IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND POCKET TIMEKEEPERS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Dunn, of Pendleton, near the City of Man-
chester, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND
POCKET TIMEKEEPERS."
Sealed the 24th October 1861, and dated the 17th May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Dunn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th May 1861.
I, THOMAS DUNN, of Pendleton, near the City of Manchester, Engineer, do
bereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES
AND POCKET TIMEKEEPERS," to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists in making watches or pocket time-
keepers with glass covers over the inner works to keep out the dirt and
atmosphere, and in lightening out the inner framework or plates, so that the
whole or nearly the whole of the machinery may be seen at work at any time
by the wearer, in order to be able to detect small particles of dirt or grit
before they injure the machinery. For hunting or travelling watches I attach
an outer metallic frame by a spring or other such like fastening, so that it

page_text: may be detached for indoor use. I also attach a double shank working on a
swivel, so that a neck guard and a short guard may be used both at once, and
each side of the watch turned to view without inconvenience. This swivel
also prevents a pickpocket from twisting off the said shank, as is usual in
ordinary watches.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Dunn in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the
15th November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
DUNN, of Pendleton, near the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Dunn, Her special licence that the said Thomas
Dunn, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Dunn, 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 WATCHES AND POCKET TIMEKEEPERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas Dunn, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the samo 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 Thomas Dunn, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
The nature of my Invention consists in making watches or pocket time-
keepers with glass covers over the inner works to keep out the dirt and
atmosphere, and in lightening out the inner framework or plates, so that the

page_text: watch when held up to the light is transparent, and the whole or nearly the
whole of the machinery may be seen at work, in order to be able to detect
small particles of dirt or grit before they cause any injury. For hunting or
travelling watches I attach an outer metallic frame or case by a spring or
other fastening, so that it may be detached for indoor use.
Another part of my Invention consists in attaching to watches and pocket
timekeepers a double shank, working on a swivel, so that a neck guard and a
short guard may be used together, and each side of the watch turned to view
without inconvenience. This swivel also prevents the shank from being
twisted off, as is the case in watches of the ordinary construction.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, which are made of about twice the real size.
Figures 1 and 2 represent a front and back view of a watch or pocket time-
keeper constructed according to my improvements. The back or cover of this
watch is made of glass instead of metal or other opaque material, as heretofore
customary, and the plate within the figures of the dial and the framework or
bearings supporting the various axles or pivots are cut away or considerably
lightened, the object being to allow the whole or the greatest portion of the
works to be seen from the outside, in order to be able to detect the presence
of dirt or grit before injury is done by them to the machinery. For hunting
or travelling purposes the watch is enclosed within an outer metallic frame or
case, which is held on by a spring or other fastening. In these views I have
also shewn my improved double shank, working on a swivel, to which two
guards may be attached. In watches of the ordinary construction the shank
is easily twisted off by a pickpocket, but this is not the case with the improved
double shank, as it turns on a swivel, and is consequently less liable to be
surreptitiously separated from the watch.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that the details may be con-
siderably varied or modified; I therefore do not limit myself to the particulars
set forth, as my improvements may be applied to watches of the ordinary or
any other construction; but what I claim is,-
First, the making the back or cover of watches and pocket timekeepers
of glass instead of metal or other opaque material, as heretofore customary.
Secondly, the lightening out or cutting away of the inner framework and
plates of watches and pocket timekeepers, in the manner and for the purposes
<lescribed.

page_text: And, lastly, the double shank working on a swivel, as shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Dunn, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
H. B. BARLOW,
Manchester.
THOS. DUNN. (L.S.)