CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL 'BLANKS' WHICH ARE TO BE SUB- SEQUENTLY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FILES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Dodge, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL 'BLANKS' WHICH ARE TO BE SUB-
SEQUENTLY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FILES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
THE SAME."
Sealed the 25th April 1865, and dated the 4th November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Dodge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th November 1864.
I, JAMES DODGE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL BLANKS' WHICH ARE TO BE SUB
SEQUENTLY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FILES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
SAME," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the manufacture and formation of the pieces of
metal termed "file blanks," the surfaces of which are afterwards eut and made
into files.
The Invention relates, first, to that part of the "file blank" termed the
'tang" (the pointed part usually fitted, into the handle), and consists in the
use of a series of matrices or dies, one of which is formed in, or separately

page_text: secured to a piece attached to the head of a steam or other hammer, the other
being formed in, or separately secured to a piece attached to an anvil block.
In the head and block, or to the piece attached thereto, cutters are secured,
which operate in conjunction with each other, and which come nearly together
when the head and block are at their nearest point, and so partially divide the
metal (from which the "tang" is to be made) from the blade, and thereby
the shoulder is formed; a stop placed at a suitable distance regulates the
quantity of metal. The small piece thus partly separated is then placed by
the workmen in the matrices above-mentioned, which are formed therein of
different bevils or depths, one to taper the flat sides of the "tang," and the
other deeper to taper the edges as required. By turning the "tang," and
submitting it to the action of the respective bevils or tapers, the "tang" is
drawn out tapered and formed as required.
The second part of the Invention relates to the "blade" of the file on
which the subsequent cutting is formed, and consists in the use of a similar
arrangement of swages, dies, or matrices, one pair being sufficiently deep to
act upon and form the edges of the "blades," the others closing nearer
together to form or shape the flat sides of the "blade." These duplicate dies
or "swages" are secured to or recessed in a lever press actuated by cams,
which cause the dies to move to and from each other and give form to the
blade of metal placed between them.
The second portion of the Invention is also applicable to straightening file
blanks which have been bent or twisted during manufacture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Dodge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2
4th May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
DODGE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters s
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto.
me, the said James Dodge, Her special license that I, the said James

page_text: Dodge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Dodge, 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL BLANKS WHICH ARE TO BE SUB-
SEQUENTLY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE. OF FILES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Dodge, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 James Dodge, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to the manufacture and formation of the pieces of
metal termed "file blanks," the surface of which are afterwards cut and made
into files.
The Invention relates, first, to that part of the "file blank" termed the
"tang" (the pointed part usually fitted into the handle), and consists in the
use of a series of matrices or dies, one of which is formed in or separately
secured to a piece attached to the head of a steam or other hammer, the other
being formed in or separately secured to a piece attached to an anvil block.
In the head and block, or to the piece attached thereto, cutters are securod
which operate in conjunction with each other, and which come nearly together
when the head and block are at their nearest point, and so partially divide the
metal from the blade, and thereby the shoulder is formed; a stop at a suitable
distance regulates the quantity of metal. The small piece thus partly
separated is then placed by the workman in the matrices above-mentioned,
which are formed therein of different bevils or depths, one to taper the flat
sides of the "tang," and the other deeper to taper the edges as required; by.
turning the tang, and submitting it to the action of the respective bevils or
tapers, the "tang" is drawn out tapered and formed as required.
'
The second part of the Invention relates to the "blade" of the file on which.
the subsequent cutting is formed, and consists in the use of a similar arrange-.

page_text: ment of swages, dies, or matrices, one pair being sufficiently deep to act upon
and form the edges of the "blades," the others closing nearer together to form
or shape the flat sides of the "blade." These duplicate dies or " swages
secured to or recessed in between them.
are
The second portion of the Invention is also applicable to straightening file
blanks which have been bent or twisted during manufacture.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of
about three inches to the foot, similar letters of reference being marked upon
corresponding parts on all the Figures.
Fig. 1 represents the elevation of that portion of a steam hammer contain-
ing the hammer head and anvil block, and attached to which are shewn the
matrices and dies employed to form the "tang" of the file blank. Figs. 2, 3,
and 4 are respectively detached sectional views of the matrices and dies taken
through the lines A, B, and C. Figs. 5 and 6 are sections of the matrices
employed for straightening the file blanks which have been bent or twisted
during manufacture. In Fig. 1, a a is the framing or uprights of a steam
hammer; 6 is a piece of metal secured to the head of the steam hammer, to
which is attached the die c, the duplicate or matrix c¹ being separately secured
to a piece d attached to the anvil block e. In the pieces 6 and d attached
to the hammer head and anvil block, the cutters are secured as seen in Fig. 2.
These cutters operate in conjunction with other, and come nearly together
when the head and block are at their nearest po to each other, and so
partially divide the metal from which the "tang" to be made from the blade,
and thereby form the shoulder of the file bank; the stop f¹ regulates the
quantity of metal required to form the "ang;" the small piece thus partly
separated is then placed in the matriccó c and c¹, that portion of the matrices
shewn in Fig. 3 elongating and tapering the edges of the "tang," and that
portion shewn in Fig. 4 similarly acting upon the flat sides of the same. In
Figs. 5 and 6 the "blade" of the file after being rolled, and upon which the
subsequent cutting is performed, is placed between the matrices f and g
contained in the hammer head and anvil block of a steam hammer, so
that when the flat sides or edges of the blade are placed between such
matrices it becomes straightened, and also receives the necessary and
required form.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the employment and use of the matrices and dies,
and the general arrangement and application of the apparatus, for the manu-

page_text: facture of metal "blanks," which are to be subsequently employed in the
manufacture of files as herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated
in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Dodge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
JAMES DODGE. (L.S.)