IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEARS FOR CUTTING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the
Geage
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEARS
FOR CUTTING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."-A communication from
abroad by Hugues François Aubert, of No. 15, Passage des Petites
Ecuries, Paris, France, Edge Tool Maker.
Sealed the 5th April 1864, and dated the 12th October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th October 1863.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHEARS FOR CUTTING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," (a communication to me
from abroad by Hugues François Aubert, of No. 15, Passage des Petites
Ecuries, Paris, France, Edge Tool Maker,) to be as follows:-
These improvements have for object the production of shears which will cut
asheet of metal, cardboard, or other substance without causing any variation
in the direction of the two cut parts during or after the work. Shears made
according to this Invention enter as easily into the piece to be cut as scissors
into a piece of cloth, and the fingers placed above or below the sheet,
according to the method of operating, are never cramped or embarassed, by
their sliding. These results are obtained by causing the two sides of the sheet
to pass over the same blade. To complete these shears nippers or pincers are

page_text: added for cutting iron wire, saving the blades of the shears from the deteriora-
tion they suffer when used for such purpose. The arrangement of the shears
permits a strong bolt to be used instead of the ordinary rivet, so that they
may easily be taken to pieces or put together. The blades, being eccentrical,
cut more easily and do not permit the objects seized to evade their action,
consequently they cut leather perfectly.
The large shears shewn Figure 6 (Sheet 2) of the Drawings hereunto
annexed and forming part of this Provisional Specification, will be found of
great service in cutting copper platbands for the navy.
In Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings, Figure 1 is an illustration of an
improved shears shewing the grooved side; Figure 2, boss side of same;
Figure 3, same closed; Figure 4, side view of blade carrying the boss and
the groove; Figure 5, shears for cutting tin or pewter; and Figure 6
(Sheet 2), shears with chariot or slide rest for cutting platbands.
A, B, groove for the passage of one of the sides of the cut sheet; C, D, edge
of the raised part or boss where slides the other side of the cut sheet D, C ;
L, K, boss on the blade in which lodges the groove A, B; G, nippers for
cutting iron wire; H, Figures 1, 2, uncut sheet as it is being seized by the
blades; and B, E, I, D, F, I, position of the cut parts after the action of the
shears; M, N, P, Q, Figure 6 (Sheet 2) moveable platband serving as
fulcrum to one side of the cut sheet; S and S¹ (same Figure) slots serving to
set or regulate the platband; M, N, P, Q, and V, recall screw regulating the
opening of the blades.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office 2
on the 11th April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 3
I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEARS FOR CUTTING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," (a
communication to me from abroad by Hugues François Aubert, of No. 15,
Passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, France, Edge Tool Maker,) upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward. Gedge, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 William Edward Gedge, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto
annexed, and forming part of this Specification, and to the figures and letters
of reference placed thereon:-
:
The object of this Invention is to produce shears which will cut a sheet of
metal, cardboard, or other substance without causing any variation in the
direction of the two cut parts either during or after the work. Shears made
according to this Invention enter as easily into the piece to be cut as scissors
into a
piece of cloth, and the fingers placed above or below the sheet,
according to the method of operating, are never cramped or embarassed by
its sliding. These results are obtained by causing the two sides of the sheet
to pass on the same blade, and shears so constructed may be employed in a
great number of cases in which those in ordinary use do not answer, such as
cutting a tube longitudinally, cutting any sheet fixed at its two sides so that
it cannot separate, or cutting platbands or fillets, which remain perfectly
straight after the passage of the tool instead of turning into spirals, as is the
case when cut by the ordinary shears. These improved shears are completed
by the addition of nippers or pincers for cutting iron wire, so that the work-
mian having in his band a convenient tool will no longer use his shears for
such work, as is now constantly done in workshops to the great deterioration
of the tool. The said nippers are also very useful to plumbers and tinmen,
who, when fixing a pipe or gutter at the end of a roof, not being safely placed,
take with them as few tools as possible, and consequently nearly always use

page_text: their shears to cut their iron wire; in future, provided with only one tool,
they will work without discomfort or deterioration of their shears. The con-
struction of these improved shears permits a strong bolt to be substituted in
lieu of the ordinary rivet, so that they may be easily taken to pieces or put
together. The blades being excentrical cut more easily and do not permit the
objects seized to shrink from or evade their action, therefore these shears cut
leather perfectly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents a shears made according to this Invention, the grooved
side of blade being shewn; Figure 2, same shears, the opposite or boss side
of blade being shewn; Figure 3, same shears closed; Figure 4, side view of
the blade which carries the boss and the groove; Figure 5, a shears with
block or vice; and Figure 6, a shears with chariot or slide rest for cutting
platbands or fillets. A, B (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6), groove for the passage
of one of the sides of the cut sheet; C, D (same Figures), edge of the raised
part or boss where slides the other side of the cut sheet; D, C, K, L, (same
Figures), boss on the blade in which is the groove A, B; G (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5,
and 6), nippers for cutting iron wire; H (Figs. 1, 2, and 6), uncut sheet as it is
being seized by the blades; and B, E, I, D, F, I (same Figures), position of
the two cut parts after the action of the shears; M, N, P, Q (Fig. 6), movable
platband or rebate serving as fulcrum to one side of the cut sheet; S and S¹
(same Figure), slots serving to set or regulate the platband; M, N, P, Q,
and V, recall screw regulating the opening of the blades.
The large shears, shewn Figure 6, will be found of great service in metal
working, especially in cutting copper platbands or fillets for the navy.
The several modifications above described and illustrated on the annexed
Sheet of Drawing are applicable to every description of shears, no matter for
what purpose they are intended or their size.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.