Improvements in and relating to Watches..
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1905
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1896-Accepted, 20th June,.
1896
Improvements in and relating to Watches..
I, EUSTACHE AUGUSTE CRESSON, of 9, Rue Lauriston, Paris, France,
Engineer and Mathematician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to means for enabling watches to serve as perpetual
calendars. It comprises a peculiar arrangement of the case of the combined
watch and calendar, which comprises the case that encloses the time-keeping
mechanism, and a movable annulus capable of being turned freely around the
case, the annulus and the case carrying various words, numbers, and divisions
adapting them to constitute a perpetual calendar.
1
My arrangement can be applied to watches of all kinds including "keyless"
watches.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have represented in the
accompanying drawings, by way of example only, the essential features of a
'keyless" watch according thereto;
Fig. 1 being a front elevation thereof, part of 'the annulus being removed;
Fig. 2 a vertical section thereof; and
Fig. 3 a back elevation thereof.
Fig. 4 is a developed plan of the ring hereinafter referred to.
The apparatus comprises a case a, which encloses the time-keeping mechanism,
and a movable annulus, which is capable of being turned freely around the case a.
The movable annulus is composed of three parts viz.: a ring b¹, which carries on
its periphery numbers that serve in finding the key of the calendar, and which is
provided with a hollow stem c, and a pusher d for setting the hands of the watch;
and two rings 2, which are placed on opposite sides of the ring as shown in
Fig. 2, so as to embrace the case on its two faces but nevertheless in such a
manner as to permit it to turn freely within them. Each ring 6 carries on its
circumference the names of the days of the week (Figs. 1 & 3).
The case a carries, on the face corresponding to the dial, numbers representing
the days of the months, as indicated in Fig. 1, and on the other face (Fig. 3) the
names of the months of the year and the three numbers 20, 48 & 76, the object
of which will be hereinafter stated.
The hollow stem which is fixed to the ring b₁, is traversed by the winding-
rod e, which carries at its outer end the milled knob and terminates at its
inner end in a key g. The rod e is capable of being freely moved endways
within the hollow stem c so that the key g can be engaged at will with the squared
spindle end, which is entirely or almost entirely, contained within the case a and
by means of which the winding of the watch is effected. The inward and outward
movements of the rod e are limited by shoulders with which it is provided at
its ends.
The pusher d carried by the ring b¹ is normally kept in the position shown by
blade-spring, which acts, when depressed on the push-pin j of the setting-
apparatus, which push-pin does not extend far beyond the case a in order not to
impede the motion of the latter.
The case a and the movable annulus may each have a reference-mark to enable
the key g to be easily brought back with accuracy opposite to the square h, in
which position the figure XII of the dial may be opposite to the hollow
stem c.

page_text: When it is desired to use the calendar, the rod e must first be raised so as to
disengage the key g and thereby to allow the case a to turn freely within the
annulus consisting of the rings 6' and b³.
My invention can be applied as bereinbefore stated, to watches of all kinds.
In the case of watches that are wound with a loose key, the ring b' is provided
with an ordinary solid stem, and the case has a hinged cap so as to open to enable
the watch to be wound up and set.
This apparatus as described, whilst indicating time, can be used to ascertain the
day of the week that corresponds to any given day of the month.
For this purpose all that necessary is to place the name of the month in
question under the name of the first day of the year and then to read the name of
the day of the week that is above the day of the month in question.
:
Thus, suppose that it be required to find what day of the week fell on the
13th June 1895, it being known that the first day of the year 1895 was a Mardi
(Tuesday), the division of the case a that contains the name of Juin (June) is
placed opposite to the division containing the name Mardi (Tuesday) on the corre
sponding ring '; and it is then found that the division of the second ring b
opposite to the number 13 of the day of the month contains the name Jeudi
(Thursday), which is the one required.
