IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING ARTICLES OF GLASS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William James Hodgetts, of the Firm of Hodgetts,
Richardson, and Son, of Wordesley, Kingswinford, in the County of Stafford,
Glass Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING
ARTICLES OF GLASS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT
PURPOSE.
Sealed the 14th October 1876, and dated the 6th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William James Hodgetts nt
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th May 1876.
WILLIAM JAMES HODGETTS, of the Firm of Hodgetts, Richardson, and Son,
of Wordesley, Kingswinford, in the County of Stafford, Glass Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING ARTICLES OF GLASS, AND IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE."
My Invention consists in ornamenting articles of glass by the method herein-
after described, by which an appearance is given to the surface of the article
somewhat similar to that of fino wicker or basket work, and further of the
machinery or apparatus herein-after described, by the use of which machinery the
method of ornamenting referred to is readily carried into effect.
I will describe the method of ornamenting in conjunction with the machinery
or apparatus I employ. The glass to be made into an article ornamented
according to my Invention is gathered from the pot upon the "iron " or tubular
rod employed when blown articles are to be made. By the ordinary method of
treatment the gathered glass is fashioned into a hollow nearly cylindrical figure
or a hollow long egg-shaped figure. The iron carrying the glass is fixed in a
horizontal position to the end of a horizontal screw capable of being rapidly
turned, and passing through a screw box so that it may have an advancing as well
as a rotatory motion communicated to it by turning it. A portion of highly heated
glass is gathered upon a "punty" or "pontil," and the pointed end of the said highly
heated glass is brought in contact with, and made to adhere to the exterior end
of the glass on the "iron." The "punty" carrying the highly heated glass is
supported by a fixed support capable of adjustment to any required position.
By means of a winch a rapid rotatory motion is given to the screw, and the "iron"
and the glass on the end of the said "iron" draws off and coils upon itself a fine
[Price Gd.l

page_text: thread of glass from the glass on the "punty." The advancing motion of the screw
and "iron causes the thread of glass to be coiled upon the glass on the "iron" in
coils at uniform distances apart. The hollow glass thus wound round with an
attached thread of glass is reheated and blown in ribbed or other moulds, whereby
a series of longitudinal and other ribs are formed on it, the wound thread being not
at all or but little interfered with by the action of the ribbed inould. The ribbed
mould not only gives a ribbed figure to the glass blown in it, but makes the
substance or thickness of the glass less at the parts between the ribs than in
the ribs themselves. The glass thus operated upon may now be fashioned into a
jug, vase, or other vessel or article in the ordinary way.
In the finishing of the article the blowing process distends the portions of the
glass between the ribs more than the thicker portions constituting the ribs them-
selves. The effect of this is to leave the ribs themselves well marked or prominent,
and the portions of the threads passing over the ribs very distinct, while the
threads between the ribs are less prominent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William James Hodgetts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th October
1870.
WILLIAM JAMES HODGETTS, of the Firm of Hodgetts, Richardson, and Son,
of Wordesley, Kingswinford, in the County of Stafford, Glass Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING ARTICLES OF GLASS, AND IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE."
My Invention consists in ornamenting articles of glass by the method herein-
after described, by which an appearance is given to the surface of the article
Bomewhat similar to that of finc wicker or basket work, and further of the
machinery or apparatus herein-after described, by the use of which machinery
the method of ornamenting referred to is readily carried into effect.
I will describe the method of ornamenting in conjunction with the machinery
or apparatus 1 employ.
"
The glass to be made into an article ornamented according to my Invention is
gathered from the pot upon the "iron" or tubular rod employed when blown
articles are to be made. By the ordinary method of treatment the gathered glass
is fashioned into a hollow nearly cylindrical figure, or a hollow bulb or long egg-
shaped figure. The "iron" carrying the glass is fixed in a horizontal position to the
end of a horizontal screw, capable of being rapidly turned, and passing through
a screw box so that it may have an advancing as well as a rotatory motion com-
municated to it by turning it. A portion of highly heated glass is gathered upon
a "punty" or "pontil," and the pointed end of the said heated glass is brought
in contact with and made to adhere to the end of the glass on the iron. The
punty" carrying the highly heated glass is supported by a fixed support, capable
of adjustment to any required position. By means of a winch a rapid rotatory
inotion is given to the screw, and the "iron" and the glass on the end of the said
"iron" draws off and coils upon itself a fine thread of glass from the glass on the
'punty." The advancing motion of the screw and "iron causes the thread of
glass to be coiled upon the glass on the "iron" in coils at uniform distances apart.
