IMPROVEMENTS IN TATTING SHUTTLES AND IN THE MODE OF WINDING THREAD THEREON
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charlotte Shales at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition, on the 31st
December 1868.
I, CHARLOTTE SHALES, of Westbourne Grove, in the County of
Middlesex, Widow, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TATTING SHUTTLES AND IN THE MODE OF WINDING THREAD
THEREON," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in shuttles used for tatting.
Hitherto the shuttle has been constructed of two flexible bladės joined at
the middle to a central piéce at a sufficient distance apart to allow of a
quantity of thread being wound between them. This has hitherto been
effected by passing the thread between the extremities of the blades
(which are tapered and approach closely together at either end of the
shuttle), causing more or less injury to the thread in passing between
the points of said blades. By my improvements this is entirely obviated,

page_text: the points of the shuttle are less liable to injury, and the winding of the
thread is also considerably facilitated.
According to the first of my improvements the winding of the thread
on the shuttle is entirely obviated, and it is at same time enabled to
contain an increased quantity of thread. I make the shuttle solid
instead of forming it of two blades, having a space between them as
above referred to, and at the centre of the shuttle I form a slot or
opening for receiving an ordinary spool or reel containing thread. This
spool I place on an axis or pin fixed to one side of the shuttle in a
transverse position across the centre of the slot, on which pin the spool
is free to revolve. One side of the shuttle by which the spool is enclosed
when in position on its axis is made movable, either on a hinge or in
other way, or it may be detachable to permit of the introduction of the
spool, the side of the shuttle being secured in the closed position by
entering a dovetail groove or otherwise. This latter arrangement is also
applicable to existing shuttles. The spool which may be of any suitable
shape is, as before mentioned, free to be revolved on its axis (by pulling
on the thread), but with sufficient friction to prevent the too rapid
delivery of the thread. The friction may be obtained by means of a
spring fixed in the shuttle and bearing on the spool, the pressure of the
spring on the same and consequently the delivery of the thread being
regulated as required. When the thread on the spool is exhausted the
latter is removed from the shuttle and a full one introduced, as before
described.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved mode of
winding the thread on the shuttle itself, and consists in mounting a
spool permanently in bearings in a slot in the shuttle, the ends of which
are made solid as in the first arrangement. This spool is supplied or
filled with thread by hand by means of a small winch handle which is
applied to the axis of the spool when it is required to fill the same
by which the latter is rotated, until sufficient thread has been
wound thercon. This latter improvement is also applicable to existing
shuttles.
A third improvement consists in combining the needle or hook also
employed in the operation of tatting with the shuttle instead of being
separate as hitherto. This I effect by recessing the hook, which
resembles a crochet needle, in a slide in the shuttle at either end, from

page_text: which said hook is projected when required and withdrawn again within
the shuttle after use.
This improved combined shuttle and hook may also be used for
tambour work.
the shuttle after use.
This improved combined shuttle and hook may also be used for
tambour work.