IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCHES, WATCH CASES, AND IN TOOLS AND APPA- RATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Quaife, of Battle, in the County of
Sussex, Watchmaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF WATCHES, WATCH CASES, AND IN TOOLS AND APPA-
RATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Scaled the 19th July 1858, and dated the 9th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Quaife
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition,
on the 9th May 1858.
I, THOMAS QUAIFE, of Battle, in the County of Sussex, Watchmaker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCHES, WATCH CASES, AND IN TOOLS AND
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN " to be as follows:-
I form the plate at the back of the dial by stamping and pressure.
with the requisite number of bearings for the wheels and movements
sunk at one operation, and I form the opposite or top plate in like
manner, with such parts as are necessary countersunk or pierced.
I also form watch cases and the rims for holding the glass by draw

page_text: plates and pressure engines, with stamps for stamping up the sides
and bottoms. In my watch movements I slit the balance arbor,
instead of using a hollow ruby or other jewel roller, or in some cases I
slit the jewel itself, and I so construct the escape wheel as to beat full
seconds.
I employ stamps, draw plates, lathes, and engines for producing the
before-named parts of watches and watch cases, the full description
of which will be furnished in my complete Specification.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Quaife in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 9th November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
THOMAS QUAIFE, of Battle, in the County of Sussex, Watchmaker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me; the said Thomas Quaife, Her special licence
that I, the said Thomas Quaife, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Quaife, 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
theroin expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Chanuel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCHES, WATCH CASES, AND IN TOOLS AND
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas Quaife, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed. aud cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal

page_text: 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 Quaife, do hereby de-
clare 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:
.
My Invention consists. first, in the adaptation of machinery to
the manufacture or production of watch cases and watch movements,
or parts thereof. And second, in a new or improved movement or
movements for watches. And in order that iny said Invention in the
several parts thereof may be more thoroughly understood I will now
proceed to describe the manner in which the same may be carried into
effect.
The first part of my Invention, for the purpose of more conveniently
describing the same, I propose to subdivide into two sections, the case-
making departinent and the movement-making departurent.
THE CASE-MAKING DEPARTMENT.
In carrying this part of my Invention into effect 1 form the watch
cases and the rims for holding the glass, the former by pressure
engines, with stamps for stamping up the sides and bottoms, and the
latter, as also such other rims or bands as may be required in connection
with watch cases, by pressure engines, and by draw plates having
apertures of suitable form. Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, are representations
of two pairs of dies for striking up the bottoms. The dies represented
in Figures 1, and 2, are for striking or stamping the inner bottoms to
the proper curve, with a flange edge sufficiently wide to fit into the
bottom edge of the side band, to which the bottom is soldered; and the
dies shewn in Figures 3, and 4, are for striking the outer bottoms to
the proper curve and size to solder into the bezel. These dies are
used in a powerful screw press of the ordinary kind employed for
stamping sheet metal, and the operation of stamping watch cases with
them is the same as that followed in stamping other articles; the sheet
of metal. from which the watch cases are to be formed, being fed

page_text: into the machine in the ordinary manner. The form and size of the
lies may be varied to suit the particular kind of watch case required to
be produced.
Figure 5, is a side elevation of a machine or pressure engine for
making the bezels and side bands of the case from gold or silver
tubing, prepared of the required thickness and diameter; and Figure 6,
is a plan of the rest on which the tools are fixed. a, is a hollow
mandril sufficiently large to receive within it the required size of
tubing. The working end of this mandril is tapered, and has a screw
cut on its exterior, and it is also slit up in four places throughout the
length of the screw, in order to allow the taper nut b, which works
on the screw, to compress this end of the mandril tightly upon the
tubing, which may have been introduced therein for the purpose of
holding it firm, whilst the end of it, which is allowed to project beyond
the mandril, is being operated upon. c, is a hollow head screw for
keeping the mandril up against the collar e; and d, is a screw working
in the bearing e', for the purpose of holding the lead screw firmly.
f, is the block of the rest, in which the working tools are mounted. This
block is secured to its bed o, by means of a pivot or pin f', which takes
into an aperture cut in the bed, and is held fast therein by means of the
set screw g., is the slide rest, which is capable of moving transversely
on the dovetail f, formed on the block f, when actuated by the winch
handle j. n, is a screw by means of which the slide rest can be held
fast in any required position on the dovetail f. In working with
this machine, the fixed tool h, is brought up to the inside of the project-
ing portion of the tubing in the mandril a; and the tool k, having the
required pattern for the interior of the bezel formed on its end, is forced
against the tubing as it revolves with the mandril, (which is set in
motion by a cord passing round one of the pulleys a²) until the tubing
has been brought to the required form and size. The lever tool 1, is
then brought against the exterior of the tubing, which is supposed
to be still kept revolving, and this tool completes the formation of
the bezel, turning the edge of the tubing inwards, so as to produce
the shutting edge. The finished bezel is then cut off by a point ou
the tool, or by a graver, and the operation repeated, the nut b, being

