IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GOLD AND OTHER ORNAMENTAL CHAINS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hollands, of Clerkenwell Green, Edward
Richard Hollands, of King Square, St. Luke's, and Thomas Hollands,
of Baker Street, Pentonville, all in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GOLD AND OTHER
ORNAMENTAL CHAINS."
Sealed the 11th May 1866, and dated the 30th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hollands, Edward
Richard Hollands, and Thomas Hollands at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 30th November
1865.
We, JOHN HOLLANDS, of Clerkenwell Green, EDWARD RICHARD
HOLLANDS, of King's Square, St. Luke's and THOMAS HOLLANDS, of
Baker Street, Pentonville, all in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Inventon for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF GOLD AND OTHER ORNAMENTAL CHAINS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
gold and other ornamental chains, and refers more especially to chains
similar to what is known to gold chain makers as the "Brazilian" chain,
in which chain in its finished form the joints or articulations appear as rings
or circles, usually undulating, passing around the chain and dividing up the
metal also into a series of complete rings or short cylinders, which are as

page_text: it were placed the one on or beyond the other to form the length of the
chain. These chains have heretofore been made by forming first a skeleton
chain of fine wire rings linked the one into the other, somewhat in the
nature of a curb chain, and these rings are then soldered together so as to
make them solid in circles passing around the chain, but leaving the chain
articulated and flexible in the direction of its length. Now according to
our Invention we make such chains or chains of a similar external
appearance without soldering, the chain being formed by laying the annular
links which appear in the finished chains the one on the other, and con-
necting them together solely by means of internal catches. Thus it will
be seen that whereas heretofore the annular links or short cylinders have
been formed on a skeleton chain previously made, we form the said links
separately and afterwards put them together into a chain; and this we do
without solder by pressure in tools as follows:-We first punch out of a
plate a blank of circular or other form, and we raise its edges at right angles
and also perforate it around the centre with three or other convenient
number of holes; the link in this state (if circular) somewhat resembles in
form a wheel with spokes and tyre. To this link an undulating form is
also given by pressure at a separate operation or otherwise, in order both to
facilitate the forming of the chain, as will presently be seen, and also in order
that the chain may more nearly resemble the hand-made chain. In order
to lock these annular links together we employ other links which do not
appear on the surface of the chain; they consist each of three or other
number of arms corresponding with the number of holes in the first-
described wheel links; these arms radiate from a common centre, and their
outer ends are formed with enlargements or heads. These links, to prepare
them for use, are dished or bent so that the arms at their outer ends
become nearly parallel the one to the other.
The links being thus pre-
pared, one of the wheel links is laid on the entrance of a conical hole which
is too small to allow it to pass through freely; then another similar link is
laid upon it, and an inner link is taken and its arms are passed through the
holes in the two superposed wheel links; a punch or plunger then
descends on to the upper wheel link, and forces the lower one down into
the conical hole so far as to reduce considerably its external size; in this
operation the link yields principally by the deepening of the undulations
before given to it. The pressure thus applied to the exterior of the link
also contracts the holes through which the arms of the inner link are
passed, and the heads on the ends of these arms being no longer able to
pass through the holes the two wheel links become locked together; a

page_text: third wheel link is then put on over the second, and then the arms of
another inner link are passed through the holes in the second and third
wheel links, and they, as before, are securely fastened together by the action
of the punch or plunger, and so the work goes on till a chain of the
desired length is made, the chain passing out complete at the lower end of
the conical hole. Other means of applying the pressure to close the wheel
links may be resorted to. In place of using a separate internal link in
chains of large size, the connecting arms may be formed of the metal dis-
placed in perforating the wheel links.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Hollands, Edward Richard Hollands, and
Thomas Hollands in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th May
1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
HOLLANDS, of Clerkenwell Green, EDWARD RICHARD HOLLANDS, of King
Square, St. Luke's and THOMAS HOLLANDS, of Baker Street, Pentonville,
all in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said John Hollands, Edward Richard Hollands, and Thomas
Hollands, Her special licence that we, the said John Hollands, Edward
Richard Hollands, and Thomas Hollands, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Hollands, Edward
Richard Hollands, and Thomas Hollands, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GOLD AND OTHER ORNAMENTAL CHAINS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said John Hollands, Edward Richard Hollands, and Thomas
Hollands, 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 particularly describe and ascertain the nature of

