IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING. SHAPING, AND PLANING WOOD, AND TOOLS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Collier, William Noble, & Ward' Holroyd,
all of Halifax, in the County of York, Manufacturers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING. SHAPING, AND PLANING WOOD, AND
TOOLS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 17th November 1857, and dated the 8th August 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Collier, William
Noble, and Ward Holroyd at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
with their Petition, on the 8th August 1857.
We, GEORGE COLLIER, WILLIAM NOBLE, and WARD HOLROYD, all of
Halifax, in the County of York, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING, SHAPING, AND PLANING
WOOD, AND IN THE TOOLS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as
follows:-
The improvements relate, first, to the production of imitation wicker or
basket work for carriages or other uses in wood, by the use of a cutting
tool of a peculiar construction, operated by mechanical means.
The cutting tool is formed with corrugations or other irregular surfaces
along one side or surface thereof, corresponding with the form of the outline
of the intended cut, by which, as the edge of such cutting tool wears away, in
place of having continually to renew the form of the cutting surface, it will
only be necessary to grind or otherwise sharpen in an inclined direction,
from the bick towards the front cutting edge.

page_text: This peculiar description of cutting tool is also applicable when producing
other figures than that in imitation of basket or wicker work. To produce
some varieties of imitation basket or wicker work the cutting tools employed
are placed one in advance of the other, yet so as to cut in parallel lines, by
which in the up-and-down motion simultaneously given such tools, the cutting
produced by one tool will be deep, whilst that adjoining in a parallel line
will be standing up, thereby giving an appearance of crossed work.
The improvements relate, secondly, to the production of rotary cutters
for the formation of mouldings and other ornamental forms. These cutters
are made up in two more pieces, according to the form of cut to be produced,
and so that their figure is the counterpart of the figure of the cutting to
be effected or a part thereof, and the cutting edges are obtained by cutting
in a transverse direction across such surfaces, so that a section of the circle
of which any part of such cutter is formed would have the appearance of
saw or such like teeth, and the forming of such cutters in two or more
parts facilitates the obtaining of such teeth.
The improvements also relate to cutting or planing hoards or other plane
surfaces. The wood to be planed is caused to traverse past, though by
preference slightly inclined to the end of a rapidly revolving axis, upon which
is formed or affixed a disc or face plate formed slightly conical, and carrying
the cutting blades by which the planing is effected. These blades are held in
an inclined direction, somewhat as the cutters of an ordinary hand plane, and
the line of their cutting edge is also inclined to the axis of the disc, by which
a superior cut is effected, and by the conical form of the disc or plate
supporting the cutters, the cutters operate only on that side of the axis of the
disc where the wood first mects the disc,and are slightly away so as to clear it
at the other side of the axis. A guide or guides for the wood are employed
as required, or when the face of the disc is at right angles to the axle thereof,
we apply a guard or guards to prevent the wood being cut being operated by
the cutters at such other side of the axis.
Also this part of the improvements relates to applying such cutters to
operate at an angle across the surface of the wood, by fixing them in a
carriage or carriages having a reciprocating in place of a rotary motion, and
operated by a crank or otherwise, and when planing floor boards and other
boards where the edges have also to be planed or grooved or otherwise
dressed, we also apply cutting tools to give the required form to such edges
simultaneously with the planing of the surface.
The improvements also relate to employing elastic pressure to keep the
wood under operation in contact with the planing tools.

page_text: Also the improvements relate to forming cylindrical surfaces of wood, such
as cornice poles and the like. This is effected by passing the wood to be cut
through a rest in front of the revolving tube, in which are placed cutters,
cutting surface of which is inclined to the axis of the tube, and is of a
form corresponding with that of the pole or rod to be produced.
Also the improvements relate to the employment of rotating cutters for
moulding and other figures, when such are operated to have a to-&-fro
motion as well as a rotary motion, by causing the frame supporting the axis
thereof to be operated by a shaped face or template to produce the un-
dulations desired.
Also the improvements relate to applying beat to the surface of the wood
during the operation of cutting, better to prepare the surface for the action
of the cutting tools. For this purpose we employ a jet of gas or other heat
capable of a high temperature; when employing gas we have found an
arrangement to answer well, in which the pipe conveying the gas is passed
through a somewhat larger one, through which is also passed a current of
air to produce a blast to conduct the jet against the wood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Collier, William Noble, and Ward Holroyd in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
COLLIER, WILLIAM NOBLE, and WARD HOLROYD, all of Halifax, in the County
of York, Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
George Collier, William Noble, and Ward Holroyd, Her special licence that
we, the said George Collier, William Noble, and Ward Holroyd, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Collier,
William Noble, and Ward Holroyd, our 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 "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN CUTTING, SHAPING, AND PLANING WOOD, AND IN THE TOOLS AND APPARATUS