page_text: unscrewed, and the tubing brought forward to a sufficient extent, and
then again secured by screwing up the nut as before. The sides or
side bands of the case are formed in a similar manner, by having other
tools of the proper patterns fixed on the rest, these tools being so formed
as to produce the shutting edge for the bezel, and the setting for the
movement by doubling the end of the tubing inwards, and then turning
the edge back to the required size. The mandril a, can be taken
out of the machine by unscrewing the nut b, and the head screw c
when it may be replaced by another mandril having a different sized
aperture through it, according to the size of the bands or bezels required
to be produced. The great advantage resulting from the employment
of this method of manufacturing consists in the saving of time and
material which it effects, as the work being partly cut and partly
rubbed into shape from thin tubing, little or no waste of metal is
occasioned.
Figures 7, and 8, are representations of two draw plates intended to
be used for producing the stouter and commoner kinds of bands for the
cases. Figure 7, shews a draw plate for the bezels, having a range of
graduated apertures of the proper pattern for the bezels, through which
long strips of gold or silver are drawn until they assume the exact
required shape; the apertures are of a gradually decreasing size from
that shown at a, to that at b, which completes the bezel. Figure 8,
shews a draw plate for forming the side bands of the case, having a
range of graduated apertures through which wire is drawn until it
receives the exact required shape. a, is the first aperture, and b, the last
of the range; the intermediate ones gradually decrease in size from
a, to b.
Figures 9, and 10, are respectively a front and end view of an
engine to be employed for turning bezel wire, produced, as just described,
to the proper shape and pitch before cutting it into lengths. Figures
11, and 12, are detached views of parts of the same machine adapted
for the production of side bands. A, A', is an iron frame, which is
fixed firmly to a bench or table of wood by means of the bolts and
nts B, B. C, is a barrel formed on the spindle C, and having on it a
range of spiral grooves of. the same pitch as the screw D, cut on the

page_text: extremity of the spindle C, and which screw works through a nut
tapped in one of the standards A, of the franie. The opposite end of the
spindle C, is left plain, and works through an aperture in the standard A',
the projecting end being furnished with a winch handle N, by which
motion may be given to the barrel C. E, is a morticed piece which
slides along on the top rail of the frame A, A', and is capable of being
adjusted thereon so as to bring it nearer to or further from the barrel C¹,
by means of the nuts e, c, below the rail and spring G, above it, the
tendency of the latter being to bring the piece E, closer to the barrel.
F, is a screw by which the piece E, is kept steady and firm in any
position to which it may have been adjusted. J, is a piece of hard wood
fitting into a socket in the piece E, and held tight therein by the screw
L. This piece of wood J, has formed upon it the pattern of the outside
of the bezel. M, is a metal bar having a strip of wood cemented to its
inner side, and attached to the edge of the frame A, A', by two screws
P, P, by means of which it can be brought tight upon the spiral
grooves of the barrel C. The mode of operating with this machine is
as follows:-The barrel C', is first brought close up to the standard A',
by turning the winch handle N; one end of the bezel wire is next
screwed tight under the holder H, by which it is secured to the barrel;
and the piece of wood J, is then brought tight against the bezel wire,
in which position it is retained by the adjusting screws e, e, which work
in its holder. The winch N, is then turned, and by the rotation of the
barrel the bezel wire is coiled closely round the barrel in the spiral
groove formed thereon; the flat bar M, with its wood facing is then
brought tight up against the coils on the barrel to prevent their un-
winding, and the coils are then cut asunder by means of a saw or other
tool working in the groove S, on the barrel. The bar M, is afterwards
unscrewed, and the bezel wire comes off the barrel in rings which are
all of the same size, and may be formed into complete bezels by soldering
their meeting ends. By this means eight or nine bezels may be made
at once with little or no waste of metal. The end standard A', of the
frame can be unscrewed and removed in order to allow the barrel tu
be changed when side bands are to be produced instead of bezels.
Figures 11, and 12, show the form of groove for the barrel C, and that

