IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AND OTHER TEXTILE ARTICLES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward James Muygridge, of San Francisco, at
present residing at No. 6, St. John's Villas, Adelaide Road, St. John's
Sealed the 24th January 1862, and dated the 1st August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward James Muygridge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st August 1861.
I, EDWARD JAMES MUYGRIDGE, of San Francisco, at present residing at
No. 6, St. John's Villas, Adelaide Road, St. John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AND OTHER TEXTILE
ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
machinery or apparatus, whereby the operation of washing clothes and other
articles of a textile nature is greatly facilitated. The body of the machine
consists of an oblong box or trough, having vertical parallel sides and a sloping
front inclined inwards at a suitable angle towards the bottom, the inner
surface of which inclined front is corrugated, similar to an ordinary washing
board, or the corrugated surface may be made detached, so as to be capable of
being removed and inserted when required. The bottom of this box or trough
forms the segment of a circle, the centre of which is a point above the top of
the trough, and almost vertical over the point of junction of the inclined front,

page_text: and the curved bottom of the said trough. There is an upright at each side
of the trough, and from these uprights, at a point coinciding with the centre
of the curve above mentioned, two (or more) levers or arms are suspended,
to the lower end of each of which a "pounder," or beater is connected. These
"pounders" are constructed of vertical boards or "slats," set at suitable
distances apart, and having their front edge inclined at a suitable angle from
the lower part towards the back of the box or trough. The inclined front
edge of these boards may be also corrugated the more effectually to retain and
compress the fabric under operation. The lower side of these boards or
"slats" is curved to the same radius as the bottom of the box or trough.
Motion is given to the "pounders" or beaters so as to cause them to vibrate
to and fro alternately, by means of rods connected to their arms or levers, and
to cranks upon a shaft, which is caused to revolve by the turning of a hand
wheel, or by any other convenient means. The trough or box is provided
with a spigot or tap for the purpose of drawing off the water.
A modification of this machine on a smaller scale may be made with one
'pounder," only to which (or to its arm) are connected two parallel bars,
having a band rail at the other end, by means of which the "pounder" is
caused to vibrate to and fro by alternately-raising and pushing it forwards
as required. In this case it is preferable to attach the corrugated surface
or washing board to the said parallel bars between the hand rail and the
pounder," instead of attaching it to the front of the trough.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward James Muygridge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 31st January 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
JAMES MUYGRIDGE, of San Francisco, at present residing at No. 6, St. John's
Villas, Adelaide Road, St. John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward James Muygridge, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
James Muygridge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Edward James Muygridge, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES
AND OTHER TEXTILE ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Edward James Muygridge, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward James Muygridge, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Draw-
ings, that is to say:
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
machinery or apparatus, whereby the operation of washing clothes and other
articles of a textile nature is greatly facilitated, the object being to perform
the operation more expeditiously and effectually, with less wear upon. the
articles than by the machinery hitherto used for that purpose. The body of
the machine consists of an oblong box or trough, having vertical parallel sides
and a sloping front, inclined inwards at a suitable angle towards the bottom,
the inner surface of which inclined front is corrugated similar to an ordinary
washing board; or the corrugated surface may be made detached, so as to be
capable of being removed and inserted when required. The bottom of this
box or trough forms the segment of a circle, the centre of which is a point
above the top of the trough, and almost vertical over the point of junction of
the inclined front and the curved bottom of the said trough. There is an
upright at each side of the trough, and from these uprights, at a point
coinciding with the centre of the curve above mentioned, two (or more) levers
or arms are suspended, to the lower end of each of which a "pounder" or
beater is connected. These "pounders" are constructed of vertical boards or
slats," set at suitable distances apart, and having their front edge inclined at
a suitable angle from the lower part towards the back of the box or trough.
The inclined front edge of these boards may be also corrugated, the more
effectually to retain and compress the fabric under operation. The lower side
of these boards or "slats" is curved to the same radius as the bottom of the

page_text: box or trough. Motion is given to the "pounders" or beaters, so as to cause
them to vibrate to and fro alternately, by means of rods connected to their
arms or levers, and to cranks upon a shaft, which is caused to revolve by the
turning of a hand wheel, or by any other convenient means. The trough or
box is provided with a spigot or tap for the purpose of drawing off the water.
A modification of this machine on a smaller scale may be made with .one
"pounder" only, to which (or to its arms) are connected two parallel bars,
having a hand rail at the other end, by means of which the "pounder" is
caused to vibrate to and fro by alternately raising and pushing it forwards
as required. In this case it is preferable to attach the corrugated surface or
washing board to the said parallel bars between the hand rail and the
pounder," instead of attaching it to the front of the trough."
66
66
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improvements
in Machinery or Apparatus for Washing Clothes and other Textile Articles,"
I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the same is to be or may
-be performed or carried into practical effect. And in order that the same may
be distinctly understood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illus-
trative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation- thereof, that is to
say:-
A section of the machine, Figure 1, and front elevation, Figure 2, is shown
in the accompanying Drawings, in which A represents a trough or box of
wood, or other suitable material, of a size varying with the amount of work
required to be performed. The front part of the box inclines outwards at a
suitable angle towards the top; on the inner side of the front is adjusted a
slab of wood, or sheet of metal a, a, with a grooved or corrugated surface,
similar to an ordinary washing board, or the inner surface of the front may
itself be corrugated (if preferred). The bottom of the box forms a segment of
a circle drawn from a point b. An upright B, B, is affixed on each side of the
box, connected at the top by a cross piece C; two levers D, D, working on a
hinge or pin, as shown by b, b, (Figure 2,) are connected with this cross piece.
At the lower end of the levers are attached "pounders" E, E, consisting of a
framework, with vertical bars or "slats" arranged at a convenient distance
apart, to permit the free passage of the water as they are moved to and fro;
d, d, d, are horizontal bars connecting the vertical pieces. The front of the
pounders" should be scolloped, as shown in the Drawing at c, c, c, the more
efficiently to perform the operation, and incline at a convenient angle towards
the back of the box. The bottom of the pounders should correspond in form
with and be slightly elevated above the bottom of the box; the sides of the
66