page_text: و"
EMPLOYED THEREIN, upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
George Collier, William Noble, and Ward Holroyd, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should particu-
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inventiou, 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 Noble, on behalf of myself and
the said George Collier and Ward Holroyd, 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
thereof, that is to say :-
The improvements relate, first, to the production of imitation wicker or
basket work, for carriages or other uses, in wood, by the use of a cutting
tool of a peculiar construction, operated by mechanical means.
The cutting tool is formed with corrugations or other irregular surfaces
along one side or surface thereof, corresponding with the form of the outline
of the intended cut, by which, as the edge of such cutting tool wears away,
in place of having continually to renew the form of the cutting surface, it
will only be necessary to grind or otherwise sharpen in an inclined direction
from the back towards the front cutting edge.
This peculiar description of cutting tool is also applicable when producing
other figures than that in imitation of basket or wicker work. To produce
some varieties of imitation basket or wicker work the cutting tools employed
are placed one in advance of the other, yet so as to cut in parallel lines, by
which in the up-and-down motion simultaneously given such tools, the
cutting produced by one tool will be deep, whilst that adjoining in a parallel
line will be standing up, thereby giving an appearance of crossed work.
The improvements relate, secondly, to the production of rotary cutters
for the formation of mouldings and other ornamental forms. These cutters
are made up in two or more pieces, according to the form of cut to be
produced, and so that their figure is the counterpart of the figure of the
.cutting to be effected or a part thereof, and the cutting edges are obtained
by cutting in a transverse direction across such surfaces, so that a section
of the circle of which any part of such cutter is formed would have the
appearance of saw or such like teeth, and the forming of such cutters in two
or more parts facilitates the obtaining of such teeth.
The improvements relate, thirdly, to cutting or planing boards or other

page_text: plane surfaces. The wood to be planed is caused to traverse past, through by
preference slightly inclined to the end of a rapidly revolving axis, upon which
is formed or affixed a disc or face plate formed slightly conical, and carrying
the cutting blades by which the pianing is effected. These blades are held in
an inclined direction, somewhat as the cutters of an ordinary hand plane, and
the line of their cutting edge is also inclined to the axis of the disc, by which
a superior cut is effected, and by the conical form of the disc or plate
supporting the cutters, the cutters operate only on that side of the axis of the
disc where the wood first meets the disc, and are slightly away so as to clear
it at the other side of the axis. A guide or guides for the wood are employed
as required, or when the face of the disc is at right angles to the axis thereof,
we apply a guard or guards to prevent the wood being cut being operated by
the cutters at such other side of the axis.
The improvements relate, fourthly, to employing elastic pressure to keep
the wood under operation in contact with the planing tools.
Fifthly, the improvements relate to forming cylindrical surfaces of wood,
such as cornice poles and the like. This is effected by passing the wood to be
cut through a rest in front of the revolving tube, in which are placed cutters,
the cutting surface of which is inclined to the axis of the tube, and is of
a form corresponding with that of the pole or rod to be produced.
Sixthly, the improvements relate to the employment of rotating cutters for
moulding and other figures, when such are operated to have a to-and-fro
motion as well as a rotary motion, by causing the frame supporting the axis
thereof to be operated by a shaped face or template to produce the undulations
desired.
Seventhly, the improvements relate to applying heat to the surface of the
wood during the operation of cutting, better to prepare the surface for the
action of the cutting tools. For this purpose we employ a jet of gas or other
heat capable of a high temperature. When employing gas we have found an
arrangement to answer well, in which the pipe conveying the
gas is passed
through a somewhat larger one, through which is also passed a current of air
to produce a blast to conduct the jet against the wood.
But that the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner we carry
the same into effect, may be fully understood, we will proceed to describe the
Drawings annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: part of the improvements. We would here state, that the tool employed
may be of breadth sufficient to act across the whole surface of a wide board
or piece of wood, or several narrow tools may be employed placed side by side
to make up the requisite width. It will be seen that the parts 1, 1, are
recessed between the parts 2, 2, forming corrugations, so that when the lower
or cutting edge a¹ is ground or otherwise sharpened in an inclined direction
the parts 2 will descend lower, and thereby be capable of cutting deeper into
the wood than the parts 1, whereby, according to the form of cutter shown,
a series of grooves separated by rounded ridges will be cut in the surface of
the wood, having a resemblance to basket or wicker work, and as the edge
of such cutting tool wears away, in order to renew the edge thereof it will
only be necessary to grind away the tool in an inclined direction, such as
represented by the dotted line 3, 3, and a slight variation in the depth of the
grooves or cuts produced by such cutter may be produced by varying the
angle of the line 3, -3.-.
Although we have in the illustration given shown the form of indentation
or corrugation to the surface of the cutter which, when such cutter is ground
in the direction indicated, is capable of producing by its cutting edge simply
a series of similar rounded surfaces or beads separated by grooves, and
adapted especially to the production of imitation wicker or basket work, it
will readily be understood that by varying the form of the indentations 1, 1,
and intervening spaces 2, 2, still sharpening, by cutting upwards at an angle
towards the back, great variety of forms may be obtained.
The mechanical means which we employ for operating the cutting instru
ment are shewn by longitudinal side view at Figure 4, and end view Figure 5.
a, a, are the cutters, which are by set screws 6 and plate.c made fast to the
adjustable sliding plates d, d, carried by the frame e. Adjustment to the
plates daud consequently to the cutters a in the frame e to very their depth
of cut is obtained by the screws f. The ends of the frame e are formed so
as to be capable of an up-and-down motion on the fixed standards g' of the
main framing g, and they have affixed to them by set screws the plates f",
carrying each a roller fcapable of running on the edge of a plate h¹; and
these plates h¹are fixed one on each side of the traversing table h, by which
the wood to be cut is caused to traverse in contact with the cutters. The
upper edge of each of these plates h¹, upon which the pulley wheels f rotate,
is composed, as shown, of a series of undulations, by which the cutters will,
in the movement of the wood to be cut, be caused successively to rise and
then to fall by the weight of the bar or frame, and thereby produce a series
of undulating cuts. And it will readily be understood, that according to the

