AN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR DRESSING SLATES INTO VARIOUS SHAPES AND SIZES
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEH
MATTHEW, of Wern, Tremadoc, in the County of Carnarvon, Quarry Proprietor;
send greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by petition, humbly represent unto Her present most
Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, that I had invented "AN APPARATUS FOR
CUTTING OR DRESSING SLATES INTO VARIOUS SHAPES AND SIZES," and Her said
Majesty being willing to give encouragement to all arts and Inventions that
may be for the public good, was graciously pleased by Her Royal Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster the Twenty-third day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty, in the thirteenth year of Her reign, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, to give and grant unto me, the said
Nathaniel Matthew, my exors, adññors, and assigns, Her especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I or they, by myself or themselves, or
by my or their deputies, servants, or agents, or such others as I or they should
agree with (and no others); during the term of fourteen years from the date
of the said Letters Patent, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend my said Invention within that part of Her Majesty's Dominion's called
England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in
Her Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and the Colonies
and Plantations abroad, in such manner as to me, my exors, admors, and
A

page_text: assigns, shall seem meet, and that I or they shall enjoy the whole profit and
advantage arising by reason of the said Invention during the said term of four-
teen years; and whereas the said Letters Patent contain a proviso, obliging
me, the said Nathaniel Matthew, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to
be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had,) will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Nathaniel Matthew, do hereby declare that my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is described and ascertained
in manner following, and by the aid of two Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and the writing thereon, that is to say :-
My said apparatus for cutting or dressing slates into various shapes and
sizes may either be constructed in a suitable manner for being actuated by the
strength of the same workman who places the slate, that is to be cut or dressed,
in its proper position in the apparatus, and after having done so with one hand
then with the other hand applied to a lever handle he gives the requisite
motion and force to the moving part of the apparatus for cutting or dressing
the slate with a sudden stroke or blow of the cutting instrument; or otherwise
my said apparatus may be constructed in a suitable manner for being actuated
by the strength of a man or of men, or of a horse or of horses, or by the power
of a water wheel or of a steam engine, either of such strengths or powers
operating with a continuous rotatory motion, which motion, by interven-
tion of suitable eccentric wheelwork, is caused to give motion and force
to the moving parts of the apparatus for cutting or dressing the slate, the
operation of cutting being performed, as already mentioned, with a sudden
stroke or blow of the cutting instrument; and the said stroke or blow is
repeated at regular periods of time, but leaving sufficient intervals or pauses
between the succeeding periods for allowing the workman time to place the
slate that is to be cut in its proper position in the apparatus for receiving the
aforesaid sudden stroke or blow by which the cutting is to be performed.
My said.apparatus may be used for cutting or dressing slates from the rough
as they come from the hands of those workmen who are called the splitters,
and in which state the slates (called rough slates) are very irregular in their
shape and size, and require to be cut or dressed to particular shapes and sizes,

page_text: which shapes are usually rectangular parellelograms with straight sides, and
are designated in trade by different names according to their dimensions.
And my said apparatus may (with change of certain parts) be used for cutting
or dressing the ends of slates to rounded, pointed, or gothic shapes for what
are called fancy slates. My said apparatus being so used for cutting the ends
of such fancy slates, either at the time of completing the first cutting or dress-
ing the slates from the rough, or else for recutting the ends of such slates as
have been so far broken by accident as to become unsaleable for ordinary
parellelogram shaped slates, but with sufficient material unbroken to be recut as
aforesaid, for making fancy slates with rounded, pointed, or gothic shaped ends.
Sheet I. of the Drawings hereunto annexed, contains representations of my
said apparatus when the same is adapted for cutting the sides or the ends of
slates to straight lines, the said slates being in the rough (as they came from the
hands of the splitters) when they are first subjected to the cutting operation of
the apparatus. Figure 1 is a lateral elevation; Figure 2, a horizontal plan;
Figure 3, a front elevation of certain parts, those three Figures being drawn
to a scale of two inches to a foot, one-sixth of the real size; and Figure 4 is a
perspective view. The same letters of reference are used in all the Figures for
reference to the same parts. A, A, is a horizontal axis of iron mounted in
suitable bearings a, a, at or near each of its ends, those bearings being firmly
fastened on the upper surface of a table B, B, of any suitable size and form,
and made of any suitable material, and supported on legs, or on a frame or
otherwise, so as to be firm and steady. The axis A, A, is pierced crossways
with two holes to receive tenons at the ends of two arms b, b, the other
ends of which are firmly fastened to the cutting instrument or knifo D, which
by means of the said arms b, b, is connected to the axis A, A, in such manner
as that the lower or cutting edge d, e, of the knife D is equidistant at every
part of its length from the central line of the axis A, A, or very nearly equi
distant; but nevertheless the said edge d, e, is not parallel to the said central
line, being somewhat atwist thereto, as appears in Figure 4, and still more
plainly in Figure 3, where the knife D is represented in the position to which
it must have descended at the moment before commencing the act of cutting
the slate, the same having been previously laid upon and being at the said
moment supported by the edge f, g, of a fixed rest F, called the trefel, being
in fact another knife, which is firmly fastened to a transverse piece C, and that
is fastened to the table B, B, in such position that the edge f, g, of the
trefel F will be horizontal and parallel to the central line of the axis A, A,
but somewhat farther distant from that line than the edge d, e, of the
O

