A BURGLARY ALARM
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Matthews, of Strickland Gate, Kendal,
in the County of Westmoreland, Gun Maker, for the Invention
of "A BURGLARY ALARM."
Scaled the 9th February 1853, and dated the 18th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Matthews at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th December 1852.
I, JOSEPH MATTHEWS, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A BURGLARY ALARM " to be as follows, and as shewn
by the accompanying Drawing, where Figure 1, is a plan and
part section full size of the alarm. A, A, A, iron or other metal
case a, the hammer; b, the swivel; c, the mainspring; d, the
catch bar; e, the hole for the pin g; f, stud for the mainspring; 9,
trigger; h, trigger spring; i, barrel; k, nipple; l, ball or weight;
m, spring and support to ball 1; n, cord attached to spring m ; o,
cord attached to trigger g; t, a hollow, where ball, works in.
Figure 2, is a horizontal full section through Figure 1. A, the case;
d, catch bar; P, spring for supporting catch bar d. Figure 3, is a

page_text: vertical section through Figure 1, also full size. A, the case; 1, the
barrel. Figure 4, is an oblong section through Figure 1, also full
size. A, the case; a, hammer; d, catch bar; P, the spring for sup-
porting catch bar d. Figure 5, shews the Invention complete at its
full size. A, A, the case; B, the brass lever or front; e, hole for
pin Q; I, the barrel; R, a handle. The side S, is left open to admit
the hammer to be forced back, to nick in the catch bar d, and to
put the percussion cap on nipple K.
When it is to be set for use, turn it upside down; the ball will
force past spring m, then the ball will remain at the top, after it is
set right as shown in Figure 1; the pin Q, is then put in hole e, to
prevent the hammer a, Figure 5, from falling; the barrel I, is then
loaded with gunpowder, and a percussion cap put on the nipple K;
the alarm can then be placed where wanted, and cord n, can be
taken and fixed to any part or place required, or a number of cords
can be attached to cord n, and carried when desirable; the pin is
then taken out. Any thing coming in contact with the cord or
cords will draw spring m, close to the side of case; the ball then
drops on trigger g, which causes the other end to press down bar d,
which releaves the hammer, and by the strength of spring C, causes
it (the hammer) to explode the percussion cap which ignites the
powder in barrel I. The alarm cord O, can be used if required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Joseph Matthews in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOSEPH MATTHEWS, of Strickland Gate, Kendal, in the County of
Westmorland, Gun Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of December,
in the sixteenth year of Her reign, and in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Matthews, Her

page_text: especial license that I, the said Joseph Matthews, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Matthews, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
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, my Inven-
tion of "A BURGLARY ALARM," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Joseph Matthews, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of my 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 Joseph Matthews, 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 (that is to say):
My Invention consists of an apparatus so constructed, that, by
placing it in any convenient position within hearing of the inmates
of a dwelling house, if any person or persons should attempt to
enter either by any of the doors or windows of the house, the said
apparatus will give a report similar to the discharge of a gun, and
also light a candle, if necessary; at the same time I cause the said
apparatus to fire or explode, by attaching a cord, wire, or similar
contrivance to it, and conveying the said cord, wire, &c. to the door,
so that if the door be opened or disturbed, it will touch the cord or
wire, and immediately act upon the apparatus, as hereafter explained,
and cause it to explode. And by attaching branch cords or wires
to the said main communication they may be conveyed to every
door and window in the house, so that any person or persons
entering by any such means will cause the alarm to explode, and, if
it be set for the purpose, will light a candle at the same time, and
thus give the inmates the double advantage of being warned of
danger, and of having a light to guide them in the emergency. This

page_text: apparatus will be clearly understood by reference to the accompany-
ing sheet of Drawings, in which the same letters of reference are
used to represent similar parts, where different views or diagrams
are shown.
Fig: 1, is a plan of my improved alarm, with one side off, to
shew the interior mechanism thereof. Fig. 2, is a section through
Fig. 1, at A, B. Fig. 3, is another section through the same
at C, D; and Fig. 4, is a plan thereof complete. a, represents the
case of the alarm or apparatus, which may be made of iron, or
other suitable metal or material; b, a hamıner; c, a swivel; d, a main-
spring; e, a catch-bar; f, a hole for a pin; g, a stud for the mainspring;
h, a trigger; i, a barrel to be loaded with gunpowder; k, a nipple, on
which is placed a percussion cap; l, a ball or weight; m, a spring
and support to the ball or weight l; n, a cord or wire attached to
the spring m, which may be conveyed to any place required, or a
number of cords or wires may be attached to the said cord or wire n,
and conveyed to any place or places that may be desirable, and any-
thing coming in contact with them will draw the said spring m,
close to the side of the case, and allow the ball to drop on the
trigger h, which causes the other end to press down the bar e which
relieves the hammer, and, by the strength of the spring d, causes it
to explode the percussion cap, which ignites the powder in the
barrel; o, a cord or wire attached to the trigger h; p, a hollow
space in which the ball 7, works; q, a nipple, upon which is placed a
percussion cap, by which the candle is lighted when it explodes by
the force of the hammer; 7, a hole in which the prepared wick or
candle is placed; s, a spring for the catch bar e; t, a holder in
which the candle u, is placed; v, a pin to place in the hole f, to
prevent the hammer striking the percussion cap or caps whilst pre-
paring or removing the apparatus; w, a ring by which the apparatus
may be suspended.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my
said Invention, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact details herein described, as such may be
varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof;

page_text: but I claim as new, and which, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, has not been hitherto used within this realm,
The apparatus or mechanism to be used as an alarm as herein
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Matthews, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, One thou-
sand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOSEPH MATTHEWS. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
10 within named Joseph Matthews, in the
presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.