CERTAIN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF WHETTING OR SHARPENING THE EDGES OF THE BLADES OF RAZORS, PENKNIVES, OR OTHER CUTTING INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1829

page_text: WESTBY'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
VESTBY, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Cutler, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the tenth year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Francis Westby, His special licence that I, the said Francis Westby,
my exors, admors, and assigns, er such others as I, the said Francis Westby,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the said term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF WHETTING OR SHARPENING
THE EDGES OF THE BLADES OF RAZORS, PENKNIVES, OR OTHER CUTTING INSTRUMENTS;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
Francis Westby, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said recited 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
Francis Westby, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention;

page_text: and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is fully described and
ascertained in manner following, that is to say
My improved apparatus is intended to be used for whetting or sharpening
the blades of razors, penknives, or other cutting instruments, which are
usually whetted or sharpened by rubbing them upon the flat surface of stones
called hones or oil stones. By my apparatus the said.-blades are guided (in
the manner herein-after to be described) so that. the cutting edge thereof
must apply to the surface of the stone at such an angle or inclination thereto
as is proper to whet or sharpen the said edge, and produce such a cutting-edge
as is required, and the apparatus ensures that when the blade is rubbed back-
wards and forwards upon the surface of the stone it shall not deviate from
that angle.
*
Figures 1 and 2 on the annexed Sheet of Drawings represent one form in
which my improved apparatus may be constructed. Figure 1 a section, and
Figure 2 a horizontal plan of the same. Note, all the Figures except the
perspective view are drawn to the full size. A, Figures 1 and 2, is an oblong
block of wood in which the hone and the parts for guiding the cutting instru-
ment are mounted. The wood is cut away at the middle part of the block A
with-a-long-deep notch-of about two thirds of its depth, as is shewn by the
section Figure 1, and also a small cavity or chamber is cut out in each end of
the notch in the block A shown in the section, and by.dotted lines in the plan
Figure 2. The notch or space so excavated in the block A receives the hone
B, Figure 1, which is bedded with cement upon the bottom part of the notch.
C is a moveable plate of metal placed above the hone to apply to the back of
the razor or other cutting instrument, in order to guide the blade and determine
the angle at which its edge shall be applied upon the surface, of the hone, when
it is rubbed thereon in order to be sharpened. The guide plate C is of the
same breadth as the hone B, but rather longer, and the two ends of the plate
C, which extend over beyond the two ends of the hone B, are supported by
two upright screws-b, b, which are fitted through holes in the bottom of the
block of wood A, their heads f.being countersunk within holes at the under
surface of the bottom, and the screws are screwed through holes in each end of
the guide plate.C, and there are two coiled spiral springs of wiree which surround
the screws b. b, and act between the under side of the guide plate c and the
bottom of the cavity formed at each end of the notch in the block A, see s
Figure 1. The elasticity of the springs e, e, tends to force the plate c off from
the surface of the hone B as far as the screws b, b, will permit; but by turning
the beads f,f, of the screws b, b, which are countersunk into the under side of
the block A, the guide plate e may be drawn down towards the, hone in

