Construction of Watch Movements.
Year: 1885

page_text: Construction of Watch Movements.
I CHARLES ROBERT FITT of Old Charlton Village County of Kent Watchmaker
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS TO SIMPLIFY
AND CHEAPEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATCHES to be as follows:-
My, invention consists as follows. There are what is called full plate watch
movements plate & plate & of various makes and styles. My desire is to enable
a manufacturer to always make one especial watch movement yet eventually if
desired to momentarily diversify the said movement to any designated desighn or
style by means of fashion plate sliding under the balance and kept in place by
the core screws The standard watch movement is made with open or exposed
works, the cocks or bridges are so arranged to enclose the rim & substitutes a dust
band, the said fashion plate covers the works if a full plate movement is required,
and varied according to wish. Also the barrel is made to be taken out without
removing hands or dial by means of a hub on the, winding wheel this said hub
going through the bottom plate from the dial side of plate.

page_text: Construction of Watch Movements.
I
I CHARLES ROBERT FITT of Old Charlton Village County of Kent do hereby
declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS TO SIMPLIFY AND CHEAPEN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATCHES and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement―
Introducing a new system embracing novelty and utility of importance and interest
to the trade in general:-
This improvement in watches does not change or touch the fundamental
principle or working mechanism, the model "as shown by the Drawing" is exactly
that of a full-plate American watch-movement, train and escapement; but the
same is adaptable to other production's and is an entirely new original idea in the
construction of the frame of the watch-movement and not recognisable in
appearance from what is known as full-plate-watches, a style of watch largely in
demand because of their enclosed character from dust &cot, but it is extremely
difficult for a watch-examiner or repairer to see into, the parts of action being
covered, therefore, for practical purposes watches constructed like the Swiss style
"open bridges" are preferable, and yet objectionable because of exposure to dust
and the quicker deterioration of the oil.
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My invention is explained as follows. I have taken a full plate American watch,
removed and dispensed with the use of the four pillars, discarded the top-plate and
placed the potence on what was the pillar-plate, without altering the height of
the balance, as shown in fig. 4" the potence E, also takes in the center-wheel-
pivot; in place of the top plate, bridges are made for the pivot's of the train and
so shaped that they meet close together to form an outside rim or periphery of the
movement as shown in fig. 2, thus effectually excluding all dust that may enter the
case. The thin cap or fashion-plate fig. 3 sliding under the balance enclosing
the works as illustrated in fig. 1.
Secondly An important feature in this watch is that the barrel can be removed
or taken out without taking off the hands and dial where the ratchet and click-
work is usually placed, also the barrel can be respectively replaced, also the
winding-work being stationary as shown in figure's 5 and 6 and always voluntarily
respond, no precautions are required on taking out or putting in the barrel, this
will be appreciated when a broken main-spring has to be replaced.
Figure 1-Represents a specially adapted standard movement (full plate).
Fig. 2 The same movement with the fashion-plate removed.
Figure 3-The cap or fashion-plate (detached).
Fig. 4 The movement with the balance removed and barrel displaced.
Fig. 5 Represents, the dial side of the movement showing click winding &ot
Fig. 6-The same figure showing the winding-wheel and its hub on the under-
side thereof.
Fig. 7-The same movement as fig. 1 representing plate.
Fig. 8 Are fashion-plates.
Fig. 1. represents a full-plate watch-movement, with the combined advantages of
an open or exposed watch movement as explained in conjunction with figures 2
and 3 thus the watch maker's can momentarily withdraw the plate D fig. 3, and
the whole mechanism with every action of the watch is exposed (fig. 2) to the view

page_text: of an examiner as illustrated by figures 1, 2, and 3, accruing advantages suggest
themselves alike to the trade and manufacturer's.
The said fashion plate D, fig. 3, sliding under the balance and over the bridges
a, b, c, fig. 2 forming a dust-band protecting the works the plate D is stamped out
thin but of sufficient stiffness and the said plate being free from mechanism not
only effectually protects the exposure of the works and oil, but is of much
convenience to momentarily diversify the designated or standard movement "fig. 1"
if desired to some other design or style of watch movement for example figure 7 is
the same movement as fig. 1.
Figure 4 shows the sectional construction, E, is the potence that supports the
balance; F is the mainspring barrel, as explained the barrel comes out and is
replaced irrespective to the hands and dial or winding mechanism, also regardless
of the watch case. This is accomplished without complication or extra cost of
construction as shown in conjunction with figures 5 and 6, showing under the dial
the system of winding. I do not claim this. My improvement does not interfere
with the system of winding. I only use a winding-wheel with a hub on it "seе G
fig. 6" which fit into the circle H through the plate, and is kept in the circle H by
the piece I it is seen this piece I supports the pivot on the end of the square K of
the barrel arbor it is understood this arbor-square goes through the hub G that
wind's the watch. To take out the barrel it is only nessesary to loosen the balance
bridge.
Refering to the cap or fashion plates fig's 3 and 8, it is understood that in order
to change the style of the standard watch fig. 1 to any other style you will simply
remove fashion-plate or cap D and substitute either of the plates L or M in fig. 8
which will completely alter the character of the watch, fig. 1 to any other design
or style desired. It will be seen that plate D, is free from all mechanism, but
plates L, or M nessarily carries the barrel arbor pivot in place of the barrol
plate N, fig. 1.
Having thus set forth the nature and merits of my invention what I claim as
new is
1st The construction of the standard movement Fig. 1, rendering all parts visible
"Full Plate in character" the cap, or fashion plate D, the abolution of pillars and
upper plate and placing the potence E on the bottom plate fig. 4, the potence E
supports the balance and center-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
2nd In combination with the movement fig. 1, the adaptation of a cap or cover D
and the plates L and M, fig. 8 to transform the style of the watch to any fashion
desired, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
3rd In combination with the movement fig. 1 the bridges A. B. C. fig. 2 are so
formed to make the outside rim dust tight and substitute a dustband, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
4th The combination of a removeable mainspring barrel independant of the click
and winding usually situated beneath the dial. The taking out and the putting in
of the barrel without nessesetating the taking off, of the hand's and dial, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
5th The hub G on the winding wheel Fig. 6. and the hub G working in the open
circle H and kept down and in place by the small plate or piece I " figs 5 and 6
thus the click work and winding is never displaced when the barrel is taken out,
substantially as and for the purposes, set forth.
Dated this 20-d low of Ta
1000