CERTAIN IMPROVEMENIS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING, WRINGING. MANGLING, AND CHURNING
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bradford, of Cathedral Steps, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, and 63, Fleet Street, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Washing Machine Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENIS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING,
WRINGING. MANGLING, AND CHURNING."
Sealed the 19th July 1864, and dated the 25th January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bradford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
January 1864.
I, THOMAS BRADFORD, of Cathedral Steps, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, and 63, Fleet Street, London, in the County of Middlesex, Washing
Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING, WRINGING
MANGLING, AND CHURNING," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist; first, in the use of a vessel, chamber, or receptacle
to contain the articles to be washed, which may be made of any convenient
form, and caused to rotate (or semi-rotate) on centres mounted in a suitable
framing. In the interior of such chamber I employ an inclined plane (or
planes), or a fluted board (or boards), or midfeather placed at an angle imme-
diately above (on the upper side of) the lid or opening of the vessel, and in
such a manner as to cause the clothes or articles and the water to become
collected by the said board, and carried up thereby until at a certain point of
Brice 17

page_text: revolution they become thrown or shot down again to the lowest part of the
vessel, so as to produce a kneading or water expelling and rubbing action.
The inclined surface of the board or midfeather being placed above the open-
ing causes the water to "flush off" and pass the opening, thereby avoiding
the usual leakage.
Secondly, the improvements consist in admitting air to and from the
chamber by the use of a hollow shaft instead of a solid one as hitherto used,
whereby the valve usually employed is dispensed with.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to further improvements upon apparatus for
which Letters Patent have been previously granted to me, dated September 1,
1857, No. 2290, wherein an oscillating or semi-rotating motion was used, and
consists in obtaining such motion by ordinary gearing, and the use of a
bending or elastic connecting rod, whereby the peculiar action against the
buffer springs (now obtained by hand) may be effected. I also cover the
corrugated or knuckled roller employed in such machines with rings of india-
rubber or elastic material, to imitate more closely the effect of the human
hand.
Fourthly, the Invention relates to that description of wringing or mangling
machines wherein two or three rollers are used, and consists in covering the
wooden pressure rollers with a metallic cylinder (or in segments), and finally
covering such cylinder with india-rubber or other material of suitable density,
the middle roller (when three are used), upon which the clothes are usually
folded, being made so as to be removed at will.
A further improvement relates to improvements upon apparatus for which
Letters Patent were granted to me, dated Nov. 12, 1862, No. 3047, and con-
sists in substituting a moveable wood, glass, or metallic roller for the upper
india-rubber roller as therein employed.
Fifthly, the Invention consists in a novel method of obtaining the reverse
motion, and driving the ordinary "long box mangle," which is very simply
effected by means of three spur wheels, the centre one of which is upon the
driving or strap shaft which swivels, so that when the box has travelled
sufficiently far the centre pinion is transferred from one side to the other pinion
and so the reverse motion is effected.
Sixthly, the Invention relates to apparatus for churning, which is simila
to that employed for washing as first aforesaid, with the exception that one o
more recessed, bent, or "lipped" boards are used to act as buckets to raise the
milk and dash it down again, the air being admitted as to the washing vessel

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Bradford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. I, THOMAS
BRADFORD, of Cathedral Steps, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and
63, Fleet Street, London, in the County of Middlesex, Washing Machine Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Bradford, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
Bradford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Bradford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING, WRINGING, MANGLING,
AND CHURNING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Bradford, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Bradford, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My improvements consist, first, in the use of a vessel, chamber, or receptacle
to contain the article to be washed, which may be made of any convenient
form, and caused to rotate (or semi-rotate) on centres mounted in a suitable
framing. In the interior of such chamber I employ an inclined plane (or
planes), or a fluted board (or boards), or midfeather placed at an angle imme-
diately above (on the upper side of) the lid or opening of the vessel, and in
such a manner as to cause the clothes or articles and the water to become
collected by the said board, and carried up thereby until at a certain point of

