Pocket Watch Database

Pocket Watch Regulators

The regulator is used to adjust the balance wheel's rate of oscillation in order to improve accuracy of the watch. Several varieties of watch regulators were used in movement designs, most of which were patented, often called "Patent Regulators." The best regulators offer extreme precision while adjusting the rate of oscillation. A patent regulator was often an indicator of quality.

Regulator Name Inventor Primary Manufacturer Patent Date Patent
Aurora
Johnson Aurora
Ball
Webster C. Ball
Cleveland, Ohio
Ball/Elgin Aug 18 1896 Patent #565955
Bischel
G. Bischel
Sedalia, Missouri
Gruen/Columbus Watch Co. May 28 1878 Patent #204287
Bitner
A. Bitner
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster Penn. Watch Co., Keystone Watch Co. Oct 10 1882 Patent #265568
Bitner
A. Bitner
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster Watch Co. Oct 10 1882 Patent #265568
Bosley
Plain, Simple, Free, Common
Joseph Bosley Many c. 1755
Chalmers
David W. Chalmers
Springfield, Illinois
Illinois Dec 19 1882 Patent #269385
Church 1885
Starwheel
Duane H. Church
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham Feb 17 1885 Patent #312253
Church 1892
Starwheel
Duane H. Church
Newton, Massachusetts
Waltham Oct 11 1892 Patent #484176
Columbus Spring
(Reed Variant) Columbus Watch Co. Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Dustproof Plain
(Bosley Variant) Lancaster Watch Co. c. 1755
E. Howard 1921
Unknown E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone)
E. Howard Reed
George P. Reed
Roxbury, Massachusetts
E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone) Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
E. Howard Type 2
Unknown E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone)
Elgin "Old Style"
Unknown Elgin
Elson 1870
Julius Elson
Boston, Massachusetts
U.S. Watch Co. (Marion, NJ) Mar 8 1870 Patent #100511
Estell
Samuel F. Estell
Richmond, Indiana
Swiss Jan 14 1868 Patent #73240
Fogg
Charles W. Fogg
Middlesex, Massachusetts
Waltham Feb 2 1864 Patent #41461
Goldthwait
Hamilton Regulator
William Goldthwait
Long Meadow, Massachusetts
Hamilton May 6 1890 Patent #427072
Goold
F.C. Goold (1/2 Assigned to J.P. Lowell)
Boston, Massachusetts
Various Oct 17 1882 Patent #266256
Hamilton Spring
(Reed Variant) Hamilton Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Hampden Screw
Small Rack & Pinion
Unknown Hampden
Hampden Star
Starwheel Rack & Pinion
Unknown Hampden
Hart
Edwin Hart
New Haven, Connecticut
New England Watch Co. Apr 14 1899 Patent #621245
Hawkins
M.C. Hawkins and C.T. Higginbothom
Edinborough, Pennsylvania
New York Watch Co. Aug 1 1876 Patent #180579
Howard
Clarence M. Howard
Fredonia, New York
Peoria, Fredonia Mar 31 1885 Patent #314672
Hurd 1874
Joseph W. Hurd
Grand Crossing, Illinois
Rockford Jun 2 1874 Patent #151537
Hurd 1887
Joseph W. Hurd
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora Aug 30 1887 Patent #369006
Illinois Screw
Unknown Illinois
Illinois Spring
Unknown Illinois
Illinois Whipspring
(Reed Variant) Illinois Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Lancaster Plain
(Bosley Variant) Lancaster Watch Co. c. 1755
Marion Plain In
(Bosley Variant) U.S. Watch Co. (Marion, NJ) c. 1755
Marion Plain Out
(Bosley Variant) U.S. Watch Co. (Marion, NJ) c. 1755
Matheson
William M. Matheson
Waltham, Massachusetts
U.S. Watch Co. (Waltham) Apr 14 1893 Patent #493508
Mershon 1860
Ralph S. Mershon
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
E. Howard Feb 7 1860 Patent #RE892
Moseley
Traveling Nut
Charles S. Moseley and George Hunter
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin Nov 17 1874 Patent #157021
New York Standard Plain
(Bosley Variant) New York Standard Watch Co. c. 1755
New York Standard Type 2
(Reed Variant) New York Standard Watch Co. Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
New York Standard Type 3
(Reed Variant) New York Standard Watch Co. Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
New York Standard Type 4
(Reed Variant) New York Standard Watch Co. Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
New York Standard Type 5
Shipwheel
New York Standard Watch Co.
New York Standard Type 6
Starwheel
New York Standard Watch Co.
