IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SETTING AND SHARPENING SCYTHES AND OTHER LIKE INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SETTING AND SHARPENING SCYTHES AND
OTHER LIKE INSTRUMENTS."-A communication from abroad by Mr. Pierre
Charles Ratel, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Agricultural
Machinist.
Sealed the 2nd January 1861, and dated the 24th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
July 1860.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SETTING AND SHARPENING
SCYTHES AND OTHER LIKE INSTRUMENTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a hammering stake or beating apparatus, to
operate on scythes and other cutting instruments. The parts of this apparatus
are represented in the annexed Drawing, in which Fig. 1, represents the
instrument as in action; Fig. 2 the instrument in position, and as forced into

page_text: the earth to fix it. In the two Figures, the same letters represent the same
parts.
Action of this instrument or apparatus.-The pin d is pulled out as at
Fig. 1, and the part 6 lowered as at Fig. 2; the anvil or stake is then driven
or forced into the earth, the part b raised, and the pin d replaced; the scythe
or other instrument is now placed between the anvil and stop pins of the
screws ff, with the one hand, while with the other hand it is struck by means
of a hammer striking on the swedge c. The screws f are furnished with
springs so as to produce friction in turning them, and to render the motion
stiff and uniformi.
It will be readily seen that by screwing or unscrewing the screws f, f,
and keeping the edge of the scythe against their faces, the swedge-part is made
to fall directly on the part of the scythe desired. The stem of the swedge is
also furnished with a spiral spring to keep it suspended; k is an opening or
groove in which works a pin passing through the stem of the swedge c to
permit only of an up and down movement of a certain extent, and to hold up
the instrument.
The advantage of this apparatus is that it permits of a perpendicular or
inclined position of the swedge c, and consequently readily throws over the
edge of the scythe or other instrument, whether hard or soft. The swedge
will be placed either perpendicular or more or less inclined according to the
disposition of the pin d in the holes h which regulate its position and motion
on pin e. In the perpendicular position the swedge is for throwing over and
hardening the edge of a soft scythe, whilst the inclined swedge is for setting
the sharp edge of a hard scythe. With this arrangement of apparatus the
operation is easily and quickly performed by a labourer, even although un-
accustomed to such apparatus. After so setting and sharpening the edge of
the instrument it may be further sharpened by the rag or other stone as
usual.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed 3
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign
did, for Ilerself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SETTING AND SHARPENING SCYTHES AND OTHER LIKE INSTRU-
MENTS," a communication from abroad by Mr. Pierre Charles Ratel, of Paris,
in the Empire of France, Agricultural Machinist, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Clark, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to an apparatus for operating on scythes, sickles, and
other cutting instruments generally requiring to be hammered or set.
The apparatus is represented in the annexed Drawing, in which Fig.
shows a front elevation of the apparatus, as in use; Fig. 2 shows an end view
of the same, and Fig. 3 an end elevation when forced into the ground for the
purpose of setting the scythe or other cutting instrument on the anvil. In the
three Figures the same letters represent the same parts.
a, the anvil, or stake, the upper end 6 forms a surface on which the setting
or hammering is effected; the lower extremity c is jointed for the purpose
of forcing the instrument into the ground; the anvil a has two holes e & f;
g is a movable jaw embracing the anvil at the upper part, and firmly con-
nected thereto by means of screw gudgeons or bolt pins h & i, which
pass through the holes e & f. The gudgeon i taking into hole of the

page_text: anvil, and screwed in the cheeks of the jaw 9, serves as an axis or hinge
connecting the anvil to the said jaw while the thumb screw h passing
first through the hole f of the anvil, and then through the slots or mor-
tices in the jaw, serves to hold the said jaw when raised for the purpose
of operating on the scythé; the lower pin i may also enter a hole j or
a second hole k in the cheeks of the movable jaw 9 to aid in fixing the
anvil a in a position parallel or inclined in relation to the jaw according
as it is wished to operate upon more or less hard steel. When the jaw
and the anvil are vertical, the hammering or setting of a soft scythe is
effected while in order to set and sharpen a hard scythe, the one is inclined
in relation to the other. The jaw g is terminated at the upper part by
a socket which serves as a guide for the steel hammering point, swedge
or punch m, contracted or bevilled at its lower part; n, lateral screws, screwed
in two ears formed on the jaw g, round which are wound spiral springs;
these screws each terminate in a point d, under which the edge of the
scythe traverses while hammering or setting, at the same time keeping
its edge up to the shoulders of screws n. It will be readily understood. that
by adjusting the screws 1, the extent of the set can be regulated; p, spring
wound round the swedge m; to raise this latter automatically after having
struck its blow on the edge of the scythe or other tool being set; for this purpose
the spring bears on the socket 1, and between it and a shoulder or pin passed
through the top of m; 9, pin passing through the striking punch or swedge
engaging in two mortices r & s in the socket which serves as a guide in the
vertical descent of the punch. The head of pin 7 is maintained in its place
by a latch piece joined to the socket 1, and held by a wire or otherwise.
Supposing the whole mounted as described and represented in the Drawing,
for operating with the apparatus, its point c is fixed in the earth by striking
on the head 6 of the anvil with a maul, or otherwise, as seen at Fig. 3; the jaw
g is now raised, and the lower gudgeon or bolt pin i entered in one of the
holes jork. The set to be given to the scythe or other instrument is regu-
lated by the projection of the screws », beyond the lugs wherein they are
screwed, then commencing at the point of the scythe, and continuing to operate
on it throughout to the heel, its edge is sct; during the operation, the top
of the swedge or punch m is struck by a sledge or other bammer, the blow being
transmitted directly to the scythe o, as and with the effect already described.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-

page_text: First, the apparatus above described for hammering and setting scythes and
other cutting instruments.
Also the application of the stake or anvil a, embraced by the jaw 9 adjust-
able in two positions, inclined or vertical, to the anvil in the operation of
hammering hard or soft steel instruments as described.
I also claim the application of the screws n serving to regulate at will the
breadth of edge required to be set, as also the setting and hammering by means
of a punch or swedge rising automatically as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of January in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)