Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 24th Aug., 1888
1 JAMES KENDAL of 106 Cheapside in the City of London Watch and Clock
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A watch key of the usual size made of a single piece of stout Hat or square or
round steel or other metal wire doubled and turned into a small ring crossing into a
larger ring and twisted again so that the two ends of the wire meet.
Each end is grooved with half a square on the inside the two grooves when the
ends are brought together as aforesaid forming a key square not larger than would
fit the smallest watch square.
The ends are also rounded on the outside so as to admit of being inserted into a
watch key-hole.
The spring obtained by the half circular bend at the bottom (the steel being
hardened and tempered) keeps the two ends tightly together but by pressing the key
in the sides the ends are opened so as to admit of the key fitting any watch square
which is clipped by the action of taking the pressure off the spring while winding.
When taking it out again a further pressure of the sides releases the key.
Dated this 7th day of December 1887.
LESLIE, ANTILL & ARNOLD,
1, Gresham Buildings, Basinghall Street, E.C.,
Solicitors,
Agents for the said James Kendal.

page_text: JAMES KENDAL of 106 Cheapside in the City of London Watch and 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 nature of my invention is an improved watch key which will fit a watch square
or spindle of any size and may be made with little expense. In the accompanying
drawing Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a watch key constructed accord-
ing to my invention and formed of two short lengths of flat metal wire or ribbon
rivetted together at their upper parts Figure (1) showing the jaws forming the key
barrel hereinafter described opened in readiness to fit on to the square of a watch
spindle Figure 2 shewing the said jaws in their normal position closed at their points
the one against the other. Figure 3 is an edge view of another form of watch key
formed of only one piece of metal wire or ribbon. In the several figures similar
letters of reference are employed for similar parts. A¹ A represents the upper part
of the key B the barrel of the key formed by two jaws B1 and B2 each having on the
inside a right angled or V groove and thus forming when closed together a key square
not larger than will fit the smallest watch key square and rounded on the exterior in
order to fit the watch key hole.
E is the body of the key formed by the spring two sides of the key being bent
outwards so as to form a spring. In the form shown in figures 1 and 2 the two strips
or bars of metal are rivetted together at the upper end A' A2 but outwards at the
body and the two ends B1 B2 forming the barrel being forced together by the spring
obtained by this formation upon the metal being tempered. Two notches C and D are
made the one in one bar and the other in the other where the bars cross enabling
them so to do without being out of position. The shoulders of the notch also act as a
stop to prevent the jaws being opened too wide. In the form shown in figure 3 a
single bar of metal is bent in the centre (A) and crossed into a double loop termina-
ting at the two ends with the jaws B1 B2 the spring being obtained by the small loop
at the upper end (A). In this form there may be notches C and D) as in the
former arrangement but at both crossings but if the bar of metal is sufficiently slender
the desired effect may be obtained by the same being bent at the two places so as to
form a stop. The construction of this form of key is otherwise similar that of the
arrangement shown in figures 1 and 2.
After the key has been formed as herein before described the metal is tempered and
this will have the effect of forming the body E into a powerful spring which will con-
stantly force together the jaws B1 B2 constituting the barrel or key square.
The action of the key is as follows:-The sides of the body A of the key are first
compressed forcing the jaws B' B2 apart the shoulders C and D preventing their
being pressed apart too far the key is then inserted in the watch key hole until the

page_text: key square fits upon the square of the watch spindle the pressure is then withdrawn
from the sides when the spring jaws will firmly grip the watch spindle and enable the
watch to be wound when this has been accomplished the key may be readily removed
by again compressing the sides thereof.
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 :
-
A watch key constructed either of two pieces of metal ribbon rivetted together at
the upper end or of one piece of metal wire or ribbon bent and in either case tempered
to form a spring or springs furnished with stops C and D and terminating in two
jaws B and B grooved upon their inner side with right angle V grooves together
forming a key square at the ends and rounded on the outside so as to fit a key square
hole such ends being pressed together in the normal position by the action of the
spring and so arranged that they may be readily forced apart by compressing the sides
of the body of the key E. substantially in manner herein before described with reference
to the accompanying drawings and for the purposes aforesaid.
Dated this 26th day of June 1888
LESLIE, ANTILL & ARNOLD,
1, Gresham Buildings, Basinghall Street, E.C.,
Agents for the said James Kendal."