In order to ascertain the name of the first day of any given year, the procedure
is as follows:-
The numbers 20, 48, and 76, carried by the instrument on the rear face of the
case, are considered, and then from the number formed by the last two figures on
the right-hand of the number indicating the year there is subtracted the one of
the numbers just mentioned that approaches nearest to it; the number on the
ring that corresponds to this difference is now found, and the name of the day of
the week that is in the same division on the corresponding ring is the one
required. Thus, in the case of the 13th June 1895, to find the name of the first
day of the year 1895, there is subtracted from 95, the number 76, which is the
one of the three numbers 20, 48 and 76 that is the nearest to 95, and the
difference obtained is 19. In the same division as 19 on the ring b' of the annulus
there is on one of the faces of the annulus the word Mardi (Tuesday), which is
the required name of the first day of the year. The name of the day of the
week corresponding to the date indicated can now be obtained as herein before
described.
The repetition on the ring b¹ of the numeral representing the remainder
obtained in making the subtraction indicates that the year is a leap-year, and in
that case the day must be found as follows:-
For the months January & February, there must be read the name of the day
found under the number on the right-hand and from the month of March onwards
the name of the day will be that found under the number on the left. Thus, for
the year 1896 for example, it is found that it will be a leap-year, because on
subtracting from 96 the number 76, which is the nearest to it, there is obtained as
a remainder the number 20, which occurs twice on the ring b¹. Under the
number 20 on the right there appears the name Mercredi (Wednesday), which
will serve for the months January & March, and under the number 20 on the left
there is the name Jeudi (Thursday), which will serve for all the other months.
For the first twenty years of the century, the number indicating the year is
divided by the number 28, then there is found on the ring the number that
corresponds to the remainder obtained by that division, and the name of the day
of the week that is found on the corresponding ring &, in the same sector as this
number, will be the required name as before.
Dated this 13th day of August 1805

page_text: I, EUSTACHE AUGUSTE CRESSON, of 9 Rue Lauriston, Paris, France,
Engineer and Mathematician, 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 means for enabling watches to serve as perpetual
calendars.
According thereto there is employed a peculiar arrangement of the case of the
combined watch and calendar, which comprises the case that encloses the time-
keeping mechanism, and a movable annulus capable of being turned freely around
the case, the annulus and the case carrying various words, numbers, and divisions
adapting them to constitute a perpetual calendar.
My arrangement can be applied to watches of all kinds. including "keyless
watches.
"
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have represented in the
drawings filed with my Provisional Specification the essential features of a
"keyless" watch with calendar according thereto;
Fig. 1 being a front elevation thereof, part of the annulus being removed;
Fig. 2 a vertical section thereof; (the case containing the time-keeping
mechanism being in elevation)
Fig. 3 a back elevation thereof.
Fig. 4 is a developed plan of the ring hereinafter referred to.
The apparatus comprises a case a, which encloses the time-keeping mechanism,
and a movable annulus, which is capable of being turned freely around the case a.
The movable annulus is composed of three parts viz. :-a ring 6, which carries on
its periphery numbers that serve in finding the key of the calendar, and which is
provided with a hollow stem c; a pusher d for setting the hands of the watch;
and two rings, which are placed on opposite sides of the ring ', as shown in
Fig. 2, so as to embrace the case a on its two faces but in such a manner never-
theless as to permit it to turn freely within them. Each ring carries on its
circumference the names of the days of the week (Figs. 1 and 3).
The case a carries, on the face corresponding to the dial, numbers representing
the days of the months, as indicated in Fig. 1, and on the other face (Fig. 3) the
names of the months of the year aud the three numbers 20, 48 and 76, the object
of which will be hereinafter stated.
The hollow stem c, which is fixed to the ring 61, is traversed by the winding-
rod e, which carries at its outer end the milled knob and terminates at its inner
end in a key g. The rod e is capable of being freely moved end ways within the
hollow stem e so that the key g can be engaged at will with the squared spindle
end h, which is entirely, or almost entirely, contained within the case a and by
means of which the winding of the watch is effected. The inward and outward
movements of the rod e are limited by shoulders with which it is provided at
its ends.
The pusher d carried by the ring 6 is normally kept in the position shown by a
blade-spring, which acts, when depressed, on the push-pin ; of the setting-
apparatus, which push-pin does not extend far beyond the case a in order not to
impede the motion of the latter.
