IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Holding, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING."
Sealed the 22nd February 1878, and dated the 31st August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Holding at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1877.
JOSEPH HOLDING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
My Invention relates in the first place to the picker spindles of looms, and con-
sists in substituting a flat or partly flat or suitably shaped bar of lancewood or of
other suitable wood for the ordinary metal spindle. In some cases I may let in a
strip of steel or other metal to strengthen the said bar.
My Invention relates in the second place to the picking motion, and consists in
the employment of a vertically-acting picking stick connected with the picker by
means of a strip of buffalo hide, or of two strips, as the case may be. The said
picking stick may be mounted on a stud carried by the sley, and be acted upon by
a stud or striker on the picking shaft being returned by means of a spring, or may
be fixed to the picking shaft, as in the case of ordinary "over-pick" looms. I
prefer to employ a horizontal picking shaft mounted in bearings arranged inside the
loom framing, near the lower part thereof, and actuated by means of a tappet, as in
the case of over-pick looms. The said buffalo hide being comparatively rigid moves
the picker to and fro in the manner of a connecting link with a reduction in the
loss of useful effect.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Holding in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th February
1878.
JOSEPH HOLDING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
"IM-
My Invention relates in the first place to the picker spindles of looms, and con-
sists in substituting a flat or partly flat or suitably shaped bar of lancewood or of
other suitable wood for the ordinary metal spindle. In some cases I may let in a
strip of steel or other metal to strengthen the said bar.
My Invention relates in the second place to the picking motion, and consists in
the employment of a vertically arranged picking stick connected with the picker by
means of a strip of buffalo hide, or of two strips, as the case may be. The said
picking stick may be mounted on a stud carried by the sley and be acted upon by
a stud or striker on the picking shaft, being returned by means of a spring, or may
be fixed to the picking shaft, as in the case of ordinary "over-pick" looms. I
prefer to employ a horizontal picking shaft mounted in bearings arranged inside the
Ioom framing, near the lower part thereof, and actuated by means of a tappet, as in
the case of over-pick looms. The said buffalo hide being comparatively rigid moves
the picker to and fro in the manner of a connecting link with a reduction in the
loss of useful effect.
The nature of my Invention will be understood from the foregoing description
thereof, but to render it more clear I have appended hereunto a Sheet of Drawings
to which I will now refer.
Fig. 1 represents a cross section of a picker spindle constructed in accordance
with the first part of my Invention. In this example the said spindle consists of
two bars of wood a, a, and of a central thin plate of steel. The two bars of wood
and the steel plate are firmly rivetted or connected together so as to form a rigid
bar. The cross section may be circular, or of a form other than the one repre-
sented.
It has not been considered to be necessary to illustrate the spindles formed of
wood alone.
Fig. 2 illustrates the second part of my Invention. In the example b is a picker
mounted and sliding upon a spindle c in the ordinary manner. To the upper part
of the picker is secured a stud or button & which serves to connect the picker with
one end of a strip of buffalo hide e. The other end of the strip e is connected with
the upper end of a picking stick f. The said picking stick may be of metal or wood
or be of any ordinary or suitable construction. In the example it is in the form of
a lever, which is attached to a rocking shaft g which is mounted in suitable brackets
or bearings bolted to the loom framing. Upon the same shaft is fixed or formed an
arm h upon which is mounted a bowl i which is acted upon by a tappet k which is
fixed upon the ordinary tappet shaft. The arrangement for actuating the picking
stick or lever is similar to arrangements which have been used in ordinary under-
pick looms, and will therefore be well understood, and it will be understood
that the arrangement is given as an example, and is not claimed as novel,
excepting so far as regards the methods of connecting the picking stick or lever
with the picker.
Other arrangements for actuating the said picking stick or lever may be
employed.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention and
means whereby the same may be carried into effect, I would have it to be understood
that I claim,―
First. The application to looms of picker spindles formed or composed wholly or
partly of wood

page_text: Secondly. The method of actuating the picker by means of a strip of untanned
hide or of buffalo hide, substantially as set forth and indicated herein-before and by
the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Holding, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed by the
said Joseph Holding in
the presence of
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
JOSEPH HOLDING. (L.S.)