page_text: which is given to the piece of wood J, for the purpose of manufacturing
side bands; in other respects the mode of operating is precisely the
same as that just described for the production of bezels.
THE MOVEMENT-MAKING DEPARTMENT.
In carrying this part of my Invention into effect I form the plate at
the back of the dial by stamping and pressure, with the requisite number
of bearings for the wheels and movements sunk at one operation, and I
also form the opposite or top plate in like manner with such parts aš
are necessary countersunk or pierced. I also employ the like operation
of stamping and pressure for producing the wheels, and such other
parts of the movements of watches as are capable of being formed by
stamping and pressure in dies.
Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16, are face and side views of a pair of dies
for striking the pillar plate of the movement. Figures 18, and 14,
shew the upper die which has on its face a raised table a, which forms
the hollow back of the plate, and three pins b, c, d, which punch the
pillar holes. It has also a point in the centre to mark the centre wheel
hole e, and three points to mark the holes for the dial feet f, g, h. i, is
a sunk part for enabling the "bar" to be struck up. This part is formed
with four points in it for the purpose of chamfering and marking the
third, fourth, and scape wheel holes k, l, m, and the balance hole ", to
the correct depth. It is also provided with points to mark the barrel
arbor hole o, the ratchet stop screw hole p, the bolt screw holes, the
bolt spring screw hole t, and every other hole that is required in the
plate. Figures 15, and 16, shew the under die, which is formed with
counterparts to fit and correspond to those of the upper die, Figures 18,
and 14. It has three holes to receive the pins b, c, d, three points w, w, y,
to form the three holes for the scape wheel cock, a raised part, which
strikes the bar into the upper die, and three holes y, around the die, to
allow the punched pieces of metal to escape. These dies are employed
in powerful stamping presses of the ordinary construction.
Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20, are side and face views of a pair of dies,
or striking the upper plate. Figures 17, and 18, represent the upper
lie, which has three pins a, b, c, on its face for making the pillar holes,

page_text: and a raised part d, for striking out the hole in plate for the balance to
work in. Figures 19, and 20, shew the under die, which has four
apertures to correspond with the pins a, b, c, and d, of the upper die for
the pillar and balance holes, and four projecting points e, f, g, h, to
mark the barrel arbor hole and the centre, third, and fourth wheel
holes, with four other points l, m, n, o, to mark the two steady pin holes
and two screw holes of the balance cock. These dies, like those before
described, are used in an ordinary screw press. k, k, l, are holes at
the side of the die to allow the punched-out pieces of metal to come
away.
Figure 21, is a perspective view, and Figure 22, an end view of the
dies which I employ for crossing out the wheels from the blank pieces
of metal previously punched out of hard sheet brass to the proper sizc,
and with a hole in the centre. a, b, are two plates working on a joint c
and having the female parts of the dies d, d, in each exactly corre-
sponding with each other. The centre of the under dic has a pin
projecting from it, and the upper die is formed with a hole to receive
this pin. When a wheel is to be struck the two dies are turned down
on the block e, with the blank wheel placed between them, the pin in
the under die passing through the hole in the wheel and the die
punch f. Figure 23, is then made to pass through them by means of
a screw or other press. Figure 24, is a face view of the dief, which
bas an aperture up the centre, and five radial cuts from the centre to
the outside, which allow the parts d, d, to pass upwards as the punch is
forced through the blank. This operation produces the blank wheels
ready for having the teeth cut. The waste pieces are carried on to the
block C, and are removed by lifting up the dies a, b. h, is a screw which
holds the apparatus down to the bottom of the press, and upon which it
is turned beneath and away from under the press, to allow the work to
be placed in and taken out when required. The size of the dies in this
apparatus may be varied according to the dimensions of the wheels to
be produced.
Figures 25, and 26, are respectively a front and side view of a lathe
for turning the pinions of watch movements. El, is the framing of the
machine, by which it is attached to a bench.
a, is a hollow mandril,

