IMPROVEMENTS IN CHRONOMETERS AND POCKET WATCHES
Year: 1814

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
MASSEY, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Watch Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Seventeenth day of
November, in the fifty-fifth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Massey, my exors, admors, and assigns, His especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Edward Massey, my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term of years
therein mentioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHRONOMETERS AND POCKET WATCHES;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso that if I, the said Edward Massey, shall not particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties
and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine,
and become void, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had)
may more fully and at large appear..

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Edward Massey, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is. to be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the
following references or description thereof (that is to say) :-
The escapement represented in No. 1 is for a pendulum regulator. a, the
swing wheel of 30 teeth. b, b, a wheel of 120 teeth fixed on the same axle
as the swing wheel, and acts in a pinion of 12, which pinion is on the same
axle as c, a wheel of 75 teeth, which acts in d, a wheel of 50 teeth, the axle
of which wheel also carries e, e, a lever of two equal arms which comes in
contact with f, f, the locking detents, which should extend one fourth of the
circle described by the lever, and which locking detents are secured on the
cradle verge, which is pivoted in a cock, and connected with the crutch in the
usual way; or, the cradle part of the verge being lengthened, they may be
fixed on pivots in the same manner as the pallets are, having a short cross
piece to unlock them similar to that which comes in contact with the pallets.
The wheels c and d may be pivoted in the inside of the pillar plate, and in
cocks fastened to that plate, or they may be taken to the back of the plate, in
which case they will require additional cocks at the back of the plate. g, a
cross piece, which is also secured to the verge at h, which immediately before
the lever is disengaged from the locking detents at e, by the vibration of the
pendulum, touches a pin at i on the raised pallet k; and when the detent is
unlocked the wheels advance and raise the opposite pallet o and the ball,
which is on the same axle as the pallet k, and fixed on light pivots in the
cock Q, which is in the centre of the cradle verge m, descends on the return of
the pendulum, and communicates an impulse to the pendulum by means of its
gravitation. The other ball n and pallet o are fixed in like manner in the
cock in the centre of the cradle verge, and thus alternately give an impulse
to the pendulum. n, the cradle verge. p, section of the cock or frame for the
pallets. 9, a perspective view of the cock and cradle verge, with the manner
of fixing the pallets and detents. r, the cradle verge, as it may be used should
the locking detents be fixed on pivots. It will be seen that the length of the
lever e, e, is about equal to the diameter of the swing wheel, and performs one
fourth of a revolution for each vibration of the pendulum, and of consequence
passes through about fifteen times the space that the swing wheel does during
each vibration, thus lessening the pressure against the locking detents, which
may also be made considerably shorter than usual, and by these means reliev
ing the pendulum from the greatest part of the friction; a fly may also be
added to the axle of the lever for the purpose of equalizing its motion. The

page_text: proportions and numbers of the different parts of this escapement may be
varied without effecting the principle. The escapement represented in No. 2
is for a marine box chronometer. a, a wheel of 60 teeth. b, the pallet wheel
of 15 teeth, which acts on the same axle as the wheel a. c, the impulse spring
which is fastened upon the pallet wheel by means of a collet in the manner that
pendulum springs are usually attached to balances. d, the stud where the
impulse spring is pinned, which stud is a fixture on the wheel a, and answers
as a stop to the pallet wheel. e, a pinion of 8, which is acted on by the
wheel a. ff, a lever of equal arms, which is fixed on the same axle as the
pinion e; at each end of the lever is fixed a pin g, g. A fly may be added to
the axle of the lever for the purpose of equalizing its motion. h, the locking
detent, one end of which is acted on by the gathering pallet k, which is fixed
under the verge pallet i in the manner shewn by Figure k, the other end is
acted on by the lever f, as represented by Figure 1. k, the gathering pallet
and lever. m, a section of the two wheels and pinion. That part of the axle
which forms the pivot on which the pallet wheel acts is made as fine as it will
bear, and the pallet wheel is kept in its place by a collet u binding on the
pivot; after the wheel is put on the two wheels thus united are fixed in a frame
or pivot holes at the pleasure of the maker. n, the pinion which connects the
escapement with the train. o, section of the verge pallet and the gathering
pallet fixed on the axle of the verge. p, p, two banking pins for the purpose
of keeping the locking detent in its place to receive the gathering pallet on the
return of each vibration. Supposing the verge to be put in motion towards the
right, it will unlock the lever at g, the pin of which will advance to the other
locking at q, and on the return of the vibration it will again be unlocked, the
pin passing between the two locking points and under the detent, and the lever
will perform nearly half a revolution when the other end will be stopped by the
locking detent, as is shewn in the Drawing. During the first unlocking, when
the pin advances to q, the wheels are advanced in a small degree, but the
teeth r, s, of the pallet wheel should still be in such a situation that the
verge
pallet would pass clear between them; on the second unlocking the wheels will
advance and the tooth s will drop on the verge pallet, giving a little more
tension to the impulse spring, which spring communicates an impulse to the
verge at every second vibration; the tooth s would now occupy the place of the
the tooth r, and the arm of the pallet wheel comes again in contact with the
stop, and so on alternately. t, a view of the gathering pallet cylinder and fork
end of the lever, which ought to be so proportioned that the pallet or pin
should always carry the points of the lever clear of the cylinder, which cylinder
is only intended as a guard to prevent the lever getting out of action. a, a

