IMPROVEMENTS IN CALENDARS.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Restieaux, of Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, in the
County of Salop, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CALENDARS.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Restieaux at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1879.
"
_EDWARD RESTIEAUX, of Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN CALENDARS."
This Invention relates to what are commonly known as calendars or date
indicators, showing on what day of the week any specified date falls, its chief
features being simplicity of construction and an easy mode of reference.
My improved calendar which I call the "Centennial Indicator," consists according
to one mode of carrying out my Invention, of two dials, the one being situate
behind the other, and both capable of rotation upon a centre stud or pin. The front
or chief manipulating dial which is of smaller diameter than the back dial, and
which is by preference provided with arms or projections on its periphery for more
easily moving or setting it when required, and also to prevent the figures and letters
being worn away, the said arms resting upon a raised rim on the under dial so as
to maintain the two surfaces apart independently of the centre part between the
dials being slightly raised. Upon the under surface of the chief manipulating dial
there are marked all the years for which the calendar is made to indicate (with the
exception of leap years) disposed in concentric circles and forming radial columns.
Upon the underside of the back plate there are also arranged in an outer circle the
twelve months of the year with a radial column of index letters under each month
disposed in a series of concentric circles so as to be in a line with each year. The
said index letters correspond with other letters arranged round the outer portion of
the front face of the chief manipulating dial or front plate, there being as many
index letters as there are days in the week, placed in divisions at equal distances
around the said front plate, and in each of these divisions are also marked the dates
of the month numbered in consecutive weeks. The leap years with their corre-
sponding index letters and months are marked upon the front surface of the back

page_text: plate, whilst round the outer edge of this said plate are arranged the seven days of
the week.
The leap years and index letters are seen through an opening made in the front
plate, and the ordinary years, which are arranged on the back of the before mentioned
front or chief manipulating dial, are viewed through an opening in the back dial.
In using my improved calendar, first look for the year required (on the back of
the front dial), then find the month required on the underside of back dial and
trace on the same line or concentric circle as the year the index letter. By taking
the corresponding letter upon the face of the front dial and placing it opposite to
"Monday" (on the periphery of the under plate) the calendar will be set for the
month required, and will show at a glance on what day of the week any date in
the required month will fall. The same system applies when it is leap year.
The above described apparatus can be made of any desirable metal or material
and worn as a watch pendant, or may be printed upon paper so as to be mounted
in gold or other precious metal and enclosed like a locket; or it can be printed on
card board and used as a daily and tricentennial indicator or office calendar, in
which case it will be on a larger scale to allow sufficient room for dates and other
references and will be arranged so that the dates and index letters can all be viewed
from one side only, namely, the front, in lieu of from both sides, thus obviating the
reversing of the calendar; for example, in lieu of two dials situate the one behind
the other mounted on one common centre, and each dial having dates and references
on both its faces as above described, two or more dials may be mounted sido by
side on one surface, the several dates and references being marked on the fronts
only of those dials and on the front of the surface beneath them, the opposite sides
or faces being left plain.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Resticaux in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
December 1879.
EDWARD RESTIEAUX, of Abboy Foregate, Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CALENDARS.”
My said Invention relates to what are commonly known as calendars or date
indicators, showing on what day of the week any specified date falls, its chief
features being simplicity of construction & a more easy & convenient mode of
reference.
One form & arrangement of my improved calendar which I call the "Centennial
Indicator," is illustrated on an enlarged scale by Figs. 1 to 5 (Sheet 1) of the
Drawings hereunto annexed. Fig. 1 is an edge viow of the calendar complete, &
Figs. 2, 3, 4, & 5, are details showing the opposite sides of two dials composing
such calendar detached.
A & B are the two dials, the one being situate behind the other, & both capable
of rotation upon a centre stud or pin C. The front or chief manipulating dial A
(Figs. 2 & 3) which is by preference of rather smaller diameter than the back dial B

