IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOES AND IN AFPARATUS FOR GAUGING HORSES' HOOFS FOR FITTING THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry John Heywood, of Pendleton, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
HORSE-SHOES AND IN AFPARATUS FOR GAUGING HORSES' HOOFS FOR FITTING
THE SAME."
led the 17th March 1876, and dated the 21st January 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry John Heywood at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January 1876.
HENRY JOHN HEYWOOD, of Pendleton, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOES AND IN APPARATUS FOR GAUGING
HORSES' HOOFS FOR FITTING THE SAME.'
This Invention relates to a system of manufacturing horse-shoes from steel of a
very light section, and gauging and fitting the shoes to the horse without burning
the hoof. I first roll the steel bars of a suitable section and convenient length by
means of rolls made for the purpose, and having projections or depressions, or both,
which form corresponding depressions or projections on the bar; I then cut the
bar into lengths and heat and bend each piece into the form of a horse-shoe, either
by hand or by any suitable cutting and bending machinery.
The rolls for rolling the bar is so formed that they not only make the creases or
grooves and holes for the nails, but they also at the same time form other
depressions or projections on the flat surface of the shoe for giving the horse a
firmer hold and preventing slipping.
The depressions act upon the suction principle, and the projections which may be
either in the form of radial lines or in the form of points (somewhat like the face of
a rasp) give the horse a firm footing and act instead of caulks or toc pieces in
frosty weather. The shoes may however if required be made with caulks or toe
pieces (or both), but I prefer to make them flat and to fit them on to the hoof, so
that the frog of the foot bears on the ground. By this system of shoeing the horse
has a more natural tread, it is almost impossible for the horse to slip, and the shoes
being used principally as a protection to the outer rim of the hoof, and being made
of light steel hardened, will wear much longer than the ordinary shoes, and are
much lighter and less tiring to the horse.

page_text: The shoes are made in sets of different sizes and patterns, and numbered and
kept in stock, and when it is required to fit a horse with shoes the gauge of the
hoof is taken by means of the following apparatus :- A thin bar of steel or other
pliable metal is attached at the centre by a fixing to a plate of metal, and bent into
a curved form, the ends being passed through metal loops or straps projecting
upwards through slots in the plate. Beneath the latter the metal loops are
connected together by means of a screw (or otherwise), so that they can be
The
brought nearer together or opened out wider by turning the screw or screws.
horse's hoof is placed on tlie plate within the curved bar, and the latter is then
brought together by the screws until it takes the form of the exterior of the hoof.
It is then removed and the size of shoe is ascertained by lines and numbers marked
upon the plate. The corresponding shoe is then tried and fitted on to the gauge
and will require little or no fitting to the horse's hoof.