IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF UMBRELLAS "AND PARASOLS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Holland, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Umbrella and Parasol Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF UMBRELLAS
"AND PARASOLS."
Sealed the 21st January 1853, and dated the 25th November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Holland
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th November 1852.
I, HENRY. HOLLAND, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Umbrella and Parasol Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS" to be as follows: -
Parasol sticks or tubes of equal diameter from end to end have
been jointed about the middle thereof, for convenience of folding,
for a long period. The common mode is to insert a tong or
connecting piece of brass to join the upper and lower parts of
the stick together, and using a. taper slide (length thereof
varying from one and a half to three inches) to pass over and
bind the ends thus connected. This method is also used for
tubes of equal diameter throughout, except where the tong is
inserted; there the parts are made thicker with wood and brass to
permit the taper slide to bind on them. I substitute for the whole

page_text: of the upper part of a parasol stick, i. e. the part to which the frame
is attached, a taper tube, but I do not joint the handle or lower
part of the stick to the tube. I joint the handle part by a tong in the
usual way to a taper piece of stick which will slide up and down
within the taper tube. In the piece of stick just mentioned I fix
two springs of the usual kind, both of which spring through nicks
made in the taper tube when the joint and about one inch of the
handle part is pushed up the tube. The first or handspring fastens
the tube and its contents together; the second or top spring is the
one upon which the runner lies when the parasol is open. Different
modes have been adopted to release the runner from this spring
without having to press upon it with the hand in the usual way.
By the mode here described of making a jointed parasol stick or
stem I obtain the combined action of releasing the runner from the
spring at the same time as the joint is released from the tube. This
is effected by pressing down the handspring with one hand whilst
the joint is withdrawn from the tube with the other.
My Invention also comprehends the use of flat steel wire for the ribs
of umbrellas and parasols, manufactured so that the edge or narrowest
diameter thereof will lie against the cover when the umbrella or
parasol is open. The degree of flatness I prefer is a variation in
diameter of about three sizes by the wire guage. I intend the ribs
so made to substitute those made of round steel wire.
Summary. These improvements comprehend applying a taper
tube for the purposes herein mentioned; also the combined action of
releasing the joint and the runner of a parasol; also the use of flat
steel wire for ribs manufactured as herein described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Henry Holland in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th May 1853...
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I,
HENRY HOLLAND, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Umbrella
and Parasol Manufacturer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Holland, Her especial license
that I, the said Henry Holland, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Holland, 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 terin
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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Holland, by an in-
strument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what 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 Henry Holland, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
Parasol sticks or tubes of equal diameter from end to end have
been jointed about the middle thereof for convenience of folding for
a long period. The common mode is to insert à long or connect-
ing picce of brass to join the upper and lower parts of the stick
together, and using a taper slide (length thereof varying from one
and a-half to three inches), to pass over and bind the ends thus con-
nected. This method is also used for tubes of equal diameter
throughout, except where the tong is inserted; there the parts are
made thicker with wood and brass to permit the taper slide to bind
on them.
I substitute for the whole of the upper part of a parasol stick, i. e.
the part to which the frame is attached, a taper tube, but I do not

page_text: joint the handle or lower part of the stick to the tube. I joint the
handle part by a tong in the usual way to a taper piece of stick
which will slide up and down within the taper tube. In the piece of
stick just mentioned I fix two springs of the usual kind, both of
which spring thro' nicks made in the taper tube when the joint
and about one inch of the handle part is pushed up the tube. The
first or handspring fastens the tube and its contents together; the
second or top spring is the one upon which the runner lies when the
parasol is open. Different modes have been adopted to release the
runner from this spring without having to press upon it with the
hand in the usual way.
.
By the mode here described of making a jointed parasol stick
or stem, I obtain the combined action of releasing the runner from
the spring at the same time as the joint is released from the tube.
This is effected by pressing down the handspring with one. hand
whilst the joint is withdrawn from the tube with the other.
My Invention also comprehends the use of flat steel wire for the
ribs of umbrellas and parasols, manufactured so that the edge or
narrowest diameter thereof will lie against the cover when the
umbrella or parasol is open. The degree of flatness I prefer is a
variation in diameter of about three sizes by the wire gauge. I in-
tend the ribs so made to substitute those made of round steel wire.
Summary. These improvements comprehend applying a taper
tube for the purposes herein mentioned; also the combined action
of releasing the joint and the runner of a parasol; also the use of
flat steel wire for ribs manufactured as herein described.
I now proceed to describe the mode in which I carry out my
Invention.
I commence by fitting upon a parasol handle of ivory, wood, or
other material, a metal tip or ferrule slightly tapered to fit firmly in
the largest end of a taper tube. Then I fix upon the thickest end
of a taper stick made to slide easily inside the tube a metal tip or
ferrule and a handspring in the usual manner. The handle and
tapered stick thus prepared are jointed together by a tong, as com-
monly practised. The taper stick is then inserted in the taper tube,

page_text: which latter has a nick cut in it which permits the spring to rise.
and hold together the tube and the parts inserted within it. I then.
cut the nick for the top spring in the tube, and slightly in the stick
at the same time. The stick is then withdrawn from the tube, and the.
spring fixed in the part indicated. The stick is again inserted so
that both springs will shoot out thro' the tube. To secure this:
action, and to prevent the stick from turning round in the tube.
when it is required to slide, I drill a hole thro' both the stick and the
tube at the same time, either midway between the two springs or a
little above the top spring, for the insertion of the stop wire. The
stick is again withdrawn from the tube and a nick cut in it froin:
and above the hole just drilled. This nick I make about 1 inches
long and of a width equal to the guage of the wire, which I rivett in:
the tube by passing a rivet through the tube and this nick. The dis-.
tance or range of the sliding action is. regulated and the springs
kept in a line with the nicks of the tube.
: This mode of obtaining a folding action may be applied to
umbrellas, and the tapered stick inserted of sufficient length to
permit (during the sliding action) the tube to pass in and out of
the top ferrule; but to the passing in and out of this ferrule I make
no claim.
:
If preferred, the top spring may be rivetted to the tube, as com-
monly practised, and the sliding action confined to the handspring
and the joint: in this case the stick must of course be shorter. But if
both springs are used as first described, what I call the double or
combined action is obtained; that is, a parasol may be closed and the
folding joint released at the saine time by simply pressing upon the
handspring with one hand whilst pulling the handle with the other.
I now proceed to describe my Invention with respect to the ribs.
I make a 12 inch rib for a parasol of steel wire about 17 by 20 of
the wire guage, and construct it so that one edge or the narrowest
diameter thereof shall lie against the silk when the parasol is open.
For parasols of a larger size, or for umbrellas, steel wire proportion-
ately stronger is used. With respect to the processes they go thro'
in the manufacture there is nothing new. I may state, however,

page_text: that I harden and temper them in the same way as hollow ribs are
hardened and tempered, and which is described in my patent dated
the Twenty-second day of August, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would have it un-
derstood that what I claim is, -
First, the application of taper tubes for the purposes herein
described.
Secondly, the combined action as herein described, whereby the
folding joint and the runner are released.
Thirdly, the mode of obtaining the greatest resistance in propor-
tion to the weight of solid ribs by using flat steel wire in their
manufacture, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Holland, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
GEORGE ASSINDER,
7, Worcester Street,
Birmingham.
HENRY HOLLAND. (L.S.)