of AN ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENT OR WATCH, BY WHICH THE TIME OF THE DAY, THE PROGRESS OF CELESTIAL BODIES, AS WELL AS CARRIAGES, HORSES, OR OTHER ANIMALS, MAY BE CORRECTLY ASCERTAINED
Year: 1822

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
LOUIS FATTON, of New Broad Street, in the County of Middlesex, Watch
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth did,
by. His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of that part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, bearing date a
Westminster, the Ninth day of February, in the second year of His reign,
give and grant unto me, the said Frederick Louis Fatton, my exors, adors,
and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Frederick Louis Fatton, my exors, admors, and assigns, during
the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, an Invention "(in part communicated to me by a certain Foreigner
residing abroad), of AN ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENT OR WATCH, BY WHICH THE
TIME OF THE DAY, THE PROGRESS OF CELESTIAL BODIES, AS WELL AS CARRIAGES,
HORSES, OR OTHER ANIMALS, MAY BE CORRECTLY ASCERTAINED;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that if I, the said Frederick Louis
Fatton, shall not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
n writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in

page_text: His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then the said
Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted,
shall utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same,
relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Frederick Louis Fatton, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of an Astronomical Instrument or Watch, by which the Time of the Day, the
Progress of Celestial Bodies, as well as Carriages, Horses, or other Animals,
may be correctly ascertained, is particularly described and ascertained in and
by the annexed Sheet of Drawings or Plans, and in the following description
thereof (that is to say) :-
Figure 1 on the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents the instrument as it
would appear with the dial plate taken off, in order to explain the construction
of the mechanism which lies beneath it.
Figure 2 shews an elevation or section of part of the instrument, sup-
posing the ordinary spring barrel, fusee, escapement, and other parts of the
timekeeper or watch to be removed, as they do not constitute any part of the
present Invention.
Figure 3 represents a plan of the instrument with the hands and dial plate
in their proper situations.. These three Figures are drawn to a scale of twice
the real size of the instrument, in order to render the small parts sufficiently
distinct, and the same characters or letters of reference are used to denote
responding parts on all the Figures. A, Figure 1,
shews the cock to support the upper pivot of the escapement wheel, the placo
of which wheel is represented by the dotted circle a, a, but the escapement
itself, as well as the spring, barrel, fusee, and other parts constituting the ordi-
nary movements of timekeeper or watches, may be employed, and being so
well understood I shall not enter into any particular description of them. A
small pinion is fixed upon the upper end of the arbor or axis of the escape-
ment wheel, which pinion engages in the teeth of a wheel S, the arbor or
axis of which wheel passes through a cock or support o, and carries a
revolving dial plate D, upon its upper extremity, as seen in Figure 2 and 3,
and also by the dotted circle d, d, in Fig. 1. The revolving dial plate and
minute, and has sixty divisions
wheel S, makes a complete revolution in one
marked upon its surface, as seen at D, in Fig. 3, to indicate seconds of time
being numbered at every five seconds. The wheel S has a pinion C, of eight
teeth, fixed to it, engaging in the teeth of a wheel E, of seventy-two teeth

page_text: situated-beneath the plate X, X, as seen in Figure 2. The upper part of the
arbor or axis of the wheel E is furnished with a wheel F, of sixty teeth,
which engages in the teeth of the small wheel G, of thirty teeth, having upon
its axis or arbor a pinion of two leaves a teeth engaging in the teeth of the
wheel H, of one hundred and twenty teeth, the axis of which carries the hour
hand of the instrument and makes one complete revolution in five hours, the
dial being numbered at every hour, as seen at h, in Fig. 3. The teeth of the
small wheel G, engage into the teeth of the wheel M, of sixty teeth, seen in
Figures 1 and 2, the arbor or axis of which carries the minute hand and
makes one complete revolution in ten minutes. The dial is numbered at
every minute, as seen at m, in Figure 3. The arbor or axis of the wheel M
has a snail or spiral plate o, fixed upon it, the object of which will be herein-
after explained. P, Fig. 1 and 2, represents a flat plate of metal which moves
upon an axis or arbor at e, the upper pivot of which is supported in the fixed
cock I, and the lower pivot turns in the plate X, X, Fig. 2. The plate P has
a projection or beak p, formed on one side thereof, the extremity of which
beak bears against the circumference of the snail or spiral plate o, and is kept
always into close contact by the force of the spring K, which acts upon the
plate P, near to the axis e, as seen in Fig. 1. N shews a small standard,
screwed fast upon the plate P; it is divided into a fork at the top, and fur-
nished with two center screws to support the pivots of a short axis r, having a
lever or arm T projecting from it on one side, and a short beak or detent t on
the opposite side of the said axis. The detent t is borne upwards by a spring
s, which spring operates to depress the extreme end of the lever T, which
extends or reaches some distance over the surface of the revolving dial plate
D. The axis r has also a small detent or arm.w, projecting downwards or
nearly at right angles with the lever T, as seen in Fig. 2. The lower extre-
mity of the detent w, is acted upon by the points of the notched or star
wheel, which is fitted so as to turn freely round upon a small screw fixed
into the plate P, and is caused to remain at rest with its points always.
in one certain position, by means of the slight spring K, screwed fast
to the plate P, having a double inclined plane or wedge piece formed
at its extremity, which falls in between two of the points of the star .wheel
and thereby determines the position; the star wheel x is moved round a
space. of one tooth at a time by the bent lever v, which turns upon a
screw n fixed in the plate P; the end of the said lever is guided and
kept down upon the plate P by passing under the head of a screw o, and
the opposite end near to the centre screw n is bent in a reverse direction, and
has a projecting piece q formed to an arc of a circle described round the
i

