IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY OR EARTHENWARE, AND IN THE TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS, OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OR PARTS OF IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
FORD, of Shelton, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of December, in the tenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Ford, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Charles Ford, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said Charles Ford, my executors, admi-
nistrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY OR EARTHENWARE, AND IN THE TOOLS,
INSTRUMENTS, OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OR PARTS OF
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Charles Ford,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and

page_text: immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Ford, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of Improvements in the Manufacture of Pottery or Earthen-
ware, and in the Tools, Instruments, or Apparatus Employed therein, con-
sists,―
First, in forming or producing various articles of pottery or earthenware,
by means of dies, moulds, or blocks, made of metal, wood, or other suitable
material, in conjunction with a press or stamping apparatus.. The peculiar kind
of articles for which this part of my improvements is most particularly appli-
cable are such as small pots or boxes, known among potters as "patch boxes,"
pomatum salve pots, ink stands, small saucers, door handles or knobs, and
other furniture ornaments, and all kinds of small articles. The dies, blocks, or
moulds employed in the manufacture of these articles may be adapted to any
ordinary kind of press or stamping apparatus; but the machine or apparatus
I prefer to use for this purpose is one constructed upon the principle herein-
after shewn and described, and which may also be employed for other purposes
to which it may be applicable.
· The second part of my Invention relates to an improved mode of forming.
producing, or manufacturing certain of the tools or instruments used by potters
or earthenware manufacturers in certain processes forming part of the opera-
tion of manufacturing pottery or earthenware, which tools or instruments are
known among manufacturers as "cockspurs," "stilts," and " pins," and
are employed for supporting the earthenware articles one above another in the
seggars while being baked or burned. These cock spurs, stilts, and pins
are usually made by hand by children, and are consequently of an irregular
shape and frequently badly made. The cockspurs are triangular-shaped pieces
of clay, furnished with three legs or points, which ought to be of the same
length, and provided with one or other point or apex above. Now when.it is
required to bake or burn a number of plates or other flat or shallow articles
of earthenware, they are placed in the seggar one above another, and bottom
uppermost, and are supported upon the points or apices of these cockspurs,
three of which are required for supporting each plate, the legs of one set of

page_text: cockspurs resting on the upturned bottom of one plate and supporting by their
upper points the plate immediately above, and so on for eight or ten plates, or
as many as can be conveniently piled on one another in the seggar. Now it
sometimes happens that if the cockspurs are not of eqnal height, or if the legs
of one should give way, that a whole pile of ware will fall, and become quite
spoiled, thereby occasioning great waste; and in order to remedy this evil, or
as far as possible decrease the liability of its occurrence, I find it convenient
to make these cockspurs, as well as the stilts and pins (which are also used
for a similar purpose, but for different articles), in moulds, dies, or blocks, so
that they may be all exactly of one size and one height. I would observe,
that I am aware that parts of cockspurs have been made or formed in moulds,
and afterwards finished by hand, and that stilts have been formed partly by hand
and then finished in moulds. I do not, therefore, intend to claim such pro-
cesses as constituting any part of my Invention, as I form every part of the
article, tool, or instrument in a die, block, or mould, in one operation, and can
therefore ensure accuracy and perfect identity of parts in any number of articles
made in the same die, block, or mould. I would, however, observe, that the
.object I have in view (viz.), that of making the cockspurs, stilts, and pins of
one uniform size and form, may also be effected by making these articles in two
parts in suitable dies, moulds, or blocks, and then joining these parts together
to make the article complete. The dies, moulds, or blocks which I employ for
the manufacture of these articles are shewn in the accompanying Drawings,
and will be hereafter more particularly described. They may be worked by
hand, if required, or adapted to any of the ordinary coústructions of pressing or
stamping apparatus which may be applicable to that purpose; but I prefer to
adapt them to a machine or apparatus that I have myself invented, and found
peculiarly fitted to the intended purpose, and which I employ for carrying out
the first part of my Invention. This machine is shewn in the accompanying
Drawings, and is herein-after more particularly described. The dies, moulds, or
blocks which I employ for making or producing small pots or boxes, commonly
called patch boxes, salve or pomatum pots, door or drawer knobs or handles,
and other small articles,. are divided into sections or segmental pieces, which
when placed together form the 'sides of a mould, but are capable of being
drawn back simultaneously for the purpose of allowing the article therein formeil
to be withdrawn. The parts which. form 'the top and bottom of the mould
are in this case distinct from the side pieces, and of course work. separately.
Figure 1 represents a plan view of a mould constructed in the manner
above mentioned, the top plate being removed in order that the interior
arrangement may be more clearly seen; Figure 2 is a transverse vertical