page_text: which is kept up to the collar c, by the sliding head-stock 6, which,
when placed in position, is fastened by the two screws f, and o; the
hollow mandril a, has a taper screw cut on the working end, and this end
is slit through as far as the collar c, to allow the taper nut e, to screw
it tight on the pinion wire, which is held in the hollow mandril; the
mut e, has a notch 1, in which the drop lever d, is held by the finger for
the purpose of screwing and unscrewing when the pinion wire requires
to be brought forward as the work is done. m, is a rest shewn sepa-
rately in Figure 27, which has a triangular aperture through it, and
slides upon the angle bar g. n, is a drop handle screw for the purpose
of making the rest tight. In this machine the pinions are roughed out
from the wire, and some of the commoner ones finished. The machine
may be made of different sizes, according to the peculiar character of
the work required to be done.
Figure 28, is a front view, and Figure 29 an end view, of a lathe for
turning the screws and pillars of watch movements. The peculiarity
of this machine consists in the employment of a hollow mandril and
fixed tools working on a simple kind of slide rest. a, is the hollow
inandril, through which the wire for making the screws or pillars
passes, and in which it is secured by the screw nut b. c, is a fixed
knife or tool, having formed on it the pattern required to produce the
desired work, and d, is another knife, which cuts off the finished work.
Both these tools are screwed to the slide rest e, by lifting up the
handle f. The screw is formed (while the mandril is running) by
means of the handle piece shewn separately in Figure 30, which has a
small screw dies, at its end, for cutting the thread on the screw blank,
and is passed up the dovetail slot g, between the knives c, d, so as to
come to its work. The screw thus formed is cut off by the knife d, by
pressing the handle f. downwards, by which means the knife d, is
brought into action. h, is a hollow head screw to keep the mandril
up to the knives or cutters. p, is the stand of the machine, which is
screwed to a bench or table. This machine may be made of various
sizes to suit the diameter and pitch of the screws to be formed; it
may also be furnished with tools of different patterns for performing
work of different descriptions.

page_text: Figure 31, is a perspective view of a machine for finishing the
pinions and turning the pivots of watch movements. u, and b, are two
end standards, by which the machine is fixed to the bench, and which
support the bar c, upon which the two rests d, e, slide, one on each side
of the lathe, so as to bring their points f, into the hollow of each end
of the short mandril g, which is formed in two parts, each part having
half the central aperture in it. The upper half of the mandril 9, lifts
up, and is screwed down on the pinion when placed in the mandril by a
screw sunk in the edge of the pulley, as shown in the section of the
pulley Figure 82, where k, is the screw which holds the piece 9: firm
on the head of the pinion in the centre of the mandril. The mandril
is only just the length of the head of the pinion to be turned, so that
both arbors and pivots of the pinion can be finished before taking it
out. The mandril and pulley are held between two side pieces of steel,
brought tight up against the mandril ends by two screws l, m, and
made fast on the bar c, by the screws 1, n. 0, P, are screws for
tightening the rests on the bar. i, is the projecting edge of the man-
dril, which runs in the collars formed in the side pieces between which
it is held. Figure 33, shews a circular metal polisher, which fits into
the socket of the rest, and is made tight by the two thumb nuts s, t.
It is turned by a bow on the pulley k, and by revolving in contact with
the pinions produces a fine polish on them. The size of the parts of
this machine may be varied to suit different sized pinions.
Figures 34, and 35, are respectively a front and side view of a
wheel-cutting engine for cutting out the teeth of wheels employed in
watch movements. The principal feature of this engine is the mode or
arrangement by which it advances the work step by step, without the
assistance of the hand to shift the plate by means of the forward
motion of the cutter frame. A, A, is the general framework of the
engine. a, is a circular plate or disc attached to the mandril which
carries the wheels to be cut. This plate has formed in it a series of
concentric circles of perforated holes, the number of perforations in
each circle being either equal to the number of teeth required to be cut,
or such other number as is divisible into the required number of teeth.
The perforations are of such size, and set so closely together, as to

