AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BARRELS OF ALL DESCRIPTION OP FIRE-ARMS AND ARTILLERY
Year: 1811

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
HENRY JAMES and JOHN JONES, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third
did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the
Twenty-sixth day of July, in the fifty-first year of His reign, give and
grant unto us, the said Henry James and John Jones, our exors,
adñiors, and assigns, His special licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that we, the said Henry James and John Jones, our exors,
adñiors, and assigns, 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, and also in His
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, our Invention of "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BARRELS OF ALL DESCRIPTION OP
FIRE-ARMS AND ARTILLERY;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso, that if we, the said Henry James and John Jones,
or one of us, shall not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
by an instrument in. writing under our hands and seals, or the hand
and seal of one of us, and cause the same to be enrolled in His

page_text: Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then
the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever
thereby granted, should utterly cease, determine, and become void, as
in and by the said Letters Patent, relation being thereunto had, may
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the sail proviso, we, the
said Henry James and John Jones, do hereby declare that our said
Invention is described, ascertained, and performed in manner following,
that is to say:
Take a skelp or piece of iron adapted for the purpose of making
barrels for muskets or any other fire-arms, let it he turned or brought
into a form proper for welding, heat it in an air or reverberatory furnace
or a hollow fire, or any other fire proper for the purpose, and which is
to be so constructed as to give a regular welding heat to one half of
the barrel at a time, or to any other given proportion desired. When
it is heated to a proper welding heat the maundril or stamp is to be
expeditiously put into it, and the barrel placed or held on an anvil or
swage grooved to fit the form of it, upon which several hammers worked
by steam, water, or any other mechanical power are caused to fall or
strike with great velocity upon such portion of the barrel desired to be
welded, and when sufficiently welded and hammered, which would
be well known to a person accustomed to weld gun barrels, the stamp
or maundril is to be quickly struck out, before the hot barrel has time
to contract too close or adhere upon it to prevent the stamp or maundril
from being got out while the barrel is hot; but should that be the case
the barrel must be left until it is cold, when it should be lightly
hammered, which will cause the barrel to expand a little round the
stamp or maundril, and loosen it sufficiently to come out. And for the
purpose the better to facilitate the getting out of the stamp or maundril
from so large a portion of the barrel welded at a time, let the stamp
or maundril be made of as regular, smooth, and perfectly round form as
possible, and of a gradual gentle tapor from heel to point. The number,.
weight, and velocity of the hammers may be varied according to the
description of barrel desired; but for musket barrels, which are generally

page_text: from three feet three inches to three feet six inches long, when it is
wished to weld them at two heats we recommend six hammers. The
hamers should be ranged in a straight line side by side, as true and
as close together as they will work free, and covering a space in length
of about twenty inches and in width about four or five inches. They
should work very true upon the swage or anvil, and rise and fall together,
or nearly together, or alternately; the faces of the hammers may be
either even or hollowed out a little in those parts which fall upon the
barrel when welding. The hammers may be fixed, connected, and
worked by machinery, according to any of the well known methods of
working hammers; or, instead of welding the barrels by hammers as
before described, they may be welded between a pair of rollers grooved
to fit the form of the barrel, the rollers having either an alternate or rotary
motion, and worked by steam, water, or other mechanical power; but we
consider the hammers to be the best method, as making the soundest
and most perfect barrels. In either way care should be taken to have
the edges, seams, or joints of the skelp or piece of iron placed true
together to give the iron a regular welding heat, and to put in and.
take out the stamp or maundrel as quick as possible. The advantages
of our aforesaid method of heating barrels in an hollow fire or an air or
reverberatory furnace, and welding than by hammers or rollers worked
by machinery, is, that we are enabled to make them much sounder and
more accurately and expeditiously than they are at present made. We
prevent cinders, ashes, or dirt from getting into the inside of the barrels
or between the welding seam or joint, which now often happens, and
which causes the barrels to bore black, or otherwise to prove unsound.
Our Invention also extends to the turning of all kinds and descrip-
tions of barrels for muskets or other fire-arms in an improved turning
machine or lathe, with cutters or sharp steel instruments or tools
worked by machinery with steam, water, or any other mechanical power.
The turning machine or lathe is constructed and worked as follows:-
There are three sliding bars, in length about four feet six inches, in
width about eight or nine inches, and in thickness about two or three
inches, or any other length, width, and thickness, according to the
description of barrel to be turned or strength required, the edges of

page_text: which sliding bars are made to correspond to the exact taper or form
the barrel is required to be when turned. Two of the sliding bars are
placed horizontally, and on the same plane with the edges which
correspond to the form of the barrel innermost opposite each other,
and at about four or five inches apart, or at any other convenient
distance. The other or third sliding bar is placed edgeways over the
interval between the horizontal bars with the edge or side which
corresponds to the form of the barrel lowermost, and at or about four
or five inches or any other convenient distance above the corresponding
sides or edges of the two horizontal bars. The ends of the three sliding
bars are secured to a strong frame, and adjusted to a proper distance
from each other. Upon one of the horizontal sliding bars is fitted and
adapted a slide carriage or frame, to which the turning tools or cutters
are secured and adjusted by screws or otherwise to their proper
distances for acting as turning tools or cutters. This slide carriage or
frame is made to move with the tools or cutters very true and steady,
and is guided in its direction by the edge of the sliding bar, which
corresponds to the taper or form of the barrel. On the other horizontal
sliding bar, and on the upper or third sliding bar, are similar slides,
frames, or carriages, upon or to which are fixed bearers or guides, which
slides, frames, or carriages, with the bearers or guides, are also made to
fit very true to the sliding bars, and to move along them so as to be
guided and directed by them to follow the exact form of the barrel.
The black barrel should be first bored, and for the purpose of turning
it true the inside should be set as straight as possible; there is a steel
maundril made to fit the inside of the barrel, upon which it is secured to
prevent its turning round upon the maundril. The ends of the maundril
work either with journeys and collars or centers, but we prefer journeys
and collars. The maundril, with the barrel secured fast upon it, is then
put into the lathe or turning machine in its proper position, which is
nearly in a central horizontal line with the inner edges of the three
sliding bars, which correspond to the taper or form of the barrel when
turned.
The maundril, with the barrel upon it, is turned by a spindle, which
is, as occasion requires, thrown in or out of gear with the machinery.

