IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH CASES.
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wells, of Percival Street, Clerkenwell, in the
County of Middlesex, Watch Case Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH CASES.".
Sealed the 27th July 1858, and dated the 9th February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wells at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th February
1858.
I, JOHN WELLS, of Percival Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middle-
sex, Watch Case Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH CASES," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in watch cases consists in the particular
construction, whereby the open-faced watch can be readily converted into a
hunting watch, and on the contrary, the hunting watch can be as readily con-
verted into an open-faced watch.
I form the watch like an ordinary hunting watch, with this exception, that
I cut out the dome or bottom the size of the face of the watch, and so fit it
thereto as to snap into its place in manner similar to the watch glass, the
watch being in fact made with two bizels, the under one for the watch glass
as usual, and another fitting very closely thereto, into which the solid bottom
or dome,, before-mentioned, fits and snaps so as to cover the face and form a

page_text: hunting watch. This outer bizel I cause to open by the spring and thumb
knob in the pendant, so as to expose the face exactly as in a hunting watch.
To convert the hunting watch into an open-faced watch, I remove the false
dome or bottom from the face and snap it on the back of the case, for which
purpose I form a groove to receive it, similar to the groove in the bizel, where
it remains until it is again wished to convert the watch into a hunting watch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Wells in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WELLS, of Percival Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Watch
Case Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of. February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Wells, Her special licence that I, the said John Wells, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jobn
Wells, 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 WATCH
CASES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Wells,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer
tain 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 John Wells, 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 hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of improvements in watch cases consists in the particular

page_text: :construction whereby the open-faced watch can be readily converted into a
hunting watch, and on the contrary, the hunting watch can be as readily con-
verted into an open-faced watch.
I form the watch in the manner of an ordinary hunting watch, with this
exception, that I remove as much of the bottom or dome that encloses the face
of the watch, so as to expose the whole of the dial. The part so removed or
rather made separately is fitted to the ring or bizell remaining of that dome, so
as to snap into its place in manner similar to a watch glass. The watch is in
fact made with two bizells, the under one for the watch glass as usual, and
O another fitting very closely thereto to carry the moveable bottom or dome
before-mentioned, which fits and snaps on so as to cover the face and form a
hunting watch. This outer bizell I cause to open by the spring and thumb
knob in the pendant, so as to expose the dial exactly as in a hunting watch.
To convert the hunting watch into an open-faced watch, I remove the false
dome or bottom from the face, and snap it on the back of the case, for which
purpose a groove or snap is formed thereon to receive it, similar to the snap
of the bizell, whereby it is held, and where it remains until it is again wished
to convert the watch into a hunting watch.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS..
=
Figure 1 represents a back view, and Figure 2 a front view of a watch
constructed according to my Invention (Figure 2 showing the open face);
Figure 3, a detached view of the dome or bottom to cover the dial, which is
formed separately from the case; Figure 4 is a section of the dome (Figure 3),
and Figure 5, an edge view of the watch, with the second bizell thrown up by
the pendant, knob, and spring; this Figure also shews the dome Figure 3
dotted in its place on that bizell. Instead of snapping the loose dome to the
parts where it is to be attached, precisely as a watch glass fits, I prefer to
form a bead a on the extra bizell A, which the dome B embraces and clasps;
this bead forms a suitable edge to the bizell A when used as an open-faced
watch. A similar bead b is formed on the back of the watch, as seen at
Figures 1 and 5, for the reception of, and for holding the dome B when
required; it will be observed that the dome B has a bead c, which appears on
the exterior, similar to the beads a and b; by examining the section, Figure 4,
it will be observed, the interior of this bead is hollowed or grooved and under
cut, so as to receive either of the beads a or b, and on which it fits and snaps
with sufficient firmness to hold it in the positions required. a is the inner
bizell and watch glass, as usual in hunting watches. If the several parts are
neatly made and fitted, the watch, either as an open-faced watch or a hunter,

page_text: will appear precisely as ordinary watches of those kinds; no difference being
visible, except upon very close inspection. Instead of the moveable dome
snapping into its place, it may be fitted and secured in any other suitable
manner. The watch case and moveable dome may be engraved, chased, or
otherwise ornamented in the usual manner, making also some distinctive
mark to distinguish the domes from each other, as usual in hunting watches.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be secured by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, constructing watch cases with
a moveable dome, as herein-before described, so that they may be used either
as open-faced or hunting watches.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wells, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
W. CLARK, Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane, London..
JOHN WELLS. (L.S.)