IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES FOR TURNING WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES FOR TURNING WOOD AND
OTHER MATERIALS."-A communication from Albin Warth, of the City,
County, and State of New York, America.
Sealed the 7th July 1854, and dated the 3rd May 1854..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd May 1854.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES FOR TURNING WOOD
AND OTHER MATERIALS," communicated to me from Albin Warth, of the City,
County, and State of New York, America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of lathes
and cutting tools for ornamental turning, either in wood, bonc, ivory, or other
similar material, whereby almost any variety of ornamental and plain turning
may be produced by self-acting mechanism. The nature of the improvements
consist in the employment of a slide rest fitted with a number of suitable
cutting tools which are made to operate on the material to be turned, and

page_text: produce a given result by means of intermediate levers which follow the con-
figuration of fixed metallic guides or templates. The slide rest is actuated by
a traversing screw, which is driven by gearing attached to one end of the lever
in the ordinary manner. An endless chain, attached to the under side of the
slide rest, and passing over carrier pulleys, serves to bring the rest into any
particular position by hand, when required. The wood or other material to be
turned is held between the two head stocks of the lathe in the usual manner,
but it is also passed through a ring in the slide rest, which ring acts as a
support to the wood when a long piece is being operated upon, and prevents
undue vibration. On each side of the article to be turned is fitted a shaping
tool, which tools are attached to and carried by suitable sliding pieces working
in grooves on each side of the slide rest. A roughing tool is also fixed to the
slide rest in advance of the shaping tools, and serves to take off the outer
rough surface of the article to be turned, leaving it plane and even for the
shaping cutters. The slides carrying the shaping cutters are carried to or from
the article to be turned by the aid of an internal spiral spring fitted to each
slide, and suitable fixed guide plates or templates attached to the lathe. These
guide plates are laid flat, and have their inner edges suitably cut or formed, to
give the requisite traverse to the cutter slides. This movement is transmitted
to the slides by means of intermediate levers, fitted at one end with a tracing
point and anti-friction pulley. The points slide along the inner edges of the
guide plates and the pulley presses against the back of the cutter slides; it
will thus be seen, that as the slide rest travels along from one end of the lathe
to the other, the tracing points on the intermediate levers will follow the
contour of the edges of the guide plates, and will consequently cause the cutter
slides to move out or in accordingly, thereby producing the desired effect or
pattern on the material to be turned. The supporting ring, herein-before
mentioned, carried by the slide rest, may be replaced by another ring and face
plate, in cases where angular portions are required on the finished article; the
central aperture in such case must correspond to the shape of that particular
portion of the article in place of being round. The intermediate levers with
their tracing points may be elevated, so as to disconnect them entirely from
the guide plates at those places where-plane-turning-merely-is-required. The
cutting edges of the tools are formed with particular reference to the lateral
motion of the cutter slides and the longitudinal motion of the slide rest.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and
of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Henry Johnson, Her special license, that I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my exécutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all tinies 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 LATHES FOR
TURNING WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS," a communication from Albin Warth, of
the City, County, and State of New York, America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
lathes and cutting tools for ornamental turning, either in wood, bone, ivory, or
other similar materials, whereby almost any variety of ornamental and plain
turning may be produced by self-acting mechanism. The nature of the improve-
ments consist in the employment of a slide rest fitted with a number of suitable
cutting tools, which are made to operate on the material to be turned, and
produce a given result by means of intermediate levers which follow the con-
figurations of fixed metallic guides or templates. The slide rest is actuated