page_text: knife D is distant therefrom, so that when the said edge d, e, descends to
the level of the edge f, g, of the trefel, there will be no actual contact of one
edge with the other edge, but that a very small space of clearance will be lef
between the two edges as appears in Figure 2; and owing to the edge
d, e, of the knife D, being somewhat atwist in respect to the horizontal
axis A, A, as appears in Figure 3, but the edge f, g, of the trefel F being
horizontal (as already mentioned), it follows that when the knife D descends
lower than the position shewn in Figure 3, it is the end d of the knife D that
will first come in contact with the slate, which is laying supported on the
edge f, g, of the trefel F, so that although (as already mentioned) the actual
cutting of the slate is performed with a sudden stroke and almost instantaneous
Blow of the knife, that cutting is nevertheless performed progressively across
or along the slate, the cut beginning at or near to one end d, f, of the two
edges (of the knife and of the trefel) and proceeding almost instantaneously
along those edges towards or near to the other ends d, g, of the same edges d, e,
and f, g. The said sudden stroke or blow of the knife D is caused by giving
a turning motion to the axis A, A, in its bearings a, a, such turning motion
being first given in that direction which will raise the knife D upwards with
an easy motion to take it up out of the way, as it appears in Figure 4 (but it
is to be so raised further than it there appears to be). Then the workman
with his left hand lays the slate over the fixed edge f, g, of the trefel F, in the
proper position thereon, so that the place where the slate is intended to be cut
will be exactly over the line of the edge f, g, and then whilst the workman
holds the slate steady with his left hand a turning motion is given to the
-axis A, A, in a contrary direction, and with greater rapidity than the former
motion, so as to bring the knife D down with rapidity to strike upon the slate
with a sudden and smart blow, which will perform the required cutting of the
slate almost instantaneously, and to an exact conformity to the edge f, g, of
the trefel F, the cut nevertheless beginning first at or near to one end fand
proceeding (although almost instantaneously) towards or near to the other
end of the said edge, as already explained. And such turning motion of
the axis A, A, and the consequent raising and falling of the knife D as afore-
said, may be caused by the workman himself applying the strength of his right
hand on the handle end G of the lever handle G, h, i, k, shewn separately in
Figure 5,
which lever handle is mounted on an axis h, supported in suitable
bearings H (which are fastened firmly to the table B, B), for the centre of
motion of the said lever handle, and the opposite end thereof, beyond its said
centre h, is formed to an arch of a circle i, k, with internal teeth, which gear

page_text: into the teeth of a pinion K that is fastened on one end of the axis A, A. The
consequence of the arrangement is, that when the workman. raises up the
handle G with his right hand the axis A, A, will. be turned round in that
direction, which will. raise up the knife D to the position shewn in Figure 4,
or further than. that. And, on the contrary, when the workman forces down
the handle G with a-sudden and forcible motion, the axis A, A, will be turned
round in that direction, which will bring the knife D downwards with rapidity
to strike upon the slate (which is laying supported on the edge f, g, of the
trefel. F), in order to perform the cutting of the slate with a sudden stroke or
blow of the knife D, as already described to be the mode of cutting the slate.
The internal teeth of the arch i, k, comprise about one-sixth part of a supposed
whole circle of such teeth; the number of which teeth in such supposed
whole circle would be about 60, and the pinion K has about 17 teeth; the
result is, that any extent of angular motion that is given by the right hand of
the workman to the handle lever G, h; i, k, about its centre of motion h will
be transmitted by means of the teeth of the arch i, k, and those of the pinion K
to the axis A, A, to produce angular motion of the axis A, A, (and of the
knife D, which is fastened thereto by the two arms b, b), but with a great
augmentation of the extent of such angular motion beyond the said extent of
angular motion that is given as aforesaid to the handle lever. And it is in-
consequence of such augmentation of angular motion that the workman is
enabled to bring, down the knife D with a rapid motion for striking upon and.
cutting the slate by a sudden stroke-or blow, as already described.
And note, according to the foregoing description the line of the edge f, g,
of the trefel F, and consequently the line along which the cutting of the slate-
takes place, will be in.a direction across, before, or in front of the eyes of the-
workman who stands or is seated at that end of the table B, B, which is most
remote from the axis A, A, but the workman may, if lie finds it preferable,.
staud or be seated. at one side of the table. B, B, so that the line f, g, of the
trefel along which the cutting of the slate is to be performed, will be in a
direction approaching to and receding from the workman (the end g being
nearest to him) and, therefore, he-will see that line in some degree endways,.
in a similar, manner to the direction in respect to the workman's eyes in which
the usual mode of cutting or dressing of slates by hand is performed. For
this purpose, the pinion K, and the lever handle G, h, i, k, are to be wholly.
removed from the apparatus, and another lever handle substituted, which only
differs from the former in the circumstance that the teeth on its arch i, k,.
(instead of being internal teeth) are bevil teeth, projecting laterally from the

