IM- PROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE MAKING OF SKEP AND OTHER BASKETS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Smith, of Longside Lane, Thornton
Road, Bradford, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE MAKING OF SKEP AND OTHER
BASKETS."
Sealed the 5th May 1874, and dated the 7th November 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1873.
I, THOMAS SMITH, of Longside Lane, Thornton Road, Bradford, in the
County of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
" IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE MAKING OF SKEP AND OTHER
BASKETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the making of
skep and other baskets, and consists of a frame of square or other shape,
on or to which, jointed, sliding, or swivelled sockets are connected, so
that they can be moved in and out to contract or expand, and so

page_text: regulate the size of the skep or basket to be made. The sockets receive
the lower ends of the vertical ribs (preferably turned wood rods) of the
skep whose upper ends fit into other sockets on the ends of rods which
are suspended from a framing above.
The suspended rods are arranged with tightening and expanding 5
screw bolts, which can be shifted up and down as desired. The frame
is pivotted at top and bottom to enable it with the rods to be shifted
round.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Thomas Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SMITH, of Longside Lane, Thornton Road, Bradford, in the County of
York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Smith, Her special licence that
I, the said Thomas Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Smith, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
FACILITATING THE MAKING OF SKEP' AND OTHER BASKETS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Smith, my executors or
administrators, 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.

page_text: or in an inclined position, according to the shape the "skep" or basket
has to be when finished. The lower swivel frame C is also provided
with a right and left handed screw rod N, so that the lower socket
frames F, F, can be moved outwards or inwards to accommodate the
vertical position of the end rods (stakes) as well as their inclination, as
explained, for the upper ends, the two working in unison or not as
desired.
The end rods G, G, can be held in position if need be by the pinching
thumb screws P, P, and the upper sockets can then be dispensed with,
particularly should ends, sides, covers, or bottoms of baskets only have
to be made, and in that case a bar of wood or metal Q, Q, such as I
have shown in Figure 2, could be placed upon the sockets H, H, for the
reception of the end rods G, G, and the stakes for the wicker or rushes
to be interlaced or woven into.
In the case of making a basket of given dimensions the sliding
sockets, both top and bottom, can be opened out or closed in as occasion
requires, and as the interlacing goes on the framing can be turned upon
its swivelling centres E, E, to enable each layer of wicker or rushes to
follow on in regular order round the four sides, or as many sides as may
be necessary, or continued round in the case of an oval or a round
basket, it being only necessary to arrange the base or socket pieces Q, Q,
in the required manner for the reception of the uprights.
Figure 3 represents a plan view of a square shape of framing; and
Figure 4 a plan view of a rectangular shape of framing, but there is no
limit to the shape or configuration of my frames so long as the width
and length permit of the desired size of "skep" or basket being made.
Figure 2 shows two perforated pieces of timber Q, B, one being
fastened to the floor or to a table or bench, and the other, say, to the
ceiling, and with the rods L, L, in holes thereof, the lower ends having
tubes S, 8, over them, to which inverted cups or sockets are fitted for
taking over the top ends of the corner or turned rods (stakes), it being
only necessary for the intermediate stakes to be arranged in the first
lacings of the wicker or rushes or to be stood up in holes in the
timber Q, so that their distances apart may be equal. The bottom piece
of timber Q is only pushed under the straps T, T, to facilitate its easy
removal for changing the sides into which the edge rods have to be
placed or according to the closeness of the intermediate stakes to each

page_text: other, each side of the timber being bored with a different number or a
different arrangement of holes.
Figure 5 represents a single swivel frame U mounted upon a rising
and falling cross piece, so that as the work of making a "skep" or basket
proceeds the workman can be depressing the frame gradually, always
doing the interlacing at about the same level, the levels being maintained
by the counterbalance weights V, V, the cords W, W, of which lead to
guide rods X, X, by which the vertical up-and-down movement of the
frame can be determined.
One of the important advantages to be derived from this Invention,
besides that of enabling the workman to stand while making "skeps" or
baskets, is the "skaleming" is dispensed with, it not being necessary
for the stakes to be turned round the bottoms.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
Firstly. Making "skeps" or baskets in or by the apparatus shown in
the accompanying Drawings, and as described.
Secondly. I claim the arrangement of the swivelling frame or frames,
herein-before set forth and shown, or any mere modification thereof in
or by which the making of " skeps" or baskets can be facilitated, as
described.
"
Thirdly. I claim the appliances or apparatus in or by which different
sized " skeps or baskets, or of the ends, sides, bottoms, and covers,
angular or otherwise, can be made, as described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four.
TTA2