page_text: There may be one, two, or more cutters or turning tools placed close
together, or nearly so, and following each other; they should be adjusted
to their places at the end of the barrel to take or turn off' as much as is
necessary to give it its proper form and size. The bearer or guide from
the horizontal sliding bar must be adjusted to bear against the opposite
side of the barrel to the cutters or turning tools, and the bearer or
guide from the upper or third sliding bar adjusted to bear on the top
side of the barrel. The bearers or guides are to be fixed or placed to
follow a little after the turning tools or cutters, and to bear against the
barrel where the uneven part is taken off'; and when the turning lathe
or machine is at work they are to keep the same relative position
throughout the lenth to the end of the barrel.
The use of the bearers or guides is, to keep the barrel steady to
prevent its vibrating or springing from, the cutters or turning tools,
which it otherwise would do. The slides, frames, or carriages, with
the turning tools or cutters, and bearers or guides, are made to draw
or move along the sliding bars by screws or by any other of the well
known methods in use for giving progressive motion to such like
machinery. The spindle which turns the maundril and barrel, and the
screws which draw or move along the slide frames or carriages, with
the turning tools or cutters, and bearers or guides, are connected and
work together by spur or tooth wheels, having the relative velocities
proper for turning of wrought iron. The turning tools or cutters and
bearers or guides being secured and adjusted to their places, and the
spindle which turns the maundril and barrel being thrown into gear or
connected with the machinery, the barrel is driven round, and the
carriages or frames, with the cutters or turning tools, and bearers or
guides, move regularly along it; the turning tools or cutters eutting or
turning off the outer surface and finishing it as they go on from one
end to the other, the bearers or guides following and steadying the
barrel. When done, the lathe, or machine, or spindle is thrown out of
gear or unconnected with the machinery, and the barrel taken out; or
the outer surface of the barrel may be turned or taken of by roughing
tools or cutters only at the first operation, and finished with finishing
tools or cutters afterwards, or it may be upon the grindstone to be

page_text: finished; but this we wish to avoid, being desirous to do away with the
use of the grindstones for the purpose of grinding barrels altogether;
and we find we turn the barrels very true and perfect into a state
proper for filing, with the turning tools or cutters once passing along
it by one roughing and one finishing tool or cutter roughing and
finishing at the same operation. The same care should be taken in
turning barrels as is necessary to be observed or taken in turning other
articles of wrought iron. Or instead of two sliding bars upon which the
bearers or guides are drawn or move along, as before described, there
may be only one, which should be placed or fixed in an obtuse angular
position of about one hundred and thirty-five degrees with the horizontal
sliding bar upon which the cutters or turning tools move, with the lower
or inner edge which corresponds to the form of the barrel about four
or five inches, or any other convenient distance, above the corresponding
edge of the horizontal bar. Upon this angular sliding bar a slide car-
riage or frame, with a bearer or guide, moves along, the bearer or guide
so made that it shall bear upon the top side of the barrel, and at the
same against the side opposite the cutters or turning tools, and made to
move or draw along the sliding bar after the cutters or turning tools,
as before described, to follow the exact taper or form the barrel is
required to be when turned; but we consider the first-mentioned
method of the two sliding bars for the bearers or guides to draw or
move along to the steadiest and best.
The machine or lathe, as before described, may be made of cast iron,
or any other metal or substance adapted for the purpose. The principle
and advantages of our Invention of turning barrels for muskets or other
fire-arms in a turning machine or lathe, with turning tools or cutters,
by machinery worked by steam, water, or other mechanical power, are,
that when the barrel is fixed in its place, and the turning tools or cnt-
ters and bearers or guides adjusted to their places, and the spindle which
turns the maundrel and barrel and moves or draws along the turning
tools or cutters, and bearers or guides, as before described, is thrown
into gear or connected with the machinery, that the barrel should be
turned without any farther aid or assistance from the workmen, whereby
one skilful foreman and an assistant may attend three, four, or more

page_text: turning machines or lathes, and finish a greater number of barrels ready
for filing much more perfect and true than they can be done by grinding
or by any other method now in use with the same power and manual
labour. Ground barrels are very frequently unequal sided, one side of the
barrel being often near twice as thick, or having twice the substance of
metal in it, as the other; whereas by our method of turning the barrels
they are made more equal or thick-sided, and consequently much stronger
with the same weight of metal than if the barrel was unequal or thick
and thin sided, and when the barrel is set straight a more certain and
much better aim may be taken; these we consider great advantages in
the use and value of a musket or other barrel. We also do away with
the use of expensive grindstones, from which dangerous accidents very
frequently happen, and the necessity of grinding the barrels, which is at
all times a very laborious, dangerous, and unhealthy business, whereas
our method of turning barrels is comparatively a safe, easy, and healthful
occupation.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry James and John Jones, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twentieth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twelve.