IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING METALS, AND FOR MANUFACTURING ALL KINDS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Holford, of Newton Iron Works, Hyde, in
the County of Chester, Engineer, and Mark Mason, of the same Place,
Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING METALS, AND FOR MANUFACTURING ALL KINDS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Holford and Mark
Mason at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 31st January 1856.
We, HENRY HOLFORD, of Newton Iron Works, Hyde, in the County of
Chester, Engineer, & MARK MASON, of the same Place, Machine Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING METALS, AND FOR MANUFACTURING ALL
KINDS OF METALLIC RIVETS, BOLTS, OR SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
We employ a strong metal frame with an elevated headstock at each end,
into each of which is fitted two studs horizontally. A strong face plate or
moveable die holder is placed upon each of the studs, the same holding a
number of dies ready for use. Between the headstocks or centre of the
inachine or apparatus is an elevated slide bed, upon which is placed the

page_text: heading slide, with a slot hole in the centre to receive the eccentric steps.
At each end of this slide is fitted one or more heading pins or punches. The
iron or other material having been cut into required lengths and heated, is
placed into a spout or spouts at each end of the slide bed, and directly oppo-
site the die or dies in the face plate or die holder on each end of the heading
slide is secured the feeding finger, one end of which goes into the spouts con-
taining the pieces of heated iron or metals. The machine is now put into
motion by driving gear. The first motion is obtained from an eccentric on the
vertical shaft.of. the. machine.or.apparatus, .the..same shaft descending into a
footstep underneath the machine, the same having a bevil wheel attached at the
lower end, and gearing into a pinion fixed on a horizontal shaft for driving the
same. When in motion, the heading slide advances towards one of the die
holders, the feeding finger or fingers then forces the heated material into the
dies, when, by means of a lever and spring with a catch in the centre, this catch
drops into grooves or cogs on the edge of the face plate or die holders. A
click with a bevil end is screwed on the top of the heading slide near to each
end on the opposite side to the feeding finger; the slide now having to
return to the other end of the die holder, the click acts on the catch lever,
forcing it downwards, causing the die holder to move the required distance to
bring the heated material already in the dies opposite the heading pins or
punches, and at the same time the other pieces of heated material are being
forced into the opposite dies; the attendant feeders supply the now empty spouts
with other heated metals, so that the machine is alternately acting; when the
slide returns, the heading pins or punches come up and form the heads of
the revits or material employed, the feeding fingers at the same time forcing
the other pieces of heated metals into another set of dies, and thus preparing
for other rivets; the slide returns again, as already described, to operate in
like manner. at the other.end. The now.completed material or rivets still
remains in the dies, until another move of the catch lever as before brings
the completed rivets opposite one or, more maundrills, fixed into horizontal
slides placed on the top of headstocks. In these slides are fitted a vertical
lever or other contrivances, each working upon a stud, the short, end of this
lever being within the slide, while, the long end. descends to the large bevil
wheel, in which is fitted a click or stud; while the heading slide is returning
to operate at the other end, the, click on the bevil wheel comes: round and
strkes against the lower end of the vertical lever, moving the maundrill slide
inwards, which has the effect of driving out the completed materials or revits.
The maundrill slide is now quickly withdrawn by a.spring at the outer end of
the lever; the operation is repeated at the other end of the machine or appa

page_text: ratus, thus shewing that three or more rivets occupy one or each die holder at
the same time, so that a perpetual mode of manufacturing the same is the
result of this Invention. In consequence of the rapidity with which this
machine manufactures the material or rivets, the dies are likely to become
hot in a short time; to avoid this, the die holders containing the empty dies'
pass as they revolve through a tank or cistern filled with water, thus keeping
the dies cool. It is evident that this machinery or apparatus.may be employed
for manufacturing bolts or similar articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Holford and Mark Mason in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st July 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
HOLFORD, of Newton Iron Works, Hyde, in the County of Chester, Engineer,
and MARK MASON, of the same Place, Machine Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her 'beirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Henry Holford and Mark Mason, Her special licence that we, the said
Henry Holford and Mark Mason, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Henry Holford and Mark Mason, our 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR COMPRESSING METALS, AND FOR MANUFACTURING ALL KINDS OF METALLIC
RIVETS, BOLTS, OR SIMILAR ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Henry Holford and Mark Mason, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us,
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 Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Mark Mason, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Henry Holford, do hereby declare the nature of the said

