CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR MAKING LACE, COMMONLY CALLED BOBBIN NET LACE
Year: 1834

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CROFTS, of New Radford, in the County of Nottingham, Machine Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, humbly represent unto IIis present most
Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, that after considerable application
and expense I had invented "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR
MAKING LACE, COMMONLY CALLED BOBBIN NET LACE," and His said Majesty, being
willing to give encouragement to all arts and inventions which may be for the
public good, was graciously pleased, by His Royal Letters Patent under the
Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing
date at Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of May last, (One thousand
cight hundred and thirty-four), in the fourth year of His reign, for Himself,
His heirs and successors, to give and grant unto me, the said William
Crofts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, His especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I or they, by myself or them-
selves, or by my or their deputies, servants, or agents, or such others as I or
they should agree with, and no others, during the term of fourteen years,
should and lawfully-might make, use, exercise, and vend my said Invention
within that part of His said Majesty's Dominions called England, His
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, in such manner as to me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, shall seem meet, and as that I and they
shall enjoy the whole profit and advantage arising by reason of the said

page_text: Invention during the said term of fourteen years, and for that end His said
Majesty requires and strictly commands all His subjects whatsoever that they
shall not, neither directly or indirectly, make, use, or put in practice my said
Invention, or any part thereof, nor in anywise counterfeit, imitate, or resemble
the same, nor make any addition thereto or subtraction therefrom, whereby
to pretend himself or themselves to be the inventor or inventors thereof. And
whereas the said Letters Patent contain a proviso obliging me, the said
William Crofts, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in His
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Crofts, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described and
ascertained in manner following, and by the aid of the Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
My said improvements are applicable to certain machinery for making lace,
commonly called bobbin net lace, wherein certain parts which are known to
persons conversant with such machinery by the terms circular bolts and circular
combs are used, to form cells, spaces, or geats suitable for the reception of the
circularly-grooved portions of the parts which are called bobbin carriages for
the purpose of sustaining and conducting the bobbin carriages whilst they are
vibrating or moving edgeways foremost, alternately backwards and forwards,
with a circularly arched motion; and in particular the said circular bolts or
circular combs are for the purpose of retaining the bobbin carriages in their
places, side by side in straight rows, so as to keep the bobbin carriages at
equal distances asunder in their rows in consequence of the grooved parts of the
several carriages being lodged in the several spaces or geats which are left for
that purpose between the adjacent circular bolts or circular combs, and which
grooved parts of the bobbin carriages are adapted to the spaces or gents so as
to leave the bobbin carriages freely at liberty to be moved therein edgeways
formost, either backwards or forwards, in a circularly-arched course, without
permitting of lateral deviation from their intended equal distances asunder in
their rows. The said machinery, to which my said improvements are applicable,
being also of the class commonly called double tier machinery, which term
means that the bobbin carriages are disposed of in two distinct rows, one
before the other, in the geats between their circular bolts or circular combs,
and also that there are two distinct rows of the warp threads or guide threads

page_text: between which the bobbin carriages are intended to be passed and repassed,
first one row and then the other, by means of the vibrating motion which is
given to the bobbin carriages as aforesaid within the geats of their circular
bolts or circular combs, each of the said two distinct rows of guide threads
being capable of what is termed racking or moving small distances edgeways
in the direction of the length of their respective rows, the racking motions of
one row of guide threads being quite independent of the racking motions of
the other row, in order that after one row of the bobbin carriages has been
passed the two rows of guide threads, one or other of those rows may be suitable
racked before the other row of bobbin carriages is passed between the two
rows of guide threads. And likewise in the said machinery the bobbin carriages
are what is termed traversed, that is, they are made to progress occasionally
one-half of them towards the left hand and the other half towards the right
hand, in order by such traversing to distribute the bobbin threads in diagonal
directions obliquely across the width of the net or lace, from selvidge to
selvidge thereof, and with contrary obliquities of diagonal direction; the
traversing bobbin threads will cross and intersect those longitudinal threads of
the lace net which proceed from a warp roller, and are conducted between
the guides before mentioned, and which guide threads are to be interwoven
longitudinally along the length of the piece of lace net, intertwisting with the
bobbin threads at every place where the latter intersect with the former in
consequence of the oblique direction which is given to the bobbin threads by
traversing them; the said intertwisting of bobbin threads and guide threads
forming the four sides of each of the hexagonal meshes of the bobbin net lace,
whilst the two other sides thereof are formed by the oblique crossings of
those bobbin threads which intersect each other in proceeding with contrary
obliquities, as before mentioned, in diagonal directions across the width of the
net from selvidge to selvidge thereof. The sort of bobbin net machinery to which
my said improvements relate will be sufficiently indicated to those who are con-
versant with such machinery by the above explanation, and one part of my said
improvements consists in applying to circular bolt double-tier machinery an
additional row of circular combs of a single tier gage, that additional row
being applied between the two rows of guide threads of a double-tier gage, such
as are usually employed in double-tier machines, but which rows of guide threads
are separated so far apart from each other that one row of the bobbin
carriages (which bobbin carriages perform the greater part of their evolutions
in the machine in two rows or divisions) will have passed quite clear through
between one of those two rows of separated guide threads before the same
bobbin carriages begin to make their entrance between the other row of guide
"

page_text: threads. The said additional row of circular combs being of a single ner
gage, as aforesaid, will contain a sufficient number of geats or spaces to receivo
the whole number of bobbin carriages, which are worked in the machine when
both rows thereof are collected into one straight row in the said additional
circular combs, and the said bobbin carriages are made of a single tier gage
in order to admit of collecting them all into one row in the said additional cir-
cular combs, in which case they will be wholly included within the internal left
Two rows of circular
between the two rows of separated guide threads.
bolts, double tier gage, are situated beyond the two rows of separated guide
threads, each of the said rows of circular bolts occupying the same relative
situation, in respect to that row of guide threads to which it is adjacent, as is
usually occupied by the circular bolts in ordinary circular bolt machinery, in
respect to their adjacent row of guide threads, the chief difference being that,
according to my said improvements, the two rows of double tier guide threads
are to be separated considerable from each other, and the aforesaid additional
row of single tier circular combs is to be applied in the separation between
those two rows of guide threads. Wherefore, according to my said improve-
ments, the machinery will contain three rows of cells for the reception of
bobbin carriages, the latter being so adapted to the single tier circular combs
which from the middlemost of the said three rows, as that the whole number
of bobbin carriages can be collected into one row in those middlemost circular
combs, and will then be included between the two rows of separated guide
threads, leaving the same quite detached, and at liberty to be racked after all
the bobbin carriages have been so collected into one row within the said
middle row of combs, but before any of the said bobbin carriages are passed
out therefrom between the said guide threads, to go into either of the rows of
circular bolts which from the two outside rows of cells beyond the two rows of
separate guide threads, and whenever the bobbin carriages are moved out
of the middlemost circular combs, in order to be passed or re-passed between
the two rows of guide threads into or out of the circular bolts which are
beyond those threads. The bobbin carriages are equally divided into two
rows, every alternate carriage being in one row, and every other intermediato
carriage being in the other row; and whenever the said two rows of bobbin
carriages vibrate or move backwards and forwards in their circularly-arched
courses, they proceed with simultaneous motions, but in contrary directions,
that is to say, one row of bobbin carriages is moving backwards whilst the
other is moving forwards, and vice versa. For instance, whenever one row of
bobbin carriages is moving out of the middlemost circular combs into the back
row of circular bolts, in order to make their passage between the back row

page_text: of guide threads, the other row of bobbin carriages will be at the same time
moving out of the middlemost circular combs into the front row of circular
bolts, in order to make clear passage between the front row of guide threads.
Or whenever one row of bobbin carriages is moving out of the back row
circular bolts into the middlemost row of circular combs, in order to repass
between the back row of guide threads, the other row of carriages will be
moving out of the front row of circular bolts into the middlemost row of
circular combs, in order to repass between the front row of guide threads.
Wherefore, by virtue of this aforesaid part of my said improvement, all the
bobbin carriages which are used in the machinery will be making their passage
between all the corresponding guide threads at the same time, because one
half of those carriages are making their passage between one row of guide
threads whilst the other half are making their passage between the other row
of guide threads; and the spaces between the adjacent guide threads in their
respective rows being fully as wide as the ordinary width of double tier gage,
although the thickness of the bobbins and their bobbin carriages are only a
little more than the ordinary thickness of single tier gage bobbins and carriages,
the aforesaid simultaneous passing and repassing of the two rows of bobbin
carriages between the two rows of guide threads will be performed with great
safety in respect to avoiding entanglement, and consequent breaking of threads.
Another part of my said improvements consists in certain means of
communicating to the two rows of bobbin carriages their requisite vibrating
or backwards and forwards motions in their three rows of cells, herein-before
inentioned, in order to pass and repass the two rows of bobbin carriages
between the two rows of guide threads by simultaneous action, as herein-before
explained. For this purpose, I apply two rows of hooked pushers to act in
suitable notches, which are formed in those parts of the bobbin carriages
which project through the geats of the circular bolts or circular combs, so as
to extend beyond the convex curvature of the circular bolts or circular combs,
the said hooked pushers being disposed side by side in each of their respective
rows at suitable distances apart therein to make them correspond with the
guide threads in their respective rows, and also to correspond with the geats
in the two rows of circular bolts. One of the said rows of hooked pushers is
applied to the front row of circular bolts, and the row of hooked pushers to the
back row of circular bolts, each row of hooked pushers being in a suitable
in respect to its corresponding row of bolts for actuating the carriages with
their requisite backwards and forwards motions in those bolts to which each
row of hooked pushers is so applied; and the hooked pushers having their
hooked ends inserted into the notches of the carriages, are then equally

