IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC DOOR AND OTHER KNOBS, AND THE ORNAMENTS OF THE PILLARS OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE MANU- FACTURE, AND IN ATTACHING METALLIC MOUNTS TO CHINA OR EARTHENWARE KNOBS AND ORNAMENTS AND ROSES FOR KNOBS
Year: 1862

page_text: 4.
LETTERS PATENT. to John Whitehouse, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC DOOR AND OTHER KNOBS, AND THE ORNAMENTS
OF THE PILLARS OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE MANU-
FACTURE, AND IN ATTACHING METALLIC MOUNTS TO CHINA OR EARTHENWARE
KNOBS AND ORNAMENTS AND ROSES FOR KNOBS."
Sealed the 29th July 1862, and dated the 8th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Whitehouse at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th April '1862.
I, JOHN WHITEHOUSE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC DOOR AND OTHER KNOBS, AND THE
ORNAMENTS
NTS OF THE PILLARS OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE
MANUFACTURE, AND IN ATTACHING METALLIC MOUNTS TO CHINA OR EARTHENWARE
KNOBS AND ORNAMENTS AND ROSES FOR KNOBS," to be as follows:-
In manufacturing metallic door and other knobs according to my Inven-
tion,
I make the neck and body of the knobs in separate parts and join the
neck and body by pressure or by any of the other processes practised for
that purpose. I make the neck of the knob from sheet metal by first
raising a disk of brass or other metal into a cup-like form by means of
dies and pressure. I place in the bottom of the cup a socket having either

page_text: a square hole in it or a cylindrical hole with a concave screw according as
the knob is to be used with a square spindle or a cylindrical screwed spindle.
By means of the turning process called spinning I force the metal into close
contact with the socket and secure the said socket in its place and give the
required shape to the neck at the same time. The position of the socket
may be more effectually secured by means of soldering. In small knobs
I dispense with the socket and fix the screw or axis in the neck made by
spinning, by means of zinc, or other easily fused metal or alloy which is melted
and poured into the neck after the end of the screw or axis has been inserted
therein. Or a square or screw socket may be cast in the neck by means
of zinc or other easily fused metal or alloy.
In manufacturing the ornaments of the pillars of metallic bedsteads and
other articles of like manufacture, I make. the same in two or more parts
according to the shape of the ornament. I raise the said parts from sheet
metal by the processes of stamping, or pressing and spinning, and I connect
them together by inserting the edge of one part in a groove formed in the
edge of the other part, to which it is to be joined, and closing the groove by
pressure. When the article is a terminal ornament or where a screw is to
be made to engage in it, I fix a screwed socket in its end, in the manner
described with respect to knobs, or a screw may be fixed therein, or a socket
cast therein by zinc or other easily fused metal or alloy. This part of my
Invention is applicable to the manufacture both of the terminal ornaments
of metallic bedsteads and other like articles, and the bulbous ornaments which
are used around parts of the pillars, and is also applicable generally to the
manufacture of such ornaments as have figures which may be produced by
the process of turning. In attaching metallic mounts to china.or earthenware
knobs and ornaments, I insert the mount in the hole in the knob or ornament
and place a square or screwed spindle in the hole in the mount. I then
pour any easily fused metal or alloy through a hole in the mount into the
hollow of the knob or ornament so as to fill the said hollow therewith. The
said metal fixes the mount in its place. The hole formed in the metal by the
spindle used while casting serves for the insertion of the square or screw
spindle to be used with the knob or ornament. In attaching metallic mounts
to china or earthenware roses for knobs, I make the collar or cylindrical
part of the mount with a screw on its outside, and I make a corresponding
concave screw on the inside of the opening in the rose, the screw in the
mount taking into that in the rose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Whitehouse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WHITEHOUSE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Whitehouse, Her special licence, that I, the said John White-
house, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Whitehouse, 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC DOOR AND OTHER KNOBS, AND
THE ORNAMENTS OF THE PILLARS OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER ARTICLES
OF LIKE MANUFACTURE, AND IN ATTACHING METALLIC MOUNTS TO CHINA. OR
EARTHENWARE KNOBS AND ORNAMENTS AND ROSES FOR KNOBS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Whitehouse, 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 John Whitehouse, 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 thereof, that is to say:―
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after particularly explained
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings in the manufacture of door and
other knobs, and the ornaments of the pillars of metallic bedsteads and other
articles of like manufacture, and in attaching metallic mounts 'to china or
earthenware knobs and ornaments, and roses for knobs. In manufacturing
metallic door and other knobs according to my Invention, I make the neck

