Year: 1877

A simple and Valuable American Ia


Every owner of a key-winding watch
will be interested in device which has
iust been patented by w. II. Bracy OF
this city, formerly with the American
Watch Company. by which all the disad-
vantages supposed TO exist between =
key-winding and stem-winding move
ment will be more than offset. The in
vention provides the means for winding
a watch by device which OF itself forms
a portion of the watch, fitting closely on
the post, and dispcnses with the necessity
of a separate key. In applying the
winder a circular opening is made in the
cap directly over the drum containing
the handspring. and in this opening is
fitted thin circular plate. having on its
upper side hinged thumb-piece, by
means of which the device is rotated,
and which is capable of being folded or
turned down to either side, so as TO lie
Hat on the circular plate without inter-
fering with the outer casing when the
watch is closed. A spring on the under
side OF the device serves to keep the
lhumb-piece in an elevated position and
prevent its falling on either side when
the watch is being wound. The device
can be readily attached to watches now
in use without interfering with the works
or with the. cases when closed; and.
although forming portion of the watch,
the device can easily be taken out and
used for turning the hands like an ordi-
nary watch key. The plate forming the
base OF the device is so arranged as TO
prevent the entrance of dust into the
works Of the watch. as is inevitable in
the cases OF ordinary key winders. The
surface OF the winder. being OF greater
diameter than the ordinary key affords
facilities for winding with greater steadl-
ness and evenness OF rotation. which
goes far in assuring the durability and
time-keeping qualities of the watch. This
wnder in no way affects the running
time OF the watch, no matter how care
lessly it may be wound, and in this re-
spect the attachment is superior TO
the stem winders now in use, for it is
an acknowledged fact that SO complicated
are The connections between the stem
winding device and the works OF watch
tina. any dlSarrangement OF the ioimer Is
sure to affect the running time, however
nicely adjusted it may be, and to necessi-
tate an expensive. annoying series OF re-
pairs. Experience has proved that cheap
stem winders are very poor property,
and this new device, at one-tourth the
cost Of the cheapest stem winde:, is &C
knowledged TO be superior in every re-
spect. Great annoyance and serious IN
convenience frequently result from the
loss Of ordinary watch keys. The ma
terial from which they are made Is gen
orally either OF soft or brittle character,
and as not one key in thousand properly
hts the post Of watch, merely catching
the upper edges OF the four corners, they
soon wear out. and the result is a serious
damage to the works and a disarrange'
meut of the running time.


The only winding device in any way
similar before the public was Swiss in-
venlion. which. though designed TO an
swer the purpose OF winding attach
ment, had this obstacle TO its general
introduction watch must be construct
ed to conform with the peculiarties OF
the winder, and when once the latter was
injured the entire movement was render
ed useless until repaired. The thumb
piece also, turning on a circle. instead OF
the centre Gas does the American wind
er), was much less convenient, and was,
in fact, so little in demand that but few
were ever manufactured.


! The inventor OF the American winder
has associated himself with prominent
business man. well known on State
street. and arrangements are being per-
fected which will result in placing this
valuable invention before the public at a
comparatively small cost. Tue winder
has been patented in several foreign
countries, and its reputation is destined.
ere long. to be world wide.-BoSton Sun
1o,i H9r1h