IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES IN POTTERY, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Grosvenor, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES IN POTTERY, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
Sealed the 21st February 1871, and dated the 30th August 1870..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Grosvenor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th August 1870.
I, FREDERIC GROSVENOR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES IN POTTERY, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to
say :-
This Invention malaton to

page_text: manufacture such vessels by mechanical means in place of by hand
labour, and out of one piece of clay.
t
The Invention is carried into effect by employing in connection with
the ordinary jolly" certain tools for contracting the upper part of the
vessel whilst in the mould in the following manner :-The clay in the 5
revolving mould is hollowed out in the usual manner, and the "jolly"
frame, as soon as the hollowing out of the clay to the extent required
for forming the body of the vessel is effected, is lowered, and being
fitted with one or more knives or templates of the shape required to
form the neck and mouth of the vessel, one or more of these. knives or 1
templates descend between the clay and the inner side of the mould, so
as to separate the upper part of the clay from the mould, and thereby
contract it to the required extent.
The essential feature of this part of the Invention consists in adapting
the knives or templates to the "jolly" in such manner that when 1
lowered they contract the clay from the upper interior part of the
mould.
肇
Another part of the Invention consists in forming the "jolly" with.
two or more arms, each carrying knives or templates set at different
distances from the centre of the "jolly" shaft. By this means vessels 2
of various capacities may be made without the loss of time at présent
incurred in setting the knives or templates for forming vessels of
different capacities. In applying any one of the knives or templates
for forming vessels of any given interior diameter the "jolly" shaft is
turned round until the knife or template for forming the required
diameter of vessel is brought over the mould. By this means too a
reduction in the number of moulds required is effected.
The last part of this Invention relates to the means for finishing the
shape of the interior of vessels having contracted mouths.
Under one arrangement it consists of an india-rubber tube which is
lowered through the contracted mouth, and after being lowered thereinto
compressed air or water is admitted so as to expand or curve it (or it
may be otherwise expanded or curved), and cause the expanded or
curved tube to press against the interior of the vessel as it revolves,
and when. the interior is properly shaped the tube is contracted and
withdrawn from the vessel.

page_text: Under another arrangement a mechanical finger is employed, which
is formed of a curve corresponding to the finished interior shape of the
contracted portion of the vessel, and is lowered into the contracted
portion through a correspondingly shaped curved guide, and after acting
on the interior of the contracted portion of the vessel is withdrawn.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederic Grosvenor in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th February 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
GROSVENOR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the 34th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors; give.
and grant unto me, the said Frederic Grosvenor, Her special license
that I, the said Frederic Grosvenor, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederic Grosvenor, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thercafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, excrcise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF POTTERY; AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Frederic Grosvenor, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain thic nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent."
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederic Grosvenor, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
Бау :-
My said Invention relates to improvements in constructing vessels in
pottery which have contracted mouths or orifices or with either or both
ends closed, and its object is to manufacture such vessels by mechanical
means in place of by hand labour, and out of one piece of clay.
jolly"
The Invention is carried into effect by employing in connection with
the ordinary "jolly" certain tools for contracting the upper part of the
vessel whilst in the mould in the following manner:-The clay in the
revolving mould is hollowed out in the usual manner, and the "
frame, as soon as the hollowing out of the clay to the extent required for
forming the body of the vessel is effected, is lowered, and being fitted
with one or more knives or templates of the shape required to form the
neck and mouth of the vessel, one or more of these knives or templates
descend between the clay and the inner side of the mould, so as to
separate the upper part of the clay from the mould, and thereby contract
it to the required extent.
The essential feature of this part of the Invention consists in adapting
the knives or templates to the "jolly" in such manner that when
lowered they contract the clay from the interior upper part of the
mould.
Another part of the Invention consists in forming the "jolly" with
two or more arms, each carrying knives or templates set at different
distances from the centre of the "jolly" shaft; by this means vessels of
various capacities may be made without the loss of time at present
incurred in setting the knives or templates for forming vessels of different
capacities. In applying any one of the knives or templates for forming
vessels of any given interior diameter the "jolly" shaft is turned round
until the knife or template for forming the required diameter of vessel is
brought over the mould. And this part of my Invention may be used
apart from that herein-before described, so that wide or open mouthed
vessels may be formed, such as jars or cups. By. this means, too, a
reduction in the number of moulds required is effected.
The last part of this Invention relates to the means for finishing the
shape of the interior of vessels having contracted mouths.

page_text: Under one arrangement it consists of an india-rubber tube, which is
lowered through the contracted mouth, and after being lowered thereinto
compressed air or water is admitted, so as to expand or curve it (or it
may be otherwise expanded or curved) and cause the expanded or curved
tube to press against the interior of the vessel as it revolves; and when
the interior is properly shaped the tube is contracted and withdrawn
from the vessel.
Under another arrangement a mechanical finger is employed, which is
formed of a curve corresponding to the finished interior shape of tho
contracted portion of the vessel; and this is lowered into the contracted
portion through a correspondingly shaped curved guide, and after acting
on the interior of the contracted portion of the vessel is withdrawn.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood
I now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or
manner in or under which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say':-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 is in part a front elevation and
in part a vertical section, whilst Figure 3 is a plan with that portion of
the apparatus removed which is herein-after described as the column or
pillar E, shewing one. arrangement of my Invention which is employed
for forming the necks or contracted parts of vessels in pottery. The
same letters of reference mark the same or corresponding parts upon the
different Figures on which they occur.
Under the Drawings referred to the mechanism consists of two blades
or templates a, each of which is supported at its lower end by a pin
passing through it and one of the fingers b which project downwards
from a horizontal arm A attached to the lower end of an ordinary "jolly"
shaft B. The said arm A is arranged so as to project outwards on the
side of the shaft B, opposite to that whereon the blades or templates a
arc situated, thus forming another or corresponding arm A', to which a
large blade c is attached; projecting downwards therefrom and at right
angles or thereabouts to the arms A and A' other two corresponding
arms A² and A³ are fixed, the purpose of which is herein-after more
particularly set forth. The shaft B is poised or balanced by means of a
counterweight C attached to it by a chain or cord, as shewn at Figure 1,
and the said shaft B is supported in bearings D, which are carried upon

