Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1887
Complete Left, 25th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
I, MICHAEL SMITH of Birtsmorton, Ledbury, Worcestershire, Wheelwright, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvement according to my invention is devised as a useful adjunct to, and
in connection with what is known as a "spreader" employed when teams of horses
are drawing in long gears or traces, such as occurs in drawing wagons, and also
various agricultural implements; the function of a "spreader" being to keep the
gears or traces extended, and thus preventing them rubbing against the sides of the
horses.
The improved spreader according to my Invention consists of an ordinary wooden
bar, which is either elliptic or circular in section, decreasing in its diameter from the
centre to its ends. Upon each end of said "spreader" I place a metal cap or thimble,
plain or ornamental, made preferably of cast iron, on opposite sides of which is cut or
otherwise formed a longitudinal slot. The other two sides of the cap or thimble are
pierced near the open end, to take a pin or screw bolt, by means of which the cap or
thimble is attached to the "spreader" before mentioned.
When it is desired to place the "spreader" in position between the gears or traces,
the cap or thimble is removed, and one side of a link of the chain is placed within the
slots of said cap or thimble, which latter is then replaced on the end of the spreader,
and secured thereto by means of the pin or screw bolt above referred to; thus, not
only ensuring a more efficient fastening of the "spreader" to the gears or traces than
is attainable with existing methods of fastening, but also giving to it a neat and
finished appearance.
ليم
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JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Spreader for the Long Gears or Traces of Horse-
teams.
I, MICHAEL SMITH of Birtsmorton, Ledbury, Worcestershire, Wheelwright, do
hereby declare the nature of this 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 also had to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which :-
Figures 1 to 6 represent various views of the cap or thimble according to my
invention, and Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the thimble attached to the ends of the
spreader.
The improved spreader according to my invention comprises an ordinary wooden
bar A Figures 7 and 8 which is either elliptical or circular in section, decreasing in
its diameter from the centre to its ends. Upon each end of said "spreader" A is
placed a metal (preferably cast iron) cap or thimble B, on opposite sides of which is
stamped cut or otherwise formed a longitudinal slot a for the purpose hereinafter
described. The other two sides, near the lower or open end of the thimble, are
pierced, bored or otherwise perforated to receive a pin or screw bolt C, by means of
which the thimble B is attached to the spreader A above described.
When it is desired to place the "spreader" in position between the gears or traces,
the cap or thimble B is removed, and one side d of a link of the chain D placed within
the longitudinal slots a of the cap or thimble B. The latter is then replaced on the
end of the spreader, and secured thereto by the pin or screw-bolt C above mentioned,
thus not only ensuring a more efficient fastening of the "spreader" to the gears or
traces than is attainable with existing methods of fastenings, but also giving to it a
neat and finished appearance.
A special advantage in the adoption of the improved "spreader" will be manifest
from the fact, that in the event of the wooden bar being broken whilst the team is on
the road, a temporary "spreader" may be produced by trimming the ends of a hedge
stake, or branch of a tree, to receive the cap or thimble, and further, that the thimbles
may be easily removed from worn bars, and replaced on new bars.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First The improved spreader herein described for the long gears or traces of
horse teams substantially as herein set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Second: In an improved "spreader" for the gears or traces of horse teams the
adaptation thereto of a slotted thimble provided with a pin or screw bolt substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth and shown.
Dated this 25th day of February 1888
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.