IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASES FOR WATCHES AND OTHER POCKET TIME- KEEPERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Reid and Christian John Reid, both o.
Grey Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS,
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASES FOR WATCHES AND OTHER POCKET TIME-
KEEPERS."
Sealed the 13th February 1863, and dated the 14th October 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Reid and Christian
John Reid at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their.
Petition, on the 14th October 1862.
We, DAVID REID and CHRISTIAN JOHN REID, both of Grey Street, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASES FOR WATCHES AND OTHER POCKET TIMEKEEPERS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of cases
for watches and other pocket timekeepers of the alloy or compound of copper
and aluminium hereafter described. We believe that the best compound or
alloy for the purpose consists of 92 parts of the best copper and 7 parts of
aluminium; this alloy possesses a good gold color, and has good working
qualities. The proportions of the alloy may, however, be somewhat varied,
but we believe to the prejudice of its color or working qualities, and we find
that if the proportion be altered beyond 5 of aluminium to 95 of copper, and
10 of aluminium to 90 of copper, the metal becomes either very liable to
oxidize when the larger proportions of copper are used, or very hard, and is
worked with more difficulty when larger proportions of aluminium are used.
In preparing an alloy of aluminium and copper we first melt the copper in a
crucible,.and then add the aluminium, keeping it in the furnace till thoroughly

page_text: mixed, and stirring it a little with a small perforated ladle of black iron, with
which we also remove the scum which forms on the surface. We then run
the metal into ingots or bars. These ingots or bars are prepared for rolling or
hammering by first having the porous parts, which generally exist on the top,
completely cut out. The bar or ingot is then hammered and rolled out into
sheets or plates of the requisite thickness. In doing this we prefer to hammer
and roll the ingots on the side, thus making the sides of the ingot form the
top and bottom of the plate or sheet, which brings the porous or defective parts
generally found on the top of the ingot to the outer edge, where they can be
cut off. In hammering and rolling the alloy or compound it is frequently
necessary to anneal the same, and the hammering and rolling is done at a red
heat. We cut a portion of the plate of a certain thickness into narrow strips
for bizzles and edges, and also wire for pendants and bows; the remainder is
rolled into thinner plates for case backs, bottoms, and domes. The various
parts are soldered together with solder of the following metals, of gold,
silver, brass, copper, zinc, and aluminium. We prefer to use first a hard
solder, and then to complete the case with a solder more fusible than the first.
Before soldering the parts together we have found it desirable to subject the
edges and surfaces, which are to be soldered to the action of hydrochloric acid,
which acting on the aluminium leaves a greater proportion of copper on the
surface. In soldering we use fluxes of borax and other substances. The cases
when made are polished and finished in the usual way by brushing and lapping
with an application of rottenstone or oxide of aluminium, and finally with
rouge applied with spirits of wine. The cases are ornamented by engraving,
chasing, or engine turning, and a dead matted surface is produced by the use
of caustic soda or nitric acid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Reid and Christian John Reid in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 14th April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
REID and CHRISTIAN JOHN. REID, both of Grey Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
send greeting.
1
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said David Reid and Christian John Reid, Her special licence that we,

page_text: the said David Reid and Christian John Reid, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said David Reid and Christian John
Reid, our, 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 THE MANU-
FACTURE OF CASES FOR WATCHES AND OTHER POCKET TIMEKEEPERS," upon the con
dition (amongst others) .that we, the said David Reid and Christian John
Reid, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our
or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them,
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 we, the said David Reid and Christian John
Reid, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manuer the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-.
.
This Invention consists in the manufacture of cases for watches and other
pocket timekeepers of the alloy or compound of copper and aluminium here-
after described. We believe that the best compound or alloy for the purpose
consists of 92 parts of the best copper and 7 parts of aluminium; this alloy
possesses a good gold color, and has good working qualities.. The proportions
of the alloy may, however, be somewhat varied, but we believe to the prejudice
of its color or working qualities, and we find that if the proportion be altered
beyond 5 of aluminium to 95 of copper, and 10 of aluminium to 90 of copper,
the metal becomes either very liable to oxidize when the larger proportions of
copper are used, or very hard, and is worked with more difficulty when larger
proportions of aluminium are used.
.
In preparing an alloy of aluminium and copper we first melt the copper in a
crucible, and then add the aluminium, keeping it in the furnace till thoroughly
mixed, and stirring it a little with a small perforated ladle of black iron, with
which we also remove the scum which forms on the surface. We then run
the metal into ingots or bars. These ingots or bars are prepared for rolling
or hammering by first having the porous parts, which generally exist on the
top, completely cut out. The bar or ingot is then hammered and rolled out
into sheets or plates of the requisite thickness. In doing this we prefer to
hammer and roll the ingots on the side, thus making the sides of the ingot

page_text: form the top and bottom of the plate or sheet, which brings the porous or
defective parts generally found on the top of the ingot to the outer edge,
where they can be cut off. In hammering and rolling the alloy or compound
it is frequently necessary to anneal the same, and the hammering and rolling
are done at a red heat.. We cut a portion of the plate of a certain thickness
into narrow strips for bizzles and edges, and also wire for pendants and bows;
the remainder is rolled into thinner plates for case backs, bottoms, and domes.
The various parts are soldered together with solders of the following metals
of gold, silver, brass, copper, zinc, or aluminium. We prefer to use first a
hard solder, namely, of gold (18 carat) 1 oz., of silver 20 grains, of copper
1 dwt. 16 grains; then a second solder, not so hard, composed of gold (18 carat)
16 dwt., of silver 9 dwt. 8 grains, of copper 6 dwt. 6 grains; then to complete
the case with a solder more fusible, namely, of gold (18 carat) 5 dwt., of
silver 1 oz., of copper 5 dwt., of brass 5 dwt. Before soldering the parts
together we have found it desirable to subject the edges and surfaces which
are to be soldered to the action of hydrochloric acid, which acting on the
aluminium leaves a greater proportion of copper on the surface, but the
soldering may be performed without first using the acid. In soldering we use
fluxes of borax and other substances, as is well understood. The cases when
made are polished and finished in the usual way by.brushing and lapping with
an application of rottenstone or oxide of aluminium, and finally with rouge
applied with spirits of wine. The cases are ornamented by engraving, chasing,
or engine turning, and a dead matted surface is produced by the use of caustic
soda or nitric acid.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Reid and Christian John Reid,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
DAVID REID.
(L.S.)
CHRISTIAN JOHN REID. (L.S.)