IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS OR TIME-KEEPERS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonas Radford, of Cheltenham, in the County
of Gloucester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS OR
TIME-KEEPERS."
Sealed the 6th March 1854, and dated the 9th September 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonas Radford at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th September 1858.
I, JONAS RADFORD, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS OR TIME-KEEPERS" to be as
follows:-
My Invention (as the accompanying engraved Drawing shews) may
be termed a geographical clock or time-keeper, its purpose being to
shew the time at all parts of the world at once. It is motived nearly
in the usual manner, but a band or chain is introduced, on which
are depicted the hours and minutes; this is carried by the works from
right to left somewhere accross the map, and shews the correct time
on the meridian of every place. The usual index and hands give
the time at London (Greenwich time), or at any other specified place.

page_text: The Drawing shews the chain or band of hours and minutes above
a map of the world on "Mercator's" projection, but it can be made
to suit any other.
ADDITION TO PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
The mode or means of working the band of hours for the geogra-
phical clock is as follows:-On the hour hand arbor is placed a wheel
(which, to explain one plan,) is cut with 45 teeth; this wheel gears into
another wheel placed at its side, cut with the same number of teeth,
but carrying in projection in front a smaller wheel of 30 teeth only;
below this wheel is another of 30 cogs, which gears into a wheel placed
still lower of 60 cogs, and within or at the back of this is placed one
of the carrying wheels for the hour band to work upon. At a proper
distance, according to the size of the clock, the other carrying wheel
or cylinder is placed; the hour band or endless chain of figures is
so placed on these cylinders as when moved by the wheel work the
figures pass (in a vertical position) over or on the map, such figures
being so regulated as to suit the solar system. The ordinary wheel
works of the clock set in motion the wheel of 45 teeth placed on the
arbor of the hour hand, and from this motion is communicated to the
remaining works, as above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jonas Radford in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th March 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JONAS RADFORD, of Cheltenham, in the County of Gloucester, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jonas Radford, Her special licence
that I, the said Jonas Radford, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said Jonas Radford, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CLOCKS OR TIME-KEEPERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Jonas Radford, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jonas Radford, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, 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 annexed or accompa-
nying Sheet of Drawings (forming part of this my Specification), on
which are shewn various diagrams, and on such diagrams letters of.
reference denoting the parts as referred to in the description thereof:
"
My Invention for "Improvements in Clocks or Time-keepers
may be termed a geographical clock or time-keeper, its purpose
being to shew the time at all or any of the parts of the world at one
view. The principal features which meet the eye, as at Figure 1, of
the Drawing, where the Invention is in use as a clock, are as follows:
-The usual dial or clock face marked with hands and figures from
1, to 12, inclusive, immediately below which (but it may be placed
elsewhere, as across the map, if desirable,) is a band or chain, which
may be either a linked, curbed, or other chain, having thereon a series
of numeral figures; under this band is the map plate, on which is a
space for engraving thereon the names of cities, towns, or other desig-
nations as may be desired; below this space the map is engraved (on
Mercator's projection) of the whole or any part of the world. As the
usual wheel work moves, giving on the dial the correct time of London

page_text: (or any other given city or place), the band or chain aforesaid having
the hours and minutes engraved thereon is moved or carried by works
hereafter to be described (and illustrated in the Drawing) from right
to left, and on passing over the space allotted to the names of cities,
et cetera, shows the time of day or night, as the case may be, at any
part of the world thus indicated. I will now proceed to describe the
diagrams forming the Drawings illustrative of my Invention, and marked
or numbered 1, to 11, therein.
Figure 1, represents a front elevation of a geographical clock as it
would appear when in use; A, being the map of the world (on Merca-
tor's projection); B, the usual dial plate or face for shewing the time
at any given place, such as London, New York, or other; C, the chain
or band passing underneath the dial or map plate, and seen through
a longitudinal opening cut in the plate; D, shews the edge of the
map plate or space before mentioned for the reception of the names of
localities; this should be bevilled at its upper part or edge, the better to
carry the eye to the chain or band whereou the numeral figures and
divisions of time are engraved. On this edge or upper space of the
map plate the names of cities, &c. are stated or placed over their
respective meridians. Figure 2, shews a map of part of the world or
a hemisphere having the dial B, and chain or band C, but no space for
the names of cities or localities. Figure 3, is a map of Great Britain
and Ireland drawn within the circle of a clock dial plate or face
having the divisions of time in the circle C, or usual index around it,
and the chain or band crossing the face of the map, (which it may be
made to cross at any part thereof. Figure 4, only varies from Figure 3,
by the map being supposed to be engraved on the dial or face of a
watch, and the chain B, placed in a different position. I will now
proceed to shew the mechanism by which the foregoing parts are acted
upon so as to produce the result required,-
-a clock or watch shewing
the time at all or any parts or part of the world at once. At Figure 5,
A, is the usual wheel on the hour arbor, having cut into its outer
periphery seventy-two cogs or teeth; B, a wheel also of seventy-two
cogs, which the wheel A, carries; C, a pinion wheel of 12 cogs

