IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOL AND OTHER SHEARS USED IN CUTTING RAGS, GRASS, AND THE COATS OF ANIMALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF AXES.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Melton Marsden, Saw & Steel Manu-
facturer, Hillfoot, Sheffield, in the County of York, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOL AND OTHER
SHEARS USED IN CUTTING RAGS, GRASS, AND THE COATS OF ANIMALS, PARTS
OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF AXES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Melton Marsden
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,.
on the 28th July 1871.
I, HENRY MELTON MARSDEN, Saw and Steel Manufacturer, Don Saw.
Works, Hillfoot, Sheffield, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE.
OF WOOL AND OTHER SHEARS USED IN CUTTING RAGS, GRASS, AND THE COATS OF.
ANIMALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFacture.
OF AXES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the attainment of one or all of the
following ends :-
To make these wool and other shears out of material of combined
metals so prepared as entirely to dispense with the necessity of hand

page_text: welding and much of the need of hand forging, and yet to admit of the
production of a finished article having a close resemblance to those
produced by the old method, and combining the excellencies of old and
new methods of manufacture without their defects.
To make these articles out of material so combined that it shall be
possible to protect the steel for the cutting edge or edges from the
evil effects of burning when manipulated by unskillful or negligent
workmen.
To so arrange and limit the relative position of the steel for the
cutting edge or edges that the blade may be hardened by complete
immersion in the quenching liquid and yet admit of being easily set to
the required form; and also to dispense with the need of a previous
examination of the sheets strips before proceeding to form them into
blanks; and finally to prevent waste.
My Invention therefore first consists in making these wool and other
shears out of lengths or strings, having the steel for the cutting edge
or edges forming one side or edge entirely from end to end with the
softer or foundation metal; the other or out of strips having the steel
running up the middle of such strips from end to end with the tough
or soft metal running parrallell with it up each side from end to end, or
the reverse of this; or out of sheets, strips, lengths, or strings with the
steel for the cutting edge or edges in the centre as a central layer with
a covering layer of supporting and protecting metal on each side; or
the reverse of this arrangement of the layers. The central layer may
extend only partially through the centre to the extent the length or
breadth of the cutting edge requires, or go entirely through the centre.
My Invention, in the second place, consists in making these wool
and other shears out of suitable material in two or more parts, uniting
them together at the junction of shanks and bow by revits, screws,
spring and catch, or the extreme end of the shank formed specially
fits into a hole or recess in the bow and binds against the inside, whilst
the ends of the bow are extended and hollowed to fit underneath the
shanks to which they are fastened.
My Invention further consists, in the third place, in making these
wool and other shears altogether out of sheets, strips, lengths, or strings
of good iron or simi-steel, and making the parts for the cutting sides
or edges into real steel of suitable hardness by a process of cementation
or conversion through the agency of fire and charcoal, nitrogeneous

