AN IMPROVED SOCKET FOR FENCING AND TELEGRAPH POSTS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Giraud Browning, of the Firm of Messieurs
Thomson and Browning, of No. 8, Victoria Street, in the City of West-
minster, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SOCKET FOR
FENCING AND TELEGRAPH POSTS."
Scaled the 11th July 1865, and dated the 20th March 1865...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Giraud Browning
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th March 1865.
I, ARTHUR GIRAUD BROWNING, of the Firm of Messieurs Thomson and
Browning, of No. 3, Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SOCKET
FOR FENCING AND TELEGRAPH POSTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention is applicable principally to cast-iron sockets for wrought-
iron fencing posts, straining pillars for fencing and telegraph posts, but it
may also be applied to the sockets of any kind of iron posts or pillars which
are intended to be sunk in the ground.
The Invention consists in casting such sockets in one piece with a spear-
head point or spike having two or more flanges, so that the sockets can be

page_text: driven into the ground, and will form a good hold for the post or pillar. The
internal form of the socket will correspond with the section of the post or
pillar, whether circular, flat, square, triangular, L, T, or other shape. The
exact form of the spear-head points, and the number of flanges, will depend
in a great measure upon the nature of the soil into which the sockets are to
be driven. For a stiff retentive soil the broadest part of the spear heads should
be near the top, whilst for a loose soil the reverse should be the case. The
number of flanges may also (as above-named) be varied, but in most cases I
prefer what may be termed a cruciform section, that is, a spear point with a
flange running down the centre on each side, whilst in some instances where
the soil is very light I surmount the spear head with a hollow conical cap
(also cast in one piece with the socket) to prevent the possibility of the
socket sinking afterwards.
The advantages to be derived from the use of this Invention are, firstly, a
considerable saving in the first cost of the sockets; secondly, a saving in the
weight and consequently in the freight and carriage of the same; and thirdly,
a saving of labor in putting them down as no excavation is required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Arthur Giraud Browning, in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
GIRAUD BROWNING, of the Firm of Messieurs Thomson and Browning, of
No. 3, Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Arthur Giraud Browning, Her special licence that I, the said Arthur
Giraud Browning, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Arthur Giraud Browning, my executors, administrators, 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 SOCKET FOR FENCING AND TELEGRAPH POSTS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Arthur Giraud Browning, my

page_text: executors or administrators, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Arthur Giraud Browning, 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 in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention is applicable principally to cast-iron sockets for wrought-
iron fencing posts, straining pillars for fencing and telegraph posts, but it
may also be applied to the sockets of any kind of iron posts or pillars which
are intended to be sunk in the ground.
The Invention consists in casting such sockets in one piece with a spear
head point or spike having two or more flanges, so that the sockets can be
driven into the ground and will form a good hold for the post or pillar.
The internal form of the socket will correspond with the section of the post
or pillar, whether circular, flat, square, triangular L, T, or other shape. The
number and form of the flanges may be varied to suit the nature of the soil
into which the sockets are to be driven, but in most cases I prefer what may
be termed a cruciform section, that is a spear point with a flange running
down the centre on each side, having also a horizontal disc near the top (cast
in one piece with the socket) to prevent the possibility of the socket sinking
after it has been driven home.
The advantages to be derived from the use of this Invention are, firstly, a
considerable saving in the first cost of the sockets; secondly, a saving in the
weight, and consequently in the freight and carriage of the same; and thirdly,
Ia saving of labor in putting them down as they are driven in with a wooden
mallet and no excavation is required.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "An Improved
Socket for Fencing and Telegraph Posts," I will now proceed to describe
more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect. And in order that the same may be distinctly
understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof,
and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding
with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
Figure 1 in the annexed Drawings represents plan view and elevation of a

page_text: socket for fencing. made according to my Invention, and adapted to receive a
standard of the form shown in section; in this example the socket a is cast
in one piece with a horizontal flange b, and with a spear head 'point c, having.
a flanged at each side of it, so that the section thereof is cruciform as shown
at the lower part, the sides of the spear head and flanges (excepting at the
point) being parallel.
Figure 2 is a modification of the same adapted for a standard of a slightly
different form, in this modification the sides of the spear head and flanges are
made to taper downwards.
Figure 3 is a socket for a post or standard of a tubular form, in this
example the section of the spear head is also cruciform, but the sides of the
- spear head and flanges are made to taper in the reverse direction, that is to
say, towards the top, and no horizontal flange at the top is used.
Figure 4 is a further modification (adapted also for a tubular standard)
wherein the section of the spear head is trifoliate being composed of three
flanges tapering down towards the point.
Figure 5 is a socket adapted to support a straining pillar for fencing, the
spear head being cruciform in section, and tapered downwards as in Figure 2;
and Figure 6 is a socket somewhat similar to Figure 4, having a trifoliate
spear head tapered downwards and adapted to support a telegraph post.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for "An
Improved Socket for Fencing and Telegraph Posts," together with the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention
casting such sockets in one piece with a spear head point or spike having
two or more lateral flanges and either with or without a horizontal flange
(cup-shaped or otherwise) at or near the top, so that the sockets can be driven
into the ground without any excavation, substantially as above described and.
shown in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Giraud Browning, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
A. G. BROWNING. (L.B.)