IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING NEW DIALS OR FACES OF WATCHES CLOCKS TIMEPIECES AND CHRONOMETERS AND IN ADAPTING ORDINARY DIALS OR FACES WHEREBY THE TIME BOTH BY THE ORDINARY COMPUTATION OF TWELVE HOURS AND BY THE PROPOSED NEW COMPU- TATION OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS MAY BE DENOTED AND EASILY DISTINGUISHED
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HARRIS CONLEY WILKINSON of 135 Regent Street in the county of Middlesex
jeweller do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MAKING NEW DIALS OR FACES OF WATCHES CLOCKS TIMEPIECES AND CHRONOMETERS
AND IN ADAPTING ORDINARY DIALS OR FACES WHEREBY THE TIME BOTH BY THE
ORDINARY COMPUTATION OF TWELVE HOURS AND BY THE PROPOSED NEW COMPU-
TATION OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS MAY BE DENOTED AND EASILY DISTINGUISHED
"
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement reference being had to the
accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.
In this my invention I provide means to indicate the two systems of computing
time namely the system by which time is divided into twelve hours and the
proposed new system by which it is divided into twenty-four hours. In this my
invention no confusion is caused by the introduction of the new computation and
no alteration is required in the works or machinery of watches clocks timepieces
chronometers and the like. Old watches clocks &c. may be adapted to the new
system at a small cost and the expense of purchasing new timekeepers inay
be avoided. My invention will also be found very useful in the period of transition
from the old computation to the new as by this my invention one system forms a
key to the other.
In making new dials or faces of watches clocks timepieces chronometers and the
like by my invention aforesaid I indicate or mark on the dial the twelve hours in
Roman numerals in the ordinary manner and either within the circumference so
marked or outside of the circumference so marked by the Roman numerals I cause
the numbers from and including 13 to 24 to be indicated or marked in ordinary
figures in colour preferably red in such a manner that the number 13 is adjacent to
the Roman numeral I; the number 14 adjacent to the Roman numeral II; the
Prive A27

page_text: number 15 adjacent to the Roman numeral III; and so on the number 24 which
indicates the twenty fourth hour being adjacent to the Roman numeral XXIV. In
adapting to the new computation ordinary dials which are already marked
according to the old system of twelve hours I cause the numbers from 13 to 24 to
be added as extra marks in colour preferably red in the manner aforesaid. In
making and adapting dials according to this my invention I prefer to use a
different colour and a different form of figures to mark the period before and after
meridian for the purpose of enabling those periods to be readily distinguished but
in this my invention any colour and form of figures may be utilised to mark the
division of time. And according to this my invention I provide a further means or
method of making dials and in adapting old watches and watches at present in use
to meet the requirements of the new computation. For this purpose I cause the
Roman numerals from and including I to XII to be divided and I mark or indicate
the new figures in the centre of the Roman numerals in such a manner that the
number 13 shall be in the centre of the Roman numeral I; the number 14 in the
centre of the Roman numeral II; and so on all round the dial; the number 24
being in the centre of the Roman numeral XII. The numbers 13 to 24 are
rendered more distinct by being a different colour to the Roman numerals.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood reference is had to
the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows the numbers indicating the new system
marked on a dial the said numbers being adjacent to the Roman numerals and
being within the circumference formed by the Roman numerals. Figure 2 shows
the numbers indicating the new system marked on a dial the said numbers being
adjacent to the Roman numerals and being outside the circumference formed by
the Roman numerals. Figure 3 shows the numbers indicating the new system
marked on a dial the said numbers being in the centre of the Roman numerals from
which they may or may not be divided by fine lines.
The utility and simplicity of this my invention are such that no confusion
whatever is caused by the indication of 24 hours on the dials or faces of watches
clocks timepieces and chronometers the different colours and form of the figures and
Roman numerals serving to distinguish the hours before and after meridian. The
indication of both systems of computation on the same dial or face is advantageous
inasmuch as they form a key the one to the other, so that if it be desired to know
what the hour 19 is the Roman numerals adjacent to the number 19 or divided by
the number 19 as the dial may be marked show at once that the hour VII after
imeridian is indicated.
Great economy is effected in this my invention as watches &c do not require new
works nor even new dials if the latter are adapted by marking the new computation
by means of additional numbers as shown in Fig 1 in drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The means or methods whereby the new and the old systems of computing time
are marked or indicated on the dials or faces of watches clocks timepieces and
chronometers substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth and
described.