IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOBBINS AND SPOOLS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Preston, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Spindle and Flyer Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOBBINS AND SPOOLS."
Sealed the 11th May 1853, and dated the 11th March 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Preston at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th March 1853.
I, FRANCIS PRESTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Spindle and Flyer Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOBBINS AND
SPOOLS" to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in manufacturing bobbins and spools of
malleable cast iron, or other cast metals, either with or without flanges,
to be used in place of the wooden bobbins and spools now used in
preparing and spinning cotton, flax, and other fibrous materials.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis Preston, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 9th September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
FRANCIS PRESTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Spindle
and Flyer Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Francis Preston, Her special licence that I, the
said Francis Preston, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Francis Preston, 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOBBINS
AND SPOOLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francis
Preston, 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 Francis Preston, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:
My Invention consists in manufacturing bobbins and spools of
malleable cast iron or other cast metals, instead of wood or wrought
metal, as has been customary heretofore. And in order that: my Invention
may be fully understood and readily carried into effect I will proceed
to describe the means pursued by me, reference being had to the
drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures marked thereon.

page_text: .
Figure 1, is a section through a bobbin suitable for the machines
used in manufacturing cotton and other fibrous materials, and called
slubbing or roving frames. Figure 2, is. a section through a bobbin
particularly applicable to machines used in spinning flax. The groove
in the bottom flange of this bobbin is intended for the cord, to which a
weight is attached for increasing the friction or drag between the
bobbin and the plate, on which it bears in the usual manner. The cord
and weight may in some cases, be dispensed with, as the weight of the
bobbin itself, when made of cast metal, is rather greater than when
made of wood; and by increasing or diminishing the thickness of the
metal the weight can be regulated to suit the amount of friction or drag
required. Another advantage possessed by cast-metal bobbins is that
the top and bottom flanges being much thinner than the wooden ones,
a greater traverse can be given in the same space; or, if the traverse is
left the same, the spindles on which the bobbins revolve can be made
shorter. Figure 3, is a section of a bobbin suitable for the spinning
machines called throstles. Figure 4, is a section of a spool or bobbin
without flanges, for a roving frame. Figure 5, is a section of a spool
for the machines known in the trade as "Mason's patent roving
frames;" and Figure 6 is a section of a spool with a conical base, also
used in roving frames. I prefer to make the patterns for bobbins and
spools in two halves, and to take out the centre part by means of a core,
in the manner well known to persons conversant with casting metals.
When the bobbins or spools are made of malleable or other cast iron,
they must be annealed in the ordinary manner; the holes, or that part
of them which revolves on the spindle, must then be rimered or bored
out to the requisite size, and after the bobbins or spools have been
painted or varnished they are fit for use. When bobbins or spools are
cast of brass or other suitable metal, the painting or varnishing may be
dispensed with. Bobbins and spools of various other shapes and sizes
might be shewn, but those above referred to are sufficient to illustrate
the nature of my Invention.

page_text: What I claim as my Invention in the manufacture of bobbins and
spools is making them of malleable cast iron, or other cast metals.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Preston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
FRANCIS PRESTON. (L.S.)