IMPROVEMENTS IN Merchants and Manufacturers, for the Invention of THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFCTURE OF OTHER METALLIC ARTICLES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Atkins, of the Firm of Robert Walter
Winfield and Company, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Merchants and Manufacturers, for the Invention of
THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFCTURE OF OTHER METALLIC ARTICLES."
Sealed the 8th August 1865, and dated the 13th March 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Atkins at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th March
1865.
1
I, JAMES ATKINS, of the Firm of Robert Walter Winfield and Company,
of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchants and Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
to be as follows:-
TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER METALLIC ARTICLES,"
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after explained in con-
necting together certain of the parts of bedsteads and other metallic articles
by the process of casting, the said improvements being also applicable to the
Price 8d.]

page_text: joining of such parts of other metallic articles as may be conveniently joined
by the process of casting, as well as to the manufacture of articles of the kinds
herein-after described.
I will first describe my Invention in connection with the manufacture of the
foot rail of a metallic bedstead, and afterwards explain its application to the
manufacture of other articles. The said foot rail consists of a series of iron
or other rods or tubes, which are usually fixed together by means of cast iron,
the casting being effected by the process called chill casting. In the said
process the ends or parts of the iron or other rods or tubes to be joined are
enclosed by two halves of an ornamental metallic mould, into which melted
cast iron is poured, the said melted cast iron filling up the cavity in the mould,
and thereby forming an ornamental casting, in which the ends or other parts
of the iron or other rods or tubes inserted in the mould are joined or securely
fixed. In making the said rail, according to my Invention, I form of brass or
other metal the ornamental centre or other piece into which the iron or other
rods or tubes are to be inserted, and by which they are to be joined. I make
the said ornamental piece hollow in one piece, or of two or more pieces
brazed, rivetted, or otherwise firmly joined. The said ornamental piece may
be made by stamping from sheet metal, or by casting, or otherwise. 1 insert
the parts of the iron or other rods or tubes to be joined in the holes made for
their reception in the said ornamental piece. Inside the ornamental piece I
put a thin coating of pumicestone or other carthy substance, and outside a
cold iron mould, into which the ornamental piece fits; or I protect the
ornamental part by means of wet clay, by embedding the lower half in the
said wet clay, and placing a portion of the wet clay on the upper part of 'the
said ornamental piece; or the ornamental piece may be kept cool in any
other way. I pour melted cast iron into the interior of the ornamental piece,
so as to fill it therewith, and secure the iron or other tubes or rods therein.
The ornament into which the metal joining the rods or tubes is poured is thus
made a permanent part of the foot rail to be manufactured. The temperature
of the ornamental piece is kept low during the casting process by the appli-
cation of the wet clay or iron to its exterior, so that it is not fused or injured
by the heat of the metal cast in it.
My Invention may also be applied to other parts of metallic bedsteads;
for example, hollow pillars, dovetails, and corner blocks may also be filled in.
a similar way.
My Invention is also applicable generally to the manufacture of such
metallic articles as have parts which may be joined by that method of casting.

page_text: commonly called chill casting.
Where the capacity of the ornamental part
in which the cast iron is to be poured is such that clay or cold iron moulds
will not keep it sufficiently cool to prevent its fusion or injury, I employ other
wet substances of a spongy character, and capable of holding a large quantity
of water, such as bran or tow; or where the figure of the article to be filled
with cast iron is such that it can be suspended in or otherwise surrounded by
water, I prefer to keep it cool during the casting process by immersion in
water. In this way I fill thin tubes of brass or other metal with cast iron,
fixing therein, where necessary, a tube or rod of wrought iron, for attaching
anything required to be attached to the ends thereof. I also fill with cast
iron in a similar manner hollow balance weights for chandeliers, window bars,
bedsteads, and other pillars and pilasters, brackets, trusses, columns, busts,
and figures, railing and baluster bars, and generally all such hollow metallic
articles as it may be required to strengthen or fill with a hard and cheap
internal permanent substance.
I also cast and fix in a similar way brass centre ornaments in head and
foot rails, and other like parts of metallic furniture and other articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Atkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ATKINS of the Firm of Robert Walter Winfield and Company, of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Merchants and Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Atkins, Her special licence that I, the said James Atkins, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Atkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE

page_text: MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER METALLIC ARTICLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Atkins, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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 I, the said James Atkins, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after explained in con-
necting together certain of the parts of bedsteads and other metallic articles
by the process of casting, the said improvements being also applicable to the
joining of such parts of other metallic articles as may be conveniently
joined by the process of casting, as well as to the manufacture of articles of
the kinds herein-after described.
I will first describe my Invention in connection with the manufacture of
the foot rail of a metallic bedstead, and afterwards explain its application to
the manufacture of other articles. The said foot rail consists of a series of
iron or other rods or tubes, which are usually fixed together by means of cast
iron, the casting being effected by the process called chill casting. In the
said process the ends or parts of the iron or other rods or tubes to be joined
are enclosed by two halves of an ornamental metallic mould, into which melted
cast iron is poured, the said melted cast iron filling up the cavity in the
mould, and thereby forming an ornamental casting, in which the ends or
other parts of the iron or other rods or tubes inserted in the mould are
joined or securely fixed. In making the said rail, according to my Invention,
I form of brass or other metal the ornamental centre or other piece into which
the iron or other rods or tubes are to be inserted, and by which they are to be
joined. I make the said ornamental piece hollow in one piece, or of two or
more pieces brazed, rivetted, or otherwise firmly joined. The said ornamental
piece may be made by stamping from sheet metal, or by casting, or otherwise.
I insert the parts of the iron or other rods or tubes to be joined in the holes
made for their reception in the said ornamental piece. Inside the orna-
mental piece I put a thin coating of pumicestone or other earthy substance,
and outside a cold iron mould, into which the ornamental piece fits; or

page_text: I protect the ornamental part by means of wet clay, by embedding the lower
half in the said wet clay, and placing a portion of the wet clay on the upper
part of the said ornamental piece; or the ornamental piece may be kept cool
in any other way. I pour melted cast iron into the interior of the ornamental
piece so as to fill it therewith, and secure the iron or other tubes or rods
therein. The ornament into which the metal joining the rods or tubes is
poured is thus made a permanent part of the foot rail to be manufactured.
The temperature of the ornamental piece is kept low during the casting
process by the application of the wet clay or iron to its exterior, so that it is
not fused or injured by the heat of the metal cast in it.
My Invention may also be applied to other parts of metallic bedsteads;
for example, hollow pillars, dovetails, and corner blocks may also be filled in
a similar way.
My Invention is also applicable generally to the manufacture of such
metallic articles as have parts which may be joined by that method of casting.
commonly called chill casting. Where the capacity of the ornamental part
in which the cast iron is to be poured is such that moist clay or cold iron
moulds will not keep it sufficiently cool to prevent its fusion or injury, I
employ other wet substances of a spongy character and capble of holding a
large quantity of water, such as bran or tow; or where the figure of the
article to be filled with cast iron is such that it can be suspended in or
otherwise surrounded by water, I prefer to keep it cool during the casting
process by immersion in water. In this way I fill thin tubes of brass
or other metal with cast iron, fixing therein, where necessary, a tube or rod
of wrought iron for attaching anything required to be attached to the ends
thereof.
I also fill with cast iron, in a similar manner, hollow balance weights for
chandeliers, window bars, bedstead and other pillars and pilasters, brackets,
trusses, columns, busts, and figures, railing anl baluster bars, and generally
all such hollow metallic articles as it may be required to strengthen or fill
with a hard and cheap internal permanent substance. I also cast and fix in a
similar way brass centre ornaments in head and foot rails and other like parts
of metallic furniture and other articles.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure represents a front elevation of a foot rail of a metallic bedstead
or other article of metallic furniture, the parts of which are joined together

page_text: according to my Invention. The said foot rail consists of a series of iron
or other rods or tubes a, a, which are joined together by the central orna-
mental piece b, and the side parts or pieces c. The said centre piece b is
shown separately on a larger scale in Figure 2, and one of the side parts
or pieces c is shown separately on a larger scale in Figure 3. The said
centre piece and side pieces are made of hollow shells or casings of brass
or other metal in one or more pieces. In the said shells or casings holes
or openings d are made, into which the ends or parts of the rods or tubes a
to be joined together and to the hollow shells or casings are inserted. In
joining the said parts together the rods or tubes a are inserted into the orna-
mental centre piece b, and the said centre piece supported in a pair of iron
moulds. Melted cast iron is poured into the interior of the hollow ornamental
piece b, so as to fill it therewith and secure the rods or tubes a therein.
The hollow pieces or parts c at the sides of the rail are filled with cast iron,
and the rods or tubes a secured thereto in a similar way. One half of the
iron mould in which the hollow part is surrounded and supported during
the casting process is marked e in Figure 1. The ornamental and other
pieces or parts b and c are thus made permanent parts of the rail to
be manufactured. By the use of the iron mould or support around the
exterior of the ornamental pieces or parts b, c, the temperature of the
said pieces or parts is kept so low that they are not fused or injured by
the heat of the metal cast in them; or the ornamental pieces or parts b, c,
may be protected and kept cool during the casting process by embedding
their lower halves in wet clay and placing a portion of wet clay on the
upper halves of the said pieces; or the said pieces or parts may be pro-
tected and kept cool in any other way. The centre ornaments of head
rails, and other like parts of metallic furniture, crinoline guards, and other
like articles may be made and fixed in the manner already described and
represented.
Figure 4 represents in elevation another foot rail, the parts of which are
strengthened and joined together according to my Invention. The said
rail consists of hollow longitudinal tubes f, and a series of cross tubes or
rods g.
I fill the said tubes and join the cross tubes or rods g thereto by the
casting process in the following manner:-In the said tubes 1, f, a series
of holes is made at the required distances apart for the reception of the ends
of the cross rods or tubes g. The cross rods are fixed one at a time to
the tubes f, by dividing the said tubes into a series of compartments by