page_text: arch, as is shewn separately at R, s, v, w, in Figure 6, and instead of acting
with the pinion K (which is removed) the bevil teeth on the arch v, w, Figure
6, are to gear into the corresponding teeth of a different pinion W, which is a
bevil pinion, and is fastened on the opposite end of the axis A, A, and the
bearings for supporting the axis or centre of motions of the said lever are
firmly fastened to that end of the table B, B, which is .nearest to the axis
A, A; all this is shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, which shew the place of
the said bearings at X, and also explain that the direction of the lengthway
of the lever R, s, v, w, is to be alongside of the axis A, A, with the handle R
(dotted) extending beyond the end of the axis A, A, in a suitable position for
the workman to apply his right hand to the said handle R for giving motion
to the knife D, in the same manner as already explained, the only difference
being as to the line of the direction of the cutting of the slate being endways
before the eyes of the workman instead of being across before his eyes. The
workman may (as already intimated) stand or may be seated to his work. In
Sheet I. the frame on which the table B, B, is supported, is formed with a scat
M for the workman to sit upon, in case he actuates the apparatus by applying
his right hand to the handle G of the lever handle, when that lever is used in
the manner herein-before first described and as represented in the Figures.
The workman when seated on the seat M can use one of his knees (according
to a common habit of slate cutters or dressers) in order to give some support to
the slate, in addition to holding the slate firm with his left hand whilst it is
lying upon the edge f, g, of the trefel F, for the slate ought to apply with its
under surface in close contact with that edge, so as to be effectually supported
thereby at the moment when it is to receive the cutting stroke or blow, and in
case of large rough slates some such support by the knee may be useful for
ensuring such close contact; or if the workman is to stand to his work, there
will be no difference from. what has been described, except the absence of the
seat, and also that the table B, B, should be at such a height from the ground
as will be most suitable for the standing position.
For cutting or dressing rough slates, such slates being of an irregular shape,
the first stage of the cutting is to cut one straight side or end for the intended
slate, which cutting is performed in the manner already described, but after-
wards, when another straight side or end is to be cut at right angles to the
former, then a fixed guide N, Figure 2, is brought into use; the lengthway
thereof is at right angles to the line f, g, of the trefel F, and the upper edge of
the guide N is raised so much above the level of that edge f, g, that the
aforesaid straight side or end for the intended slate can be applied laterally in

page_text: contact with the upper edge of the guide N, when the slate is laid over the.
edge f, g, of the trefel in preparation for another straight side. or end being cut,
and by means of such use of the said guide N, the said side or end of the
intended slate which is thus about. to be cut will be certain to be truly square
to (or at right angles to) that side or end which has been previously cut, and.
which side or end is applied as aforesaid against the guide N. And whereas
such guide N might. be in. the way during the aforesaid first stage of the
cutting of a rough slate (when one straight side or end for the intended slate is
to be cut on such rough slate). The said guide N may be removable, which
may be done by withdrawing certain screws by which it may be fastened
against one of the sides of the frame on which the table B, B, is supported,
or the said guide N may be hinged to the said side of the frame so that the
guide N can be turned so far down about its hinges as to lower its said upper
edge (against which the straight side or. end of the slate is to be applied
laterally when the guide N is in,use) below the level of the edge f, g, of the
trefel. But. when the guide N is turned upwards about its said hinges, then
its said upper edge will be so much above the level of the edge f, g, of the.
trefel as will be suitable for the straight side or end of the slate to be applied.
laterally against the guide N, in the manner already explained, and when the
guide N is so turned upwards it may be firmly fastened in that position by
means of hooks or eyes or other convenient fastening, or the said guide N may;
be applied to the side of the frame in any other suitable manner, so that it can.
be raised. or lowered, sufficiently.in its vertical plane for bringing its upper.
edge to be either above or. below the level of the edge f, g, of the trefel. For
instance, the guide N may be attached to the side of the frame by means of
two jointed links, one at each end, in the. manner. of the drawing instrument
called a parallel ruler, and by motion of the guide N about the joints of the said
links the guide will be raised or lowered in its vertical plane as is required, each
end of the guide N being raised or lowered alike, and such raising and lowering
of the guide N may be performed by the workman with his foot pressing down
a treadle which is connected by a wire with one of the said jointed links at the
extreme end of a prolongation thereof which extends beyond the joint whereby
that link is jointed to the frame; or such extreme end of the said link (or,
the like ends of both links) may be loaded with a weight (or with weights),
which will overbalance the weight of the said guide N with a tendency to raise
the same upwards with its upper edge above the level of the edge f, g, of the,
trefel into the position to be ready for use, but the wire of the aforesaid.
treadle being connected with the guide N itself, the workman by pressing down

