IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR MACHINES FOR CUTTING OR CLIPPING THORN OR OTHER HEDGES, OR ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS
Year: 1878

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LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Ridgway, of 18, Market Place, Macclesfield, in the
County of Chester, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS
OR MACHINES FOR CUTTING OR CLIPPING THORN OR OTHER HEDGES, OR
ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS."
Sealed the 1st October 1878, and dated the 22nd July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Ridgway at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1878.
ALFRED RIDGWAY, of 18, Market Place, Macclesfield, in the County of Chester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR MACHINES FOR CUTTING OR CLIPPING THORN
OR OTHER HEDGES, OR ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS."
The Invention consists in employing a plate with a series of cutting teeth, which
are caused to reciprocate or oscillate.over the teeth of an under plate, with teeth to
correspond with the teeth of the upper plate, the action of which, when applied to
hedges, cuts or clips therefrom the twigs or branches gathered in the teeth, thereby
cutting a greater quantity, and more even or regular than by the ordinary hedge-
cutting shears generally used for that purpose; and also in constructing the instru-
ments or machines sufficiently light and portable as to enable a man to hold or
guide and work the instrument or machine.
The Invention may be thus described --A plate with a number of coarse
cutting teeth is caused to reciprocate or oscillate over the teeth of an under plate,
with teeth to correspond with the teeth of the upper plate; the lower plate is
fixed to a handle, by which the instrument or machine is held or guided to its
work.
By another or corresponding handle a rectilinear reciprocating or oscillating
motion is given through the medium of a lever (the fulcrum of which is formed by
a stud which passes through both handles, which connects them together) and
rack gear, or other known means by moving the handle to and fro.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Ridgway in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th January
1879.
ALFRED RIDGWAY, of 18, Market Place, Macclesfield, in the County of Chester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR MACHINES FOR CUTTING OR CLIPPING THORN
OR OTHER HEDGES, OR ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS."
The Invention consists in employing a plate with a series of coarse cutting teeth,
which are caused to reciprocate or oscillate over the teeth of an under plate, with
teeth to correspond with the teeth of the upper plate, the action of which when
applied to hedges, cuts or clips therefrom the twigs or branches gathered in the teeth,
thereby cutting a greater quantity, and more evenly or regularly than by the
ordinary hedge-cutting shears generally used for that purpose; and also in con-
structing the instrument or machine sufficiently light and portable as to enable a
man to hold or guide and work the instrument or machine.
The Invention may be thus described :-A plate with a number of coarse cutting
teeth is caused to reciprocate or oscillate over the teeth of an under plate, with
teeth to correspond to the teeth of the upper plate; the plates are secured together
by studs, which are secured to the under plate, and slide in slots in the upper plate.
The lower plate is fixed to a handle, by which the instrument or machine is held
or guided to its work.
By another or corresponding handle a rectilinear reciprocating or oscillating
motion is given through the medium of a lever handle, the fulcrum of which is
formed by a stud which passes through both handles, which connects them together.
The Jast-named lever handle is connected to the top plate only by a compound
stud, which in the reciprocating or oscillating motion slides to and fro in a slot
made for the purpose in the said lever handle.
The said rectilinear, reciprocating, or oscillating motion may also be attained
either by the use of rack gear or other known means by moving the said lever
handle to and fro.
The teeth of the under plate are barbed or serrated to prevent the twigs or
branches from slipping from between the teeth when coming in contact with the
Fig. 1 is a plan of a machine, of which Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the under side of the under cutter; and Fig. 4 is a section
through the securing studs m.
The mechanism is arranged as follows:-A plate a with a series of coarse cutting
teeth b are caused to reciprocate or oscillate over the teeth 62 of an under plate a²,
Fig. 3, with teeth to correspond with the teeth of the upper plate. The under
plate a² is fixed to a handle ch, by which the instrument or machine is held or
guided to its work.
By another or corresponding handle df a rectilinear, reciprocating, or oscillating
motion is given to the top plate a through the medium of a lever handle def, the
fulcrum e of which is formed by a stud e, which passes through both handles or
levers which connects them together.
The lever handle def is connected to the top plate a only by means of a com-
pound stud 8, the centre part of which is secured to the top plate a, and passes
through the centre of the sliding part, which in the motion of the machine works
to and fro in a slot made to receive it in the top part of the lever handle def, as
shewn at 8, Fig. 1 & 2.
The two plates a and a² are held together by means of studs m.

page_text: The screw parts m¹ of the studs m are secured to the bottom plate a², and pass
through the shaped parts m³ of the studs, m, which rest in slots n in the top
plate a, and project over the said top plate a, as shewn, Fig. 4, thereby holding
the two plates together, and allowing the top plate sufficient oscillation over the
bottom plate.
The teeth 62 of the lower plate a² are barbed or serrated, as shewn, Fig. 3.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming or carrying the same into practice, I would have it understood that I do
not intend to limit my claim to the exact arrangement of mechanism herein
described, as the samne can be greatly varied without departing from the true
character of my Invention; what I claim is, the arrangement, adaptation, and
application of machines or apparatus as herein described and set forth for cutting
or clipping thorn or other hedges, or ornamental shrubs, as a manual machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Ridgway, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, A.D. One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-nine.
ALFRED RIDGWAY. (L.S.)