In- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES, AND OF WADS OR WADDING FOR FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Coope Haddan, of Chelsen, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES, AND OF WADS OR
WADDING FOR FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 6th June 1854, and dated the 6th December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Coope Haddan
at the Office of the Commissioners. of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th December 1853.
I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES, AND OF WADS OR
WADDING FOR FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My first improvement is upon that kind or description of cartridge
(intended for bursting or being opened on insertion into or at the
muzzle of a gun) in which part or parts of the case are made thinner or
of less strength than other parts, so that on being compressed or squeezed
such thin part will burst, and allow the powder to leave or escape, or
partly escape, from the tail end of the case. And the said improvement

page_text: consists in making one of the edges of the material intended to form
the cases of such cartridges with scollops, gores, or suitably shaped
projections thereon or added thereto, so that upon being bent over or
down they may become the tail end of the cartridge, while the remain-
ing portions may form the sides, or sides and front, or forward parts of
the cartridges. Also in the bending over or down of such scollops, gores,
or suitably shaped portions in the manner set forth, and in so securing
them when bent over or down so as to burst or open on pressure being
applied.
My second improvement is upon that kind or description of cartridge
(intended for bursting or becoming opened at or near the breech of a
gun), in which the case is formed so as to burst or open, and allow the
powder to escape, or partly to escape, therefrom, at the tail end, on
pressure being applied, or being otherwise acted upon. And the said
improvement consists in stiffening or strengthening the tail edge of the
cases of such cartridges (that is to say, the portion at the junction of or
intermediate between the sides and the tail end,) so that upon a cart-
ridge being forced down into the barrel of a gun which is adapted in
any way to arrest its progress within a suitably short distance from and
before being rammed entirely home into the breech, the said strengthened
tail edge being the part immediately or firstly arrested by the gun, shall
offer a suitable resistance for ensuring the bursting or opening of its
tail end or weak portion, by the complete ramming homo of the
cartridge.
My third improvement is upon the same kind or description of
cartridge as the second improvement, and consists in constructing the
tail end of the cases of such cartridges of a patch or piece so made and
secured to the body of the case as that when the cartridge is rammed
home the patch may separate from the sides of the case, and collapse
around a peg or stud projecting from the breech of the gun.
My fourth improvement is also upon the same kind or description of
cartridge secondly mentioned, and consists in constructing the tail end
of such cartridges with a supplementary or additional skeleton end or
projecting frame, instrument, or apparatus which (on the cartridge being
forced down the barrel of a gun) shall arrest the progress of the cart-

page_text: ridge within a suitably short distance from and before being rammed
entirely home into the breech, and shall offer a suitable resistance for
ensuring the bursting or opening of its tail end or weaker portion by
the complete ramming home of the cartridge.
My fifth improvement is also upon the same kind or description of
cartridge secondly mentioned, and consists in forming the cases of such
cartridges of a stiff material, and in placing the bursting part a short
distance within and from the tail end of the case, so as to effect tho
same object as in the fourth improvement.
My last improvement is in that kind or description of wads or
wadding which affords a seat or receptacle (of a conical or somewhat
conical shape) for the projectile, and consists in forming the same of
fluid pulp, or water leaf, or other suitable material, in moulds or forms
suitably arranged in a frame or apparatus, so as to form two or more of
such wads at one operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Coope Haddan in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Coope Haddan, Her special
licence that I, the said John Coope Haddan, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Coope
Haddan, 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

page_text: Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an- Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES, AND OF
WADS OR WADDING FOR FIFE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Coope Haddan, by an instrument in
writing under my hand 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 John Coope Haddan, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is. to bo performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):-
My first improvement is upon that kind or description of cartridge
(intended for bursting or being opened on insertion into or at the
muzzle of a gun) in which part or parts of the case are made thinner
or of less strength than other parts, so that on being compressed or
squeezed such thin part will burst, and allow the powder to leave or
And the said
escape, or partly escape, from the tail end of the case.
improvement consists in making one of the edges of the material
intended to form the cases of such cartridges with scollops, gores, or
suitably shaped projections thereon or added thereto, so that upon being
bent over or down they may become the tail end of the cartridge,
while the remaining portions may form the sides, or sides and front or
forward parts of the cartridges. Also in the bending over or down of
such scollops, gores, or suitably shaped portions made in the manner set
forth, and in so securing them when bent over or down as to burst or
open on pressure being applied.
:
The Figures 1 to 8, of the accompanying Drawings, illustrate the
manner in which this improvement is to be and may be performed.
Figure 1 shews a side and an end view of a bullet (a) adapted to the
wads hereafter mentioned, but the form or shape of which forms no part
of my Invention. Figure 2 shews a side view and section of a wad (b)
liereafter described, the shape or form of which forms no part of my
Invention. Figure 2 shews a section and plan view of a wad formed