page_text: form thus given to these edges of the plates h¹, so will be the character of
the undulations obtained.
In place of employing cutting tools with one continuous line of cutting
edge thereto of the character referred to under this part of the improvements,
cutting tools may be employed with spaces or intervals to their cutting edge,
acting in pairs, one of such cutting tools being placed in advance of the
other, but so that the cutting surfaces of the one shall be opposite the spaces
of the other, so that the one may cut just so much as is left uncut by the
other tool; or, in place of using tools with intervals in their cutting edge,
separate narrow tools may be employed, and if the distance between these
two broken lines of cutting edges is equal to about one-third to half the length
of each undulation, an effect will be produced very nearly resembling crossed
or woven basket or wicker work. Several cutters thus arranged are repre-
sented in plan and front view by Figures 6 and 7, and sectional edge view,
Fig. 7*, and Figures 8 and 9 show a specimen of the effect produced. The
wood i, the surface of which is to be cut, is, as represented, held by being
clasped at each end between the clips 2 carried by the table h, and in its
traverse motion it is conducted over and so as to rest upon the fixed bar g²,
by which it is at the point of cut held in contact with the cutters. The
table his formed with V guides h³, by which it is supported, with capability
of sliding in the grooves in the upper part of the bed gt, and it has affixed to
it racks, which are taken into by the pinions upon the axis, upon which
is affixed the toothed wheel, which is taken into by a toothed wheel j³, upon
the axis of which is affixed the bevilled pinion 4, which is taken into by the
pinion ;, which is also taken into by the bevilled pinion " upon the hollow
axisj, in order that the table h may be driven alternately in one and then in
the opposite direction, there being stops and reversing gear, as shown, for
shifting the driving strap off the pulleys upon the hollow axis j' to the
pulley affixed upon the axis of the wheels 3 and 4, and back again, as is
well understood in operating with planing and such like machines when a
to-and-fro sliding motion is required. 710 is a loose pulley on to which the
strap is shifted when the apparatus is to be at rest.
Sometimes, in place of the cutting tools, according to this part of the
improvements, having an up-and-down motion given to them, they are
stationary, and the up-and-down motion is given to the supporting means to
the board being cut, which is thereby alternately moved nearer to and farther
from the cutters during the cutting, and for this purpose the bar g², in place
of being stationary, is capable of sliding up and down in suitable guides