page_text: and project outwards from the column or pillar E which is fixed upon a
table F supported upon the framework G. Under the table F a driving
shaft H is situated, supported at both ends by means of pillow blocks I
and J respectively. Near one end of the said shaft H a fast pulley K.
and a loose pulley L are situated, whilst near the opposite end a friction
driving disc M is placed, having formed upon the boss thereof a groove d
in which the fingers of a clutch lever e act; the said clutch, lever e is
secured to a stud f centred in a bracket g, and upon the stud fa foot
lever is also fixed, beneath which a spring i is situated in contact with
its under side. The friction disc M. is placed in contact with the corre-
sponding friction drum N fixed upon an upright spindle O supported at
its upper end by a bearing k, as more particularly shewn at Figure 2,
and at its lower end-by a footstep-bracket-P. At-the-upper-end-of-the-
spindle O a disc 7 is situated concentric therewith, and screwed thereon,
or otherwise so fixed as to be capable of easy removal. Upon the said
disc la chuck m is attached, as shewn, into which the mould n is placed
wherein the vessel to be constructed is shaped.
Having now particularly described the details of the mechanism which
constitute my said Invention, the manner whereby it accomplishes the
objects already set forth will be more easily understood as follows:-
The clay from which the vessel is to be formed is placed by an
attendant in the mould n, the internal diameter of which corresponds.
to the external diameter of the said vessel, and the blade c upon the
arm A' having been adjusted by turning round the said arm A¹ with or.
upon the shaft B, and being retained in such a position above the 1
mould that when lowered one of its edges is situated at a distance
from the internal surface of the mould n equal to the thickness that it
is desired to make the vessel, the revolving friction disc M. is then
drawn into contact with the drum N by means of the attendant.
depressing with his foot or otherwise the end of the lever h, when a ¦
rapid rotary motion is communicated from the horizontal driving
shaft H to the vertical spindle.O and disc 1, so that the chuck m
and the mould n are rotated. The shaft B is then gradually drawn
downwards by the attendant by means of a handle or otherwise, carrying.
with it the arms A, A1, A3, and A³, so that the blade c on the arm A¹ a
descends into the mould n and distributes the clay uniformly round the.
interior of the mould as the latter is, rapidly rotated, in the manner

page_text: herein-before set forth. When the distribution of the clay has been
effected the shaft B is then drawn upwards until the lower end of the
blade c is lifted clear of the edge of the mould n. The shaft B, and
with it the several arms A, A1, A2, A³, are then turned round through
a portion of a revolution, until the arm A and with it the blades or
templates a and fingers are brought into such a position that the said
blades or templates a and fingers 6 when caused to descend as the jolly
shaft B is again drawn downwards enter the interior of the mould n, so
that the clay is by them gradually removed from the sides or upper
internal surface of the said mould n during the rotation of the latter,
and thus the neck or contracted portion of the vessel is gradually
formed, the external configuration of which corresponds to the outline
of the lower part of the blades or templates a, whilst the internal shape
or outline of the orifice is formed or regulated by means of an inflated
india-rubber tube 2, the expansion or contraction of the lower part of
which regulates the form of the orifice as desired. The whole of these
operations will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 2. To
prevent the shaft B from being turned out of its correct position whilst
the formation of any of the parts as already specified is being effected, a
guide bracket Q is fixed upon the table F, having a groove 9 formed at its
upper end, into which the end of either of the bearing arms A, A', A³, A³,
is entered, so that it can slide therein as the shaft B is drawn upwards.
or downwards.
Figure 4 is a detached sectional view shewing another modification of
my improved apparatus for forming the contracted or closed parts of
vessels in pottery. Under this modification the formation of the vessel
is effected in an inverted position, that is to say, with the neck or con-
tracted part downwards. The mould D is formed internally to correspond
with the external shape of the vessel to be formed, and the clay which is
placed in the said mould D is uniformly distributed around its internal
surface by means of its rapid rotation in conjunction with the action of
a blade or template B', Figure 5, fixed upon a shaft and arms corre-
sponding to B, A, A', A², A³, Figures 1, 2, and 3. The outline of one
side of the blade or template B¹ corresponds with the internal shape or
orifice of the vessel. The said blade or template B¹ being, as above
specified, when in operation attached to the arm A', Figure 2, is brought
into action in a manner similar to that already specified with reference

page_text: in use; what, however, I do consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
-
First. The providing of the jolly shaft B with two or more armis
carrying one or more sets of blades or fingers, for the purpose of
shaping the clay in the revolving mould, substantially as herein-before
described.
.
Second. The arrangement of knives and fingers a, a, and b, b, for
contracting the clay from the upper interior part of the mould, so as
to form either the mouths or closed ends of vessels in pottery, sub-
stantially as herein-before set forth and shewn upon the annexed Sheet
of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Grosvenor, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
FREDERIC GROSVENOR. (L.S.)