page_text: compounds, or such other chimical materials that will effect the trans-
formation required. This I may accomplish in the open fire or in
closed receptacles.
In making the blanks into shears, when needful, I first groove or
thicken the back of the blade, or otherwise strengthen it.
When the steel for the cutting sides or bow and cutting edges is
protected by a layer of overlying metal I grind it off or otherwise
remove it to the extent the needs of the manufacture require.
My Invention, in the fourth place, consists in making these wool and
other shears out of rolled or tilted strings of steel or combinations of
steel and by an improved method. The strings rolled or tilled the
width, form, and thickness required, I cut them up into suitable sizes,
and crinking the sides where junction of, shank and blade will be, I
narrow the points and parts intended for the shanks and pass them
width way through rolls to give the required irregularities in width.
In this case I heat the piece all over. I again pass them through rolls
heated only in the parts required to be thin prefered to give the needed
inequalities of thickness to the blank, or this shaping of the blank
may be done by a power hammer instead of by rolls. Having thus
finally shaped the blanks I proceed to form them into shears by first
bending up the edge of the blade when needed, then hollowing the
shanks, I finish them in the usual way.
The methods of manufacture disclosed in the first and fourth parts of
lisable to the manufacture of axes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Melton Marsden in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
MELTON MARSDEN, Saw and Steel Manufacturer, Don Saw Works,
Hillfoot, Sheffield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: and grant unto me, the said Henry Melton Marsden, Her special licence
that I, the said Henry Melton Marsden, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Melton Marsden, my
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, cxcrcise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ircland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOL AND OTHER SHEARS USED IN CUTTING RAGS, Grass,
AND THE COATS OF ANIMALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO
THE MANUFACTURE OF AXES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Henry Melton Marsden, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, 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 Henry Melton Marsden, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, and on reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say :-
My Invention, in the first place, consists in making these wool and
other shears out of lengths or strings of combined metals having the
steel for the cutting edge or edges forming one side or edge entirely
from end to end with the softer or foundation metal, the other (single
or double) or out of sheets, strips, lengths, or strings of combined
metals, having the steel for the cutting edge or edges in the centre as
a central layer with a covering layer of supporting and protecting metal
on each side, or the reverse of this arrangement of the layers. The
central layer may extend only partially through the centre to the extent
the length or breadth of the cutting edge requires, or go entirely
through the centre.
In making these wool and other shears according to this the first
part of my Invention I get the materials, forge iron and shear or cast
steel, or melted iron and steel, or two steels properly united together,
and then I have them formed into strings, strips, sheets, or lengths as

page_text: required. Sheets may be any convenient width as required, and from
6th to 10th gauge.
These sheets, strips, lengths, or strings may be
made of any convenient length, according to the number of shears they
are intended to be cut or formed into. Sometimes I may make them
a little thinner or thicker, but I prefer the thickness to range between
6th and 11th gauge; strips, strings, or lengths the same thickness; and
from one inch to one and three-quarter inches wide, according to thick-
Sheets I pare up into strips, strings, or lengths. Having cut off a
piece sufficient to make one pair of shears I proceed to thicken the
back of the blade when needed, and then bending forward the heel of
the blade I first turn or twist up the blades till they stand in a position
nearly vertical to that portion of the blank intended to form the shanks
and bow, all that is then necessary is to hollow the shanks, and form the
knees, and the shears are ready for setting, hardening, and finishing in
the usual way by grinding, polishing, &c.
ness.
I may sometimes pare or punch out the blanks as is now practised,
but I prefer to form them as above specified.
When the steel is in the centre as a centre layer the covering layer
of iron or other metal must be ground off from the face and back of
the blade so as to bare the steel to the extent required. When the soft
or foundation metal is in the centre then the iron or soft metal will
require bareing at the back of the blade in grinding.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings No. 1 represents a section of
a strip, length, or string with the steel all on one edge; No. 2 represents
a section of a sheet, strip, length, or string, with the steel for the cutting
edge or edges in the centre as a central layer, with a covering layer of
tough and protecting metal on each side. Nos. 3 and 3 represent
sections of a sheet or length with the steel for the cutting edge or edges
extending only partially through such sheets or lengths. No. 4 repre-
sents a blank with the heel of the blade bent forward, as above stated.
No. 5 represents a finished pair of shears made from such blank,
shewing the position of the steel for the cutting edge, the iron surface
or covering layer having been removed by grinding.
'
"A" represents a section at "b," "c"; and "d," a section at "f," "g.”
In removing the overlying layer from the side or sides of the bow I
prefer to do it whilst the blank is flat, that is, before the part for the
bow is bent in the early stage.

