Im.. PROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Wilson, in the Employ of Messieurs.
Henry William Dee and Louis Dee, of 8, Sherwood Street, Golden
Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "Im..
PROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS."
Sealed the 28th August 1868, and dated the 29th June 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Wilson.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th June 1868.
I, GEORGE HENRY WILSON, in the Employ of Messieurs Henry.
William Dee and Louis Dee, of 8, Sherwood Street, Golden Square,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS," to be
as follows:
My Invention consists, first, of a new mode of and mechanism for t
winding; secondly, of a new mode of and mechanisn for setting or
adjusting the hands; and, thirdly, of a new mode of and mechanism for
adjustment to equalize the force of the mainspring, which mechanism
also prevents overwinding.

page_text: The first part of my Invention consists in winding watches or other
timekeepers by revolving the back or front, or dome or band, or other
part of the case of the timekeeper, or a band or disc or plate not forming
part of the case, the revolving part being connected by wheels with the
arbor of the mainspring.
In carrying out this part of my Invention, the portion of the watch
which is made to revolve, say the back of the case, carries a wheel
which gears into another wheel on the mainspring arbor. I introduce
a friction plate between the revolving back and the dome, and to prevent
any dirt getting into the watch from between the revolving back of
the case and the dome I form a rim or ring round an aperture in the
friction plate, in which the wheel carried by the case revolves, and I
apply below the dome a plate having a circular aperture which exactly
fits over a cup or ring round the wheel on the mainspring arbor; the
rim or ring on the friction plate prevents the ingress of dirt, but should
any get passed this rim it is stopped by the cup or ring round the wheel
on the mainspring arbor. To prevent accident by winding the wrong
way the under rim of the revolving back is toothed, and a spring or
paul takes into the teeth as the revolving back is moved round. The
chief object of this part of my Invention is to wind the watch from the
exterior.
The second part of my Invention, relating to setting or adjusting the
hands, consists of a circular plate, wheels, ratchet, detent, and springs.
An arm of the detent projects through the case, and when pressed
releases a circular plate which also projects through the case; by then
rotating this circular plate a ratchet wheel thereon actuates a spring
paul on a toothed wheel so that rotary motion is imparted to this
wheel; this motion is transmitted by an intermediate wheel to the
In some cases I
wheel carrying the minute hand.
the
arrange
mechanism so that when the circular plate is pressed it comes against
a wheel, and when then revolved the motion is transmitted to the wheel
carrying the band. The chief object of this part of my Invention is to
set the hands from the exterior of the watch, the main features being
the projecting plate and the projecting arm of the detent.
The third part of my Invention, relating to adjustment and to
preventing overwinding, consists of a snail piece and a bearing spring
to press thereon; the snail piece is attached to the barrel or other arbor,
and as the mainspring is being wound up the pressure of the bearing

page_text: spring on the snail piece increases; the force of the mainspring is
thus regulated, because as the power of the mainspring decreases the
pressure of the bearing spring decreases in proportion. The snail piece
and the bearing spring are each provided with a stop or projection;
these stops meet when the mainspring is sufficiently wound, and the
breaking of the mainspring by overwinding is thus obviated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said George Henry Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th December 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HENRY WILSON, in the Employ of Messieurs Henry William Dee and
Louis Dee, of 8, Sherwood Street, Golden Square, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Henry Wilson, Her special
licence that I, the said George Henry Wilson, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Henry
Wilson, 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 WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Henry Wilson, 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 George Henry Wilson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
My Invention consists, first, of a new mode of and mchanism for
winding; secondly, of a new mode of and mechanism for setting or
adjusting the hands; and, thirdly, of a new mode of and mechanism
for adjustment to equalize the force of the mainspring, which mechanism
also prevents overwinding.
The first part of my Invention consists, firstly, in winding watches
or other timekeepers by revolving the back or front, or dome or band,
or other part of the case of the timekeeper, or a band or disc or plate
not forming part of the case, the revolving part being connected by
wheels with the arbor of the mainspring.
In carrying out this part of my Invention the portion of the watch
which is made to revolve, say the back of the case, carrics a wheel which
gears into another wheel on the mainspring arbor. I introduce a
friction plate between the revolving back and the dome, and to prevent
any dirt getting into the watch from between the revolving back of
the case and the dome I form a ring or rim round an aperture in
the friction plate, in which the wheel carried by the back revolves,
and I apply below the dome a plate having a circular aperture which
exactly fits over a cup or ring round the wheel on the mainspring
arbor; the rim or ring on the friction plate prevents the ingress of dirt,
but should any get past this rim it is stopped by the cup or ring round
the wheel on the mainspring arbor. To prevent accident by winding
the wrong way the under rim of the revolving back is toothed and a
spring or paul takes into the teeth as the revolving back is moved
round; or for this purpose I attach a spring paul to the inside of the
revolving back to take into ratchet teeth on the edge of the friction
plate. The chief object of this part of my Invention is to wind the
watch from the exterior.
This part of my Invention will be understood by Figures 1 to 10 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Figures 1 to 7 show a watch in which the winding is effected by
rotating the back. Figure 1 is an inside view of the back, and Figure 2
is a section of the same; Figure 3 is a face view of the upper plate of
the watch, and Figure 4 a section of the same; Figure 5 is a view

