IMPROVEMENTS IN THE * MANUFACTURE OF SPOONS, FORKS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Davis, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
* MANUFACTURE OF SPOONS, FORKS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES." - A communi-
cation from abroad by Florian Grosjean, of the County and State of New
York, North America.
Sealed the 28th January 1868, and dated the 29th August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Davis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
August 1862.
I, JOHN DAVIS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF SPOONS, FORKS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES," a communication
from abroad by Florian Grosjean, of the County and State of New York,
North America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of spoons, forks, and similar
articles when the same are stamped out of single pieces of sheet metal, and
consists in giving to the handles thereof a central corrugation, and a bead
around such corrugation for the purpose of imparting strength to the narrow
and weak part of the handles, whilst at the same time the hand obtains a
better grasp, and the appearance of the article is improved. In the manu-

page_text: facture of spoons the aforesaid corrugation and bead are to be carried into
the bowls thereof. The corrugation and bead are formed by suitable dies
when the articles are being constructed by the processes well known in the
manufacture of such articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DAVIS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Davis, Her special license that I, the said John Davis,
ny executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Davis, my executors, administrators, or 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 SPOONS, FORKS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Florian Grosjean, of the County and State of New
York, North America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Davis, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Davis, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention relates to the manufacture of spoons, forks, and similar
articles when the same are stamped out of single pieces of sheet metal, and

page_text: consists in giving the handles thereof a central corrugation, and a bead arround
such corrugation for the purpose of imparting strength to the narrow and
weak part of the handles, whilst at the same time the hand obtains a better
grasp, and the appearance of the article is improved. In the manufacture of
spoons the aforesaid corrugation and bead are to be carried into the bowls
thereof. The corrugation and bead are formed by suitable dies when the
articles are being constructed by the processes well known in the manufacture
of such articles.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I
shall refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents the blank piece of sheet
metal from which a spoon is shaped. It is formed by suitable dies into the
shape illustrated by the Figures 2 and 3, representing respectively an edge and
top view of the finished spoon. The bowle is of ordinary shape, and the small
part of the handle, say, from A to B, has a longitudinal central corrugation
formed in it, as indicated more clearly in the cross section, Figure 4, whilst
arround this corrugation, near the edges of the handle, may be formed another
smaller corrugation or bead, as indicated clearly in the same cross section and
by lines in Figure 3. This bead for good appearance may continue around
the whole edge of the spoon or fork handle, as represented, and should extend
far enough down into the bowl to insure the requisite strength where the
handle and the bowl unite. This is important, and the addition of the outer
bead extending, as shewn, down and around the central corrugation into the
bowl adds strength to that part which can hardly otherwise be attained. The
outer bead also gives a better and handsomer form to the whole spoon or fork.
It is not intended to claim the forming of mere beads or ornaments on the
surface of spoons and fork handles made of rolled or cast metal.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st, the general construction of the handles of spoons, forks, and similar
articles, as herein-before described.
2nd, the corrugating longitudinally of the handles of spoons, forks, and
similar articles made of single pieces of sheet metal, in combination-or not,

page_text: with an outer bead or corrugation, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Davis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three.