IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES "AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Howitt, Agent, of Spring Gardens,
Bradford, in the County of York, Stephen Walker and James
Gibson, Aerated Water Manufacturers, of Shipley, in the County
aforesaid, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES
"AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Scaled the 6th July 1875, and dated the 12th January 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Howitt,
Stephen Walker, and James Gibson at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th January
1875.
We, THOMAS HOWITT, Agent, of Spring Gardens, Bradford, in tho
County of York, STEPHEN WALKER and JAMES GIBSON, Aerated Water
Manufacturers, of Shipley, in the County aforesaid, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES
AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows, that is to say:—
Our Invention relates to employing a tap fitted in the neck of the
bottle or vessel, enabling the filling, closing, and emptying of the same.

page_text: For this purpose the neck of the bottle or vessel is made with an
oponing formed through it, in which is fitted a plug having an opening
forming a tap; the sides of the neck through which passes the plug aro
made flat to allow india-rubber washers fixed on the outside of the plug
to press on even surfaces.
The plug is made straight or taper, and one end is formed with a
flango for the purpose of securing one of the india-rubber washers
between it, and one of the flat surfaces on the neck of the bottle or
vessel; on this flange is formed a lug to turn the plug; the other end of
the plug is made with an opening in which is cut a screw thread, and in
which screws a screw formed on a flanged piece or washer, and between
which and the other side of the flat surfaces is fitted another india-
rubber washer; this flanged piece or washer secures the plug in
its scat.
The top of the neck of the bottle or vessel above the tap is made taper
in the inside, or it may be made straight.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Howitt, Stephen Walker, and James
Gibson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS 2
HOWITT, Agent, of Spring Gardens, Bradford, in tho County of York,
STEPHEN WALKER and JAMES GIBSON, Aërated Water Manufacturers, of
Shipley, in the County aforesaid, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of January, in the year 2
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Howitt, Stephen
Walker, and James Gibson, Her special licence that wc, the said
Thomas Howitt, Stephen Walker, and James Gibson, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas
Howitt, Stephen Walker, and James Gibson, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein

page_text: expressed, should and lawfully might mako, 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 STOPPERING
BOTTLES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES,” upon the condition (amongst others):
that we, the said Thomas Howitt, Stephen Walker, and James Gibson, :
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
or their, or one of their 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 Thomas Howitt, Stephen Walker,
and James Gibson, 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 Drawing hereto annexed, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon, that is to say :—
The said Invention relates to employing a tap fitted in the neck of tho
bottle or vessel, enabling the filling, closing, and emptying of the same.
For this purpose the neck of the bottle or vessel is made with an
opening formed through it, in which is fitted a plug having an opening
forming a tap; the sides of the neck through which passes the plug aro
made flat to allow india-rubber washers fixed on the outside of the plug
to press on even surfaces.
The plug is made straight or taper, and one end is formed with a
flange for the purpose of securing one of the india-rubber washers
between it, and one of the flat surfaces on the neck of the bottle or
vessel; on this flange is formed a lug to turn the plug with; the other
end of the plug is made with an opening in which is cut a screw thread,
and on which screws a screw formed on a flanged piece or washer, and
between which and the other side of the flat surfaces is fitted another
india-rubber washer; this flanged piece or washer secures the plug in
its seat.
The top of the neck of the bottle or vessel above the tap is made taper
in the inside, or it may be made straight.

page_text: substantially as herein-before described and represented in the Drawing
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Howitt, for myself and the .
said Stephen Walker and James Gibson, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, O.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
THOS. HOWITT. (L.S.)