page_text: section of the same; Figure 8 is a horizontal section, shewing the form and
mode of working of the segmental pieces which form the sides of the mould,
the mould being open; and Figure 4 is a side view of the mould complete.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a patch box made in the expanding
mould represented in the four preceding Figures, and .Figure 5* is the lid
of the same, also made in the same mould. The top and bottom plates of
the mould are seen at a, a, a, a, and the three moveable segmental pieces that
form the sides of the mould at b, b, b. These segmental pieces b, b, b, are
each provided at their backs with a hub c, c, c, which is tapped with a female
screw, and receives the inner or screwed end of the spindles d, d, d, that pass
through the sides of the mould, and carry at their outer ends pinions e, e, e,
which gear into a circular horizontal rack f, f, f, which surrounds the mould
frame, as seen best in Figure 4, and is provided with a lever or handle g, by
means of which the rack f, the pinions e, e, e, and consequently the segmental
pieces b, b, b, are worked backwards and forwards to open and close the mould.
The block or piece that forms the bottom of the mould is scen at h, and is
mounted on the upper end of a vertical rod, which is raised up by means of a
treadle (in the manner herein-after more particularly set forth), when it is
required to discharge the newly-formed article from the mould. The inside
and top part of the box or other article is formed by the block or piece i, which
has. minute holes made through it for the purpose of allowing the air contained
in the mould to escape. This block or piece i acts as a piston or plunger, and
is screwed or otherwise attached to the lower end of a vertical rod, whereby it
is inserted into and withdrawn from the mould or die when required. The
mode of operating with this mould or die, which must of course be furnished
with some mechanical contrivance (such as that shewn in some of the other
Figures, hereafter more particularly explained), for the purpose of working the
blocks or pieces h and i, is as follows:-When the mould is not in use, the
block or plunger i will be withdrawn from the mould, and suspended by its
vertical rod immediately above it, and when the mould is to be brought into
operation a piece of clay, potter's earth, or other plastic material of suitable
dimensions is placed by the attendant in the cavity, and the block or plunger i
is then made to descend into the mould, and press the clay or plastic material
contained therein into all the interstices, as seen in the sectional view Figure 2.
The box or article having thus been formed, it only remains to discharge it
from the mould; and in order to do this the segmental pieces b, b, b, must be
drawn back so as to leave room for the bottom piece h to be raised. This
opening of the mould is effected, and the three segmental pieces are drawn
which, by
back simultaneously, by merely pulling round the handle or lever,