page_text: fill
opposition to the elasticity of the springs e, e, or by turning the heads of the
Screws b, b, the other way round the guide plate C will be removed further
from the surface of the hone; hence; by the screws b, b, the distance between
the hone and the guide plate C can be regulated at pleasure. The guide plate.
C confines the back of the blade of the razor or other cutting instrument from
rising up too high above the surface of the hone, and thereby prevents the
possibility of rolling the edge upon the surface of the hone when it is rubbed
backwards and forwards thereon, or forming the edge to a more blunt or obtuse
angle than is intended to be given to it. The blade is inserted into the space
left between the guide plate C and the hone B in the manner shewn in the
section Figure 1, and the distance between the plate C and the hone is.
adjusted by means of the regulating screws b, b, according to the thickness of
the back of the razor or other cutting instrument, so that the back will nearly
up the space left between the guide plate and the hone. The sharpening
is performed by holding the handle between the fingers and thumb with a sort
of twisting action, which will tend to raise the back of the blade upwards:
against the under side of the guide plate C, and at the same time press the
cutting edge downwards upon the surface of the hone, the force of that.
pressure being determined by the said twisting action given to the handle of
the blade, and tending, as it were, to turn the blade and handle round about its
length as an axis. The blade being thus held with a suitable degree of twisting
force and pressure of the edge upon the hone may be moved backwards and
forwards over the length of the hone, and at the same time endways of the
blade, so as to produce that sort of horizontal circular motion which is usually
given to blades during the operation of whetting on an oil stone, that is to say,
every part of the blade is made to describe a horizontal circle or oval curve;
but this kind of motion for whetting is no way peculiar to my apparatus, for it.
may be used with any other kind of rubbing motion which is suitable for
whetting the edges of blades, also in case the blades of razors or other cutting.
instruments are made with the back sufficiently thick..to give the edge the
proper angle. When the back is made to bear upon the stone as well as the
edge, then the space left between the guide plate C and the surface of the
hone must be only as much as will receive the thickness of the back.and allow.
it to move freely backwards and forwards; in such case also the blade may be.
held exactly in the usual manner to produce the requisite pressure of its back and
its edge upon the stone without bearing the back upwards beneath the guide
plate C by the twisting action above described, the guide plate being in such
case only a security that the thick back of the blade shall not by accident or
inadvertance be raised up from contact with the stone. It is for blades with

page_text: thin backs which require those backs to be raised up from the surface of the
stone that the handle is to be held in the above described. manner with a
twisting action, which will raise the back upwards in contact with the under
side of the guide plate C. Care must be taken to set the guide plate C exactly
parallel to the hone before commencing to use the apparatus. I have shewn
my improved apparatus, Figure 1 and 2, fitted with an elastic stop D, D, which.
is formed of an endless band of leather encompassing two small stretchers h
and i, which extend across the breadth of the strop within the loops formed at
its two-ends. The strop D, D, is supported by two small studs and m;
which turn up from the ends of two plates of metal L and M, which aro
screwed on each end of the block of wood A. A pin g, which projects out.
from the stretcher h; and passes through the leather of the strop at one end is;
lodged in a hole in the stud.l. Two rods or strong wires are fastened to the:
stretcher h, and extend parallel. to each other all. the length of the strop
withinside of it; the other ends of those wires pass through holes in the other
stretcher i, and in the leather of. the strop, and the extremities of the same,
wires are fixed into a small bar n which applies against the stud m, Figure 1.;
A screw o is inserted through the cross bar n and screws into the stretcher is
which is within the end loop of. the strap, the shoulder of the screw o bearing
against the outside of the cross bar.n. By turning the screw o the strop D.
may be strained to such a tension as to render it a sufficiently-firm surface for
strapping. the blade of a razor. The shoulder or round shank of the screw: o
is. received in a notch formed in the stud m, and left open on' one side, in order:
that the screw may be displaced sideways out of that socket, and then the
pin g at. the opposite end of the strop may be drawn out of the stud 1, and the.
strop D, D; entirely removed; it may be replaced with the other side upwards,,
or it may be used in the detached state. Note, such strops having having been;
heretofore made form no part of my Invention, and are only represented, and
described here to shew how they are applied in concert with the apparatus.
which is my Invention.
Figures. 3 and 4 represent another form in which my improved apparatus.
may be constructed. Figure 3 is a-section of the apparatus, and Figure 4 is,
a-plan-of- the block. A. In this construction the object is the same as the
preceding, viz,.to guide the blade of the instrument which is to be sharpened,;
and to prevent the back from being raised too high off the surface of the hone;
but instead of the hone B being fixed and-the guide, plate C being.caused to
approach to or recede from the:hone by the regulating screws, in the manner
herein-before described, the guide plate C; Figures 3 and 4,tis fixed fast.by,
screws to. the. top of the. block A, so as to cover over, the notch therein, and the