page_text: that treadle with his foot can lower the guide N so much as to bring its upper.
edge below the level of the edge f, 9, of the trefel whenever the guide N
is not required to be used. The upper edge of the guide N, against
which the side or end of the slate is to be applied laterally (for guidance as
aforesaid as to squareness), may be marked at every inch of its length,
commencing at that end of N which intersects the edge of f, g, of the trefel
F, and the marks being numbered regularly will form a scale of inches.
shewing distances from the said edge for enabling the workman to lay the.
slate over the edge f, g, at the proper position for cutting the slate to some
intended number of inches in length or in breadth; and to facilitate the use
of such a scale of inches without depending upon the eye of the workman in
observing the said marks and numbers, a fixed scale or gage, which will
answer the same purpose more completely, may be cut out with notches in
the edge of an iron plate, which plate may be fixed by any suitable firm sup-
ports edgeways upwards against the guide N, and parallel thereto, but at some
distance therefrom, as shewn by the dotted lines n, n, Figure 2, and with the
notched edge uppermost, and the form of such notched edge may be as shewn
by the dotted linen, n, Figure 1, which dotted line is a profile or lateral elevá-
tion of the said notched edge of such iron plate, scale, or gage in its proper
position in respect to the cutting edge of the trefel F; and the said dotted
line n, n, Figure 1, shews that each notch as it is farther off from the edge of
the trefel F may be higher than the preceding notch, that is nearer to the
same edge, the profile of the notched edge resembling a series of steps.
úsing such a notched scale or guage the workman, after having first cut one
straight edge to a piece of rough slate, which edge is to form one of the ends
of an intended slate, and then having by guidance of the guide. N cut another
straight edge in true square or at right angles to the said first cut to form one
of the sides of the same intended slate, then in proceeding to, make the next or
third cut for another of the ends of the same intended slate, such third cut
must not only be parallel to the first made cut, but must also be at some
such established number of inches distance from that first made cut as will
make the length of the intended slate suitable for some of the established
lenominations of slates, namely, by preference the largest of those denomi-
nations, that the size of the piece of rough slate will permit of making. And
in order to obtain such exact distance by aid of the said notched edge n, n,
the workman having applied the last preceding cut side of the slate against the
guide N (for guidance as to squareness, and having also laid the slate down.
upon the edge f, g, of the trefel F, in such position as to prepare for cutting the
In

