Improvements in and connected with Military Equipments or Accoutrements.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL OF EUIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Military Equipments or
Accoutrements.
We, ARTHUR FIRMIN of 153 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Accoutrement
Maker, and CHARLES ARTHUR JONES of 21 Waite Street, Trafalgar Road, Old Kent
Road in the County of Surrey, Leather Cutter, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention to be as follows:-
This invention chiefly relates to equipments or accoutrements for soldiers, volunteers
and others, and has for its object to render the same more simple, both in manufacture
and application, and at the same time less costly to produce than those heretofore
in use.
According to our invention we employ a waist belt of any well known description,
and we attach at the back thereof two special buckles with frames of rhomboidal
form. Through these buckles are passed, adjusted, and fastened, the ends of the brace
straps, which are thus connected to the waist-belt at an angle which allows of the
brace straps crossing one another at or about the centre of the back without uneven
strain being thrown on the frames of the said buckles. These buckles may be adapted
to turn down inside the waist belt and may be suitably protected to prevent chafing
of the coat when not in use. After crossing on the back, each brace strap passes
over the shoulder, and is connected, preferably by a loop, to a supporting strap attached,
by a loop and runner, to the front of the waist belt." This supporting strap also
passes through a loop at the back of the expense pouch, which is suspended as usual
from the waist belt by loops in a position more or less central with the said supporting
strap, and is so arranged that it may be held open when required by hooking its covor
flap on to an improved locking. stud, (hereinafter more fully described) provided
partly for that purpose, on the front end of the brace strap. This locking stud also
serves to receive the end of the valise strap, which is provided with holes for that
purpose, and is then passed over the shoulder, lying on the brace strap, and passing
under a spring hook thereon to keep it in place: The back end of the valise strap
is rivetted to the back of the valise and also passes through a loop on the top thereof
to keep it steady. The valise is also further steadied by a strap attached to the
middle of the back thereof adapted to pass round the brace straps where they cross,
and then attached by a buckle or other fastening to the front of the valise.
the mess-tin is being carried, this last mentioned strap may also be passed through a
loop or ring on the top of its case.
When
The great coat is strapped up by two separate straps provided with shorter supple-
mentary straps which pass behind the waist belt, and have their ends attached to
the great coat straps again by buckles or by our improved locking stud.
The mess-tin case is provided with a strap which passes through loops formed
preferably on the back and top thereof, thence behind the crossed brace straps,
through a flat loop on the waist belt, and finally to the buckle or other fastening on
its other end at the back of the tin.
The water bottle is preferably made of steel and enamelled, the body being of a
jointless steel flattened tube, and the top and bottom stamped or blocked to the required
form. It is fitted with a leather carriage, and the whole is suspended from the waist
belt by means of our improved locking studs.
The haversack may be of the ordinary service pattern, and is attached to the
waist belt by means of two short straps likewise fitted with improved locking
studs.
The before-mentioned improved locking stud consists of a brass or other metal
Thead, the stem or shank of which is so rivetted through the leather or other material
that it may be easily turned when required, for fastening or unfastening.
For

page_text: example, the locking stud may be first turned so that its head is in line with the
long slot in the strap which is to be connected, which slot is then easily passed over
the head of the locking stud on to the steun or shank thereof, and the head of the
locking stud being then turned a quarter. revolution, the strap is retained in place.
In some cases one end of the T head may be dispensed with in order to facilitate the
passing of the same through the slot in the strap. This locking stud forms a simple
substitute for the heavy double bar roller buckle at present in use-and for such
fastenings generally.
We sometimes employ a novel form of carrier or connector for coupling together
the brace and supporting strap for example, which consists of a solid frame, of oblong
or other suitable shape, provided with projections pointing inwards towards one another
from the opposite ends of such frame. The projections pass into the regulating holes
of the straps the ends of which then pass through loops or otherwise in the usual
manner.
Our improved locking stud, and the novel form of carrier or connector, are also
applicable to military harness.
