IMPROVEMENTS IN MEASURING FOR AND MAKING COLLARS FOR HORSES AND OTHER CATTLE
Year: 1826

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
FREEMAN, of Wakefield, in the County of York, Saddler, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by Ilis Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Fourth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-six, in the seventh year of Ilis reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Daniel Freeman, His especial
licence that I, the said Daniel Freeman, my exors, admors, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Daniel Freeman, my exors, adññiors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEASURING FOR
AND MAKING COLLARS FOR HORSES AND OTHER CATTLE;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Daniel Freeman, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Daniel Freeman, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in the following description thereof (that is to say):-
The great advantages aimed at in these improvements are the better fitting
of the collar to the animal's neck and shoulders for which it is designed, and
the superior lightness and neatness of its appearance. These objects are effected
in the following manner:-A frame of wood, iron, steel, whalebone, or other
convenient material is provided, of a proper shape to fit the animal's neck and
shoulders, which is effected by cutting, bending, or otherwise forming it. To
this frame of wood, whalebone, or other material, is an iron, brass, or copper
plate or plates, on one or both sides, and which is strongly rivetted together.
In this wooden or other material frame, with its iron, brass, or copper plates
at proper distances from the lower extremities, are inserted and revitted fast
two brass, iron, or copper sockets, one on each side, for the reception of two
iron bolts to screw into these sockets, and to terminate externally with an
iron, brass, plated, or other metal ring, doe, square, chain, buckle, or any other
suitable material for the reception of or fastening the shoulder tugs or braces
to, and I insert two more iron sockets to collars that are wanted for pair or
four harness, for the reception of two other similar bolts, terminating with
rings or dees, &c. for the pole straps to pass through; though one string is only
necessary to each collar, yet for convenience of shifting I insert two sockets to
change to off or near side, and in the spare socket I insert a screw with
a head, and at a proper distance above the middle sockets two other sockets,
with similar bolts terminating in rings, dees, squares, or any other shape, for
receiving the reans. By the adoption of these four bolts for single harness,
and five bolts when for pair, four, or six horses, and sockets with their rings,
&c. the use of hames and forwale or rim of the collar are dispensed with; but
the collar equally admit of hames by forming a wale or rim of two pieces of
wood of suitable shape and thickness, and fitted to the outside of the frame
previously described; these are covered with leather, and the lining sew'd to
them, and drawn over the padding, as in the usual way, and side pieces are
added, as on the old principle. The wale or rim may be stuffed with straw as
usual, provided it be made to open and close along with it, as described below.
After it is firmly attached to it by sewing and nailing, which any competent
workman will be able to effect. The frame already mentioned is formed
of two parts or sides, made to open by a strong joint or hinge at the top or
bottom; the hinge at top is certainly to be preferred, which allows it to be put
upon the animal's neck without forcing it over the head: at the other end of

page_text: the two sides of the frame are also hinges or staples, through which a bolt
passes, and screws at the end into a nut pierced with a worm for the purpose
of receiving this end of the bolt. But it is not necessary to be confined to
this mode of fastening, as any other may be used which will only hold the
ends of the collar securely together. These hinges at top and bottom may be
made to slide in staples or grooves to lengthen and widen the collar to fit
different sized horses, and secured there by pins, screws, rivets, or any other
means of fastening. The inside of the above-described frame of wood, whale-
bone, or any other convenient material, is padded or stuffed with openly wove
woollen cloth or blanketing, cut into such slips and laid in as many layers as may
be necessary to make it accurately fit the animal's neck and shoulders, and possess
a comfortable elasticity. Flocks, curled hair, or any other suitable material, is
occasionally used, though none seem to possess a superiority over the woollen
cloth. To take the shape of the animal's neck with accuracy, a frame is used,
made of wood or other convenient material bent in a proper form to go over the
neck, and opening also with a hinge or any other convenient method, and pierced
with holes from one end to the other, at about three inches distant from each
other, through which metal pins are put in a direction perpendicular to the
animal's neck. To give these pins a firmness in their places without rendering
them difficult to be moved, the holes are bushed with cork. These pins being
drawn out or pushed inwards as occasion may require, enable any person to
take the shape of the animal's neck with accuracy, an outline of which may be
transferred to paper, and sent to any distance, so that the animal may bo
correctly fitted, at whatever distance ho may be from the collar maker. The
pins being numbered on each side of the frame, the distance of the opposite
ones may be taken, and the shape of the animal's neck be described in a letter
no less correctly than conveyed by a drawing. These frames, for their more
convenient portability, are some of them made with a joint in the middle of
each side, by means of which they can be folded into half their necessary
length, and when used are made firm by a catch or hasp on the sides.
As there are several parts of my improved collars which are not new in
their construction, I wish to observe that my claims of Invention consist,―
First, in the framing which gives firmness to the collar.
Secondly, in the introduction of joints or hinges, by which contrivance the
difficulty and inconvenience attendant upon the putting it on, especially with
animals at all spirited and refractory, is avoided.
Thirdly, in the introduction of sockets to supersede the necessity of hames.
And,
Fourthly, in the introduction of woollen cloth or blanketing to pad the collar.

page_text: Having described my improvements in the most exact manner I could, and
so I think as is easy to be understood and practised by any skilful workman.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Freeman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-six.
AIRLEY, Extra.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-third day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1826, the aforesaid Daniel Freeman came before
our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.