page_text: make the intervening solid parts between the perforations of little thick-
ness. c, d, are two wires, which are attached to the cutter frame
exactly opposite each other, and work in the holes of either of the
circles; one of these wires, c, has a jointed point, and an interior spring
for throwing the point down, and is longer than the opposite wire d,
by the length of the joint. Behind the plate u, is attached to the
framing A, a spring with two screws h, i, to adjust it to the proper
length to fall into the holes of the circle in which the wires are set to
work, and so prevent the plate from turning back. The cutter j, by
which the cutting of the teeth is effected, is mounted in the cutter
frame 6, and is driven at the required speed by the fly wheel f. The
wheels to be cut are screwed upon the end of the mandril g; and as
soon as one tooth has been cut, the cutter frame b, is drawn back, so as
to release the wires c, d, and is then slid forward by the lever c, when
the jointed wire c, enters the next hole below that which it had pre-
viously occupied, and turns the plate one hole forward by the action of
the sloped point against the sides of the hole; the plain pointed wired,
on the opposite side of the cutter frame, then enters the next hole to
that which it had 'before occupied, and thus holds the plate firmly
while the cutter goes through the wheels. By this arrangement a
great saving of time is effected, and six or eight wheels may be cut
together, which can be turned on the engine, using the hand-wheel p.
Figures 36, 37, 38, and 89, are face and side views of a
pair of
dies for striking out the balance cock complete, with the words "slow"
and fast," and the index, at the same time. Figures 36, and 37,
shew the upper die, which has a raised part a, to form the cock, on
which is another raised part b, of greater height, which cuts the piece
out of the centre of the cock. The raised part a, cuts the cock out of
the sheet with the aid of the additional die c, Figure 40, which is a
round flat plate, about a quarter of an inch thick, having a hole d
which fits over the raised part e, of the bottom die (see Fig. 39).
The upper die, Figures 36, and 37, carries the piece which it has cut
out down through the additional die, Figure 40, on to the lower die,
and forces it out through the centre, at the same time striking the
words "slow" and "fast," and the index, and marking the screw holes
and steady pin holes required to fit the balance cock on to the plate.

page_text: I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which, as I
have before stated, consists of an improved watch movement or move-
ments. In these improved watch movements I slit the balance stafi
or arbor, instead of using a hollow ruby or other jewel roller, or in
some cases I slit the jewel itself, or use a jewelled roller, and I so
construct the escape wheel as to beat full seconds. Figure 41, is a
plan view of a watch, with the top plate off, shewing the position of
the wheels in the watch. Figure 42, is a double size detached view
of my improved duplex escape wheel. This escape wheel has double
pointed teeth, which work either on a slit steel balance arbor or on a slit
ruby roller, the opening or notch of either of which is cnt just one
quarter section away, so as to bring the points of the wheel teeth into
the centre of the staff or roller, thus making the point of the coming
tooth fall safe on the body of the roller. As the last point of the
double tooth escapes from the roller the impulse pallet on the balance
arbor receives the impulse from the upright tooth on the rim of the
wheel, and (when calculated for seconds) thus causes the seconds hand
on the dial to mark the full second at each impulse. The advantages
of these arrangements are, that they cause the bearings on the roller
and on the impulse pallet to be more certain, and less delicate, and, by
properly adjusting the size of the roller to the length of the impulse
pallet, it may be made to keep correct time with an irregular power,
and thus obviate the necessity for the employment of a fuzee and
chain.
Figure 43, shews an improved lever escapement, which I call the
terret lever, especially adapted for this kind of watch, and made to
keep time with an irregular power, it being calculated to run with the
same train of wheels as the duplex toothed scape wheel before described.
The teeth of this wheel stand upright, or perpendicular, to the face of
the wheel, and work on steel or ruby pallets, which are attached at one
end of the lever, one pallet projecting further from the staff than the
other, and the two being placed so far apart as to allow one tooth of
the wheel to pass between them, in order that when the tooth of the
wheel has passed down the inclined plane of the inner pallet, the
coming tooth may fall upon the inverted plane of the outer pallet, and
rest there until the action of the balance brings it away. In coming

page_text: down the inclined plane it gives an impulse to the balance, and the
tooth falls upon the inverted plane of the inner pallet, where it rests
until the balance returns, and brings it off' down the inclined plane of
the inner pallet, thereby giving another impulse to the balance. The
next coming tooth then falls again on the inverted plane of the outer
pallet, and a repetition of the action before described continues to take
place. This escapement is more easily made stronger, less delicate in
its bearings, and, consequently, less liable to get out of order than the
ordinary lever escapements, whilst it will keep equally good time.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
as my Invention is,-
First, the mode or modes of manufacturing watch cases, and parts
thereof, herein-before described:
Second, the mode or modes of manufacturing watch movements, and
parts thereof, herein-before described:
Third, the several arrangements of machinery, apparatus, or engines
for the manufacture of watch cases and parts thereof, and watch move-
ments and parts thereof, represented in Figures 1, to 40, inclusive of
the Drawings annexed, and herein-before described; and,
Fourth, the two several forms or constructions of watch escapements
represented in Figures 41, 42, and 43, of the Drawings annexed, and
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Quaife, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.