IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH REGULATORS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH REGULATORS." -A communication from
abroad by Charles Teske, of Saratoga Springs, in the County of
Saratoga, and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 16th January 1874, and dated the 27th August 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th August 1873.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH REGULATORS," to be as
follows:
-
This Invention consists of a novel and simple arrangement of well
known principles which renders the regulating of a watch more certain
and easier for the owner than by any other device whatsoever, and is
described as follows:
AL
Dunian
Anto ton view of the improved

page_text: The end of the regulator hand A rests in the grooved pivot head B,
and performs the work of pressing by its own elasticity on the pivot,
and therefore on the nut, thereby assisting the opened nut C to retain a
hold upon
the screw D, which renders the motion of the nut O upon the
-screw D a dead motion, subject to no impulse except from the proper
source, namely, the head of the screw.
5
The head E of the screw D is used in combination with the pointer F,
and is graduated into thirty parts by dots and lines, thus rendering the
direction and amount of motion perfectly visible and under control. The
direction is ascertained by the arrow and "fast" and "slow" engraved 1
on the head.
In order to demonstrate the superiority and more accurate working of
this regulator over any other I will further describe and amplify as
follows: The end of the regulator hand A is brought to an acute edge
and rests in a square groove in the head of the pivot B. This arrange- 1
ment is perfect because it gives a firm even pressure upon the pivot
from each side of the centre, and on the other hand allows the regulator
hand to conform to the two motions, one from its centre along the arc
and the other motion of the nut on the screw in a straight line in a
tangent from the arc, described by the end of the regulator hand A.
This arrangement therefore is perfect as it is, and cannot be simplified
in any way without incapacitating it for the work which it has to do.
The nut C is formed and adapted specially for its purpose; first, it is
of an oblong shape in order that the lower part may lightly rest upon
and easily slide over the bridge or plate. The upper part corresponds in
shape with the lower in order to receive the pivot B, the socket of which
escapes the screw hole.
The hole to receive the screw is made in the usual manner, but the
finishing touch is given by opening the nut, this bringing into play the
elasticity of the sides of the nut and causing it to grasp the screw, pro-
ducing the aforesaid effect of a dead motion not liable to any deflection
or derangement.
The graduated head E of the screw D is one of the most important
parts of the Invention, for by it is its working easily read, understood,
and operated. Being divided into thirty parts, one division represents
one-thirtieth part of the width of the thread of the screw, which is as

page_text: fine as a hair, and no other regulators can move as fine as that. But in
this that is only one-fourth as fine as I can move the point of the regu-
lator hand operating on the hair spring, for as the distance from the
centre of the regulator hand to the centre of the pivot on the nut is
four times as great as from the centre to the pin on the short arm, hence
the distance moved at the short arm is one-fourth as much as that
moved at the pivot on the nut, which by former calculation is ascertained
to be one one hundred and twentieth part of the width of the thread of
the screw. This extremely fine division is ascertained to affect the time
of the watch from one-twelfth to one-sixtieth of a second in twenty-four
hours, according to the sensitiveness of the hair spring. The rate is
however accurately known and such knowledge sent out with the watch,
thereby enabling the owner to regulate his own watch in one movement
and with absolute certainty. This is a very important point, the case
and certainty with which a watch can be regulated by its owner.
There are four small holes in the head E of the screw D at equal
distances from each other to enable the head to be operated by means of
any small pointed instrument, such as a pin, thereby compassing the
desired end in the most simple and certain manner.
The function of the pointer E is double. To enable the graduations
of the head E to be read, and being made of steel and fastened to the
bridge on one side of the bearing of the screw D, its elasticity renders
that bearing perfectly firm and not liable to derangement. This is a
very important point in the arrangement or combination of the parts in
this Invention, that the indispensable firmness necessary to attain the
requisite accuracy of movement is obtained by the novel use of the
elasticity of the parts acting in and on the required situations to produce
the desired effect, and is not as in other Inventions obtained by rigidity
of movement, which in time would relax from wear and the whole
be rendered useless.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, 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 IN WATCH REGULATORS," a communication to me from
abroad by Charles Teske, of Saratoga Springs, in the County of
Saratoga, and State of New York, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I,' the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors or administrators, 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 Melville Olark, do
hereby declare the nature of the 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 accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say):—
This Invention consists of a novel and simple arrangement of well