Instead of making the expense pouch with separate divisions for each cartridge, as
heretofore, we make it collapsible, without divisions, and adapted to receive say three
moveable frames or cases, each containing say 12 rounds. These moveable frames or
cases are made of cardboard, papier mache or other suitable light material, and are
provided with holes or cavities for the reception of the cartridges, such holes or cavities
taking the place of the separate divisions heretofore used in the pouch.
These frames or cases may be provided with a card or other stiff cap or cover, or
they may be packed in paper in the usual way. We prefer to so form the expense
pouch that when the said frames or cases are placed therein they shall be tilted or
canted in such a manner as to cause the cap ends of the cartridges to automatically
arrange themselves in steps, each row projecting slightly above the adjacent row, so
that they can be readily taken out as required. Or in some cases I provide an internal
top, of metal, or other suitable material, periorated to receive say 36 rounds, and
hinged to the upper part of the expense pouch, and adapted to turn down, and allow
the pouch to be collapsed when not in use. The internal top is preferably stamped or
otherwise formed in stepped rows to enable the cartridges to be easily withdrawn,
and the edges of the holes may be raised or burred up for the same purpose. Or each
longitudinal row of holes may be of different diameter in order to grasp or retain the
cartridges. at different portions of their tapered lengths. When all the cartridges
have been used the moveable frames or cases are taken out of the expense pouch and
thrown away, and a fresh supply is taken from the reserve and placed in the expense
pouch for use.
Dated this 1st day of January 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Military
Accoutrements.
Equipments or
We, ARTHUR FIRMIN, of 153 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Accoutrement
Maker, and CHARLES ARTHUR JONES, of 21 Waite Street, Trafalgar Road, Old Kent
Road, in the County of Surrey, Leather Cutter, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained, in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the accompanying three sheets of drawings, and to the letters and figures marked.
thereon, that is to say :-
This invention chiefly relates to equipments or accoutrements for soldiers, volunteers,
and others, and has for its object to render the same more simple both in manufacture

page_text: and application, and at the same time less costly to produce than those heretofore
In the drawings hereto annexed,
in use.
Figure 1 is a perspective view as seen from the front of one of our equipments or
accoutrements arranged as for use in marching order,
Figure 2 is a back view of the equipment in use, and
Figure 3 a front view of same.
A is a waist belt of any well known description, to the back of which are attached
two movable loops of D shape as shown at B, each loop taking into the space between
the waist belt A and the covering strip A' stitched thereto, and being free to drop
wholly into that space when not in use so as to be out of the way; the
curved part of the D frame taking a bearing against a piece of leather D', stitched or
riveted between the waist belt A and the covering strip A¹ as shown more clearly in
Figure 4. Through these loops are passed, adjusted, and fastened, the ends of the
brace straps C which are thus connected to the waist belt so that they can assume
any desired angle thereto, and can cross one another at or about the centre of the
back without uneven strain being thrown on the loops. If preferred buckles of
rhomboidal or other suitable form, so that the straps or braces attached thereto may
adjust themselves to any angle with the waist band without uneven strain the
upon
buckles, may be used instead of the loops as shown at B. Instead of crossing one
another at the back, the brace straps may be connected at that point to an elliptic
ring C. From the crossing or from the ring C₁, as the case may be, each brace
strup passes over the shoulder. and is connected by a plain loop D, or preferably by
a carrier or connector D¹ of special construction, to be hereafter described, to a sup-
porting strap E attached by a loop and runner G to the front of the waist belt À.
This supporting strap, instead of being closed in the usual way by a buckle, may be
closed by one of our improved locking studs K as shown, which makes the alteration
in its length much easier and simpler. This supporting strap E also passes through
a loop H at the back of the expense pouch I which is suspended as usual from the
waist belt A by loops J in a position more or less central with the said supporting
strap E, and is so arranged that it may be held open when required by hooking the
tab of its cover flap on to an improved locking stud K, (hereinafter more fully
described) provided, partly for that purpose, on the front end of the brace strap
This locking stud K also serves to receive the end of the valise strap L, which is
provided with holes for that purpose, and is then passed over the shoulder, lying on
the brace straps, and passing under a spring hook M thereon to keep it in place. This
spring book M is shown to a larger scale in Figure 5. The back end of the valise
strap L, is rivetted to the upper part of the back of the valise N, that is to say, to
the part of the valise that comes next to the wearer.