page_text: reservoir to contain oil for the lower pivot of the verge; in the centre of the
bottom is fixed a diamond for the point of the pivot to rest on. y is the cover,
in the centre of which is a pivot hole for the verge pivot to pass through,
which hole should be jewelled with a ruby or some other precious stone.
This cover is to be fitted on the reservoir in the most perfect manner, so as to
exclude the air from the oil as much as possible, and it may be cemented up,
if found necessary, so as to be rendered air-tight except at the pivot hole.
This reservoir may be made of metal, glass, or any other substance which may
be found to answer the purpose, and to preserve the oil in the best manner.
It is screwed on a cock, which cock is secured to the back of the potence plate
by screws, as at z, z. A shews a section of the frame which represents the
manner of fixing the verge balance and reservoir.
4 re-
Figures 1, 2, 3, shew the parts of a gridiron balance. 1, section of the
edge of the balance bar, with a flanch at each end for the purpose of attaching
the gridiron compensation pieces to the bar by means of screws; these flanches
may be turned either upward or downward. 2, the face of the gridiron
compensation piece, of which one is attached to each of the flanches at the
ends of the bar by means of screws. 3, the face of the balance bar.
presents the depth of the bars of the compensation piece; these proportions
may be varied. This compensation is formed with a steel face on one side and
a brass face on the other, in the usual manner of making compensation pieces.
The thin edges of the bars are turned outward, and are connected in the
middle for the purpose of giving them additional firmness, and making them
less liable to be injured. This compensation piece may be constructed of
separate bars, connected by screws or otherwise, if found necessary, and either
with or without the connection in the middle. 5, a weight, which is screwed
on the inside of each compensation pièce by two screws passing between the
bars. The weights may be adjusted in a similar manner to weights as used in
other compensation balances, and the length of the bars must be determined
by experiment. One object which is meant to be obtained in constructing
this compensation piece in the gridiron form is, to approximate in susceptibility
of change to the pendulum spring. The bottom pivot of the verge acting in a
reservoir of oil will, it is presumed, keep the friction more uniform for a con-
siderable length of time, by which means the pivot may be made a little
stronger than common, which will render it less liable to injury from jolts, and
the weights being below the bottom pivot, and the verge being long, will allow
the upper pivot to be made smaller than usual, which will reduce its friction.
The reservoir may be used with any other escapement or balance, or this
escapement may be made without the reservoir, or with any other balance.