page_text: qualified either for pushing the carriages before them out of the circular
bolts, and between the guide threads into the middlemost circular combs, or
else for pulling carriages after them out of the middlemost circular combs, and
between the guide threads into the circular bolts; but to enable the hooked
pushers to do so, their hooked extremities must be adapted to enter between
the guide threads without touching them, so as to reach through the rows of
guide threads, in order to actuate the carriages when they are in the middle-
most row of circular combs; and in order that the hooked pushers, when so
reaching through, may not prevent the racking motions which are required to
be given to the two rows of guide threads, the rows of hooked pushers
must be racked coincidently with the racking of the rows of guide threads
to which they belong respectively, so that the hooked pushers will never
touch or bend aside the guide threads between which they aro inserted as
aforesaid. And whereas the racking motions which are so given to the rows
of hooked pushers will carry the particular hooked pushers of each row
laterally away from out of the notches of those particular carriages upon
which the said hooked pushers acted before each racking motion took place,
and will also bring each hooked pusher into the notch of some other carriage
in the same row, it is necessary to arrange the order of the successive
racking motions of the guide threads consistently with those circumstances;
for instance, when the carriages are all in the middle combs of the guide
threads, together with the hooked pushers which are inserted between those
threads, are racked in respect to the carriage over a distance equal to two
spaces between the adjacent geats in the middle combs (that is, equal to one
space between the guide threads), then each hooked pusher will be removed so
far sideways by that racking as to take the next carriage but one to that
carriage upon which it acted before that racking took place; but whereas
every next carriage but one of the complete row of carriages in the middle
combs belongs to the same division or row into which the said complete row of
carriages is to divide when they are drawn out from the middle comb, the
action of the two rows of hooked pushers on the two rows of carriages will
not be altered in consequence of giving the aforesaid racking motion to the row
of hooked pushers, because when that row acts after the racking to pull out the
carringes from the middle combs into the circular bolts to which the said row
belongs, it will pull out the same row of carriages that the same row of hooked
pushers acted upon before the racking took place, and when it pushed then
from the circular bolts into the middle combs, notwithstanding that individua
hooked pusher acts upon a different individual carriage after the racking o
that carriage upon which it acted before the racking. And the same result wil

page_text: follow from racking through an extent of four spaces of the middle combs as
from racking two spaces thereof; but if the row of guide threads, together
with the row of hooked pushers which are inserted between those threads, are
racked a distance equal to one space between the geats in the middle combs
(that is, equal to half a space between the guide threads), then each hooked
pusher will be removed so far sideways by that racking as to take the next
adjacent carriage to that upon which it acted before racking took place; but
whereas every adjacent carriage of the complete row of carriages in the middle
combs belongs to a different division or row of those two rows into which the
said complete row of carriages is to be divided, when they are drawn out
from the middle combs) the action of the two rows of hooked pushers, or the
two rows of carriages, will be altered in consequence of giving the aforesaid
racking motion to the row of hooked pushers, because when that row acts
after the racking to pull out the carriages from the middle combs, it will pull
out the other row or division of carriages to that which it pushed in before the
racking took place, wherefore the same division or row of carriages which was
in the front row of circular bolts before such racking of the guide threads
and hooked over one space will be taken into the back of circular bolts after
that racking has taken place, and vice versa. And the same results will
follow from racking over an extent of three spaces as from racking one space.
I shall herein-after explain a mode of working a machine, which is con-
structed according to my said improvements, so as to make wide piece of
bobbin net lace thereby when the hooked pushers are inserted between the
guide threads, as aforesaid, in order to reach to the carriages in the middle
combs. Or in other cases, and particularly for making narrow breadths of
bobbin net lace, I add to the parts herein-before described two rows of I term
pickers, to the middlemost of circular combs within and adjacent to the two
rows of guide threads, and with the individual pickers in each row corre-
sponding to the individual hooked pushers in each row respectively. The office
of the said rows of pickers is to actuate the carriages whilst they are all
collected into one row in the middlemost combs, and to pick out the carriages
therefrom, and move them far enough out between the warp threads, and into
the circular bolts, to put them within reach of the booked pushers, without
requiring those pushers to reach through between the guide threads, as before
mentioned, in order to take the carriages out of the middlemost combs. But
in cases where such pickers are added, the hooked pushers will be used nearly
in the manner herein-before described to push the two rows of carriages out of
the two rows of circular bolts between the two rows of guide threads into the
middlemost row of circular combs, which being done, the pickers are inserted

page_text: into suitable notches in the carriages, in order to detain them securely in the
middle combs, and then the hooked pushers are taken out of the notches in
the carriages, and are instantly withdrawn from between the guide threads, in
order to leave the same at liberty to be racked, and then immediately after the
racking has been performed, the pickers are put in action so as to pick out
the carriages according to the two rows into which the whole row which is
lodged in the middle middle combs is to be divided, the front row of pickers
taking those carriages which are required to be passed between the front guide
threads, and the back row of pickers taking those carriages which are to be
passed between the back row of guide threads, and the two rows of pickers
having pushed out their respective rows of carriages far enough between the
two rows of guide threads to have entered them fairly into the two rows
of circular bolts, and so far as to have brought suitable notches of the
carriages beneath the extremities of the hooked pushers, those pushers are
then inserted into the said notches, and the pickers are by a simultaneous
movement taken out of their own notches of the carriages, in order to leave
the carriages at liberty to be pulled out from between the guide threads
completely into the two rows of circular bolts by appropriate actions of the
two rows of hooked pushers, as herein-before described, and then whilst the
guide threads are racking, the hooked pushers are taken out of those notches
of the carriages in which they had been acting for pulling out the carriages,
and after being so taken out the hooked pushers are withdrawn sufficiently to
get them quite clear of the carriages, and are then restored to suitable
positions for acting again on the carriages immediately after the racking
of the guide threads is completed, and then the hooked pushers will push the
carriages out of the circular bolts between the guide threads, as already
described; but note, that pushing action of the hooked pushers is exerted
against the outside of the carriages, instead of within their notches, as their
pulling action was. And that is one of the chief differences between the
action of the hooked pushers, whether pickers are added as aforesaid to act in
concert with them, or whether the hooked pushers are used by themselves, as
herein-before first described, for then the hooked pushers always act in the
notches in the carriages, as well for pushing as for pulling, and are never taken
out of those notches, except that in consequence of partaking of the racking
movements of the guide threads, the hooked pushers are moved laterally out of
the notches of those carriages in which they acted previously, and are carried
sideways into the notches of other carriages, which, as before mentioned, will
either be carriages belonging to the same row or division, else belonging to
to other row or division, according to the extent of the racking motions,

page_text: whether the same is over an even number of geats of the middle combs, or
over an odd number of those geats. And note, when two rows of pickers are
applied to act in concert with two rows of hooked pickers, as last described, it
is not absolutely that any intervals should be left between the hooked pickers
side by side in their respective rows, as must be done if the hooked pickers are
required to be passed between the guide threads, as is the case when no
pickers are used, but complete straight rulers or bars may be substituted for
rows of hooked pushers; when pickers are used in concert therewith, such
rulers must have hooked edges, something in the manner of what are termed
catch bars in Lever's machines, and they operate precisely the same as the
hooked pushers operate, excepting that as the straight rulers with hooked
edges cannot pass between the guide threads when it is required to push the
carriages quite into the middle combs, the edges of the said rulers must then
bend the guide threads before them when the carriages are pushed into the
middle combs, and as the rulers must retreat immediately that the pickers
have secured the carriages in the middle combs, and before the racking of the
guide threads can take place, those threads will come straight again by their
own tendency as soon as the rulers retreat from them; and such rulers admit
of having notches cut in them opposite to the several guide threads, or
opposite to particular guide threads, in order, by admitting such guide threads
into the notches, to avoid bending them so much as if no such notches were
made; but when so notched, the said rulers will be very much the same in
their action as rows of hooked pushers. And whereas, in order to make narrow
breadths of bobbin net lace, the machinery must be adapted to introduce lacing
threads which will unite the several breadths which are woven at once, so as
to render them alike, one tissue or piece as wide as the machinery will
contain, but which whipping threads can be drawn out when the web is
finished, so as to separate the breadths into narrow ribands of lace net, having
firm selvidges for their borders; such lacing threads may be introduced into
machinery constructed according to my said improvements from a suitablo
small roller or beam, distinct from the warp roller or beam containing the
guide threads, by means of suitable extra guides affixed to an extra guide bar,
which may be applied and worked in the machinery in a manner very similar
to that which is done in other bobbin net machinery, wherein the lacing
threads are supplied from a roller and guided through extra guides, and
which manner will be herein-after explained. And whereas, in all bobbin net
machinery of the class to which my improvements relate, the traversing action
of the two rows of bobbins carriages will occasion one row thereof to be
always progressing towards the right hand, and the other row towards the left

