IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS, AND IN ATTACHING THEM TO ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nehemiah Brough, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS, AND IN ATTACHING THEM TO ARTICLES OF WEARING
APPAREL."
Sealed the 4th August 1854, and dated the 6th June 1854.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Nehemiah Brough at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declara-
tion, on the 6th June 1854, pursuant to the 9th section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NEHEMIAH
BROUGH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
PACTURE OF BUTTONS, AND IN ATTACHING THEM TO ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL,"
and the manner in which the same are to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My improvements consist in manufacturing the various descriptions of

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are back views of several forms of buttons composed of
double metal blanks; Figures 4, 5, and 6, sections of same.
Figure 7, section of a button formed of one blank.
Figures 8, 9, and 10, plans of various forms stamped out for the shanks
before being brought into shape.
Figure 11, view of one of these with four arms or fangs ready for use. .
Figure 12, elevation of another form of shank piece, similar to a per-
cussion cap.
Fig. 13, section shewing one of the buttons attached to the cloth or other
material of the garment. ."
I now proceed to describe the manufacture and mode of combining and
attaching the before-named parts.
The blanks for the face and back shell of the button (when two shells are
employed), having been struck out by the ordinary dies and tools used in such
manufacture, into either of the forms necessary for the buttons shewn in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, are put together and perfected in the usual
manner. I then stamp out from any suitable thin metal sbank pieces of
either of the forms shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10, having any requisite
number of prongs or arms, and afterwards bend them up to the position shewn
in Figure 11. In order to attach them to a garment, this pronged shank is
passed through the cloth or other material, see Figure 18, and the button being
in its desired position on the other side of the material, the points of the
prongs are inserted into the perforations or hollow in the under side or back
shell of the button. By a smart blow of a hammer or strong equal pressure,
the points of the fangs are forced between the front and back shells and spread
out, as seen in section, Figure 13, and being clenched into the button, firmly
attach it to the material. In some instances I form the shank piece without
prongs or arms, somewhat similar to a percussion cap, as seen at Figure 12,
having a rib (a) at the top; this is passed through a washer, of the same form
as the back shell of the button seen at Figures 1 and 4, having a hole through
its centre, and then through a hole punched in the cloth and into the back
shell of the button. It is then flattened by a blow or pressure, which splits the
shank and secures it in the button, the washer being prevented from slipping
by the rib (a) on the end of the shank.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said improvements, and the manner
in which the same are to be carried out, I wish it to be clearly understood that
I do not confine myself to these precise details so long as the main features of
my Invention be retained; but that which I do claim is, the improvements
described in the manufacture of self-attaching buttons, together with the
several modes shewn of fixing them to garments, or any mere modification
thereof, involving the same principles as in manner herein set forth and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nehemiah Brough, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
NEHEMIAH (L.s.) BROUGH.