IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LATCH NEEDLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tatham, of the Firm of Amos Tatham and Son,
of Ilkeston, in the County of Derby, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF LATCH NEEDLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tatham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1880.
WILLIAM TATHAM, of the Firm of Amos Tatham and Son, of Ilkeston, in the
County of Derby. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LATCH NEEDLES."
This Invention relates to what are known as latch needles employed in the
hosiery and lace trades and for other purposes, and consists in forming the eye of
the needle in two parts, either by punching or sawing, so as to leave a solid
substance in that part of the eye which heretofore was occupied by the rivet
forming an axle for the latch or tumbler to turn upon; the solid substance so left
forms the axle upon which the latch or tumbler turns. The inner end of such latch
or tumbler, instead of having a hole drilled or punched in it through which the
axle or rivet was passed, has its inner end either turned up or punched out to form
a U shape which is hooked upon the solid substance left in the eye of the needle,
and then has one side of the U bent over it, thus forming an eye to the latch or
tumbler which turns upon the axle formed by the solid substance left in the eye of
the needle. Thus obviating the necessity of punching a hole in each side of the
needle eye, consequently the needle is stronger, and as there is no rivet the needle
will wear much longer and make better work than the ordinary rivetted needles
heretofore employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Tatham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th April
1880.
WILLIAM TATHAM, of the Firm of Amos Tatham and Son, of Ilkeston, in the
County of Derby. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAnufacture oF LATCH NEEDLES."
"
This Invention relates to what are known as latch needles employed in the
hosiery and lace trades and for other purposes, and consists in forming the eye of
the needle in two parts, either by punching or sawing, so as to leave a solid
substance in that part of the eye which heretofore was occupied by the rivet
forming an axle for the latch or tumbler to turn upon, the solid substance so left
forms the axle upon which the latch or tumbler turns; the inner end of such latch
or tumbler, instead of having a hole drilled or punched in it through which the axle
or rivet was passed, has its inner end either turned up or punched out to form a
U shape which is hooked upon the solid substance left in the eye of the needle, and
then has one side of the U bent over it, thus forming an eye to the latch or tumbler
which turns upon the axle formed by the solid substance left in the eye of the
needle, thus obviating the necessity of punching a hole in each side of the needle
eye, consequently the needle is stronger, and as there is no rivet the needle will
wear much longer and make better work than the ordinary rivetted needles
heretofore employed.
Figure 2 is a plan of the stem of the needle before the hook is formed at the end,
shewing the top side of the eye in which the latch is placed.
Figure 3 is a side view of the latch more particularly referred to hereafter.
This Invention relates to what are known as latch needles employed in the
hosiery and lace trades and also for other purposes, and consists in forming the
eye A of the needle in two parts, as shewn at Figure 2. Such eye may be
formed either by punching or sawing or by a combination of both processes; in either
case a solid substance is left in that part of the eye which heretofore was occupied
by the rivet which formed an axle for the latch or tumbler to turn upon; the solid
Bubstance so left in the eye forms the axle upon which the latch or tumbler turns.
The inner end of the latch or tumbler I employ, instead of having a hole drilled or
punched in it, as heretofore, I form such end hook shaped as shewn at B, Figure 3.
Such hooked end may be formed by punching a piece out or by turning up the end.
The inner end of the latch or tumbler is then hooked upon the solid substance left
in the eye of the needle and closed upon it, and upon which it turns. By such
means the inner end is turned round in the direction of the grain of the metal,
thereby forming a much stronger ended latch than can possiby be made by
flattening and then punching or drilling a hole through it, consequently a latch
thus formed will last considerably longer than those heretofore constructed, and by
leaving a solid substance in the eye of the needle to act as an axle for the latch to
turn upon,
it obviates the necessity of making a hole in each side of the needle eye
to receive an axle, consequently the sides of the eye of the needle are much stronger,
and there not being a rivet to work loose the needle will wear much longer and
make better work than the ordinary rivetted needles, the whole of the defects
experienced in such needles being done away with.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner (the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,
First. Forming the inner end of the latch by turning it up in the direction of
the grain of the metal.
Second. For any form of latch needle in which the axle is formed from the solid
wire forming the stem.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tatham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.
WILLIAM TATHAM. (L.S.)