page_text: A detached escapement is represented at No. 3. a, the pallet wheel of 15,
which are perpendicular pins on the horizontal surface of the wheel; b, the
pallets; c, the self-banking lever, which is fixed on the same axle with the
pallets; d, the cylinder and pallet or pin, which are fixed on the axle of the
verge, on which is placed the balance in the usual way; these are represented
about the size used in a pocket watch. e, f, g, the cylinder pallet, or pin and
leaver, in action on an enlarged scale. Supposing the verge to be put in
motion to the right, the pallet or pin will fall into the middle space of the lever,
and receives its impulse through the frame in the usual way. It will be seen
by the construction of the self-banking lever, that it allows the pallet or pin to
gather it twice from the rest, and the balance would move nearly four circles
on each vibration before it struck the banking, although completely detached,
except gathering the lever a second time, the pallet or pin banking on the
circle of the leaver alternately at k, k. It must be observed that the cylinder e
and the pallet or pin should be so proportioned that when the pallet quits the
space in the lever, the lever should stand perfectly free of the cylinder, which
is intended merely as a guard to prevent the lever getting out of action; or, it
is presumed, that a cylinder pallet and wheel, as represented at hand i, may
be substituted for the pallet wheel a and pallets b, the other parts of the escape-
ment remaining as before described. The wheel i is represented with 5 teeth,
which perhaps may be found safer in practice than a greater number, as it
gives a better bearing on the cylinder, which is about three times the diameter
of the wheel. This escapement will be perceived to receive an impulse on
every second vibration of the balance. The objects of these escapements are
to remove in some degree the evils attending slow trained watches, so as to
procure an improved journeyman watch for marine and astronomical purposes.
At No. 4 is shewn a cylinder escapement. a, the tooth of a common hori-
zontal or cylinder wheel, which is made of the usual shape, except that it is
without an elbow. b, a precious stone termed the cylinder; it is part of a
cylinder, and is formed by describing on the section of an arc of a circle, of the
same diameter as the cylinder or thereabouts, with the point of the compasses
removed as far out of the centre as you want the cylinder to be broad in the
broadest part. This will give the shape of the cylinder, whether it be wanted
large or small, and it may be made either of a ruby, some other precious stone,
or any stone that will not cut by the friction of the wheel upon it, or of any
composition or paste that possesses similar properties. d, the case in which
the cylinder is fixed with the position of the crank. e, section of the case to
receive the cylinder. It will be seen by the shape of the cylinder that it will
recoil the wheel on the inner locking and prevent it from striking so soon at c,

page_text: and allow a greater arc of vibration to the balance with the tooth of the wheel
of the shape represented than if it had been made without recoil. The object
of making a cylinder and case in this manner is to save trouble to the manu-
facturer, and to enable him to construct a ruby escapement with greater ease
than by the old method.
The Figure in No. 5 shows a method of winding up a fusee watch by
means of the pendant. a, the axle of the fusee, which is squared to receive
a flanch. b, the flanch, which is also squared on the fusee, and has a square
socket to receive the ratchet. c, the ratchet; it is squared on the square
socket of the flanch, and has its socket round on the outside to receive
the pinion d. d, the pinion, which is placed on the round socket of the
ratchet, between the flanch and the ratchet; so as to act free. This pinion has
9 teeth on about half its circumference; the other half is plain, on which is
fixed a click and spring. This click is thrown out of action, except at the
time of winding up the watch. e, the stop or piece that lifts the click out of
the ratchet. f. the rack, which acts in the pinion. 9, the spring which acts
on the rack at h. i, the stud on which the pendant acts; this action is in the
usual way of a push for a repeater. k, a stop which prevents the rack being
pushed down, except when relieved by the spring 7. 1, the spring which
relieves the stop. This spring is fixed inside the case near the point of time 2
on the dial plate, and by means of a pin which passes through' the case, is
pressed on and relieves the stop, so as to allow the watch to be.wound up by
means of the pendant. m, a pin which presses on the spring 1, and passes
through the case to the outside. n, à spring to restore the situation of the
stop when the pressure on the outside is taken off. When it is required to
wind up the watch, you press on the pin m, which, acting on the spring 1,
relieves the stop by throwing it within the inner circle of the rack; you then
push the pendent, which presses on the stud i and forces the rack f forward;
the rack, acting in the pinion d, relieves the click from the stop e, which then
falls into the ratchet c, forces the pinion, ratchet, and fusee round. On with-
drawing the pendent the spring 9 returns the rack and pinion to their former
situation, the fusee retaining the situation by means of its ratchet and click in
the usual way; this operation is repeated till the watch is wound up. The
number of teeth in the rack and pinion may be varied without affecting the
principle.
The Figure in No. 6 shows a method of winding up a going barrelled
watch, or a watch without a fusee, by means of the pendent. a, a ratchet
fixed on the axle of the barrel; b, the click; c, a spring to keep the click in
its place. d, a lever, to which is affixed a rack, which has a centre e. f, the

