AN IMPROVED METHOD OF WINDING UP WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEPIECES AND OF MOVING THE HANDS THEREOF
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Burdess, of Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Watch Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF WINDING UP WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEPIECES AND OF MOVING
THE HANDS THEREOF."
Sealed the 28th January 1870, and dated the 28th July 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. Adam Burdess at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th July 1869.
I, ADAM BURDESS, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Watch
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF WINDING UP WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEPIECES AND
OF MOVING THE HANDS THEREOF," to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists in providing means for winding
up watches and other timepieces by a lever and ratchet or rack instead
of by loose keys or by the pendant as heretofore; also for moving or
altering the position of the hands by simply turning a milled wheel
placed near the edge of the watch.

page_text: The object of my Invention is to avoid the inconvenience of carrying
and using a loose key, and to provide a better, more facile, and cheaper
method of winding up watches and other timepieces than has hitherto
been used; also to provide an easier, safer, and readier mode of altering
the positions of the hands or indicators on the face of the dial.
In carrying out my Invention for winding up, on the square end of the
pivot of the fusee or barrel harbour, I fix a circular ratchet which is
turned or actuated by means of a lever and click; the lever is placed on
the same pivot as the ratchet but is free to turn thereon. On one side
of the lever I fix a small spring, the loose end of which when the lever
is being used presses the click into the teeth of the ratchet disc, and
thereby turns it and consequently the fusee with it as far as the range
of the lever permits. When the lever is carried to the limit allowed
by the slot in which it works it is drawn back to its original position,
and the same motion is repeated until the watch is wound up. When
the watch is wound up the lever when forced back presses the click
against a pin or the cock which covers the balance, and thus brings it
out of gear from the ratchet; the lever and click are held in this
position by means of a spring fixed on the top plate of the watch,
which spring is prevented from pressing the lever head against the
pivot by a pin or stop, so that the watch may run perfectly free from
any friction or interruption from my apparatus.
In carrying out my Invention for altering the position of the hands
or indicators, near the edge of the watch and slightly projecting beyond
the dial I fix a milled disc or wheel, upon which is fixed a smaller
toothed disc or wheel, so arranged as to take into the minute wheel of
the watch. When it is desired to alter the position of the hands it
is only necessary to turn this milled disc, which will move the hands
to any required position.

page_text: When the
In carrying out my Invention for winding up I fix on the square
end of the pivot of the fusee or barrel arbor a small ratchet wheel
which is turned or actuated by means of a lever and double pawl and
click; the lever is placed on the same pivot as the ratchet but is free
to turn. On one side of the lever I fix a small spring, the free end
of which when the lever is being pushed forward presses the click into
the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and thereby turns it and consequently
the fusee with it as far as the range of the lever permits.
lever is moved to the limit allowed by the slot in which it works it is
drawn or springs back to its original or normal position, and the forward
and backward motions repeated until the watch is wound up. When
the watch is wound up and the lever is forced back, the back limb of
the pawl or click is pressed against a pin, or the side of the cock which
covers the balance, and the forward limb of the said click is thus thrown
out of gear with the ratchet; the lever and click are held in this
position by means of a spring fixed on the top plate of the watch, which
spring is prevented by a pin or stop from pressing the lever head
against the pivot, so that the other moving parts of the watch may
run perfectly free from any friction or interruption therefrom.
In carrying out my Invention for altering the position of the hands
or indicators, near the edge of the watch and slightly projecting beyond
the dial I fit a rotary milled edge disc or wheel, under and to which
is fixed a smaller toothed wheel, which is so arranged as to take into
one of the train of the hour and minute wheels of the watch. When
it is desired to alter the position of the hands it is only necessary to
turn this milled disc, which will move them to any required position.
The accompanying Drawing, to which the following explanation refers,
is intended further to illustrate the improvements which constitute the
said Invention.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 is a face view of a watch fitted with my improved appliance for
regulating the hands. The watch is here represented with a portion of
its dial removed in order to shew the internal connection of the new or
improved regulator wheel, which is formed upon the "wheel and pinion"
or lever principle with the hands. a is the regulator wheel, which rotates
upon a stud 6 fixed in the face plate; this wheel is formed with a thin
upper flange, the edge of which is milled so that it may be more easily

page_text: turned by the thumb or finger, a portion of the rim of the face plate being
cut away at c to allow the said milled edge to project and be accessible
for being turned as above described when the dial glass d is opened.
The teeth of the pinion of this regulator wheel, shewn by the dotted
lines round the stud screw b, take into the teeth of the wheel c, which
gears with the pinion f of the minute hand, while the pinion e' of the
wheel e gears with and turns the wheel f¹ of the hour hand. By
turning the wheel a, which is formed as here shewn, so as to cause as
a rotary lever the hands of the watch or other timekeeper with which
the improvement is fitted to be set forward, and "vice versa."
Fig. 2 is a back view of a watch fitted with my improved lever
winder, which moves forward in the arc indicated by the dotted line
from a to 6 through the slot c in the dome, the outer case being open
to shew the position and motion of the said lever, which is moved
from a to 6 by the thumb or finger, and returns from 6 to a by a spring
or otherwise.
Fig. 3 shews a skeleton of a movement detached, with the lever
ratchet fitted thereto. fis the arm of the lever, the inner end of which
is made double or in two parts with a space between them, within
which the ratchet wheel g turns, and the double pawl or click / is fitted
and oscilates from the pin i. The fore limb of the pawl or click is
held in contact with the teeth of the wheel by the spring k, which
presses upon it while advancing from a to b, but allows it to ride over
the teeth when the lever returns to its normal position, when the
hand limb coming in contact with the side of the cock 2 of the balance
wheel the fore limb is released and the ratchet runs free. The ratchet
wheel g has a square hole in the centre, which fits the square end of
the pivot of the fusee, to which the key is usually applied: Circular
holes are made in the upper and lower inner ends of the lever of
sufficient size to allow the latter to turn freely upon the said pivot.
The under part of the inner end of the said lever is made with flat
or straight sides, against one of which the spring m presses when the
outer end of the said lever is at a or b, and holds it in such positions
respectively. A second spring may when required be fitted to throw
the lever back to its normal position at the end of each forward stroke.
Without restricting myself absolutely to the precise details, pro-
portions, and dimensions of the improved winding and adjusting media.
shewn upon the Drawing, I claim,-

page_text: First. The ratchet wheel lever for winding up watches and other
timepieces.
And, secondly. The "rotary lever," flanged or disc wheel for
regulating the same, as illustrated and herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Burdess, have hereunto set 5
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
ADAM BURDESS. (L.S.)