page_text: h
means of the circular rack, turns the pinions e, e, e, on their axes, and causes
the inner or screwed end of the spindles d, d, d, to enter further into the bosses
of the segmental pieces b, b, b, and thereby draw them back, as seen in the
sectional plan view, Figure 3. Having done this, the newly-made article is
casily discharged by raising the bottom piece by means of a treadle, as before
mentioned; and when the box is removed from the hollow piece h, the latter is.
allowed to descend again, and the segmental pieces are brought back into
their original position by simply turning the handle g in the opposite direction,
after which the mould is again ready to receive a second charge of clay or
plastic material, and repeat the operation. The lid of the box which is seen
at Figure 5* is made in precisely the same manner, the only difference in the
mould being that the plunger i is made longer, and of a shape corresponding
to the inner or under side of the lid. It will be evident to any manufacturer
that by means of moulds, dies, or blocks, constructed and worked substantially
in the manner above explained, an infinite variety of small articles in pottery
and earthenware may be produced, such, for instance, as door or drawer knobs
or handles, a mould, die, or block to form which articles is represented in
section at Figure 6. In this instance the mould or die is formed of only two
parts, the lower half j of the die being fixed in any convenient manner to
the block or handle of the stamping or pressing apparatus, and the upper
half of the dio is, as in the plan already described, attached by screwing or
otherwise to a vertical rod or spindle, whereby it is moved up and down to give
the requisite pressure. In order to form a door knob or handle, a lump or
picce of clay or other plastic material, of the proper size, is placed in the
lower or fixed half of the die, and the upper half is then brought down on
to it, as shewn in the Figure, by means of any suitable mechanical contrivance;
and when the two parts of the die or mould are brought together the clay or
plastic material will be forced into all parts thereof, and be made to assume its
internal configuration. As it is necessary, however, to have a hole made in
the knob to receive the spindle, whereby it is attached or affixed to the door or
drawer, this hole is made by means of a small pin or plunger l, which slides in
a socket or bearing m, and by entering an opening in the end of the die or
mould makes the required hole in the knob, as shewn in the Figure. Some-
times these knobs or handles are made with a screwed end, whereby they are
secured in any place where they may be required; and as in these cases no
hole for a spindle is requisite, the pin or plunger 1 is dispensed with, and the
halves of the mould or die have a screw tapped therein to form the screwed
end of the knob, so that the knob or handle, with its screwed end, is formed
at one operation, and may be removed by hand from the lower half k of the

page_text: mould or die immediately the upper half j is raised. Figure
is a sectional
plan view, and Figure 8 a transverse vertical section, of a die or mould
box for forming "stilts" such as those shewn in plan and elevation at
Figures 9 and 10, and is constructed upon the same principle as that
represented in Figures 1, 2,. 3, and 4, and already described. I would
here observe that I am aware that stilts somewhat of the form of those
shown at Figures 9 and 10 have been heretofore made in dies or moulds in
which one leg only was formed at a time, four operations being consequently
necessary to produce one stilt, viz., one for cutting out a piece of clay or
plastic material of the proper shape and size, and one for each leg; whereas by
my improvements I am enabled cut a piece of clay of the required shape from
a large piece or length, and press the same by means of the improved die into
the proper form at one operation, thereby effecting a great saving in time and
producing a better article. b, b, b, are the moveable parts or blocks which
form the lie or mould; and as they are actuated substantially in the same
manner as the segmental pieces b, b, b, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, their operation
need not be more particularly explained. As the article to be produced can
be formed of the required shape by means of the pieces b, b, b, alone, there
is no necessity to employ top and bottom picces, as shewn at h, i, in Figures 1,
2, and 3. When the mould is about to be used, the moveable dies b, b, b, are
drawn back, and a long triangular-shaped lump of clay or other plastic
material o, is suspended above the mould; and as the latter requires feeding the
clay is lowered down, either by hand or by mechanical means, so as to allow
the dies b, b, b, in the act of closing, to cut off a disc or flat piece of suitable
thickness, and press the same into the mould, and when by this opera-
tion the stilt has been formed in the mould, it is removed therefrom by
simply drawing back the dies b, b, b, by means of the handle or lever g, and
the newly-formed stilt will drop out of the mould through an opening n on to
an endless travelling band or cloth piece, which is placed there for that
purpose. This travelling endless band or cloth p, and also the lump of clay o
may be connected by any suitable mechanical contrivance to the circular rack
or handle g, so as to make them act in unison; but as such contrivance would
cause the apparatus to appear more complicated, and is not really essential to
the proper, working of the apparatus, but, may be effected separately by
hand, I have not thought it necessary to shew the same in connection,
as various means of effecting these objects may, if thought desirable, be
adopted by any intelligent mechanic.
Figures 11 and 12 represent an elevation and end view of a "pin" such as
is used for suspending some kinds of earthenware or china articles in the