page_text: center or axis e of the plate P; the piece 9 is acted upon by the small, pin .or
button 2, which projects through the external case of the instrument, so as to
be capable of being pressed upon by the finger in using the instrument; the
bent lever vis limited in its motion by having a groove formed in the part q
which groove slides round the axis e, and comes to bear firmly upon the said
axis; when the button z is forced in sufficiently the bent lever vis caused to
return to its original position, when the button z is .left at liberty, as seen in
Figure 1, by the force of a small spring y, which is screwed fast upon a
projecting part of the plate P, and bears against the bent lever v, nearly
opposite to the place where the button = acts; the lever or arm T is furnished
with a small screw 1 at its extremity, as seen in Figure 2, which screw passes
through the end of a slight steel spring 2, having a nib or beak formed in it
similar to a pen, for the purpose of containing a small quantity of ink or
colour as will be herein-after explained; the slight spring 2 is made square at
one end and is screwed fast to the arm T, near to the axis r. 3 shews a
screw passing through the arm T, the point of which rests upon the end of a
spring 4-fixed to the plate P, as seen in Figure 1. The action of the above-
described mechanism is as follows:-When the button is pressed so as to bear
against the arched part 9 of the bent lever v, it moves the said lever round its
center screw or axis n, and causes the end of the lever v to press against one
of the points of the star wheel x, and move the said star wheel round upon its
center screw at the same time that one of the points of the star wheel is in
contact with the extremity of the detent w, and by the motion of the said star
wheel forces the detent w to move round its axis r, and thereby raises the
end 1, of the lever T, up from the surface of the revolving dial, at the same
time depressing the spring s until the point of the star wheel has advanced
sufficiently to quit the end of the detent w; at which instant the spring s reacts
against the beak t, and throws the end 1 of the lever T suddenly down, so
as to cause the nib of the spring 2 to touch or strike the surface of the
revolving dial D, by its momentum overcoming the force of the spring 4,
which the screw 3 bears upon, as herein-before described; the inclined part of
the spring falls between two of the points of the star wheel and places it in
a proper position; to repeat the action the bent lever vis returned to its
original situation by the spring y, before mentioned; the end of the bent
lever is furnished with a spring piece, as shewn at 6 in Figure 1, which yields
sufficiently to allow the lever to return freely by the points of the star wheel.
The action of the above-described mechanism is so sudden that a person
may cause the nib of the spring 2 to strike the revolving dial D 5 or 6
distinct blows in each second of time, if required for a rapid succession

