Improvements in or connected with Hydrometers Employed in the Manufacture of Cider or the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Hydrometers Employed in the
Manufacture of Cider or the like.
I, ERNEST SAMSON, of 47 Cambridge Gardens, North Kensington, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of good cider it is necessary or desirable at various stages
of the process to test the specific gravity of the contents of the vat, but frequently
cider is made without any regard to scientific principles, and in the result is
therefore uncertain in quality.
Now the object of the present invention is to obtain an instrument by the aid
of which a cider maker however unscientific may readily ascertain the quality of
the "juice or character of the brew at the various stages.
"
"
In carrying the invention into effect an ordinary hydrometer of the "Sykes'
type is employed, but in addition to the ordinary scale which indicates the specific
gravity and which is only useful to persons more or less scientific, a second scale
is employed indicating approximately, the percentage of alcohol contained in
"juice" of given specific gravity.
This scale which is marked in red is arranged at the side of the ordinary
specific gravity scale, and ranges from 3 to 12, those figures indicating approximately
the percentage of alcohol contained in the "juice."
In order that the cider maker may see at a glance the quality of the ".
"juice"
upon the other side of the specific gravity scale is arranged a third scale which
approximately indicates the same.
This scale is marked with graduations at 30 and 40 of the specific gravity scale
and between these graduations is marked the word "Weak." The next division of
the scale is at 50, and between 40 and 50 is marked the word "Fair." The next
is at 70, and between 50 and 70 is marked the word "Good." The next is at 85,
and between 70 and 85 is marked the word "Excellent." The next is at 95 and
between 85 and 95 is marked the word "Strong."
By means of this instrument a person however unscientific, may readily ascertain
with a fair amount of accuracy the quality of the "juice" and later the condition
of the cider or the like at the various stages of manufacture and can when
necessary vary the treatment thereof accordingly.
Dated this 19th day of September 1895.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents..

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Hydrometers Employed in the
Manufacture of Cider or the like.
I, ERNEST SAMSON formerly of 47 Cambridge Gardens, North Kensington but
at present residing at 15 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Chemist,
and Cider Expert, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
In the manufacture of good cider it is necessary or desirable at various stages
of the process to test the specific gravity of the contents of the vat, but frequently
cider is made without any regard to scientific principles, and in the result is
therefore uncertain in quality.
Now the object of the present invention is to obtain an instrument by the aid
of which a cider maker however unscientific may readily ascertain the quality of
the "juice" or character of the brew at the various stages.
And in order that the said invention may be clearly understood I will now
proceed to describe the same in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which
Figure 1 represents a hydrometer of the "Sykes" type having the present
invention applied thereto; and
Figure 2 represents the scale thereof opened out or extended and enlarged for
the sake of clearness.
a represents the bulb or float of the hydrometer, a¹ represents the stem thereof,
and a represents the ordinary scale which indicates the specific gravity of the
fluid being tested, and which is figured from 1000 to 1100 but according to the
present invention in addition to the ordinary scale a³, and which is only useful to
persons more or less scientific, a second scale a³ is provided which indicates
approximately the percentage of alcohol obtainable from "juice" of given specific
gravity.
This scale which in practice is coloured red is arranged at the side of the
ordinary specific gravity scale a² and rauges from 3 to 12 these figures indicating
approximately the percentage of alcohol obtainable from the "juice."
In order that the cider maker.may see at a glance the quality of the "juice" a
third scale a is provided upon the other side of the specific gravity scale a2 and
which scale a indicates in general terms to the maker the quality of the "juice."
This scale a' is marked with graduations at various points of the specific gravity
scale a and in practice the first of these graduations are arranged at 30 and 40,
that is to say 100 and 1040 of the specific gravity scale and between these
graduations is marked the word "Weak." The next division of the scale is at 50
and between 40 and 50, there is marked the word "Fair." The next division is
at 70 and between 50 and 70 is marked the word "Good." The next division is
at 85 and between 70 and 85 is marked the word "Excellent." The next division
is at 1100 and between 85 and 1100 is marked the word "Strong."
Although this arrangement of the indicating words is the best that can be at
present devised, it will be evident that it is possible to vary the position of the
graduations and consequently of the word announcements and possibly the words
themselves without departing from the spirit of the invention, as it will be obvious
that other words having a similar or suitable significance may be substituted for
those hereinbefore given.
The several scales may be marked upon a strip of paper and enclosed within
the tubular stem, or they may be engraved upon the exterior of the stem, or
otherwise applied thereto as will be found convenient.

page_text: By means of this instrument a person however unscientific may readily ascertain
with a fair amount of accuracy the quality of the "juice," and later at the various
stages of manufacture, the condition of the cider or the like, and can when necessary
vary the treatment thereof accordingly.
Although the invention is herein before shown and described in connection with
a hydrometer designed for the use of cider makers, it will be understood that it is
equally applicable to hydrometers intended for other purposes, such as the making
of perry and other wines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A hydrometer having a scale formed in several divisions, namely, one to
denote the specific gravity of the fluid, a second to denote the percentage of
alcohol obtainable from fluids of various specific gravities, and a third furnished
with divisions at various points of the specific gravity column, and with word
announcements arranged between such divisions and indicating the quality of the
fluid, or giving like information substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A hydrometer having arranged in combination with the ordinary specific
gravity scale, a scale suitably figured to denote the percentage of alcohol,
obtainable from fluid of various specific gravities substantially as herein shown
and described.
3. A hydrometer or like instrument furnished with divisions at various points
and with word announcements arranged between such divisions and indicating the
quality of the fluid or giving like information substantially as herein shown and
described.
Dated this 5th day of June 1896.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.