IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS OR APPARATUS FOR ETCHING UPON GLASS AND OTHER MATERIALS "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John George Sowerby, of The Ellison Glass Works,
Gateshead on Tyne, in the County of Durham, Glass Manufacturer, for an
Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS OR APPARATUS FOR ETCHING UPON
GLASS AND OTHER MATERIALS "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John George Sowerby at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February 1883.
JOHN GEORGE SOWERBY, of The Ellison Glass Works, Gateshead on Tyne, in
the County of Durham, Glass Manufacturer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS OR
APPARATUS FOR ETCHING UPON GLASS AND OTHER MATERIALS
"
My Invention relates to improvements in tools or apparatus used for decorating
Glassware, by etching or engraving any pattern on the outer surface of glass
vessels, by means of one or more steel or iron etching tools and wet sand; my
improved tools or apparatus being also applicable to etching upon other materials.
I propose to pass the etching tool, or tools, through a horizontal bar, each tool
being held by a spring or springs fixed on this bar which lifts upon a pin or stud
at one of its ends, the other end of the bar being free.
$
I thus allow the etching tool, or tools, always to press equally on the surface of
the article to be engraved, whether such surface be even or not.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John George Sowerby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th August 1883.
JOHN GEORGE SOWERBY, of the Ellison Glass Works Gateshead on Tyne, in
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS OR
the County of Durham, Glass Manufacturer,
APPARATUS FOR ETCHING UPON GLASS AND OTHER MATERIALS"
My Invention relates to improvements in tools or apparatus used for decorating
glassware, by etching or engraving any pattern on the outer surface of Glass
Vessels, by means of one or more steel or iron etching tools or moveable lathe
head and wet sand; my improved tools or apparatus being also applicable to
etching upon other materials.
The object of my Invention is to allow the etching tool or tools always to press
equally on the surface of the article to be engraved, whether such surface be even
or not.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing:—
Figure 1. is a side view of an apparatus embodying my Improvements
Figure 2. being a plan, and,
Figure 3-a front view of same
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the figures
respectively.
A-Indicating the etching tool or tools
B-A horizontal metal bar through which the tools A are passed. The tools
rest on the cork F when not in use.
C-Springs fixed on the bar B; there may be one or more springs according to
requirements
D-Pin or stud upon which the bar B pivots; the other end of the said bar
being left free
E-The article upon which the etching tool, or tools A is working, in this case
a Tumbler
F-Is a Cork Chuck attached to a revolving spindle on which the Tumbler is
fixed
In using my improved tool or apparatus; when the etching tool A, meets any
raised portion or projection upon the article E, it is pressed backward therefrom,
lifting the bar B, moving on its pivot pin or stud D, and operates upon the article
with no more pressure than when it was operating upon the even surface thereof,
and directly it has passed over this raised part the springs C advance it again to
operate as before. The action is the same when the tool meets with a depression
on the article; that is to say, the springs C acting upon the bar B keep the tool A,
against the surface of the article and permit it to rise again when required by the
unevenness of such surface
I need scarcely observe that the form of the springs and other details of my
improved apparatus may vary, so that the main feature of my invention, namely,
an elastic holder for the tool, be retained.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is or may be performed:
I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent :-
The use in a tool or apparatus for etching upon glass or other material, of the

page_text: bar B, moveable on the pin or stud D, and having the springs C, holding the
etching tool A, the whole combined and arranged to operate substantially as
herein before described.
In Witness whereof I the said John George Sowerby have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Sixth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight
hundred and Eighty three
JOHN GEORGE SOWERBY (L.S.)