IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NETS FOR FISHING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Georges Edouard Gazagnaire, of Marseilles,
Francé, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NETS FOR
FISHING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 27th February 1854, and dated the 26th November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Georges Edouard
Gazagnaire at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 26th November 1853.
I, GEORGE EDOUARD GAZAGNAIRE, of Marseilles, France, and of 16,
Castle Street, Holborn, City, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NETS
FOR FISHING AND OTHER PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
This loom is composed of two lateral frameworks A, & B, (see the
Drawings of my Patent, 20th January 1853,) and of an intermediate
framework C, joined by a cross bar D, a bar E, the tvo back cross
bar F, G. The three interior cross bar H, I, J, serve as points of
supports to the different moveable parts of the loom. The piece L, is
the support of the harness. The rod M, is the rod of the needles.. The

page_text: workman turns the handle N, upon the axle of which is a pinion O,
gearing with a wheel P, connected with the pinion Q; these two last
are loose upon their axle; the pinion Q, gears with the wheel R, upon
the axle S, and which transmits its rotary movement of the axle T, by
means of the pinion U, of the wheel V; this latter has a diameter
double of that of the pinion U. The axle T, makes two; one revolu-
tion of the axle T, produces two operations, that is to say, that if in
one operation of the loom 400 meshes are made one revolution of the
axle T, will. produce 800;. as thus in the first operation the meshes
must be taken to the right, and in the 2nd to the left; it is necessary
that the moving eccentries fixed upon the axle T, should produce a
-difference effect, that is to say, they should. produce these two move-
ments; without this circumstance the two axles T, and S, would have
revolve with an equal rapidity. As in my former Patent the net com-
menced has all its meshes hooked with the little needles with curved
points, Fig. 5, kept an equal distances by the teeth of the bar fixed to
the rod of the needles M, each needle has a collar which is held
between two of these teeth so as to enable it to bear. the tension-pro-
duced by the work. The first movement, which consists of giving a
half turn to the needles, and which was followed by that of the knot-
ting piece X, is completely changed, as well as the form of that piece
furnished with teeth, which is no longer used. The first movement
that is now effected is that of the piece x, Fig. 2, a, Figure 2, which
consists of a comb; the width is exactly equal to that of the needles
mentionned above, Fig. 5. This piece coincides perfectly with the
needles, and penetrates at their extremity between the threads with
which they are charged, and then separates, thus determining the
extent of the separation of the thread, which is then effected by a-half
turn of the needles (as is represented, Fig. 6. At this moment the
piece Z, is shown of its natural size in the Drawing annexed; Fig. 12,
rises and presents of its branches in A, B, that is to say, in the spaces
left by the separation of the thread. In this position the hook C
Fig. 1, passes between the two guides of the piece Z, carrying with it
the thread placed in the middle of them, and thus the knot is formed.
The two vertical guides of the piece Z, forms a spring, and in descend-

page_text: ing leave the meshes newly formed. The piece Z, serving to form the
knot, and the hook C, are the two principal pieces of my new loom;
they are represented in elevation; Fig. 1, and a side view, Fig. 4, and.5.
The Fig. 2, shows the union of the pieces serving to form the meshes.;
the piece o, and the comb are also entirely new; these are, with the
piece Z, and the hook G, the principal parts of my Invention. The
bayonets shewn in my Patent f, Fig. 9, and 1, rest between the
needles, and effect a identical movement to that described in my
Patent. At the same time a movement of the loom causes a needle
whose length is equal to the width of the work to pass into the hole D,
of each hook C, C, Fig. 1, forming the knot; the divided head of this
needle comes then outside the last hook; the thread is placed. there
from the bobbins I, K, and K', and the needle deposits it in the hole
of the hooks, and before each bayonnet the car Z, which consists of a
little chariot rolling upon two rollers, having at its upper part a tooth,
is moved then with a rectilinear movement upon the rod a, passing
under the latches of each harness; it raises then and unhooks them one
after the other; then the bayonets which they bear returning back take
with them a entered certain quantity of thread which has entered into
the holes of the hooks, and then each of these bayonets delivers a new
meshe, the length of which may be varied by keeping them more.or
less distant. The hooks then leave with returning to their primitive
position, leave with the needles the meshe newly formed. The piece o,
which is joined to the beginning of the needles, descend upon their
extremities and detaches the knots; the bayonets advances and the
needles, which at this moment make a half turn, collect the meshes
retained by the bayonnets, which descending as they advance deposit
the meshes at the end of the needles after the piece which has de-
tached the knots has returned to its place. To prevent the thread
from becoming loose the pressure serving to sketch the work lightens
the knots. Fig. 3, shows the new mode in which the knot of the net.
made by the loom, which forms the object of the present Invention.
The knot is similar in all respects so that which is made by hand and
in the length of the meshes, and is much more regular. The motion