page_text: band, in order to give the bobbin threads their diagonal or oblique traversing
direction across the width of the net, it will happen that particular bobbin
carriages will in turn begin to get beyond the selvidges or lateral borders of
the net, and must then be made to return by beginning to traverse in an
opposite direction by an evolution which is called turn-again, in order that
they may return into the width of the net, and it is that returning of
the bobbin threads which forms the secure or fast selvidge of true bobbin net.
The said evolution called turn-again is performed upon those particular
bobbin carriages which are beginning to get beyond the selvidges, and which
are therefore required to return or perform their turn-again by transferring
those turn-again carriages out of that row or division of bobbin carriages in
which they have been working into the other row or division, and as one row
is always traversing in an opposite direction to the other, such transferring
will cause those bobbin carriages which are transferred to return in traversing,
as is required. For making wide pieces of bobbin net, the operation of turn-
again is only required to be performed at the two selvidges or extreme edges
of the wide piece of bobbin net; but for making breadths of bobbin net, some
or other of the bobbin carriages must perform their turn-again at the edges of
every separate breadth, for as it is by the turn-again action that secure
selvidges are formed, it follows that the carriages must perform turn-again at
every time and at every place where selvidges are required to be formed in
the width of the bobbin net which is making at once in the machinery; and in
machinery which is made and working according to my said improvements, in
order to enable the bobbin carriages to perform their turn-again, some of the
hooked pushers before mentioned must be thrown out of action when their
neighbours in the same row perform the pushing of the carriages before them
out of the outer rows of circular bolts between the guide threads into the
middle row of circular combs, as herein-before explained. Those particular
bobbin carriages which would then have been pushed into the middle combs
if their hooked pushers had not been thrown out of action will, in consequence
of throwing the same out of action, be left by themselves in the two rows of
circular bolts when all the other carriages of their respective rows will be
pushed out therefrom into the middle row of circular combs. And for
making breadths of bobbin net by machinery which is constructed and worked
according to my said improvements, distinct bars may be provided to sustain
and actuate those particular hooked pushers which occupy places in their
respective rows, opposite to the places where selvidges are intended to be
made in the width of bobbin net which is to be woven at once in the
machinery. The said bars for the selvidge or turn-again hooked pushers

page_text: must be quite distinct from the principal pusher bars, which sustain all
the other hooked pushers in their respective rows, and therefore, by giving
those distinct bars appropriate motions in respect to the said principal
pusher bars at suitable times in the operation of working the machinery
when turn-again is to be performed, all those particular hooked pushers which
are required to be thrown out of action on the turn-again carriages can
be removed so far from their proper places in the complete rows of
hooked pushers as that the selvidge or turn-again hooked pushers will
not come within reach of any of those particular carriages which are
intended to perform their turn-again evolution, although all the other booked
pushers in each row will act as usual to push all the other carriages out
of the two outside rows of circular bolts into the middle row of circular
combs. And whereas the application of distinct bars for sustaining and
actuating those particular pushers which are required from time to time to
be left out of action, or put into action independently of the other pushers in
the same row, is well known in the class of machinery called pusher
machinery; and whereas the application thereof to machinery constructed
according to my improvements is very similar in principle, I make no specific
claim to the application of such distinct bars for turn-again or selvidge pushers
as a distinct part of my improvements, and I only mention the same in this
part of my Specification by way of explanation of the mode whereby breadths
of bobbin net can be made by machinery constructed according to my
improvements, and likewise for the more clear understanding of another part
of my improvements, which is as follows, videlicet:-
And another part of my said improvements consists in applying in each of the
said rows of hooked pushers certain individual hooked pushers as part of those
rows, and disposed therein at all those places where turn-again evolutions may be
required to be made by the bobbin carriages in any use which can be made
of the machinery which is constructed according to my improvements, whether
for making the selvidge of breadths of bobbin net lace, or for making bobbin
net lace with ornamental work of the kind which is termed fancy bullet holing,
which fancy bullet holing is produced by performing an occasional turn-again
action of particular carriages out of the regular course of repeating the turn-
again for making selvidges, the crossings of the bobbin threads of those
particular carriages which are thus causally made to turn again will be
omitted so as to leave a hole in the net, which is called a bullet hoic, and a
series of holes being made by that means, and distributed at various places
placed over the net according to some sort of pattern, is called fancy bullet-
holing work.
Each of the said individual or independent hooked pushers is

page_text: to be formed at one extremity of a lever, which is mounted upon a centro of
motion of its own, and all those centres for all the independent booked pushers
are to be sustained by the principal pusher bars, whereby the remainder of the
rows of pushers are sustained and actuated as herein-before described. The
said independent hooked pushers may act along with the other hooked pushers
in the same row, as part thereof, and without distinction therefrom, to produce
the action herein before described at all times when no turn-again action is
required to be made. To another extremity of each of the said levers I apply
a small notched wheel, similar to what is called a racking wheel or a catch-
bar wheel, and which turned round will actuate the lever by notches, or by
suitable elevations and depressions on its circumference, so as to allow the
independent hooked pusher, at the extremity of the lever which belongs to the
said notched wheel, to be removed by the action of a suitable spring, so far
out of its proper place in the row of hooked pushers that it will not operate
upon the carriage to which the said independent hooked pusher corresponds,
but will miss that carriage and leave it motionless in the outer row of circular
bolts, whilst the other hooked pushers are pushing all the other carriages of
the same row out of the said outer row of circular bolts into the middle
row of circular combs, as above described, and the carriages which are so
left motionless will perform their own turn-again in the manner already
described, but after having performed that turn-again the said notched wheel
may, if required, be made to actuate the lever which has the independent
hooked pusher at the end of it, so as to restore that hooked pusher to its
proper place in the row of hooked pushers, and then it will operate with them
as one of them in manner before mentioned; wherefore, according to the form
of the said notched wheel, and to the turning motion which is given to it, each
independent pusher may be made to keep out of action and produce a turn-
again of the carriage to which it corresponds; or it may be made to act along
with the other hooked pushers as one of their row, in which case no turn-again
will be made by any of the carriages which correspond to the independent
hooked pushers which are kept in action, and whenever by the action of the said
notched wheels the said independent hooked pushers are kept in their proper
places in the row of pushers, they will produce the same effect as the other
hooked pushers which are fastened to the principal pusher bars. All the
several notched wheels belonging to the several independent hooked pushers
which are applied as aforesaid in the same row of hooked pushers may bo
fixed side by side in a row upon one long horizontal axis or spindle, which is
sustained in suitable bearings affixed to the principal pusher bar, and which
long axis being common to all the notched wheels which belong to one row

page_text: of hooked pushers will give like motions to all the said several notched wheels,
and by suitable arrangement of the notches or indentations of the said row
of wheels, bullet holes may by their assistance be made in any part of the
bobbin net, either regularly following each other therein, or casually dispersed,
according to any sort of pattern, as may be required. And according to the
extent or the variety of fancy work which is required, each row of hooked
pushers may be provided with a fow or with many of the said independent
hooked pushers at the ends of levers which are provided with notched wheels
as aforesaid, and they may be arranged at any intervals in the said rows as
may be required, or the whole of each row of hooked pushers may consist of
such independent hooked pushers, each one having its corresponding notched
wheel fixed upon the aforesaid long axis axis or spindle, which is common to
all the wheels of one row of hooked pushers. A portion of the said indepen-
dent hooked pushers may be devoted to the producing of the continual turn-
again action, which is necessary for making the selvidges of breadths of bobbin
net lace in lieu of affixing certain of the hooked pushers to distinct bars for
that purpose, as herein-before mentioned. And another portion of the said
independant hooked pushers may be devoted to producing such turn-again
actions as are requisite for the bullet boling which is intended to be made,
and which may be repeated at regular intervals, or may be casually performed,
according to the arrangement of the indentation of the notched wheels. And
note, instead of aflixing a row of distinct notched wheels side by side upon
a long horizontal axis or spindle as aforesaid, the same effect may be attained
by using a long cylindrical barrel with pins projecting out from its cylindrical
surface in the manner of an organ barrel, those pins being adapted to
actuate the several levers of the independent pushers, in the same manner
as the pins in an organ barrel act upon the keys or levers by which the
organ pipes are made to sound when required. And note, if machinery
which is constructed according to my said improvements is placed in an
inverted position to that which is most common in circular bolt and circular
comb machines, that is, if the yarn roller is placed at the upper part of the
machinery, and the lace roller at the lower part thereof, then the arched
curvature of the circular bolts and circular combs, being highest in the middle
and lowest at the extremities, the carriages which are performing their turn-
again will remain motionless by their own weight in the circular bolts when-
ever they are left therein in consequence of the hooked pushers which cor-
respond to those carriages being removed out of action, wherefore in machinery
which is worked in that inverted position, no contrivance or mechanism will

