A NEW OR IMPROVED PICK-HEADED SHELTER TRENCH SPADE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nesbit Willoughby Wallace, Major of H.M. King's Royal
Rifles, for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED PICK-HEADED SHELTER
TRENCH SPADE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nesbit Willoughby Wallace
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1882.
NESBIT WILLOUGHBY WALLACE, Major of H.M. Kings Royal Rifles. "A NEW
OR IMPROVED PICKHEADED SHELTER TRENCH SPADE."
This invention relates to a new or improved pickheaded shelter trench spade.
According to my invention the extremity of the handle of the spade is provided
with a pick which I prefer to construct and fix to the handle as follows:-To the
extremity of the handle a wooden cross-head is attached in any suitable manner
but preferably by a tongue on the handle passing into a mortice in the crosshead
and secured by a pin. The cross-head is fixed in the same line of direction as the
width of the blade and forms a strong backing to the steel points with which it is
tipped, and also acts as a buffen to resist the jars caused by repeated blows. The
said steel points with which the crosshead is tipped are pointed or shaped as
desired and are a continuation or part of a steel sheeting which partially covers
said cross-head and which sheeting is in two parts and is about one eighth of an
inch in thickness. The sheeting from each steel point passes over the top of the
cross-head to a little past the centre thereof and underneath the cross-head to the
shank or handle where it bends and follows the bandle down for some distance.
The two ends of the sheeting where they overlap at the top are secured by a screw
and where they terminate on the handle by a ring. Two or more rivets also pass
through the cross-head and sheeting to give additional hold. Just above the blade
of spade a steel projection is formed on the back. This is to guard the knuckles
of the worker when stooping down to work near the ground. The top of the
blade is turned over so as to make a flange on each side of the handle for the foot
of the worker (to enable him to exert more strength on the spade) and is roughed
to prevent the foot slipping off. The spade may also be used as a weapon at close
quarters and in such case the steel projection on the back will enable the tool to
be whealded and the blade to clear the wrist and hand and to enable the tool to be
thus firmly grasped, the flanges alluded to are slightly turned in so as not to cut
the hand.
The blade is formed nearly straight at its edge so as to make a straight cut and
is bellied towards its rear end or top so as to hold as much soil as possible without
its slipping off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nesbit Willoughby Wallace in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th July 1882.
NESBIT WILLOUGHBY WALLACE Major of H.M. Kings Royal Rifles.
OR IMPROVED PICK-HEADED SHELTER TRENCH SPADE."
"A NEW
This Invention relates to a new or improved pick-headed shelter trench blade.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe same with the aid of the accompanying
drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
According to my invention the extremity of the handle A of the spade is provided
with a pick-head B which I construct and fix to the handle as follows:-The
handle and interior part of the cross or pickhead are made of the most durable
wood and attached to one another by tenon and mortise (as shewn in the drawing)
and sometimes also additionally by a cross pin of hard wood C. The cross head
and upper part of the handle are partially covered with and are bound strongly
together by a steel armour or casing D which also forms the working points of the
pickhead. The details of the method of fixing and binding up this armour may
vary slightly and several such variations are shewn in the drawings. but the
principle is the same throughout. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the outer
extremity of a spade handle shewing the cross head and steel armour attached. In
this form as will be seen the armour is put on in two pieces butting evenly
together at the top and passing underneath the crosshead to the shank or handle A
where it bends and follows the handle down for some distance. The butt joint of
the two halves of the armour D (at the top of the crosshead) is stiffened and com-
pleted by a small metal plate d' underneath tightened up by screws as shewn.
Two rivets E pass through the armour and the cross-head, and one through the
shank A. and the two ends of the armour. The two extremities of the armour
where they terminate on the handle of the spade are additionally secured by a
metal ring F shrunk on and if necessary additionally secured by rivets screws or
otherwise. The rivets and screws of this and the other modifications shewn may
have any desired form of head and be countersunk or not as found most desirable.
Where countersunk and filed off I prefer that the underside of the head be of
curved rather than of conical form as should the rivet or screw start a little and
have to be refiled a stronger head is maintained when thus of curved form under-
neath. Fig. 2 is an elevation on a smaller scale of a similar construction to that
described at Fig. 1. The object of so building up the head of combined wood and
metal is to combine the necessary weight, strength, and elasticity, for the work for
which the tool is designed. In the form shewn at Fig. 3 the inner plate d¹ is more
extended so as to be perforated and held by the rivets E two more additional of
which are employed as shewn in place of screws as in the first form. In Fig. 4 a
similar form of shield is employed but with another modification. A small metal
plate G is securely attached to the top of the tenon and into this takes a metal
screw from the top, the head of which is afterwards filed off. In the form shewn
at Fig. 5 two screws take diagonally into the tenon one screw (preferably) being
longer than and passing the other. Either of the screws (as desired) may thus
pass the other. In Fig. 6 the but ends of the armour are attached to the inner
plate d' by rivets the riveting being effected through the mortise. Experience has
caused me to prefer the forms illustrated at Figs. 5 and 6. Figs. 3 to 6 are
sectional elevations on the centre line.
The blade H of the tool is constructed and rivited to the handle as shewn. Just
above the blade at the rear a projection h is formed as shewn. This is to guard

page_text: -
the knuckles of the worker when the hand is near the ground as scooping up
material. The top of the blade is curved over as seen at h¹. This makes a flange
on each side of the handle for the foot of the worker. These are by preference
roughed and to prevent slipping. The blade is by preference nearly straight on its
cutting edge so as to cut with a straight line but is more bellied near its rear end
to enable as much material as possible to be raised by it at one time. The tool
may also be used as a weapon of defence & attack. In such case it is grasped
with the projection in the palm of the hand. This enables the tool to clear the
wrist and hand when whealded to strike. The flanges at the top of the blade are
slightly curled in so as not to cut the hand at such a time. The tool is also made
of a given length thus enabling it to be used as a measure. The points on
extremities of the pick-head may be of any form most desirable. Fig. 7 is a side
elevation of the spade and Fig. 8 a vertical sectional elevation on the centre line.
As a modification of the form illustrated at Fig. 6 I may supersede the but joint
by uniting the two halves of the armour casing D by welding or otherwise. By a
slight modification in form this implement is well adapted as a surveying tool.
This form is illustrated at Figs. 9 and 10, Fig. 9 being a side elevation and
Fig. 10 a front elevation. The blade is made flat and of steel and has one side
(whichever most convenient) cut and sharpened to form a bill hook. This part of
the blade may if desired, be thickened to allow of the sharpening. The other edge
of the blade is marked of with a graduated scale arranged so as to shew a definite
measurement from the top of the pick-head say three links. The blade is extended
beyond this scale to allow for wear. It is found convenient that the ends of the
pick-head should take the form one of a pick and the other of a hammer head.
The implement may also be used with advantage for household gardening and
other general purposes.
I do not confine myself to the precise details hereinbefore described but I claim
as my invention to be secured by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent
the new or improved pick-headed shelter trench spade substantially as hereinbefore
set forth and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Nesbit Willoughby Wallace have hereunto set
my hand and seal this eighteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
NESBIT WILLOUGHBY WALLACE. (L.S.)
Major Kings Royal Rifles.