IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND TIMEKEEPERS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Mortimer George Cole, of Belvedere House,
Bexley Heath, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IM-
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Mortimer George Cole
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th January 1871.
I, MORTIMER GEORGE COLE, of Belvedere House, Bexley Heath,
in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND TIMEKEEPERS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in watches and timekeepers relate to that descrip-
tion in which a "balance" and "lever" escapement is employed. In
this description of watches and timekeepers it frequently happens that
when a greater impulse than usual is given to the balance by reason of
a sudden shake or other cause, the ruby pin after the lever has given
its impulse is carried so far round that it strikes against the outside
of the "fork" in the same direction, and as the lever when in that position

page_text: will be in contact with one of the "banking pins," and consequently
unable to yield when struck by the "ruby pin," the consequence is that
frequently either the ruby pin is damaged, or the "balance" or "staff”
pivots are either broken or bent.
The object of my present Invention is to obviate these evils.
In carrying out my improvements I affix a stud (by preference)
in the "pillar plate," at the end of the lever tail, in position to support
and carry a tempered spring bent round into position to take the place
of the ordinary “banking pins," against which according to the usual
arrangements of mechanism of this character the lever acts. The spring
is formed sufficiently strong to act as a sound “banking,” but at the
same time sufficiently elastic to allow the ruby pin to pass the horn of
the lever when any extra motion is given to the balance, and by
preference it is bent into a circular or nearly circular form, and is held
by its pin in the centre of its radius, the ends being curved so as to offer
but little frictional surface to the lever.
In some cases I place the stud at one end, and in others at the
opposite end of the lever, and the spring may be arranged to encircle
the "roller" and act against the horn of the
In place of the spring being formed in one piece it may be divided
in the centre, provided the ends are arranged to act equally on each side
of the lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Mortimer George Cole in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th June 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MORTIMER
GEORGE COLE, of Belvedere House, Bexley Heath, in the County of
Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Mortimer George Cole, Her special
licence that I, the said Mortimer George Cole, my executors, adminis-

page_text: trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Mortimer George
Cole, 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 TIMEKEEPERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Mortimer George Cole, 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 Mortimer George Cole, 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 :-
My improvements in watches and timekeepers relate to that descrip
tion in which a balance and lever escapement is employed.
In this description of watches and timekeepers it frequently happens
that when a greater impulse than usual is given to the balance by
reason of a sudden shake or other cause, the "ruby pin" after the
lever has given its impulse is carried so far round that it strikes against
the outside of the "fork" in the same direction, and as the lever when
in that position will be in contact with one of the "banking pins" and
consequently unable to yield when struck by the "ruby pin” the
balance"
effect is that frequently either the ruby pin is damaged or the "
or "staff" pivots are either broken or bent.
The object of my present Invention is to obviate these evils.
In carrying out my improvements I affix a stud (by preference) in
the "pillar plate" at the end of the lever tail in position to support
and carry a tempered spring bent round into position to take the place.
of the ordinary "banking pins," against which according to the usual:
The
arrangements of mechanism of this character the lever acts.
spring is formed sufficiently strong to act as a sound "banking," but
at the same time sufficiently clastic to allow the ruby pin to pass the
horn of the lever when any extra motion is given to the balance and

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 show plans of a modification of my Invention; in
each view the same letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding
parts to those described in Figures 1 and 2. In this arrangement the
elastic spring f' is arranged to encircle the roller g and act against the
horn 6¹ of the lever b. The spring f' may be divided in the centre and
the halves supported by the same or separate studs, provided the ends
are arranged to act equally on each side of the lever.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and means by
which the same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood,
that I do not confine myself to the precise details shewn and described
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character
of my Invention, but what I do claim is, the employment of a tempered
spring or tempered springs arranged in position to take the place of the
ordinary banking pins substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Mortimer George Cole have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and
seventy-one.
Witness,
W. COLBORNE BROOKES,
Patent Agent,
20, King's Road,
Bedford Row,
London.
MORTIMER G. COLE. (L.S.)