page_text: means of washers h, indicated in dotted lines. By means of a sliding casting
box, the get of which is brought opposite a small hole in the tubes f, the
melted cast iron is poured into the several compartments of the tubes f,
and the said tubes filled therewith, and the cross rods g at the same time
fixed in their places. The ornamental flanges or ends of the cross rods g
are made of shells or casings of brass or other metal, which are filled with
cast iron and fixed to the cross rods in the manner herein-before described
and represented in Figure 1.
Figure 5 represents in plan and section a corner block, and Figure 6
represents in plan and section a dovetail for a metallic bedstead or other
article of metallic furniture made according to my Invention. The said
corner block and dovetail consists of hollow casings or shells 1, of brass or
other metal, which are filled with cast iron m, the said casings or shells
being supported and protected during the casting of the cast iron therein
by a pair of iron moulds or by wet clay, or otherwise kept cool' as herein-
before described.
Figure 7 represents in plan and Figure 8 in vertical section the apparatus
which I use for surrounding with water during the casting process the thin
tube or tubular articles to be filled with cast iron. n is a cylindrical vessel
closed at bottom and of a length greater than the tube to be filled.
The
thin hexagonal (or other shaped) tube o to be filled is placed in the cylin-
drical vessel n, and the said vessel filled with water, so as to surround the
exterior of the said tube o. The tube is kept steady during the casting.
of the cast iron in the interior of the said tube by a ring of wood or other
substance p, made to embrace its upper end. The tube is by this means kept
cool during the filling of the said tube, and its surface uninjured by the heat.
of the melted metal.
Figure 9 represents in section a thin twisted tube which has been filled in
the manner last described, the axis of the said tube being left hollow.
said
Figure 10 illustrates the manner in which I fill those metallic articles
which, from their figure, can readily be suspended in water, such as balance
weights for chandeliers, weights for balances, busts, figures, and the like.
I arrange near the cistern q two (or more) troughs or vats r, which I
fill with water. The top of the trough is provided with a plate s,
having a number of taper slots in it. The thin shells or casings u, u,
to be filled with cast iron are suspended in the troughs by means of.
the slots t, as represented, and the melted cast iron poured into the
said shells or casings. The shells or casings may be kept steady during

page_text: the casting process by weights attached to the lower ends of the said shells or
casings.
Figure 11 represents in elevation, and Figure 12 in section, a balance
weight for a chandelier; Figure 13, a figure or bust, and Figure 14 a weight
for a balance; each of the said articles being made of a thin shell or casing
of brass or other metal which has been filled with cast iron in the manner
last described. In the case of the weight, Figure 14, I braze or otherwise
fix the loop piece to the shell before the said shell is filled with the cast
iron. The pin or short rod w of the balance weight, Figures 11 and 12,
by which it is attached to the chain of the chandelier, is introduced into the
weight immediately it has been filled with the melted cast iron. On the
solidification of the cast iron the pin or short rod is firmly fixed in the balance
weight.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly, the improvements in the manufacture of metallic bedsteads and
other metallic articles herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2,
and 3 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, connecting together
those parts of metallic bedsteads and other metallic articles which may be
conveniently joined by that method of casting commonly called chill casting
by means of hollow ornamental or other shells or casings which are filled with
cast iron, and which are made to form permanent parts of the article to be
manufactured, the said shells or casings being kept cool and protected from
injury during the casting process essentially in the ways described and
illustrated.
Secondly, the improvements in connecting together and strengthening,
by the process of casting, the parts of head and foot rails and similar parts
of metallic bedsteads and other articles of metallic furniture herein-before
described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly, the improvements in the manufacture of corner blocks, dovetails,
bedstead and other pillars, tubes, bars, balance weights, busts and figures,
and such other hollow metallic articles as it may be required to strengthen or
fill with a hard and cheap substance herein-before described and illustrated
in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, making the said articles of thin casings or shells or

page_text: thin tubes, and filling the said casings or shells or tubes with cast iron, the
said casings or shells or tubes being protected and kept cool during the
casting process in the several ways described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Atkins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JAMES ATKINS. (L.S.)