IMPROVEMENT IN MAKING AND CONSTRUCTING GLOBES FOR ASTRONOMICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL, OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1830

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
Pocock, of Bristol, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth
did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Fourth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and thirty, in the eleventh year of His reign, give and grant unto
me, the said George Pocock, His especial licence that I, the said George
Pocock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the
said George Pocock, my executors, administrators, and 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 England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENT IN MAKING AND CONSTRUCTING GLOBES
FOR ASTRONOMICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL, OR OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said. Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said George Pocock, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within two calendar months next and immediately after the-
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,"
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said:
George Pocock, do liereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and:

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, is described and ascertained,
as follows (that is to say):-
The great inconvenience that is experienced by the want of portability in
globes used for illustrating the sciences of geography and astronomy has pre-
vented many persons from having them in their apartments, because when they
are not in use they are incapable, from the nature of their construction, of
being packed up so as in any way to reduce them in point of size. But the
globes I have invented are constructed of paper, fine linen, silk, or any suitable
flexible substance or material, which, being cut or formed into properly shaped
gores, may be inflated with air after they are pasted or united together, in
which state, they may be sufficiently distended to assume a globular form, and
be fit to explain the various useful problems usually taught by the assistance
of terrestial and celestial globes of the ordinary construction. Globes of this
description may also be distended by the application of ribs united and acting
in a similar way to those used in umbrellas, and in either case the air can be
pressed out, and the flexible materials of which they are constructed may be
folded up, and in that state they will be so portable that a globe four feet
diameter may be very conveniently placed within the crown-of an ordinary hat,
the weight of a single globe being not more than four ounces. The flexible
materials of which these globes are constructed.may be printed either from
copper plates; wooden blocks, or lithographic stone, but each gore must have.
margin at least, one quarter of an inch broad, which is necessary to paste them
together, the gores being made to overlap each other that quantity when pasted
together: This mode of uniting them serves to strengthen the whole globe,
the parts that 'overlap forming so many meridional bands of support when the
globe is inflated or distended. Each globe which is to be distended by inflation
has an orifice of about seven inches diameter at the south pole, which is pasted
round a 'light wooden hoop. This hoop serves to hold it by when it is to be
inflated: It also forms a kind of stand for the globe to rest upon; when it is
placed upon a carpet or table the hoop projecting enables the carpet to act as
a valve, and prevent the escape of the air. As the mode of uniting the gores
together requires some care, I shall now explain the method I-adopt, and also
the kind of frame which I use to facilitate that object.
s
a
Figure 1 in the Drawing represents a front elevation of a wooden hoop
about: four inches broad. It is retained in a semicircular form by spokes,
which are made fast to it, and also the nave in the centre. The nave is made
fast to a strong stem or pillar, the bottom of which is fixed to a cross frame-or
stand.: "The outer surface of the hoop is covered smoothly with woolen cloth
that the pasted portions of the gores may be smoothed and pressed by a hot

page_text: 'iron. The diameter of this hoop should correspond with the diameter of the
globe that is to be pasted upon it.
..!
Figure 2 represents a plan or bird's-eye view of Figure One. The gores may
be joined or united in the following manner: The margin on one side of the
first gore must be cut off close to the line of meridian, and the margin that
.extends beyond the meridian of the adjoining gore must be pasted and laişl
very smoothly on the hoop or frame, and then the part of the gore that has
had the margin cut off. must be laid upon it, taking great care that the
.meridian line on each gore may be so placed that the upper one may exactly
.cover the lower one, and also that those countries, rivers, or parts that are cut
by the séparation of the gores may be made to coincide, and the various lines
made to meet in the most perfect manner. This being done, the pasted parts
must be smoothed and dried with a hot iron, and each succeeding gore being
joined by the same means, the whole will form a map, which, being inflated,
will assume a globular form so extensive as to admit the insertion of many
particulars necessarily omitted on globes of the ordinary constructions and
-dimensions. It may be necessary to observe, that in forming the last joint the
joining or seam that forms the antipodes to the last joint made must; be laid
upon the hoop or frame, and the last joining must be effected immediately
over it, the ironing and every other operation being the samo at the
north pole. A circular cap of twenty degrees diameter is: pasted on the
globe, upon which is printed the mariner's compass; the signs of the
zodiac, the months of the year, and the hour dial. Immediately under, and
concentric with this cap, three pieces of tape, about one foot long, placed within
the globe, the ends for about two inclies long being pasted thereto, crossing
each other in such a manner as to form side. radial bands, .which will corre
spond, and must be fastened by pasting to six of the meridinal joinings of the
gores; the centre of these radial tapes is placed exactly under the centre of
the north pole, and in the exterior point a small ivory knob or stud is fixed by
being sewed to the centre' of the tapes which serves as a north-polar point, and
also as a, handle to lift the globe, by when it is to be inflated; and as it is
necessary to work many of the problems on these globes with a flexible scale,
the ivory knob or stud serves as a fixed projecting point to suspend or attach
one end of. a flexible scale to, there being a loop formed on one end of the
scale for that, purpose.. A plan of the tapes and ivory knob will be seen.at
Figure 3. The last operation is that of finishing the 'orifice of the lower part
or south pole.of the globe. This is done by pasting the edge of the orifice or
opening of the paper gores to a light thin hoop of cane, about one fourth of an
inch diameter,. the loop being about seven inches diameter; after the edge of