page_text: seggars. This pin may be made in a mould constructed of two parts, one
fixed and the other moveable like that shewn at Figure 6.
Figures 18 and 14, and 13 and 14 represent plan views and elevations
of two forms of "cockspurs," made upon my improved plan; and Figures 15
and 16 represent vertical sections of the top and bottom die employed to
It
make one of the same; and Figure 17 is a plan view of the bottom die.
will be seen by referring to the sectional Figures that very minute holes are
nade in the top and bottom dies, to communicate from the top of bottom of
the points to lateral or other openings 7, so as to allow any air that may be
in the die to escape, and not injure the fineness of the points when the
pressure is employed to form the cockspur; and a cylindrical hole r is made
in the lower die, so as to allow a vertical pin or spindle to pass through for
the purpose hereafter explained. Instead of forming the legs of the cockspurs
in conical holes in the lower die j, as shewn in the Figures, I sometimes form
them by means of conical notches cut in the sides of the die, into which
notches the clay is pressed by the finger or thumb of the workman, in order
to produce fine points.
Figure 18 represents a vertical section, and. Figure 19 a horizontal section,
of a stamping or pressing apparatus such as I employ for working the
different kinds of moulds or dies above shewn. The particular kind of die
which is represented in the Drawing, as applied to the press or stamping
machine or apparatus shewn in Figures 18 and 19, is that employed for
The machine
making cockspurs, and shewn at Figures 15, 16, and 17.
consists of a framing 8, 8, 8, 8, made of metal or wood, and upon which a
stationary block or anvil t is fixed by means of screws, clamps, or in any other
suitable manner. The lower or stationary die, shewn detached and on an
enlarged scale at Figure 16, is secured in any convenient manner to this
block, and the upper die, also shewn detached and upon an enlarged scalo
at Figure 15, is secured in a similar manner to the lower end of a vertical
rod u, which moves in the guide piece v, and is provided at its upper end
with a toothed rack, as shewn in the Drawing. A sector rack w, at the
shorter end of the lever a, gears into and moves the rack of the rod u up
and down in its guides. The lever turns in bearings at the top of the
framing, and is jointed at its outer end to a vertical connecting rod y, the
lower end of which is jointed to a horizontal lever z, that is weighted at this
end in order to keep it always depressed, and turns on a pin or stud t, affixed
to the lower part of the framing, and is provided at its opposite extremity
with a handle, whereby it is worked. It will now be understood that if a
piece of clay or other plastic material is placed on the lower die, and the

page_text: handle of the lever z is depressed by the attendant, the upper die, with its
vertical rod u, will, by the intervention of the connecting rod y and the sector
rack of the lever æ, be brought down on to the clay, and force the same into
the cavities of both dies, and form the cockspur. Immediately that the
attendant releases the handle of the lever z, it, together with all the other
parts, will, by means of the weight 3, be brought back again into their original
position, and the newly-made cockspur is removed from the cavities of the
lower die by raising the pin 4, which passes through the same, as shewn in the
sectional view, and is worked by means of a treadle 5 below, or, if preferred, this
pin may be forced up by means of a spring below, which will raise the cockspur
from the lower die immediately the pressure of the upper die is removed.
It will be evident from the foregoing description, that either of the moulds or
dies above shewn, or any others for similar purposes, except such as those
shewn at Figures 7 and 8, may be applied to the pressing or stamping
machine or apparatus shewn in Figures 18 or 19, the only difference being
in the form of the die or mould. It will not be necessary to give any
detailed explanation of the mode of adapting or working the same, except to
observe, that when the mould shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 is employed the
moveable bottom h of the mould is fixed on the upper end of the pin 4,
which passes through the stationary block as shewn, and is worked by the
treadle, the fixed die shewn in Figures 18 and 19 being of course removed,
and replaced by the moveable bottom h, and the upper die replaced by the
piece of Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I would observe, that although I have shewn and described
the most convenient means with which I am acquainted of eflecting the
object of my improvements, I do not by any means intend to confine myself
rigidly thereto, as they may be varied without departing from the nature and
object of my Invention, nor do I intend to limit myself to the use of any
particular material for making the dies, moulds, or blocks; but that which I
consider to be new, and therefore wish to secure under the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, forming or producing of pottery or earthenware pots, boxes, saucers,
knobs, handles, and other similar small articles, in dics, moulds, or blocks, in
conjunction with an apparatus for pressing or stamping, whether such pressing
or stamping apparatus be such as that above described or any other that will
effect the intended purpose.
Second, I claim the construction and mode of working the various dics,
moulds, or blocks herein shewn and described.

