IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC SPOONS, FORKS, AND LADLES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Cope, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC SPOONS, FORKS, AND LADLES."
Sealed the 7th August 1855, and dated the 9th April 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Cope at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th April
1855.
I, DAVID COPE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC SPOONS, FORKS, AND LADLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in manufacturing metallic spoons, forks, and ladles
in the following manner:--I roll the sheet of metal of which the said spoons,
forks, and ladles are to be formed, of different thicknesses at different parts;
that is to say, I give to one edge of the sheet or plate of metal the thickness
proper for the bowls of spoons or ladles or the prongs of forks, and to the other
edge of the said plate or sheet of metal I give the thickness proper for the top
ends or handles of the said spoons, forks, and ladles. By this method of rolling
the metal of which spoons, forks, and ladles are made, I supersede the process
called "cross rolling," by which, in the ordinary manufacture, the strips of metal

page_text: from which the blanks are cut are rendered thinner at their ends than at their
middle. Instead of cutting blanks by one process, and afterwards shaping the
handles and bowls of spoons and ladles or the handles and prongs of forks by
separate processes, I combine the said processes in one operation; that is to
say, I give to the tools by which the spoons, forks, and ladles are stamped,
pressed, or cut from the sheet of metal, such a form that the said tools fashion
the bowls and handles of the spoons and ladles, and the handles and prongs of
forks, as well as cut out the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters. Patent, filed
by the said David Cope in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
October 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
COPE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said David Cope, Her special licence that I, the said David Cope, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David
Cope, 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 term 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC SPOONS, FORKS, AND LADLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said David Cope, by an instrument in writing
under my band and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner 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 David Cope, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
stateinent thereof (that is to say) :-
My Invention consists in the manufacture of metallic spoons, forks, and

page_text: ladles in the manner herein-after described, and illustrated in the accompany-
ing Drawing. In the ordinary method of manufacturing metallic spoons, forks,
and ladles, strips or plates of metal are subjected to the process called "cross
rolling," which said process consists in passing the said strip or plate of metal
between rolls, so as to expand the ends of the said strip or plate.
My Invention consists, firstly, in rolling sheet metal of which spoons, forks,
and ladles are to be formed in the, manner illustrated in Figure 1, which said
Figure represents the cross section of a plate of metal rolled according to my
Invention, the parts a and c being rolled thinner than the middle part b; the
part a being rolled of a thickness proper for the bowls of spoons or ladles, or
the prongs of forks, and the part c having a thickness proper for the top ends
or handles of the said spoons, forks, and ladles; the middle part 6 has the
thickness proper for the stems of spoons, forks, and ladles. Sheets of metal
having the sectional figure represented in Figure 1, may be rolled either in
long or short lengths. By rolling sheet metal according to my Invention the
process of "cross rolling" is superseded.
My Invention consists, secondly, in cutting out and shaping spoons, forks,
and ladles by one process, instead of first cutting out blanks and afterwards
shaping the said blanks by a separate process, so as to produce therefrom
spoons, forks, and ladles.
of
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent the dies or tools by which I carry this part
my Invention into effect; Figure 2 representing in side elevation, and
Figure 3 in plan, the upper or moveable die; and Figure 4 representing in
section, and Figure 5 in plan, the lower or. fixed die constructed according to
my Invention. The said dies are placed in an ordinary cutting out press, and
the plate of metal being placed upon the lower die, the upper die is brought
down, and in entering the lower die shapes and cuts out a spoon at one
operation.
Although I have only represented in the accompanying Drawing a pair of
dies or tools suitable for cutting out and shaping spoons at one operation, yet
this part of my Invention is as applicable to the manufacture of ladles and
forks as to the manufacture of spoons; but I do not think it necessary to
represent the dies or tools required to be used in applying my Invention
to ladles and forks, as a competent tool-maker will sufficiently understand the
nature of this part of my Invention from the description herein given, and the
illustration in the accompanying Drawing, to be able to make the tools
requisite for carrying out my Invention with respect to ladles and forks.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit

page_text: myself to the precise details herein described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my said Invention; but I claim as my
Invention,-
Firstly, manufacturing metallic spoons, forks, and ladles in the manner herein
described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing; that is to say, rolling
sheet metal of a greater thickness at or near its middle than at its edges, so
that when spoons, forks, or ladles, or blanks for spoons and forks and ladles,
are cut transversely therefrom, that portion of the said sheet metal from which
the stems of the spoons, forks, and ladles are cut, shall be of greater thickness
than the parts from which the bowls, prongs, and handles are cut, and cutting
spoons, forks, and ladles, or blanks for spoons, forks, and ladles, from the sheet
metal.
Secondly, cutting out blanks and shaping the same into spoons, forks, and
ladles at one operation, as herein described and illustrated in the accompany-
ing Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Cope, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
DAVID COPE. (L.s.)