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be' parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is
to say)
:-
:
We use a strong metal frame securely bolted to masonary, with an elevated
headstock at each end, into each of which is fitted a stud. A strong face
plate, or moveable die holder, is placed on each of the studs, holding six or
more dies ready for use. Between the headstocks or centre of the machine
or apparatus is an elevated slide bar, upon which is placed the heading slide,
with a slot hole in the centre to receive the eccentric steps. At each end of
the said slide is fitted one or more heading punches. The iron or metal having
been first cut into the required lengths and heated, is then placed into a spout or
spouts, fixed at each end of the slide bed, and directly opposite the die or dies
in the face plate or die holder. At each end of the heading slide is fitted the
feeding finger or fingers, one end of which goes into the spout or spouts con-
taining the pieces of heated iron or metal. The machine or apparatus is now
put into driving gear, the first motion being obtained from an eccentric on the
vertical or main shaft, which descends into a footstep under the machine,
having a strong bevil wheel keyed to the bottom end of the vertical shaft,
connected to a horizontal driving shaft, on which is placed a bevil pinion. As
the heading slide advances towards the face plate or die holler, the feeding
finger or fingers then forces the piece or pieces of heated iron or metal into the
<lie or dies, when, by means of a lever with a catch and spring at one end
and a balance weight at the other, the said catch drops on one of a number of
studs projecting from the front of the face plate, and a little nearer the outer
edge than the dies. We place an inclined plane on the top of the heading
slide opposite to the feeding finger. The slide having now to return towards
the other end or die holder, the inclined plane acting upon the weighted end
of the catch lever, forces down the opposite end of it, which moves the face
plate or die holder the required distance, and brings the piece or. pieces of
heated iron or metal already in the dies opposite to the heading punch or
punches, and at the same time another piece or other pieces of heated iron
or metal having been placed in the spout or spouts; the heading slide again
advances containing the heading punch, which comes in contact with the first
piece of heated iron or metal and forms the head of the rivet; the feeding
finger or fingers forcing the other piece or pieces of heated metal into the
opposite die or dies at the same time, the slide again returns and operates at
the other end of the machine, as above described; the completed rivet still in
the die is then moved by the operation of the catch lever, opposite to a
maundrill, with a slot hole in the centre, sliding into two fixings placed on one

page_text: side of the headstocks, the lever which descends from the top of the machine
through a slot in the headstocks to a stud in the frame upon which it moves.
From the said stud the lever is continued down to the bevil wheel, upon
which is placed a click, which now comes up and strikes against the lever,
which acts upon the slotted maundrill and knocks out the completed rivet,
the same click acting in like manner at the opposite end of the machine,
which is repeated at each revolution of the eccentric shaft. Four or more
rivets occupy the dies at the same time, thus keeping up a perpetual making
of rivets. In consequence of the rapidity with which this machine works, the
dies would soon become hot and out of order; to avoid which, the die holder
as it revolves passes through a small tank filled with water. When it is
required that the machine should cut the pieces of metal from heated rods,
we use a moveable cutting apparatus bolted securely to the frame, which con-
tains two cutting dies, one stationary, the other being moved by a vertical
lever; the said lever is moved by an inclined plane placed on the bevil wheel,
the pieces thus cut off drop into the feeding spouts.
The nature of this our improved machine or apparatus will be more clearly
understood by reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and the
letters of reference thereon, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of the machine or
apparatus, and Fig. 2 an elevation thereof. a, a, represents the strong metal
frame; b, b, the headstocks; c, c, the slide bed; d, d, the heading slide; e, e,
the face plate or die holder; f, f, the heading punches; g, g, the catch
levers; h, h, the balance weights; i, i, the feeding spouts; j, j, the feeding
fingers; k, k, the slotted maundrills; 7, 7, the stretching out levers; m, m,
fixings for the slotted maundrills; n, the click; o, o, the studs for carrying
the face plate or die holder; p, p, the dies; 9, the projecting studs on the faco
plates; r, r, the water tanks; s, the eccentric; t, t, eccentric steps; u, the
vertical main shaft; v, the footstep; w, w, the bevil wheel; x, the bevil
pinion; y, the driving shaft; 2, the fly wheel; a¹, a¹, the driving pullies;
,, the pedestal; and c¹, c', the inclined planes for working the catch
levers.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of our said Inven-
tion, and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire it to
be distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details
herein set forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the
princple thereof; but we claim as of our Invention, and which, to the best
of our knowledge and belief, has not been hitherto used within this realm, the
general arrangement and construction of the machinery or apparatus for
compressing metals, and manufacturing metallic rivets, bolts, or similar

page_text: articles, as herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying. Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Mark Mason, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Henry Holford, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty-ninth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
MARK MASON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
Mark Mason, in the presence of
,E. J..HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.