IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ADHED TIMEKEEPERS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Watkins, of 135, Strand, Chronometer
Inn Square,
Maker, and Robert Cory Hanrott, of 5, Gray's
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
ADHED TIMEKEEPERS"
Scaled the 4th October 1870, and dated the 8th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Watkins
and Robert Cory Hanrott at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 8th April 1870.
WC, ALEXANDER WATKINS, of 435, Strand, Chronometer Maker, and
ROBERT CORY ILANROTT, of 5, Gray's Inn Square, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR WINDING AND SETTING WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS," to be as
follows:-
Watches have hitherto been wound as required either by means of a
separate winding instrument commonly called a key, or by means of
apparatus composed of several parts and worked by turning the pendant

page_text: or handle of the watch, and the latter have been known by the name of
'keyless watches."
Now our Invention consists in the adaptation and application to
watches and other timekeepers of a concentrated direct action winder,
by raising and turning which the watch may be wound without the
application of a separate tube, such as a watch-key placed over the
ordinary square axis for the purpose.
The winder consists of a plain metal cylinder planted over the spring
box or barrel resting on the plate, but not fastened thereto, the outside
of which cylinder fits the dome of the case and is intended to keep out
dirt. Inside this cylinder is a circular or semicircular or other suitably
formed plate fixed to the ordinary square axis for winding, to which
plate is fixed by pins or screw another semicircular piece of metal
which is capable of lying flat round a portion of the said plate and
inside the above-named cylinder when out of use, or of being raised on 1
the pins or pivots when required to be used for winding.
The apparatus for setting the hands consists of a small metal cup
applied to the central axis of the hands, such metal cup being fluted or
roughened on its outer surface or cut into teeth so as to give finger-hold
to such surface and admit of its being turned as required.
2
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Watkins and Robert Cory Hanrott in
the Great Scal Patent Office on the 7th October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALEXANDER
WATKINS, of 435, Strand, Chronometer Maker, and ROBERT CORY 2
HANROTT, of 5, Gray's Inn Square, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give 3
and grant unto us, the said Alexander Watkins and Robert Cory
Hanrott, Her special licence that we, the said Alexander Watkins
and Robert Cory Hanrott, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Alexander Watkins and Robert Cory
Hanrott, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any 3

page_text: 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 IN APPARATUS FOR WINDING AND SETTING
WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Alexander Watkins and Robert Cory Hanrott, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Alexander Watkins and Robert
Cory Hanrott, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say) :—
Our Invention of "Improvements in Apparatus for Winding and
Setting Watches and other Timekeepers" has for its object the simpli-
fication and consequent economy of apparatus for these purposes.
Watches have hitherto been wound as required either by means of a
separate winding instrument commonly called a key, or by means of
apparatus composed of not less than from eighteen to thirty-five separate
parts, and worked by turning the pendant, and watches wound by the
latter kind of apparatus have been known by the name of "keyless
watches."
Now our Invention consists in the adaptation and application to
watches and other timekeepers of a concentrated direct action winder
or winding apparatus, by raising and turning which the watch may be
wound without the application of a separate tube, such as a watch-key
placed over the ordinary square axis for the purpose.
The winder or winding apparatus consists of a plain metal cylinder
planted over the spring box, barrel, or fuzee resting ou the plate, but not
fastened thereto, the outside of which cylinder fits the dome of the case
and is intended to keep out dirt. Inside this cylinder is a circular or
semicircular or other suitably formed plate fixed to the ordinary square

page_text: axis for winding, to which plate is fixed by pins or screw another semi-
circular or other correspondingly formed piece of metal which is
capable of lying flat round a portion of the said plate and inside the
above-named cylinder when out of use, or of being raised on the pins or
pivots when required to be used for winding.
The apparatus for setting the hands consists of a small metal cup
applied to the central axis of the hands, such metal cup being fluted or
roughened on its outer surface or cut into teeth so as to give finger-
hold to such surface and admit of the cup being thereby turned as
required.
In order however that our Invention may be fully understood we will
proceed to describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be
performed by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are
represented the parts of apparatus above referred to.
Fig. 1 represents in plan and Fig. 2 in edge view (on an enlarged 1
scale) the metal cylinder intended to be planted over the spring box,"
barrel, or fusee. It will be seen on reference to Fig. 2 that the sides a, a,
of this cylinder are not at right angles to the end plate 6, but are made
to spread out slightly. The object of this is to remove all impediments
to the free action of the moving parts in the cylinder. Fig. 3 is a plan
and Fig. 4 an edge view of the plate fixed to the ordinary square axis
for winding. This plate will be seen on reference to Fig. 3 to be formed
in segmental lines at c and d, but in straight and parallel lines at e and f
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a piece of metal formed segmentally on its outer
edge so as to complete the circle in conjunction with the part c in
Fig. 3, and also in the part corresponding with the part d in Fig. 3.
This piece of metal is also formed with two parallel lines to correspond.
with those at e and f in Fig. 3, and it is fixed by pins or screw to the
plate (Fig. 3) so as to admit of its being raised on its pivot into the
position shewn in Fig. 6. By forming the plate (Fig. 3) and the piece
of metal (Fig. 5) respectively with parallel parts as shewn, the required
freedom of motion of the said piece of metal on its pivot is provided for.
From the foregoing description of the separate parts of the winding.
apparatus it will be readily understood that they can be used in combi-
nation by planting the cylinder (Figures 1 and 2) over the spring box,
barrel, or fuzec, then inserting the plate (Fig. 3) with the piece of metal
(Fig. 5) pivotted to it in the said cylinder, and fixing the said plate to
the ordinary square axis for winding. By raising the piece of metal

page_text: into the position shown in Fig. 6 it will serve as a small lever for
turning the square axis and winding as usual. After winding the
piece of metal is put down again so as to be flush with the surface of
the plate. Fig. 7 is a plan and Fig. 8 an edge view of the metal cup
applied to the central axis of the hands for setting the hands. This cup
is toothed or roughened on the face as shewn, and can thus be turned so
as to move the axis and with it the hands of the watch in order to set
them as required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we
claim as of our Invention is,-
First. The winding apparatus consisting of a cylinder plate and piece
of metal respectively adapted to be used in combination in the manner
and for the purpose described.
And, secondly. The apparatus for setting the hands as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alexander Watkins and Robert
Cory Hanrott, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lanc.
ALEXANDER WATKINS. (L.S.)
ROBT. C. HANROTT.
(L.S.)