page_text: very longest slate that the size of the piece of rough slate will admit of, he can
then bring the first cut end of the slate to touch one or other of the notches
of the notched edge n, n, and will thereby obtain an exact distance to suit the
length of some one or other of the established denominations of slates. And
in like manner in proceeding to make fourth or last cut he can select some
other notch of the same notched edge which will enable him to cut the said
last cut for the remaining side of the same intended slate, so as to make the
same of a proper breadth corresponding to the length to which it has been
already cut as aforesaid; the breadth of slates being commonly half length.
And note, although the Figures in the Drawing represent the edge f, g, of the
trefel F as standing up somewhat higher than the upper edge of the trans-
verse piece C, to which the trefel F is fastened, it would be preferable to have
the said upper edge of C to rise with a regular slape upwards, quite up the
edge of f, g, of the trefel; and another guide (not represented in Sheet I.) may
be applied to the apparatus for ensuring that the slate may be laid over
the edge f, g, of the trefel in such a position as that the straight edge about
to be cut by the knife D shall be exactly parallel to and at some true
intended distance from the straight edge which has been previously cut to
form one side or end of the intended slate. The said guide may be a
transverse piece similar to C, with a thin guiding blade of iron fastened to
its upright side, and with the upper edge of that guiding blade projecting
upwards above the level of the said transverse piece sufficiently for the edge
of the slate to be lodged against that upper edge. The said transverse piece
is to be fastened across the frame in the same manner as the transverse
piece C, and at the intended distance therefrom and parallel thereto, but
capable of being moved and fixed again at any suitable place, so that the
distance between the edge f, g, and the said upper edge of the aforesaid
guiding blade of iron will be equal to the breadth or to the length to which
the slates are intended to be cut. Such a guide for cutting parallel sides or
ends of the slates is represented at I, Figures 1, 2, and 4, in Sheet II.
The apparatus, as thus far described, is adapted for cutting the slate to
straight edges to form the ends or sides of rectangular shaped slates of various
dimensions, and for cutting the ends of fancy slates to rounded, or pointed,
or gothic shapes, the straight knife D and the straight trefel F, as already
described and represented in Sheet I., must be removed from the apparatus
and others substituted of suitable shapes and sizes for the fancy slates that
are to be cut. In all cases the knife and the trefel that are used together
must correspond one to the other in shape and in size. For this purpose the

page_text: two arms b, b, of the knife D can be removed from the axis A, A, by
unscrewing nuts from off screws formed on the ends of the tenons of the
arms b, b, which tenons pass through holes across the axis A, A, as already
mentioned. Then the tenons can be withdrawn, and corresponding tenons
at the ends of the arms of another different knife being inserted into the
same or into other like holes through the axis A, A, and nuts being-screwed
on the screws at the ends of the last-mentioned tenons, then the knife for
fancy cutting becomes fastened to the axis A, A, in the same manner as was
the case with the straight knife D, already described. And in like manner
the trefel F and its. transverse piece C are removed from the table B, B, and
another trefel of a shape and size corresponding to that of the fancy knife is
fastened by tenons and nuts to the table-B, B, in the exact position required
for causing the under or cutting edge of the knife to correspond with the
upper edge of the trefel, but without those edges touching one another,.
leaving a very narrow space of clearance between the two edges, as already
explained respecting the straight knife D and straight trefel F; such a change
of the knife and of the trefel may be made in the apparatus constructed as
represented in Sheet I., and which apparatus is of sufficiently large dimensions:
and length of cutting edges d, e, and f, g, to be adapted for cutting slates from
the rough slate, but for cutting the ends of fancy slates a smaller sized ap-
paratus will be sufficient, and will be more convenient; see Sheet II., wherein
a smaller sized apparatus is represented by similar Figures, and the same.
letters of reference are used in those Figures to denote the same parts as in
the corresponding Figures in Sheet I., and therefore the foregoing description
of several parts of the apparatus will serve for the explanation of the like
parts. of the apparatus, so far as the same may be represented in Sheet II. In
Figures 1, 2, and 4, therein, D is the fancy shaped knife, and F the faney.
shaped trefel of corresponding shape and size, the said knife D being attached
by its arms b, b, to the axis A, A, and the said trefel F being fastened.
to the table B, B, by short legs c, c, c, with tenons at their lower ends
descending through slots in the table and fastened by nuts below the table
screwed on screws formed on the lower ends of those tenons.
The lengths
and directions of the said slots are suitable for receiving the like tenons of
other trefels of different sizes and shapes, and each knife has arms b, b,
of its own for attaching it to the axis A, A. As fancy cutting is expected to
be only at the ends of the slates, a small sized and portable apparatus with
suitable knives and frefels, may perform all such cutting, but the length of
slates being usually double their breadth, it requires a larger sized apparatus