page_text: be required for holding the turn-again carriages when they require to remain
motionless. And for the more complete explanation of the manner of carrying
my said improvements into effect, I have hereunto annexed Sheets of Draw-
ings, which represent machinery constructed according to my improvements
for making bobbin net lace.
Sheets 1. and II. contain transverso vertical sections, full size, shewing all
the parts which are immediately operative upon the threads. A. B, are the
two outside rows of circular bolts, one lead of which is shown separately at
Figure A, Sheet II., with ten bolts per inch for what is called a ten-point
gage. Such leads are affixed by screws in straight rows along the two bolt
bars C, D, and those bars are placed horizontally in the machine, nearly in the
usual manner of circular bolt inachines, excepting that the portion of the bolts
is inverted, their convex arch being upwards instead of downwards, and also
the bolts A, B, are much shorter than usual in circular bolt machines, because
they are only intended to receive one row of carriages instead of two rows.
1 is the middle row of circular combs, one lead of which is separately at
Figure 1, Sheet II., with twenty combs per inch. Such leads are affixed by
screws in a straight row along the middle comb bar 2, which is applied
horizontally in the centre of the machine, so that the row of middle combis 1
will stand between the two rows of guides 3 and 4, which are disposed at a
sufficient distance assunder to admit of all the carriages which are worked at
once in the machinery being included between the two rows of guide threads,
without interference therewith whenever both rows of bobbin carriages Rand
B, L, aro collected into one row in the middle combs, as is shewn by the
dotted lines in Sheet I., and at L, Sheet II. R is the row of bobbin car-
riages which progress towards the right hand in consequence of their
traversing action; they stand in a rowof ten per inch in the spaces between
the front row of bolts A when the machinery is in the situation of Sheet I.
Lis the row of hobbin carriages which progress towards the left hand in con-
sequence of the traversing action. They stand in a row of ten per inch in the
spaces between the-back row of bolts B when the machinery is in the situation
of Sheet I. Note, the carriages R go into the back row of bolts B, and the
carriages L into the front row of bolts A, in some portions of the machinery.
When both the rows of carriages R and L are collected into one row in the
spaces of the middle combs 1, as is shewn at 7, Sheet I., and at L, Sheet II., they
will stand twenty per inch in that row, every alternate carriage being belonging
to the row L, and every intermediate carriage being belonging to the row R.
5 is the front row of hooked pushers, and 6 the back row thereof, one lead of

page_text: of the frame, so as to admit of giving suitable racking motions to them. The
warp roller which supplies the guide threads may be as usual in other bobbin
net machines, or two warp rollers may be used, one to supply the front row
of guide threads, and the other to supply the back row of guide threads.
The lace roller is likewise the same as in other bolbin net machinery, for
turning it slowly round in order to wind up the lace not as fast as is made.
The points E and F are ten per inch, the back and front ows theme, one
The point bars are
lead of which is represented in Figure E, Sheet II.
applied and actuated in the usual manner of the bobbin net machines, which
are worked in an inverted position, and require no particular explanation
beyond that which is conveyed in the Drawings. 9 and 10 are the independent
hooked pushers, herein-before mentioned, which are provided for taking those
pushers out of action when required, for enabling particular carriages to per-
form their turn-again, 9 being the front-row and 10 the back row. Each of
the said independent hooked pushers is a small thin lever, represented sepa-
rately at Figure 9, Sheet II., and two such levers are mountd side by sid
in a sort of frame, composed of three guide plates 11, which are united
together by lead at each end, which leads are fastened by screws to the
upright faces of the two pusher bars G and H, and to the upper surfaces of
the leads of the pushers 5 and 6, and when so fixed, two of the levers 9,
which from the independent hooked pushers, are inserted side by side into the
two spaces between the guide plates 11, and mounted therein on a centre pin,
which is passed through all the three guides plates 11, as well as through the
two levers 9. The hooked ends of those levers may then be made range
amongst the other hooked pushers 5, like two of them, or one or other of
the levers may be lifted up so as to take up their hooked ends out of that row,
and leave a vacancy therein. 12 is one of the notched wheels, by which the
tail ends of one of the levers 9 or 10 is lifted, and, consequently, the hooked
end is kept down in its proper place to range amongst the other hooked pushers
which are in the same row, like one of them; but when a notch in the wheel
12 presents itself to the tail end of the lever, the same will by the action of a
suitable spring, which is represented in the Figures, be put into a suitable
position for raising the hooked end of the said lever out of its proper place in
the row of pushers so as to leave a vancancy therein. 13, 13, are the horizontal
axes on which all the several notched wheels 12 are fixed side by, one
such wheel to each independent hooked pusher 9 or 10, and the notched
wheels 12 govern the motions of the hooked pushers 6 and 7, so as to deter-
mine when the turn-again shall be performed by each of the independent
hooked pushers. The axes 13, 13, are mounted in suitable bearings affixed to the

page_text: The
which is shewn at Figure 5 in Sheet II., with ten hooked pushers per i
Such leads are affixed by screws in straight rows along the edges of two .
broad rulers or flat. bars 14. which project out from the two principal pushe
bars G and H, being firmly affixed thereto in the manner of blades.
two pusher bars G and H are suspended and applied in the usual manner of
the two similar bars! what is termed pusher machinery, so that the extreme
ends of the hookes pushers 5 and 6 will move in arches of circles concentric
with the circus curvature of the bolts A, B, and middle combs 1; and also
that the two pusher bars C and H in front and at back will always conticae
horizontal and parallel to themselves, and as that all the motions which can
in anywise be given to the two pusher bars G and II will be equal and
simultaneous but in contrary directions, wherefore whenever the hooked ends
of the front pushers 5, asend up the circular curvature of the bolts A and
combs 1, towards the arched summit-thereof, the back pushers 6 will do the
5 same, and vice versa, whethe hooked pushers descend down the said
Curvature that the same tinie, wherefore when the hooked extremities of
the hooked pushers 5 and 6, inserted in the manner shewn in Sheets I. and II.
into suitable notches made in that part of each of the bobbin carriages which
projects out beyond the convex curvature of the bolts and combs, the two rows
of pushers 5 and 6 being moved with their aforesaid peculiar motion respec-
tively, they will move the two rows of carriages R and L in the bolts A, B,
and middle combs 1, so as in all cases to move the two rows of carriages in
contrary directions, making them mutually to approach towards each other
with equal and simultaneous motions, but in contrary directions, that is to say.
if the parts are in the position shewn in Sheet I., and the front pusher 5 are
moved, they will push the row of carriages R upwards in the arched curvature
of the first bolts A, so as to pass those carriages R between the front row of
guide threads into the row of middle combs 1, and at the same time by a
simultaneous action the back pushers 6 will push the row of carriages L
upwards in the arched curvature of the back bolts B, so as to pass those
carriages L between the back row of guide threads into the row of middle
combs 1, which being done, both the rows of carriages R. and L will be collected
into one row of the middle combs 1, as is represented at L in Sheet II.; and
in like manner when the parts are in the positions there represented, if the
pushers are moved with their peculiar motions they will draw the carriages
out of the middle combs into the two outer rows of bolts A and B, when all
the parts will be in the position represented in Sheet I. The guides 3 and 4,
and the guide bars on which the guides are fixed, are the same as in
other bobbin net machinery, being mounted in suitable bearings at each end

