IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHES
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HAWKINS, of 3, Inverness Terrace, Bishop's Road, Bayswater, in the County
of Middlesex, Oilman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of
March, in the fourteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Hawkins, my exors,
adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Thomas Hawkins, my exors, admors, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said Thomas Hawkins, my exors, admors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, also within the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey,
Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHES;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Thomas Hawkins, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Hawkins, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by this present instrument in writing as follows, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto attached, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to various arrangements or contrivances adapted
for the more effectual securing of the bristles and handles of brushes of all
kinds, whereby I effect greater durability and economy than is attainable by
the ordinary modes of manufacturing articles of the kind.
Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings is a side elevation of a painter's brush
complete, as manufactured according to one modification of my improvements;
Figure 2 is a partial vertical section of the same corresponding; Figure 3 is
a vertical section of the conical metal socket for attaching the bristles to the
handle, together with the metal cap employed to cover the ends of the
bristles; Figure 4 is a vertical section of the conical ferule or socket for
holding the ends of the bristles; and Figure 5 is a plan of the ferule and
socket corresponding.
The metal ferule A is made conical, and the bristles intended to form
the brush having their ends or roots first cemented in the usual manner,
or first coated with a solution of gutta percha and afterwards with cement,
are passed through at the wide end of the ferule points first and drawn
down through the narrow end, leaving the thick ends of the bristles as
delineated in Figure 2. By this conical form of the ferule the bristles may
be most effectually tightened and secured in one mass by simply drawing them
more or less through the narrow end of the ferule. When the bunch of
bristles has been drawn through sufficiently far, a flat metal cap B is soldered
on to the open wide end of the ferule, and upon this cap is soldered or other-
wise attached by its wide end a conical socket C, holding the wide lower end
of the handle D. The handle is first put, point first, through from the wide
end of the socket, when the latter is attached to the ferule, as before described,
the conical form of the socket and handle, together with the side rivets E,
effectually preventing the separation of the handle. When any space is left
inside the ferule between the cemented ends of the bristles and the cap B, it
is filled up with cork parings, as represented at F, thus preventing any back
movement of the bristles in the ferule without adding to the weight of the
brush. In brushes constructed according to this plan the ends of the bristles
may be drawn down into their conical ferule, so as to leave no more than half
an inch of their length covered by the ferule, this length of bearing being

page_text: quite sufficient to hold them firmly. In this way I effect a very considerable
saving in the length of the bristles as compared with the common mode of
making brushes, wherein a much greater length is taken up for the purpose
of lapping the ends. It will also be obvious to the practical man that
brushes so made will be much more durable than those manufactured in the
ordinary way, as the bristles may be worn quite down to the stump or ferule
end, and still preserve a good face by reason of there being always a compact
mass of bristle to the last. This is destroyed in the common brush by the
protruding through of the thick end of the handle. My improved form of
brush is also much better adapted for hot climates than the common brush,
as the heat will not loosen the bristles from their hold in the conical ferule.
Figure 1 of my Drawings is an elevation of another form of my improved
brushes partly finished, and with a portion of the upper end of the handle
broken away; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the same; and Figure 3*
is a side elevation of a double slip of metal employed for insertion into the
centre of the bristles to retain the handle in its place.
In this arrangement the thick end of the handle D is inserted in the centre
of the bristles as in the common mode of manufacture, but it is secured in its
place by the double slip of metal G. This piece of metal is placed in its flat
state diametrically across the bundle of bristles, and a metal ferule H is then
secured round their ends, fitting into the slots I in the metal slip G. The
handle G is now attached by inserting its pointed thin end up through the
pointed ends of the bristles, and passing it through the centre of the slip of metal
G, the two sides of which it expands, gradually opening them to the form repre-
sented in Figure 3. When the handle is drawn far enough through, it produces
a powerful internal wedge compression upon the bristles by a forcible expansion
of the piece G, squeezing the bristles against the interior of the ring or ferule
H, so as to hold them firmly: As an additional security, pins are driven
through the ferule and into the handle to bind the whole together. The
brush is finally completed by the attachment of the conical ferule A, delineated
in Figure 1, and either with or without the metal cap B, the socket G being
dispensed with, as the handle is fully secured without it. Instead of one
ferule H, two or more may be used, the metal slip G being slotted cor-
respondingly to receive them, and the bristles may be lapped with wire or
other suitable material.
By another modification I insert the projecting sides of the slip G into the
external conical ferule, securing them by soldering or brazing. Figure 6 is
an elevation of a portion of the lower thick end of a brush handle, representing
another mode of securing the handle to the bristles; and Figuro 7 is a