The hollow glass thus wound round with an attached thread of glass is reheated
and blown in ribbed or other moulds, whereby a series of longitudinal and other
ribs are formed on it, the wound thread being not at all or but little interfered
with by the action of the ribbed mould. The ribbed mould not only gives a
ribbed figuro to the glass blown in it, but makes the substance or thickness of
the glass less at the parts between the ribs than in the ribs themselves. The
【་
""

page_text: glass thus operated upon may now be fashioned into a jug, vase, or other vessel or
article in the ordinary way.
In the finishing of the article the blowing process distends the portions of the
glass between tho ribs more than the thicker portions constituting the ribs them-
selves. The effect of this is to leave the ribs themselves well marked or prominent,
and the portions of the threads passing over the ribs very distinct, while the
threads between the ribs are less prominent.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents in perspective and Figure 14
in side elevation the machine by which I carry my Invention into effect.
"
a is the "iron" or hollow rod upon which the hollow bulb of glass b to be
ornamented is formed or blown in the ordinary way. The "iron" and the hollow
bulb of glass are represented separately in Figure 2; c, c, aro uprights on the bed
plate d, which uprights c, c, carry at their summits screw boxes o, c. In the
scrow boxes c, c, the horizontal screw e works. The rear end of the screw carries
a band wheel f, by turning the handle g of which a rotatory motion may be given
to the said screw e. The fore end of the screw e carries a socket or holder h, into
which the end of the "iron" a is inserted and fixed by the set screws i, i; k, k, are
uprights with forked tops, in which forked tops the "iron is supported; lis
another forked upright in which the "punty" m is supported. After the hollow
glass bulb b has been formed upon the "iron" a, Figure 2, the said iron is placed
in the forked adjustable uprights k, k, its rear end being inserted and fixed in
the holder h. A portion of licated glass n having been collected on the "punty" m,
the said punty is supported in the forked upright l. The end of the heated glass n
is brought in contact with ono end of the hollow glass bulb b, and adheres thereto.
The hand wheel ƒ is now turned by its handle g, when a rotatory motion being
given to the screw e, tho said screw both rotates and advances in one or other
direction in the screw boxes c, c. Like motions are thereby given to the "iron" a
and glass bulb b, and glass from the mass on the punty m is coiled in equi-
distant threads on the bulb b, as will be understood by referenco to. Figure 1
where the equi-distant threads on the bulb b are marked p. The direction in
which the handle g is turned depends upon which end of the bulb b the coiling of
the thread of glass is commenced. I prefer to commence the coiling at that end
of the glass bulb b attached to the "iron" a, in which case the screw c must bo
turned in the direction proper to cause it to advance in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents in perspective a modification of that part of the machinery
represented in Figure 1. In the said modification Figure 3, the screw q is provided
with two threads, that is, a right-handed screw thread and a left-handed screw
thread, which cross each other, as will be understood by an examination of the
Drawing. The summits of the uprights r, r, do not contain screw boxes, the
screw sliding freely therein. In order to give the required longitudinal or
advancing motion to the screw 9 when it is made to rotate, I employ two half
screw boxes t, u, which are hinged to a fixed part of the framing of the machine.
