NEW OR IMPROVED PARTS OF CROCHET NEEDLES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Kendrick, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Designer and Modeller, for the Invention of "NEW OR
IMPROVED PARTS OF CROCHET NEEDLES."
Sealed the 13th May 1873, and dated the 3rd December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Kendrick at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd December 1872.
I, THOMAS KENDRICK, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Designer and Modeller, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "NEW OR IMPROVED PARTS OF CROCHET NEEDLES," to be as
follows:-
The special features of this Invention may be designated useful and
ornamental, separate or combined.
The first part has reference to the manufacture of crochet handles in
flat sheet metal, and for this purpose I adapt any form of tools to cut
out and pierce a piece of metal for flat or oval crochet handles, and also

page_text: to press two pieces of flat metal into shells or concave parts, and these
when fitted together form an ornamental flat or oval handle. I am
aware that flat metal is frequently used for this article when drawn into
a tube, but is when finished of a non-ornamental character, and is not
capable of that improvement set forth in this part of my Invention.
The second part embraces a portion of a handle, the ornament in
which resembles a human hand holding a crochet needle with its
fingers, the said ornament is brass cast in sand. The needle having been
placed there has its base covered with brass in a molten state, and the
pattern in this wise imparted to it; to complete the handle a stem of
wood or bone is added and thus finished.
The third part relates to a handle having a recess at or near its base
for the reception of the needle hook, both needle and stem or handle are
about equal in length, and these respectively closed protect the hook
and are portable. As needles of various sizes are requisite in crochet
work I here introduce two hooks or needles in one handle. In making
the same I flatten and pierce one end of each needle, and these being
rivetted in the upper end of the handle are closed and released as are
the blades of an ordinary penknife minus the back spring.
The fourth part comprises a circular handle turned in bone or wood
having a slot from that end in which the needles are rivetted for the
partial inclosure of the needles before and after use. In this form of
handle are two needles with an action identical to that recited in the
third part of this Invention. The slotted end is screwed outside, and a
bone cap, wormed interiorly, is fed thereon to hold the needles fixedly
when sewing, or vice versa.
In the fifth part any form of crochet handle may be used for my
improvement, viz., an eye, slot, or other fastening with which a flexible
cord, and a cap at one end of it is attached, the design being to extend
the said cord and cover the hook of the needle with the cap when pro-
tection is necessary.
Another new or improved crochet handle is made in solid glass with a
needle permanently fixed therein, my plan being to reduce the glass to
a ductile condition and then to immerse the end of a needle in the glass
and a stem or handle is produced simultaneously, in consequence of a
which a joint for needles and an aperture in the handle is superseded,
and novelty with ornament is presented in the article.

page_text: a
a
"
"
b," and upon
In the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 represents a flat or oval handle with
ornamental piercings and a circular hole " for the reception of the
round head "" at the base of the needle "c" over which is a cap "d."
In Fig. 2 an ornamental part "a" is shewn holding a crochet
needle "," the said part
«< " is made of brass and a stem of wood or
bone "c" is connected with it. Fig. 3 is a crochet handle with two
needles ** a ," "a," and at the base of the handle a recess
Fig. 4 represents a circular handle with a
" which receives the needles "b, b," and holds them with a
"c" upright or inwards. Fig. 5 is a wire handle twisted at its base
to form an eye or catch "a." The part "" is a cord with a cap с
for covering the hook “d." Fig. 6 represents a solid glass handle with
spiral ornament in colored glass interiorly "a," and a stationary crochet
needle "." Excepting Figs. 1, 2, 6, the needles are rivetted in the
handles.
one needle a cap " C."
slot 66 a"
cap
66
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said Thomas Kendrick in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 30th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
KENDRICK, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Designer and
Modeller, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Kendrick, Her special licence
that I, the said Thomas Kendrick, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Kendrick, 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 "NEW OR IMPROVED
PARTS OF CROCHET NEEDLES," upon the condition (amongst others) tunt I,
the said Thomas Kendrick, my executors or administrators, by an