page_text: two pusher bars G and II, so as in all cases to move therewith, and each ax
is turned round when required by means of a notched wheel 15, together wit
all the notched wheels which are fixed upon the same axis 13.
These particulars of the several parts which operate immediately upon the
threads being understood, I shall proceed to describe the order of the succes-
sive movements of those parts, whereby a row of complete meshes of bobbin
net lace arc worked. Supposing for a point of commencement of such
description that the parts are in the positions represented in Sheet I., when
the two rows of hooked pushers 5 and 6 have been separated as far asunder as
they can go, and have drawn out all the carriages R and L. from the middle
row of circular combs 1, into the two rows of circular bolts A and B, videlicet,
the carriages R, which are to proceed towards the right in traversing, are all
in the front bolts A, which have recently been racked as far towards the right
hand as they can go. The carriages L, which are to proceed towards the left in
traversing, are all in the back bolts B, which have recently been racked as far
towards the left hand as they can go. Each row of the bolts A and B is
capable of being racked two spaces (of one twentieth of an inch each) from its
present position. The machinery is supposed to be making a wide piece of
bobbin net lace in this present description, and to avoid innecessary la
tion of the manipulations for setting to work, the machinery is supposed to
have been in full operation, and only stopped for the purpose of examining the
relative positions of its parts at the place which is chosen for a commencement
of the description. The row of carriages R in the front bolts now extends
one space (of one twentieth of an inch) further towards the right hand than
the other row of carriages L in the back bolts extend in that direction, and
the carriages L extend one space further towards the left hand than the
carriages R. extend in that direction, so that there is one carriage R in excess
at the right-hand end of the row R, or beyond the right-hand selvedge of the
piece of net; and there is one carriage L in excess at the left-hand end of the
row L, or beyond the left-hand selvedge of the piece of net.
Those two car-
riages are about to perform their turn-again by quitting the rows to which they
have hitherto belonged (and in which they still remain) and going to join
the other rows. And in preparation for performing the turn-again of those
two carriages, the two hooked pushers which are immediately over them
(and which are independent hooked pushers 9 and 10) have by the position
which was given to their notched wheels 12 at recent time of racking been
allowed to rise up by the action of their respective springs, so that their
hooked ends are removed out of the notches of those two carriages, leaving the
same quite detached. Note, the row of middle combs 1 are screwed to a

page_text: raight bar, which is fixed fast in the centre of the machinery, and has ne
icking motions given to it. The row of front guides 3 have recently bee
acked towards the right hand as far as they can go; and the row of back
guides have recently been racked to the left hand as far as they can go
Each row of guides 3 and 4 is capable of being racked four spaces of one-
twentieth of an inch each from its present position. As the parts now stand
the guide threads of the front row 3 now stand on the right-hand side of their
corresponding carriages in the row R, and the guide threads 4 of the back row,
now stand on the left-hand sides of their corresponding carriages in the row L.
The two rows of hooked pushers 5 and 6 have been recently racked in cor-
respondence with the two rows of guide threads 3 and 4. Note, the racking
motions of each of the rows of hooked pushers 5 and 6 are in all cases exactly
conincident with those of ach of the corresponding rows of guide threads 3 and 4.
The back row of points Foperated recently to take down those meshes of net
which were last made, and therefore, the front point E will operate when the
next time for taking up (or rather for taking down) arrives. The number of
carriages in each row L and R is the same as the number of guide threads in
each row 3 and 4. Note, in all cases the racking motions which are given to
the back pws of the several parts are simultaneous and equal, but
in contrary directions; for instance, whenever the front row of circular bolts A
is racked one space towards the right, the back row of circular bolts B will be
racked one space to the left, and so on. And also the circularly arched
motions which are given to the two rows of carriages R and L in the
gents of the bolts A, B. and combs 1, are in all cases simultaneous
and equal, but in contrary directions; for instance, whenever the carriages R
are moving in a direction from the front of the machinery towards the back
thereof, the carriages T. will be moving with an equal speed from the back of
the machinery towards the front thereof. The several parts have been put
into the positions above mentioned by the racking from tooth Number 5 of
the racking wheels to tooth Number 6, and no motion of the machinery has
taken place since that racking, so that the racking wheels continue standing
on tooth Number 6, and starting from the above position a row of complete
meshes of bobbin net lace will be worked by the machinery when six racking
motions have been gone through, as follows:-The two rows of hooked
pushers 5 and 6 are moved simultaneously towards the row of middle combs 1,
and their hooked extremities acting in the notches of the carriage R and L,
push the same upwards in the circular arch of the bolts A, B, and combs 1,
so as to pass the two rows of carriages R and L between the rows of guide
threads 8 and 4 at the same time, and the simultaneous motions of the hooked

page_text: pushers are continued until the carriages have been pushed quite ont of the
two rows of circular bolts A and B into the middle row of circular combs 1,
so that all the carriages will form but one straight row in the middle combs 1,.
which row of carriages is wholly included between the two rows of guide
threads 3 and 4, as is represented in Sheet II.; the extreme ends of the hooked
pushers 5 and 6 must pass between the guide threads 3 and 4, in order to
reach after the carriages when they are lodged in the middle combs. And
note, owing to two of the independent hooked pushers 9 and 10 having been
taken out of action, as before described, the two turn-again carriages will be
left motionless at X and Y, Sheet II., in the front and back rows A and B of
circular bolts, when all the other carriages are pushed up into the middle
row of combs by the action last above described. The turn-again carriage X,
which has just quitted the row of carriages R, is at the right-hand end of the
front row A of circular bolts, and by performing its turn-again is going to
secure the right-hand selvidge of the wide piece of bobbin net which is
making in the machinery. The other turn-again carriage Y, which has just
quitted the row of carriages L, is at the left-hand end of the back row B
of circular bolts, and by performing its turn-again it is about to secure the left-
hand selvidge of the net. The several parts having attained the position repre-
sented in Sheet II, the racking wheels rack with a sudden motion to tooth
Number 1, whereby the front row of bolts A is racked one space towards the
left, and the back row of bolts B as much to the left. Note, the turn-again
carriages X and Y being the only carriages then contained in those bolts,
they are by that racking gathered inwards within the two selvidges of the
piece of net. And also by the said racking of tooth Number 1, the row of
front guide threads, together with the front row of hooked pushers 5, which
have their extreme ends inserted between those guide threads, are racked three
spaces towards the left, and the row of back guide threads 4, together with the
back row of hooked pushers 6, which are inserted between those threads, are
racked three spaces towards the right. And note, in thus racking the
extremities of the hooked pushers are carried laterally out of the notches of
those carriages in which the acted before the racking took place, and are
taken into the notches of the other carriages, which stand side by side in the
same row in the middle combs. But whereas the front hooked pushers 5
acted in the notches of the carriages belonging to the row R before the
racking took place, they will in consequence of that racking be carried into
the notches of carriages belonging to the other row L.; and in like manner
the back hooked pushers 6 will, in consequence of the racking, change their
hold from carriages belonging to the row L, to take carriages belonging to

page_text: the other row R; and also at the same time when the tooth Number 1 is
racked the notched wheels 15 of the two axes 13, being turned one tooth
cach, will turn the notched wheels 12 so much as to restore those independant
hooked pushers 9 and 10, which were kept out of action the last time, to
their proper places in the rows of hooked pushers to which they belong
respectively, but by the same motion of the axes 18, two other notched
wheels 12 will be caused to operate so as to take out of action two other
of the independent hooked pushers 9 and 10, which are adjacent to the two
which were restored as aforesaid to their places, the two independent hooked
pushers which are taken out of action being those which, by the operation of
the racking tooth Number 1, are brought to correspond with the two turn-
again carriages X and Y, which require to be missed by the hooked pushers
during the next succeeding motion to racking tooth 1, which is, as follows:-
The two rows of hooked pushers 5 and 6 move simultaneously outwards from the
middle row of combs 1, with equal speed in contrary directions, and in so moving
they draw out the carriages L and R from the middle combs, and between tho
guide threads 3 and 4 into the circular bolts A and B; in doing so the front
row of hooked pushers 5 draw out the row of carriages I., passing them between
the front row of guide threads 3 into the front row of bolts A, whilst the back
row of hooked pushers 6 draw out the other row of carriages R, passing them
between the back row of guide threads 4 into the back row of bolts B, and
the parts arrive again at the position represented in Sheet I., excepting that
the row of carriages R which were in the first row of bolts A are now passed
into the back row of bolts B, and vice versa. Note, in consequence of this
mutual exchange of places by the two rows of carringes L and R, the two
turn-again carriages X and Y become transferred from one row of carriages R
to the other row L, and vice versa; for instance, the turn-again carriage X
at the right-hand selvidge, which was one of the row of carriages R at the
commencement of this description, quitted that row R by remaining motionless
in the front bolts A when the carriages R were pushed out therefrom, but now
that the other carriages L have come into the front bolts A, the turn-again
carriage X which remained their becomes incorporated with the row Lat
the right-hand end thereof, and having thereby performed its turn-again its
bobbin thread will have secured the right-hand selvidge of the net. And in like
manner the other turn-again carriage Y, at the left-hand selvidge, which was
one of the carriages L at the commencement of this description, quitted that
row by remaining motionless in the back bolts B when the other carriages L
were pushed out therefrom, and now that the other carriages R have como
into the back bolt B the turn-again carriage Y, which remained there will