page_text: and body of the knobs in separate parts and join the neck and body by pressure
or by any
of the processes practised for that purpose. I make the neck of
the knob from sheet metal by first raising a disc of brass or other metal into
a cup like form by means of dies and pressure.
:
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents in section a cup made as described. I
place in the bottom of the cup, Figure 1, a socket a, as represented in section
in Figure 2, the said socket having a square hole b, in its axis. The said
socket a is represented separately in plan and elevation in Figure 3. By
means of the turning process called spinning, I force the metal of the cup
Figure 2 into close contact with the socket a and secure the said socket in its
place and give the required shape to the neck at the same time. Figure 4 repre-
sents in elevation, and Figure 5 in vertical section, a neck made as described,
from the cup and socket Figure 2. The metal covering the bottom of the
hole 6 in the socket a, is perforated, and the groove c formed in the edge of
the neck when the said neck is complete. In place of the square hole b, in
the socket a, into which the square spindle of the knob is inserted, a socket
having a cylindrical hole with a concave screw cut therein may be employed
when the knob is to be used with a cylindrical screwed spindle. Figure 6
represents in section a socket for a screwed spindle and Figure 7 represents
in section a neck of a knob, which has been fixed upon the said socket and
shaped by spinning. The position of the socket may be more effectually
secured by means of soldering after the cup has been spun upon it. Figure 8
represents in section a finished knob made from the neck Figure 7 and the
body Figure 9, the said neck and body being joined together by pressure in
the ordinary way. Instead of fixing the socket in the neck by the spinning
process, the neck may be first shaped by spinning and the socket afterwards
cast in the bottom of the said neck. Figure 10 represents in section a neck
made in this way, the socket d being cast therein, the said socket being made
of zinc or other easily fused metal or alloy. In casting the socket d in the
neck, Figure 10, a square rod is supported in the axis of the said neck and
the metal poured therein. On withdrawing the said square rod, the hole e
left in the socket d into which the square spindle of the knob is inserted.
When a screwed spindle is to be used in the knob, a screwed rod is used
during the casting of the socket d. The neck is finished by cutting away the
metal from underneath the opening e in the socket. The neck may be made
in two pieces as illustrated in Figure 11, that is to say, I make the part f of
the neck by raising and spinning, and I take a screwed socket g, Figure 12
(or a socket with a square hole in it) which socket 9 has been made by casting
and a worm or screw tapped therein in the ordinary manner. The parts f
is

page_text: and g, being placed together in the respective positions represented in Figure 11,
are fixed together by soldering, the solder-being placed between the exterior
of the screwed socket g and the interior of the neck f. In small knobs I
dispense with the socket and fix the screw or axis in the neck made by spinning
by means of zinc or other easily fused metal or alloy, which is melted and
poured into the neck after the end of the screw or axis has been inserted
therein. The necks with the screws or axes fixed therein are secured to the
bodies of the knobs in the usual way. In manufacturing the ornaments of the
pillars of metallic bedsteads and other articles of like manufacture, 'I make the
same in one piece, or in two or more parts, according to the shape of the
ornament. I raise the said parts from sheet metal by the processes of stamping
or pressing and spinning, and I connect them together by inserting the edge
of one part in a groove formed in the edge of the other part to which it is to
be joined, and closing the groove by pressure.
In carrying this part of my Invention into effect, I raise from sheet metal
by stamping a cup of the form represented in Figure 13 of the Drawings, and
by means of a spinning process I convert the cup, Figure 13, into the top of
a terminal ornament, as represented in Figure 14, the edge of the said part
Figure 14 having a groove made therein. To form the other part of the
ornament, I raise from sheet metal by stamping a cup of the form represented
in elevation and section in Figures 15 and 16, and I place in the bottom of
the said cup a screwed socket i. By means of spinning, I give to the cup
Figures 15 and 16, the figure represented in elevation (partly in section) in
Figure 17, and at the same time secure the screwed socket i, therein. The
part of the ornament Figure 17 is finished by perforating the metal in
front of the screwed hole k in the socket i. The two parts of the ornament.
Eigures 14 and 17 are connected together by inserting the edge of the part
Figure 17 in the groove of the part, Figure 14, and closing the said groove by
pressure. Figure 18 represents in elevation a terminal ornament with a
screwed socket, made from the parts, Figures 14 and 17. Figure 19 repre-
sents, partly in elevation and partly in section, a terminal ornament of a different
shape from that represented in Figure 18, made according to my Invention,
by stamping, or pressing and spinning. When the terminal ornaments are
made in more than two pieces I raise the several parts by stamping or
pressing, and finish their shape by spinning, and I prefer to join the said parts
together according to the method described in the Specification of the Letters
Patent granted to me, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand 'eight hundred and sixty-one, No. 978. The screwed
socket may be fixed or formed in the lower part of the ornaments in either of