page_text: are as part which in the description of my Patent were enumerated
of the follows:-1st, motion of the needles; 2nd, motion of the piece
which makes the knot; 3rd, side motion of the piece which makes the
knot; 4th, motion which makes the bayonets advance; 5th, motion of
the needle; 6th, motion of the car; 7th, motion which lowers the
harness; 8th, pressure motion.
These are modified in the new loom as follows:-1, motion of the
comb before the needles; 2, motion of the needles; 3, ascending
motion of the piece X'; 4, motion of the hooks; 5, motion which
causes the bayonets advance; 6, motion of the needle; 7, motion of
the car; 8, motion of the piece which detaches the knot; 9, pressure
motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Georges Edouard Gazagnaire in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th March 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGES EDOUARD GAZAGNAIRE, of Marseilles, in the Empire of
France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in
the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Georges Edouard Gazagnaire,
Her special licence that I, the said Georges Edouard Gazagnaire, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Georges Edouard Gazagnaire, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NETS
FOR FISHING AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)

page_text: that I, the said Georges Edouard Gazagnaire, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Georges Edouard Gazagnaire,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
My improvements consist of a machine or apparatus by which the
manual operations of net making are imitated so as to produce a
better quality and a much greater quantity of work than can be done :
in the same time by hand. This machine or apparatus is composed of
a set of implements, instruments, or organs, which being moved by
any suitable power and by any mechanical arrangements perform upon
the thread for making the net such operations and at such proper
times as to produce the knots and meshes of which the nets are made.
up. I use in the machine eight distinct implements, which I will now
summarily describe. I wish it, however, to be understood that I do
not confine my Invention to the exact number or shape of them, as
both these may be varied and altered without materially departing from
the nature of my Invention. These implements, by which the thread
is handled as it were, may be enumerated and called as follows:-1,
dividing comb; 2, set of hooked spindles; 3, set of Y and drawing
pin forks; 4, set of eyed knotting pieces; 5, set of bayonets; 6,
two shuttle needles; 7, knocking off comb; 8, net beam. The succes-
sive results of the eight operations are represented on Sheet I., Figs. 1,
to 8. To prepare the operation the necessary length of thread is hung
on the hooked points of the spindles 2, and a set of meshes formed by
fastening this thread to the net beam in any suitable way. This
position is shewn in plan at Fig. 1.
1. The dividing comb, shewn at Fig. 1, in section through the teeth,
advances so that the points of the comb nearly coincide with the points
of the spindles; the comb next recedes to a suitable distance, so as to :
4

page_text: determine the angle formed by the crossing; it also turns downwards
so as to depress the thread below the spindles, and keep the threads at
a proper distance.
:
2. The spindles make a half turn so as to produce the crossing of the
thread shewn in-plan at.Fig. 2. a, is the upper branch of the thread ;
b, the under branch.
"
3. Next a forked or Y shaped implement enters between the two
branches of the thread in such manner that a prong of the fork is in
each of the vertical angles formed by the intersection of the thread, as
shewn in plan, Fig. 3. This implement has to widen the loop that
hangs on the point of the spindle, as well as to make room for the
following implement 4; therefore the prong in the loop is split in the
shape of a drawing pen, as shewn Fig. 15. The (other) prong has to
keep the under branch b, out of the way.
4. Whilst 3, is in the above position, an eyelet implement 4, takes
hold by its grooved rim of the upper branch-b, and passes it into the
loop, on the spindle point, and between the split prong of the imple-
ment 3. This produces an incipient knot or bend shewn in elevation,
Fig. 3. The pieces 3, now descend.
5. Whilst the implements 1, 2, 3, and 4, keep the position above
described; the implements 5, which consist of a row of needles in the
shape of bayonets, advance between the spindles and past the incipient
bend, which they pass also in height. Their position is shewn in plan,
Fig..5.
"
6: One of the two needles 6, next passes through the row of
eyes 4, and leaves in them an indefinite length of thread. The result
of this operation is shewn in Fig. 6; t, is the thread passed through
the eyes, and engaged in the rising loop shewn in Fig. 4. After the
thread has been left in the eyes the implements 5, recede one after
the other, and draw out meshes of the required length, as shewn in plan,
Fig. 6. 4, then leaves the knots on 2.
7. A comb-like implement 7, termed knocking-off comb, then
descends to strip the spindles of the knots which in plan present the
appearance of Fig. 7. This is the firmest position of what is called a
sheet bend.

