Improved Method or Methods of Making Forms, Lengths, Saddles, Pins and the like for Potters' Use, and Means employed therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Method or Methods of Making Forms, Lengths, Saddles,
Pins and the like for Potters' Use, and Means employed therefor.
We, THOMAS ARROWSMITH, of 158, Moorland Road, Burslem, HENRY THOMAS
ARROWSMITH, of 150, Moorland Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and
JOHN ARROWSMITH, "Hill View," Alsager, Cheshire, trading as Thomas Arrow-
smith & Sons, Stilt and Spur Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows;-
This our invention has reference to an improved method or methods for making
forms for tile-boxes, tile-bats, cranks, thimble-pins, saddles, printers'-bits, gutters
and the like articles for potters' use, the object of our said invention being to
expedite the manufacture of such articles and to economise labour and material.
The usual method of making such forms is by balling scrap marl to a guessed
size by hand and placing same within a metallic ring or frame of the required size
of the bats beneath the plunger of a screw-press, which plunger when it is caused
to descend compresses such marl so as to fill such ring or frame, as is well known
a quantity of such marl during compressing escapes or oozes out from between the
ends and sides of the frame used and the plunger, which scrap marl is removed by
hand and thrown on to other marl and re-used, each bat or form made being
generally removed by hand from the framing within which it is made or com-
pressed.
In order to expedite the manufacture of such forms, strips and the like and
avoid handling same, we place such marl or clay in a pugging-mill having an
inclined outlet or orifice of the width of the strips or bats required, the pugged
clay or marl as it issues from such orifice passes on to a wooden board of suitable
width and length resting or laying upon wooden or metallic rollers supported in
bearings beneath the outlet or orifice of such pug-mill, the continuous strip of
pugged clay travelling forward with the board on to which it issues at a suitable
downward angle or incline upon the rollers, as the back end of each length of board
used arrives beneath the outlet orifice of the pug-mill, the strip or length of pugged
clay is severed by a wire, knife or like means from the following or succeeding
portion of such clay strip, as such boards with the clay length or strip on their
surface are successively removed from the rollers of the framing of such pug-mill
or mills a similar board placed upon the rollers behind such mills travels forward
upon such rollers and takes their place, so that strips of pugged clay or marl of the
desired width and length issue on to the travelling boards upon such rollers beneath
the outlet orifice of such mills until such mills are stopped, or the clay in such mills
is expended or used up, each board with a length or strip of pugged clay on its
surface on being removed from the rollers is stacked on a suitable framing, or in
a suitable position in a heated room for partially drying such clay for use.

page_text: In making thimble-pin forms by means of a die heated by steam, hot-air or hot-
water attached to a press such dies have frequently to be removed from such presses
to be re-heated or re-placed by other similarly heated dies, now in order to save the
time taken up or lost by such exchanging and refitting of dies to a press or presses
we make a suitable metallic die in two parts which when attached to a press we use
cold, or at a normal temperature for making such thimble pin forms, such dies
we make of any suitable or required size, the bottom or lower part of such dies
which we fit or fix by any suitable means to the bed of a screw-press having any
suitable number of straight or curved dovetail, or other suitably shaped recesses
of suitable depth and length according to the size of the die formed therein, two
opposite sides of the upper surface of the bottom part of such dies extending a
short or suitable distance above their upper surface, the upper part of such dies
which are attached by their stalk to the plunger of such presses having two similar
but opposite extending sides, and any suitable number of suitably shaped recesses
or thimble-pin holes or orifices of the required size formed therein, when com-
mencing to use such dies we first fill the recesses in the bottom portion of such dies
with pugged clay, or we take two pieces of the partially dried clay which have been
marked off into definite lengths according to the size of die used by means of a
suitable gauge formed from a strip or length of wood or metal having nails or
points inserted therein at a definite distance apart which after being severed from
a length of clay by using a knife, wire or like means we superimpose on the bottom
portion of such die, the upper surface of the top piece of clay being oiled or rubbed
over by hand, or a piece of waste dipped in a mixture of rape oil or like common
oil mixed with parafin oil, the top surface of the clay which has been forced into
the recesses of the bottom die retaining by absorption a thin bed or thickness of
clay upon its surface with thimble-pin forms thereon when the top part of the die
recedes, the oiled surface of the top piece of clay preventing such clay from adher-
ing to the interior surface of the thimble-pin holes or recesses, each bed of clay
with thimble-pin forms being removed from the bottom part of such dies by using
a metallic shovel or slice of suitable size, partially dried and separated, and placed
or thrown into any suitable receptacle for removal to another press or presses for
finishing off, after the recesses or grooves in the bottom part of such dies have been
filled in once with pugged clay, it is only necessary to place one length or bat of
pugged clay on the bottom die, and oil or grease its top surface for the purpose
before stated.
