A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING AND NAILING CARPETS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William James Schlesinger at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th July 1870.-A communication from abroad by Sydney
Cooke, of the City and State of New York, United States of
-America.
I, WILLIAM JAMES SCHLESINGER, of Union Court, Old Broad Street,
in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING AND NAILING CARPETS,
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," a communication to me from
abroad by Sydney Cooke, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new or improved apparatus to be used for
stretching the borders of carpets, and for holding the nails to be
hammered down, such apparatus being also applicable to other useful
purposes.
The apparatus consists of a small metal plate, the stem of which is
fixed in a handle to be grasped by the left hand of the operator. The
front and under edge of the plate is made with a series of teeth, which
are intended to penetrate the carpet and enable its borders to be stretched

page_text: to the position for nailing down. On the upper surface of the plate two
levers are set on screw joints near the handle; they form jaws capable
of opening and closing together, and near the front of the plate a small
space is cut on the internal edge of each jaw for the reception of the
nail, the point of which passes through an open slot cut between the
middle teeth of the plate. The jaws are held together by a wire spring
(inserted between them and the plate); the points of the spring compress
them near their extremities and near the apertures for holding the nail
in order to grip it firmly while being hammered. On each side of the
holder a projection is made on the plate; these prevent the undue
separation of the jaws.
The combination of the stretcher and holder for the nail forms the
chief feature of the Invention.
The method of using the Invention is very simple. The carpet being
stretched to its proper limit, a nail is inserted in the holder, and the
hammer being brought down with sufficient force to drive the head of
the nail to the surface of the holder the apparatus is easily withdrawn,
because the jaws fly open and release the stem of the nail, and the slot
in the plate permits it to be removed freely. One more blow of the
hammer is then sufficient to drive home the nail.
Not only is this apparatus useful in stretching and nailing the selvages
of carpets along the wainscoting of rooms, but in corners or limited spaces
it will be found especially applicable.
As an ordinary nail or screw holder this apparatus would be useful.
In such cases the plate would be made narrow merely to hold the jaws
(the teeth in most instances being dispensed with); then a nail, especially
a "brad," could be held during the process of hammering. So, also, a
screw could be held in an upright or vertical position while being turned
by the driver until it formed its thread in the wood and obtained a
'bite." The spring would be made stronger and the thickness of the
clamping jaws would be increased in order to maintain the position of
the screw against the lateral pressure of the driver.