page_text: Third, the mode above shewn of making "stilts" and "pins."
Fourth, making "cockspurs" in moulds, dies, or blocks, whereby these
articles may be produced of one uniform and regular size and form.
Fifth, I claim the arrangement and construction of the pressing or stamping
machine or apparatus shewn in Figures 18 and 19, or any machine constructed
substantially in the same manner; and the application of such machine, or any
modification thereof, to pressing, forming, or fashioning articles in pottery or
carthenware, or other materials.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
CHARLES (L.B.) FORD.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Fourteenth day of June,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Charles Ford came before our
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And
also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Fourteenth day of June, in the year above written..

page_text: A DISCLAIMER of a certain part of the title of an Invention for which
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the
tenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria, and in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, were
granted to Charles Ford, of Shelton, in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, and also of part of the Specification of the said Invention,
which said Specification was enrolled on the Fourteenth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
Also a MEMORANDUM OF AN ALTERATION in the Title of
the said Invention.
The said Letters Patent were granted for an Inventiou, the title of which,
in the said Letters Patent, is as follows:-" Improvements in the Manufacture
of Pottery or Earthenware, and in the Tools, Instruments, or Apparatus
employed therein, part or parts of which Improvements are applicable to other
similar Purposes;" and the said Specification describes modes of manufac-
turing various articles of pottery or earthenware, and of various tools, imple-
ments, or apparatus employed therein. Now I, the said Charles Ford, do
hereby, pursuant to the Statute in such case made and provided, disclaim the
whole of the said title of the said Invention, except so much thereof as relates
to improvements in the manufacture of certain tools or instruments in the said
Specification mentioned called cockspurs. And I, the said Charles Ford, do
also hereby disclaim all the said Specification, except such part thereof as
relates to the making of the said tools or instruments called cockspurs, being
the claim fourthly made in the said Specification, that is to say, I disclaim the
first of the five claims made in the said Specification in the words following:-
"The Forming or Producing of Pottery, Earthenware Pots, Boxes, Saucers,
Knobs, Handles, and other similar small Articles in Dies, Moulds, or Blocks, in
conjunction with an Apparatus for Pressing or Stamping, whether such Pressing
or Stamping Apparatus be such as that above described or any other that
will effect the intended Purpose," and also so much of the said Specification
as relates thereto. I also disclaim the second of the said five claims made in
the said Specification, that is to say, the claim to the construction and mode of
working the various dies, moulds, or blocks therein shewn and described, and
also so much of the said Specification as relates thereto. I also disclaim the

