IMPROVEMENTS OF WATCHES, CLOCKS, AND CHRONOMETERS."
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Dalgety, of 5, Shards Terrace, High
Street, Peckham, in the County of Surrey, Watchmaker, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS OF WATCHES, CLOCKS, AND CHRONOMETERS."
"
Sealed the 3rd August 1860, and dated the 8th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Dalgety at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
February 1860.
ALEXANDER DALGETY, of 5, Shards Terrace, High Street, Peckham, in the
County of Surrey, Watchmaker, for "IMPROVEMENTS OF WATCHES, CLOCKS, AND
CHRONOMETERS."
My first improvement consists in the construction of a simple and perfectly
dead beat escapement, thereby considerably lessening the price of good time-
keepers, the method of which I will now proceed to describe. The axis or
staff which supports the balance is formed of steel or any other suitable
substance, and is made throughout its entire length perfectly cylindrical, and
of such thickness that its diameter is rather greater than half the space
between the top of one tooth of the escape wheel and that of the next, being
reduced at each end (in the usual way) to form pivots on which to move.
The axis or staff already described is made perform the same office as the
cylinder in the common horizontal watch (viz., allow the teeth of the escape
wheel to pass and give impulse to the balance or pendulum, and afterwards
remain at rest the greater part of each vibration,) in the following manner:-

page_text: For a short distance below the collet or bos on which the balance is fixed
the axis or staff is either partly or half cut through, so as to have a polished
flat surface, and its opposite side (near the bottom pivot) is also cut away in
a similar manner. If half cut through or flattened, as described, on exactly
opposite sides, the two flat surfaces thus formed will be (looking longitudinally
along the staff) in a perfect line one with the other; but if cut or flattened
less than half way through, it must be so done that their two edges on one
side either shew a right line or cross each other. The axis or staff, before
described, must be used in connection with a crown escape wheel, and so
placed in reference to it, that when not moving, its two flattened parts shall
be as nearly as possible in a line with the escape wheel pinion. It will then
be found that if moved alternately backwards and forwards, a perfectly steady
action will take place, for this reason, that each tooth as it drops will first fall
on the cylindrical part of the vibrating axis, and afterwards pass off at the
flattened sides.
I do not limit myself to the particular construction of staff herein described,
as the same result may be obtained by cutting a notch or opening at each end
of the staff, or distinct cylindrical pieces may be fixed thereon, each containing
a notch or opening in its side; but I consider the form of the staff and
pallets herein first and more fully described to be the best, the most easily
made, and consequently the cheapest.
My next improvement is the placing the movement or works air-tight or
nearly so in their cases by means of suitable elastic packings between the
hour wheel and face, and also round the arbor by which the barrel or fuzee is
wound, and likewise bringing such arbor (squared at its end in the usual
way to receive the key or winder) through the pendant or bow of the case.
The expense and necessity of a double back is thus avoided, and the cost of
material and labor again considerably lessened; the dust and dirt is thus pre-
vented entering, and the oil consequently retained for a much longer period
in a fluid state.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Dalgety in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
DALGETY, of 5, Shards Terrace, High Street, Peckham, in the County of g
Surrey, Watchmaker, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alexander Dalgety, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander
.Dalgety, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alexander Dalgety, 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 OF WATCHES, CLOCKS, AND CHRONONETERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Dalgety, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 Alexander Dalgety, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My first improvement consists in the construction of a simple and perfectly
dead beat escapement, thereby considerably lessening the price of good time-
keepers, the method of which I will now proceed to describe. The axis or
staff which supports the balance is formed of steel or any other suitable
substance, and is made throughout its entire length perfectly cylindrical, and
of such thickness that its diameter is rather greater than half the space
between the top of one tooth of the escape wheel and that of the next, being
reduced at each end (in the usual way) to form pivots on which to move.
The axis or staff already described is made perform the same office as the
cylinder in the common horizontal watch (viz., allow the teeth of the escape
wheel to pass, and give impulse to the balance or pendulum, and afterwards
remain at rest the greater part of each vibration) in the following manner :-
For a short distance below the collet or bos, on which the balance is fixed
the axis or staff is either partly or half cut through so as to leave a polished
flat surface, and its opposite side (near the bottom pivot) is also cut away in a

page_text: similar manner. If half cut through or flattened, as described, on exactly
opposite sides, the two flat surfaces thus formed will be (looking longitudinally
along the staff) in a perfect line one with the other, but if cut or flattened less
than half way through, it must be so done that their two edges on. one side
either shew a right line, or cross each other. The axis or staff, before
described, must be used in connection with a crown escape wheel, and. so
placed in reference to it, that when not moving its two flattened parts shall
be as nearly as possible in a line with the escape wheel pinion. It will then
be found that if moved alternately backwards and forwards, a perfectly steady
action will take place, for this reason, that each tooth as it drops will first fall
on the cylindrical part of the vibrating axis, and afterwards pass off at the
flattened side.
I do not limit myself to the particular construction of staff herein described,
as the same result may be obtained by cutting a notch or opening at each end
of the staff, or distinct cylindrical pieces may be fixed thereon, each con-
taining a notch or opening in its side; but I consider the form of the staff
and pellets, herein first and more fully described, to be the best, the most easily
made, and consequently the cheapest.
My next improvement is placing the movement or works air-tight, or
nearly so, in their cases by means of suitable elastic packings between the
hour wheel and face, and also round the arbor by which the barrel or fuzee
is wound, and likewise bringing such arbor (squared at its end in the usual
way to receive the key or winder) through the pendant or bow of the case.
The expense and necessity of a double back is thus avoided, and the cost of
material and labor again considerably lessened; the dust and dirt is thus
prevented entering, and the oil consequently retained for a much longer period
in a fluid state.
In order, however, that my invention may be fully understood, I will
proceed to describe it by the aid of the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1, a represents the cylindrical staff (first described) cut half way
through on opposite sides in a direct line, with one tooth of the balance.
wheel b (which works at right angles to it) resting against its upper flattened
side; c is an ordinary balance. Fig. 4 is a seperate view of the staff or axis
(Fig. 1) without the balance wheel or balance. Fig. 2 shews another form
of staff not cut through, but containing two notches, one side of each notch
forming a right line one with the other, and also radiating from the centre,
and the other side of each sloping off in opposite directions; Fig. 5 shews and
end view of the same; Fig. 3 shews a staff or axis, with two cylindrical

page_text: pieces fixed thereon, each piece containing a notch or opening (as described
in Fig. 2); Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the cylindrical pieces removed
from Fig. 3.
Having now fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode
in which the said is to be performed, I would have it clearly understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before described, as the
same might be varied without departing from the general principle of my said
improvement; but what I claim as my Invention, is the making use of a staff or
axis, in connection with a crown escape wheel, which staff or axis has the
acting or impulse sides of its notches or openings either in a right line (looking
longitudinally along the axis or staff) or slightly crossing each other, and thus
causing the teeth of the escape wheel to drop on the cylindrical or rolling part
of the staff behind instead of before the notches or openings in the staff. A
perfectly steady action is thus obtained similar to the horizontal escapement,
with less friction, less expense, and greater durability.*
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Dalgety, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
0 Witness,
GEO. H. SHORE,
8, London Wall, London.
A. DALGETY. (L.S.)