The case a and the movable annulus may each have a reference-mark to enable
the key g to be easily brought back with accuracy opposite to the square h, in
which position the figure XII of the dial may, as usual, be opposite to the hollow,
stem c.

page_text: When it is desired to use the calendar, the rod e must first be raised so as to
disengage the key and thereby to allow the case a to turn freely within the
annulus consisting of the rings b¹ and b².
a
As before stated my invention can be applied to watches of all kinds; in the
case of watches that are wound up with a loose key, the ring b¹ is provided with
an ordinary solid stem, and the case a has a hinged cap so as to open to enable the
watch to be wound up and set.
The apparatus as described, whilst indicating time, can be used to ascertain the
day of the week that corresponds to any given day of the month.
For this purpose all that is necessary is to place the name of the month in
question under the name of the first day of the year and then to read the name of
the day of the week that is above the day of the month in question.
Thus, suppose that it be required to find what day of the week fell on the
13th June 1895, it being known that the first day of the year 1895 was a Mardi
(Tuesday), the division of the case a that contains the name of Juin (June) is
placed opposite to the division containing the name Mardi (Tuesday) on the corre
sponding ring ; and it is then found that the division of the second ring b
opposite to the number 13 of the day of the month contains the name Jeudi.
(Thursday), which is the one required.
In order to ascertain the name of the first day of any given year, the procedure
is as follows:-
The numbers 20, 48, and 76 carried by the instrument on the rear face of the
case, are considered, and then from the number formed by the last two figures on
the right hand of the number indicating the year there is subtracted the one of
the numbers just mentioned that approaches nearest to it; the number on the
ring that corresponds to this difference is now found, and the name of the day
of the week that is in the same division on the corresponding ring 62 is the one
required. Thus, in the case of the 13th June 1895, to find the name of the first
day of the year 1895, there is subtracted from 95, the number 76, which is the one
of the three numbers 20, 48, and 76 that is the nearest to 95, and the difference
obtained is 19. In the same division as 19 on the ring b of the annulus there is,
op one of the faces of the annulus the word Mardi (Tuesday), which is the
required name of the first day of the year. The name of the day of the week
corresponding to the date indicated can now be obtained as berein before
described.
The repetition on the ring 6 of the numeral representing the remainder
obtained in making the subtraction indicates that the year is a leap year, and in
that case the day must be found as follows:-For the months January and
February, there must be read the name of the day found under the number on
the right hand and from the month of March onwards the name of the day will
be that found under the number on the left. Thus, for the year 1896 for example,
it is found that it will be a leap year, because on subtracting from 96 the
number 76, which is the nearest to it, there is obtained as a remainder the
number 20, which occurs twice on the ring b. Under the number 20 on the right
there appears the name Mercredi (Wednesday), which will serve for the months
January and March, and under the number 20 on the left there is the name Jeudi
(Thursday) which will serve for all the other months.
For the first twenty years of the century, the number indicating the year is
divided by the number 28, then there is found on the ring 6 the number that
corresponds to the remainder obtained by that division, and the name of the day
of the week that is found on the corresponding ring 6, in the same. sector as this
number, will be the required name as before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 'I
claim is:
1. A watch having a surrounding case composed of a case proper that encloses

page_text: the time-keeping mechanism, and an annulus capable of being rotated around the
last mentioned case which carries on the face corresponding to the dial numbers.
representing the days of the month aud on its reverse face the names of the
months and also three numbers for the purpose herein set forth the movable
annulus carrying in its turn on its two faces the names of the days of the week
and on its periphery different numbers for the purpose herein set forth, the
arrangement being such that the watch is adapted to serve also as a perpetual
calendar substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings.
2. In a combined keyless watch and perpetual calendar such as referred to in
the preceding claim, the herein before described arrangement for winding up and
setting the watch and enabling the movable annulus 616 to turn freely around the
case that encloses the time-keeping mechanism, substantially as described and
shown.
Dated this 11th day of May 1896
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.