IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Johann Anton Benedict von Castelberg, of 58, Holborn
Viaduct, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATCHES.". A communication from abroad by Cécile Domon, of Bienne,
Switzerland.
Sealed the 27th October 1877, and dated the 14th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johann Anton Benedict von
Castelberg at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May
1877.
"5
JOHANN ANTON BENEDICT VON CASTELBERG, of 58, Holborn Viaduct, in the
City of London. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES." [A communication from abroad
by Cécile Domon, of Bienne, Switzerland.]
The improvements relate first to an arrangement of stem winding or keyless
watch, by which the winding of the watch and the setting of the hands are effected
by turning a crown mounted at the end of the stem of the pendant.
In the head of the pendant's stem is a spring, by which the crown is constantly
pressed outwards. The crown is attached to a rod which passes through the stem,
and also through the centre of a toothed wheel gearing with other wheels that
revolve the barrel or spring case. The rod near its inner end has secured to it a
small wheel, on the upper face of which is a circle of ratchet teeth forming one-
half of what is known as a breguet; a second circle of ratchet teeth, forming the
other half of the breguet, is on the under side of the toothed wheel above mentioned,
so that the winding up of the watch is effected through the breguet when the
crown is turned in the proper direction. On the under side of the small wheel on
the inner end of the rod is a circle of teeth which, if the crown is pressed inwards,
comes into gear with the hour train at the same time that the breguet is put out of
gear; the hands can then be set by turning the crown.
The stem of the pendant I fix directly to the watch plate, which allows of the
watch being completely finished without its case, and thereby avoid the incon-
venience of having to correctly adjust the stem winding and hand setting apparatus
at the time when the watch movement is being set into its case.

page_text: The case is composed of two parts, a back plate and a front plate, which carries
the glass; these two parts may, if desired, be jointed together by a hinge. Each
part is capable of being sprung on to and caused to clasp the periphery of the watchi
plate. By this means the watch movement can readily be taken from one case, and
put into another, according as a purchaser may wish to have a gold or a silver or
other case.
The pendant can also readily be taken off from the watch plate, and
another of different metal or style substituted for it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Johann Anton Benedict von Castelberg in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th November 1877.
JOHANN ANTON BENEDICT VON CASTELBERG, of 58, Holborn Viaduct, in the City
of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES." A communication from abroad by
Cécile Domon, of Bienne, Switzerland.
This Invention has for its object improvements in watches, and relates,-
First. To an arrangement of stem winding or keyless watches in which the winding
and the setting of the hands are effected by turning a crown mounted at the end of
the stem of the pendant.
Secondly. The Invention relates to the manner of attaching the pendant.
And, Thirdly. The Invention relates to the construction of the watch case.
In order that the Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a face view, and Figure 2 is an edge view of a watch constructed
according to this Invention.
Figure 3 shows the mechanism at the back.
Figure 4 shows a transverse section of the watch; and Figure 5, the mechanisin
on the side of the hour train; in this Figure the pendant is represented in section.
A is the watch plate, and B is the pendant fixed to the watch plate by two small
screws, or the stem of the pendant may be made to screw into the thickness of the
watch plate; C is a crown fitted on to the end of the pendant; D is a stem fixed
to the crown C; it traverses the pendant from end to end, the pendant being made
tubular to receive it. Beneath the crown there is a spring at E which, when left
free, presses the crown upwards as far as the parts herein-after described at the
lower end of the stem D will permit, but by pressing on the crown the stem can be
caused to move longitudinally within the pendant. F is a crown wheel fixed at the
lower end of the stem, and when it is moved inwards by pressure applied to the
crown its teeth come to gear with those of the wheel G. The wheel G drives the
wheel H, and this wheel and the pinion upon it actuate respectively the pinion and
wheel which carry the minute and hour hands of the watch. Thus by turning the
crown C, whilst it is pressed in, the hands can be set to the hour. Upon the upper
surface of the crown wheel F ratchet teeth are formed; they constitute one-half of
a ratchet clutch arrangement known as a breguet, and the corresponding half is
formed upon the under side of a wheel I; this wheel is mounted upon the stem D,
but so as not to interfere with the longitudinal motion of the stem or its rotation
when the crown is pressed inwards. When however the crown is free the two parts
of the breguet engage, and then the wheel I will turn with the stem D when the
motion is in the direction proper to wind the watch. The teeth of the wheel I
engage with those of the wheel K, which in turn gear with the teeth of the wheel L
upon the spring case. M is a catch to prevent the wheel K turning backwards;
thus by turning the crown C without pressing it inwards the watch may be
wound.

page_text: The case is formed in two parts N, N, which by their edges embrace directly the
edge of the watch plate A, where the plate is slightly grooved to receive them. The
two parts N, N, of the case may be connected together with a hinge joint. One of
them carries the glass.
In watches thus constructed the case and the pendant are readily removed by the
retail watchmaker, and others substituted, and thereby he is enabled to meet the
tastes of customers with a smaller stock of watches than would otherwise be
requisite.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,—
First. The arrangement for winding and for hand setting, admitting of both being
done through the pendant, substantially as described.
Second. The direct attachment of the pendant to the watch plate, substantially as
described.
Third. The construction of the watch case so that its two parts by their edges
directly embrace the edge of the watch plate, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Johann Anton Benedict von Castelberg, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.