page_text: centre on which the lever d acts. 9, a spring, which returns the lever and
rack. h, the rack. i, the stud on which the pendent acts. This action is in
the usual way of a push for a repeater. When it is required to wind up the
watch, you push the pendent, which presses on the stúd i, and forces the rack h
forward. The rack, acting in the ratchet a, forces the ratchet and barrel
round, and thus winds up the barrel to a certain extent. On withdrawing the
pendent the spring g acts on the lever d, and the rack h, dropping on its centre
e, disengages itself from the ratchet, and resumes its situation, and by the
pressure of the stud i on the pendent, the teeth of the rack are forced into the
ratchet again; and this operation is repeated till the watch is wound up. It
may be remarked that this method of winding up a watch will in some degree
answer the purpose of a repeater; for as the barrel revolves once in eight
hours, and as there are 32 teeth in the ratchet, each push of the pendent,
taking 4 teeth, will be equal to one hour's going of the watch, so that,
observing the hour when you wind up the watch, and wishing to know the
hour in the dark, each push of the pendent that it requires will be equal to an
hour of time since you wound it up, and the fractional part of the hour will be
ascertained nearly by the last push being longer or shorter, so that it will give
the time to about half an hour. The number of teeth on the ratchet and
rack, or either of them, may be varied without affecting the principle, or it
may be used to wind up the watch without being applied to the purpose of a
repeater.
Figures A, B, C, in No. 7, exhibit compensation curbs of different con-
structions. Figure A: a, the centre of the verge. b, c, a frame to fix the
curb and compensation piece on, which has a socket which is fitted in the
potence plate in the manner which steel curbs for lever watches are generally
fitted. d, the curb which is made with a delicate spring at the end, where
it is fixed to the frame b. e, the compensation piece, which is made of brass
and steel, the inner or broad part being brass, and which is fixed to the
frame c. f, the stud to which the pendulum spring is pinned. g, the curb
pins. The curb should be so fixed that the pins may act as nearly as possible
in the direction of the pendulum spring; I would recommend that the com-
pensation piece should be made broad, so as to have sufficient power to
overcome the spring. It will be seen by this compensation piece acting on
the curb at h, that any variation that takes place in the compensation piece
will cause the curb pins to move through a considerable comparative space,
and may compensate sufficiently for any alteration that take place in the
pendulum spring. Figure B: a, the centre of the verge; b, the curb; c, the
compensation piece, which is made of brass and steel, the outer or broad part

page_text: being brass. d, a delicate spring, to press the curb against the compensation
piece, and thus to keep them in contact with each other. e, the guide which
keeps the curb clear of the plate, and allows it to act freely by means of a
notch, into which the end of the curb is introduced. f, the stud to which the
pendulum spring is pinned. g, the curb pins. h, a stud screwed to the plate,
with a notch similar to the guide e; through this stud at i a pin passes, which
serves as a centre or fulcrum to the curb b. It will be seen also by this
method that by the compensation acting on the curb, any variation that takes
place in the compensation piece will cause the curb pins to move through a
considerable comparative space, and may compensate sufficiently for any
alteration which takes place in the pendulum spring; the compensation piece
may be made to act nearer the centre i of the curb b, which would increase
the effect. This may compensate sufficiently, but if it does not an additional
lever may be added to the curb, and the compensation piece brought to act
on it, as represented at a, Figure C, which will add considerably to its effect.
Figures A and B, in No. 3, show a method of telling the day of the
month and the moon's age, in the cases of a pocket watch without being
connected with the movement. A, the outer case of a pocket watch, the
back of which is divided from the centre into seven equal parts, on which is
engraved the days of the month from 1 to 31. b, the moveable circle, which
is also divided into seven equal parts at the circumference, to correspond with
the divisions on the case, and on which is engraved the days of the week. To
apply this method, suppose the first day of the month to fall on a Sunday,
then turn the moveable circle till the letters Su for Sunday fall exactly
under the Figure 1, and it will immediately be perceived that it will point
out the day of the month for all that week; the second row of figures will
point out the days in the second week, and so on for the whole month.
And this method equally applies on whatever day of the week the first day
of the month happens to fall.
Figure B, in No. 3, shews a method of telling the moon's age on the case
of a pocket watch. c, the inner case of a watch, on which is engraved under
the pendent the words "new moon." d, the moveable circle, which is divided
at its circumference into 31 equal parts, under which is engraved the figures
1 to 31, to answer to the days of the month. To apply this method, suppose
the new moon should fall on the last day of the month, then place the figure
corresponding to that day under the words "new moon," and it will give the
moon's age at any day during that moon. But if the new moon should fall on
any other day than the last day of the month, then place the day of the month
on which it falls under the words "new moon," and the age of the moon on