page_text: become incorporated with the row R, and having thereby performed its
turn-again its bobbin thread will have secured the left-hand selvidge of
the net. Note, soon after the racking of tooth Number 1, the front row
of points E were withdrawn from those meshes of the net which they had
formerly taken down, and were raised up preparatory for inserting them again
between the threads, in order to take down the row of half meshes last made.
In so rising up, the front points are racked to the right one space of onc
twentieth of an inch before they penetrate between any of the threads. At
the moment of racking tooth tooth Number 2, the extremities of the front
points C are entered between the front row of bobbin threads proceeding from
the carriages L, but have not then penetrated between the front guide
threads 3. The parts being nearly in the position represented in Sheet I.,
the racking of tooth Number 2 then takes place by a sudden motion, whereby
the row of front guide threads 3, together with the front row of hooked
pushers 5, are racked two spaces to the right, and the row of back guide
threads 4, together with the back row of hooked pushers 6, are racked two
spaces to the left, and by a motion which is given to the notched wheels 15
and notched wheels 12 at the same time when tooth 2 is racked, these
independent hooked pushers which were kept out of action last time are
restored to their places in the complete rows of hooked pushers. The two
rows of hooked pushers 5 and 6 then move simultaneously inwards, and push
the two rows of carriages out of the circular bolts A, B, passing the carriages
L between the front row of guide threads 3, and passing the carriages R
between the back row of guide threads 4 at the same time until both rows of
carriages R and L are collected into the row of middle combs 1, in the
position represented in Sheet II., excepting that every one of the carriages are
collected into one row in the middle combs 1, the two turn-again carriages
X and Y, which appear in Sheet II., being incorporated with the complete
row. Note, immediately after racking tooth 2, the front points E penetrated
between the row of front guide threads 3 (having previously penetrated
between the front bobbin threads proceding from the carriages L, as before
mentioned), and having thus secured their insertions amongst the front bobbin
threads and front guide threads, the front points E begin to descend, and also
to enter further in amongst those threads by an obliquely descending motion,
during which the front points E are racked two spaces (of one twentieth of an
inch each) towards the left hand, before they penetrate amongst the back rows
of guide threads and bobbin threads, but after having thus secured their
insertion amongst all their threads, and in descending further in order to carry
down the half meshes of net which have been last made, the front points E

page_text: are racked one space to the right, and in that state they go quite down, so as
to get to their resting position, as represented in Sheet II., before tooth 3 is
racked. The carriages being all collected into one row in the middle combs 1,
tooth Number 3 is racked, whereby the front guide threads 3 and front
hooked pushers 5 are racked two spaces to the left, and the back guide
threads 4 and back hooked pushers 6 two spaces to the right. Then,
by simultaneous receding motions of the two rows of hooked pushers 5 and 6,
tlie carriages are drawn out downwards from the middle row of combs 1, the
carriages being passed between the front row of guide threads 3, and the
carriages between the back row of guide threads 4 at the same time, and
when the parts regain the position represented in Sheet 1., tooth Number 4 is
rneked, whereby the front guide threads 3 and front hooked pushers 5 are
racked two spaces to the right, and the back guide threads 4 and back looked
pushers 6 two spaces to the left. Then by simultaneous approaching motions
of the hooked pushers 5 and 6, the carriages are pushed up out of the two
rows of circular bolts A, B, into the middle row of combs 1, the carriages L
being passed between the front row of guide threads 3, and the carriages R
between the back row of guide threads 4, and when all the carriages are
collected into one row in the middle combs 1, tooth 5 is racked. But note.
soon after the racking of tooth 4, the back row of points F were withdrawn
from the meshes of the net, and were raised up preparatory for inserting them
between the threads. In so rising, the back points are racked one space to
the right before they penetrate any of the threads, and at the moment of
racking tooth 5 the extremities of the back points F are entered between the
back row of bobbin threads proceeding from the carriages R, but have not
then penetrated between the back guide threads 4. The carriages being all
in the middle combs, tooth Number 5 is racked, whereby the front row of
circular bolts A is racked one space to the left, and the back row of circular
bolts Bone space to the right, neither of those rows of bolts having any
carriages in them when so racked. The front guide threads 3 and front
hooked pushers 5 are racked three spaces to the left, and the back guide
threads 4 and back hooked pushers 6 three spaces to the right.
Then by
simultaneous receding motions of the two rows of hooked pushers 5 and 6,
the carriages are drawn out from the middle combs 1 into the circular bolts
A and B. The row of carriages R being passed between the row of front
guide threads 3, and the row of carringes L being passed between the row of
the back guide threads 4, bring all the parts into the situation represented in
Sheet 1. Note, owing to the racking of the hooked pushers three spaces on
tooth 5, each row of those pushers is caused to act upon a different row of the

page_text: carriages to that upon which they acted before racking tooth 5, consequently
the carriages Rare brought into the front bolts A, and the carriages L into
the back bolts 13, contrary to what they have been ever since racking tooth 1,
when the guide threads and hooked pushers were racked three spaces; the
same is done in racking tooth 5, and in consequence each row of hooked
pushers will take a different row of carriages after the racking from that
which it took before the racking. At all the other times of racking,
except tooth 1 and tooth 5, the guide threads and hooked pushers are only
racked two spaces, and then each row of hooked pushers will take the same
row of carriages after the racking as they took before the same. Note,
immediately after racking tooth 5, the back points F penetrated between
the row of back guide threads, (having previously penetrated between the
back bobbin threads, proceeding from the carriages R,) and having thus
secured their insertions amongst the back bobbin threads and back guide
threads to back points I, begin to descend, and also to enter further in
amongst those threads by an obliquely descending motion, during which
they are racked two spaces to the left before they penetrate amongst the
front guide threads and bobbin threads, but after having thus secured their
insertion amongst all the threads, and in descending further, in order to
carry down the half meshes of net which have been last made, the back
points F are racked one space to the right, and in that state they go quite
down, so as to get to their resting position, as represented in Sheet I.,
before tooth 6 is racked. By the racking of tooth Number 6, the front
row of circular bolts A is racked two spaces to the right with all those carriages
R which are intended to perform their traversing action by progressing towards
the right, and which, by thus racking, makes one step of that progress. The
back row of circular bolts B are racked two spaces to the left with all those
carriages L which are intended to perform their traversing action by progress-
ing towards the left, and which, by thus racking, makes one step of that
progress. The row of front guide threads 3, together with the front hooked
pushers 5, are racked four spaces to the right, and the row of back guide
threads 4, together with the back hooked pusher 6, are racked four spaces
to the the left, and by motions which are given to the two notched wheels 15
and their notched wheels 12 at the moment of racking tooth 6, that
independent hooked front pusher 9, which is immediately over that car-
riage R which is furthest to the right, is taken out of action. In
like manner that independent hooked back pusher 10, which is imme-
diately over that carriage L which is furthest to the left; is likewise taken
out of action in order that those two carriages may perform their turn-

page_text: again as the operation proceeds. And note, it was by the traversing of the
two rows of carriages which took place in consequence of the racking each of
the rows of circular bolts A and B two spaces when tooth 6 was racked that
the row of carriages R has one carriage in excess at the right-hand end of its
row or beyond the right-hand selvidge of the piece of net, whilst the other
row of carriages L has one carriage in excess at the left-hand end of its row,
or beyond the left-hand selvidge of the piece of net. All the parts have now
regained the situations chosen for the commencement of the description, and a
row of complete meshes of bobbin net lace has been worked. The operation
of making a wide piece of plain net by the machinery is a continual repetition
of the action described; and if it is desired to ornament such wide pieces of
bobbin net by working fancy bullet holing in the net during the fabrication
thereof, that is to say, by leaving bullet holes disposed at various parts of the
net according to some kind pattern, the same may be done with the great
facility, causing particular carriages to perform extra turn-again evolutions by
the aid of pairs of independent hooked pushers, such as herein-before described,
and which are marked in the Drawings 9 and 10 with the apparatus 11 for
supporting and applying the same at any part of the rows of hooked pushers 5
and where bullet holes are required to be made; also the notched wheels
12, with their long horizontal axis 13 and notched wheel 15, for actuating the
same or otherwise with a long cylindrical barrel, as herein-before inentioned,
in lieu of the long axis 13 with a row of detached wheels 12. A bullet hole
may be made in the net at any place in the width thereof by causing any parti-
cular pair of bobbin carriages which occupy that place in the two rows of
carriages Land R to perform extra turn-aga evolutions exactly similar to
the evolutions herein-before described for producing the selvidges of the wide
pieces of net, and simultaneously or at the same time that those evolutions are
performed. For instance, suppose the pattern of fancy bullet-holing with
which it is desired to ornament the net, requires to have a row of bullet holes
all across the width of the piece of net, at two inches apart from one bullet
hole to the next, then pairs of adjacent hooked pushers 5 and 6 must be cut
out of their leads at every two inches apart in all the length of each row, front
and back the same, but at exactly opposite places one to the other in front
and in back, taking out two adjacent pushers at every such place in the
manner represented in Figure 5, Sheet 11., and then filling up each of the
several vacancies which are so made in the rows of hooked pushers 5 and 6 by
1
pair of independent hooked pushers 9 and 10, which are mounted side by
side close together, in a guiding frame 11, properly adapted to receive them,
and suitably cast in leads, which can be fastened by screws to the outer edges.

page_text: of the principal pusher bars G and II, and with other lead adapted to fasten
downwards upon the lead of the hooked pushers 5 and 6, as is fully explained
in Figure 11, Sheet II.; and also suitable notched wheels 12 must be applied
in pairs, side by side, upon the long horizontal 13 at every place thereon where
requisite, in order that the circumference of those wheels may come beneath
the tail ends of the levers of 9 and 10, in the manner herein-before described
for lifting and holding up those tail ends, and thereby keeping down the
independant hooked pushers, which are formed at the opposite ends of the
same levers, in which case the independent hooked pushers which are so kept
down by the action of their notched wheels 12 will complete the rows of
hooked pushers 5 and 6 by filling up the vacancies therein, so that the said
rows of hooked pushers will act upon the entire row of carriages Land R
respectively without missing any of them; but, nevertheless, by means of
notches cut at suitable intervals in the wheels 12, the tail ends of the levers 9
and 10 may be allowed to descend by the action of suitable springs, which may
be applied in the manner shewn in Figure 9, Sheet II., to raise up the opposite
hooked ends and remove the same out of their places in the rows of hooked
pushers 5 and 6, so as to leave vacancies therein, in which case those particular
carriages which stand opposite to such vacancies will be left motionless in the
outer rows of circular bolts A and B when all the other carriages are pushed
upwards therein between the rows of warp threads into the row of middle
combs 1; and the notches in the several pairs of adjacent notched wheels 12
must be cut at suitable intervals in the circumferences thereof for taking one
of the independent hooked 9 or 10 of each adjacent pair out of action when
tooth Number 6 of the main racking wheels of the machinery is racked, as
stated in the foregoing description, when the next tooth being the left-hand-
most one of each pair in the front row 9 and the right-handmost one of each
pair in the back row 10; and when Number 1 is racked the notched wheels 12
must put down and restore to their proper places all those independent hooked
pushers which were raised, and must, in lieu thereof, raise the neighbouring
independent hooked pushers of each pair, videlicet, that in the front row 9
one of each pair, which is on the right-hand side of the one which was
let fall, and in the back row that one of each pair which is on the left-
hand side of the one which was let fall; and lastly, when tooth Number 2
is racked those independent hooked pushers which were raised are put
down and restored to their places in the rows of of hooked pushers so
as to cause saine to as complete rows without vacancies at all other times,
except, as aforesaid, immediately after racking tooth Number 6, Number 1,
and Number 2. And whereas for making a bullet hole, or a row of

page_text: bullet holes, the said extra turn-again operations only require to be per
formed once in the manner herein-before directed, and then several courses or
rows of complete meshes of net are to be worked without the said extra turn-
again operations being repeated until so much length of the piece of the net
has been made as the pattern of bullet holing requires before another row of
bullet holes are to be made. The ratchet wheels 15 of the axes 13, with
their notched wheels 12, need not be turned round continually, but only when
bullet holes are required to he made at some part or other of the net, and
every bullet hole or row bullet holes which is to be made will require the
ratchet wheel 15 to be moved by suitable means three teeth in succession at
the times of racking the teeth Number 6, Number 1, and Number 2 of the
racking wheels of the machinery, as above mentioned; and after those three
teeth are racked, the rachet wheels 15. with their notched wheels 12, may
remain as they were until the next time for bullet holing arrives, unless it
is required to make bullet holes of larger size than will be left by merely
making extra turn-again evolutions, as above directed; but if such extra turn-
again evolutions are repeated over again with the same independent hooked
pushers at the next succeeding course, then bullet holes of larger dimensions will
be left; or if the extra turn-again were to be repeated a third time in succession,
a large oblong hole would be left; and it is obvious that independent hooked
pushers 9 and 10 may be applied in the manner above described at any places
in the rows of hooked pushers where they can be required; or the whole of
those rows may consist of independent pushers with their notched wheels 12
forming a complete row on their long horizontal axes 12, and by suitable
arrangement of the notches in the circumferences of those wheels, bullet holes
may be left in any part of the said net, and disposed casually according to
varegated figured patterns, or regularly in rows or patches in the manner of
what is called fancy bullet holing. Or in lieu of fixing detached wheels 12
upon the long axis 12, the same may have a wooden roller like a warp roller
or a lace roller fixed upon it, and then pius being stuck into the wood, so
as to project out therefrom in the manner of an organ barrel, as herein-before
mentioned, those pins may produce the same effect upon the independent
hooked pushers as a row of notched wheels 12 would do. And as to the
manner of nctuating the several parts of machinery, which is constructed
according to my said improvements, with the movements and series of move-
ments which they require to have in order to perform their various functions
in the manner herein-before directed, the same may be done in various ways,
which are familiar to mechanicians who are conversant with bobbin net lace
machinery, being in common use in some or other of the various modifications

page_text: of that kind of machinery; but for the more complete explanation of my said
improvements, I have in Sheets III. and IV. of the Drawings represented a
complete machine, wherein all the operative herein-before described derive their
appropriate motions from the continuous turning motion of one axis, or winch
handle P, by the aid of what are termed rotary movements. And whereas
such rotary movements are all commonly known and used in other bobbin net
lace machines, it is unnecessary to enter into a minute description, as the
Drawings with the writing upon them will give the required information.
The main end standards I, I, are united together by four horizontal side
rails J, J, at the lower part, and by two top bars K, K, at the upper part.
The guide threads are supplied from the two warp rollers h, k, which are
mounted in crochets affixed upon the top bars K, K. The lace roller M is
applied at the lower part of the machinery, being supported in suitable
crochets affixed to the main standards, and turned round by the usual
worm wheel and ratchet. The bars a, b, for supporting the two outermost
rows of circulars bolts are supported at each end upon bearing brackets, which
are affixed to the main standard I, I, with resting screws for adjustment, and
also the bolt bars can be drawn out upon their bearing brackets, in the same
manner as is usual in circular bolt machines, in order to give access to the
middle row of circular bolts for the purpose of taking out carriages therefrom.
The comb bar 16 for the middle comb bar is supported at each end by strong
tee-pieces, whereof the tops are screwed to the two top bars K, K, and the
stones hang down upright in the middle of the frame. The two guide
bars d, d, are supported at their ends in sockets affixed to the standards I, I.
The two pusher bars G and H have axles at their ends, which are suspended
between the arms of crank bars N, the axles of which play in bearings
at the upper parts of the standards I, I. The pusher bars are guided
in their motion by rollers at the extremities of short stump levers, which pro-
ject inwards from each bar G, H, and the said rollers run upon fixed arches,
which correspond to the arched curvature of the circular bolts and combs, so
so as to conduct the ends of the hooked pushers in an exact conformity with
that arched curvature, all which is exactly the same as is usual in pusber
machinery. The long horizontal axes 13 of the notched wheels 12 are sup-
ported on pivots at each in brackets, which project outwards from each pusher
bar G and H. The point bars E and F are mounted in crauk bars O, the
axles of which are supported in bearing sockets screwed to the main standard
I, I, and are, in every respect, the same as in pusher machines. The racking
motions of the several bars, as herein-before described, are produced a series of
racking wheels, situated at the right-hand end of the machine on a cross

page_text: axis Z, mounted between bearing brackets affixed to the main standard I, I,
all which is the same as usual in pusher and other machines. The racking
notions which are given to the point bars in the act of taking down the
meshes, as herein-before described, are given by a conducting plate, which is
fixed just opposite to the right-hand main standard opposite to the ends of tho
point bars. All these particulars will be sufficiently obvious to makers of
bobbin net lace machines, who possess competent skill in their art. Tho
rotary movements are all derived from the turning handle P, situate in front
of the machine, on one end of which is a cog wheel of 75 teeth turning a
wheel S of fifty teeth on the horizontal axis W, which extends all across the
machinery, by means of an intermediate cog wheel T of seventy-five teeth,
which is mounted on a stud pin fixed to the frame; on each extremity of the
axis W a crank in is fixed in order to actuate the crank bars N, in which the
pusher bars G and IT are suspended. The said cranks in do, by means of a
connecting rod which extends from each crank in to a lever arm p, which
is fixed on the extreme end of the axis or spindle bar of each of the
crank bars N, in which the pusher bars G and II are suspended, and
the two cranks in are so placed on their horizontal axis W as that they
will give contrary but simultaneous vibrating motions to the two pusher
bars G and I, which has been herein-before explained to be necessary
for the performance of their respective functions. The cog wheel S of
fifty teeth on the axis W of the two cranks in also gives motion to a
large cog wheel U of one hundred and fifty teeth, which is fixed on the
extreme end of another horizontal axis V, which extends all across the width
of the machine beneath the axis W, being supported at its two ends in
bearing affixed to the main standards 1, 1, and the axis V makes only one
revolution whilst a row of complete meshes are worked, the winch handle P
making two revolutions in that time, and the cranks in making three revolu
tions in that time. The point bars E and F are actuated by four common
wheels u, v, and v, w, which are aflixed upon the lower horizontal axis V,
cach point bar having its own two common wheels, one marked u for with-
drawing the points from the net, and the other marked w for raising and
lowering the point bars for taking down the meshes of net, all which being
the same as is in common use in other machinery for making bobbin net lace,
requires no further explanation. The requisite racking motions are derived
from a common or star wheel upon the extreme end of the horizontal axis V,
which has six prominent points, or if a like wheel with two prominent points
instead of six were fixed in the axis W of the two cranks in, it would effect
the same purpose.
In either case, at every time that one of the said promi-

page_text: nences comes into action it will cause the racking wheels on the cross axis Z
to be turned round one tooth, and thereby the several racking wheels on
the axis Z give the requisite racking motion to the several bars, as herein-
before explained to be necessary. But the same effect may be produced by
large racking wheels fixed upon the end of the horizontal axis V in the
manner usually practised for the machinery called fluted roller machinery,
and cut with suitable elevations and depressions to produce the requisite
racking movements. The motions which are requisite to be given to the
ratchet wheels 15 of the notched wheels 12, 12, upon the axes 13, 13, as
hercin-before described, for the purpose of making the selvidges of the net
(but more particularly for bullet holeing) are derived from a common wheel
17 which is fixed upon the horizontal axes V, and which has three pro-
minences upon its circumference at suitable places to actuate two levers
18, to each of which or long driver 19 is jointed, and the upper end
thereof actuates the teeth of the ratchet wheel 15 at the proper moment
when required, as herein-before described, namely, when the main racking
wheels the X are racked, tooth 6, tooth 1, and tooth 2. And respecting
mode of constructing machinery according to my said improvements with
two rows of circular bolts, and a row of circular combs between them suitably
modified for making breadths of bobbin net lace, in which case I use
pickers in concert with hooked pushers, I have for the complete expan
tion of that part of my said improvements, annexed other Drawings, num-
bered Sheet V. to Sheet IX., wherein a machine of that kind is represented;
but the parts thereof being the same as those of the machine herein-before
described, a very brief explanation of those parts which are different
will be sufficient. Sheet V. is a section full size, similar to Sheet I., and
the parts which are 7 and 8 are the pickers, which are affixed to two hori-
zontal bars or axes 20, 21, which extend all across the machine in a manner
very similar to the locker bars in circular-bolts machinery, and have broad
blades affixed to them, which descend within the space between the guide
bars d and e and the middle comb bar 16; and from the lower edges of those
broad blades the pickers descend to act upon the carriages in the middle
combs 1, in the manner herein-before described, in order to detain the car-
riages securely in one row within the said middle combs 1, as soon as the
carriages have been pushed into the spaces of those middle combs by the
hooked pushers 5 and 6, and after the hooked pushers have been withdrawn
and until the guide threads have been racked; and then after that racking, the
said pickers 7 and 8 operate to pick or push out the carriages from the middle
combs between the guide threads, and to enter them so far between the guide
-

page_text: threads 3 and 4 into the circular bolts A and B, that the hooked pushers
5 and 6 (which remained motionless after they were withdrawn from between
the guide threads) can take into the notches of the carriages, in order to pull
hem out into the two rows of circular bolts, all which has been already so
well explained as render repetition needless. The axles at the end of the
picker bars 20, 20, are supported in bearings, which are affixed to two upright
sliding bolts 22, which have truck rollers at their lower ends to run upon the
edges of two circular wheels 23, see Sheet VIII., which are fixed upon tho
horizontal axis W; and notches are cut in the circumferences of the wheels 23,
as shewn, full size, in Sheet VIII., to allow the pickers 7 and 8 to descend a
very little at the proper moment when they are reguided to take into the
notches of the carriages, as herein-before described; and after pickers have so
descended into the notches of the carriages, and are required to push or pick
the same out of the middle combs, the pickers are for that purpose actuated
by two cammis 24, which are fixed upon the axis W, and which have pro-
minences upon their circumferences, as represented in Sheet VIII., in order to
operate for pulling out the pickers by means of the elbow levers 25 and
links 26, upon short lever arms 27, which are affixed to the axles or bar
20 and 21 of the pickers 7 and 8; also on the mode of applying my improve-
ments the arches a, by which the extremities of the pushers are guided to
move coincidently with the circularly-arched curvature of the bolts A, B, and
combs 1, instead of being immovably fixed to the framing, as in ordinary
pusher machines, must be fixed on the upper ends of upright sliding bolts 28,
which have trucks at their lower ends to run upon the circumferences of
circular camm wheel 29, 29, which are also fixed upon the axis W, and cach
of which has two prominences upon its circumference, as represented in
Sheet VIII., in order that they may lift up the extremities of the hooked
pushers 7 and 8 at those particular moments when it is required to remove
the same out of the notches of the carriages, in the manner herein-before
described; videlicet, after having withdrawn and left the carriages in the
middle combs, and after the pickers have acted, as before mentioned, to push
the carriages so far out of the middle combs into the circular bolts A and B
that the hooked pushers, being let down, will insert their extremities into the
notches of the carriages, in order to pull them out into the circular bolts, and
after having done so, the hooked pushers require to, be again lifted out of the
notches of the carriages, in order to prepare for pushing the carriages, without
being inserted into their notches; and in lieu of cranks in at the two
extremities of the axis W, as in the former mode, excentre camms 30, 31,
must be substituted for moving the hooked pushers backwards and forwards;

page_text: in order that the hooked pushers 5 and 6 may make a pause after they are
withdrawn from the guide threads, so as to wait at the outside of the row of
guide threads until after the same have been racked, and until the pickers
7 and 8 have pushed the carriages out between the guide threads into the
circular bolts A, B, within reach of the hooked pushers which have been pre-
viously raised up by their lifting camms 29, 29, and are afterwards let down
into the notches of the carriages before the hooked pushers begin to move
outwards by the action of their camms 30, 31. The two cammis 30 and 31
act by means of two levers 32, 33, which are connected together so as to
alternately push and pull the connecting rod n, and give suitable motions to
the lever arm p of the crank bars N, in which the pusher bars G and Hare
suspended. These parts are shewn in Sheet VI., and the two camms are
drawn, full size, in Sheet VIII.; and the order of the movements which are
required for making breadths of bobbin-net lace by this mode of applying my
said improvements with the aid of the pickers, as well as hooked pushers, is
the same as herein-before described respecting the other mode of making wide
pieces of net without pickers, excepting that the two rows of looked pushers
5 and 6 are racked simultaneously with the two rows of circular bolts A, 13,
instead of simultaneously with two rows of guide threads; and also the row or
middle combs, one instead of being immovably fixed requires to be racked
occasionally, namely, one space to the right when tooth Number 4 is racked,
and then one space to the left when tooth Number 6 is racked; and also an
extra guide bar is is required, with suitable guides in front of the row of guido
threads 3, for inlaying the lacing threads by a mode which is very similar to
other bobbin net-laced machines, wherein lacing threads are supplied from
guides. All these particulars are fully explained by Sheets VIII. and IX. o
the Drawings, wherein all the several camms and the racking wheels are
drawn in their full dimensions. And note, when independent hooked pushers
are employed in machinery with three rows of combs or bolts, and which act
with pickers as well as hooked pushers, in order to make fancy bullet-holing
work in breadths of bobbin net lace, they act in the manner herein-before
described, except that only one vacant hooked pusher, and one lever 9 or 10,
with an independent hooked pusher, will be required at each place where
vacancies are left in the row of hooked pushers for making bullet holes, and
instead of two vacancies, side by side, as is requisite for the other plan, without
pickers for making wide pieces of net, and ornamenting the same, and with
bullet holes.
Having now described my said improvements, I do hereby declare that the
new Invention consists in the application, berein-before described, to machines

page_text: WILLIAM (L.S.) CROFTS.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-seventh day of November,
in the fifth year of the reign of His Majesty King William the Fourth, the
said William Crofts came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
And also the Instrument
contained and specified, in form above written.
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the
fifty-fifth year of the reign of llis late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Twenty-seventh day of November. One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-four.