page_text: revolution they become thrown or shot down again to the lowest part of the
vessel, so as to produce a kneading or water expelling and rubbing action.
The inclined surface of the board or midfeather being placed above the open-
ing causes the water to "flush off" and pass the opening, thereby avoiding
the usual leakage.
Secondly, the improvements consist in admitting air to and from the
chamber by the use of a hollow shaft instead of a solid one as hitherto used,
whereby the valve usually employed is dispensed with.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to further improvements upon apparatus for
whch Letters Patent have been previously granted to me, dated September 1,
1857, wherein an oscillating or semi-rotating motion was used, and
consists in obtaining such motion by ordinary gearing, and the use of
bending or elastic connecting rod, whereby the peculiar action against the
buffer springs (now obtained by hand) may be effected. I also
cover the corrugated or knuckled roller employed in such machines
with rings of india-rubber or clastic material, to imitate more closely
the effect of the human hand.
Fourthly, the Invention relates to that description of wringing or mangling
machines wherein two or three rollers are used, and consists in covering the
wooden pressure rollers, containing a central metallic shaft, with a metallic
cylinder (or in segments), and finally covering such cylinder with india-rubber
or other material of suitable density, the middle roller (when three are used),
upon which the clothes are usually folded, being made so as to be removed
at will.
A further improvement relates to improvements upon apparatus for which
Letters Patent were granted to me, dated November 12, 1862, and consists in
substituting a moveable wood, glass, or metallic roller for the upper india-
rubber roller as before employed.
Fifthly, the Invention consists in a novel method of obtaining a reverse
motion, and driving the ordinary "long box mangle," which is very simply
effected by means of three spur wheels, the centre one of which is upon the
driving or strap shaft which swivels, so that when the box has travelled
sufficiently far the centre pinion is transferred from one side to the other pinion,
and so the reverse motion is effected.
Sixthly, the Invention relates to apparatus for churning, which is similar
to that employed for washing as first aforesaid, with the exception that one or
more recessed, bent, or "lipped" boards are used to act as buckets in the
revolution of the chamber to raise the milk and dash it down again, the air
being admitted as to the washing vessel.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in

page_text: detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of
about three inches to the foot, similar letters of reference being marked upon
corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 represents an end view of the improved apparatus for washing
articles of clothing, &c.; Fig. 2 is an end sectional view of the chamber or
receptacle, shewing the angle board by which the articles are collected, and by
means of which they are precipitated against the side of the chamber as it
rotates; Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine; Fig. 4 represents an end
sectional view of the improved churn, in which two angle boards or plates are
used, as shewn; Fig. 5 shews the portion of the framing jointed for the
removal or alteration of the rollers; Fig. 6 exhibits an end view of a hinged
"drip board" arranged to fall down when required; and Fig. 7 shews the
knuckled or corrugated roller, the apex of each ridge being surmounted or
encircled by a ring of india-rubber to soften concussion and imitate the rubbing
action of the hand against the ribs in the chamber, the said corrugated roller
being enclosed with the clothes therein.
In the Figures a, a, is the framing of the machine; b, b, the chamber
containing the angle plate c, the chamber being caused to rotate by the
handle d, a counterbalance weight being applied to assist in the turning; the
chamber b is retained in position to be filled or emptied by the bar e, fitting
into the recesses in the quadrant f. The aperture through which the chamber
is supplied is closed by a cover g, secured by a T or L head bolt and a wing
nut, as shewn, and the angle plate in the position shewn assists in preventing
the escape of liquid contained in the chamber, as well as having the effect of
precipitating the clothes or other articles from side to side against the ribs h, h.
The chamber is supported in the framing upon centres, as shewn, and driven
by toothed gearing; by preference the first pinion should be attached as a
plate to the end of the chamber and work inside the framing, whereby great
steadiness is obtained. The ventilation of the chamber is effected by openings
in the journal centres and in the churn; the ventilating apertures are formed
in the lid and through the midfeather or angle boards, the lid of the churn
being secured by means of the lance wood spring i.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim,-
First, the application and use of a plain or fluted board or angle plate, as
described, by which the clothes and water are collected at each revolution and
thrown in the manner aforesaid.

page_text: Secondly, the general arrangement and construction of the machines used
either in combination or separately.
Thirdly, the arrangement of framework by which one or more rollers can
be conveniently changed for wringing or mangling, and also the method of
building up or constructing rollers with an outer coating of india-rubber or
other suitable material.
Fourthly, the employment and use of the angle board or midfeather in a
chamber for churning, by which the milk is partially collected, and then
thrown with concussive force against the sides for the separation of the curd
from the whey, and also the mode of securing the lid or cover.
Fifthly, I claim the covering of a corrugated or other suitably shaped roller
with rings or tubes of india-rubber, as herein-before described, set forth, and
fully illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bradford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
THOMAS BRADFORD. (L.S.)