Improved Means for Facilitating the Assortment of Watch and Clock Springs.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Facilitating the Assortment of Watch and
Clock Springs.
We, ANDREAS WOESSNER of Schramberg, Schwarzwald, Germany, Manu-
facturer and ADOLF KOCH of 1 Charterhouse Buildings London E.C. Manufacturer
and Importer 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:-
This invention relates to improved means for facilitating the assortment of watch
and clock springs, whereby the size or "number" (i.e. the width and diameter or
strength) of any of a number of springs packed together may be seen at a glance
without necessitating the application of a gauge thereto.
Watch or clock springs are usually put up together in a paper wrapper on the
outside of which the size of the springs is written, each spring being maintained in
a closely coiled state by a binding wire encircling its periphery. The different
sizes of springs kept in this manner are however very liable to become mixed up,
and the work entailed in regauging the springs very laborious. According to
our invention, we apply a number plate (formed substantially as hereinafter
described) to each spring, which number plate is retained in position by the said
encircling wire, and not only indicates at a glance (by suitable figures or marks
upon its face) the width and diameter or strength of the spring, but also renders
the latter less liable to accidentally escape from the wire which confines it.
As by our invention every spring has its size clearly indicated on the number
plate and retains the latter until it is put to actual use in the watch or clock, even a
large quantity of springs, which may possibly accidentally have got mixed up, can
easily and quickly be re-assorted.
In the accompanying drawings in which similar letters refer to corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a watch or clock spring in a packed condition provided
with a number plate in accordance with our invention.
Fig. 2 is an edge view of Figure 1.
Fig. 3 shews the blank from which the number plate may be formed.
a is the watch or clock spring maintained closely coiled by the encircling binding
wire b. c is the number plate produced by bending up the blank Figure 3. The
number plate c clips or embraces the spring a upon either side (as clearly shewn in
Figure 2) and is retained in position by the binding wire b. We preferably form
a corrugation or groove d in the number plate for the reception of the binding
wire b. The figures on the number plate are intended to indicate the size or
number of the spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The use in combination with a watch or clock spring and a binding wire which
retains the same in a closely coiled condition, of a number plate arranged to clip
or embrace the said spring upon either side and retained in position thereon by the
said binding wire substantially as described.
2. In combination, a watch or clock spring, a wire bencircling the periphery
thereof, a number plate c which clips or embraces the spring upon either side, and

page_text: a groove or corrugation d in the number plate which receives the wire b,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 13th day of November 1893.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON, Fels. Chartered Inst. Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
For the Applicants.