CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCKETS FOR HOLDING WHIPS AND CANDLES; PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLI- CABLE TO THE SOCKETS OR IRONS FOR HOLDING CARRIAGE AND OTHER LAMPS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Septimus Cockings, Civil Engineer, and
Ferdinand Potts, Patent Tube Manufacturer, both of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
SOCKETS FOR HOLDING WHIPS AND CANDLES; PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLI-
CABLE TO THE SOCKETS OR IRONS FOR HOLDING CARRIAGE AND OTHER LAMPS,"
Sealed the 11th April 1856, and dated the 13th October 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Septimus Cockings
and Ferdinand Potts at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 13th October 1855.
We, JAMES SEPTIMUS COCKINGS, Civil Engineer, and FERDINAND POTTS,
Patent Tube Manufacturer, both of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SOCKETS FOR HOLDING WHIPS AND CANDLES: PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE SOCKETS OR IRONS FOR HOLDING CARRIAGE AND OTHER LAMPS," to
be as follows, that is to say:
Our improvements consist principally in a means of contracting the orifice
through which the article intended to be held passes, in order that they may
be better retained in such position, as also in the mode of mounting, uniting,
and looping sockets for holding whips, whether made of leather, tin, or other
suitable material. And when such sockets are intended to hold candles, we
propose to contract the orifice by means of a side screw or slide, and to make
the socket on the telescopic principle or otherwise; and in some instances we
form such socket of tubes formed with twisted indentations or mouldings
running around in a spiral or screw form. And our improvements in the
sackets. or.irons for holding carriage lamps consist in the application; of an

page_text: inner contracting lining, as also in the mode of retaining such linings in
their position, which is done by means of a stamped metallic ring or mount,
and in some instances we use a screw, before described as applied to
candlestick sockets.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Septimus Cockings and Ferdinand Potts in the
_ Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
SEPTIMUS COOKINGS, Civil Engineer, and FERDINAND POTTS, Patent Tube
Manufacturer, both of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said James Septimus Cockings and Ferdinand Potts, Her special license that
we, the said James Septimus Cockings and Ferdinand Potts, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Septimus
Cockings and Ferdinand Potts, our 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCKETS FOR HOLDING WHIPS AND CANDLES; PARTS OF WHICH ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE SOCKETS OR IRONS FOR HOLDING CARRIAGE AND OTHER
LAMPS,"
'upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Septimus
Cockings and Ferdinand Potts, by an instrument in writing under our 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 we, the said James Septimus Cockings and
Ferdinand Potts, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
:
Our improvements in sockets may be described as of three classes;
the first

page_text: relating to tin, leather, or other sockets for holding whips; the second to tin,
brass, or other metallic sockets for holding candles; and, lastly, to sockets
for holding carriage lamps; and which various improvements consist, firstly,
in the manner of making and applying expanding and contracting linings
or rings of india-rubber or gutta percha to whip. sockets, to counteract the
shaking action of the carriage to the whip handle; secondly, in the use of
a metallic plate, as a means, of uniting leather whip sockets, whereby the
ordinary mode of stitching and sewing is obviated; the metallic plate also
forming the loops through which leather straps are passed for strapping or.
buckling the socket to the carriage when in use; thirdly, in the manner
of making and applying metallic rings for securing the contracting or non-
metallic linings to whip sockets; fourthly, in the mode of uniting the
bottoms to the bodies of whip sockets; and, lastly, our improvements in
connection with whip sockets relate to the manner of making and applying
trade labels or marks to such sockets. .
Our improvements relating to sockets for holding.candles consist, first, in
the application of a side screw and plate for increasing or diminishing the
space for holding the candle, for the purpose of. adapting the socket to
the various sized candles that may be required to be held; secondly, in the
application of an eccentric nozzle, which being turned will have the effect of
enlarging or decreasing the orifice passing into the socket, thus effecting the
like object; thirdly, in the making of the socket of two pieces of twisted tube,
fitted one in the other, so that by turning the nozzle in the direction required, it
may be made to rise or fall, as circumstances may require, for holding the candle.
And our improvements in sockets for holding carriage lamps consist in
making them in such a way that a contracting lining may be readily fitted
to them, which lining being non-metallic, the 'shaking, and consequently
disagreeable noise common to the ordinary socket, is entirely avoided; and,
lastly, our improvements relate to the manner of making the irons for
holding carriage lamp sockets. But in order that we may be thoroughly
understood in all the particulars relating to our various improvements, we
will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents part of a whip socket as made of tin, marked a, a,
5 having a ring of wire soldered around the top end, which wire is represented
in its sectional form at b, b; the lining is made on suitable moulds of gutta
percha,contracted in the middle, and held by a ring of vulcanized india-rubber,
marked c, c; this lining has a series of longitudinal cats, as extending from