page_text: of the back or outside face of the dome, and Figure 6 is a section, and
Figure 7 a view of the inside face of the same.
« is the back of the watch; b, b, the band; c, the dome; d,. the
friction plate; and e, the upper plate. The back a is free to rotate on
its centre, where it carries a wheel of which gears into a wheel g on
the mainspring arbor. The friction plate d is introduced between the
rotating back a and the dome c. h is an aperture in the friction plate d
and in the dome c, in which aperture the wheel f revolves; i is a rim
or ring on the plate d around the aperture to prevent ingress of
dirt; is a plate below and attached to the dome c. This plate has
a circular aperture which fits over a cup or ring m round the wheel g
on the mainspring arbor. This cup m prevents any dirt which may
get past the ring i getting into the works. n, n, are ratchet teeth on
the inside of the revolving back a; a spring or tongue o forming part
of the friction plate d. takes into these teeth. In winding the watch,
if the operator attempts to turn the back a in the wrong direction, it
is stopped by the tongue o. The manner in which the winding can
be effected by winding the dome is simply to place the wheel fon the
under side of the dome..
Figures 8 and 9 show how the winding may be effected in a fusee
watch, in which case the wheels fand g must continue to move when:
the watch is going. In this case I employ a separate disc j between.
the dome c and the back a. Figure 8 shows the back or outside face-
of the disc j, and Figure 9 shows the upper plate e of the watch, the
dome c and the discj being raised.. f is a wheel carried on the inside
of the revolving disc j and gearing into a wheel g on the fusee arbor...
The winding is effected by rotating the disc j...
Figures. 10 and 11 show an arrangement, chiefly for fusee watches;
in which the winding is effected by causing the back a to turn not on
its axis but on a pin p. The back a carries between itself and the
dome a curved rack q which gears into the wheel g which is mounted
loosely on the fusce arbor. The wheel g carries a paul r which takes
into a rachet wheel s fixed on the arbor. is a stud outside the
back to be used in moving the same.. In moving the back a into.
the position seen in Figure 11, the rack q causes the wheel g to rotate,
and the paul takes into the ratchet wheel 8 and thereby rotates
this wheel and partly winds the mainspring; but in returning the

page_text: back into its normal position (Figure 10) the paul rides over the
ratchet teeth, and the wheels with the arbor does not turn.
The second part of my Invention, relating to setting or adjusting the
hands, consists of a circular plate, wheels, ratchet, detent, and springs.
An arm or slide piece resting against the detent projects through the
oase, and when pressed releases a circular plate which also projects
through the case; by then rotating this circular plate a ratchet wheel
thereon actuates a spring paul on a toothed wheel, so that rotary
motion is imparted to this wheel; this motion is transmitted by an
intermediate wheel to the wheel carrying the minute hand. In some
cases I arrange the mechanism so that when the circular plate is
pressed it comes against a wheel, and when then revolved the motion
is transmitted to the wheel carrying the hands.
The chief object of this part of my Invention is to set the hands from
the exterior of the watch, the main features being the projecting plate
and the projecting arm or slide piece. This part of my Invention is
represented in Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a face view of the watch
with the dial plate removed; Figure 13 is a similar view of a modified
arrangement.
In Figure 12, a is a detent, and its spring; wo is an arm or slide piece
resting against the detent and extending through the edge of the watch
case, The detent bears, as shewn, upon and holds a circular plate or
disc which partly projects through the edge of the case. By pressing
the arm to to release the disc x and by then rotating this disc a ratchet
wheel y thereon actuates a paul z on a toothed wheel 1, thereby im-
parting rotary motion to this wheel; this wheel 1 gears into another
wheel 2, and this wheel in its turn gears into a wheel 3 carrying the
minute hand, while a pinion 4 on the spindle of the wheel 2 gears into
a wheel 5 carrying the hour hand. Should the operator turn the disc x
in the wrong direction the paul z rides over the teeth of the wheel y, and
the wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 do not turn. This arrangement applies to
duplex, striking, and chronometer watches in which the hands ought not
to be moved backwards; for watches in which the hands may be moved
in either direction I prefer the modification shown in Figure 13; here
the disc is carried on the end of a spring arm 6 which in the normal
position keeps the disc pressed out, so that the wheel 1 does not gear with
the wheel 2; but when the disc is released from the detent u, as before
explained, and the disc is pressed inwards to cause the wheel 1 to

