Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Certain Composite Thimbles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Certain Composite
Thimbles.
I, CHARLES EDWARD ILES, of Highgate Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Thimble Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates in the one part, to arming or providing thimbles made
of celluloid, xylonite, gutta-percha, or other substance which admit of being
moulded when in a plastic state and are penetrable by a needle when in use,
with a metallic defence or shield; and in the second part, to the manufacture
of celluloid, xylonite or like thimbles, and principally those which are to be
armed, either exteriorly or interiorly, with a metallic defence.
In carrying out one form of the first part of my invention, I make the body
part of the thimble from celluloid, xylonite, horn, ebonite, or the like by mould-
ing the same to the desired shape, whilst in a soft or plastic state, by means of
suitable moulds and dies and I propose to provide the metallic defence, for the
purpose of preventing needle penetration, by electro-deposition. This is effected,
after the moulded body part has set and shrunk, by coating so much of the
external surface thereof as is to be metal armed, with a surfacing of plumbago
blacklead or like metallic substance, applied by a brush or the like, and then
innersing the thimble in a suitable electrolyte for depositing upon the sides
and ends thereof, a sufficient quantity of copper, silver or other metal to form an
efficient resist against needle penetration. The grating of the thimble may be
performed either when the body part is in a plastic condition and depositing the
metal onto the grated surface, or the body may be left plain and then both the
deposited arming and the celluloid body part grated together. The thimble
may be finished and the rough edges of the deposited metal removed by creasing
grooving or wheeling the article at the junction of the unprotected part of the
thimble with the metal. Or the metallic arming may be more securely attached,
in case of the celluloid shrinking, by indentation.
As a modification, the celluloid surface may be armed by an electro-deposited
coating over which a celluloid or other non-metallic cap is secured, so that the
deposited resist is enclosed between two thicknesses of celluloid.
In carrying out the present invention as applied to the manufacture of cellu-
loid bodies, I take a short length cut off from a stick of celluloid and when
brought to a soft state, by heating such as in an oven of a temperature of about
240 to 270 degrees Fahrenheit I place the same in a detachable or removable
metallic mould or shell of the same inside contour as the outside shape of the
thimble to be formed. This mould is made to socket or fit within a she die.
whilst a he die or plunger, of an outside shape corresponding to the inside of
the thimble body to be made is caused to descend into the mould and impinge
the lump of soft celluloid which rises up the sides and above the top edge of
the said mould and around the plunger. On the ascent of the plunger the opera-
tive removes the shell and shaped celluloid together from the bottom die and

page_text: immerses them in water, when the solidification and sudden shrinkage of the
celluloid relieves or detaches it from the mould. The mouth edges of the shaped
blanks which are in a
"
green state are then trimmed in a lathe or otherwise,
after which they are passed to the drying racks in a drying room, each rack
having a series of holes in which the thimble blanks are hung and after being
kept for some days in this room at a temperature of about 100 degrees, they take
their first shrinkage. They may be then heated in a stove to about 150 to 170
degrees Fahrenheit to effect a further srrinking and to bring them down to
dimensions beyond which no further shrinkage is possible.
This done, the blanks are trued to a given size, in so far as relates to the upper
outside part, to receive the metallic defence or cap, which is grated or roughened
before being placed on, and is then affixed by edge knurling, creasing, indenta-
tion or claw locks The armed thimbles are then placed on a lathe and the base
portion trued if necessary flush with the arming, the lipped edge may be shaped,
after which the thimble is ready for polishing, which is the last process.
Dated this 12th day of January 1899.
CHARLES EDWARD ILES,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Certain Composite
Thimbles.
I, CHARLES EDWARD ILES, of Highgate Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Thimble Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates in the one part, to arming or providing thimbles made
of celluloid, xylonite, gutta-percha or other substance which admit of being
moulded when in a plastic state and are penetrable by a needle when in use,
with a metallic defence or shield; and in the second part, to the manufacture
of celluloid, xylonite or like thimbles, and principally those which are to be
armed, either exteriorly or interiorly, with a metallic defence.
In carrying out one form of the first part of my invention, I make the body
part of the thimble from celluloid, xylonite, horn, ebonite or the like by mould-
ing the same to the desired shape, whilst in a soft or plastic state, by means of
suitable moulds or dies and propose to provide the metallic defence, for the
purpose of preventing needle penetration, by electro-deposition. This is effected,
after the moulded body part has been set and shrunk, by coating so much of the
external surface thereof as is to be metal armed, with a surfacing of plumbago
blacklead or like metallic substance, applied by a brush or the like, and then
immersing the thimble in a suitable electrolyte for depositing upon the sides
and end thereof a sufficient quantity of copper, silver or other metal to form an
efficient resist against needle penetration. The grating of the thimble may be
performed either when the body part is in a plastic condition and depositing the
metal onto the grated surface, or the body may be left plain and then both the
deposited arming and the celluloid body part grated together. The thimble
may be finished and the rough edges of the deposited metal removed by creasing,
grooving wheeling the article at the junction of the unprotected part of the
thimble with the metal. Or the metallic arming may be more securely attached,
in case of the celluloid shrinking, by indentation.
As a modification, the celluloid surface may be armed by an electro-deposited