page_text: stone B is cemented and held fast by screws to a bed plate I, which is sup-
ported by the upright screws b, b; the heads of those screws are countersunk:
into holes in the bottom of the block A, and are screwed into the bed plate I..
The hone B and its bed plate I are forced up towards the guide plate C by a
long bent spring e, which is screwed by the middle of its length to the bottom
of the notch.in the block A, and lies interposed between that bottom and the
under side of the bed plate I, the two ends of the spring e bearing the same:
upwards by the elasticity of the spring in opposition to the screws b, b. The
space between the hone B and guide plate C can be regulated by turning the
adjusting screws b, b, and causing the guide plate C to rise or fall until it is
set at the required distance from the hone, and exactly parallel thereto. The
spring e must be made strong enough to prevent the hone yielding at all to the:
pressure requisite for sharpening the edge of the instrument properly. This
apparatus is also furnished with a strap D, see Figure 3, which is strained and
supported by screws mounted in studs formed at the ends of the guide plate C
which turn up for that purpose, and the strap can be tightened or slackened,
or entirely removed, by means of those screws, as is sufficiently obvious by the:
Drawing, and it is unnecessary to describe that part more minutely, because,:
as before mentioned, it is no part of my Invention. Note, instead of adjusting
the guide plate by means of two regulating screws, as shewn in Figure 1, it
may be placed, as shewn in Figure 5, being guided at each end by a pin on
which it can slide up and down loosely. Two springs e, e, Figure 5, are inter-
sposed between the guide plate C and a fixed plate I screwed on the top of the
wood block A over the notch therein. The place of the guide plate is
adjusted by a screw b, which is rivited into the plate C and passes up through
a hole in the fixed plate I, and a nut iis applied upon the screw 6 where it
comes up through the plate I. By turning the nut i the guide plate C may
be drawn up from the hone, or by turning the nut i the other way the guide
plate will be caused to approach the hone. The construction of my apparatus:
may be varied by using two hones with their surfaces placed opposite to each
other, the second hone being fastened to the guide plate C, so that the back
of the blade may apply thereto instead of to the guide plate, as above
described; in this way the edge may be turned upwards in order to sharpen, it
against the upper hone, the lower hone then serving as a guide to the back of
the blade to ensure that the edge shall be applied at a proper angle to the
surface of the upper hone, in the same manner as the upper hone serves as a
guide for the back when the lower hone is used; and when two hones are so
disposed opposite to each other in my apparatus they may be chosen of different
qualities, one being a coarse hone or oil stone to sharpen a thick edge, and the

page_text: other a finer hone to finish a fine edge. And further, if the guide plate Cris
made of soft yellow. brass, it will in some cases be found to give a finish to a
cutting edge after it has been finished on the 'hone, to turn it upwards and rub
it against the surface of such brass guide plate, in the same manner as it was
before rubbed upon the hone, the edge being well supplied with the black oil
which gathers upon the hone whilst it is. rubbed on the brass plate. And note,
although I have described; my apparatus with regulating' screws to adjust-the
space to be left between the surface of theihone and the surface!of the guide
plate, it is to be observed that such regulation is only necessary in order to
adapt my apparatus to whet or sharpen blades, of different breadths and thick-
nesses at the back; and,' therefore, when my apparatus is to be made' for
sharpening only one particular blade, or one particular size: of blades, - the:
guide plate may be immediately: fixed at a suitable distance, from the hone,
whereby my apparatus will be simpler in its construction but the same. in effect:
for sharpening the particular blades for which it is inade.
Figures 6; 7, and 8. represent another form in which my improved appa-
ratus may be constructed. Figure 6 a perspective view, Figure 7 a section,
and Figure 8 a horizontal plan thereof. Two hones B, B; are received in an
upright box A, which is mounted upon the larger box D for a base; the hones
descend through the box A and also through the top of the box D, which has
two oblong holes or slits cut out in it to receive the hones; the narrow piece
of metal which is left in the top of the box D between those oblòng holes
divides the hones B, B, and a double spring e, in the form of the letter' U, is
inserted between the two hones. The two prongs of the double spring bear
against the adjacent sides of the hones, and by their elasticity tend to force the
hones away from each other. The hones B, B, stand upon a bearing plate E,
which is supported by a screw b, the head whereof is countersunk within a
hole in the bottom of the box D, and the screw is screwed into the plate E;
and the upper end enters into m, a hole in the top of the box D,
whereby the screw is guided and kept perpendicular. A washer is fastened
upon the screw b, just above the bottom of the box D, so that the
screw cannot itself rise or fall within the box, but by turning it
round it will raise up or depress the plate E and the hones B, B
which rest upon that plate, so as to bring a new part of the length
of the hones into action when that which has been used has become
worn. The hones can be caused to approach each other in opposition
to the elasticity of the double spring e, by means of adjusting screws.g, which
pass through the metal of the box A, and bear against the backs of the hones. A
grooved trough R is mounted upon a standard F'on the top of the box D, by