page_text: .
of a series of annular discs punched out of felt or other suitable material,
which wad is suitable for my improved cartridges, but its shape or form
and its construction constitute no part of my Invention. Figure 3
shews the shape of the covering or case (c) of the cartridge, before being
made up, having gored projections (d, d,) on one edge, and the opposite
edge having portions nicked out of it as at (e, e,). It is of such length
that it may form a coil or cylinder of the required diameter, and be of
a double thickness, the edges being brought close up or nearly so to the
kink formed in the middle of the length, as shown at the Figure 4, and
not overlapping or making a treble thickness in any part. Figure 5 is
a side view of a case so constructed, shewing the gores d, d, bent down
to form a domed end or back to the cartridge, and as they extend only
half the length of the edge of the covering, the end when made up will
consequently be of a single thickness, the sides being of a double thick-
ness as before mentioned. Figure 6 is a view of the end complete,
which is to be covered over by a patch of thin paper as indicated by
the dotted circle, so as to keep the gores in position and shape as their
curved edges do not overlap, but only fit up against each other or
nearly so. The case (c) may be stamped out of thin silk, or woollen
fabric, or tin foil, or other material which will not ignite, nor be likely
to smoulder if ignited, and may be gummed together to form a case of
the required shape upon a removeable mandril or block. Figures 7
and 8 are a side view and longitudinal section of a complete cartridge
constructed with a case as above described. The component parts of
the cartridge are to be put together by first placing the improved case
in a hollow block or mould of corresponding form, then filling in the
requisite quantity of powder (marked 9, in the Drawing,) next the wad.
(b), and lastly the bullet ȧ, the conical part of which is ribbed or fluted
to fit itself well into the wad. The nicked ends e, e, are then to be
bent so as to overlap, and are to be gummed upon each other, but not
upon the bullet. This cartridge when removed from the hollow mould
is then complete, and is to be burst at the muzzle of the gun by the
pressure of the hand against the outside at or near the tail end of its
case.
My second improvement is upon that kind or description of cartridge

page_text: (intended for bursting or becoming opened at or near the breech of a
gun), in which the case is formed so as to burst or open, and allow the
powder to escape, or partly to escape therefrom, at the tail end, on pres-
sure being applied by a ramrod when loading. And the said improve-
ment consists in stiffening or strengthening the tail edge of the cases of 5
such cartridges, (that is to say, the portion at the junction of or inter-
mediate between the sides and the back or tail end,) so that upon a
cartridge being forced down into the barrel of a gun, which is adapted
in any way to arrest its progress within a suitably short distance from and
before being rammed entirely home into the breech, the said strengthened
the gun, shall
tail edge, being the part immediately or firstly arrested by
offer a suitable resistance for ensuring the bursting or opening of its back
or tail end or weak portion by the complete ramming home of the
cartridge.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of a complete cartridge illustrative
of this improvement. It is similar in all respects to the former, except
that it has (in addition a light wire or ring of metal or other material
(marked h), fixed at the tail end of the case in the manner shewn in
the end view, Figure 9", by bending over and pasting or gumming down
the projecting tongues or slips h*, formed on the edge of the case or
covering, as shown by the dotted lines in the Figure 3, and this may be
done either before or after putting on the patch over the gores. It
may be used with guns having breeches which narrow or diminish in
bore (as shewn by Figure 9), or having shoulders or projections (as
shewn at i, in the Figure 10), against which the ring may catch, so that
on ramming the charge the ring, which is to be of very nearly the full
diameter of the cartridge, will be prevented driving home to the extremity
of the breech, and consequently the side or body of the case will collapse,
and the back or tail end of the cartridge will burst open. Figure 11,
shows a ring intended to be used for cartridges also made as lastly
described, the projecting kinks k, k, in this ring being made to corre-
spond with the grooves of a rifle; such grooves are to be made to stop
short of the breech, and consequently in ramming the charge the ring
will not be able to pass further than the extremity of the grooves, and a
continued pressure will burst the back or tail end of the cartridge. The

page_text: statening or strengthening of the cage may be my
suitable manner.
My third improvement is upon the same kind or description of
cartridge as the second improvement, and consists in forming the cases
of such cartridges of a stiff material, and in placing the bursting part a
short distance within and from the tail end of the case, so as to effect
the same object as in the next improvement. Figure 12 is a longitu-
dinal section of a complete cartridge constructed according to this
improvement, which consists of a bullet and wad as before, but it has a
stiff case c, (of pasteboard or other suitable material,) the tail end of
which projects beyond the chamber or cap d, which holds the powder.
This cap is formed of a narrow slip of silk or other material, having
a gored edge, as shewn at Figure 12. Figure 18 is a side view of
such a cap, shewing the gores bent down, which may be covered by a
patch of thin paper pasted over them; and Figure 14, an end view,
shewing the case c, around it. In making up this cartridge I first
paste or gum the plain or band portion of the cap against tho iuner
surface of the case in the required position. I then insert the powder,
the wad, and the bullet in the order mentioned, and I secure the
latter by pasting a strip of paper round and partly on to the case, and
partly on to the bullet. On ramming this cartridge the tail end of the
case will first arrest its progress, when the pressure being continued,
the gores of the cap being the weakest portion will yield and open, as
desired.
My fourth improvement is also upon the same kind or description of
cartridge as the second improvement, and consists in constructing the
tail end of such cartridges with a supplementary or additional skeleton
end or projecting frame, instrument, or apparatus, which (on the cart-
ridge being forced down the barrel of a gun) shall arrest the progress of
the cartridge within a suitably short distance from and before being
rammed entirely home into the breech, and shall offer a suitable resis-
tance for ensuring the bursting or opening of its tail end or weaker
portion by the complete ramming home of the cartridge.
Figures 15 and 16 are two views of a skeleton end or frame, which
may be used in constructing cartridges according to this improvement,

page_text: consisting of a wire ring, with three additional wires arranged in sonic-
what of a conical form, and soldered together. The ring is to be
'secured to the cartridge in the manner shewn by the Figure 9*, described
under my second improvement. In other respects the construction.of
the cartridge is similar to that described under my first improvement.
On ramming this cartridge the skeleton end or frame will first arrest its
progress at the breech of the gun, when, the pressure being continued,
the gores of the tail end, being the weakest portion, will yield and open
as désired. Any other, suitable supplementary skeleton end or pro-
jecting, framo, instrument, or apparatus may be used in place of that
represented in the said Figures 15 and 16.
My fifth improvement is also upon the same kind or description of
cartridge as the second improvement, and consists in constructing
the tail end of the cases of such cartridges of a patch or piece, so
made and, secured to the body of the case as that when the cart-
ridge is rammed home the patch may separate from the back or tail
edge of the case, and -collapse around a peg or stud projecting from
the breech of the gun.
Figure 17 shows several views of the patch (m,) or tail end of the
covering or case of a cartridge constructed according to this improve-
ment; Figure 18 is a longitudinal section of the cartridge complete,
in which it will be seen that the patch is applied to the case c, with its
domed end projecting inwards. I make this case of pasteboard or
some other suitable stiff material, and the patch I stamp out of glazed
linen or thin leather, or some other suitable material somewhat tougher
or less likely to tear than paper, and I gum, paste, or cement its edges
against the edges of the case, not so as to overlap, but simply to be in
contact, with each other, the gum, paste, or cement filling up any
crevices, and thus forming a complete joint, but one which will
-yield under pressure. Figure 19 shews this cartridge rammed home.
in the barrel of a gun adapted for bursting it by having a pro-
jecting pin or stud n, which acts against the patch, which is intended
to collapse or fold round the pin or stud as represented in the
Figure.
:
I wish it to be understood generally of all my improved cartridges,

page_text: that although I have represented them in the Drawings as constructed
with a peculiarly shaped bullet, and an annular or concave wad, any
other suitable form of bullet and of wad may be substituted, or
these cartridges may be made with shot for sporting purposes. The
exterior of the bullet is formed as represented, in order that its ribs or
fluted portions may take a firm hold in the wad, so as the better to
ensure that both may turn together in a rifled barrel.
My last improvement is in that kind or description of wads or
wadding which affords a seat or receptacle of a conical or somewhat
conical shapo for the projectile, and consists in forming the same of
fluid pulp or water leaf in moulds or forms suitably arranged in a
frame or apparatus, so as to form two or more of such wads at one
operation.
The Figures 20, 21, and 22, represent the apparatus I employ in
the manufacture of wadding according to this improvement. Figure 20
is a transverse sectional view of a frame or box formed into a series of
moulds or dies, and consisting of two plates, wo and x, that marked w
being a thick plate through which a number of plain cylindrical holes
are bored, and the other, a, being a thinner plate through which a
corresponding number of somewhat smaller cylindrical holes are also
bored, but the bore is for a little way through this plate of the same
diameter as that of the plate w, thus forming in each hole a shoulder
or projection for the cores w*, which are accurately turned to fit as
shewn. The plates are supposed to be firmly screwed or connected
together. Figure 21 is a plan view of the die boxes. Figure 28 is an
edge view of a plate y, carrying a series of plungers z, corresponding
with the die boxes. In using this apparatus I place the plate w, on a
sheet of wire gauze or coarse blanket, and I then cause water leaf or
pulp (as ordinarily used in the manufacture of paper) to flow into and
fill the several die boxes, and after allowing it to settle for some littlo
time, I then place the die boxes in their former position on the plate
x, and use the plungers, and thus squeeze the solid portion of the
water leaf into a solid mass, all or nearly all the remainder of tho
water passing off through fine holes made for the purpose, either

page_text: in the core or other part of the mould, but not.represented in tho
Figures.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Coope Haddan, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, One 5
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
J. C. HADDAN. (L.S.)