IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE FENCING
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Shaw, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Manufacturer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE FENCING."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Shaw at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1880.
JOHN SHAW, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer. "
IN WIRE FENCING."
IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of wire fencing, such
as is generally used to form enclosures for sheep, cattle, ostriches, and for other
similar purposes, and has for its object securing the fencing wire to the standards
in a simple and effective manner, equalising the strain, and supporting the standards
securely in an upright position, combined with economy in time and labour in
fixing. In carrying out my Invention I make the standards (as a matter of
preference) of angle iron, or T iron, or of similar sections of steel, but I do not
confine myself to those sections, and I cut or punch by means of suitable apparatus
a number of gaps, slots, or apertures, corresponding with the number of wires or
linės intended to be used, at suitable distances down one edge of the angle iron
standard, and at the end of each gap or slot I form a recess at right angles or
thereabouts to receive the wire or line, which may be either solid wire, or consist
of a number of strands of wire. The standards may be either pointed or be
provided with two or more feet as preferred.
It will be obvious that with my improved arrangement of open slots or gaps
instead of holes the wire may be uncoiled in front of the standards, and placed in
the slots or gaps without the troublesome operation of threading through holes as
is usually the case. To secure the wire when stretched so as to prevent it
springing out of the slots, a small wedge having a shoulder or step, and by
preference serrated on its upper side, is driven into the slot, one portion binding
against the wire or line, and thus holding it securely in the beforementioned
recess.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Shaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th June
1881.
JOHN SHAW, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WIRE FENCING."
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of wire fencing, such
as is generally used for enclosures for cattle, sheep, ostriches, and other like
purposes. It consists chiefly in the use of open mouthed slots formed in the outer
edge of the standards, combined with the use of wedges for retaining the wire in its
place, and it has for its object securing the wire to the standards in a simple and
effective manner, which equalises the strain and keeps the said standards firm and
upright. There is also a great saving in time and labour in fixing fencing made
according to my Invention.
In carrying out my Invention I (as a matter of preference) make the standards
of flat iron, angle iron, or T iron, or similar sections of steel, but I do not confine
myself to those sections.
I cut or punch in one of the outer edges of such standards a number of gaps,
slots, or apertures, according to the number of wires intended to be used, and
I make the back of such slots or apertures either enlarged or curved, or otherwise
suitably formed so as to receive the wire and retain the wedge.
(The standards may be either pointed or provided with feet as preferred.)
I prefer however to make the slot with a recess at right angles to receive the
wire, and I use in this plan a wedge with a shoulder, and serrated on its upper
edge; this is driven in and across the mouth of the slot, the shoulder binding
against and holding the wire firmly in its place in the recess; the strain is thus kept.
perfectly tight and equally distributed, and the standards are held in an upright
position, and cannot be moved out of place by the rubbing of cattle or from other
similar causes.
With my improved arrangement of openmouthed slots and wedges the wire may
be uncoiled in front of the standards, and placed in position in the slots without
the troublesome operation of threading it through round holes, as is usually the
case.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I will now refer
to the anexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 represents a front view of a portion of a standard with the wire
wedged in position according to my Invention. A is the standard made of angle
iron; B is the slot; C is the wedge; D is the wire.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.
Fig. 3 represents the wedge.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, represent modifications of the slot and wedge, and it is obvious
that other modifications in the shape and arrangement of the slot may be made
without departing from my Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which it may be carried into effect, I wish to
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
is,-
The use of openmouthed slots formed in the outer edges of the standards of wire

page_text: fencing, with suitable wedges or their equivalents for retaining and securing the
wires, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein before described
and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Shaw, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN SHAW. (L.S.)