Ohlson 1906
Olof Ohlson
Newton, Massachusetts
Waltham Apr 17 1906 Patent #818043
Ohlson 1908
Olof Ohlson
Newton, Massachusetts
Waltham Jul 28 1908 Patent #894457
Oliver
Richard Oliver
Brooklyn, New York
Richard Oliver May 9 1882 Patent #257511
Owen
W.W. Owen
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Watch Co. Feb 9 1886 Patent #336060
Porter
Wilson E. Porter
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven Feb 8 1910 Patent #948652
Reed
Whipspring, Whiplash, Gooseneck
George P. Reed
Boston, Massachusetts
Many Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Rockford Plain
(Bosley Variant) Rockford c. 1755
Rockford Type 1
(Hurd 1874 Variant)
Grand Crossing, Illinois
Rockford Jun 2 1874 Patent #151537
Rockford Type 3
(Reed Variant) Rockford Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Rockford Type 4
Unknown Rockford
Rockford Type 5
Unknown Rockford
Rockford Type 6
(Reed Variant) Rockford Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Rockford Type 7
(Reed Variant) Rockford Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Rockford Type 8
Unknown Rockford
Seth Thomas Spring
(Reed Variant) Seth Thomas Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Seth Thomas Star
Seth Thomas
Short Tadpole
Fogg Tadpole
Charles W. Fogg
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham
South Bend Needle
Unknown South Bend
South Bend Nut
Unknown South Bend
South Bend Spring
Unknown South Bend
Stevens
J.P. Stevens
Atlanta, Georgia
J.P. Stevens Sep 19 1882 Patent #264787
Teske
Charles Teske
Saratoga Springs, New York
Hampden and Aftermarket Installations Oct 5 1875 Patent #168429
Teske Angled
Charles Teske
Saratoga Springs, New York
Hampden and Aftermarket Installations Oct 5 1875 Patent #168429
Tompion
Thomas Tompion Various Fusee c. 1674
Warren
Andrew Warren
Waltham, Massachusetts
Tremont Sep 17 1867 Patent #69053
Wheeler 1880
Phillip H. Wheeler
Springfield, Illinois
Illinois Jun 22 1880 Patent #229215
Wheeler 1886
Phillip H. Wheeler
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Watch Co. Dec 14 1886 Patent #354283
Wilmot
Nautilus
Francois Wilmot
New York, New York
Various Swiss Jul 16 1872 Patent #129197
Woerd 1870
Charles Vander Woerd
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham Dec 27 1870 Patent #110614
Woerd 1870 B
Charles Vander Woerd
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham Dec 27 1870 Patent #110614
Woerd 1877
Long Tadpole
Charles Vander Woerd
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham Nov 27 1877 Patent #197710
Zahm
H.L. and E.J. Zahm
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Cornell Oct 1 1867 Patent #69381
Regulator Name Inventor Primary Manufacturer Patent Date Patent
Allen
J.P. Allen and W.P. Banta
Springfield, Ohio
Mar 1 1870 Patent #100246
Aurora
Johnson Aurora
Awalt
J.A. Awalt
Anderson, Indiana
Oct 11 1881 Patent #248126
Ball
Webster C. Ball
Cleveland, Ohio
Ball/Elgin Aug 18 1896 Patent #565955
Bischel
G. Bischel
Sedalia, Missouri
Gruen/Columbus Watch Co. May 28 1878 Patent #204287
Bitner
A. Bitner
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster Penn. Watch Co., Keystone Watch Co. Oct 10 1882 Patent #265568
Bitner
A. Bitner
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster Watch Co. Oct 10 1882 Patent #265568
Blake
Charles R. Blake
Frankfort, Indiana
Oct 2 1883 Patent #285959
Bolton
Thomas R. Bolton
New York, New York
Mar 19 1901 Patent #670364
Bosley
Plain, Simple, Free, Common
Joseph Bosley Many c. 1755
Boynett
E.G. Boynett
Jersey City, New Jersey
Aug 1 1876 Patent #180531