page_text: 8. The net beam 8, being weighted draws tight the whole row of
knots as the dividing comb 1, leaving loose allows the beam 8, to take
up the length of net just woven. The action of the beam also draws.
the points of the meshes formed at the operation 6, and which are
released from the points of the bayonets on to the hooks of the spindles,
which for that purpose turn up. The operation which has been
described above is then repeated.
ין
::
In order, however, that my several improvements may be clearly,
understood I have shewn in the accompanying Drawings various views
of arrangements by which my Invention may be carried into effect..
Sheet 2, Figs. 9, and 10, represent a right-hand side view and a
front view facing spindles respectively. The machine is driven by the
fly wheel A, whose shaft carries the pinion B, gearing with the change
wheel C. The pinion D, of this change wheel drives the wheel E, on
the front cam shaft E, and E, drives the wheel F, on the back cam
shaft F, by means of the carrier wheel G. All the motions are
derived from cams on these two cam shafts; but it is to be understood
that the driving as well as the actuating cams can be replaced and
altered by various modifications having the same effect without depart-
ing from the nature of my Invention.
The following is a table of reference to the different parts of the
net frame-A, B, C, D, E, F, G, driving gear; E, front cam shaft;
F, back cam shaft; I, I, frame sides, connected by suitable cross rails;
1, dividing comb; 2, set of hooked spindles; 3, set of Y & drawing pin
forks; 4, set of knotting pieces; 5, set of bayonets; 6, two shuttle
needles; 7, knocking-off comb; 8, net beam; 1',, system of levers for
turning the dividing comb about the centre H; 1", system of levers
for turning the same about K; 2', system of studs, chain wheels, and
bevel wheels for turning the spindles three half turns to the right;
2", system of studs, chain wheels, and bevel wheels for turning the
spindles one half turn to the left; 8', system of levers for giving the
Y forks a curved up and down motion; 4', system of levers for turning
the knotting piece about the centre L; 4", system of levers for turning
the knotting piece about the centre M; 5', system of cams and rollers
for giving the bayonet bar N, an up and down motion; 5", system of

page_text: levers for advancing the bayonets to the spindle points; 5, system of
lever, rack, pulley, sliding cam, and springs for the meshing motion
of the bayonets; 6', system of levers, rack, pulley, and cords for im
parting to the needles a to and fro motion; 71, system of levers for
turning the knocking-off comb about the centre O; 81, weight turning
net beam 8, and thereby taking up the net woven, and tightenning the
knots.
There are six cams on the front shaft, counting from the right to the
left in the front view; these cams are for the following motions: first
and fifth cam for 6' motion; second and fourth cam for 5¹ motion;
third cam for 511 motion; sixth cam for 21 and 21 motions. These
cams are shewn in black lines in Figs. 9, and 10. The seven cams on
the back cam shaft are indicated in blue lines, counting from the right
to the left in the front view; these cams have the following applications:
first cam for 71 motion; second cam for 4' motion; third cam for 3'
motion; fourth cam for 1' motion; fifth cam for 1" motion; sixth
cain for 5 motion; seventh cam for 4 motion. For the purpose of
steadying the motions by moving the implements at both ends some of
the actuating levers are keyed on shafts that traverse the whole width
of the frame, and which are not all shewn in Fig. 10, in order to avoid
confusion. These shafts are P, and H, belonging to 11; K, to 1"; Q,
and R, to 31; L, to 4'; S, to 4"; T, and U, to 5"; O, to 71; V, are
springs acting on the ends of the bayonets which are centered at W,
between plates inserted in the bar N; X, X, are rollers by which the
bar slides up and down in the slots in the frame sides; Y, Y, springs
for forcing the first levers of 6' against the cam; Z, roller for guiding the
net as it is taken up by the net beam 8; A', A', are the latches articu-
lated to the bayonets 5, and butting against the bar B'. These latches
are successively lifted by a sliding cam C', on a bar D', similar to those
used in knitting frames. This sliding cam is moved by a band passing
from a gorge pulley E', over rollers F, F, Fig. 10, and whose ends
are attached to the sliding cam C¹. The pulley E', is turned by means
of a pinion G', and a rack H', which is actuated by the middle cam on
the front cam shaft by means of a lever and bowl.
Figs. 11, and 12, shew a detached front and side view of the needle

