Improvements in Watch-makers' Tools.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watch-makers' Tools.
I, JACOB FISHER of Lancaster, in the County of Lancaster & State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, Watchmaker, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved combined watchmakers'
tool for holding jewels and other small articles, removing the hair springs of watches
and for other purposes. To this end I pivot two pairs of tweezers together about
midway of their lengths as shown the outer end of the shank of one of these
tweezers being provided with a recessed rib for pushing in the dial pins and the
outer end of the shank of the other pair of tweezers being provided with a folding
blade for removing the balance spring; each pair of tweezers being furthermore
especially adapted to the work which it is to perform.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the tool folded together.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same with the jewel holding tweezers
and the blade for removing the balance spring turned outward on their pivots.
Figure 3 represents a detail view, in perspective taken from below, of the jewel
holding tweezers, open for closing on a jewel ;
Figure 4 represents a detail view in cross section of the pivotting & clamping
devices for the balance spring removing blade.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are side elevations of the tool shewing the jewel holding
tweezers in other positions.
A designates a pair of jewel holding tweezers provided with a shank a having on
its outer end a rib b slightly recessed in the middle and used for pushing in the dial
pins. The spring plates or tweezers proper are curved or gently inclined first
forward and downward then forward and upward to the tip. In this latter inclined
face they are provided with recesses c, d respectively larger and smaller for fitting
upon and holding jewels of different sizes in their settings. Also they are provided
in their faces which come in contact with recesses or grooves e, f, passing down
from top to bottom each opposite pair of grooves e orf presenting a socket for
holding a plain jewel of larger or smaller size. For forcing these plates apart
each of them is provided with a bent lug or thumb or finger piece 9 which extends
traversely through a recess h in the top of the opposite plate. The shank a is bent
for convenience at h into a higher plane than the greater part of the said tweezer-
plates, but extends horizontally therefrom, the tool being in this position. The
said shank and blades are provided about the point of conjunction with an open
bearing i which fits on a traverse pivot pin j within an enlargement k of the shank B
of a larger pair of tweezers.
This shank is recessed at / to allow the shank a aforesaid to fit into it when the
tool is folded together. Forward from this are the two spring plates C, bent apart
near their rear ends, but normally parallel throughout the greater part of their
length although separated by a little interval. Their tips are bent upward at m
and provided with corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses n which when brought
together will fit on the arbor or pivot pin of a hand or wheel. To remove a hand
or wheel, slip the tips of the aforesaid blades under it, close them by thumb &
finger pressure on the arbor, and then by a slight upward motion of the said tips
dislodge the part or parts desired. The other end of the shank B is provided with
two short parallel spring plates o which are perforated to allow the passage of a
pivot screw p through them, the smooth cylindrical part of this screw also passing
through a hole q in the rear part of a hair spring detaching blade D, the outer end
Price 8d.l

page_text: of which is deeply notched at r. The outer threaded end of said screw receives a
clamping nuts whereby the said blade is held firmly either in its folded position
shown in Figure 1-or in its outer and operative position shown in Figure 2 according
to adjustment.
When the tool is to be used for removing bands or wheels it is left in the
position of Figure 1 the only operative parts being then the spring plates C and
remainder of the tool serving as a handle. When the balance or hair spring is to
be removed the blade D is turned into its outer position and there clamped. It is then
slipped under the said spring the notch receiving the arbor thereof. The end of the
blade bifurcated by said notch is slightly bent upward, considering it as in operative
position and the operation of detachment is the same as in using the spring plates C.
The tool as a whole serves as a handle but is held with its side uppermost. When
the jewel holding tweezers A are to be used they may be turned into the position
shown in Figure 2; or they may be detached and reversed in position as shown in
Figure 5 or as shewn in Figure 6 they may be reversed and turned nearly in line
with the body of the tool and extend out beyond the end of it where are the spring
plates C. Or the said tweezers A may be given the position shewn in Figure 7
the jewel holding tweezers A extending toward the same end of the tool and
inclining obliquely downward with its jewel holding recesses c, d, presented down-
ward also. The convex curvature of the tips m at the other tool may then rest on
the table affording great assistance to a nervous workman in picking up the jewels.
A spring Eis attached to the shank B within enlargement and arranged to bear
on shank a near its pivotal point to hold it folded against accidental displacement.
This spring is not indispensable, however. The advantages of this tool are many.
It will pick up very quickly and satisfactorily a jewel of any size or thickness in
setting plain jewels or ruby pins or a pin or pins for fastening a watch dial or
almost any similar small article. While held by it and being fitted on a pivot a
jewel cannot turn sidewise or fall over or spring away. In fitting a ruby pin jewel
or pinning a dial to a movement plate, there is no sidewise shaking nor shaking of
the end. The hair spring also is easily taken from its balance. The jewel holding
tweezers may be set to almost any angle found convenient by choosing one or
another of the arrangements illustrated. The two tweezers may also be separated
and used independently. When the tool is arranged as shewn in Figure 7 the most
nervous workman can pick up a jewel at the first attempt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-:-
1st. In a watchmaker's tool two pairs of tweezers pivoted together and folding
in line or opening at will substantially as set forth.
2nd. In combination with the shank of the main of a watchmaker's tool a pair of
tweezers pivotted thereto & folding in line therewith.
3rd. In combination with a pair of tweezers forming the main part of a watch-
maker's tool a second pair of tweezers detachably pivotted thereto and capable of
independent use substantially as set forth.
4th: A pair of tweezers provided with a pivot pin in combination with another
pair of tweezers provided with an open bearing which allows the reversal of the
position of the latter pair substantially as set forth.
5th. In combination with a part of a watchmaker's tool having a hollow
enlargement & and a traverse pivot pin a pair of jewel holding tweezers having an
open bearing which fits on said pin within said enlargement the said pair of
tweezers being at will removable and capable of independent use or replaced in
any one of several positions in order that it may face toward either end of the tool
and be on either the upper or lower side of the other part thereof substantially as
set forth.
6th. In combination with a pair of tweezers having the tips thereof turned
upward for dislodging watch hands and gear wheels a pair of jewel holding tweezers

page_text: pivotted to the former pair and having jewel holding recesses in their curved or
inclined faces, presented downwardly, the curved tips of the former pair affording a
rest for the latter pair to ensure the accurate picking up of jewels substantially as
set forth.
7th. In a watchmaker's tool two pairs of tweezers pivoted together by their
shanks, one pair being recessed and curved for removing watch hands and gear
wheels and the other pair recessed for picking up jewels of different sizes,
substantially as set forth."
8th. In a watchmaker's tool a pair of tweezers having a shank which ends in a
recessed rib for pushing out dial pins, substantially as set forth.
9th. In a watchmaker's tool a pair of tweezers having a shank ending in two
spring plates, in combination with a blade which is pivoted between them to fold
inward or turn outward as shown, and clamping devices which hold it securely in
either position, the outer end of said blade being notched and curved to adapt it for
removing a balance spring, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 31st day of July 1891.