Brun
Joseph Brun
Neuchatel, Switzerland
Apr 18 1906 Patent #824466
Buckingham
Frank W. Buckingham
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Sep 15 1908 Patent #898962
Chalmers
David W. Chalmers
Springfield, Illinois
Illinois Dec 19 1882 Patent #269385
Church 1885
Starwheel
Duane H. Church
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham Feb 17 1885 Patent #312253
Church 1892
Starwheel
Duane H. Church
Newton, Massachusetts
Waltham Oct 11 1892 Patent #484176
Clark
Jedidiah P. Clark
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 9 1871 Patent #114644
Clausen
A.C. Clausen (1/2 Assigned to J.C. Slafter)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Feb 12 1884 Patent #293420
Colby
Caleb K. Colby
Brooklyn, New York
Jun 27 1899 Patent #627817
Colby 1899
Caleb K. Colby
Brooklyn, New York
Jun 13 1899 Patent #627053
Columbus Spring
(Reed Variant) Columbus Watch Co. Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Comstock
T.C. Comstock and T.H. Butler
Indianapolis, Indiana
Apr 19 1881 Patent #240386
Conover
William Wallace Conover
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Apr 5 1904 Patent #756589
Cowles
I.C. Cowles
Syracuse, New York
Nov 14 1876 Patent #184229
DeLong
Charles DeLong
South McAlester, Indian Territory
Jan 17 1905 Patent #780160
Dennison
A.L. Dennison
Waltham, Massachusetts
Dec 11 1860 Patent #30873
Ducommun
Armand Ducommun
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Oct 13 1891 Patent #460957
Dustproof Plain
(Bosley Variant) Lancaster Watch Co. c. 1755
E. Howard 1921
Unknown E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone)
E. Howard Reed
George P. Reed
Roxbury, Massachusetts
E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone) Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
E. Howard Type 2
Unknown E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone)
Eaton
L. Eaton
Worcester, Massachusetts
Dec 28 1880 Patent #235940
Eddy
N.J. Eddy
Portland, Michigan
Jun 1 1886 Patent #342864
Eldredge
D. W. Eldredge Feb 22 1870
Elgin "Old Style"
Unknown Elgin
Elson 1870
Julius Elson
Boston, Massachusetts
U.S. Watch Co. (Marion, NJ) Mar 8 1870 Patent #100511
Elson 1871
Julius Elson Apr 4 1871
Engwall
Oscar F. Engwall
Chicago, Illinois
Feb 24 1903 Patent #721361
Engwall 1899
Oscar F. Engwall
Chicago, Illinois
Jun 7 1899 Patent #635760
Erikson
Laurence Erikson
Evanston, Illinois
Jan 15 1901 Patent #665889
Estell
Samuel F. Estell
Richmond, Indiana
Swiss Jan 14 1868 Patent #73240
Fasoldt
C. Fasoldt
Rome, New York
Apr 5 1864 Patent #42175
Fogg
Charles W. Fogg
Middlesex, Massachusetts
Waltham Feb 2 1864 Patent #41461
Gaarder
Simon L. Gaarder
Pope, Minnesota
Sep 8 1891 Patent #459278
Gauthier
Agile N. Gauthier
New Orleans, Louisiana
Aug 13 1895 Patent #544576
Geiger
Charles M. Geiger
Salt Lake City, Utah
Aug 13 1901 Patent #680325
Goldthwait
Hamilton Regulator
William Goldthwait
Long Meadow, Massachusetts
Hamilton May 6 1890 Patent #427072
Goold
F.C. Goold (1/2 Assigned to J.P. Lowell)
Boston, Massachusetts
Various Oct 17 1882 Patent #266256
Grandjean
E.F.L. Grandjean
Bienne, Switzerland
Dec 18 1888 Patent #394919
Hamilton Spring
(Reed Variant) Hamilton Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Hampden Screw
Small Rack & Pinion
Unknown Hampden
Hampden Star
Starwheel Rack & Pinion
Unknown Hampden
Hart
Edwin Hart
New Haven, Connecticut
New England Watch Co. Apr 14 1899 Patent #621245
Hawkins
M.C. Hawkins and C.T. Higginbothom
Edinborough, Pennsylvania
New York Watch Co. Aug 1 1876 Patent #180579
Hill
A. Hill
New York, New York
