AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MANU- FACTURING CARTRIDGES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hawker, of Fishbourne, in the Parish of
Binstead, in the Isle of Wight, in the County of Southampton,. Salt
Manufacturer, and Thomas Parry Hawker, Dispenser of Medicine, War
Prison, Plymouth, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MANU-
FACTURING CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 30th May 1856, and dated the 6th December 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hawker and
Thomas Parry Hawker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 6th December 1855.
We, CHARLES HAWKER, of Fishbourne, in the Parish of Binstead, in the
Isle of Wight, in the County of Southampton, Salt Manufacturer, and THOMAS-
PARRY HAWKER, Dispenser of Medicine, War Prison, Plymouth, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MANU--
FACTURING CARTRIDGES " to be as follows:-
Instead of making the case in which the powder is contained of paper; as is
usual, we make it of gutta percha sheeting. We cut gutta percha sheeting

page_text: into pieces of the requisite size for the cases to form the cartridges. We place
one of these picces round the cartridge "former" (which is exactly of the
same kind as that in ordinary use), and we then expose the joint, where the
two edges of the piece of sheeting meet, to the heat of a heated metal pipe,
or to other sufficient heat, to soften the edges, which we then rub over till they
stick together, and so form a cylindrical gutta percha case. We then draw
one end thereof about half an inch off the "former," and place it over a
heated pipe (or expose it to other sufficient heat) to soften it, and it is then
easily stuck together with the fingers, so as to close the end, pressing such end
at the same time into the hole at the end of the "former," to form the cavity
for the reception of the bullet. In wrapping the gutta percha sheeting round
the "former," the grain of the gutta percha should run transversely to the
axis of the former, that is, it should be concentric with the cylindrical surface.
The charge of powder is then put into the case, and the other end of the case
is then closed, in the same manner as with the first end, by exposing it to heat,
and pressing the edges together with the fingers. The bullet is then put into
the cavity at one end of the case, and then we wrap round the ball or other
projectile, and about two-thirds up the length of the gutta percha case, an
'outer case of book muslin (or other substance of a similar texture), the edges
of which we gum or glue together, and then we cover the whole to within
about half an inch of the end of the case, opposite to the end where the bullet
is, with thin paper.
In loading, the cartridge should be held between the thumb and finger, just
above where the powder is 'nipping the gutta percha tight, and then the teeth
should meet close to where the thumb.and finger grip the cartridge, and with
a sharp pull (not a jirk) the end of the gutta percha will come off very easily;
then the powder is poured into the barrel, and the cartridge is inverted, and
the ball being placed in the muzzle of the piece, the gutta percha case should
be broken off and cast away. No part of the gutta percha should be allowed
to drop into the barrel. The object and effect of the gutta perchia is to
produce a waterproof cartridge.
E
The casing of book. muslin we use, in order, if the cartridge is exposed to
damp, so as to saturate the outer casing of paper, to prevent the -ball from
dropping out of its cavity.
If a Minie, or other, not spherically shaped ball, is used, the form of the
cavity in the end of the "former" will regulate the form of the cavity in the
end of the gutta percha case; our Invention consisting not in the "former,"
or in anything relating to the form of the "cartridge," but in the use and
:

page_text: application of gutta percha to manufacture a waterproof cartridge, and in the
method of attaching the ball as we have described, so as to prevent its being
detached and dropping out if the cartridge gets wet.