page_text: placed upon the arbor of wheel B; D, the band or chain, the width of
cach link of which may be made to represent one hour (or a greater or
less portion of time, as may be desired or required); E, E, cogs, either
made at the bottom or top of each link of the chain D; these cogs E, by
gearing into or on to the pinion wheel C, causes the chain to be carried
by it; F, is a plate of polished steel or other suitable metal attached
to the dial or map plate to prevent the chain D, from dropping as it tra-
verses; and G, are roller wheels on which the band or chain D, turns at
each end vertically. Figure 6, shews another view of band or chain;
A, being the usual wheel on hour arbor, composed of seventy-two teeth
or cogs; B, a wheel of thirty-six cogs; C, a pinion wheel of nine cogs
upon the arbor of the wheel B; and D, the chain or band, the width of
each plate of which, as here represented, denotes two hours of time (but
may be made to represent more or less), and at the top or bottom of
each link three several cogs are cut. I find three a convenient number,
but do not confine myself to that or any exact number of cogs. E, E,
the roller wheels on which the chain turns at each end horizontally.
Figure 7, shews at A, B, C, similar wheels and pinions as those de-
scribed in other Figures, say Figure 6, but the band D, is here intended
to represent a band of any description, say of steel, silver, leather, gutta
percha, or any suitable metal or material, with cogs cut on the upper or
lower edges thereof, if of metal; but if of leather, gutta percha, or other
comparatively soft material, then the cogs should be of brass or other
metal rivetted or otherwise securely and firmly attached to the upper or
lower edges of the material aforesaid; E, the roller wheels on which
the band will turn as aforesaid. Figure 8, is a vertical sectional view of
the various parts before enumerated, shewing their attachments to each
other and their relative positions; A, being the map plate with its
upper edge bevilled, as before described; B, the dial plate; C, denotes
the space left between the dial and map plates in order that the chain
or band D, may be readily seen, which, it will be observed, is placed
close behind the lower edge of the dial and upper edge of the maj
plate; E, the links of the chain or band, best seen at Figures 5; F, the
pinion wheel; G, the wheel, which carries the pinion wheel F; and H,

page_text: the hour arbor wheel carrying the wheel G, and pinion F. Figure 9,
shews the links of the chain as required for vertically passing. A, denotes
the plates, which may be either of silver or silver fronts on brass backs,
or brass plated with silver, or made of any other suitable metal or
material, and the cogs I prefer to be made of brass as of good strength,
but other metal may be substituted where from any cause desirable.
B, denotes the links, which are placed both at the front and back of the
plates A. Figure 10, gives a section of a chain link; A, representing
the brass plate with cog at bottom; B, the silver plate thereof (where
such combination is used); and C, C, the links at front and back of
plate A. Figure 11, shews part of a chain or band to be used when it
is intended that the chain should pass horizontally round at the back of
or among the works of the clock or otherwise; A, shewing the links
with cogs at the bottom thereof; B, B, B, hinges at the back of the
plate joining each to each. I would here state that the prime
mover of the mechanism herein described and shewn as of my Inven-
tion is the hour arbor wheel, which is upon (or forms part of the
mechanism of) every clock, (or the minute pinion wheel, if for time
less or but little more than one hour,) and the aforesaid wheel and
pinion are moved by the usual motive power in clocks or time-keepers.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of " Improvements
in Clocks or Time-keepers," and the manner in which such improve-
ments may be carried into practical effect, I would have it understood
that the means I have herein-before described and shewn for producing
a time-keeper which may be termed a "geographical clock" may be
varied according to the size, description, or nature of the time-keeper
or clock required, without in any manner departing from the principle
of my Invention; nor do I lay any claim to the parts taken seperately
as parts of the various combinations herein-before described and shewn
in the Drawing. But I do claim as of my Invention the combina-
tions of parts herein-before described and illustrated in the annexed
Drawing for the purpose of obtaining simultaneously or at one view a
knowledge of the time of the day or night (as the case may be) at all
parts of the world, or at any given portions of the earth's surface, and

page_text: which combinations of parts constitute my Invention of "Improvements
in Clocks or Time-keepers."
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonas Radford, have heretofore set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JAMES DOWNING,
.185, High Street,
Cheltenham.
JONAS RADFORD. (L.B.)