Nov 6 1866 Patent #59394
Hoffman
Charles M. Hoffman
White River Junction, Vermont
Dec 26 1882 Patent #269670
Horton
W.H. Horton
Jersey City, New Jersey
May 7 1870 Patent #103190
Howard
Clarence M. Howard
Fredonia, New York
Peoria, Fredonia Mar 31 1885 Patent #314672
Howard 1881
Clarence M. Howard
Fredonia, New York
Mar 22 1881 Patent #239167
Hurd 1874
Joseph W. Hurd
Grand Crossing, Illinois
Rockford Jun 2 1874 Patent #151537
Hurd 1887
Joseph W. Hurd
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora Aug 30 1887 Patent #369006
Hyde
J.L. Hyde
New York, New York
Jan 15 1867 Patent #61204
Illinois Screw
Unknown Illinois
Illinois Spring
Unknown Illinois
Illinois Whipspring
(Reed Variant) Illinois Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Jewett
A. Jewett
Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 2 1867 Patent #63525
Johanson
Olof Johanson
New York, New York
Dec 19 1899 Patent #639578
Johnson
John A. Johnson
Rockford, Illinois
Mar 29 1881 Patent #239387
Johnson 1868
Frank G. Johnson Sep 8 1868 Patent #81907
Jones
C.E. Jones
Elgin, Illinois
Jun 28 1887 Patent #365688
Jones 1869
E.A. Jones
Boston, Massachusetts
Feb 2 1869 Patent #86411
Kaul
P & C Kaul (1/3 Assigned to E. Zeitz)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Jul 14 1885 Patent #322185
Keeping
F. Keeping
New York, New York
Sep 15 1874 Patent #155031
Kinehan 1881
Charles R. Kinehan
Springfield, Illinois
Nov 8 1881 Patent #249367
Kinehan 1891
Charles R. Kinehan
Canton, Ohio
Dec 29 1891 Patent #465935
Klahn
Emil Klahn
Jersey City, New Jersey
Mar 8 1892 Patent #470298
Kochendarfer
Sirus Edward Kochendarfer
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Apr 19 1892 Patent #473422
Lancaster Plain
(Bosley Variant) Lancaster Watch Co. c. 1755
Landmann
J.C. Landmann
Dutch Flat, California
Dec 26 1882 Patent #269588
Lange
Richard Lange
Glashtte, Saxony, Germany
Dec 13 1902 Patent #736117
Levasseur
J.C. Levasseur
Milianah, Algeria
Dec 28 1886 Patent #355093
MacNutt
Ezra MacNutt
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 2 1875 Patent #169458
Marion Plain In
(Bosley Variant) U.S. Watch Co. (Marion, NJ) c. 1755
Marion Plain Out
(Bosley Variant) U.S. Watch Co. (Marion, NJ) c. 1755
Mason
C.E. Mason
Columbus, Ohio
Nov 6 1883 Patent #288086
Matheson
William M. Matheson
Waltham, Massachusetts
U.S. Watch Co. (Waltham) Apr 14 1893 Patent #493508
McIntyre
Federick McIntyre
Kankakee, Illinois
Oct 20 1914 Patent #1114500
Merkelbach
A. Merkelbach
Bienne, Switzerland
May 26 1885 Patent #318780
Mershon 1860
Ralph S. Mershon
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
E. Howard Feb 7 1860 Patent #RE892
Mershon 1875
Ralph S. Mershon
Zanesville, Ohio
Sep 7 1875 Patent #167407
Mertz
Carl W. Mertz
Republic, Michigan
Jun 22 1880 Patent #229162
Miller
J.A. Miller
Paducah, Kentucky
May 25 1875 Patent #163680
Moseley
Traveling Nut
Charles S. Moseley and George Hunter
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin Nov 17 1874 Patent #157021
New York Standard Plain
(Bosley Variant) New York Standard Watch Co. c. 1755
New York Standard Type 2
(Reed Variant) New York Standard Watch Co. Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
New York Standard Type 3
(Reed Variant) New York Standard Watch Co. Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
New York Standard Type 4
(Reed Variant) New York Standard Watch Co. Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
New York Standard Type 5
Shipwheel
New York Standard Watch Co.
New York Standard Type 6
Starwheel
New York Standard Watch Co.
