A NEW SYSTEM OF WATCHES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolphe Lançon, jun", Watch Manufacturer, at
Besançon, Departement du Doubs, Empire of France, for the Invention.
of "A NEW SYSTEM OF WATCHES."
Sealed the 16th August 1859, and dated the 24th February 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolphe Lançon, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th February 1859.
"I, ADOLPHE LANÇON, jun'., Watch Manufacturer, at Besançon, Departement
du Doubs, Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "A NEW SYSTEM OF WATCHES," to be as follows:-
My improvement in watches, to which I have given the name of escape-
ment by simple or dead beat," is a remarkable simplification of the systems
hitherto proposed.
By my system, in those watches known as men's watches, the fourth catching,
called escapement catching, is suppressed, and for this purpose I alter the
present arrangement of the axle or staff, making it with a notch or catch, and
in addition, adopt for the wheels the teeth which will best communicate
impulsion to the axle or staff.

page_text: In the Drawing accompanying and forming part of this my Provisional Speci-
fication, Figures 1, 2, and 3 shew the notch of the axle or staff; Figure 1
shewing the axle or staff entering on its functions; Figure 2, the axles tanding
still, and Figure 3, the axle moving by the impulsion. The letters A, B,
and numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent the different teeth which I find most
preferable for the wheel which acts on the axle or staff; Figure 4 represents
an axle or staff, and Figure 5 the same, fitted with its balance; Figure 6, a
watch working with three wheels. The principal advantages of my com-
bination are a great economy in the manufacture, a greater solidity in the
watch, an irreproachable regularity, and an unusual facility for the repairing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Adolphe Lançon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd August 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ADOLPHE
LANÇON, junior, Watch Manufacturer, at Besançon, Department du Doubs,
Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Adolphe Lançon, junior, Her special licence that I, the said
Adolphe Lançon, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Adolphe Lançon, junior, 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 Inven-
tion for "A NEW SYSTEM OF WATCHES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Adolphe Lançon, junior, my exccutors 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 is 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Adolphe Lançon, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings here-
unto annexed and forming part of this my Specification, and to the letters of
reference placed thereon :-
My Invention consists principally in a new escapement, which is by simple
or dead beat, and its use permits the suppression of the fourth catching, that
is to say, one of the four wheels which generally form the movement of a
watch. I have attained this object by making a suitable notch or groove in
the axle or staff carrying the balance, and a peculiar form of tooth upon the
wheels, which must act upon the notch so as to give the impulse or movement
to the axle. The notch must be of sufficient depth, width, and length to
permit the divers sets of teeth to press upon the axle in such wise as to obtain
the desired effect. This notch may be at right angles, but the teeth act better
the axle if the angles be made slightly obtuse. Oue side of the notch
may be sunken, but it is preferable to make the axles round. With regard to
the cogs or teeth several systems may be used. I prefer those at acute angle,
known as "dupleix," those having the shape of a grain of barley, and also these
latter cut through the centre. The several Figures in the Drawing shew the
different positions of the tooth of the wheel before, during, and after its action
upon the axle. My new system reduces itself to the preceding modifications,
and to the simple arrangements necessary for their application, and its
advantages are economy of manufacture, greater solidity in the watch, good
time keeping, and remarkable facility of readjustment or repair.
upon
The Figures in the Drawing are upon a large scale in order better to shew
the details; A, being the axle or staff in the rough; A', the axle worked
down; A", axle in position with its balance; B, notch of the axle at right
angles; B', notch of the axle at obtuse angles; C, C', C", C"", cogs or teeth
at acute angles, called "dupleix;" D, D', D", D", cogs or teeth known as
barley grained; E, E', E", E"", "", "", teeth known as cut barley grain;
F, F, other teeth; E" and G, C", and G shew the axle entering upon its
functions by the movement or impulsion of the teeth of the wheel; E", E"",
and G, C, B and G axle in repose; E""" and G", D' and G", the axle
moving with the impulsion, and H, watch of usual size, with three wheels only
for movement.
.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the means by
which I carry it into practical effect, I desire it to be understood that I do not

page_text: confine myself to the precise details herein set forth and illustrated in the
Drawing; but I claim as of my Invention the several arrangements by which
- the fourth catching or wheel is dispensed with, thereby forming "A.New
.System of Watches.".
In witness whereof, I,' the said Adolphe Lançon, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
ADOLPHE LANÇON, FILS. (L.S.)
Vu à la Mairie du 3me Arrondt, pour légalisation
de la Signature de Mr Adolphe Lançon, fils,
Lyon, le 13 Aoust 1859.
ADOLPHE LANÇON, FILS. (L.S.)
'Witness,
Vu à la Mairie du 3e Arrond, pour légalisation
de la Signature de M Adolphe Lançon, fils,
Lyon, le 13 Aoust 1859.
(L.S.)
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