page_text: carried by the framing, and is borne at its ends by spring or other elastic
pressure against, or so as to be operated by suitably arranged traversing
surfaces h', by which elastic pressure is obtained to the wood being cut
according to the fourth part of the improvements.
Figures 10 and 11 show two views of a rotary cutting tool arranged
according to the second part of the improvements, and Figures 12, 13, and 14
show two views of each of the parts separately. And it will readily be seen
that whilst it would be very difficult to renew the cutting edges a of a cutter,
such as represented by Figures 10 and 11, if formed in one piece, when such
is formed of several pieces separable, as at 1, 2, and 3, the renewing of the
respective cutting edges becomes a comparatively simple operation. And we
would here state, that whilst we have shewn a form which serves to illustrate
this part of our improvements, we do not confine ourselves to such form nor
to the number of parts of which such cutter may be composed..
Figures 15 and 16 show two views of a cutter holder, with cutters arranged
according to the third part of the improvements. The disc a, in which are
set the cutters b, is formed somewhat conical, and the surface to be cut is
conducted past at a slight angle, as shown by c, in order that the cutters inay
clear themselves in returning to operate again. Rotary motion is given to
the axis carrying the disc of cutters by a strap or band acting on the pulley g
fixed on the axis thereof, as shown. e is a guide roller for the wood under
operation, and, if desired, a guard of thin metal or other suitable material may
be applied to prevent the wood being cut by the cutters in the return part of
their motion. f is a roller, the axis of which is acted upon by springs or
other elastic pressure to keep the wood under operation in contact with the
cutting tools according to the fourth part of the improvements.
Figure 17 shows a side view, Figure 18 an end view, in section, of appa-
ratus arranged to carry out the fifth part of the improvements. Figure 19
shows a section of working parts separately. a, a, is the main fraining; b, the
wood to be cut from a square or other figure to that of a cylindrical form;
c, c, are the cutters in operation; and it will be seen that these cutters are
fixed in a revolving tube d, which is supported so as to be capable of rotating
freely in the standards a', a', there being affixed upon the tube a drum or
pulley to receive a strap or band from a steam engine or other suitable
power, by which the requisite rotary motion is given to the tube d. The
mouth or entrance for the wood to the tube d is conical, and the cutters c are
set therein inclined to the axis of their motion, so that in their successive
operations during rotation they may reduce the surface of the wood to the

page_text: form desired. The piece of wood to be cut is borne up to the cutter by the
attendant pushing it on the supporting guide 2, but the same may be effected
by mechanical means if desired.
Figure 20 shows a longitudinal side view, and Figure 21 an end view, of
apparatus arranged according to the sixth part of the Invention. Figures 22
and 25 shew a rotary cutter, such as we use, separately. a, a, is the rotary
cutting tool, in which are affixed the cutting surfaces a',a. This cutting tool is
affixed upon the axis a², upon which is also affixed the pulley a³ to receive
a strap or band from a steam engine or other suitable power to give rotary
motion to the axis a², which is supported so as to rotate freely in the bearings
b, carried by plates 1, which are adjustable by set screws in the weighted bar
or frame c, as shown. The weighted bar or frame c has affixed to it plates c¹,
carrying pulleys or friction rollers c² to rest on templates d, affixed to and
moving with the traversing table d', by which the wood e to be cut or planed
is caused to slide up to and past the revolving cutter. By these means the
rotating cutter employed will, in addition to the rotary motion given thereto,
have a to-and-fro motion given in relation to the wood being cut, by which an
undulating or other form of cutting will be produced corresponding with the
form of templates employed. The motion to the table d' is similar to that
described under the first head of the Invention, and constitutes no part of the
improvements.
When such rotary cutters are employed in producing undulations or other
curved surfaces, the frame carrying their axes may be stationary in place of
having a to-and-fro motion, as just explained, and the to-and-fro motion to
effect the desired curvature of form may be obtained by causing the wood to
be cut to pass over a bar or other support capable of sliding, but governed in
its movement by suitable templates, and acted upon by spring or other elastic
pressure to keep the wood to the cutting tools, according to the fourth part
of these improvements.
Figure 24 shows an arrangement of parts adapted, when gas is employed, as
the heating means in carrying out the seventh part of the Invention. a is
a tube conveying gas to the jet a¹. This tube is surrounded by another
tube b, supplied with a current of air from bellows or by other suitable means
capable of keeping up a strong current. The gas and air ignited pass out
through the opening 64,and the heat thereby generated acts upon the wood c,
passing under, and by the burning influence thereby exerted better prepares
the wood for the action of the cutters. In place of jets of gas we also employ
heated plates of iron, heated by being placed in ovens or fire-places till they

page_text: are red hot. These heated plates we support upon suitable bars over the
wood as it traverses up to the cutting tools.
The other part of the Invention mentioned in the Provisional Specification
filed on making application for protection we have not found to possess
sufficient novelty and utilty to justify our including it in this Complete
Specification, for which reason we have been advised to omit the same here.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the means
which we adopt in carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details shown and described,
so long as the peculiar character of any part thereof be retained,substantially
as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Noble, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JOHN COLLIER.
WILLIAM NOBLE. (L.S.)