• Born: 19 Nov 1849, East Concord NH

  General notes:

Jeweler

  Events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1880 census taken at Boston MA, listed as a manufacturing jeweler.

• He was issued design patent number 360,105 on 29 Mar 1887
  
  CHARLES F. MORRILL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
  
  WATCH-CASE.
  
  Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,105, dated March 29, 1887.
  Application filed January 4, 1866.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MORRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hunting-Watch Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.
  This invention relates to "watch-cases," and has for its object the construction of a hunting, stem-winding, dust-proof case, within which is to be inclosed a "movement."
  My invention consists, chiefly, in the combination of a movement-box having its back closed, as well as its sides, with, an exterior cover of similar construction, within which it is nested, and an interposed ring shaped core on which the outer cover is formed as a matrix.
  It also consists in the combination, with said parts, of a dust-ring within said movement box, and a bezel held between the case and the dust-ring, as hereinafter set forth.
  The drawings represent, in Figure 1, a vertical central section of a watch-case embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a modification in the attachment of the crystal; while Fig. 3 represents a section of the pendant and pendant-arbor, as herein constructed.
  In the drawings, A represents the base-metal core, cast of the desired form and then finished in a lathe. This, as will be seen, is rounded upon its lower exterior portion, to be adapted and to conform with the back portion or cover, B, of the watch-case proper, which is to be made of some valuable material. This back is to be struck up from an integral plate, and hence will be seamless. After being struck up it is inclosed and compressed about the core A, which serves as a matrix. Thus where the two are completed and adapted to receive a movement-box they form an integral component part of the watch-case.
  Upon the interior face of the core A, I have cast or cut an annular slot, a, for purposes hereinafter explained. At C, I have represented a movement-box formed integrally of some low-grade metal, plated or otherwise, and upon which is constructed an exteriorly-projecting lip, b, while a riser, c, is cut interiorly of said box. The lip 5 is adapted to support the movement-box upon the core, while the riser c, as is usual, engages with a dust-ring, D, in closing the movement. Both said movement-box and said dust-ring are inclosed at the sides and back, forming broad shallow saucer - like cells, the one nested within the other, the core A being between them.
  Contrary to general practice, I propose to secure the crystal-holding bezel d to the dust-ring, as shown in Fig. 2, or, if preferred, in the manner represented in Fig. 3, in which the bezel is not employed, but the crystal F is set into the dust-ring D. As is usual in hunting-cases, the spring-actuated front cover, G, is hinged to the core A, and is provided with the ordinary plate-spring, e, which is to be contained within the annular slot a, before mentioned. Located diametrically opposite thereto is the catch-spring f, similarly fitting within the slot and adapted to hold the cover G closed.
  It will thus be seen that I have provided, in fact, two watch-cases, one within the other, the exterior one being mainly composed of some high-grade or valuable metal, and consists of the cast base-metal core A, seamless back B, and spring-actuated cover G, while the second or interior case is composed of the following parts: The movement-box C and dust ring D, to which is secured the crystal-holding bezel. By this means a dust-proof case or box is obtained containing the movement, which is itself contained within the case proper, for the purpose of more fully protecting the movement from dust and dampness, the exterior case serving to give the entire device a rich and tasty appearance, since it is composed of gold, silver, or analogous materials.
  In fitting the movement within a case containing my improvements, especially in pendant-set movements, it is frequently necessary to remove the pendant-arbor, as it projects through into the interior of the case and presents an obstacle to the introduction of the movement. Accordingly I have endeavored to form a pendant-arbor which shall be capable of easy and ready removal, and have shown this arbor at g as capable of end wise movement within an exteriorly screw-threaded annulus, h, which tightly engages with a sleeve, H. This sleeve is inclosed within the hollow tubular bore of the pendant 1, and is secured therein by a screw, j, which is adapted to engage with a peripheral slot, k cut in the sleeve H, before mentioned. I am aware, however, that a pendant-arbor capable of end wise movement within a screw-threaded annulus secured to the pendant has been employed; but to remove the arbor the annulus must be unscrewed and disengaged from the pendant, while in my device the removal of the retaining-screw j will not only very easily and successfully accomplish the same result, but in a very much shorter space of time.
  I claim—
  1. An outer cover and movement-box, each. consisting of a shell closed at bottom and sides and nested together, as shown, in combination with an interposed annular metallic core, substantially as set forth.
  2. An outer cover, B, and movement-box C, closed at sides and bottom and nested' together, as shown, in combination with an interposed annular core, A, a dust-ring, D, arranged within said movement-box, and a bezel, d, held between said dust-ring and said core, substantially as set forth.
  
  In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.
  
  Charles F. Morrill
  
  Witnesses:
  H. E. Lodge
  F. Curtis