page_text: .
the paper or any other flexible material is fixed to the hoop by paste, a strip of
thin cotton or linen is pasted over the hoop, and a portion extending.beyond
the hoop about an inch and a half broad is notched or vandycked, and this
'being pasted on the outside of the globe around the orifice serves to strengthen
it at the part where it is united to the hoop. A' section of the hoop and a
.fragment of the globe may be seen at a, A, a, in the upper part of Fig. 4.
Several methods may be adopted for inflating globes of this description;, the
most simple is that of laying hold of the hoop with one hand, and by moving
it rather quickly in an horizontal direction the air will rush in at the orifice,
and spread open the folds, the globe retaining a fresh quantity. at each effort,
and when it is about a quarter filled by this means, the hoop of the orifice
must be placed on a carpet or. any woollen cloth laid smoothly on the floor,
and then the ivory knob.must be laid hold of, and the case must be lifted
about eighteen inches or two feet-from the floor, and then let fall rather
suddenly, (the ivory knob being firmly held between. the fingers during the
whole time the inflation is being.completed; when it will be found that by. this
sort of pumping motion the globe will be completely inflated. When. these
globes are not wanted for use the air may be pressed out, and they may be
folded first in plaits in the direction of the meridian lines, forming a number of
double leaves, and when laid smoothly in that manner, they may be doubled.or
folded up, so as to occupy no larger surface than the hoop. A second mode
of inflation is by a simple air-condensing pump or box, which may be seen in
Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 4 represents a vertical section of a simple air-condensing pump
or box. B, B, represents the principle chamber, having an opening for the
admission of air at C. D is an upright guiding rod fixed to the two cross
bars b, b, these bars being made fast to the sides of the box B. c represents
the socket of the piston E, which fits and moves upon the guiding rod D.
F, F, are two wings or clacks of a butterfly valve, which open and admit air to
pass through them. when the piston descends, but when it ascends they close,
and enable the piston to condense and force up. air into the globe, as will be
shewn hereafter.
.:
Figure 6 represents a plan or bird's-eye view of .a small circular butterfly
valve, which may be placed in the cover of the air-condensing pump in the place
and position shewn by dotted lines at e, e.. And if the hoop. of the globe is
pressed upon the outer ring seen at d, d, upon which it should be made to fit air-
tight, the globe may very soon be inflated by working the piston E, which may
be done by using the hand-pull seen at G. Should a greater elevation of the
globe at any time be necessary, the tin tube, or hollow pillar H, must be fixed

page_text: in the manner seen in Figure 4, and the valve plate or frame e, e, that closes.
the orifice, must be placed on the top of the tube H, as shewn in this Figure;
and when the globe is inflated the globe, pillar, and stand may be removed to..
any convenient place to work any problem, or explain its various uses.
Figure 7, f, represents a vertical section of a small tin tube; the lower end is:
made to enter a hole in the wooden rod g (the lower part of which is broken off)
where it is made fast by binding the end of the rod with waxed thread or twine.¸
h represents a small wire stem, which is placed within the tube h, and works up
and down freely within it. Upon the upper end is formed a button, which is made..
to enter a córresponding eylet hole made in a piece of tape fastened immediately.
under the north pole or point of the globe, there being another piece of tape or.
linen-fixed immediately above it, and against which the broad or upper surface of
the button forms a bearing. This apparatus is used to steady the globe when it is..
inflated by the air-condensing pump. The mode of applying it is as follows:-
When the globe is to be inflated, the buttonhole fixed under the north polar-
point is to be brought down to the orifice, and the button upon. the end of the
wire stem h is to be placed in the eyelet hole, and then the bottom end of the
wooden rod is forced very tightly into a hole made for it in the centre of the..
circular valve, and in that state the hoop at the orifice being pressed closely on..
the ring of the valve, the globe may be inflated, and when the north polar
point is elevated the-wire stem h will slide. up, the tin tube still keeping the.
whole steady, and preventing it from inclining either way from the perpen-..'
dicular. Another mode of distending these globes is by the means of ribs, in..
a very similar manner to that adopted in umbrellas. The ribs may be made..
of cane, whalebone, or any suitable elastic material or substance that will be...
sufficiently, light and strong. enough for the purpose. The method of con-,
structing the ribs and combining them is as follows:―
Figure 8 represents a brass plate, having a deep groove. made on the edge,..
in the same manner as the rib plate of an umbrella. There are twelve notches
or recesses made at equal distances round the circumference for the upper.
ends of the ribs to move in, a wire being passed through the whole, and laying.
in the groove formed on the edge. Two such plates are used, one at the..
south pole and one at the north. The lower or south-pole rib plate has.
a. metal tube, seven inches long, fixed to it, as seen in Figure 9 at i.. In
the upper part of this tube a taper wooden rod k is firmly fixed, being-
made to enter it about three inches. This rod is about three feet six.
inches long, and at its upper end a metal screw is fixed; which is made-
to pass through a hole in the centre of the north-pole rib plate far enough to.
have an ivory or metal knob screwed upon it, in the manner to be described.

