IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF REAPING HOOKS AND SICKLES AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ball, of the Firm of Burgon and Ball, of
Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer of Patent Sheep
Shears, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
REAPING HOOKS AND SICKLES AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREIN.
"
Scaled the 3rd April 1872, and dated the 5th October 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ball at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th October 1871.
I, JAMES BALL, of the Firm on Burgon and Ball, of Sheffield, in the
County of York, Manufacturer of Patent Sheep Shears, do hereby.
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF REAPING HOOKS AND SICKLES AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
The old manufacture of reaping hooks and sickles consisted principally
in uniting or welding together at their edges two pieces of metal, one of
which (to form the backing) was of iron, and the other (to form the

page_text: cutting edge) of steel; the combined pieces was then hammered or bent
by hand to the shape desired to form the reaping hook or sickle.
My Invention consists in manufacturing reaping hooks or sickles,
firstly, from steel alone; secondly, from steel and iron combined when
in a molten state; or thirdly, from a combination of iron and steel
welded or united together when in ingots, sheets, or other state not
molten, by means of the hammer or pressure rolls.
According to whichever of the three materials is used the process of
manufacturing the reaping hooks or sickles is the same, and is sub-
stantially as follows:-From the material used, whether in ingots or
other state, long straight strips or pieces are rolled or otherwise suitably
formed so as to be thicker at one edge than or at that part which (when
the strip is bent as herein-after described) corresponds to the backing,
and from that part gradually sloping or bevilling towards the other
edge, or that part which is to form the cutting edge of the reaping hook
or sickle.
As a modification of this, by correspondingly shaping the rolls these
bevilled strips or pieces may be rolled in sheets of strips, which it is
evident will be much more expeditious; such sheets would then be cut
longitudinally to separate the strips from the sheet forming the same.
The strips are next cut into suitable lengths in the following manner :—
It may here be remarked that in reaping hooks and sickles it is essential
that the points should be thin or tapering, for which object it is
necessary that the backing as well as the cutting edge should taper
towards that point. This object has hitherto been obtained by ham-
mering the backing, which caused a great expenditure of labor; but
according to my Invention I obviate or dispense with this by cutting the
bevilled strips or pieces into suitable lengths in a slanting or oblique
direction in such a manner that when the piece so cut off is bent as
herein-after described it shall have the desired shape and formation of
the reaping hook or sickle at all parts.
In cutting any piece or blank from the strip, the lower part thereof,
which is at the thick side or edge of the strip, forms the "tang," or that
part of the sickle which is usually fitted into a handle, so that the
instrument can be used with greater ease. Each line of cut shapes
part of two blanks at the same time; thus, supposing I commence
separating the blanks from the bottom of the strip upwards, the

page_text: cutting line which separates the first blank from the strip forms that
part thereof in which when the detached piece is bent becomes the back of
the sickle or reaping hook, and on the strip forms the front of the tang
of the next blank, and that part thereof which when it (the next piece.
or blank) is detached and bent will form the cutting edge, so that in
cutting off these pieces there will not be any waste of material.
The pieco when so cut off is ready for bending to form the reaping
hook or sickle, which is performed as follows:-In the first place, the
"tang," or the lower and thick part of each detached piece, is bent back,
and is suitably secured or held in or by a long staple or other suitable
means placed behind or above and extending the entire length of a
grooved metal block, so that the part of each piece otherwise than the
"tang" projects upwards. or outwards and immediately above or in
front of one of the grooves in the block. The contour of each groove
corresponds exactly to the desired shape of the cutting edge of the
reaping hooks or sickles, and there are different sized and shaped
grooves in each block, according to the size and shape of the reaping
hooks or sickles it is desired to manufacturo.
The projecting part of cach piece is next, either by hand or other
suitable means (such as a roll travelling over the block and driven by.
machinery), bent round and the cutting edge thereof forced into the
groove opposite, by which means each piece is made to receive the exact
form of the groove opposite it in the metal block.
The after part of the manufacture of the reaping hooks or sickles,
videlicet, the grinding and tentering the cutting edge, is carried out in a
manner similar to that hitherto in use.
Amongst other advantages to be derived from the adoption of these
improvements may be mentioned. the great saving of labor, firstly, in
welding or uniting the backing and cutting edge; secondly, in the
beating out or hammering the point; and thirdly, in the hitherto
necessary process of drawing out the "tang;" all of which operations
are dispensed with by making the reaping hooks or sickles of any of the
materials mentioned, and shaping the strips, cutting and detaching the
pieces, and bending them substantially as herein-before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Ball in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BALL, of the Firm of Burgon and Ball, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Manufacturer of Patent Sheep Shears, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Ball, Her special licence that
I, the said James Ball, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said James Ball, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
REAPING HOOKS AND SICKLES AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Ball,
my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of my 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Ball, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying ;
Sheet of Drawings :—
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of reaping
hooks and sickles and in the means or apparatus employed therein.
The old manufacture of reaping hooks and sickles consisted principally
in uniting or welding together at their edges two pieces of metal, one of
which (to form the backing) was of iron, and the other (to form the