page_text: by a traversing screw, which is driven by gearing attached to one end of the
loom in the ordinary manner. An endless chain, attached to the under side of
the slide rest, and passing over carrier pulleys, serves to bring the rest into any
particular position by hand, when required. The wood or other material to be
turned is held in the usual manner, but it is also passed through a ring in the
slide rest, which ring acts as a support to the wood when a long piece is being
operated upon, and prevents undue vibration. On each side of the article to
be turned is fitted a shaping tool, which tools are attached to and carried by
suitable sliding pieces working in grooves on each side of the slide rest. A
roughing tool is also fixed to the slide rest in advance of the shaping tools, and
serves to take off the outer rough surface of the article to be turned, leaving
it plane and even for the shaping cutters. The slides carrying the shaping
cutters are moved to or from the article to be turned by the aid of an internal
spiral spring fitted to each slide, and suitable fixed guide plates or templates
attached to the lathe. These guide plates are laid flat, and have their
inner edges suitably cut or formed, to give the requisite traverse to the cutter
slides. This movement is transmitted to the slides by means of intermediate
levers, fitted at one end with a tracing point and anti-friction pulley. The
points slide along the inner edges of the guide plates, and the pulley presses
against the back of the cutter slides; it will thus be seen, that as the slide
rest travels along from one end of the lathe to the other, the tracing points on
the intermediate levers will follow the contour of the edges of the guide plates,
and will consequently cause the cutter slides to move out or in accordingly,
thereby producing the desired effect or pattern on the material to be turned.
The supporting ring, herein-before mentioned, carried by the slide rest, may
be replaced by another ring and face plate, in cases where angular portions
are required on the finished article. The central aperture in such case must
correspond to the shape of that particular portion of the article in place of
being round.
The intermediate levers with their tracing points may be
elevated, so as to disconnect them entirely from the guide plates at those places
where plane turning merely is required. The cutting edges of the tools are
formed with particular reference to the lateral motion of the cutter slides, and
the longitudinal motion of the slide rest. And in order that the said Invention
may be more readily understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several
Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto attached.
Fig. 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a side elevation of the
improved lathe; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken along the
line 1, 2, in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 4 is a
plan of the lathe complete; Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the slide rest;

page_text: Fig. 6 is a portion of a longitudinal section through the slide rest; Fig. 7 is
an elevation of a hanging pillow block; Fig. 8 is a plan of the guide and
turned wood; Figs. 9 and 9 A are diagrams, explanatory of the construction
of the guides; Figs. 10, 11, and 12, are views of the face plate; Figs. 13, 14,
and 15, are ring plates; and Fig. 16 is a full-sized plan of the guide and
turned wood. The rest of the Figs. represent the various cutting tools
employed in this lathe. The same letters of reference refer to the correspond-
ing parts in the several Figures.
Previous to putting in the wood s, or other material to be turned, the slide
rest 9 is brought up to one end of the machine, so that the mandrel c' can pass
through the opening in the ring i. The wood is then placed between the two
mandrels b and c in the usual manner. The hooked tool o is then adjusted so
as to cut away the wood s to such a size as will permit it to pass through the
opening in the ring plate i. The feed screw d is operated by the gearing at
one end of the machine in the usual manner. The clamp d¹ and the spring
top lever t, by which the clamp is operated, are both attached to the slide rest.
By throwing the spring lever t outwards, the clamp d' clutches the screw d,
and the slide rest with its various appurtenances advances. By throwing the
spring lever t inwards, the clamp d' is released from the feeding screw d, and
the slide rest stops.
Motion liaving been given to the mandril b, the tool o cuts down the woods,
and permits it to pass through the ring plate i, which plate now serves as a
mandrel, so that the mandrel c is no longer of any use. As the slide rest
moves up, and the wood comes through the ring plate i, it is operated upon
by the finishing tools k, k¹.
Each side of the slide rest g is grooved, into which grooves the slides j, j³,
are fitted. The tool k is attached to the slide j, and the tool ji to the slide k¹.
The under sides of j, j', are hollowed, into which the springs m, m', are fitted.
These springs serve to draw back the slides j, j', and with them the tools k, k¹,
when the slides are pushed forward, so as to make the tools k, k³, operate on
the wood s.
The guides ¹ are arranged at the sides of the lathe, being supported by
supporters 1.
The guide levers p, p, have their fulcrums at p¹ and p" respectively. To
the guide lever p is attached a spring p*, which bears against the pin v; this
pin passes through the bearing p', and bears against the centre pivot, which is
notched.
The guide lever p may thus be slipped up, so that the following points q, q,
will not touch the guide plates r, 1; for when the guide lever is raised, the