page_text: boxes fixed to each side of the net frame. To the end of the lever I'
belonging to the moton 6', is linked the rack K', which gears with a
pinion L', keyed on the same spindle as M'. This gorge pulley, by
means of cross banding, draws the needle 6, over guide pulleys N', N¹:
The needle is guided in the barrel of the needle box by means of a cylin-
drical piece O, at one end, and by means of a collar P¹, at the other.
Q', is the bobbin from which the thread is unwound at each alter-
nate row of knots. The thread passes through a barrel R', fixed on
the needle box, and in which it is prevented from slipping by a spring.
Figs. 13, ct 14, shew a side view and partial section respectively of
the cam S', and apparatus for turning the spindles. This part is only
indicated in Fig. 10, Sheet 2. a, is a chain wheel, carrying an end-
less chain T; b, is a wheel which is keyed like the chain wheel a, on
a collar d, which turns on the stud c, which is fixed in the frame side.
On the boss of this collar are fixed four pins t, in the shape of a cap-
stan. A similar apparatus b, c, d, t, less the chain wheel, is fixed below
the first in such manner that the capstans t, and t¹, pass each other,'
that the wheels b, and ', are in gear, and the centres of both apparatus
at an equal distance from the centre of the front shaft E. S', is the
actuating cam or disc on the front shaft E; on its circumference are
fixed three studs or fingers s, and one st; the fingers s, turn the capstant,
without touching t, and that s, touches t, only. Both s, and s¹, are so
placed that they impart to the capstans one quarter of a turn at each
contact, and as the wheels b, & b', are equal, the chain wheel a, will
receive three quarters of a turn, to the right say, and then one quarter
to the left. This motion is communicated by the chain T, to the upper
chain wheel e, Fig. 9, & 10. On the shaft carrying the chain wheel
are keyed the two bevel wheels fif, gearing into two other bevels g, g.
On these two bevels is fixed excentrically, by means of studs, the crank
plate h, into which fit the cranked ends i, of the spindles, having the
same throw as the studs on the bevels g, g. The diameter of the
upper chain wheel is only half that of the lower one, so that the quarter
turn given to the lower one causes half a turn of the upper one, and
since the bevel wheels are mitres the spindle cranks receive half a
turn. The semi-cylinder h', which extends the whole width of the

page_text: frame, serves as a common collar piece for the spindles, which are
shouldered at i', to withstand the working tension, and kept at an equal
distance by the teeth of a rack fixed to, the spindle rail. The, number
of spindles shewn in Fig. 10, is forty-one, but this number may be
diminished or increased at will. It, will be observed that after the first
row of knots has been formed the meshes., drawn out can only be équal
to the number of spindles diminished by one, as each mesh has to be
drawn between two knots by the bayonets... Furthermore, if the hooked.
ends of the spindles in taking up the meshes always turned one way
the net would at. each row of knots, decrease by one knot on the side
from which the mesh is taken up, and at last finish in. one mesh..
Hence, to keep the net square the deficient knot has to bé alter-
nately on the right-hand and left-hand side, or the hooked ends of:
the spindles have to take up right and left alternately... Three half
turns in one direction and one half turn in the other fulfil this condi-
tion, for, as has been seen, the first half. turn down in the first direction
effects the crossing; the second half turn in the same direction effects
the taking up on one side; the third half turn down again effects the
crossing; and the fourth half turn in the opposite direction effects
the taking up on the opposite side; and after this the same cycle begins
again. The net then, as it is woven, follows at each row of knots a reci-
procating lateral motion equal to the distance between two spindles...
In most cases the tension of the net on the spindles will be found
sufficient to prevent them from leaving their position by any.external
cause during the intervals between the successive half turns.. If, how-
ever, thought proper, they may be prevented from turning during those
intervals by the surface wheel, k, on the front shaft E, Fig. 11, whicli is
keyed so, as to present at the proper times the indentments m, n, to the
star wheel l, which is keyed on the chain. wheel a. The indentments:
on the surface wheel have such on, angular: extent as to allow the star
wheel to turn during the time the capstans. t; t, are acted upon, and no
longer. The number of pins on the capstan's being four, and the four half
turns effected by means of them corresponding to the formation: of. 2
rows of knots and meshes,. all the other motions have to take place
twice during the same: time, which is effected for the motions derived

