Improvements in "Gaffs" for Landing Fish, also applicable to other purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1802
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Gaffs" for Landing Fish, also applicable to other
purposes.
FINLAY COOK 385 Eglinton Street Glasgow Warehouseman do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
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My invention has for its object the provision of an implement more certain and
accurate in operation than the ordinary "gaff." Its constructive details arc
broadly as follow, viz.:-To a handle of suitable design is fixed a stem preferably
of steel. One end of the stem itself may terminate in a handle instead of having a
separate part. At the other end of the stem are pivoted two prongs which are
close together in continuation of the stem when the apparatus is closed. At the
far end the prongs are shaped in the form of crescents facing each other, the free
ends terminating in sharp points which approach close to each other when the
gaff" is shut. At the pivot ends the prongs have bell cranks; between these
cranks and the stem suitable springs are inserted which keep the prongs closed.
From the ends of the cranks chain, rod or other connection is made to a ring placed
on the stem near the handle. By sliding this ring up towards the handle the
springs are compressed and the prongs are opened until the points of the crescents
are far enough apart to admit the body of the fish to be "gaffed" or other thing
to be hooked or lifted. A spring catch may be provided to hold the ring in
position with the "gaff" open. When a fish is to be landed the "gaft" is placed
so that the jaws of the prongs encircle the body. The spring catch is then released
by a touch of the finger and the crescent points or jaws are snapped together by
the springs pressing against the bell cranks thus holding the fish securely. The jaws
need not necessarily be crescent shaped. Any other convenient shape will do.
The invention may also be modified so as to be applicable to the hanging of
curtains and kindred operations, or the arranging of goods in warehouses and other
places where they cannot conveniently be placed by hand.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of March 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Gaffs" for Landing Fish, also applicable to other
purposes.
I, FINLAY COOK of 385 Eglinton Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, North Britain,
Warehouseman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object the provision of an implement more certain and
accurate in operation than the ordinary "gaff."
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in the several
figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 1 is a part section and part elevation showing the "gall" in an open
position.
Figure 2 is an elevation showing it closed.
Figure 3 is a detached view of the locking arrangement.
A is a handle of suitable design which is fixed to a stem or tube B preferably of
steel. One end of the stem itself may terminate in a handle instead of having a

page_text: separate part. At the other end of the tube B there are two prongs C C which
lie close together when the "gaff" is closed, as shown in Figure 2, and when open
they are apart as in Figure 1. The, ends of these prongs C Care of crescent shape,
and face each other, the free ends terminating in sharp points which approach close
to each other when the "gaff" is shut, as seen more particularly in Figure 2. At
the pivot ends the prongs have bell cranks D, and between these cranks and the
stem there are springs E E which keep the prongs closed. From the ends of
the cranks D and passing through the tube B there is a rod E, chain or other
connection to a ring H placed on the outside of the tube B near the handle.
By sliding this ring H up towards the handle the springs E E are compressed
and the prongs C Care opened until the points of the crescents are far enough
apart to admit the body of the fish to be gaffed or other thing to be hooked or
lifted. A spring catch & similar to that more particularly shown in Figure 3 may
be provided to hold the ring H in position with the "gaff" open. When a fish
is to be landed the "gaff" is placed so that the jaws of the prongs encircle the
body. The spring catch G is then released by a touch of the finger, and the
crescent points or jaws are snapped together by the springs pressing against the bell
cranks, thus securely holding the fish.
Although I have shown the ends of the prongs of crescent shape, they need not
necessarily be so, as any other convenient shape will suffice.
Although have described and shown my improvements as applied to a "gaff"
for landing fish or other things, it is to be understood that the apparatus may also
be applicable for other purposes such as hanging curtains, or kindred operations,
or the arranging of goods in warehouses or other places where they cannot
conveniently be placed by hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The apparatus for landing fish or other things constructed substantially as
described and shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1891.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.