page_text: corresponding view of the same detail, at right angles to Figure 6. In this
modification the thick butt end of the handle has a narrow slit formed
diametrically across it. Into this slit is inserted and driven tightly up it the
folded edge of a doubled piece of thin metal G, sufficiently wide to allow of the
two projecting end pieces H to be bent down on each side of the handle, into
which they may be secured by pins. The two open edges G projecting from
the face of the slit are then bent square down upon the butt end of the handle,
and secured to the under side of a cap, similar to B in Figure 1. This cap is
fitted in between the butt end of the handle and the upper side of the bent
plate G, thus forming a secure junction, and preventing the handle from being
driven through the bristles by a fall.
In Figure 6 I have represented a plan of an annular brush socket with its
cap removed, shewing my improved mode of attaching the outside or facing
bristles to painters' and other brushes; and Figure 7 is an elevation of the
socket, with its cap and portion of the handle attached. This is accomplished
by inserting the facing bristles in the annular metal socket J. The body of
the brush with its handle attached, as delineated in Figure 1º, is then intro-
duced into the central opening of the ring, when the whole is cemented and
capped by the metal cap K to complete the brush. Figure 8 is a side
elevation of a colorer's brush complete, and Figure 9 is a corresponding
partial vertical transverse section of the same. Figure 10 is an enlarged side
elevation of the flat expanded lower end of the handle detached; Figure 11 is
a vertical section of the metal ferule by which the bristles are secured; and
Figure 12 is a corresponding plan of the ferulc. The sides of the metal
férule A are in this instance parallel, as sufficient hold is given by it to the
bristles by means of the rounded shoulder or rim B, formed by folding up a
piece of wire in the usual manner. After the insertion of the bristles in the
ferule the sides of the latter are squeezed together in a vice, so as to give the
bristles a powerful compression at the part B, as represented in Figure 9,
when they may be cemented as described in reference to Figures 1.and 2.
The handle C is then attached to the ferule, and for this purpose it has
a shallow groove D formed round the part entering the upper side of the
ferule. When the handle is inserted the upper shoulder or projecting rim E
is squeezed. into this groove all round the handle, which is thus firmly held and
prevented from being either pushed through the ferule or drawn out. The
ferule may also be further secured to the handle by screws F, and the
shoulders embracing the bristles may be held together if requisite by rivets G,
running through from side to side. Figure 13 is a side elevation of a carpet
brush, as an example of the application of the last described plan of con-