page_text: 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 we, the said John Hollands and Edward
Richard Hollands, on behalf of ourselves and the said Thomas Hollands,
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:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
gold and other ornamental chains, and refers more especially to chains
similar to what is known to gold chain makers as the "Brazilian" chain,
in which chain in its finished form the joints or articulations appear as rings
or circles, usually undulating, passing around the chain and dividing up the
metal also into a series of complete rings or short cylinders, which are as
it were placed the one on or beyond the other to form the length of
the chain. These chains have heretofore 'been made by forming first a
skeleton chain of fine wire rings linked the one into the other, somewhat
in the nature of a curb chain, and these rings are then soldered together
so as to make them solid in circles passing around the chain, but leaving
the chain articulated and flexible in the direction of its length. Now
according to our Invention we make such chains or chains of a similar
external appearance without soldering, the chain being formed by laying
the annular links which appear in the finished chains the one on the other,
and connecting them together solely by means of internal catches. Thus
it will be seen that whereas heretofore the annular links or short cylinders
have been formed on a skeleton chain previously made, we form the said
links separately and afterwards put them together into a chain; and this
we do without solder by pressure in tools as follows:-We first punch out
of a plate a blank of circular or other form, and we raise its edges at
right angles and also perforate it around the centre with three or other
convenient number of holes; the link in this state (if circular) some-
what resembles in form a wheel with spokes and tyre. To this link
an undulating form is also given by pressure at a separate operation or
otherwise, in order both to facilitate the forming of the chain, as will
the chain may more nearly
presently be seen, and also in order that
resemble the hand-made chain. In order to lock these annular links
together we employ other links which do not appear on the surface of the
chain; they consist each of three or other number of arms corresponding

page_text: with the number of holes in the first-described wheel links; these arms
radiate from a common centre, and their outer ends are formed with
enlargements or heads. These links, to prepare them for use, are dished or
bent so that the arms at their outer ends become nearly parallel the one
to the other. The links being thus prepared, one of the wheel links is
laid on the entrance of a conical hole which is too small to allow it to pass
through freely; then another similar link is laid upon it and an inner link
is taken and its arms are passed through the holes in the two superposed
wheel links; a punch or plunger then descends on to the upper wheel link,
and forces the lower one down into the conical hole so far as to reduce
considerably its external size; in this operation the link yields principally
by the deepening of the undulations before given to it. The pressure thus
applied to the exterior of the link also contracts the holes through which
the arms of the inner link are passed, and the heads on the ends of these
arms being no longer able to pass through the holes, the two wheel links
become locked together; a third wheel link is then put on over the second,
and then the arms of another inner link are passed through the holes in
the second and third wheel links, and they, as before, are securely fastened
together by the action of the punch or plunger, and so the work goes on
till a chain of the desired length is made, the chain passing out complete
at the lower end of the conical hole. Other means of applying the
pressure to close the wheel links may be resorted to.
The annexed Drawings show the tools or dies which we prefer to
employ. Figures show the upper and lower tools employed for the
purpose of dishing or raising the blank. a is the upper tool, shown in side
view, and b the lower, shown in section and in plan; c is the blank
as it is brought to the tools, and d a section of the same blank.
after it has been acted on by them. Figures 2 are the tools which are
next employed to perforate the partly formed outer link d; e is the upper
tool with three projecting teeth, it is shewn in side view, and f is the lower
tool, shown in side view and in plan, it has holes through it to receive the
teeth of the upper tool. The link d is fitted over the end of the tool e,
which then descends on to the lower tool or bed f, and perforates the link
and leaves it as it is shown in plan at g. Figures 3 show the tools next
employed to undulate the link. The upper tool, which is shown in side
view, is compound or made in two parts h and i, of which the latter fits
over the former, the inner part h is made with points to enter the perfo-
rations in the link, and the link is fitted on the points; the tool / then
descends and carries down the link into the holder k, which is a plate