page_text: d, d, etc. to e, e, etc., and this contraction, in consequence of being so divided,
and of the elasticity of the ring c, c, the lining will readily expand, allowing
the whip handle freely to pass down or be removed. This description of lining
in whip sockets are by no means new, as they were originally secured by the
firm of Swaine and Adeney, whip makers, of Piccadilly, London, under the
Registration Act for securing articles of utility; but in their manufacture it
was discovered that gutta percha has a great tendency to contract and to work
loose around at the part where they were secured or united to the body of the
socket, and to obviate this defect is the main object of our Invention, and
which we do by so moulding the gutta percha lining that it shall spread over
and clip the top part of the socket, which will entirely prevent its working
loosely; and as a way of retaining the lining in the socket, we apply a metallic
ring, which ring we have shewn in section at Figure 2, and by passing this
ring down on the gutta percha lining, and fixing the socket in a lathe, and
the socket being put in rapid motion, the ring, by means of a suitable tool or
burnisher, is pressed in, clipping the ring in the form exhibited at ff. This
ring may be of plated metal, bright brass, or bronze, as required, which will
give a good finish to the socket, and thoroughly secure the lining without
the necessity of securing such lining by sewing around the top.
Figure 3 represents a sectional view of the top part of a socket, shewing
the lining as made of gutta percha, and lapped over on the outside, and
moulded into a suitable shape, requiring no other fastening. The lining
being applied after the socket has been japanned, it forms a finish without
the addition of a metallic ring, as in the last case.
Figure 4 represents an outside view of this part of the socket, and Figure 5
a top view of the lining, with a small portion of it represented as ornamented,
shewing that any suitable design may be given to this part.
Figure 6 represents an entire section of a whip socket as made of tin,
shewing that when plated or burnished bottoms are required to such sockets,
they can be applied somewhat in the manner described. at Figure 1; as,
for instance, the rim of the bottom being allowed to stand up in the form
in which it was stamped, and a ring being soldered to the bottom end of the
socket, the bottom is put on by the socket being placed in the lathe and set
in motion, and the rim, as at g, is pressed down, clipping the ring in the form
shewn on the other side at h; aud at the top of this Figure we have also
exhibited a ring in section, stamped or raised in the form here shewn, and
soldered to the body of the socket, as atjj, when the gutta percha lining A
is forced in, clipping the rim of the socket, and is held by the rim being
pressed over upon it, as exhibited in the section at Figure 7.

page_text: Figure 8 represents the top part of a whip socketin section, with an elastic
mouth, which we propose making of india-rubber, but which in itself is not new,
as discs of india-rubber have been used for this purpose; but the difficulty of
attaching and securing them with a neat finish have made such kinds of whip
sockets objectionable; to obviate which, we propose moulding the india-rubber
into the desired shape for lapping over or clipping around the edge of the
socket, where it can be secured by tying or otherwise, and afterwards finished
by a metallic, ivory, or other suitable mount, or a moulded rim of gutta percha,
or a strip of thin leather may be stitched tightly around it.
Figure 9 is a top view of the india-rubber mouth,exhibited at k,k,in the last
Figure, but broken off for the convenience of space; and it will be seen from
section that it is moulded into a conical form, and around the centre orifice a
series of radial beads are exhibited simply for ornament; and it will be seen in
all the sections that the upper end of the body of the sockets are spread out
trumpet-like, for the purpose of giving greater play for the whip to pass freely
into the socket; and we might further observe, to obviate the objection of
the metallic mount of the whip resting on the metallic bottom ofthe socket, we
place a false bottom, moulded of gutta percha, which bottom being formed in
the same shape as the outer bottom, may be made to fit tight when forced in,
and will remain in such position; one such bottom we have exhibited in
section at 1, 1, Figure 6.
Figure 10 represents the top part of the body of a leather whip socket in
section,marked B.B; around the top end we form a groove, and in the bottom
of the groove we pierce out a lot of holes, about an eighth or sixteenth of au
inch indiameter, which may be readily done by a tool similar towhat shoemakers
use in making holes for lace-up boots, the holes being placed about a quarter of
an inch apart; and we next form the lining marked C,C,taking care to leave
plentyof gutta percha around the top edge. The lining being slit, and the elastic
ring placed on it, it is next placed into the body of the socket and pressed tight
by the mould D,D,on which it was originally moulded, the top part of the gutta
percha being warmed before applied, and next the mould E,E,which for con-
venience is divided into three parts. When thesemoulds are pulled togetherby
the clipF,F, which will have the effect (the gutta percha being still warm and
soft) of forcing it through the holes pierced around the leather body, as also
the compressing it into the desired shape, and impressing it with any desired
device or designthat may be formed on the mould, the superfluous guttapercha
being forced into the hollow cavity n,n, and out from between the inner rin
of the mould E,and the body of the socket marked by the protuberance m,"
m, to be removed when the mould is removed and the gutta percha is cold.