page_text: the ways herein-before described with respect to knobs. Terminal and other
ornaments for metallic bedsteads and other like articles may be made of various
ornamental shapes according to my Invention. This part of my Invention is
applicable both to the manufacture of the terminal ornaments of metallic bed-
steads and other like articles, and the bulbous or ring-like ornaments which
are used around parts of the pillars, and is also applicable generally to the
manufacture of such ornaments as have figures which may be produced by the
process of turning or spinning. Where the bulbous ornament is required to
be screwed to the pillar or other article, a screwed socket is fixed or made in
the said ornament in the manner described with respect to knobs and terminal
ornaments. A bulbous ornament of this kind is represented in elevation in
Figure 20, and in section in Figure 21.
In attaching metallic mounts to china or earthenware knobs and ornaments
according to my Invention, I insert the mount in the hole in the knob or
ornament, and place a square or screwed spindle in the hole in the mount; I
then pour any easily fused metal or alloy through a hole in the mount into the
hollow in the knob or ornament, so as to fill the said hollow therewith. The
said metal fixes the mount in its place. I will describe and illustrate this part
of my Invention with reference to the attaching of metallic mounts to knobs.
Figure 22 represents in vertical section a china or earthenware knob, the
mount of which is attached according to my Invention; Figure 23 represents
a plan of the knob without the mount, shewing, the shape of the recess into
which the mount is inserted; Figure 24 represents in elevation and plan tho.
mount separately; and Figures 25 and 26 represent sections taken through.
the mount in directions at right angles to one another. The screwed hollow
stem of the mount m has holes n, n, made in it on opposite sides, for the pur-
pose herein-after explained. In attaching the mount m to the knob,
Figure 22, I use a screwed rod of the form represented in elevation and:
section in Figure 27 of the Drawing. The said screwed rod o is hollow and
closed at bottom. In the sides of 'the said rod o two holes p, p, on opposite
sides are made, as represented, which holes open into the hollow 7 of the said
rod. I take the rod o and screw it into the hollow screw of the mount until
the holes p, p, in its sides coincide with the holes n, n, in the side of the hollow
stem of the said mount, as represented in section in Figure 28; the mount
and rod being in the respective positions represented in the said Figure 28. I
insert the stem of the mount and the rod o into the recess r in the knob,
Figure 22. Having previously partly filled the said recess with saud, I now pour.
melted zinc or other easily fused metal down the hole q in the rod o, which
said metal passes through the holes in the said rod and hollow stem of the

