CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS FOR LOOMS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Mather and William Forshaw, of Bolton-
le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanics, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS FOR LOOMS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 14th January 1857, and dated the 24th July 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Mather and
William Forshaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 24th July 1856.
We, JOSHUA MATHER and WILLIAM FORSHAW, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the
County of Lancaster, Mechanics, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS FOR LOOMS AND APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of making the picker of any suitable metal or
material, but the former in preference, with a hollow or recess in that part
which is struck by the shuttle tip. In this hollow or recess we fix a flexible
composition, which, yielding a little to the stroke of the shuttle, prevents the
tip being turned, by which plan we diminish to a very great extent the cost
and wear and tear of the picker, because when the said spring or composition
is worn out it can be easily replaced even without taking the picker from the

page_text: loom. We also fix at the extreme end of each shuttle box a bolster, consisting
of either a flexible composition or a spiral spring, for the picker to strike
against.
The nature of our said improvements will be clearly understood by reference
to the accompanying outline Drawing, in which a and b represent the com-
position or spiral spring at the end of each shuttle box; c, the picking band;
d, the picker; and e, the spindle on which the picker works. In the bottom
view, which shews the picker drawn full size, f represents the hollow or recess
in which the composition is fixed to prevent turning the tip of the shuttle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joshua Mather and William Forshaw in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSHUA
MATHER and WILLIAM FORSHAW, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lan-
caster, Mechanics, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Joshua Mather and William Forshaw, Her special license that we, the
said Joshua Mather and William Forshaw, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Joshua Mather and William Forshaw,
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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
PICKERS FOR LOOMS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Joshua Mather and William Forshaw, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joshua Mather and William Forshaw,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:
Our Invention consists of making the picker of any suitable metal or
material (but the former in preference), with a hollow or recess in that part
which is struck by the shuttle tip. In this hollow or recess we fix a flexible
composition, which, yielding a little to the stroke of the shuttle, prevents the
tip being turned, by which plan we diminish to a very great extent the cost
and wear and tear of the pickers, because when the said flexible composition
is worn out it can be easily replaced even without taking the picker from the
loom; there is also great economy in the consumption of oil. We also place
at the extreme end of each shuttle box a bolster, consisting of either a flexible
composition or a spiral spring, for the picker to strike against. The hollow or
recess in the picker may be packed with vulcanized india-rubber, leather,
buffalo hide, wood, cork, or other suitable substances, either singly or com-
pound. It is evident the said picker can be applied to all sorts of looms,
either over or under the pick, and with or without spindles.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, with the figures and letters of reference thereon,
in which Fig. 1 is a front view of a shuttle box furnished with our improved
picker; Fig. 2 is a transverse section, and Fig. 3 a plan of the same. Fig. 4
is a front, and Fig. 5 an end view, of the picker drawn to an enlarged scale.
In Figs. 1, 2, & 3, a represents the shuttle box; b, the spindle on which
the picker works; c and d, the bolsters at each end of the shuttle box; e, the
picking band, and f the picker.
In Figs. 4 & 5, the hollow or recess for holding the material which
strikes the shuttle is shewn at g; the part h, which works in the guide at
the bottom of the shuttle, may be covered with leather or other suitable
material.
The picker band is drawn round the picker, as seen at k, being cut or
slit in the centre at one end to allow the other end to pass through, and
at any part of the picker band we attach or insert a peice of elastic
material, to allow it to expand and contract, and thereby be kept up to
its work.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of our said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, we desire it to be
distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details

page_text: herein set forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the
principle thereof; but we claim "the use of metal pickers in weaving for
striking the shuttle from one box to another, as herein described, and illustrated
in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joshua Mather and William Forshaw,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven.
JOSHUA MATHER.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM FORSHAW. (L.B.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
Joshua Mather and William Forshaw, in the
presence of
JOSHUA MATHER. (L.S.)
WILLIAM FORSHAW. (L.B.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
Joshua Mather and William Forshaw, in the
presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.