page_text: means of a round plug, which is formed on the under side of the trough R,
and inserted into a cylindrical hole in the standard F, so that the trough R
can be directed towards any part of the space. between the hones B by turning
the plug round horizontally in its socket, and it can then be fixed in the
standard F by the screw h. The end of the trough R, nearest the hones, may
be adjusted by the regulating screws i, i, which are screwed through the ears of
the small bracket m, which is fixed to the outside of the box A, whereby the
trough R can be placed in the required position with respect to the space
between the stones B, and retained between the points of the screws from any
considerable deviation from that position; but it is desirable to leave the
trough R with a little liberty to play about its plug. The razor or other
blade which is to be sharpened is fixed is a small clamp in between the two
screws 1, 1; a stud, which projects from the lower part of that clamp, is fixed
upon a cylindrical rod m, which lies in the bottom of the trough F and is
adapted to be slided endways, backwards and forwards, therein. The clamp n
is formed So that when it is quite vertical its lower edges do not touch either
of the edges of the trough F, and then if a blade is fixed in the clamp it will
pass clear between the hones B without touching either of them, but if the
rod m is turned to one side or the other, the clamp n will be tilted over, so
that one of its bottom edges will bear upon the corresponding edge of the
trough F, and then the blade, which is fixed in the clamp n, will also be tilted
over to one side, and its cutting edge will be brought in contact with one of
the hones B. Care must be taken to adjust the position of the trough R so
that when the clamp n is tilted over to one side or to the other, the cutting
edge of the blade shall be brought exactly in contact with. the corresponding
hone B at the proper angle with the surface thereof for sharpening, and no
And that adjustment may be attained with great accuracy, by means of
the several regulating screws berein-before mentioned, viz', those which act upon
the stones, those which regulate the trough F, and also those which hold the
blade in the clamp n. When the apparatus is adjusted, the edge is sharpened
by drawing the blade backwards and forwards in the direction of its length
with its edge in contact with one or other of the hones, the angle and direction
of the blade being guided during such motion by the bearing of one of the
bottom edges of the clamp n upon the corresponding edge of the trough R, the
clamp being tilted alternately to one side or the other, in order to bring
the blade into contact with each hone B in turn. Note, the clamp n is
intended to hold razors and large blades, but for penknives or blades of a small
size, a smaller clamp r is fixed into the clamp n, and that small clamp is
vided with its own screws to fasten the blade into it.
more.
pro-

page_text: Having now described my apparatus, I do hereby declare that what I claim
as my Invention. under the said Letters Patent is, the improvement of
applying and fixing a guide platè, as herein-before described, over or opposito
to the surface of such a honė or oil stone as is or may be used for whetting or
sharpening the blades of razors, penknives, or other cutting instruments,
leaving only such a space or interval between the adjacent surfaces of the stone
and of the said guide plate as will confine the back of the blade from being
raised up any higher from the surface of the stone than is proper to give the
edge the desired angle; also-in-applying-two.stones with their surfaces opposite
to each other, and at a suitable distance apart, in order to whet or sharpen
the cutting edge, first on one side by one stone, and then on the other side by
the other stone. And as to the particular modes herein-before described.of
aljusting the distance or space between the stone and the guide plate, or
between the surfaces of the two stones. And also the means of holding and
guiding the blade during the motion which must be given to it during such
whetting or sharpening, the same may be greatly varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention, as here set forth.
:
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Westby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty.
FRANCIS (L.S.) WESTBY.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-sixth day of January,
in the year of our Lord 1830, the aforesaid Francis Westby came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty.