and clicks operated
from the outside of the watch in the manner we will now describe.
Through the edge of our calendar bed which forms the bearing of the complete
watch we cut or form an opening on the seat of the watch case and fit a piece of
metal shaped in a manner to form a catch or nib just projecting beyond the edge of
the dial of the watch, in such a manner that when the bezil of the watch is opened
this catch can be readily drawn in and out to operate the calendar wheel, causing
in its return journey or inward stroke a slight clicking noise or report which will
indicate that it is correctly placed for the next movement.
At the end of this operating lever or nib we attach a click or hook, shaped in a.
peculiar manner to admit of its catching the teeth of the wheel; this click having
a swing or circular motion, while the lever moves in a straight slot cut within the
bed for its guidance.
The click we attach to the operating lever by means of a shoulder screw passing
through the bed, the head of the screw serving as a stay to prevent displacement.
Behind the hook or click we place a weak spring which keeps the click in position

page_text: in the tooth until nearly home; and we also arrange another spring to act upon
the wheel, together with a guard pin for the lever for the purpose of preventing
more than one tooth being moved at a time.
We operate the date or number wheel by means of a click or hook travelling in
a straight slot in our calendar bed; which click we secure, by a shoulder screw, the
head of which acts as a bearing for a lever to press on, the lever being secured by
a shoulder screw for permitting free action. We attach to this lever, preferably
by means of a shoulder screw, a rod or arbor which travels up and down the watch
case pendant, and to the outer end of which is secured a knob, button, or
ornamental device for manipulation; this attachment being just above the bow or
ring upon the pendant. We place a spring in connection with the sliding lever
which forces the sliding click or hook together with a weak spring resting on the
back of the click, into the proper position; the date wheel being similarly
retained by a spring which permits of motion in one direction only, and one tooth
at a time.
We provide for a push action suitable for application to keyless watches by
reversing our lever from one side of the screw head to the other, maintaining the
other portions of our mechanism as hereinbefore described when applied to an
ordinary key-winding watch.
Similarly we vary the action of our levers by placing them at the side of the
watch or clock instead of immediately in line with the pendant when so desired to
suit any particular or peculiar requirement.
We provide for adjustment of our calendar or secondary bed or plate by means
of two or more pillars or posts with a screw thread upon them, so that a hole can
be opened within the watch movement to allow our pillars on our calendar bed to
rest in, being safely secured by means of a large headed screw passing through the
pillars. The dial may also be fastened either on to the calendar bed or on to the
watch movement as may be desired.
When applying our improved fittings and parts to a clock for indicating dates in
addition to the time we employ the same system of construction as hereinbefore
described when attaching the movements to an ordinary watch.
Dated this 24th day of November 1890.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watches and Clocks for Indicating Dates.
We, THE ENGLISH WATCH COMPANY LIMITED, of Villa Street, Aston, in
the County of Stafford, Watch Manufacturers, and Joux COLLETT, of 86 Wills
Street, Lozells, Aston, in the County of Stafford, Watch Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention relates to the manner in which we construct and arrange a watch
or clock, whereby it is possible to indicate the day of the month upon a prominent
position of the dial or face of such watches or clocks, without interfering with the
existing mechanism or movements of the same.
In carrying our invention into effect when applying our improvements to an
ordinary keyless watch as shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings we attach
a second or supplementary plate or bed A shown in front and back elevation in
Figure 3 and Figure 4 and in end and sectional end elevation in Figures 5 and 6, on
to the existing pillar plate or bed foundation B. of the watch movement.
This secondary plate or bed A we hollow out or recess to a depth sufficient to
receive and contain two wheels having teeth cut upon their circumferences. These