page_text: The second part of my Invention consists in making these wool and
other shears out of suitable material, such as steel and iron, or steel
and steel combined in two or three parts. When made up of two parts
a shank, blade, and bow in one solid piece forms one part, and the other
shank and blade in one solid piece the remaining or second part. When
consisting or made up of three separate parts then a shank and blade in
one solid piece for each side will form two parts, and the bow the remain-
ing or third part. The parts I unite together at the junction of shank
or shanks and bow by means of rivets or screws or the extreme end of
the shank formed specially with a projecting fish-tailed or T headed end
fits into a suitably formed hole in the bow, whilst the extreme ends of
the bow are extended and hollowed to fit underneath the shanks to
which they are attached and fastened, as above described.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I first pare, punch, forge,
or roll out the blade and shank, or blade, shank, and bow when the
shears are made up of two parts, and then form them into shape by
bending up the blade when needed, then hollowing the shank, punching
or otherwise forming and fitting the projecting end of the shank to go
into the hole or recess formed for its reception in the bow.
In order to assist the understanding of this part of my Invention I
have annexed Drawings or illustrations of the parts.
No. 2, A represents one of the forms of the projecting end or ends of
the loose shanks; No. 2, B represents a bow before being bent with
the hole for the projecting end of the shank to fit into; No. 2, C re-
presents a bow with extended ends formed as screws with nuts attached;
No. 2, D represents the stud with the hole through it, into which the
screw on the bow enters, which stud is fastened underneath the shank
in order to assist in holding the bow in its place.
The third part of my said Invention consists in making these wool and
other shears altogether out of sheets, strips, lengths, or strings of good
selected iron or semi-steel, and in making the parts for the cutting
edges into real steel of suitable hardness by a process of cementation or
conversion through the agency of fire and charcoal.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I first clean the surface of
the parts to be converted by abrasion or the application of biting acids
(such, for instance, as sulphuric or nitric). I then submit the blade

page_text: portion of the blanks to the process of conversion or cementation before
forging, and shape them afterwards, in order that the crystaline structure
more or less produced by the cementatring action may be destroyed by
the hammering it receives, and its edge-bearing capabilities be in-
creased. In doing this (converting process) I enclose them in a covered
vessel or chamber. The parts required to be soft are encased or covered
by some refractory material such as gannister, fire-clay settlings out of
the grinder's trough, &c., and the parts requiring to be transformed into
steel I cover with a layer of good charcoal. When thus protected and
covered from the air by the surrounding wall of the chamber I submit
the outside of the chamber to the action of heat, till by the condition of
the test blade (so inserted that it can be got at for examination without
disturbing the rest) I discover that the necessary degree of carboniza-
tion or steelification has been attained, when the fire is withdrawn or
allowed to die out, and the furnace or chamber with its contents is left

page_text: Having thus finally shaped the blank I proceed to form them into
shears by first bending up the edge of the blade when needed (in some
cases this is not needed), then hollowing the shanks I finish them in
the usual way by hardening, grinding, polishing, bending, setting, as
generally practised in the trade.
In making these wool and other shears according to this part of my
Invention I employ strings or rods of cast, shear, or other suitable steel,
or combinations of steel with steel. Steel with steely iron or steel with
iron rolled or tilted to any suitable form or section, but flat, square,
octagonal, diamond, round, T, or V shaped sections preferred. If made
of flat section they will require to be from three-quarters to one and three
in width, and from one-half an inch to bear one-eighth of an inch in
thickness thinner or thicker according as they vary in width. The wider
the strings the thinner they should be, and the stronger the strings the
narrower they should be, thus a three-quarter of an inch wide string should
not be much thicker than half an inch, and a string one and a inches
wide should not be much less than one eighth thick. Square strings
should be from five-eighths to seven-eighths according to size, weight, and
quality of shears required. To the exact sizes here given I do not con-
fine myself. I prefer however strings of about three-quarters or seven-
eighths of an inch square. Strings or rods of other selected section require
to be of varying diameters or dimensions according to their sectional area.
In making these wool and other shears out of these strings I first crink
or bend forward the sides at the parts intended to form the junction of
shanks and blade, and then narrowing as required the points and the
parts intended to form the shanks, I pass them through rolls widthway
(heated to the extent required) to give the blank the required width in
the bow and blades. This done I again heat them, if required, but this
time only at the points and parts intended to form the shanks and bow.
When rolls are used to shape and form the blanks I select strings of flat
section. In shaping the blanks I also use a power hammer, by which
I mean any effective forging machine that will do efficiently the work
required in the economical forging of the blanks. When I forge the
blanks to shape I prefer to use strings of flat or square section, although
I may use strings or rods of any convenient section. In shaping a
blank under the hammer (say, a steam hammer) out of a square string
I submit the steel to the blow of the hammer, either on its flat side
thus, or on its angle corners thus ŷ, and having drawn and spread