Saddle strips as usually made from marl or clay or forced through one or more
holes or apertures formed in the bottom of a wad-box by means of a plunger within
such boxes, and are broken off or cut off separately whilst depending from such
boxes and laid by hand upon boards.
We make such saddle strips or lengths by removing the mouth-piece or bracket
from the lower end of pug-mills used for making bats or strips of clay herein-
before described, and substituting a similar metallic mouth-piece having a deeper
or wider outlet or orifice, against the inner side of which outlet a lignum vitæ or
similar suitable hard wood or metallic plate is fitted or fixed of suitable thickness
having any suitable number of orifices formed through same of suitable shape and
size according to the section or shape of the saddle strips required, after a pug-
mill in which clay has been placed is set in motion or rotated strips of pugged clay
will be forced through the several orifices in the plate of the section or shape
required on to wood boards travelling at a downward incline upon rollers in a
similar manner to that described in making lengths of clay for tile-bats, tile-boxes
and the like, each board having strips or lengths of pugged clay of the required
section upon its surface being removed from the rollers into a heated room for
being partially dried before cutting or severing such strips into definite, or the
required lengths.
By this method of pugging the clay or marl and forcing same through a suitable
"dod" on to boards as described we make such bats and saddle strips more dense
or solid, and avoid handling same whilst in a clay state, by using a die made in two

page_text: parts whilst cold for making thimble-pin forms as described we make such forms
more firm or solid and economise labour, time and material.
Dated this 6th day of January 1898.
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, Agent for Applicants.
Improved Method or Methods of Making Forms, Lengths, Saddles,
Pins and the like for Potters' Use, and Means employed therefor.
We, THOMAS ARROWSMITH, 158, Moorland Road, HENRY THOMAS
ARROWSMITH, 150, Moorland Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and
JOHN ARROWSMITH, "Hill View," Alsager, Cheshire, trading as Thomas Arrow-
smith & Sons, Stilt and Spur Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This our invention has reference to an improved method or methods for making
forms for tile-boxes, tile-bats, cranks, thimble-pin forms, saddles, printers' bits
and the like articles for potters' use, the object of our said invention being to
expedite the manufacture of such articles without touching same by hand during
course of manufacture, and to economise labour and material.
As usually done when making clay-bats or the like clay or marl is first balled
by hand to a guessed size and placed within a metallic ring or frame of the required
size of bats placed or fixed on or to the bed of a screw press or like machine beneath
its plunger which marl on being compressed by such plunger fills the ring or
metallic frame as is well known and a quantity of the marl escapes or oozes out
between the ends and sides of such frame and the plunger, such scrap" clay or
marl being removed by hand, thrown on to a heap of like clay and re-used, the
"bat" formed being removed from the metallic frame by hand.