page_text: coating over which a celluloid or other non-metallic cap is secured, so that the
deposited resist is enclosed between two thicknesses of celluloid.
In carrying out the present invention as applied to the manufacture of cellu-
loid bodies, I take a short length cut off from a stick of celluloid and when
brought to a soft state by heating such as in an oven of a temperature of about
240 to 270 degrees Fahrenheit I place the same in a detachable or removable
metallic mould or shell of the same inside contour as the outside shape of the
thimble to be formed. This mould, (which, with the he and she dies are repre-
sented in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings and are hereinafter fully
described) is made to socket or fit within a she die, whilst a he die or plunger
of an outside shape corresponding to the inside of the thimble body to be inade
is caused to descend into the mould and impinge the lump of soft celluloid which
rises up the sides and above the top edge of the said mould and around the
plunger. On the ascent of the plunger the operative removes the shell and
shaped celluloid together from the bottom die and immerses them in water, when
the solidification and sudden shrinkage of the celluloid relieves or detaches it
from the mould. The mouth edges of the shaped blanks which are in a "green
state are then trimmed in a lathe or otherwise, after which they are passed to
the drying racks in a drying room, each rack having a series of holes in which the
tumbler blanks are hung and after being kept for some days in this room at a
temperature of about 100 degrees, they take their first shrinkage. They may be
then heated in a stove to about 150 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit to effect a fur-
ther shrinking and to bring them down to dimensions beyond which no further
shrinkage is possible.
"
This done, the blanks are trued to a given size, in so far as relates to the upper
outside part, to receive the metallic defence or cap, which is grated or roughened
before being placed on, and is then affixed by edge knurling, creasing, indenta-
tion or claw locks. The armed thimbles are then placed on a lathe and the base
portion trued if necessary flush with the arming, the lipped edge may be shaped,
after which the thimble is ready for polishing, which is the last process.
Referring to the drawings of the mould and shaping tools employed in this
improved process of forming celluloid thimbles, Figure I represents a sectional
view of the he-die a, the she-die and the loose mould c separated from one
another.
Figure 2 shows the mould placed within the correspondingly-formed matrix
of the she-die, with a lump of soft celluloid d, to be fashioned lying within the
bottom of the said mould whilst the he-die is shown in the act of descending.
Figure 3 shows the he-die or plunger on the completion of its descending move-
ment, with the shaped celluloid between it and the mould.
Figure 4 represents the he-die again raised and the loose mould containing
the shaped celluloid, separated from the she-die prior to them being immersed
in water to shrink and harden the celluloid and permit of it being removed from
the mould without distortion.
Figure 5 is a separate view of the he-die or plunger separately, showing how
the acting part a', is made readily detachable from the screwed shank a by a
peg a³ on the one part taking into a socket at in the other, such construction is
desirable from the fact that the celluloid is liable to adhere to the shaping end
of the he-die, which-in such a case carries both the celluloid thimble body
and the loose mould by which it was shaped upwards with it on the return
movement, and by making the acting part detachable as described, the whole
can be removed and placed in water to shrink the celluloid away from the die
and mould.
A number of such he dies may be fitted to a single carrier or descending top
plate, whilst a corresponding series of she-dies (with their loose moulds) may be
formed in a fixed bottom plate, whereby a number of lumps of celluloid or the
like may be simultaneously fashioned and the manufacture of the thimbles
expediated.

page_text: 6
Figure represents an elevation of a rough fashioned thimble body shaped by
such tools as above described, and Figure 7 shows a section thereof, after the
edges have been trimmed, whilst Figure 8 represents a section of the said body
after having been reduced in thickness to receive the metallic defence or anti-
penetration shield.
Figure 9 represents a section of the thimble, with the outer metallic defence d,
applied to the celluloid body e, and Figure 10 is an elevation thereof, but with
the defence to the body by creasing or otherwise.
Figure 11 represents a section of another form of thimble body f, which
may be produced in my improved tools.
This body, after being properly dried and shrunk, may be reduced in thick-
ness at f, as shown in Figure 12, to receive a metallic cap or defence d, as
represented in elevation in Figure 13.
When a metal defence is used inside a celluloid body part, the metal shell
may be placed and closed between inner and outer celluloid shells whilst the
latter are still in a soft state.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
:
First In composite sewing thimbles, providing or forming a shrunk cellu-
loid body part with a metallic defence against needle-penetration by electro-
deposition with the deposited metal being finished by subsequently grating or
knurling the same and if necessary-further secured by creasing, indenting or
otherwise, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly: In the manufacture of celluloid thimbles, or the celluloid body
or foundation parts of composite thimbles; the employment in conjunction with
he and she shaping dies or tools, of a detachable or removable metallic mould
or shell, of an inside shape corresponding to the figure of the thimble to be
formed and externally shaped to fit into the matrix of the she die, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described and set forth.
Thirdly: In the manufacture of celluloid thimbles, or the celluloid body parts
of composite thimbles, the employment in combination with a she die and a
detachable or removable metallic mould, of a he-die or tool having a detachable
acting tip or nose, which admits of being readily removed should the plastic
celluloid adhere to and be drawn up with it, substantially as described and set
forth.
Fourthly: The herein described improved processes of preparing, hardening
and shrinking celluloid thimble blanks, or shells, prior to the fitting thereof of
metallic defences, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 11th day of October 1899.
CHARLES EDWARD ILES,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.