page_text: out the parts for the blades I turn the piece half over and begin to
forge the part for the two shanks and bow, and when this is done properly
the forged blade or blades will stand in the right position, that is at right
angles to the position of the part intended to form the shanks and bow,
5 or thus 1. In making such blanks up into shears it is not needful to
bend up the edge of the blade. After having trimmed up and finally
shaped the general outline by smithing, filing, or cutting away any
superfluous parts, all that is necessary to be done is to hollow the
shanks, bend the bow, and proceed to harden and finish by grinding,
polishing, bending, and setting. Strings or rods of iron and steel with
the steel in the centre as a central layer, or strings having the steel all
on one side will require careful manipulation to keep the steel in its
right position, so that whilst rightly placed or situated on the blade it
may also be rightly placed to form shears with a steel bow. Pieces cut
off from such strings or rods will require twisting half a turn near each
end before being submitted to the forging process. The parts requiring
to be twisted are such parts or those immediately adjoining as are
intended to form the connection or junction of shank and blade when
the said blanks are finally shaped.
my
In order to assist the understanding of this fourth part of Inven-
tion I have appended Drawings in illustration thereof. Such Drawings
are distinguished by numbers and letters of reference corresponding
with those herein used.
No. 4 A represents in plan a blank for a pair of wool shears forged
and shaped out of a piece cut from off a square string or rod of steel.
No. 4B represents a side view of such forged blank.
No. 4 C represents in plan a view of a blank forged and shaped out of
a piece cut from off a square string of iron and steel combined, having
the steel in the centre as a central layer with a covering layer of iron
or other tough metal on each side.
No. 4 D represents a side view of such blank.
No. 4 E represents a piece cut from off a flat string or rod of steel or
of any suitable or available combination of steel with iron, or steel with
steel.
.
No. 4F represents such piece as crinked or bent at the sides
preparatory to the rolling or forging process.

page_text: No. 4 G represents in plan such blank fully shaped and ready for
the subsequent operations of bending up the edge of the blade, hollowing
the shanks, &c.
No. 4 H represents a side view of such blank shewing the desired
inequalities of thickness.
Parts of the improvements specified in the first and third part of this
my said Invention are applicable to the manufacture of axes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be or may be
performed, I declare that what I consider new and original, and there- ]
fore claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent are,
First. The making of these wool and other shears used in cutting
rags, grass, and the coats of animals out of strips, lengths, or strings of
combined metals having the steel for the cutting parts or edges forming
one side or edge entirely with the soft or foundation metal, the other
or out of sheets, strips, lengths, or strings having the steel for the
cutting edges in the centre as a central layer with a covering layer of
tough and supporting metal on each side, or the reverse of this, and the
bending forward of the heel of the blade in forming the blank instead of
wholly paring such blanks to shape and the thickening of the back.
(instead of turning it over) to strengthen it as has been herein-before
described in the first part of my said Invention, and illustrated by the
Drawings annexed.
Secondly. The making of these wool and other shears in two or three
separate parts, substantially as set forth and described in the second
part of my said Invention and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Thirdly. The making of these wool and other shears altogether out of
sheets, strips, lengths, or strings of good iron or semi-steel, substantially
as described in the third part of my said Invention.
Fourthly. The manufacture of these wool and other shears used in
cutting rags, grass, and the coats of animals altogether out of strings
of steel, or combinations of steel, and by an improved method, that is,
bending forward the heel of the blades, rolling the blanks to give them
the needed inequalitics of width and thickness, and by forging the
blanks to the required shape, substantially as set forth and described in

page_text: what I have termed or herein-before specified as the fourth part of my
said Invention and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Melton Marsden, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-two.
HENRY MELTON MARSDEN. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the above-named Henry
Melton Marsden, in the
presence of
•
BENJAMIN RP. GOTCH,
Clerk to Mr. Cox,
116, Chancery Lane, London.