In carrying our said invention into practice we place marl or clay in a pugging
mill having an inclined outlet or orifice at its lower end of the width of the strips
or "bats" required, the pugged clay or marl as it issues in a continuous length
from such orifice passing on to a wood board of suitable width and length resting
on wood or metallic revoluble cylindrical rollers pivotted to and between a wood
or metallic framing or support, the clay strips as it issues from such pugging-mill
causing the board on to which it issues to travel forward on such rollers which have
a flange at one of their ends, when the surface of one board is nearly covered by the
clay strip or length a similar board is placed on the rollers at the rear of the
pugging mill and the clay length or strip on the front board severed by a wire,
knife or other cutting appliance, and such front board removed from the rollers
with its clay length and stacked or placed on a suitable framing or in a suitable
position for being partially dried or until required for use when it may be marked
off or divided into suitable lengths by any suitable gauze or appliance for tile-
bats, for being pressed into thimble-pin forms or other articles.
In order that our said invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail we have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings on which letters of
reference are marked.
DESCRIPTION OF Des

page_text: Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 drawn to the scale shewn.
Figures 3 and 4 are a front elevation and plan view respectively of the metallic
mouth piece shewn attach to the pug-mill at Figure 1 for forming the pugged
clay as it issues through same in a continuous strip into the thickness and width
required, if other widths and thicknesses are required then it will be understood
that other, or the proper mouth-piece must be attached to such pug-mill.
Figures 5 and 6 are a front elevation and plan view respectively of a metallic
mouth piece for attaching to the outlet orifice of such mill when it is required to
form spur-lengths, saddle lengths, stilt lengths or the like, by first placing in such
mouth-piece a wood or metallic section plate having holes or orifices of the required
section or shape formed therein. If the saddle section plate shewn at Figure 7
be used the continuous strips of pugged clay forced from such mill as they issue
therefrom will rest on each other or be superimposed on the boards in a similar
manner to that shewn at Figure 8.
If a spur section such as that shewn at Figure 9 or any other section be required
then a section plate must be used or placed within such mouth piece having holes
or apertures therein of the required section.
Figures 10 and 11 are a front view and side view respectively of a cast-iron or
other suitable metallic thimble-form die secured to a holder attached to the plunger
of a screw-press, the lower portion of such die being secured to the bed of such press.
Figure 12 is a plan view of the lower portion of such die.
die.
Figure 13 is a plan view of the thimble-pin form block n or upper part of such
Figure 14 is an enlarged view of a thimble-form made by such thimble-form
block.
Figures 15, 16 and 17 are a front elevation, a side view and a plan view of one
form of a suitable adjustable marking-off and cutting-gauge for severing the clay
lengths on their boards into any desired lengths.
Figure 18 is another form of gauge.
Figure 19 is a pivotted revoluble metallic disc fitted to one form of handle for
use in cutting or severing such clay lengths, and
Figure 20 is a side view of a metallic bracket supporting a wood shelf on which
a gauge similar to that shewn at Figure 18 is placed ready for use.
On reference to the drawings hereto annexed marl or clay is first placed in the
hopper of the mill a within which such clay is cut and kneaded by blades or the
like attached to the shaft b and expelled therefrom at its lower end by a screw
blade or like means attached or fixed to the lower end of such shaft out through
the removable metallic mouth-piece c, which mouth-piece on reference to Figures 3
and 4 will be seen to have a curved or bellied portion thicker at, or near to its
central portion than its front or rear edge formed on or attached to the inside upper
portion of such mouth-piece for forcing the pugged clay as it issues from such mill
to the sides of such mouth-piece to make the clay length as it issues from such
mouth-piece more solid or dense, and without jagged sides or edges.
Such clay strips being severed by using a wire, a metallic-blade, a metallic-disc
affixed to a handle or like suitable means as before mentioned according to the
lengths of the boards used, and afterwards into any desired lengths after such boards
with the clay length on their surface have been removed from the rollers of the
framing of such apparatus, or by placing a board with a clay length on its surface
on the shelf e beneath the zinc, tin or other metallic portion f of the gauge and
passing the disc portion h of the cutter shewn at Figure 19 down between the slots g
of such gauge, or the gauge shewn at Figures 15, 16 and 17 may be used in which
represents a teak, oak or other suitable wood rail or hand-piece having a steel, iron
or other suitable metallic-blader secured in a recess or slot formed in same by the
rivetted ends s³ of the metallic-bars or rods s, the screwed metallic-nuts 3 retaining
such hand-rail in position, the screwed metallic-nuts t and on the opposite
screwed ends of the metallic rods or bars s enabling the metallic bar to be adjusted
on such rods or placed closer to or further from the said hand-rail q according to

page_text: the lengths to be severed from the continuous pugged-clay strips or lengths on
the boards, by placing the bar at the end of a clay strip and pressing the blade r
down into such clay strips so as to sever definite lengths therefrom.