page_text: struction to brushes of this class. The ferule A has a bottom rim B to clasp
the bristles, and its upper edge is screwed to the handle C; the rim E entering
a groove in the handle, as herein before described. The bristles are in this
instance delineated as put in in four sections or divisions, but it will be
obvious to the practical man that they may be secured in one bundle, as in
Figures 8 and 9.
Figure 8 is a partial vertical transverse section of a brush of a similar
class, the handle being broken away; and Figure 9° is a corresponding plan
of the ferule, both views shewing another modification of my plan for securing
the bristles. The two sides H which are turned back up the sides of the
handle, and the portion I which holds the bristles, are formed of two pieces
of metal joined together. The bristles are first entered into the space I
where they are cemented, and are further secured by a set of rivets or clasps
passing through them, and rivetted on each side of the ferule. During this
operation the sides H are kept in the position indicated by the dotted lines H,
they are then bent up and secured to the sides of the handle J by pins.
The projecting ends K are now bent round the two edges of the handle, and
are finally fixed by soldering or brazing. To give a further hold to the side
pieces II on the handle a shoulder or rim may be formed upon them for
compression into grooves in the handle, as before described. Carpet brooms
may also be made in a similar manner. Figure 10ª is a side elevation of the
bristles of a brush detached from the handle, shewing another mode of
securing the bristles of carpet brooms or other flat brushes. In this modifi-
cation a flat piece of metal or wood L is introduced into the centre of the root
ends of the bristles, which may be either lapped with wire as herein repre-
sented, or held by a ferule, an opening being made through the centre of the
piece L, so as not to interfere with the lapping. In this condition the brush
is then inserted into any suitable ferule, constructed as herein-before
described, and the handle secured in accordance therewith.
Figure 14 is a partial vertical section of a small brush with the handle broken
away, shewing my improvements applied to brushes for painting sash bars.. The
bristles being first lapped are inserted in the conical ferule M, in the manner
herein-before described in reference to Figure 1. A second conical ferule N is
then placed on the thick butt end of the handle O, and secured by a rivet
passing through transversely. The bristles are now cemented, and the under
rims of the two conical ferrules M, N, are soldered or brazed together, forming
a compact and serviceable brush. By another modification the second ferrule
N may be dispensed with, the bristles being drawn lower down in the lower
cone N, and the handle attached in the upper part of the same ferule. In

page_text: such case the end of the handle is shaped to fit the ferule accurately, and
rivets are put into it to make a firm joint.
Figure 15 is a transverse vertical section of a flat brush of another form
of construction. The ends of the bristles are secured in the small ferule P,
having a rim or shoulder formed on its lower edge by cement and transverse
rivets. An outer ferule Q is then placed over the smaller one, to which
it is soldered or brazed by its lower edge. This outer ferule has also a rim
R to be compressed into a groove in the flat butt of the handle S. A slip of
folded metal is in this case inserted into the handle, as herein-before described
in reference to Figures 6 and 7 of my Drawings, the bent portions H in such
Figures being in this latter modification doubled back and soldered or brazed
to the outer ferule Q.
Although I have herein described my improvements as applied to only four
varieties of brushes, it will be evident to the practical man that the same
principle may be extended to all classes of brushes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principle or main feature of my Invention; but 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,-
First, the general arrangements and forms of construction of brushes, as
herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of the conical metal ferules A in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described, in reference to Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on my Sheet of Drawings.
Third, the system or mode of securing or attaching the handles of brushes,
as herein-before described, in reference to Figures 6 and 7 of my Drawings.
Fourth, the system or mode of securing brush handles by the use of grooves
and projecting rims or edges, as herein-before described, in reference to
Figures 8, 9, and 10 of my Drawings.
Fifth, the system or mode of constructing brushes with duplex coned
ferules, as delineated in Figure 4 of my Drawings.
Sixth, the application and use of a central slip of metal or other suitable
material G for compressing and holding the bristles in the interior of an
embracing ring or ferule H, as herein-before delineated in Figures 1º, 2º, and
3° of my Drawings.

page_text: Seventh, the system or mode of constructing brushes by means of ferules,
with side attaching pieces H, as delineated in Figures 8 and 9 of my
Drawings.
Eighth, the system or mode of constructing brushes by the insertion of a
central piece L, as delineated in Figure 10° of my Drawings.
Ninth, the application and use of the cap B and the conical socket C in
the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Tenth, the system or mode of securing or attaching the outside or facing
bristles by means of an annular socket.
Eleventh, the system or mode of preventing the backward movement of the
bristles in their ferule by filling in the space between the bristle ends and the
ferule cap with any suitable solid material.
Twelfth, the application and use of metal or other ferules having projecting
shoulders or rims for the purpose herein-before described.
Thirteenth, the application and use of a solution of gutta percha or
caoutchouc, or of compositions thereof, as a cement for securing the bristles of
brushes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hawkins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.