IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOT CARTRIDGES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Powley Alexander, of 14, Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, for the
*Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOT CARTRIDGES."-A communication
from abroad by Allan B. Kay and Robert A. Kay, both of Newark,
NA TANGON in 1 TT: OL
ealed the 26th June 1874, and dated the 27th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Powley Alexander
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 27th April 1874.
I, EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOT CARTRIDGES," a
communication to me from abroad by Allan B. Kay and Robert A.
Kay, both of Newark, New Jersey, in the United States of America,
Gentlemen, to be as follows:-

page_text: casing for confining a charge of shot in the form of a cartridge whereby.
a longer range can be obtained without unduly scattering the shot, and
the ordinary shot or cartridge pouch can be dispensed with.
In carrying out this Invention the improved shot cartridge case is
composed of flexible material (such for example as woven fabric or
paper), preferably shaped by the aid of dies, a disc of the material being
laid upon a female die and forced into the same by the male die so that
one end of the case is formed in one piece with the sides. The opposite
end of the case is enclosed by means of a wad which is loosely confined
in its place by turning inwards the edges of the case after the shot and
wad have been introduced.
In using this shot cartridge for short ranges the permanently closed
end is placed downwards or next the powder, when by the force of the
explosion the cartridge being flexible is compressed longitudinally and
closely fills the bore, thus preventing windage. On leaving the muzzle
of the gun the pressure of the air on the front concave end of the
case expands it from front to rear leaving the shot free to pursue its
course.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edwin Powley Alexander in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWIN 2
POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty- 3
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, Her special

page_text: casing at its open end turned downward and inward upon the wad so as
to hold it firmly in place, such arrangement being preferable to the
usual method of pasting the wad in position.
In use for short ranges the permanently closed end of the cartridge is
placed downwards or next to the powder, when, by the force of the
explosion the cartridge (being flexible) is compressed longitudinally until
it-closely fills the bore of the gun, and prevents windage and produces a
gas tight joint. Upon leaving the muzzle of the gun the countersunk or
concave end of the cartridge confines the air and causes the pressure at
that point to be greater than at the sides of the casing, by which means
the casing is expanded from its forward end rearward until the disc of
which it is composed has resumed its original shape and falls to the
ground, leaving the charge free to pursue its course.
For long ranges the wad end of the cartridge is placed downwards
and the permanently closed end presented to the action of the air, when,
being homogeneous with the body of the shell, this end will so
effectually resist rupture or displacement as to insure the integrity of
the cartridge long after those in which the ends of the case are cemented
in place would have been burst and their contents permitted to scatter,
by which means greater length of range is obtained than has heretofore
been practicable.
Another advantage possessed by this construction of the shell is found
in the uniform thickness of its sides, and consequently the perfect balance
of the cartridge both as regards weight and shape, its accuracy of range
being thus largely increased.
Cartridges constructed in the manner described can be carried loosely
in the pockets of the user without injury and with great comfort and
convenience, as thereby the usual shot or cartridge pouch can be dis-
pensed with, and the weight distributed over the person instead of being
carried at one point.
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 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,
the construction and use of a shot cartridge adapted to be projected from

page_text: a gun having its casing composed of flexible material, and one of its
ends enclosed by means of a wad which is loosely confined in place by
the inward turned edges of such casing, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, have 5
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER. (L.S.)