Improvements in or connected with Clocks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 17th Dec.. 1896-Accepted 23rd Jan. 1897
Improvements in or connected with Clocks.
I, LANCELOT JOHN SMITH of 18 Saint John's Square, Clerkenwell in the
County of Middlesex, Clock Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with clocks and has for its
object to form the dial or face of the clock in such manner as to give an improved
and novel appearance thereto and at the same time cheapen the construction
thereof.
In carrying the invention into effect in lieu of employing a metal or enamelled
dial fixed to the body of the clock and a separate ring of wood to form a
surrounding rim, or moulding thereto according to the present invention the dial
or face and rim are formed of a single piece of wood of disc shape upon the face
of which a suitable rim or moulding is formed by turning or otherwise, or the rim
or moulding might be separately formed and fixed upon the face of the disc in any
suitable way.
The wood employed for this purpose may be a hard wood of dark colour or a
soft or other light wood if desired stained to a rosewood or other suitable tint, but
a good grain is indispensable to produce the best effect.
The face or dial having been shaped and if desired stained is polished so as to
throw up the grain of the wood, and the figures which may be of metal preferably
gilded or silvered so as to form a contrast to the wood, if the same be dark and
of a thickness to stand out in bold relief are fixed around the face or dial by any
suitable means whilst the hands of the clock are formed of similar metal to the
figures.
Or the dial might be formed of light wood treated in a similar way but in
this case the figures and hands would preferably be dark to form a contrast
thereto.
The metal ring or frame carrying the glass is hinged to the face of the dial
in the usual way and may be coloured to correspond with the figures or
otherwise.
A clock face or dial formed in the manner above described will possess a novel
and highly ornamental appearance, the dark polished wood displaying its grain and
the comparatively light coloured gold or silver figures and hands standing in relief
will by contrast produce a most artistic effect.
The actual dial may if desired have a rectangular appearance given thereto by
differently staining or colouring that part and the metal frame of the glass may be
of corresponding shape or the entire face may be rectangular.
By the means herein before described the cost of production of the clock face
or dial is materially cheapened whilst at the same time its appearance is much
improved.
Dated this 17th day of M 1000
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Clocks.
I, LANCELOT JOHN SMITH of 18 Saint John's Square Clerkenwell in the
County of Middlesex, Clock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with clocks and has for
its object to form the dial or face of the clock in such manner as to give an
improved and novel appearance thereto and at the same time cheapen the
construction thereof.
In carrying the invention into effect in lieu of employing a metal or enamelled
dia! fixed to the body of the clock and a separate ring of wood to form a
surrounding rim or moulding thereto according to the present invention the dial
or face and rim are formed of a single piece of wood of dise shape upon the face of
which a suitable rim or moulding is formed by turning or otherwise or the rim or
moulding might be separately formed and fixed upon the face of the disc in any
suitable way.
The wood employed for this purpose may be a hard wood of dark colour or a
soft or other light wood if desired stained to a rosewood or other suitable tint but
a good grain is indispensable to produce the best effect.
The face or dial having been shaped and if desired stained is polished so as to
throw up the grain of the wood and the figures which may be of metal preferably
gilded or silvered so as to form a contrast to the wood if the same be dark and of
a thickness to stand out in bold relief are fixed around the face or dial by any
suitable means whilst the hands of the clock are formed of similar metal to the
figures.
Or the dial might be formed of light wood treated in a similar way but in
this case the figures and hands would preferably be dark to form a contrast
thereto.
The metal ring or frame carrying the glass is hinged to the face of the dial
in the usual way and may be coloured to correspond with the figures or
otherwise.
A clock face or dial formed in the manner above described will possess a
novel and highly ornamental appearance the dark polished wood displaying its
grain and the comparatively light coloured gold or silver figures and hands
standing in relief will by contrast produce a most artistic effect.
The actual dial may if desired have a rectangular appearance given thereto by
differently staining or colouring that part and the metal frame of the glass may be
of corresponding shape or the entire face may be rectangular.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a round clock-face constructed according to the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 but showing a portion of a clock-face
drawn to an enlarged scale and representing a slight modification.
Figure 4 is an elevation representing the application of the invention to a square
clock-face.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.

page_text: Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a represents the dial of a clock, a' represents the
rim thereof, and 6 represents the metal ring or frame carrying the glass b¹.
In clock-faces of this character as hitherto constructed, an enamelled metal or
other dial has been employed which has been fixed to the body of the clock and
the rim or moulding thereto has been formed by a separate ring of wood fixed to
the dial or to the body of the clock, but this construction possesses certain
mechanical disadvantages amongst which may be mentioned that the grain of
the wood is necessarily crossed at parts of its circumference and the rim is con-
sequently liable to split, whilst such construction gave to the clock the same
stereotyped appearance which had been customary from an early period, and
without possibility of making any pleasing variation therein.
Now according to the present invention in lieu of the arrangement hereinbefore
referred to, the dial or face a of the clock and the rim are formed of a single piece
of wood of disc shape, upon the face of which a suitable rim or moulding a' is
formed by turning or otherwise.
The wood employed for this purpose may be a hard wood of dark colour, or a
soft or other light wood, if desired stained to a rosewood or other suitable tint but
the wood should have a good grain as that is indispensable to produce the best
effect.
The face or dial a having been shaped, and if desired stained is polished so as to
throw up the grain of the wood, and the figures c which may be of metal preferably
gilded or silvered so as to form a contrast in colour to the wood and of a thickness
to stand out in bold relief are fixed around the face or dial a by any suitable
means whilst the hands d of the clock are formed of similar metal or colour
to the figures or if a contrast be required they may be of different metal or
colour.
The metal ring or frame 6 carrying the glass b¹ is at 62 hinged to the face of
the dial a and may be coloured to correspond with the figures or otherwise; whilst
it is locked in its closed position by means of the usual fastening 6³ and which is
well known.
A clock face or dial formed in the manner above described will possess a novel
and highly ornamental appearance, the dark polished wood displaying its grain
and the comparatively light coloured gold or silver figures or hands and glass ring
or frame standing in relief will by contrast produce a most artistic effect.
In some cases the clock-face may be formed of light wood, but the figures and
hands will then preferably be of a dark colour to form a contrast thereto.
In the example given at Figure 3 in lieu of forming the rim a' of the same
material as the clock-face it is in this case formed separate therefrom and received
into a recess a² thereof where it is securely fastened, not merely by its edge, but by
its base, so that it virtually forms one therewith.
This arrangement is useful in that it permits the rim to be formed of different
wood from the dial, so that the clock-face may generally be of one colour,
whilst the rim is of a different colour, and thereby pleasing effects may be
obtained.
In the example given at Figure 4 the device is shown in the form of a
square face but if desired the face of the clock may be round and the actual
dial may have a rectangular appearance given thereto by differently staining or
colouring that part and the metal frame b of the glass may be of corresponding
shape.
By the means hereinbefore described the cost of production of a clock-face or
dial is materially cheapened whilst at the same time its appearance is rendered
more attractive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A clock-face and dial formed of a single piece of wood either stained or in

page_text: its natural state but polished so as to display the grain of the wood and furnished
with figures and hands in relief and of a colour to form a contrast with the dial
substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A round clock-face, dial and moulding formed of a single piece of wood
either stained or in its natural state but polished so as to display the grain of the
wood and furnished with figures and hands in relief and of a colour to form a
contrast with the dial substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 17th day of December 1896.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.