page_text: fills the said recess with the metal,
Holes or recesses in addition to the
mount into the recess r of the knob, and
and secures the mount to the said knob.
holes n, n, are made in the sides of the hollow stem l, which are filled by the
melted metal. When the metal has solidified, the rod o is turned, so as to
unscrew it from the mount, by which unscrewing the metal in the holes n; n;
of the mount is separated from that in the holes p, p, in the rod, and a thread
cut in the soft metal in the said holes n, n. When a square spindle is to be
used in the knob, a square hole is made in the stem of the mount, and in
attaching the mount to the knob or ornament, I employ a square hollow rod
of the form represented in elevation and section in Figure 29. On lifting the
rod vertically from the mount after casting, the cast metal is cut off at the
holes in the said rod. When the spindle is required to be permanently fixed
in the knob, I then attach the mount to the china or earthenware knob in the
following manner :-I take a mount of the kind herein-before described and
illustrated, excepting that it has a hole in its bottom, and I fix this mount on
the end of the spindle it is required to secure to the knob.
Figure 30 represents in elevation a mount fixed on the end of a spindle,
and Figure 31 represents a section and plan of the same. The hole in the '
bottom of the mount is marked s. I insert the mount u attached to the
spindle t into the recess or hollow of the knob, Figure 32, and I then place
upon the spindle a get or casting piece v. This get or casting piece is repre-
sented separately, in elevation and section, in Figure 33. The get v has a
hole w passing through it, which encircles the spindle t, and has also another
smaller hole x, which hole x, when the get is placed upon the spindle, is made
to coincide with the holes in the mount. By pouring fused zinc or other
easily fused metal or alloy down the said hole x, the said metal passes through
the holes into the recess y in the knob, and thereby attaches the mount and
the spindle to the said knob. When the metal has solidified, the get is
turned upon the spindle so as to cut off the metal in the hole in the get from
that in the mount; the get is then withdrawn from the spindle t. The
method of fixing the spindle in the mount, described with reference to
Figures 30, 31, 32, and 38, may be applied to small knobs where a screw
or axis is required to be fixed permanently in the knobs.
In attaching metallic mounts to small knobs, such as the knobs of hat
pegs or hooks, I proceed as follows:-I take a screw mount, Figure 34,
and place it over the recess z, in the knob, Figure 35, to which the mount is
to be attached, as represented in Figure 36. I then place in the mount the
contracted end of the hollow rod 2 (also shewn separately in elevation and
section in Figure 37), and pour down the excentric hole in the said hollow

page_text: rod 2 fused metal or alloy, and fill up the recess in the knob and a part of
the mount with the said fused metal or alloy, as represented in Figure 36.
By turning the rod 2, the metal is cut off flush from the end of the said rod,
and the said rod is then withdrawn; the mount is thus securely attached to
the knob.
In attaching metallic mounts to china or earthenware roses for knobs
according to my Invention, I make the collar or cylindrical part of the mount
with a screw on its outside, and I make a corresponding concave screw in
the inside of the opening in the rose, the screw in the mount taking into
that in the rose.
Figure 38 represents, in section and plan, the metallic mount made
according to my Invention, the screw on the exterior of the collar being
marked 3; the said mount is attached to the door by screws passed through
the holes 4, 4. Figure 39 represents, in elevation and section, the china or
earthenware rose to be connected to the mount, Figure 38, the concave screw
in the interior of the opening of the said rose being marked 5. Figure 40
represents in section the mount attached to the rose by the screwing of the
latter upon the former, as represented. I prefer to make the metallic mount,
Figure.38, of some easily fused metal or alloy by the process of casting, the
screw 3.and holes 4 being made by the casting process.
Having now described the nature. of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of
my Invention; but I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly, the improvements in the manufacture of metallic door and other
knobs herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, both inclu-
sive, of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, making the necks of the
said knobs from sheet metal by raising or pressing in dies, and spinning and
fixing or casting in the said nicks a socket in which the screwed or square
spindle of the knob works, the said necks being joined to the bodies of the
knobs in the usual way..
Secondly, the improvement in the manufacture of small metallic knobs
herein-before described, that is to say, fixing the screw or axis in the necks
made from sheet metal by raising and spinning, by means of zinc or other
easily fused metal or alloy cast into the said necks after the insertion of the
screw or axis therein.
Thirdly, the improvements in the manufacture of the ornaments of the
pillars of metallic bedsteads and other articles of like manufacture, herein-

page_text: before described and illustrated in Figures 13 to 21, both inclusive, of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, making the said ornaments from
sheet metal by the processes of stamping or pressing, and spinning and joining
the parts together by pressure, the said ornaments, when required, having a
screwed socket fixed or cast in them in any of the ways herein-before described
and illustrated.
Fourthly, the improvements in attaching metallic mounts to china or
earthenware knobs and ornaments, herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 22 to 37, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings.
Lastly, the improvement in attaching metallic mounts to china or earthen-
ware roses for knobs, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 38, 39,
and 40 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Whitehouse, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JOHN WHITEHOUSE. (L.S.).