page_text: with much longer cutting edges d, e, and f, g, for cutting the sides of slates,
particularly in cutting from the rough. Nevertheless the cutting of the ends
of fancy slates may be performed by such larger sized apparatus with suitable
knives and trefels for such purpose. The upper edge f, g, of the fancy
trefel F should be fixed in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane of the
table B, B, whatever the shape of that edge may be; and the attachment of
the corresponding fancy knife D to the axis A, A, by means of its two arms
b, b, is such as will cause the two ends d, e, of the lower or cutting edge of the
fancy knife to come down in contact with the slate, as appears in Figure 1º,
somewhat before the middle part of the same edge comes in contact there-
with at the moment when the knife begins to operate with its sudden stroke or
blow for performing the cutting. I, in Figures 1, 2, and 4, is the fixed
guide for the previously cut end of the slate, viz., the end opposite to that end
which is to be cut to the fancy shape, for it is expected that the fancy cutting
of the rounded or pointed or gothic shaped ends of the fancy slates will usually
be the last stage of the cutting or dressing of those slates, and particularly so
in case of recutting slates which have been broken at one corner so as to be
unsaleable for ordinary parallelogramic shaped slates, but containing sufficient
material unbroken to be recut for making fancy slates of the full original
lenth. The said guide I is fastened to the table B, B, by a short leg, with a
tenon at the lower end thereof descending through a slot through the table,
and fastened by a nut beneath the table, and by means of that slot the place of
the said guide I can be adapted to the intended length of the slate, that length
being measured from the edge f, g, of the trefel F at the mid-length of that
edge (or in other words, at the vertex of its curvature) to the guide I at that
part thereof which stands up for the previously cut end of the slate to be
applied against the said part j, in order to determine the position (as to length)
in which the other end of the slate is to be laid upon the edge f, g, of the trefel
in preparation for cutting that end to the fancy form and true intended length,
the last-mentioned end of the slate resting upon the said edge f, g, and the
other previously cut end resting upon a piece of wood t, which is part of the
guide I; but, as it is requisite that the slate shall not only be so laid upon
the said edge f, g, in a correct position as to length, but also in a correct
position as to breadth, another guide O is provided for the side of the slate
to be applied against, in order to ensure the correctness of its position laterally.
The said guide O is supported by being jointed upon the upper ends of two legs
which stand up from the ends of two links 7, 7, the opposite ends of which links
are capable of motion about centre pins fastened into the table B, B, in order

page_text: to allow the guide to be moved laterally with a motion parallel to itself, in
the manner of a parallel ruler; and when the guide O is set to its intended
place, then the two links 1, 1, are made fast by binding screws, one for each
link, l, which screws descend through arched slots through the table B, B,
with nuts beneath, or such nuts may be above the links 1, 1.
In case
of recutting slates which have been so much broken that they can only
make shorter and therefore smaller sized fancy slates than their original size
as parallelogramic slates, then one side of each such broken slate must be
cut, in order to reduce the breadth suitably for the smaller size to which the
broken slate must be cut. For such purpose the small sized apparatus,
Sheet II., may have a straight knife and trefel, such as D, e, f, and F, g, h,
Sheet I., applied to it, the length of the cutting edges of such straight knife
and trefel being sufficient for recutting the sides of broken slates; the
apparatus, Sheet II., being in that case (except being smaller) similar to the
apparatus, Sheet II., and being used in the manner already described in refer-
ence to Sheet I. for cutting with such straight knife and trefel; and a guide
such as N, Figure 2, Sheet I. (with or without a notched guage n, n, Figures
1 and 2, Sheet I.) may be applied to the apparatus, Sheet II., and used therein
(in the manner already described) for cutting the sides of slates truly square
to (or at right angles to) their ends, or vice versa, and cutting such sides and
ends to suit the lengths and breadths of some of the established denominations
of slates, the guide, such as N, being a substitute for the guide O, or the
guide a suitable for the guide N, whichever may be the most convenient for.
use; and it is to be understood that the small sized apparatus, Sheet II., so far
as the same has been yet described, is to be worked by the strength of the
right hand of the workman applied to a lever handle G, h, i, k, the same as.
already described in reference to Sheet I. (but not represented in Sheet II.), or
else with a lever handle R, s, v, w, the application of which to the small sized
apparatus, Sheet II., is represented therein at Figure 7, which is a horizontal:
plan, and the parts which are there shewn are marked with the same letters
of reference as the same parts in other Figures. (particularly Figure 2ª, Sheet
II., and Figure 2, Sheet I., including the dotted lines in the latter), and there-
fore the foregoing description of the application of the lever handle R, s, v, w
to the large sized apparatus, Sheet I., will sufficiently explain the like applica-
tion of such a lever handle to the smaller sized apparatus, Sheet II. Note.-3
The wheelwork, S, T, U, V, V, which appears in Sheet II. to be applied at the
end of the axis A, A, is to be supposed. omitted for the present, the lever.
handles either g, h, i, h, or else r, s, v, w, being in the place of the said wherl