page_text: from the front cam shaft by the shape of the cams, and for those derived
from the back cam shaft by giving to the wheel f, half the diameter of.
the wheel E. I wish it, however, to be understood that this mode of
actuating the cams may be altered in any suitable manner without
thereby departing from the nature of my Invention.
In order to make the motions of the above-mentioned eight imple-
ments better understood: I would add the following observations on
their nature and working:
•
1. The dividing comb 1, turns downwards by means of the motion
11; the object of this is to have it out of the way of the following
motions, and to put the upper branches of the thread into the proper
position for the action of the knotting piece, as stated above.
2. The hook of the spindle has to make a slightly acute angle with the
straight part, so as to prevent the meshes and knots jumping or falling"
off. This tendency is further obviated by causing the knocking-off comb:
to remain stationary near the spindle hooks, whilst the bayonets descend
and leave the meshes on the hooks.
3. The Y and drawing pen pieces have to fulfil several purposes;
firstly, they have to lift the crossing. point of the two branches of thread,
and bring the loop in the proper position for the knotting piece; hence
it is forked in the shape of a Y. The prong, resembling a drawing.
pen, has to enter the loop, and therefore it terminates in a point; it
has to widen the loop for letting the knotting pieces pass through, and
to give passage to the same; it is, therefore; split like a drawing pen,
and its two branches are in the form of springs, so as to let the knotting
pieces escape; when the drawing pen pieces descend, and assume their
pointed form again. The shape of a single Y and drawing pen piece
is shewn at Figs. 15, and 16, in side and back view respectively; there
are, of course, as many as there are needles: The object of the lever:
articulated at R, Fig. 9, and to the frame carrying the Y pieces, is tó
cause them to describe a curvilinear path, whose concave side is turned
towards the spindles; the Y piece thus enters the loop in a more
favourable manner, and on leaving strips the knot back on the knot-
ting piece so as to effect a better position of the knot or bend...
4. The eyes of the knotting pieces are slit, as seen in Figs. 4, 19;

page_text: and 15. After the bayonets have drawn out a row of new meshes from
the thread passed through the eyes, these slits allow this thread to
escape from the eyes. This is the object of the motion 4', which causes
the eyes to describe a circular path about L, and to leave the meshes
on the hooks. The knotting pieces are also grooved on their circum-
ference, as seen in plan, Fig. 17, so as better to seize the thread. By
motion 4, about M, 4 makes room for 1 coming home.
6. The length of cach needle exceeds a little the width of the work,
so that its split head comes past the last eye of the knotting piece.
Into this split head the workman puts the end of the thread from the
bobbin, which the needle in its backward course leaves in the cyes of
the knotting pieces. The end is then secured in a clasp on the bayonet
frame, at the end opposite to the supplying bobbin, and the bayonets
begin to mesh off at the same end. After the meshes have been
drawn out and the knots drawn, the thread is cut off near the last of
them, and the selvage formed in any suitable manner by knots or
otherwise. Although I prefer to use two shuttle needles, still it may be
seen that one needle would be sufficient to do the work.
I do not think it necessary to describe here the shape and extent of
the grooves and rims of the cams, as any practical machinist can
determine them from the nature of the motions above described.
Neither will it be necessary to determine the exact chronology of these
motions, as this is easily found by experiment by keying the cams in
different positions on the cam shaft.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best
means with which I am at present acquainted for carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim, besides the arrange-
ment of machinery for net making herein described, the following
implements with their motions as described, or any mere modifications
of the same:
Firstly, the dividing comb 1, for properly dividing and depressing
the thread. Secondly, the mechanism for giving to the needles three
half turns in one direction, and one half turn in the other. Thirdly,
the Y and drawing pen pieces 3, for widening the loop, and generally
giving to the threads their working position. Fourthly, the knotting

page_text: pieces 4, for forming the knot and passage for the needle. Fifthly,
the knocking-off comb 7, for unhooking the knots and keeping down
the meshes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Georges Edouard Gazagnaire,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of March,
in the year of our Lord 1854.
G. E. GAZAGNAIRE. (L.S.)
G. E. GAZAGNAIRE. (L.s.)