page_text: 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 Kendrick, 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, and the accompanying Drawings herein referred to,
that is to say :-
My Invention consists of a series of improvements in crochet handles,
the objects sought to be obtained being ornament and utility, either in
combination or separately, and facility in producing such crochet
handles.
The first part of this Invention relates to the manufacture of crochet
needle handles in flat sheet metal. For this purpose I use any form or
construction of dies or tools to cut out, shape, and pierce various
patterns upon a piece of metal for a flat crochet needle handle, and also
to stamp or press pieces of metal into concave shape so that two such
pieces may be united to form an oval handle, or there can be an oval and
flat side in one handle. It has been and is now the custom of the trade
to use flat metal for rolling or drawing tubular handles for crochet
needles, but these when finished are destitute of that ornament which
results in adopting this part of my Invention.
The second improvement embraces a portion of a handle resembling a
human hand holding a crochet needle. This ornament is cast in metal,
or it may be "run off" in moulds; if in the latter I use ordinary white
metal to make the casting of. In this process I place the needles in a
mould and pour molten metal upon the lower end of each needle. To
produce an ornament in this manner the needle is permanently fixed in
the hand, which requires a stem; this can be attached to it either of
bone or wood, or a stem and handle can be cast in metal, or run off in
moulds in an entire piece.
The third part relates to a handle made of various suitable materials
and having a recess at or near its base for the reception of the needle
hook. The handle and needle are of about equal length, so that when

page_text: the needle is pressed into its normal place, viz., the recess, the hook or
point is protected. As needles of different sizes are necessary in crochet
work I here introduce two or more of them, in arranging which I flatten
and pierce one end of each needle and rivet them in the upper end of a
crochet needle handle, being moved therein like the blades of an
ordinary penknife without a back spring..
The fourth part includes a handle formed of bone, wood, vulcanite, or
other hard substance. There is a slot or groove in the said handle at
that end in which needles are inserted and terminating near the lower
end of the same. This plan admits of a number of needles being
rivetted together and pressed into the slot or groove; in case of breakage
it is easy to remove the needle and substitute another. The slotted end
of the handle is screwed externally and a cap is fed thereon, by means
of which the needles retain an upright position in working, and also
remain in the groove when not in use. The action of the whole is
identical with the third part of my Invention.
The fifth improvement is applicable to crochet needle handles
generally, and consists of an elastic cord or band with a cup at one end;
the said cord is attached to the handle in order that it may extend and
with the cup cover the hook of the needle when not required for
working.
Another new or improved crochet needle handle is made in solid
glass, or it may be made in vulcanite. The needle is fixed in the handle
when ductile, the glass is drawn into shape and ornament; but when
vulcanite is used I employ iron or other moulds and run off one or more
of the articles at one operation either with plain or irregular surfaces,
consequently joints for crochet needles in their handles are superseded
or dispensed with.
In the Drawings Figures 1 and 2 represent flat or oval handles of an
ornamental character. In Figure 2 there is a hole “a” for the reception
of the head 6 at the base of the needle c upon which is a sliding cap d
for uniting these parts. In Figure 3 the ornament " a " is connected
with a stem b. Figure 4 is a handle with needles "a," one of these is
inverted at b, and the other upright with a cap C. At Figure 5 a
handle is shewn with a groove or slot "a," and needles 6, also a cap
Figure 6 is a handle formed of wire twisted at its base or bow "a" to
make an eye or catch b. The part "c" is an elastic cord having a
66
"
"ε
C."

page_text: cup or sheath d. Figure 7 illustrates a solid glass handle with spiral
ornament.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be effected or carried out in practice, I declare
that I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the
precise details illustrated on the accompanying Drawings and described
herein, that is to say, as regards the configuration and ornament of
crochet needle handles, as these may be varied without deviation from
the characteristics of my Invention; but what I claim is the making
crochet needle handles. formed of flat or oval metal, or alloy of metal,
and either plain or with patterns, stamped, pierced, engraved, or other-
wise produced thereon for ornamental effect, and the making of crochet
needle handles in solid glass or in vulcanite irrespective of outline or
device, together with the other improvements or modifications con-
stituting my Invention, all substantially as herein-before described, and
as shewn on the accompanying. Drawings.
In.witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Kendrick, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
JOHN KENDRICK.
THOMAS KENDRICK. (L.S.)