page_text: cutting edge) of steel; the combined piece was then hammered or bent
by hand to the shape desired to be given to the reaping hook or sickle.
The present Invention will be readily understood on reference being
had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, on which Figure 1
represents a sickle in its different stages of manufacture; Figure 2, an
elevation of the "tang" bending apparatus; and Figures 3, side
elevations of the apparatus employed for giving the completed form
to the sickle.
My Invention consists in the mode hercin-after described of manu-
facturing reaping hooks or sickles from steel and iron combined when
in a molten state, or from a combination of iron and steel welded or
united together when in ingots, sheets, or other state not molten, by:
means of the hammer or pressure rolls; and I would here remark that
whatever material is used, or whether steel or other suitable metal be
used, the process or mode of manufacturing the reaping hooks or sickles
from such material is the same, and substantially as follows:-From the
material used (whether in ingots or in any other suitable state) long
straight strips or pieces 1 are rolled (by preference, but they may be
otherwise suitably formed) so as to be thickest at one edge, or at that
1 part which (when the strip is cut and bent as hercin-after described).
corresponds to the backing, and from that part gradually sloping or'
bevilling towards the other edge, or that part which is to form the
cutting edge of the reaping hook or sickle, as shown in cross section..
As a modification of this, by correspondingly shaping the rolls these
5 bevilled strips or picces 1 may be rolled in sheets of strips 2, which is
a more expeditious plan; such sheets are then cut longitudinally to,
separate the strips 1 from the sheet of which they form part. The
strips are next cut into suitable lengths for the hooks or sickles in the
following manner :-It may be here remarked however that in reaping
hooks and sickles it is essential that the points should be thin or
tapering, for which object it is necessary that the backing as well as the
cutting edge should taper towards the point. This object has hitherto
been obtained by hammering the backing, which caused a great expen-
diture of labor; but according to the present Invention I obviate or
5 dispense with this by cutting the bevilled strips or pieces into suitable
lengths 3 in a slanting or oblique direction, and in such a manner that
when each piece so cut off is bent as herein-after described it has the
desired shape and formation of the reaping hook or sickle at all parts.

page_text: In cutting any piece or blank 3 from a strip 1 the lower part 4
thercof, which is at the thicker side or edge of the strip, forms the
“tang,” or that part of the sickle which is usually fitted into a handle,
so that the instrument can be used with greater case. Each oblique line
of cut shapes part of two blanks at the same time; thus, supposing I
commence separating the blanks from the bottom of the strip upwards,
the oblique cutting line which separates the first blank from the strip
forms that part thereof which when it (the detached piece) is bent
becomes the back of the sickle or reaping hook, and on the strip from
which it was cut forms the front of the tang of the next blank, and that
part thereof which when it (the next piece or blank) is similarly detached
and bent will form the cutting edge, so that in cutting off these pieces
there is not any waste of material.
The piece thus cut off is then ready for bending to shape or form the
reaping hook or sickle, which is performed as follows:-In the first:
place the "tang," or the lower and thick part of each detached piece,
is bent back. This is done by placing the pieces (3) cut off as above
described with their cutting edges downwards in grooves in the block a
(see Figure 2), and by causing the upper block to descend (by means
similar to those illustrated in Figures 3, and hereafter described, or by
other suitable means), they receive the form shown at 5. The "tang”
thus formed of each piece 5 is then suitably secured or held in or by a
long staple 6 (or other suitable means 7) placed behind or below or
above, and extending the entire length of a grooved metal block 8, so
that the parts of each pieco 5 otherwise than the "tang" project
upwards or outwards (see Figures 3) and immediately above or in front
of one of the grooves in the block 8. The contour of each groove in the
block 8 corresponds exactly to the desired shape or outline of the cutting
edge of the reaping hooks or sickles. There are different sized and
shaped grooves in each block according to the size and shape of the
reaping hooks or sickles it is desired to manufacture.
The projecting part of each piece is next bent round by means of a
roll travelling over the block and driven by suitable machinery, or by
the action of a fly and mould block 10, see Figures 3, and the cutting edge
thereof is thereby forced into the groove opposite, by which means the
now-formed sickle 9 is made to receive the exact form of the groove
opposite it in the metal block.
Or as a modification of this (sec also Figures 3) the block itself is

page_text: similarly actuated so as to produce the same result, the pieces 5 as before
being placed opposite the grooves in the block, but with the cutting
edges upwards and with the tangs resting in grooves 7 in the mould
block 10, and on the block 8 being caused to descend therein, it forces
the pieces 5 so that the cutting edges enter the grooves in the same and
consequently take the form thereof, the block 8 and mould block 10
being in fact simply reversed.
The after parts of the manufacture of the reaping hooks or sickles,
namely, the grinding and tentering the cutting edge, are proceeded with
as hitherto.
Amongst other advantages derived from the adoption of these
improvements may be mentioned a great saving of labor, firstly, in
welding or uniting the backing and cutting edges; secondly, in the
beating out or hammering the point; and thirdly, in the hitherto
necessary process of drawing out the "tang;" all of which operations
are dispensed with by manufacturing the reaping hooks or sickles as
above described.
28
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
Improvements in the Manufacture of Reaping Hooks and Sickles and
in the Means or Appliances to be Employed therein," together with the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my
Invention, the improved mode or process of manufacturing reaping.
hooks and sickles substantially as herein set forth, and the means,
appliances, or apparatus employed therein substantially as above
described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ball, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.