page_text: (shewn in section in the Drawing) with a perforation through it corre
sponding in size with the exterior of the link; the outer tool i, which is
corrugated at its lower edge, then descends and gives the corrugated
form to the link, squeezing it against the lower tool 7, which is shown in side
view and in plan, and has corresponding corrugations upon it, and perfo
rations to receive the points of the tool h. This being done the tool his
first drawn back and then the tool i rises, leaving the link in the holding
plate k, which during the corrugating operation has served to prevent the
spreading of the link; m is a side view of the link as it leaves these tools.
The tools h and i may be worked in any convenient manner; as but little
power required, the most simple is to joint them at their upper ends
to hand levers. The interior link of the chain is cut out by means of the
tools shown at Figures 4; n is the upper and o the lower tool, the first is
shown in side view, the latter in plan; the tool n is rounded at the outer
ends of its arms at the points n¹³, n', so as slightly to turn up or bend
inwards the corresponding parts of the link in the act of cutting it out, as
is shown at p, which is an end view of one of the arms. Figures 5 show
the tools employed for bending the inner link to form; g, the upper tool, is
merely a conical plunger, of which a side view, is shown, and r, the lower
tool, shown in section, has a perforation through it corresponding in
diameter with the upper tool; it has a recess at the top for the flat link cut
out by the tools, Figures 4, to fit into; into this recess the link is placed,
and the upper tool is brought down upon it and forces it through the lower
tool; there are grooves in the lower tool at r¹, r, for the arms to pass down,
so that their ends which were rounded in the cutting out may not be flat-
tened; the plunger q may conveniently be worked by a hand lever. Figures 6
show the tools employed in putting the chain together; s is the upper tool,
shown in side view, and t, the lower tool, shown in section. The outer link
is brought to these tools in the holding plate k, in which it was left by the
tools, Figures 3, and it is laid truly on the tool t, but the plate and link
are turned over so as to bring the perforated bottom of the link uppermost;
the tools is then brought down lightly, so as to push the link out of the
plate k into the mouth of the tool t, which, as will be seen, is made parallel
for the depth of two links; the plate k is then removed, and in this way, in
commencing to make a chain, two links are placed in the tool t, then one of
the inner links is placed in by hand so that its ends project downwards
through the perforations of the two links; this being done the upper tool
s is brought down with more force, so as to push the lower link into the
contracted part of the tool t a distance just equal to the length of one

page_text: link; another outer link is then brought in its holder plate k and pushed as
fore into the mouth of the tool t; another inner link is introduced, so that
its ends project through the perforations of the last two outer links put
into the tool t; the tool s again descends with force down to a fixed stop
with which it is provided, pushing the chain down the length of a link,
and so the work goes on the links being driven down progressively
through the contracted part of the tool t, and so the perforations in the
outer link are closed in around the arms or extremities of the inner links.
The tools, Figures 1, 2, 4, and 6, are conveniently worked by a small ordi-
nary screw or fly press. In place of making the outer links with three
perforations and the inner links with three arms, four or other number of
perforations and arms may be employed. Figures 7 show a plan and side
view, partly in section, of a chain made with four perforations and arms.
In making chains of base metal the several operations above described may
be performed without annealing the metal, but with gold it is better to
anneal the links after they have been raised. The taper of the tool t also
is adapted for base metal chains, but for some descriptions of gold it will be
too great, as the metal will be found to crack with qualities of gold which
are difficult to work, in this way the taper of the tool t may be reduced
until it is but just sufficient to put the chain together, and the chain so put
together may be annealed, and then further reduced by means of swaging
tools, as is well understood.
Octagonal and other forms of chains may be
made in the manner above described. In place of using a separate internal
link in chains of large size, the connecting arms may be formed of the
metal displaced in perforating the wheel, links, or otherwise; the catches
may be made in one piece with the outer or wheel links.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Hollands and Edward Richard
Hollands, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-six.
JOHN HOLLANDS.
(L.S.)
EDWARD RICHARD HOLLANDS. (L.S.)