page_text: Figure 11 represents a plan of the clip F, as also the mould E, divided
into three parts. This clip is united by an hinged joint and pin at G, and is
squeezed together by any convenient mechanical agency applied to H,H. A
socket thus made would be somewhat in appearance like to the one repre-
senting the body as made of tin, and exhibited at Figure 4, the form of the
moulding being slightly different. Figure 12 represents a longitudinal sec-
tional view of a socket, also made of leather, representing a groove as cut
around the top edge,and a metallic ring o fitting tightly into it. A contracting
or expanding lining as made of gutta percha is placed in the same, and
exhibited in section. Over this a metallic cap or ring p is placed, which, by
means of the socket being put into rapid motion,and the application of the
pressure from a suitable tool, the metallic mount p is pressed in, clipping the
under side of the ring o,thus thoroughly uniting the lining to the body. This
we do to such leather sockets as may be required to be finished with metallic
mounts, and if the india-rubber mouth should be preferred to the leather
sockets, it may be applied tothem in the same way as described and exhibited
at Figure 8, to be subsequently finished in the way there described; and in
this Figure we have also shewn, in section, a metallic bottom, to be applied
in the same way as described at 7 and h, Figure 6; but we have found it
necessary, in order to maintain a circular form at the bottom and top of the
bodies of leather whip sockets, to insert a thiu ring made of tin, which ring
is exhibited in section at I, I, in the bottom, and J, J, in the top.; and K
represents an inner bottom as moulded of gutta percha. Figure 13 represents
an outside view of a socket, finished at top and bottom in the way exhibited
and described in the last Figure; and we have here also represented a front
view of the metallic plate M, M, by which we unite the leather body of the
socket, and which strip we have shewn in a distinct edge view at Figure 14,
and in a transverse sectional view at Figure 15, which exhibits the pointed
shanks of the strip M as passing through the leather, and bent over on the
inside, which being done with suitable tools may be flattened down very
securely; and we might observe, that the raw edge of the metal strip(which
is made slightly round) may be embedded in the leather by two small
grooves made along the right distance from the edges of the joint. The strip
is also stamped in such a way as to form loops at N, N, for the buckle
straps to pass through, such straps being generally used for fastening the
socket to the side of the gig or carriage when in use.
Figure 15 represents the trade mark or label we propose attaching to the
whip sockets,herein-before described, and the manner of attaching is this:-
Slots are cut in the leather or tin of the socket body to correspond with the

page_text: straps,, etc., which straps are bent at right angles to the label, and passed
through the slots, when they are again bent towards each other, and flattened
down, by which means the label or mark is securely fixed.
We will now proceed to describe our improvements in sockets for candle
sticks.
. Figure 16 represents a socket fitted with a screw L, to which is attached a
plate ou the inside, which presses on the candle P, and may be turned in and
out for the purpose of holding various sized candles, and may be applied to
common iron, or any other description of candlestick sockets. At Figure 17
we have represented a vertical sectional view of a socket fitted with an eccentric
nozzle or top. The part q is secured to the top of the socket, and the outer
circular edge is placed eccentrically to the centre hole of the socket, and on
this the cap or nozzle R is placed, with a hole placed also eccentrically, as, for
instance, in its present position it is supposed to hold securely the candle S;
but if that part of the cap or nozzle R' is turned around until it arrives on the
opposite side at R, the hole through which the candle passes, marked t, t,
would then be over the full open orifice of the socket, and be capable of
receiving a candle the size of its intornal diameter, as will be understood best
in the top view, Figure 18, the dotted circle shewing the position of the circle
t, t, when R is turned around to the opposite side marked R.
Returning to the section, Figure 17, it will be seen, that to the stand for
the socket is fitted and secured a short piece of twisted tube marked u, into
which the twisted part of the socket marked v works, whilst the rest for the
candle is made permanent by being fixed by the upright rod T to the bottom U,
so that by turning the socket and holding the stand the socket will rise up or
down, as required, for holding the candle; as, for instance, when the bead w, w,
is turned down to rest on the bead W, W, the rest for the candle a¹ will be.
at b. And Figure 19 represents another modification of the application of
twisted tube for the raising and lowering of candle sockets, which in this case
is made of twisted tube from end to end, and may be fitted to any description
of stand, and the nozzle is made externally of a piece of twisted tube of the
same pitch of screw for working up and down within the socket, and inside
the nozzle we have represented a piece of plain tube, firmly secured, and in
which the rest for the candle works, so that by turning the nozzle and holding
the stand, it will rise or fall in the socket to any desired position, its action
being regulated by the cork X, which is fitted and held between the rest for
the candle, and the plate C' on the support Y. Figure 20 simply represents
a side view of the last Figure, with the stand broken off for the convenience
of space