page_text: be
"pounder" should also be of sufficient length to keep the latter, when in motion,
correctly in its place by its action against the opposite "pounder" and the side
of the box; the three inner bars 9, 9, 9, (Figure 2) need not extend beyond the
line indicated by 9, 9, (Figure 1.) Horizontal bars receding at a suitable angle,
and with a space between each, may be substituted for the vertical ones
marked
if
19. g, g, Figure 2; the front of the "pounders" may, necessary,
covered with wire netting or perforated metal. F is a shaft with a double
crank arranged at a convenient distance from the levers, communicating with
and giving motion to them by means of two arms G, G; H is a fly wheel
attached to the shaft F, to equalize the motion, which may be imparted to the
machine by hand, or by any convenient power; I is a cock for drawing off the
water after use. Figure 3 shows side and vertical views of one of the arms
connecting with the cranks at i and the lever at h. If considered necessary,
more than two pounders can be used, by an adaptation of the machinery for
imparting motion to them.
The operation of washing is effected by placing the clothes or other articles,
with the requisite quantity of water and detergents, in the fore part of the box
in front of the "pounders." Motion is then given to the machinery, and as
one "pounder" advances and presses against the clothes the other is drawn
back. The "pounder " pressing against the clothes forces the greater portion
of water from them, and causing them to revolve, presents a fresh surface for
the action of the "pounder at each revolution of the shaft, the water escaping.
towards the back or other side of the box. The "pounder," by the action of
the machine, is then withdrawn, the other "pounder" advances, and so on
alternately. The grooved washboard is placed in front of the box for more
effectually cleansing any particular portion of the clothes that may not have
been perfectly operated upon by the " pounder."
A modification of this machine, suitable for domestic operations, upon a
smaller scale, may be made, as shown by Figure 4, representing a section,
Figure 5, a front elevation of the machine; and Figure 6, showing the attach-
ment of the washboard with the arms for working the " pounder."
The parts A, B, C, and D, are constructed similarly to those described, and
as represented by Figures 1 and 2. In this machine, however, one." pounder"
E only need be used, the bars of which may be horizontal and attached to the
levers D, D, each upper bar receding from the lower at a suitable angle, as
shown by a, a, a.
Instead of the wheel and crank shaft, two armis F, F, may
be connected with the "pounder," by means of a hinge or other suitable
means, at f; to these arms a grooved or corrugated washboard c may be
attached, as shown in Figure 6. The arms should project over the back of the

page_text: box and be connected at the top by a cross piece, forming a handle j, by the
alternate pulling back and pressing forward of which motion is given to the
'pounder." To one or both arms may be connected, as shown at e, a bar G,
also connected to the lever D at g, beyond which it projects a convenient
distance. To the upper end of this bar d an elastic cord i may be affixed, the
lower end of the cord being fastened to the box; by its action the pounder can
be withdrawn to a suitable distance from the front part of the box, ready to be
pressed down upon the articles in process of being cleansed; the elastic cord again
withdraws the "pounder," and so forth. A weight may be substituted for the
elastic cord, or both (together with the connecting bar) may be omitted. The
uprights B, B, the cross piece C, and levers D, D, may also, in this modified
machine, be omitted at discretion. In this case it will be essential for a
groove to be made on each side of and near the bottom of the box, in whch
the pounder can work and be thus kept in proper position whilst being used.
In this last described modification, constructed without the uprights, cross-
piece, and levers, the bottom of the box may, if required, be made upon a
plane, as indicated by the dotted line h, h, Figure 4; a slight alteration in the
face of the "pounder," according to the required angle of the front with the
bottom of the box, will, in this case, be essential.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Washing Clothes and other
Textile Articles," together with the manner in which the same is to be or may
be performed or carried into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion,
that I claim as my Invention the particular constructions and arrangements
of mechanism above described and exhibited in the annexed Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof; operating in substantially the same or a similar
manner.
,
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward James Muygridge, have hereunto
set hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
my
ED". J. MUIGRIDGE. (L.S.)