page_text: take into the wheel 2, and by simultaneously rotating the disc in the
required direction, the hands are moved forwards or backwards as
required.
Figure 13a represents another modified arrangement in which the
In the
arm w for moving the detent a projects into the bow, as shown.
normal position the disc a cannot be pushed in because the pin a¹ of
the arm a comes against the detent, as seen in the Figure; but when tho
detent is pressed inwards the pin a' can enter the opening as of the
detent, so that the disc x can be pressed inwards to act on the wheels.
When pressure is removed from the arm to and from the disc a the
spring returns the detent to its normal position, and the incline of the
opening a moves back the pin a¹ and arm a with the disc a.
The third part of my Invention, relating to adjustment and to pre-
venting overwinding, consists of a snail piece and a bearing spring to
press thereon; the snail piece is attached to the barrel or other arbor,
and as the mainspring is being wound up the pressure of the bearing
spring on the snail picce increases; the force of the mainspring is thus
regulated, because as the power of the mainspring decreases the pressure
of the bearing spring decreases in proportion. The snail piece and the
bearing spring are each provided with a stop or projection; these stops
meet when the mainspring is sufficiently wound, and the breaking of the
mainspring by overwinding is thus obviated.
This part of my Invention is represented in Figures 14 and 15.
Figure 14 shows the parts in their position when the mainspring is
down or unwound, and Figure 15 shows them when fully wound. 7 is
the mainspring arbor, and 8 is the snail piece thereon; 9 is the bearing
spring, which is fixed at 10 to the main wheel or barrel 11 of the watch;
12 is the stop on the snail piece, and 13 the stop on the spring; the stops
12 and 13 meet, as seen in Figure 15, when the mainspring is fully wound.
Instead of the main wheel 11 gearing into the wheel 14 of the ordinary
train I interpose intermediate wheels 15 and 16 in order that about
three-quarters of a turn of the barrel arbor may suffice to wind the watch.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my
Improvements in Watches and other Timekeepers,"
65
First. Constructing watches and other timekeepers in which the
winding is effected by revolving or turning the back or front, or dome
or band, or other part of the case, or a band or a disc or a plate not

page_text: forming part of the case, the revolving or turning part being connected.
by wheels with the mainspring or fusee arbor, all substantially as herein--
before described and shewn in Figures 1 to 11 of the acccompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. In combination with the rotating part a,. I claim a wheel f
gearing into and driving the wheel 9 on the mainspring or fusce arbor,.
as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Thirdly. In combination with a rotating back a, I claim the friction
plate d, as herein-before described.
.
Fourthly. In combination with the rotating back' a, dome c, friction
plate d, and wheels fand g, I claim a rim or ring i, as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
Fifthly. In combination with a rotating back a, dome c, and wheels
f and g, I claim a plate and cup or ring m, as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
Sixthly. In combination with a rotating part for operating the
wheels fand g, I claim the ratchet teeth n, n, and spring or tongue o,.or
their equivalents, as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Seventhly. In combination with a wheel g on the fusee or mainspring
arbor, I claim a rotating disc j and wheelf (Figures 8 and 9), as and for
the purpose herein-before described.
Eighthly. I claim the modified arrrangement for effecting the winding
represented in Figures 10 and 11 and herein-before described..
Ninthly. I claim constructing watches in which the hands can be set
or adjusted from the outside by rotating a projecting plate or disc,
substantially as herein-before described and shown in Figures 12, 13,
and 13a.
Tenthly. In combination with a projecting plate or disc x, I claim a
detent u, spring v, and projecting arm w, as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Eleventhly. In combination with a projecting plate or disc x, I claim
a wheel y, paul, and wheels 1 and 2, as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Twelfthly. In combination with a projecting plate or disc r and wheels
1 and 2, I claim a spring arm 6, Figure 13, as and for the purpose
herein-before described.

page_text: Thirteenthly. I claim the projecting plate or disc a, detent u, spring v,
arm w, and wheels 1 and 2, all combined together and acting as herein-
before described.
Fourteenthly. I claim a snail piece 8 (Figures 14 and 15) on the
mainspring arbor in combination with a bearing spring 9, as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
Fifteenthly. In combination with the snail piece 8 and spring 9, I
claim stops 12 and 13, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Wilson, have liere-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
G. H. WILSON. (L.S.)