page_text: spring p* pushes the pin v, which catches in a notch in the pivot, and thus
sustains the lever p. The lever pl is similarly furnished: Both p and p¹¹¹ are
furnished at their ends with follower points q, and also with friction rollers:
The follower points follow the configurations of the guide plates r¹. The
springs m, m², continually press the slides. j, j', against the friction rollers at q,
consequently the slides j, j', have a motion inward or outward transversely to
the woods, in correspondence with the movement of the followers q, which are
themselves governed by the configurations of the guide plates ..
It will of course be understood that the guide levers p, p, are attached
to the slide rest 9. The guide plates extend the entire length of the
machine.
As the slide rest 9 moves along, the levers p, p, are also drawn, while the
followers are made to follow the configurations of the guide plates r³, and
impart the required transverse motion to the slides. In this manner the
tools k, l, are made to produce in the wood such forms as may be desired.
It is obvious that when a change is required in the design of the turnings,
different guide plates must be put on. In this manner almost any desired.
variety of ornamental or plane turning may be produced.
The guide plates r¹ are composed of thin bars of metal, the inner edge of
each being cut out with reference to the production in the wood of the particular
design required.
.
It might at first be supposed that the guide plates r¹ were merely sections.
in reverse of the designs produced in the wood, but such is not the case; a
glance at Figs. 8 and 16, where 1 is a section of turned wood, and ¹ the corre
sponding guide plate, will shew the difference. If the movements of 9 were
always in a line transverse to the longitudinal centre of the woods, as exhibited
by the line C, D, Fig. 4, then the configurations of the guide plate- would
only be reverse sections of the forms produced in the wood diagrams. Figs. 9
and 9° will assist in explaining the manner of constructing given guide plates.
Fig. 9, p, represents one of the guide levers' with fulcrum p¹ and guide fol-
lower q. Suppose a ball is to be turned, whose diameter is equal to i, l,
Fig. 9ª: in order to construct the equivalent guide-plate;-the-distance from d
to e, Fig. 9, is measured, and the intersection of the guide plate is made to.
commence at k, Fig. 9, instead of i, k, being just as much nearer the centre of
the circle as the distance from d to c. This difference in the intersection of the s
guide plate is occasioned by the fact that the lever p has a fulcrum at p'; con-
sequently the follower q cannot move transversely to the centre line p5, (which:
is parallel to the longitudinal centre of the wood s, Fig. 4,) but describes a
circle. The other intersection of the guide plate is ascertained-by measuring

page_text: the distance from f to g; and the intersection of the guide plate is equally
extended beyond the diameter of the ball to be turned, which brings the point
of intersection at m instead of 1. The zenith of the curve in the guide
remains the same as the zenith of the ball to be turned. The three points
e, g, h, being given, the curve of the guide plates is easily indicated.
In consequence of the levers p, p, having fulcrums at p¹ and pu respec-
tively, the tools k, k, are free from all jarring or vibration; therefore the
finest and most delicate work may be produced by this lathe with the utmost
facility. The work also comes from the lathe in a finished condition: this
cannot be done without the use of the guide levers p, p.
It would not answer to attach the followers 7 directly to their respective
slides j, j and so do away with the levers' p, p, for good work cannot thus be
executed.
The cutting tools, shewn in Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, are entirely new
and of peculiar construction, and I consider them an important part of my
improvement, since no other cutting instruments could be successfully used
with this lathe. Their cutting edges are formed with particular reference to
the lateral motion of the slides j, j, and the longitudinal motion of the slide
rest g. The ring plate i is attached to the face plate n, which latter fastens
on to the lock side h by means of screws. When it is desired to leave any
portion of the turned wood square (as in the sample, Fig. 8,) the ring plate i
is removed, and the face plate n and ring plate with its square opening sub-
stituted. In using the ring plate 2, the stick to be turned must of course be
previously hewn out to the size and shape of the square hole . Ring plates of
any regularly sided form may be used when desired.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,--
First, the general construction and arrangement of self-acting lathe for
ornamental turning, as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of the guide levers p, p, in combination
with the spring slides j, j', and the guide plates r¹, arranged and combined
substantially as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of the mandrel h in combination with the

page_text: face plate m and ring plate i, substantially as described; the whole being
arranged and constructed in the manner set forth, or in any other manner
substantially the same.
Fourth, the cutting tools, shewn in Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, con-
structed and employed substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)