IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCHES TO PREVENT ROBBERY BY BREAKING THE BOWS THEREOF
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wiggins, of Stanmore Street, Caledonian Road,
London, Goldsmith, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF WATCHES TO PREVENT ROBBERY BY BREAKING THE BOWS THEREOF."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wiggins at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1876.
WILLIAM WIGGINS, of Stanmore Street, Caledonian Road, London, Goldsmith.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCHES TO PREVENT ROBBERY BY
BREAKING THE BOWS THEREOF."
The object of this Invention is to increase the security of watches and prevent
their being forcibly abstracted from the person.
In general it is the practice of the dishonest to seize the watch firmly, and by a sud-
den twist of the hand wrench it from the bow, leaving the ring of the bow upon the
chain. And the present construction of this portion of the case renders this sudden
fracture a matter of comparative ease and certainty, hence the object of these
improvements is to guard against this source of loss and inconvenience and to
render it impossible to wrench the watch from the bow by any sudden jerk however
violent.
In the improved bow the ring to which the watch guard is attached is made of
stout metal, and it is divided at the lower part where these ends enter a hollow
globular cap that forms a part of the case. The ends of the split portion of the
ring are recessed or slightly reduced in diameter at the parts where the ends enter
the diametric apertures in the globular cap. And the extremities of the ring inside
the cap are enlarged, so as to form two small bosses, which fill the lateral portions
of the internal cavity of the cap, but leaving a vertical aperture right through the
cap. In this opening a strong metal pin is inserted, the end of which passes down into
an aperture formed inside the case and actuates the secret spring for opening the
The pin is made with a slot, which is brought opposite the neck immediately
below the cap before referred to; and through this part a very small transverse pin
is passed, which serves merely to retain the strong vertical pin in its place. As this
pin fills up the vertical aperture the whole forms virtually a solid pillar of metal,
and is rendered as strong as it is possible to construct it, there being no weak
[Price 6d1
case.

page_text: or imperfect portion about it, all is solid throughout when the parts are put
together.
In another modification adapted to the swivel or rotatory bow the vertical pin
is reduced in diameter at the lower part where it passes the neck of the hollow cap
at the point where the bow turns upon its axis. This reduction of diameter does
not reduce the strength of the whole, since what the pin looses in strength is gained
by the smaller aperture in the lower part of the neck. The pin at the upper part is
made with a slot like the first herein-before described, the ring being made in like
manner with bosses or buffer like ends, so as to fill the cavity of the cap and give
increased strength to the whole.
With these improvements robberies of watches by the usual mode of wrenching
off will be effectually prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Wiggins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th May
1877.
WILLIAM WIGGINS, of Stanmore Street, Caledonian Road, London, Goldsmith.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCHES TO PREVENT ROBBERY BY
BREAKING THE BOWS THEREOF."
The object of this Invention is to increase the security of watches and prevent
their being forcibly abstracted from the person.
It is usual for a dishonest person to seize the watch firmly, and by a sudden
twist of the hand wrench it from the bow, leaving the ring of the bow upon the
chain. And the present construction of this portion of the case renders this sudden
fracture a matter of comparative ease and certainty, hence the object of these
improvements is to guard against this source of loss and inconvenience, and to
render it impossible to wrench the watch from the bow by any sudden jerk how-
ever violent.
In the improved bow the ring to which the watch guard is attached is made of
stout metal divided at the lower part where these ends enter a hollow globular cap
that forms a part of the case. The ends of the split portion of the ring are recessed
or slightly reduced in diameter at the parts where the ends enter the diametrical
apertures in the globular cap. And the extremities of the ring inside the cap are
enlarged, so as to form two small bosses, which fill the lateral portions of the
internal cavity of the cap, but leaving a vertical aperture right through the cap.
In this opening a strong metal pin is inserted, the end of which passes down into
an aperture formed inside the case and actuates the secret spring for opening the
case. The pin is made with a slot, which is brought opposite the neck imme-
diately below the cap before referred to; and through this part a very small
transverse pin is passed, which serves merely to retain the strong vertical pin in
its place. As this pin fills up the vertical aperture the whole forms virtually a
solid pillar of metal, and is rendered as strong as it is possible to construct it, there
being no weak or imperfect portion about it, all is solid throughout when the parts
are put together.
And in order that my Invention may be better understood I would call attention
to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, in which Figure 1 represents my
improvements in bows of watches drawn to a natural size; and Figure 2 shews
a similar bow drawn to an increased size to shew more clearly the details of
construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention,
and how the same may be carried into operation, I would have it understood that
what I now claim and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited Letters

page_text: Patent is, the construction and use of such parts of watches substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wiggins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
Patent Agent,
23, Southampton Buildings,
London.
WILLIAM WIGGINS. (L.S.)