0.
The valise N is further steadied by a strap O attached to the middle of the back
thereof, and passed round under the brace straps C where they cross or through
the ring and then attached by a buckle T or other fastening to the front of the
valise N. When the mess-tin is being carried, this last mentioned strap 0, may also
be passed through a loop or ring on the top of its case S, and then to the buckleT.
The arrangement of the strap 0 above described, so that it passes round under the
crossing of the brace straps C or through the ring C', and thence to the buckle T
on the front of the valise, is not shown in the drawings. When the greatcoat Qis
to be carried as well as the valise and mess-tin, the strap O may be passed behind
the crossing of the brace straps C, or behind the ring connecting them as shown
in Figure 1, (or it may be passed through the ring C¹). The spare mess-tin strap P,
is then buckled to the end of the strap O, and is carried under the greatcoat Q up
through the loop R on the mess-tin case S, and finally connected to the buckle T
on the front of the valise N, thus binding the valise, mess-tin, and greatcoat securely
together, as shown in the side elevation Figure 14, and the back elevation
Figure 2.
The greatcoat Q is strapped up by two separate straps U,. having shorter

page_text: supplementary straps U', secured by one erid thereto; these supplementary straps U¹
pass behind the waist-belt A, as shown in Figures 1 and 18 and have their other
ends attached to the straps U again by buckles or by our improved locking studs as
shown, at U in Figures 1 and IB.
'
The mess-tin case S is provided with a strap V, which passes through a loop R on
the front thereof, then through a loop R on the top thereof, see Figure 14, thence
behind the crossing of the brace straps C, or through the ring as shown in
Figures 1 and 1^, then through a loop on the back of the mess-tin case S, or
behind the flaps of such case, as shown in the same figures, then through the
loop W on the waist belt A, and finally to the buckle V₁ or other fastening on the
end of the strap V at the front of the mess-tin case.
°
The water bottle X is preferably made of steel and enamelled inside and out, the
body X', see Figure 6, being made of a jointless steel flattened tube, and the top X'
and bottom X3 stamped or blocked to the required form, and then secured to
the body by folding and closing or swaging in the usual well known manner; the
enamelling being effected after the top and bottom are secured in place. The
bottle is fitted with a leather carriage as usual, and the whole is suspended at Y,
from the waist belt A by means of one of our improved locking studs K, as shown
in Figure 6.
The haversack may be of the ordinary service pattern, and is attached to the
waist-belt by means of two short straps, likewise fitted with improved locking
studs.
The beforementioned improved locking stud is shown to a larger scale in Figure 7,
and consists of a brass or other metal T-head K, the stem or shank K' of which
has formed on it a shoulder or collar K2, which bears on a washer K³; the end of
the stem or shank passes through the ply or plies of leather K to which the
locking stud is to be connected, and through one or more washers K³ over which the
end of the stem is rivetted, so that the stud is left free to turn easily when required
for fastening or unfastening. For example, the stud may be first turned so that
its head K is in line with the long slot K in the strap K' which is to be connected;
this slot is then easily passed over the head K on to the stem or sbank K' and the
head K being then turned a quarter revolution, as shown, the strap K7 is retained
in place. In some cases one end of the T-head may be dispensed with, in order to
facilitate the passing of the same through the slot in the strap, as shown at U² in
Figure 1B for example.
This locking stud forms a simple substitute for the heavy double bar roller buckles
and other fastenings.at present in use in equipments of this kind.
