Improvements in or relating to Whips.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Whips.
I, MELANCTHON ORT FELKER, of Springfield, Ohio, United States of
America, Manufacturer, 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 invention relates to an improved article of manufacture consisting of a
buggy or carriage whip made in the manner and of the construction hereinafter
fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings on which like reference letters indicate corre-
sponding parts:
Fig. 1, is a side view of a whip embodying my improvements;
Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the whip and a side view of
another portion;
Fig. 3, is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of
the body of the whip; and
Fig. 4, is a transverse sectional view on the line of Fig. 3.
The core of this whip is constructed in sections, preferably two in number.
One section is shown at A and the other at B. Each section is composed of a
strip of thin, resilient material, such as sheet steel, spirally wound after the
fashion of a curl. The ribbon forming section B, is thinner and narrower than
that forming section A. The strips are so curled or wound that a continuous
spiral space C intervenes between the edges, so that the resulting device is in the
form of what may be termed an open spiral. The section A is slightly tapered
from the hand-part outward. The section B is preferably slightly tapered from
where it joins with the section A to where it terminates; but the section B may be
of constant diameter. In uniting the two sections together the section B is
inserted into the larger end of section A and passed on through it until it binds in
the contracted end of the section A. A is then uncoiled, B adjusted further on,
and A allowed to recoil, to permanently hold B. Thus the two sections are firmly
fastened together and a good joint is made. These sections form the hollow flexible
core upon which the whip is built, the core being strong and light. In the outer
section B, I place and secure a tip E of raw-hide or whale-bone, by uncoiling the
end of B, and inserting the tip. The spiral ribbon of which the core is made
serves by its recoil to tightly clamp and hold the tip, as seen in Fig. 2. From about
the point F, as seen in Fig. 2, I cover the elastic core sections with strips F¹ of
wood, preferably ratan. The strips are glued upon the core, and to hold them
while the glue is setting they are wrapped with cord. When perfectly dry and
hard the whip is placed in a machine, sometimes called a lathe, in which it is turned
off or reduced from the exterior, so as to be made perfectly smooth, even and
true, and to be given the proper taper and size. This accomplished, the usual
braiding or plaiting of the exterior is done, by machines well known in the art of
whip making, the color, style or finish of the braiding or plaiting being varied. A
short section of this plaited covering is shown at G in Fig. 2, and H in Fig. 3, as
well as being suggested in Fig. 1. The usual lash is attached to the loop, com-
monly formed by the plaited covering, as suggested at I. A cap J of any desired
pattern or finish is fitted to the handle-end of the core A, and the ratan strips and
covering are terminated against the end of the cap. Thus it will be seen that in
my improved article I have a highly resilient and light and strong whip, the
Hexibility of which is obtained by the highly elastic core, while the necessary

page_text: stiffness to make the whip handle well and act nicely, is obtained from the ratan
covering, and the slightly thicker metal of the inner section of the core.
Again the outer spiral section forms a good means of holding the whale-bone or
raw-hide tip, while the plaited wrapping gives it the size and finish.
Furthermore, the joint between the sections of the core and the joint where the
whale-bone or raw-hide tip is fastened to the outer section of the core are vital
points in the construction of this whip. The core being constructed of a spiral
ribbon, naturally recoils to its normal position after being unwound or twisted back
as it were. Thus when the outer section has been drawu nearly through the inner
section and begins to bind, while the lap between the two sections is yet too great
the outer section is slightly uncoiled allowing the inner section to be moved
further on.
When at the right point the outer section is released and its recoil
acts to form a lasting grip upon the enclosed inner section. In testing the
practicability of this whip, it has been shattered to pieces, yet this point remains
intact.
So in connection with the tip of the outer section, the core is slightly unwound,
the tip inserted, the core freed and the recoil takes effect and permanently grips
the tip.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described whip, the
same consisting of a core made in sections, one of larger diameter than the other
and tapering from end to end, both formed of an open spiral flexible ribbon, the
smaller one inserted through the larger one, the smaller end of the larger section
being normally smaller than the large end of the smaller section, for the purpose
described, a tip secured to the end of the outer section, a wooden covering on the
outside of the core, and a plaited wrapping on the outside of the covering
and tip.
2nd. In an improved article of manufacture, the herein described whip core,
made in sections, each section being composed of a strip of resilient material made
in the form of a spiral, one section of larger diameter than the other and tapering
from end to end, and the smaller one inserted through the larger one, the smaller
end of the larger section being normally smaller than the large end of the smaller
section, for the purpose described.
3rd. In an improved article of manufacture, the herein described whip core,
composed of a strip of resilient material wound to form an open spiral, and a raw-
hide or whale-bone tip inserted into the core by slightly uncoiling the latter, and
permanently held therein by the recoil of the core.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1994,
CAEN Puy
MELANCTHON ORT FELKER,
By R. Haddan,
Of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.