page_text: and easier for the owner than by any other device, and is described as
follows:-
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a top view, and Figure 2
a longitudinal section taken on the line x, x. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.
The end of the regulator hand A rests in the grooved pivot head B
and performs the work of pressing by its own elasticity on the pivot,
and therefore on the nut, thereby assisting the opened nut C to retain a
hold upon the screw D, which renders the motion of the nut C upon the
screw D a dead motion, subject to no impulse, except from the proper
source, namely, the head of the screw.
The head E of the screw D is used in combination with the pointer F,
and is graduated into thirty parts by dots and lines, thus rendering the
direction and amount of motion perfectly visible and under control.
The direction is ascertained by the arrow, and "fast" and "slow"
engraved on the head.
In order to demonstrate the superiority and more accurate working of
this regulator over any other I will further describe and amplify as
follows:-The end of the regulator hand A is brought to an acute edge
and rests in a square groove in the head of the pivot B. This arrange-
ment gives a firm even pressure upon the pivot from each side of the
centre, and on the other hand allows the regulator hand to conform to
the two motions, one from its centre along the are and the other motion
of the nut on the screw in a straight line in a tangent from the arc,-
described by the end of the regulator hand A. This arrangement there-
fore is perfect, as it is and cannot be simplified in any way without
incapacitating it for the work which it has to do.
The nut C is formed and adapted specially for its purpose; first, it is
of an oblong shape in order that the lower part may lightly rest upon
and easily slide over the bridge or plate. The upper part corresponds in
shape with the lower in order to receive the pivot B, the socket of which
escapes the screw hole.
The hole to receive the screw is made in the úsual manner, but the
finishing touch is given by opening the nut as at G, thus bringing into
play the elasticity of the sides of the nut, and causing it to grasp the
screw, producing the aforesaid effect of a dead motion not liable to any
deflection or derangement,

page_text: The graduated hicad E of the screw D is one of the most important
parts of the Invention, for by it is its working easily read, understood,
and operated. Being divided into thirty parts one division represents
one-thirtieth part of the width of the thread of the screw, which is as
fine as a hair, and no other regulators can move as fine as that. But in
this regulator that is only one-fourth as fine as the point of the regulator
hand can be moved operating on the hair spring, for as the distance
from the centre of the regulator hand (a) to the centre of the pivot on
the nut is four times as great as from the centre (a) to the pin on the
short arm, hence the distance moved at the short arm is one-fourth as
much as that moved at the pivot on the nut, which by former calculation
is ascertained to be one one hundred and twentieth part the width of
the thread of the screw. This extremely fine division is ascertained to
affect the time of the watch from one-twelfth to one-sixtieth of a second
in twenty-four hours, according to the sensitiveness of the hair spring.
The rate however may be accurately known and such knowledge given,
with the watch, thereby enabling the owner to regulate his watch in
one movement and with absolute certainty, which. is a very important
point.
There are four small holes in the head E of the screw D at equal
distances from each other to enable the lead to be operated by means of
any small pointed instrument, such as a pin, thereby compassing the
desired end in the most simple and certain manner.
The function of the pointer F is double to enable the graduations of
the head E to be read, and being made of steel and fastened to the
bridge on one side of the bearing of the screw D its elasticity renders
that bearing perfectly firm and, not liable to derangement. This is a
very important point in the arrangement or combination of the parts in
this Invention that the firmness necessary to attain the requisite accuracy
of movement is obtained by the novel use of the elasticity of the parts
acting in and on the required situations to produce the desired effect,
and is not as in other Inventions obtained by rigidity of movement
which in time would relax from wear, and the whole be rendered
uscless.
An important feature in this regulator is that it is stationary and need

page_text: Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The novel form and use of the nut C, as shown and for the
purposes described.
2ndly. The form, use, and combination of the pivot B with the regu-
lator hand A and with the nut C, as shown, and for the purposes
described.
3rdly. The form, use, and combination of the pointer F in combination.
with the screw D and the head of the screw E, as shown and for the
purposes described.
4thly. The form, use, and combination with the screw D of the
graduated head E pierced with four pin holes, as shown and for the
purposes described.
5thly. The whole combination of the several parts of the regulator,
working as shown, and substantially as and for the purposes described.
. In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
-
four.
Witness,
HENRY W. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane.
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)