page_text: Passing to the last part of our improvements, we will refer to Figure 21,
which represents a top view of a lamp socket iron, which, being made of a
semicircular form in its transverse section, is bent up into the form here
exhibited, and welded from D¹ to D¹, and to be extended and fashioned in any
way requisite for securing them in the position required for use. E' is an iron
or metallic ring, driven on tight at this part to prevent it opening in the joint.
The centre orifice is represented as slightly oval, and tapering inwards to cor-
respond with the customary form of carriage lamp handles, but they may be.
made round, square, or any other shape that may be preferred; and Figure 22
is a sectional side view of the last Figure, shewing the socket, also in section,
placed within the iron, which socket we propose making of thin sheet iron,
plated metal, or brass, welded or soldered together at the joint, but which is
not absolutely necessary, because it would be held firmly together by its taper-
ing form going tight into the socket iron D', and further secured by a metallic
ring being soldered to the top marked f', over which a thin metallic mount gi
is placed, which mount secures an inner lining of gutta percha, contracting in
the middle by reason of its shape, and the elastic band , h, the mount and
lining being subsequently secured by being placed in a lathe, and the mount.
lapped in around the wire f¹ by a suitable tool or burnisher, as described, as a
means of finishing at Figures 1 and 7: This mode of making lamp sockets
will admit of their being ornamented, and made cheaper than the ordinary
lamp socket, in addition to which it will prevent the lamp from shaking or
rattling when in use from the action of the carriage.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into effect, we wish it understood that we do
not confine ourselves to the exact details as herein described and set forth in
the Drawings, as they are capable of considerable diversification of shape, and
in the manner of realisation; but what we do claim is,―
Firstly, the forming and applying gutta percha linings to whip sockets in
such a manner.as to allow the gutta percha to project down around the edge
of the body of the socket, whereby the lining, without the necessity of sewing,
is prevented from contracting or wearing loose, as also the impressing of any
ornamental design around such socket linings.
Secondly, we claim the use of a wire ring soldered or otherwise fastened
around the tops of whip socket bodies, as herein described and exhibited.
Thirdly, we claim the mode of stamping and applying metallic mounts and
bottoms to whip sockets, as exhibited at Figures 1, 2, 7, 8, 12, and 13.
Fourthly, we claim the application to whip sockets of india-rubber caps or
mouth pieces, such caps or mouth pieces being moulded in contradistinction.

page_text: to their being made from sheet rubber, whereby they may be made in an
ornamental shape, as also with a projecting rim to clip over and around the
top of the socket.
Fifthly, we claim the mode of inaking and applying gutta percha linings
and rims to whip sockets, as exhibited at Figures 4, 6, 7, 10, and 11,
without regard to the precise shape of the gutta percha linings or rims, or
to the moulds by which they are formed.
Sixthly, we claim the mode of uniting the bodies of whip sockets when
made of leather, as exhibited in a separate Figure at 14, and in a front and
sectional view at Figures 13 and 15, marked M.
Seventhly, we claim the trade label or mark, exhibited at Figure 15, as
also the mode of applying labels to whip sockets, as herein described.
Eighthly, we claim the application of the screw adjustment to candle-
stick sockets, as exhibited at L, Figure 16, for holding candles.
Ninthly, we claim the application to candlestick sockets of an eccentric
nozzle for the like purpose.
Tenthly, we claim the making of candlestick sockets partly or wholly of
twisted tube, such tube forming a screw for raising or lowering the socket
or nozzle to suit the candle.
Eleventhly, we claim the mode of making lamp socket irons, as exhibited
at Figure 21, without regard to the sectional form of the iron, or to the orifice
for receiving the socket.
And, lastly, we claim the mode of making the socket and lining, as herein
described, and exhibited at Figure 22, without regard to the exact form or
proportion of the parts, or to the exact character of the mount there shewn.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Septimus Cockings and Ferdinand
Potts have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six.
Witness,
JAMES SEPTIMUS COCKINGS. (L.S.)
ROBERT CROCKER, Patent Office,
26, Ann St, Birmingham.