IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Haas, junior, of 104, Boulevart Sébas-
topol, Paris, France, Watch and Clock Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES."
Scaled the 15th May 1874, and dated the 2nd December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Haas, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd December 1873.
I, BENJAMIN HAAS, junior, of 104, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris,
France, Watch and Clock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES," to be as
follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to winding up the watch in
such a manner that the movement of the watch may be described as
perpetual, whilst the means of effecting it are invisible; this is produced
by the simple action of opening the case to see the time, the mechanism
for producing this result being two metal shafts or blades united by a
pin which allows of free play to their. movements. The first blade

page_text: terminates at one end in a hook, which is fixed to the hinge of the watch
lid, consequently it follows its movements when opened and closed, and
actuates the other blade or shaft, imparting to it a see-saw movement.
To this latter blade a rack is connected, the teeth of which gear with a
ratchet wheel fixed on the arbor of the barrel spring.
The action of these parts is as follows:-On opening the watch the
rack is forced upwards by aid of the two articulated blades, in such wise
that the teeth of the rack entering those of the ratchet fixed on the
arbor of the barrel spring, cause it to turn and so winds up the watch
spring; this action is repeated each time the case is opened, thus
obviating the usual mode of winding.
The second part of my Invention has reference to setting the hands of
the dial. This is effected in the following manner :-By turning a button
attached to a shaft passing through the knob (of the watch) bearing the
ring, the end of this shaft terminates in a bevil pinion gearing with a
similar wheel, which transmits motion to a third wheel in communica-
tion with the minute wheel work, and by the combination with these
parts of a safety detent in communication with the above-named shaft,
whose object is to lessen the friction produced by the gearing of the
wheels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Haas, in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
HAAS, junior, of 104, Boulevart Sébastopol, Paris, France, Watch and
Clock Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Haas, junior,
Her special licence that I, the said Benjamin Haas, junior, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Benjamin Haas, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Haas, junior, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument 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 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 Benjamin Haas, junior, 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:-
:
The first part of my Invention relates to winding up the watch in
such a manner that the movement of the watch may be described as
perpetual, whilst the means for effecting it are invisible; this is effected
by the simple action of opening the case to see the time, the mechanism
for producing this result being two metal shafts or blades united by a
pin, which allows of free play to their movements. The first blade
terminates at one end in a hook which is fixed to the hinge of the watch
lid, consequently it follows its movements when opened and closed, and
actuates the other blade or shaft imparting to it a see-saw motion. To
this latter blade a rack is connected, the teeth of which gear with a
ratchet wheel fixed on the arbor of the barrel spring. .
The action of these parts is as follows:-On opening the watch the
rack is forced upwards by aid of the two articulated blades, in such wise
that the teeth of the rack entering those of the ratchet on the arbor of
the barrel spring cause it to turn, and so winds up the watch spring;
this action is repeated each time the case is opened, thus obviating the
usual mode of winding.
The second part of my Invention has reference to setting the hands of
the dial. This is effected in the following manner :-By turning a button
attached to a shaft passing through the knob of the watch bearing the
ring, the end of this shaft terminates in a bevil pinion, gearing with a

page_text: similar wheel which transmits motion to a third wheel in communication
with the minute wheelwork, and the combination with these parts of a
safety detent in communication with the above-named shaft, whose
object is to lessen the friction produced by the gearing of the wheels.
In the accompanying Drawings the face of the watch is supposed to
be removed to show the mechanism, those parts only being shown that
have relation to my Invention.
A and B are the two metal shafts united by the pin a; the blade
A terminates in a hook connected to the hinge of the watch lid b;
the other blade or shaft B is united to the rack C, the teeth of which
gear with the ratchet wheel G fixed on the arbor of the barrel spring;
E is a spring for keeping the rack in the position it should retain for its
proper functions; H is the plate of the barrel spring; I is the lever
uniting the rack C and blades A, B; J is the screw for fixing the lever I ;
K is the pivot; R is the safety detent for reducing the friction of the
wheel; S is the pinion of transmission; T, the shaft for setting the
the honda
1st. The combination with the ordinary watch works, of the blades
A and B in conjunction with the rack C and ratchet G, lever I and
spring E, as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2nd. The combination with the shaft T of the bevil wheel S, for
setting the hands, in conjunction with the safety detent R and spring ",
for reducing the friction of the wheels, as and for the purposes herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Haas, junior, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.