page_text: third of the said five claims made in the said Specification, that is to say, the
claim to the mode therein shown of making stilts and pins, and also so much
of the said Specification as relates thereto. I also disclaim the fifth of the
said five claims made in the said Specification, that is to say, the claim to the
arrangement and construction of the pressing or stamping machine or
apparatus shewn in Figures 18 and 19, or any machine constructed substan-
tially in the same manner, and the application of such machine, or any
modification thereof, to pressing, forming, or fashioning articles of pottery or
earthenware or other materials, and also so much of the said Specification as
relates thereto. And, pursuant to the said Statute, I hereby enter the follow-
ing Memorandum of an alteration in the title of the said Invention, that is to
say, instead of the aforesaid title I declare the following as the title of my said
Invention: "Improvements in the Manufacture of certain Tools or Instruments
called Cockspurs, employed in the Manufacture of Pottery or Earthenware."
And for the more clearly shewing and setting forth the exact extent and effect
of my said Disclaimer, I have struck out from the aforesaid Specification.
every word and thing relating to the aforesaid matters so disclaimed by me,
and after having done so, but without inserting or altering any one word in
the said Specification, the same is and reads as follows, that is to say:-
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
FORD, of Shelton, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present inost Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of December, in the tenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Charles Ford, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Charles Ford, my exors, adññors, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said Charles Ford, my exors, admors, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, excrcise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY OR EARTHENWARE, AND IN THE TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS, OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OR PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso obliging me, the said Charles Ford, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Ford, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
(that is to say):-
My Invention relates to an improved mode of forming, producing, or manu-
facturing certain of the tools or instruments used by potters or earthenware
manufacturers in certain processes forming part of the operation of manufac-
turing pottery or earthenware, which tools or instruments are known among
manufacturers as "cockspurs," and are employed for supporting the earthen-
ware articles one above another in the seggars while being baked or burned.
These cockspurs are usually made by hand by children, and are consequently
of an irregular shape and frequently badly made. The cockspurs are
triangular-shaped pieces of clay furnished with three legs or points, which
ought to be of the same length, and provided with one other point or apex
above. Now when it is required to bake or burn a number of plates, or
other flat or shallow articles of earthenware, they are placed in the seggar one
above another, and bottom uppermost, and are supported upon the points
or apices of these cockspurs, three of which are required for supporting cach
plate, the legs of one set of cockspurs resting on the upturned bottom of one
plate, and supporting by their upper points the plate immediately above, and
so on for eight or ten plates, or as many as can be couveniently piled on one
another in the seggar.
Now it sometimes happens that if the cockspurs are
not of equal height, or if the legs of one should give way, that a whole pile of
ware will fall and become quite spoiled, thereby occasioning great waste; and
in order to remedy this evil, or as far as possible decrease the liability of its
occurrence, I find it convenient to make these cockspurs in moulds, dies, or
blocks, so that they may be all exactly of one size and one height. I would
observe that I am aware that parts of cockspurs have been made or formed in
moulds, and afterwards finished by hand; I do not therefore intend to claim
such process as constituting any part of my Invention, as I form every part of
the article, tool, or instrument in a die, block, or mould, in one operation, and
can therefore ensure accuracy and perfect identity of parts in any number of
articles made in the same die, block, or mould. The dies, moulds, or block

page_text: which I employ for the manufacture of these articles are shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings, and will be hereafter more particularly described. They
may be worked by hand, if required, or adapted to any of the ordinary con-
structions of pressing or stamping apparatus which may be applicable to that
purpose; but I prefer to adapt them to a machine or apparatus that I have
myself invented, and found peculiarly fitted to the intended purpose, and
which I employ for carrying out my Invention. This machine is shewn in
the accompanying Drawings, and is horein-after more particularly described.
Figures 13, 14, and 18* and 14* represent plan views and elevations of two
forms of "cockspurs" made upon my improved plan; and Figures 15 and 16
represent vertical sections of the top and bottom die employed to make one of
the same; and Figure 17 is a plan view of the bottom die. It will be seen, by
referring to the sectional figures, that very minute holes are marle in the top and
bottom dics to communicate from the top or bottom of the points to lateral or
other openings g, so as to allow any air that may be in the die to escape, and not
injure the fineness of the points, when the pressure is employed to form the
cockspur, and a cylindrical hole is made in the lower dic, so as to allow a
vertical pin or spindle to pass through for the purpose hereafter explained.
The
Figure 18 represents a vertical section and Figure 19 a horizontal section
of a pressing or stamping apparatus, such as I employ for working the different
kinds of moulds or dies above shown. The particular kind of die which is
represented in the Drawing as applied to the press or stamping machine or
apparatus shewn in Figures 18 and 19 is that employed for making cockspurs,
and shown at Figures 15, 16, and 17. The machine consists of a framing
5, 8, 8, 8, made of metal or wood, and upon which a stationary block or anvil t
is fixed, by means of screws, clamps, or in any other suitable manner.
lower or stationary dic, shewn detached and on an enlarged scale at Figure 16
is secured in any convenient manner to this block; and the upper die, also
shewn detached and upon an enlarged scale at Figure 15, is secured in a
similar manner to the lower end of a vertical rod u, which moves in the guide-
picce v, and is provided at its upper end with a toothed rack, as shewn in the
Drawing. A sector rack w at the shorter end of the lever a gears into and
moves the rack of the rod u up and down in its guides. The lever turns in
bearings at the top of the framing, and is jointed at its outer end to a vertical
connecting rod y, the lower end of which is jointed to a horizontal lever, that
is weighted at this end in order to keep it always depressed, and turns on a
pin or stud 1, affixed to the lower part of the framing, and is provided at its
opposite extremity with a handle whereby it is worked. It will now be
understood that if a piece of clay or other plastic material is placed on the