When it is desired to form saddle-lengths, spur-lengths or other lengths of any
desired cross-section we take a wood preferably a hard-wood such as lignum-vite,
boxwood or the like or a metallic strip i of suitable length and thickness having
holes or apertures of the desired shape or section formed therein which we place
in a cast-iron or other suitable mouth-piece j and bolt or fix such mouth-piece to
the outlet of such pug-mills instead of the mouth-piece c, the pugged-clay being
forced by such mill through the section plate used on to boards in continuous
lengths and as many in number as there are holes or apertures in the section-plate
used, and are severed by using any suitable cutting appliance according to the
length of the boards used, and after removal from such apparatus into any desired
lengths.
In making thimble-forms or thimble-pin forms from such pugged clay we first
fill the lower portion k of such dies attached to the bed of a suitable press beneath
its plunger with clay and lay on same a "bat," piece or length of pugged clay
which has been severed from a continuous length having its upper surface oiled,
the plunger of such press having the metallic holder m and removable metallic
thimble-form die or block » secured thereto is then lowered so as to compress the
clay in the lower portion k and the oiled clay into the thimble-form block n, when
the said plunger and thimble-form block recede upwards a number of thimble
forms o will be found adhering by absorption to the upper surface of the clay in
the lower portion k of the die from whence they are removed on a suitable thick-
ness or bed of clay p by means of a suitably shaped metallic slice or shovel and
after being partially dried are ready for further treatment.
The number of thimble-forms made by each die and downward stroke of the press-
plunger agreeing with the size of such dies and the number of thimble-pin form
moulds therein.
Thimble-forms made by using such improved dies and process being more dense
or solid than those usually made by dies as the two sides ³, 13 of the lower portion
of such dies extend a suitable distance above its upper surface and the two opposite
sides m2, m³ of the thimble-form block holder extend beyond such die-block and
prevent clay oozing out or escaping therefrom when compressing such clay into
thimble-forms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The method of forming clay in continuous lengths of any desirable widths
and thickness without "jagged" sides or edges by forcing such clay by means of
a suitable pug-mill out through a suitable mouth-piece attached to the outlet
orifice of such pug-mills on to boards of suitable length supported on revoluble
cylindrical wood or metallic rollers pivotted to a suitable framing, such metallic
mouth-pieces having a "bellied or curved wood or metallic portion attached to
or formed thereon to their inside top surface in the manner and for the purpose as
herein described and set forth.
"9
2. The method of forming saddle lengths, spur-lengths and the like in con-
tinuous lengths or strips of any suitable cross-section by means of a pug-mill
forcing clay through apertures of suitable size and shape formed in or through
removable hard-wood or metallic plates fitted within suitable metallic mouth-
pieces attached or connected to the outlet orifice of such pug-mills as herein sub-
stantially described and set forth.
3. The improved metallic thimble-form die-block made in two parts and the
holder for its upper part for use in making thimble forms from clay "bats" by
attaching such die-block to a screw press or like suitable machine the holder of the
upper part or countersunk die having two projecting sides, and the lower hollow

page_text: part two opposite projecting sides for preventing clay when pressed by the upper
part of such thimble-form die blocks escaping therefrom, such hollow lower part
having two or more vertical or nearly vertical dovetail or other suitably shaped
webs or walls therein of suitable height extending from side to side within same
for retaining clay within such lower portion in the manner and for the purpose as
herein substantially described set forth and illustrated on the drawings hereto
annexed.
Dated this 6th day of Octahan 1908
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., Agent for Applicants.