page_text: of observations. The manner of preparing the instrument for an observation
or a succession of observations is as follows:-The main spring of the instru-
ment should be wound up by its key into a state ready to act, having its
motion suspended by means of the small stop 8 projecting through the side
of the case as in ordinary stop watches, after which the arm T should be
raised up some distance from the surface of the revolving dial plate D, by
pressing the finger upon the small pin 5, Figure 2, in which situation a minute
quantity of colour (prepared by grinding tripole or other coloured substance
with olive oil) is to be introduced by means of a camel-hair pencil, or
otherwise, into the nib of the spring 2 before mentioned; when this is done
the lever T is left at liberty, and the point of the screw 3 comes to bear upon
the end of the spring 4, which prevents the nib of the spring 2 from touching
the surface of the revolving dial plate; the minute hand m should be placed
at the number 10, and the revolving dial plate D turned round until the num-
ber 60 be brought opposite to the arm T, as seen in Figure 3, in which situation
the nib of the spring 2 containing the colour, as before mentioned, will be near
the outer circumference of the revolving dial plate D. Now suppose, for
example, I wish to ascertain and register by this instrument the preciso
moment of one body or object passing by another: I first observe the time
of day by any good watch or timekeeper, and, by means of the stop 8, set the
instrument in motion at a known or determined time, holding the instrument
in the hand with the end of the forefinger bearing lightly upon the button z,
seen in Figures 1 and 3; whilst the instrument is in motion the divisions upon
the face of the revolving dial plate D, pass regularly under the nib of the
spring 2, but without touching the same, and the minute hand m advances
one division during an entire revolution of the dial D; when the instant arrives
which I wish to note or ascertain I press the button z with a sudden motion
of the forefinger, which causes the lever or arm T to rise and fall again
almost instantaneously by the operation of the star wheel, bent lever, &c., as
herein-before described. This action causes the nib of the spring 2 to strike
slightly upon the surface of the revolving dial and leave a permanent
mark or dot; the nib of the spring 2 does not remain in contact with
the surface of the dial any sensible time, but is thrown up again almost
instantaneously by the action of the spring 4 bearing against the point
of the screw 3, as before mentioned; the nib being caused to touch
the dial by the momentum of the lever T overcoming the resistance of the
spring 4 in a slight degree, that being sufficient to leave a visible mark or dot
of colour upon the revolving dial D. By alternately pressing and relieving the
button, in this manner a succession of marks or dots may be made, upon

page_text: the dial D, without looking at it, if required for a number of observations
occurring suddenly after each other, and read off at leasure from the dial.
.The instrument above described is capable of marking distinctly upon the
revolving dial-plate D à series of observations during ten minutes of time,
without interruption or danger of any one mark or dot interfering with
another. I have already mentioned, that the nib of the spring 2 is near the
outer circumference of the revolving dial-plate D when the instrument is first
set in motion to cominence the observations. I have also stated that the
spring 2, with the star wheel and other mechanism (which causes -the nib of
the said spring to mark 'upon the dial plate when, required), was mounted
upon a plate of metal P, capable of moving round a centre of motion marked e
in the annexed Drawing, and it remains for me to explain how the requisite
'motion is communicated to the plate P. When the minute band m-points to
the number 10, as in Figure 3, the projecting beak p of the plate P is
acting against the 'smallest diameter of the snail or spiral O, which allows the
nib of the spring 2 to recede from the centre of the revolving dial plate P,
near to the circumference thereof, and, as the minute hand turns round along
with the snail or spiral O once in ten minutes, the motion of the snail cause
the nib of the spring 2 to approach the centre of the revolving dial D
gradually, so that the succession of dots or marks which may be made upon
the revolving dial plate will be arranged in a spiral direction commencing at
the circumference and approaching the centre, forming ten complete evolu-
tions, each évolution indicating a minute of time, and the place where the
dots or marks happen to fall upon the radial lines' drawn upon the dial, as seen
in Figure 3, indicate the seconds of time; as soon as the minute hand m' has
completed its revolution, the beak' p of the plate P will drop suddenly towards
the centre of the snail O by the action of its spring K, before mentioned, and
remove the nib of the spring 2 to the' outer circumference of the revolving
dial from where it is first started. When it is required to commencé a new
series of observations with this instrument the dots or marks previously
made must be cleaned off the surface of the revolving dial D, by means of a
piece of linen cloth the dial itself is maile so as to be easily removed for that
purpose; the radial linės indicating seconds upon the revolving dial are not
drawn in straight lines pointing to the centre, but are described by ares of a
circle, the radius of which is determined by the distance between the nib of
the spring 2 and the arber or axis e of the plate P. The instrument 'above
described requires to be wound up every five hours, so that it is not adapted to
be used as a 'watch or timekeeper, but 'inight, if required, be made to serve for
both purposes by having the-hour circle h divided and numbered with the

