AN IMPROVED APPARATUS AND CMrve Runn HALF FOR MEASURING AND CUTTING BUTTON HOLES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Henry Cramp, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
AND CMrve Runn HALF "
Sealed the 4th January 1876, and dated the 7th July 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Henry Cramp
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th July 1875.
I, ALFRED HENRY CRAMP, of the Oity and State of New York,
United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND CUTTING BUTTON HOLES," to be as
follows:-
:-

page_text: measured and cut to any desired length. With this apparatus the
work of cutting button holes may be effected by any person without
previous practise, and the said apparatus will be found much more
convenient than button hole scissors or other devices heretofore used
for this purpose.
The said apparatus consists of a triangular cutter or knife and of a
case or sheath formed to embrace the cloth or other material in which
the button holes are to be cut, the said case having a narrow slit
through which the knife is passed in cutting the holes, and being
provided with a figured scale and a sliding gauge for measuring and
regulating the length of the button holes.
The said knife or cutter is a narrow triangular piece of steel with
a cutting edge on one side; it is of such a size that its width at its widest
part is equal to or slightly greater than the length of the longest
button hole to be cut by the said apparatus. And it is extended to form
a handle, whereby it may be conveniently held when in use. The sheath
or case of the said knife is formed of thin sheet brass, tin, or other
suitable metal, bent into the required shape to receive the said triangular
knife, and to permit the same to be readily inserted and removed.
Beyond this part which holds the knife the said sheath has an extension
which is bent or folded over so that it lies flat or nearly so upon the
first named part, the two parts forming a clip between which the cloth
or other material is embraced while the button holes are being cut
therein. The figured scale divided into fractions of an inch, or other
measurements, is formed in the outside of this folded extension. And the
aforesaid long slit passes through both parts of the apparatus.
The said gauge which is formed of thin brass, tin, or other suitable
metal, is made of such a length as will keep it straight, and is fitted to
slide upon the said extension over the scale and slit.
In using my improved apparatus the same is placed upon the cloth
or other material in which the button holes are to be made, with the
edge of the same in the folded end of the apparatus. Then the gauge
is adjusted or set so as to leave between its edge and the end of the
slit a length equal to the required length of the button hole, the
measurement being accurately effected by the aid of the scale; when s

page_text: the said gauge is so adjusted the knife is passed through the slit
and the cloth as far as the gauge will permit it to go, and when the
said knife is withdrawn the button hole will be found properly cut.
"
'
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Henry Cramp in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
HENRY CRAMP, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me the said Alfred Henry Cramp, Her special licence, that I, the
said Alfred Henry Cramp, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Alfred Henry Cramp, my executors, admini-
strators, 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 "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING AND CUTTING BUTTON HOLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Henry Cramp, my executors or admini-
strators, 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.
i
NOW KNOW YE, that I, tho said Alfred Henry Cramp, do hereby.
declare the nature of my 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 accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification.

page_text: My said Invention relates to a novel and simple apparatus whereby
the button holes in a coat or other garment or article may be accurately
measured and cut to any desired length. With this apparatus the work
of cutting button holes may be effected by any person without previous
practice, and the said apparatus will be found much more convenient
than button hole scissors, or other devices heretofore used for this
purpose.
The said apparatus consists of a triangular cutter or knife, and of a
case or sheath formed to embrace the cloth or other material in which
the button holes are to be cut, the said case having a narrow slit
through which the knife is passed in cutting the holes, and being
provided with a figured scale and a sliding gauge for measuring and
regulating the length of the button holes.
Figures 1, 2, 3, shew the apparatus as it appears when not being used;
Figure 4, shews the said apparatus in use.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The knife or cutter a is a narrow triangular piece of steel with a
cutting edge on one side; it is of such a size that its width at the widest
part is equal to or slightly greater than the length of the longest button
hole to be cut by the said apparatus, and it is extended to form a
handle a¹, or may be provided with a handle of some other metal, or of
ivory, bonc, wood, or other material, whereby it may be conveniently
held when in use.
The piece b, b', which includes the sheath or case of the said knife is
formed of thin sheet brass, tin, or other suitable metal, bent into the
shape clearly shewn in Figures 3 and 4. The upper part 6 forms the
measure, and the lower part ₁ the sheath, whose edges are folded or
bent to the required shape to receive the said triangular knife and to
permit the same to be readily inserted and removed. The upper part b,

page_text: which forms an extension of the said sheath is bent or folded at b*, so
that it lies flat or nearly so upon the part 6, the two parts forming a
clip or clamp between which the cloth or other material is embraced
and held tightly, as shewn in Figure 4, while the button holes are being
cut therein.
The figured scale divided into fractions of an inch or other measure-
ments is formed on the outside or upper side of the part b, and there is
a long slit through both parts b, b', of the apparatus, as shewn at c, c¹.
The gauge d is preferably formed of a thin piece of brass, tin, or other
metal, doubled or folded, and fitted to slide easily but not loosely upon
the part b. It is of sufficient length to ensure its steadiness and accuracy
upon the said part in any position into which it may be set over the
scale and slit c.
In using my improved apparatus, the same is placed upon the cloth
or other material in which the button holes are to be made with the
edge of the material against the inside of the folded end 68 of the
apparatus, which end forms a guide for the material. Then the gauge d
is adjusted or set so as to leave between its edge d' and the end e² of the
slit a length equal to the required length of the button hole, the
measurement being accurately effected by the aid of the scale; when the
said gauge is so adjusted the knife a is placed with its back against the
edge of the gauge, and passed through the slits and the cloth as far as
the gauge will permit it to go, or as far as will give the required length
of the button hole, and when the said knife is withdrawn the button hole
will be found properly cut. Then the apparatus is moved along the
edge of the cloth or other material into the position for cutting the next
hole, and the knife is again inserted, and so on until all the button holes
are cut. Any person of ordinary intelligence after very little practice
with this improved apparatus, will be able to cut button holes in tailoring,
and dressmaking, and other work with great rapidity and with an
accuracy not otherwise attainable.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim, an apparatus
for cutting button holes, consisting of the knife, the bent or folded piece
of thin metal, or clip, with the slits through each part thereof, and with
the scale on one part and the sheath for the knife in the other part, and
the gauge fitted to slide upon the said metal piece or clip over the scale,

page_text: and used in combination with the said knife, clamp, and scale in cutting
the button holes as herein set forth.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said. Alfred Henry Cramp, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
ROLAND GEORGE BROWN,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
ALFRED H. CRAMP. (L.s.)