We sometimes employ a novel form of carrier or connector for coupling together
the brace and supporting strap, for example as shown at D¹ at the left hand side
of Figure 1, and to a larger scale in Figure 8. It consists of a solid frame D¹
of oblong or other suitable shape provided with projections or tongues D2, pointing
inwards from the opposite ends of such frame and being rigidly connected to, or
formed with the frame. The projections or tongues D2 pass into the regulating
holes of the straps, the ends of which then pass through loops or otherwise, in the
usual manner. In some cases where the strap at one end of this carrier or con-
nection is secured permanently thereto, the projection or tongue D2 may be omitted
at that end. The frame D¹ of the carrier or connector may be made of any shape,
to suit the purpose for which it is intended, D-shape for example as shown in
Figure 4, the tongue D2 being shewn in dotted lines in that figure. These novel
carriers or connectors are also applicable to military harness for horses, elephants,
and so forth, and are much stronger than ordinary bar and tongue buckles, as the
whole strain is brought upon the frame D' without the interposition of the cross
bars employed in buckles.
Instead of making the expense pouch with separate divisions or tubes for each
cartridge, as heretofore practised, we make it collapsible, without divisions or tubes,.
or with a single longitudinal division only, and adapted to receive say three or more

page_text: movable frames or cases, see Figure 9, each case a containing six, eight, or more
rounds of ammunition. These moveable frames or cases a are made of cardboard,
papier mâché, or other suitable light material, and are provided with a horizontal
partition 6 provided with holes c for the reception of the cartridges, such holes taking
the place of the separate divisions or tubes heretofore used in the pouch. The frames
or cases a are made with sides all round at the part below the partition b, but above
that partition two of the sides are omitted as shown for the purpose of facilitating
access to the cartridges. The two sides a' terminate in flaps a², bent over inwards and
nearly meeting in the centre as shown, to prevent the cartridges from being jerked
out. The whole is covered with a deep overlapping cover or envelope a³, or may
be simply wrapped round with paper.
It will now be understood that the ammunition is served out packed in the above
described frames or cases, and instead of the soldier having as heretofore to distribute
his cartridges by hand into the separate divisions or tubes of his pouch, he simply
removes the cover, envelope, or paper from the packet a, and places the latter,
cartridges and all, into his pouch, and the cartridges are then in position ready for
use without further trouble.
It will be readily understood that in the equipment above described, and illustrated,
the valise may be carried in the position occupied by the greatcoat in those figures,
and the greatcoat in the position occupied by the valise, by adapting the straps and
their connections accordingly. It will also be understood that the soldier can take
off his valise, mess-tin, or greatcoat, independently of one another, and replace them
either or all without assistance, or he can take off the entire equipment by merely
unfastening the waist plate and shoulder straps, or he can take off, or put on, his tunic
with the entire equipment upon it.
We are aware and desire to have it understood, that the locking stud hereinbefore
described, and illustrated, is not novel in itself, and we make no claim to it except
in combination with the other parts of our improved equipment as hereinafter set forth.
We are also aware that carriers or connectors having cross bars with rigid tongues
formed on or secured thereto have been proposed, but we make no claim to such
devices, when the tongues are not formed on or connected directly with the frames
of such carriers or connectors. We are further aware that various arrangements and
combinations of waist belt with braces and straps have been proposed and used, and
we make no claim to such parts separately, or to such arrangements or combinations
generally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
First The combination of the waist belt A, braces C, the D-shaped loops B, sup-
porting straps E, locking studs K thereon, and carriers or connectors D', substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Second-The combination of the spring hooks M and locking studs K, or the
carriers or connectors D', for the purpose of securing and fastening the valise straps L
to the braces C, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Tbird The straps U, with supplementary straps U₁, for securing the greatcoat
to the waist belt, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Fourth-The combination with the valise N, mess-tin S, greatcoat or other
package Q, and braces C of the strap O, connected to the back of the valise, and of
the spare mess-tin strap P, buckled to the end of the said strap 0, as and for the
purpose herein before described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Fifth. The construction of the water bottle, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated
in Figure 6 of the drawings.
Sixth-The construction of the carrier or connector D¹, for the purpose of con-
necting together the parts of soldiers' equipments, and military harness, as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings.

page_text: Seventh-The ammunition frame or case constructed and adapted, so that it can be
inserted, together with the cartridges contained therein, into the pouch, as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings.
Dated 2011 1.
1800
A. FIRMIN.
C. A. JONES.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.