Nobs
Charles Nobbs
Newark, New Jersey
Jan 13 1891 Patent #444458
Norton
R.G. Norton
Madison, Wisconsin
Dec 22 1908 Patent #907521
Ohlson 1906
Olof Ohlson
Newton, Massachusetts
Waltham Apr 17 1906 Patent #818043
Ohlson 1907
Olof Ohlson
Middlesex, Massachusetts
Jul 30 1907 Patent #861884
Ohlson 1908
Olof Ohlson
Newton, Massachusetts
Waltham Jul 28 1908 Patent #894457
Oliver
Richard Oliver
Brooklyn, New York
Richard Oliver May 9 1882 Patent #257511
Owen
W.W. Owen
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Watch Co. Feb 9 1886 Patent #336060
Parker
S.G. Parker
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Jan 21 1879 Patent #211584
Platt
Aloys Platt
Brooklyn, New York
Feb 8 1887 Patent #357333
Platt 1879
Aloys Platt
New York, New York
Nov 11 1879 Patent #221606
Porter
Wilson E. Porter
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven Feb 8 1910 Patent #948652
Reed
Whipspring, Whiplash, Gooseneck
George P. Reed
Boston, Massachusetts
Many Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Reed 1865
George P. Reed
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Apr 1 1865 Patent #49154
Reed 1885
George P. Reed
Melrose, Massachusetts
Feb 3 1885 Patent #311609
Richmond
Rome B. Richmond
Decatur. Illinois
Jan 1 1889 Patent #395351
Rockford Plain
(Bosley Variant) Rockford c. 1755
Rockford Type 1
(Hurd 1874 Variant)
Grand Crossing, Illinois
Rockford Jun 2 1874 Patent #151537
Rockford Type 3
(Reed Variant) Rockford Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Rockford Type 4
Unknown Rockford
Rockford Type 5
Unknown Rockford
Rockford Type 6
(Reed Variant) Rockford Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Rockford Type 7
(Reed Variant) Rockford Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Rockford Type 8
Unknown Rockford
Roux
E.J. Roux and L.U. Fatio (Assigners to Vacheron & Constantin)
Geneva, Switzerland
Jan 8 1884 Patent #291780
Ruttmann
Carl Ruttmann
Jersey City, New Jersey
Nov 27 1883 Patent #289359
Sandmark
Swen P. Sandmark
Ishpeming, Michigan
May 19 1885 Patent #318208
Sandoz
Henri Sandoz
Tavannes, Bern, Switzerland
May 21 1901 Patent #674712
Schimmel
Federick W. Schimmel
1889-11-05
Nov 5 1889 Patent #414449
Seth Thomas Spring
(Reed Variant) Seth Thomas Feb 5 1867 Patent #61867
Seth Thomas Star
Seth Thomas
Shear
W.H. Shear
Albany, New York
Dec 25 1888 Patent #395182
Shive
D. Shive (1/2 Assigned to B.F. Dubois)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 28 1883 Patent #284079
Short Tadpole
Fogg Tadpole
Charles W. Fogg
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham
Sloan
Samuel Sloan
New Haven, Connecticut
Jan 29 1907 Patent #842431
South Bend Needle
Unknown South Bend
South Bend Nut
Unknown South Bend
South Bend Spring
Unknown South Bend
Staflin
Nicolas Staflin
Chicago, Illinois
Jun 17 1873 Patent #140090
Stevens
J.P. Stevens
Atlanta, Georgia
J.P. Stevens Sep 19 1882 Patent #264787
Teske
Charles Teske
Saratoga Springs, New York
Hampden and Aftermarket Installations Oct 5 1875 Patent #168429
Teske 1874
Charles Teske
Saratoga Springs, New York
Oct 20 1874 Patent #156046
Teske 1881
Charles Teske
Hartford, Connecticut
Apr 12 1881 Patent #240053
Teske 1889
Charles Teske
Hartford, Connecticut
Mar 5 1889 Patent #398987
Teske Angled
Charles Teske
Saratoga Springs, New York
Hampden and Aftermarket Installations Oct 5 1875 Patent #168429
Thompson
John Thompson
Rochester, New York
Nov 27 1877 Patent #197687
Todd
Hiram Todd
Columbus, Ohio
Dec 3 1867 Patent #71666
Tompion
Thomas Tompion Various Fusee c. 1674
Tucker
Improperly Claimed Usage on Hampden Movements
William B. Tucker
Hillsborough, Ohio
Aug 27 1867 Patent #68324
Tucker #2
William B. Tucker
Hillsborough, Ohio
Dec 10 1867 Patent #71924
Tuttle
George I. Tuttle
Aurora, Illinois
Nov 25 1884 Patent #308448
Tuttle 1886
George I. Tuttle
Aurora, Illinois
Feb 16 1886 Patent #336360
Warren
Andrew Warren
Waltham, Massachusetts
Tremont Sep 17 1867 Patent #69053
Weiand
W. Weiand
New Bremen, Ohio
May 10 1887 Patent #362559
Welles
H.W. Welles
Poughkeepsie, New York
Oct 16 1888 Patent #391101
Wheeler 1880
Phillip H. Wheeler
Springfield, Illinois
Illinois Jun 22 1880 Patent #229215
Wheeler 1886
Phillip H. Wheeler
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Watch Co. Dec 14 1886 Patent #354283
Wiens
John J. Wiens
Quincy, Washington
Oct 27 1908 Patent #902034
Wilmot
Nautilus
Francois Wilmot
New York, New York
Various Swiss Jul 16 1872 Patent #129197
Woerd 1870
Charles Vander Woerd
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham Dec 27 1870 Patent #110614
Woerd 1870 B
Charles Vander Woerd
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham Dec 27 1870 Patent #110614
Woerd 1877
Long Tadpole
Charles Vander Woerd
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham Nov 27 1877 Patent #197710
Zahm
H.L. and E.J. Zahm
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Cornell Oct 1 1867 Patent #69381