page_text: twelve hours, and the hour wheelwork so arranged that the hour hand
would make one complete revolution during seventy-two revolutions of. the
minute hand m. In some cases I do not employ colour to mark upon the
revolving dial, as before described, but I make the nib of the spring 2 with a
fine point of steel like a needle, and I make the revolving dial plate of tinned
plate or other soft metal, in such manner that it can be easily taken on and
:off the arbor of the seconds' motion; in this form of the instrument a number
of dial plates are provided, and 'the nib or point of the spring. 2: makes a
distinct dot or puncture on the surface of the soft metal (when required),
which obliges a new dial plate, to be used for every series of observations, and
admits of preserving the marked ones undestroyed.
:
Figure 4 upon the Sheet of Drawings represents: another form of the. instru-
ment being adapted to a' common.watch. h represents the circle. for the. hours
and minutes, and D the revolving dial plate, which is fitted upon the arbor of: the
ordinary seconds hand, so as to make a complete revolution in. one minute,
and is numbered at every ten seconds. T.shews .the small lever. carrying, the
nib to contain colour, and mark upon the face of the revolving dial,D to
produce the dots of marks. The motion to produce (the marks or dots is
effected by the button z, exactly in the same manner as described for the former
Figures.; but the movement which is therein described, which causes the nib
of the lever T to approach or recede from the centre of the dial.D. is not used
at all in this. Figure, it being intended, only to dot or mark during, one
revolution of the dial. D. before cleaning them off; consequently, the, lever T
with its star wheel, &c. are mounted upon a fixed plate instead of a moveable
one, as described in the former Figures. 8 shews a small.button.which serves
to stop the motion of watch when required.
Figures 5 and 6. represent a part of the instrument. upon a different con-
struction. The Figures 5 and 6-are drawn to the same scale as the Figures 1,
2, and 3. In this construction the dial plate is fixed, and the:dots or..marks
are made upon it when it is required to ascertain any: precise moment by
means of the seconds' hand revolving and carrying a nib at its extremity
furnished with colour. Pishews a. plate of metal upon: which the mechanism
is placed, as in the former Figure, except that it has no motion. rourid..a
centre, as described at e, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, but is: stationary. N shews
a small standard screwed fast upon the plate. P, which serves to carry the
axis of the lever or arm T, with its short.detent t; and perpendicular.. arm
or detent w, against which the point of the star wheel acts, as herein-
before described for the movement in Figures 1, 2, and 3...s shews
a small spring which bears up the short detent, and depresses the

page_text: lever or arm T, till it rests upon a fixed stop in the standard N. The
end of the lever or arm T is formed like a small circular plate, having a
hole through its center, as seen at T, Figure 6, of sufficient size to admit the
axis or arbor S of the seconds hand 2 to pass through without touching it.
The upper part of the arbor S, where it rises above the surface of the fixed
dial plate W, is formed to a joint upon which the seconds' hand 2 has liberty
to vibrate, when it is required to make the nib 2 touch the dial plate W, in
order to leave a mark or dot of colour thereupon before as described; the
The one
arbor S has two small springs projecting from it, one on each side.
marked 4 serves to bear up the nib 2, and prevent it marking upon the surface
of the dial, except when required. The other springs operates to make the
nib 2 strike suddenly upon the dial, and leave a mark or dot in the same
manner as the spring s, described in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The seconds' hand 2
has a small pin 3 fixed in it, which pin projects downwards, and reaches near
to the surface of the small round plate formed at the end of the lever T, as
before mentioned. The star wheel, bent lever, &c., are the same as described
in the other Figures. The operation of the Figures 5 and 6 is as follows:-
Suppose the seconds' hand to be in motion, and it is required to marke or note
any precise moment, the button = before described is Figure 1, 2, 3, and 4,
is pressed, so as to move the star wheel, which, by the detent w, raises the
arm T, and brings the surface of the small round plate up to the pin 3, and
raises the nib 2 of the seconds' hand some distance from the dial plate W,
depressing the spring s until the point of the star wheels quits the end of the
detent w, at which instant the spring s reacts and strikes the nib 2 down
upon the face of the dial plate, so as to leave a mark or dot of colour there-
upon. The small plate at the end of the lever T would act equally upon the
pin 3 in every position of the seconds' hand. This construction of the instru-
ment is only adapted to mark during one minute without cleaning the dial
plate from the previous marks or dots in the manner before mentioned.
Having described the construction of the instrument in such manner as to
enable persons conversant with such matters to put it in practice, it remains
for me to state what I consider as constituting my claim, for I hereby declare
that I do not claim the separate use of springs, star wheels, levers, or any
other parts therein described or mentioned, but only as combined and applied
in such manner as to form a new astronomical instrument or watch which
possesses the property of ascertaining and recording the precise moment of
any desired observation, or series of observations, by means of marks or dots
imprinted upon a dial or plate, whither the same be effected by the dial or
plate revolving and the marking point remaining stationary, or by the marking

page_text: point revolving and the dial or plate remaining stationary. The spring barrel,
wheelwork, and escapement for the instrument may be made in any way that
may be thought adviseable, as I do not make claim to any of the watch or time-
keeper's movements. The form and proportion of the parts may also be varied
at the discretion of the workman.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Louis Fatton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twenty-two.