page_text: work, and answering the purpose thereof for giving the requisite motions to
the moving parts of the apparatus. The small-sized apparatus, such as Sheet II.
(but with such differences as aforesaid from the representation thereof in
that Sheet) will be adapted for recutting slates which have been broken, or
which may for other reason require to be recut; and the said small-sized
apparatus will be most convenient for such use if it be made to stand by itself
on legs, so as to be portable and capable of being set to work at once in any
place where required. But the larger sized apparatus Sheet I., is adapted for
cutting slates from the rough, which is commonly done at slate quarries, and
the apparatus may be fixed in any substantial manner, portability not being of
much consequence. The wheelwork already mentioned, S, T, U, V, V, Sheet II.,
may be applied to the apparatus as there shewn, instead of either of the
lever handles G, h, i, k, or R, s, v, w, as herein-before described, but which
lever handles are to be removed when the wheelwork is to be applied, and
such wheelwork is equally or even more applicable to the larger sized appa-
ratus, Sheet I., because that must require more strength of the workman to
give it motion, and the rough slates being heavier to handle, it will enable
him to handle them with both his hands if the wheelwork is used, for then
the workman will have no exertion of strength to make for moving the
parts of the apparatus. The wheel S, Figure 1, 2, and 4*, Sheet II.,
is to be fastened on the extreme end of the axis A, A, (in place of the
pinion K in Sheet I.) and a roller is placed on a pin which is firmly
fastened into the wheel s, so as to project out from the flat vertical surface of
that wheel. The said roller a, together with the wheel s, forming as it were
a winch handle on the end of the axis A, A, and the roller a is actuated at
intervals to turn the axis A, A, partly round, so as to lift up the knife D, as
shown in Figure 4ª, by a cog or projection y, fastened to and carried round
with the larger wheel U, which wheel, together with the other two wheels
V, V, are mounted on another horizontal axis Y, Figure 2, which is situated i
beyond the end of the axis A, A, but not in the line thereof, being excentric
thereto, nevertheless the directions of the central lines of the two excentric
axis A, A, and Y are parallel one to the other. The axis Y is supported
in its said excentric position by two bearings P, P, which are firmly fastened
to the framework or otherwise fixed securely. And the two wheels V, V,
which are mounted near together side by side on the axis Y, may be pullies
for receiving an endless belt or strap, for the purpose of turning the axis Y
round, when such belt is operating upon the circumference of one of the
pullies V, which pulley is fastened to the axis Y. But when the same belt is:

page_text: shifted laterally, to bring it to operate on the circumference of the adjacent
pulley V, which is fitted loosely on the axis Y, no motion will then be commu-
nicated to that axis Y, nor to any other part of the apparatus, except to the
said last-mentioned pulley V. And by means of the said endless belt and
pair of fast and loose pulleys V, V, the apparatus can be put in motion, or its
motion can be discontinued at pleasure. The said endless belt circalates
around the circumference or either one or other of the pulleys V, V, and also
round the circumference of a revolving drum, which is kept continually in
motion by the strength of a man or of men, or of a horse or of horses, or by
the power of a water wheel, or of a steam engine, and the said revolving
drum may serve several of the apparatuses, all which arrangements, being. in
the usual mode of working small machines by power, will be well understood,
without further description. And the aforesaid cog or projection y, which is
fastened to and projects out from the face of the wheel U, is carried round
therewith in a circular orbit, whenever that wheel U revolves. And the cogy
in so revolving comes in contact with the aforesaid roller on the wheel S, so
as to lift that roller upwards, and thereby turn the axis A, A, partly round,
in order to raise up the knife D, in the manner shown in Figure 4 (and
much higher than is there shewn) until the roller x escapes from its contact
with the cog owing to excentricity of the orbit in which the cog y is carried
round along with the wheel U, in respect to the other smaller orbit in which
the roller a has moved partly round along with the wheel S, and the axis A, A,
the said escape of the roller taking place by the coz y getting outwards
beyond the orbit of the roller æ, or in other words the roller a getting within
the orbit in which the cog y is revolving; and the instant that the roller a has
thus escaped, the knife D begins to descend rapidly by reaction of a powerful
spring Z, Figure 1", from the end of which spring a wire cord or strap z
ascends to apply around the circumference of a pulley wheel T on the end of
the axis A, A, that wheel T being fastened to or being part of the wheel S.
The reacting force of the spring Z therefore causes the axis A, A, to be turned
round in that direction, which will cause the knife D to be brought down with
a rapid motion, in order to cut the slate with a sudden stroke or blow in the same
manner as herein-before described (in reference to Sheet I.) to be performed by
the strength of the workman pressing down the handle G or R of the lever
handle. And the raising up of the knife, which is caused by the workman
lifting up the said handle G or R, is produced in Sheet II. by the aforesaid
action of the cog y, beneath the roller, to lift the same upwards, and thereby
turning the axis A, A, round in that direction, which will raise up the knife D.