page_text: lower die, and the handle of the lever 3 is depressed by the attendant, the
upper die with its vertical rod u will, by the intervention of the connecting
rod y and the sector rack of the lever a, be brought down on to the clay, and
force the same into the cavities of both dies, and form the cockspur. Imme-
diately that the attendant releases the handle of the lever z, it, together with
all the other parts, will, by means of the weight 3, be brought back again into
their original position, and the newly-made cockspur is removed from the
cavities of the lower die by raising the pin 4, which passes through the same,
as shewn in the sectional view, and is worked by means of a treadle 5 below;
or, if preferred, this pin may be forced up by means of a spring below, which
will raise the cockspur from the lower die immediately the pressure of the
upper die is removed.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I would observe, that although I have shewn and described the
most convenient means with which I am acquainted of effecting the object of
my improvements, I do not by any means intend to confine myself rigidly
thereto, as they may be varied without departing from the nature and object of
my Invention; nor do I intend to limit myself to the use of any particular
material for making the dies, moulds, or blocks. But that which I consider to
be new, and therefore wish to secure under the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is making "cockspurs" in moulds, dies, or blocks, whereby
these articles may be produced of one uniform and regular size and form.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ford, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
Oue thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.

page_text: that all tho others are disclaimed and inapplicable to the Specification as it
stands above.
And I hereby declare and state that the reason of my aforesaid Disclaimer
is the following:-I brought an action in Her Majesty's Court of Queen's
Bench at Westminster against Thomas Wentworth Buller for an infringement
of my said Patent, by manufacturing cockspurs by the method of my said
Invention, and by selling such cockspurs, which action was tried before the
Right Honorable John Lord Campbell, Lord Chief Justice of Her Majesty's
Court of Queen's Bench, at the last assizes of the County of Stafford, and
upon such trial the Defendant proved that certain modes of manufacturing
articles of pottery or earthenware by means of dies or pressure was known
before my said Invention, whercupon his Lordship declared it to be 'his
opinion that inasmuch as the first claim in my said Specification was not con-
fined to the mode described by me in my Specification, but extended to all modes
of forming or producing pottery, or earthenware, et cætera, in dies, moulds,
or blocks, in conjunction with any and every pressing and stamping apparatus,
which claim would include the said modes before known, the said claim was
too extensive, and rendered my said Patent invalid on that account. And I
further state, that the manufacture of cockspurs is the chief and most valuable
part of my said Invention, and I am desirous of not risking my titlo thereto
by claiming anything else claimed by the said Specification, and that is my
other reason for my aforesaid Disclaimer. And I declare that I have no other
reason than the above for such Disclaimer.
Witness my hand, the Thirteeth day of January, in the year of our
CHARLES FORD.
To the Clerk of the Patents of England.
This is to certify, that Charles Ford, of Shelton, in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, has applied to me for leave to file with you the within-written
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alterations to a certain Specification of an
Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to him under the Great Seal
dated the 14th day of December 1846, and to which the Specification was
duly enrolled. And on consideration of the said application, and having been
attended by Counsel in support thereof and in opposition thereto, I have
granted leave to the said Charles Ford to file his said Disclaimer and
Memorandum of Alterations, pursuant to the Statute passed in the 6th year of
the reign of His late Majesty, entitled an Act to amend the Law touching

page_text: Letters Patent for Inventions, upon the terms and conditions following, that is
to say, that the said Charles Ford shall not bring any action against Thomas
Wentworth Buller in respect of any infringement of the Patent committed on
or previously to the day of the date of the enrollment of this Disclaimer.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirtieth day of January,
in the year of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid Charles Ford came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Dis-
claimer aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Disclaimer aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the First day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-one.