One of the said half screw boxes t, u, has a right-handed screw thread and the
other a left-handed screw thread, and either of them may be made to engage with one
of the threads on the screw q, and give the advancing motion to the said screw by
being turned down upon the said screw as shown at t, the other half screw box u
being lifted from off the said screw q. By the use of this modification two crossing
threads of glass may be coiled upon the hollow bulb of glass b on the "iron" a,
Figure 1. In order to effect this, the handle v is turned (one of the half screw
boxes being turned down upon and engaged with the screw 9) until the bulb b
has been threaded throughout its whole length with a single thread of glass. By
then lifting the half screw box which had been depressed upon the screw q and
depressing the other half screw box upon the screw, the motion of the handle v
being continued in the same direction, the said screw performs its return motion,.
and a second thread is coiled upon the bulb b, crossing that which had been just

page_text: coiled thereon. The machine, Figure 3, may be employed for coiling single threads
as well as for coiling double threads.
After the coiling of the glass thread or threads upon the hollow glass bulb bin
the manner described, the "iron "a is detached from the holder and the threaded
hollow bulb bis reheated. It is then blown in a ribbed mould of any desired
pattern, whereby a series of ribs crossing the coiled threads are produced on the
partially formed article, which is afterwards made into a vase, jug, or other article
in the usual way.
Figure 4 represents in plan and vertical section a ribbed mould of the kind
referred to, and Figure 5 represents in plan and elevation the partially formed
article after it has been blown in the mould, Figure 4; the threads upon the
partially formed article Figure 5 are however not represented in the said Figure 5.
Figure 6 represents a small vase or flower glass ornamented according to my
Invention. By reference to the said Figure it will be seen that the threads
wound upon the bulb b, Figure 1A, are almost obliterated in the finished article,
Figure 6, in the parts between the ribs, while the said threads are well pronounced
upon the summits or ridges of the said ribs, and that the appearance given to the
surface of the ornamented article is similar to that of fine wicker or basket work.
The threads may either be of flint or of colourless glass or they may be of coloured
glass.
I do not confine myself to the use of moulds having straight, angular, and equi-
distant ribs, as represented in Figure 4, as ribbed moulds of other kinds and shapes
may be employed, such for example, as moulds having ribs of various patterns or
having alternating ribs of different sizes, moulds with ribs inclined or twisted, or
moulds having ribs combined with other ornamental shapes.
Although my Invention is especially applicable to table glass and other vessels of
glass, yet it may be applied to all such articles of glass as are in the early stages
of their manufacture uiade by blowing bulbs or hollow cylinders of glass.
For example, certain kinds of glass used for glazing, and which are known in
commerco only in the form of flat sheets, are produced by blowing hollow cylinders
of crown glass which, being divided in a line parallel with the axes of the hollow
cylinders and reheated, are flattened out into sheets. Such glass may be readily
ornamented according to my Invention by coiling upon the hollow cylinder or bulb
of crown glass single or double threads, either of coloured or of colourless glass, and
afterwards blowing the bulb or cylinder in a ribbed mould before manufacturing
it into the hollow cylinder from which the sheet glass is produced. The sheets of
glass so ornamented present the appearance of a delicate reticulation in plain or
coloured glass upon ordinary crown glass,
Although I have described and represented the machinery which I have found to
answer well in practice for coiling the glass threads upon the hollow bulb or cylinder
of glass, yet I do not limit myself to the use of the said machinery, as the said
coiling may be effected by machinery otherwise constructed.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invcution
of improvements in ornamenting articles of glass, and in machinery or apparatus
employed for that purpose-
First. The process or combination of processes herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing for ornamenting articles of glass, whereby
an appearance is given to the surface of the articles somewhat similar to that of
fine wicker or basket work, the said ornamenting being effected by coiling one or
more threads of colourless or coloured glass upon a hollow glass bulb or cylinder,
from which the article is to be subsequently manufactured, and blowing the said
threaded hollow bulb or cylinder in a ribbed mould, substantially as described and
illustrated.

page_text: Secondly. The arrangements or combinations of the parts of machinery or
apparatus, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1,
14, and 3 of the accompanying Drawing for effecting the coiling of the glass threads
upon the hollow glass bulbs or cylinders.
In witness whereof, I; the said William James Hodgetts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
BENJAMIN WILLIAM MANSELL,
WILLIAM JAMES HODGETTS. (L.s.)
Wordsley Glass Works,
Near Stourbridge.