page_text: That raising up is done in opposition to the force of the spring Z, which (by
the winding up of the cord or strap z around the pulley wheel T) becomes
more bended, and prepared for reacting to bring down the knife D as soon as
the roller has escaped from the cog y. The force of the spring Z, there-
fore, determines the force of the blow wherewith the knife will strike upon the
slate for cutting the same, and that said force of the spring Z can be adjusted
(to give such a force of blow as will best suit the purpose,) by shortening
or lengthening the cord or strap z, where it is attached to the end of the
spring Z, or to the pulley wheel T. And note.-There is another cog or
projection, such as y, fastened to the wheel U at a part of its circumference
that is diametrically opposite to the cog y, as is shewn in Figures 1 a and
2º, Sheet II., and there marked q. The two cogs y and 9 act by turns to lift
the roller & upwards, and thereby to turn the axis A, A, about one-third or
one fourth of a whole revolution (for raising up the knife D,) before that
roller escapes, and allows the knife to begin its descent. Therefore, every
revolution of the wheel U will produce two cutting strokes or blows of the
knife D; and immediately after the knife has struck its blow, the opposite cog
y or to that cog which has just before allowed the roller to escape will
have arrived beneath the same roller a, in readiness for lifting it up again,
with very little pause or loss of time, so that the knife will begin to be raised
up above the level of the edge f, g, of the trefel by the time that the work-
man can have the slate ready. He may then begin to lay the slate on the
the said edge f, g, of the trefel, and he will have time for adjusting the slate
to its true intended position thereon whilst the knife is continuing to be raised
higher and higher, and he can get the slate truly placed by the time that the a
escapes from the cog, and allows the knife to begin its descent. And although
the aforesaid wheelwork S, T, U, V, V, is only represented in Sheet II., and as
applied to the small sized apparatus, it is to be understood that such wheel-
work is equally or rather more applicable to the larger sized apparatus, Sheet I.,
and suitable stops must be provided for the arms b, b, of the knife to come
to rest upon, and thereby limit the descending motion of the knife D when its
strikes its below. Such stops will prevent niischief in case the workman
should fail to have placed any slate upon the edge of the trefel when the
knife strikes its blow. The stops may be pieces of wood fastened to the table
B, B, and standing up therefrom to a proper height beneath the arms b, b,
with thick leather packings on such stops to case the blows of the arms
thereon; or the stops may be two strong steel springs, situated beneath each
of the arms b, b, and firmly fastened to the table B, B, by screws at one end

page_text: of each spring, beneath the axis A, A, the other or springing ends of the
same springs reaching beneath the arms b, b, into the proper position for
receiving the blows thereof, so as to limit the descent of the knife. It has
been already mentioned that for fancy cutting knifes and corresponding trefels
must be provided for all the shapes that are required to be cut, such as
rounded or pointed, or gothic or diamond shapes. But as to sizes, the
smaller fancy sizes may, in some cases, be cut to fancy forms with the same
knife and trefel as are made for cutting larger sizes of the same shape. Figures
8 and 9 in Sheet II. represent knifes and trefels for pointed and gothic shapes.
And note. Instead of the pair of large size fast and loose pullies, such as
V, V, being mounted on the axis Y, a spur cog wheel about the same size as
the pullies V, may be fastened on that axis Y in place of that one of the two
pullies V, which has been described as fastened on the axis Y, and such spur
cog wheel is to be turned round by a spur pinion of about one-third or one-
fourth of the size fastened on another horizontal axis, supported in suitable
fixed bearings, and on that axis a pair of fast and loose pullies of smaller size
than V, V, are to be mounted, and the endless belt acting on the circumferences
of such smaller pullies will have more power to work the apparatus, inasmuch
as those smaller pullies will revolve much more rapidly than the axis Y is
required to do. Or the wheel U having spur teeth formed around its circum-
ference may serve for such spur cog wheel without a separate spur wheel on
the axis Y. And the aforesaid horizontal axis of the said spur pinion may
(instead of the said pair of fast and loose pullies) have a winch handle and a
fly wheel on one end of it to be turned round with a continuous rotatory
motion by strength of a man or of a stout boy, which will be sufficient power
for a small size apparatus with wheelwork, as in Sheet II.
Having now described my said apparatus, I, the said Nathaniel Matthew
do hereby declare that the new Invention, whereof the exclusive use is
granted to me by the Letters Patent herein-before recited, consists in the
apparatus herein-before described for cutting or dressing slates into various
shapes and sizes, either rectangular or parallelogramic shapes, or any kind
of fancy shapes, including diamond shapes, the said apparatus being
adapted (with suitable changes of certain of its parts) for performing such
cutting or dressing of slates from the rough state to the finished state, or
else for recutting slates when required. And the apparatus being adapted
either to be actuated by the strength of the same workman who handles
the slates and presents them to the apparatus, or else to be put in motion
by wheelwork revolving with continuous rotative motion by some power