IMPROVEMENT OF STOPWORKS
Year: 1886

page_text: VALENTIN WEBER Watchmaker 23, Station Rd. South Norwood, Surrey &
LOUIS WEBER, Watchmaker 20 Rathbone Place Oxford St. W. Loudon do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENT OF STOPWORKS, to be as
follows:-
The improvement consists in the simplicity and greater safety of the stopwork,
which is made of one piece fitted on the square of Barrel Arbor snail form A
acting on the hook of mainspring B which slides in a slot C either in Barrel,
Barrel cover, or both.
Firstly. The advantages are the greater security against overwinding and
breaking of mainsprings.
Secondly. The equalizing of the power of the mainspring by the adoption of a
hook fixed to the mainspring in such a manner that when being wound almost
to the top moves towards the center and creates the action of safe stopwork.
Thirdly. In case of the breaking of ratchet or click work the stop work being of a
snail form there is not the slightest risistance to the free return moving of the
Barrel arbor and therefore no possibility of Barrel teeth center pinion or third
pivot damaging or breaking.
VALENTIN WEBER.
LOUIS WEBER,

page_text: 20 Rathbone Place, Oxford St. Watchmaker, 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:-
The advantages of our improved stopwork for going barrel watches clocks and
musical boxes are:
Firstly: Its simplicity, and greater security against overwinding and breaking
of mainsprings by the adoption of a hook (see fig. B in drawing) fixed to the
outside end of mainspring in such a manner that by being wound, the hook moves
safe in a slot (see fig. C in drawing) towards the center and when nearly all
wound up the snail point (see fig. A in drawing) is arrested by the flat side of the
hook and creates a powerful and safe stop.
Secondly: The adoption of the moving mainspring hook in the slot (see fig. C)
either in barrel cover barrel or both, towards the center, equalizes the power of the
inainspring and its action consequently is more uniform on the escapement and
gives better accuracy as a timekeeper by the hook moving in a direct line from the
circumference of the barrel towards its center; the force of the action of the main-
spring which becomes greater when wound up by the fixed hook of the old system
diminishes gradually according to the distance of the hook from the teeth of the
barrel.
Thirdly: In case of the breaking of ratchet or click work our stopwork being of
a snail form (see fig. A) there is not the slightest resistance to the free return
inovement of the barrel arbor and therefore no possibility of barrel teeth center
wheel teeth center pinion or third pivot damaging or breaking.
By winding up a watch the moving of mainspring begins round the center of
Barrell arbor and the mainspring of the right strength in proportion to the Barrell
may make five to six turns till it is wound to the end; the first and second turn
of wind up will not affect the outside hook of mainspring but after the outside
hook of mainspring projecting in slot moves gradually towards the center and
between the fourth and fifth turn catches the stop on snail shape finger piece; but
there may be mainsprings with more or less turns the action of this stopwork can
be adjusted accordingly.
By the running down of the mainspring the outside hook of the mainspring is
by the first run down turn shifted by the snail shape finger piece from the center
and the power of second turn of mainspring becomes more equal in proportion to
the moving from the center and it acts in the same manner by the running down
of every other turn; the action of the outside hook of the mainspring can be
regulated ad libitum by the more or less slanting position of slot and this action
may be regulated according to the different strength of mainsprings and the
number of their turns required.

page_text: This stopwork takes in proportion to its safety the least room; it may be made
thinner than any other existing and still be safe as the least notch on the moving
mainspring hook will prevent any shifting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
The stopwork mechanism substantially as described which also has the effect of
regulating the strength of the mainspring.