page_text: Hereafter. The upper or north-pole rib plate has a similar tube m fixed to it,
but it is two feet four inches long. This tube slides over the wooden rod k
when the ribs are expanded to distend the globe. The ribs are formed of light:
thin whalebone, cane, or any otlier flexible material, each end being formed
into a loop, through which a wire passes to bind them to the rib plate, the-end
boing bent so as to form a loop, is secured by waxed thread. One of these is:
shewn-broken off from the rib at Figure 10.
Figure 9, n, represents a brass semicircle, each quadrant being divided into
ninety degrees. The bar o attached thereto has a brass stem, four inches long,"
proceeding from its centre; which enters the lower part of the tube i, and upon.
this stem the globe may be turned round as upon a pivot. The brass are n is.
supported on a centre, fixed on the upper part of the metal circle p, and by:
this means the axis of the globe may be placed at any angle, and retained in:
that position by a clamping screw attached to the bar supporting the circle p,"
in the centre of which circle is placed the mariners' compass. The whole is
fixed on the pillar of the stand I. When flexible globes of this description are
distended by ribs, each joining or seam of the gores must have three loops
of tape pasted' to them, one exactly in the centre on the equator, and the others
about half way between that and the north and south poles. These loops must>>
be attached before the last seam is completed; and when the last seam or
joint is finished, the loops that are to be attached to it must be done by.
bringing the parts down to the orifice- where they must be added. The ribs
must then be combined to the south-pole rib plate at one end, and the other ends
must be passed up through the loops; and, when that is done, they must be
combined with the north-pole rib plate, by passing a wire through the whole,
which will lay in the groove of the rib plate. Care must also be taken that:
the wooden spindle or rod" be made to enter the metal tube m, fixed to the.
north-pole rib plate; and when it is once in its place it will remain there
without any arrangement. If the north-pole rib plate be now pressed upon,
tlie upper tin or metal tube will slide down the wooden rod or 'spindle, and
the ribs will be expanded, which will distend the globe; and as the screwed.
end of the rod or spindle will protrude above the north-pole rib plate, the ivory.
of metal knob may be screwed on it; which will retain it in the distended state:
similar to Figure 11. The printed cap, containing the signs of the zodiac, the'.
hour circle, &c. before named; must be joined to the globe by pasting, which 3
will complete the operation at the north pole. At the south pole an orifice is
left, about seven inches diameter; which is strengthened at the edge by a fine:
endless cord, over which the edges of the paper are pasted. A metal circle or
loop, eight inches diameter and about one inch and a half broad, having a.