page_text: wheels we construct in a peculiar manner so that one wheel C will be beneath the
other D, while working upon it and in the plate A as centres.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a keyless watch showing our improvements attached
thereto, the glass being shown removed and
Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section showing the dial removed.
One wheel C we form with 31 teeth for indicating the days, and the other D
with 12 teeth for indicating the months. Upon the upper surface of D we paint or
otherwise cause to be displayed the names of the months, and upon the upper
surface of C the number of the days.
The centre of the day wheel C we cut away to form a bearing for the other
month wheel D, while this wheel D which works within the central portion of the
other wheel C we make with a rim or projection D' upon which the teeth are cut;
thus one wheel with its teeth works beneath the surface of the other wheel; the
lower wheel giving a bearing surface or support to the protecting or cover wheel.
Upon the opposite side of the lower wheel D we ferm a corresponding boss or
ring D to fit into the hole A' which we form within the secondary bed, which thus
keeps the wheels correctly placed in their working positions. From the centre of
the combined wheels we cut a hole or space large enough to permit of the free
motion of the minute' and 'hour' hands of the watch, and also for permitting
the second hands to be brought through the opening to appear on the dial or
face E. The dial or face E we place over the wheels and the levers, springs and
clicks, constituting our calendar motion, thereby forming an effectual cover or pro-
tecting plate for the same. Within the dial E we cut a suitably shaped hole or
aperture E to permit of the month and date being readily seen without disturbing
the mechanism of the clock. We actuate the wheels of our indicators by means
of levers F, G, and clicks H, L operated from the outside of the watch in the
manner we will now described.
Through the edge of our calendar bed which forms the bearing or support of the
complete watch, we cut or form an opening A2 and fit a piece of metal or operating
lever G shaped in a manner to form a catch or nib just projecting beyond the edge
of the dial of the watch, in such a manner that when the "bezil of the watch is
opened this catch can be readily drawn in and out, to operate the calendar or
month wheel D causing in its return journey or inward stroke a slight clicking
noise or report which will indicate that it is correctly placed for the next
movement.
At the end of this operating lever or nib, we attach a click or hook L, shaped in
a peculiar manner to admit of its catching the teeth D of the wheel D'; this
click L having a swing or circular motion, while the lever moves in a straight
slot A cut within the bed A. for its guidance. The click L we attach to the
operating lever G by means of a shoulder screw 9 passing through the bed, the
head of the screw serving as a stay to prevent displacement. Behind the hook or
click we place a weak spring K which keeps the click in position in the tooth until
nearly home; and we also arrange another spring M to act upon the wheel, together
with a guard pin m for the lever, for the purpose of preventing more than one
tooth being moved at a time.
We operate the date or number wheel by means of a click or hook H. travelling
in a straight slot in our calendar bed, which click we attach by a shoulder screw or
pin to a lever F, this lever F being secured by a shoulder screw to the bed plate A
for permitting free action. We attach to this lever F preferably by means of a
O shoulder screw, a rod or arbor F which travels up and down the watch case
pendant N, and to the outer end of which is secured the ordinary knob, button, or
ornamental winding and setting device O for manipulation; this attachment
being just above the attachment of the bow or ring P upon the pendant. We place
a spring R in connection with the sliding lever F which forces the sliding click or
5 hook H together with a weak spring S resting upon the back of the click, into the
proper position; the date wheel being similarly retained by a spring T which
permits of motion in one direction only, and one tooth at a time. Thus when the

page_text: knob O is pushed down on to Fit causes the lever F to move forward the wheel C
and thus to alter the date.
We provide for a push action suitable for application to ordinary key winding
watches, by reversing our lever from one side of the screw head to the other, main-
taining the other portions of our mechanism as hereinbefore described when
applied to an ordinary keyless watch. Similarly we vary the action of our levers
by placing them at the side of the watch or clock instead of immediately in line
with the pendant when so desired to suit any particular or peculiar requirement.
We provide for adjustment of our calendar or secondary bed or plate by means
of two or more pillars or posts U so that a hole can be opened within the watch
movement to allow the pillars on our calendar bed to rest in, being safely secured
by means of a large headed screw passing through the pillars. The dial may also
be fastened either on to the calendar bed or on to the watch movement as may be
desired. When applying our improved fittings and parts to a clock for indicating
dates in addition to the time we employ the same system of construction as herein-
before described when attaching the movements to an ordinary watch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
(1)- The construction and arrangement of keyless and other watches having
mechanism for displaying the date and the month upon or through the ordinary
dial of the watch substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
(2) In watches for indicating dates the application and arrangement of wheels
such as C and such as D resting or working one upon, or within, the other
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
(3) In watches for indicating dates the construction and arrangement of
operating levers and clicks or palls for operating the indicating wheels having
projecting nibs or operating ends controlled from the outside of the watch
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
(4) In watches for indicating dates the construction and arrangement of
mechanism having an independent bed, or contained within an independent casing
for attaching to the bed of any ordinary watch for permitting the watch to be a
examined, or repaired without interference being necessary with the date
mechanism.
(5) The construction and arrangement of watch dials having an opening for
permitting the day of the month, and the month, to be visible upon the face of the
watch, without interference being caused to the ordinary marking of the hours, 4
minutes, and seconds upon the dial face.
Dated this 24th day of August 1901
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicants.