IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT.to Henry Edward Newton of the Office for Patents
66 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer for au
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS" Com-
municated to him from abroad by Anton Mader of Schluckenau in Bohemia,
Empire of Austria
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th March 1883.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF BUTTONS." [Communicated to him from abroad by Anton Mader of
Schluckenau in Bohemia, Empire of Austria]
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of buttons with soft
shanks, and the improvements consist in the means for fastening the said shanks
to the button heads which may be formed of horn, wood, bone, mother of pearl, or
other material
In buttons of this kind it has been found difficult to form durable soft shanks
or a durable connection between the soft shank and the button head.
By the present invention these difficulties are overcome.
The buttons are
constructed of three separate parts viz: first the head of the button second, the
shank-third an eyelet or tubular rivet (preferably of brass) for fixing the shank
in the head of the button.
The head of the button is formed with a cylindrical opening to receive the
shank and a little below the upper edge of this opening a circular groove is turned
in the button.
The shank is formed of a disc of linen or cloth, a small disc of metal, preferably
thin sheet iron and a metal ring, also preferably of thin sheet iron. The centre of
the linen disc is first passed through the metal ring, the small metal disc is then laid
on the rim of the linen disc resting on the metal ring and the outer edge of the

page_text: metal ring is finally swaged over so as to fasten and hold together the linen disc
and metal disc. The protruding centre of the linen disc forms the soft part of the
shank, or the part through which the sewing thread is passed in sewing on the
button.
The shank formed in the above described manner is laid into the opening of the
button-head and the brass eyelet or tubular rivet is then inserted into the same
opening and over the bottom of the shank.
The eyelet is then stamped down and its lower rim resting on the metal ring
of the shank. is forced upwards into the circular groove inside the button head,
whilst its upper rim is pressed down against the edge of the cylindrical opening.
in the button head.
.
In this way the soft shank is firmly fastened to the button head and the button
will be finished and ready for use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th August 1883."
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
BUTTONS" a Communication to me from Abroad by Anton Mader of Schluckenau
in Bohemia Empire of Austria
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of Buttons having
soft shanks, and the improvements consist in the means for fastening the soft
shanks to the button heads which may be formed of horn, wood, bone, mother of
pearl or other material.
In buttons of this kind it has been found difficult to form durable soft shanks or
a durable connection between the soft shank and the button head but by the
present Invention these difficulties are overcome.
The buttons are made of three separate parts viz:
First, the head of the button
Second, the shank
Third, an eyelet or tubular rivet, preferably of brass, for fixing the shank in the
head of the button.
In the accompanying Drawing Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the separate parts of
the shank, Figures 4 and 5. show the shank in plan view and section; Figures. 6
and 7 show the eyelet or tubular rivet in plan and side views; Figures 8 and 9
show the button head in plan and side views. Fig: 10 shows the button previous
to the eyelet or tubular rivet being fixed, and Fig: 11 shows the finished button.
The head of the button is formed with a cylindrical opening to receive the shank
and a little below the ridge of this opening is formed in the wall thereof a V-shaped
groove e, see Figures 8 and 9.
The shank is formed of a disc of linen or cloth a, a smaller disc of metal b
preferably of thin sheet iron and a metal ring c also of thin sheet iron.-The centre
of the linen disc is first passed through the metal ring c, the metal disc b is then
laid on that part of the linen disc which rests on the metal ring and the outer edge
of the metal ring c is finally swaged over so as to fasten and hold together the
rims of the linen and metal discs.-The protruding centre of the linen disc forms
the soft part of the shank or that part through which the sewing thread is passed
in securing the button to a garment.
The shank thus formed, see Figures 4 and 5, is laid in the opening of the button
head, (Figures 8 and 9) and the brass eyelet or tubular rivet d'is inserted therein
over the shank as shewn in Fig: 10.
The eyelet d is then stamped down, its lower edge which rests on the metal
ring of the shank being forced outwards into the circular groove e, and its upper
edge pressed down onto the back of the button head, see Fig: 11.
In this way the soft shank is firmly fastened to the button head, and the button
is finished and ready for use.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention .for " Improvements in the
manufacture of buttons" as communicated to me from Abroad, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect I claim:
First: The construction of solid headed buttons having soft shanks substantially
as described

page_text: Second: In a solid headed button having a soft shank the eyelet or tubular
rivet d for securing the soft shank to the button head substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Edward Newton have hereunto set my
hand and seal the sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
T
TooMAN