page_text: bar fixed' across the centre, with a hole in it, is placed upon the brass stem of
the divided are n. A section of this may be seen at q, q, and a plan of the.
same in Figure 11. This circle has a covering of paper, pasted or cemented
to it, upon which is printed the signs of the zodiac, &c., the same as are given'
on the cap of the north pole.
J
I now proceed to describe a flexible scale made of tape, having paper pasted
the whole length upon it on one side: The length is exactly six feet, corre.
sponding to half the circumference of a globe of twelve feet circumference. It'
is divided into two equal parts; is part divided into ninety degrees north and
south from the equator: These degrees are marked on the left-hand edge of the
scale, and is a substitute for the brazen-meridian of ordinary globes. On the
right-hand edge of the scale are marked one hundred and eighty degrees con-
tinuously, beginning from the north end of the scale. Under every degree is
placed the number of miles. This part of the scale is a substitute for the
usual quadrant of altitudes, by which great dispatch is obtained in the
measurement of distances. On the opposite side of the tape is.an anȧlemima,*
printed on paper in a similar manner to the scale described. A small portion
of this scale, the real size, shewing the eyelet hole that is placed on the ivory
knob at the north polar point, is shewn in Figure 12.
My next object is to explain the method I adopt to make globes of this
description revolving transparencies; and when illuminated by a light placed
within them they serve the useful purpose of a lamp, and at the same time; by:
presenting the various heavenly bodies or divisions of the earth alternately to
view, will have the effect of impressing these subjects upon the minds of young*.
persons, effecting thereby two valuable purposes at the same time, namely,
instruction and illumination, affording a pleasant-medium light.
Figure 18 represents the ribs of a revolving globe, united at the upper end
to a rib plate, as before described, the lower ends of the ribs being attached to:
a hoop or ring of cane, upon which they move. A plan of the hoop is seen at
Figure 14, with portions of the ribs attached; and a similar view of the rib
plate and portions of ribs united is shewn in Figure 8.
->
: 5
Figure 15, is a small metal cone, having three brass wires fixed to it, as
seen at 8, 8, s, the lower parts being broken off. The lower ends of these are
hooked at equal distances to the hoop, Figure 14. On the upper end of tho
cone a piece of metal extends, which has a hole. made. through it to attach a
string or piece of fine wire to, in order that it may be drawn up and enter a
Irole formed in the centre of the rib plate; and when in that state a small pin
is' passed through the hole, which retains it stationary, and the ribs then assumē:
the extended form shewn in Figure 16. An elevation of the cone, and portions:

page_text: of three-wires, shewing the position of the cone when attached to the rib
plate, is shewn on a scale the real size of the objects in Figure 8..
.
Figure 17 represents an iron stem or spindle fixed in a stand. The upper
end of this is pointed to enter the cone, acting as a pivot for the globe to
revolve upon; the bent portion in the spindle is made to contain a lamp, which
hangs upon a hook attached to the upper part of the curve. The upper part
of the globes have an orifice about, seven inches diameter, upon which is placed.
concentrically the pasteboard hoop, Figure 18, of the same diameter, and just,
within this is laid the vane,. Figure 19. When.the.globe is suspended upon the
stem, Figure 17, and the lamp lighted and hung on the hook, of the spindle,
Figure; 17, the rarefied current of air, will strike the vane, and cause the globe.
to revolve as long as the lamp continues to burn.. The flexible materials used.
for the celestial globes of this description are furnished with four plain eye!
glasses inserted in the southern hemisphere at the lower part. These glasses:
are circular, and about inch and half. diameter; for the insertion of these, holes
are cut in the globe something smaller than the glasses, and then the glasses;
are pasted on the margin of the holes, and over them a circular piece of the
same materials as the globe is laid of two inches diameter, having a hole in,
the middle of one inch diameter.. These glasses may be used plain, or they:
may be made of glass stained of an orange colour, which will have the effect
of giving a very, luminous appearance. The ground of these globes or space.
between the stars is coloured of a deep blue; the stars being white, will be.
transparent. If the eye of the spectator be applied to either glass the heavenly.
bodies will be exposed to view in their natural and relative situations. Any of
these globes (that is to say), either terestial or celestial, may be made of any a
required dimensions, provided the proportions be kept the same as herein given.
And I shall also observe, that the paper most suitable for making these kind of
globes with is that manufactured of a new Irish linen, great strength being a
very essential quality. And I hereby further declare that my Invention.
consists of,
.
I
Firstly, in the application of ribs as above described, for the purpose of.
distending flexible globes; which being combined and applied in the way
have described, will.distend at pleasure globes of this kind, and render them
fit to work the ordinary problems upon, and when not in use they may be:
collapsed so as to occupy a very small space, in which state they will be found.
very portable.
Secondly, I claim as. my Invention the application of a flexible scale when
applied to these kind of globes, which scale will be found a substitute for the
brazen meridian, and also the quadrant of altitude by the use of which the

page_text: measurement of distances and other problems will be greatly facilitated, when
it is applied to globes of this description.
Thirdly, I claim the peculiar method as above described of making globes
of this description revolve, by the application of which, in the way described,
they may be illuminated, and serve the useful purpose of a lamp, and by pre-
senting the various objects printed or delineated upon them, they will assist in
impressing them upon the memory at the same time that they afford a soft
and pleasing light.
Fourthly, I claim the application of a divided semicircle and mariners' com-
pass when combined with flexible globes of this description, by the use of
which the axis of the globes may be placed at various angles with the horizon,
the compass serving the same purpose as in globes of the ordinary construction;
and I also claim the application of a circle, upon which is represented the signs
of the zodiac, months of the year, and hour circle, which being placed round
the orifice of the south pole, the solution of various problems may be thereby
obtained:
In witness whereof, I, the said George Pocock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Third day of April in the year of our Lord One
Inrolled the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and thirty.