page_text: (Figs. 4 & 5), & which is by preference provided with arms or projections a, a, on
its periphery for the more readily moving or setting the same when required, &
with a view to prevent the figures & letters being worn away, the said arms rest
upon a raised rim on the under or back dial B so as to maintain the two surfaces
apart independently of the centre part between the dials being slightly raised. Upon
the under or back surface of the chief manipulating dial A there are marked all the
years for which the calendar is made to indicate (see Fig. 3), with the exception of
leap years, disposed in concentric circles & forming radial columns. Upon tho under-
side of the back dial B there are also arranged in an outer circle (see Fig. 5) tho
twelve months of the year with a radial column of as many index letters under
each month as there are days in the week disposed in a series of concentric circles
corresponding with each year that is marked on the back of the front or chief mani-
pulating dial (Fig. 3). The index letters correspond with other letters arranged
round the outer portion of the front face of the chief manipulating dial or front
dial A (Fig. 2) placed in divisions at equal distances around the same. In each of
these divisions are also marked the dates of the month numbered in consecutive
weeks. The leap years with their corresponding index letters & months are marked
upon the front surface of the back dial B (see Fig. 4) whilst round the outer edge
of this said dial are arranged the seven days of the week.
The leap years & index letters are seen through a slot or opening b (Figs. 2 & 3)
in the front dial A & the ordinary years (arranged on the back of the before
described front or chief manipulating dial) are viewed through an opening c made
in the back dial B (see Figs. 4 & 5).
In using this improved calendar first find the required year (taking notice which
line the year is upon by counting from the top), then look for the required month
upon the surface of the back plate B (Fig. 5) & take the same index letter which
comes in a line with the year & under that month. These letters refer to similar
letters upon the smaller or front dial A (Fig. 2) & by placing this letter opposite to
Monday the indicator will be then set for that month. For example, in order to
ascertain on what day of the week Queen Victoria was born, look for the year 1819
in Fig. 3, which is the second year (counting from the top), & F is the second letter
under the month of May in Fig. 5, which letter refers to a similar letter upon
the front dial A, Fig. 2, & by revolving this dial A until the letter F comes to
the top of the indicator the date required, namely, Monday, May 24, is indicated.
The samo system applies equally to leap years.
The above described apparatus can be made of any desirable metal or material &
worn as a watch pendant or may be printed upon paper so as to be mounted in gold
or other precious metal and enclosed like a locket."
Or the calendar can be printed on card-board & used as a daily & tricentennial
indicator or office calendar in which case it will be on a larger scale to allow
sufficient room for dates & other references, & will be arranged so that the dates &
index letters can all be viewed from one side only, namely, the front, in lieu of from
both sides, thus obviating the reversing of the calendar. This form & construction
of calendar is illustrated on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, where in lieu of two dials
situate the one behind the other, mounted on one common centre, & each dial having
dates & references on both its faces as above described, three dials a, b, c, may be
mounted side by side or in any desired order behind a front surface d of card or
other suitable material & of any desired design, the several dates & references
being marked on the fronts of the dials & (if required) on the surface in front of
them, the backs or opposite sides of the dials being left plain, whilst openings are
left in the front surface to enable the references on the dials behind to be read
through those openings. Portions of the front surface are shown broken away to
enable the dials behind to be inore clearly seen.
According to one arrangement of office calendar the days of the week are printed
round a semicircle, circle, or otherwise, upon the front or stationary surface d, &
radial or other openings c, e, are left to read through under cach day. Behind this
part there is a rotating dial a turning by a button on a pivot at a¹ & divided

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radially on its front face, each division containing the dates of the month in weeks
arranged by preference in radial columns. In a central compartment are arranged
round a circle the seven index letters each corresponding in position to one of the
radial columns of weekly 'dates above referred to and each visible as it is brouglit
round through an opening f for the purpose. Beneath the same dial a or in any
other convenient position are disposed two other dials side by side or otherwise,
which I will call dials b & c. the one b containing all the years (except leap years)
for which the calendar is intended to be used, arranged in seven concentric circles
& in a series of radial columns, each column being brought into view behind. an
oblong opening g & g' in the front card. The third dial c contains similarly
arranged (that is, in seven concentric circles & in a series of radial columns) the
leap years, also the seven index letters referring thereto & the months of the year,
the latter being disposed round a portion of the circumference of the dial over the
column of index letters. The several dials are all rotated separately by means of
knobs or buttons at a¹, b', & c', respectively. A table h, h, of months & index
letters is printed on the face of the calendar for ready reference as it is to be used
along with the dial b. This table consists of seven horizontal lines of index letters
forming vertical columns, each column having the name of a month written over it
& the seven horizontal lines of letters corresponding to the seven concentric circles
of years on the dial b. In using this calendar, by revolving the left hand dial b all
the ordinary years will be brought into view, say from 1601 to 1900, & supposing
the 1st of January 1900 be required the dial b is rotated until the year 1900 comes
in view, this year appearing, say, on the inner or seventh concentric circle of dates
counting from the top downwards. Now by referring to the table h, h, of months,
taking the index letter which appears on the 7th line & in the column corresponding
to or underneath the month of January, which is letter "A," for example, then the
first dial a is to be rotated until the index letter "A comes in view, the calendar
being then set for the month of January 1900, the 1st of the month appearing in
-the-column-of-dates-under Monday, which is the day-of-tho-week coinciding with
the date required.
"
All the leap years, say, from 1604 to 1896 inclusive, & their months & index
letters, are found by revolving the right hand dial c until the required year comes
in view, the rotation being also continued until the required month appears. Then
take the particular index letter which appears in the same circle with the year
found & in the radial column under the required month. Now rotate the top
dial a until the same index letter appears through the opening when the
calendar will be set for that month as previously described.
Having now described & particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, & the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel & original & therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
The peculiar arrangement of calendars or date indicators as hercinbefore described
& illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Resticaux, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
EDWARD RESTIEAUX. (L.S.)