IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS USED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Horrocks, of Bradford, in the County of
York, Picker Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PICKERS USED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Scaled the 9th April 1872, and dated the 14th October 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Horrocks at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th October 1871.
I, JOSEPH HORROCKS, of Bradford, in the County of York, Picker
5 Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS USED IN LOOKS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows :—
This Invention has for its object the prevention of damage and injury
to "pieces" or fabrics during the process of weaving by oil or lubricant

page_text: applied to the picker spindles being thrown therefrom by the action of
the picker. To remedy this defect or evil in looms various contrivances
for dispensing with the use of oil, such as glass tubes or linings for the
pickers, and glass or paper spindles have been employed, but it is found
that metal spindles and oil as a lubricant thereto gives the best working
result.
To overcome the objection to the use of oil or other lubricant I apply and
secure spindles on which the pickers work, and construct the pickers and
shuttle boxes as follows:-The picker spindles I apply and secure below
or underneath the shuttle boxes (instead of above as heretofore), and in
place of the ordinary tongue of the picker I make the tongue sufficiently
long to pass and project through a slit or groove in the shuttle box bottom,
and I form the end of the said tongue with an eye or loop, through which
the picker spindle will pass. The upper part or body of the picker used
for propelling the shuttle may be as heretofore, or I construct it of any
desired form, having an eye or aperture for the reception and securing
thereto of the picking strap. The picker spindles (required to be
lubricated) being thus placed below the shuttle box and consequently
below the line of the warp or the fabric under process of weaving, any
oil or other lubricant thrown off the said spindles will fall on the ground
instead of upon the fabric as heretofore.

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Horrocks, Her special licence
that I, the said Joseph Horrocks, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Horrock, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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
PICKERS USED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Joseph Horrocks, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
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

page_text: box bottom, and I form the end of the said tongue with an eye or loop
through which the picker spindle will pass. The upper-part or body of
the picker used for propelling the shuttle may be as heretofore; or I con-
struct it of any desired form, having an eye or aperture for the reception
and securing thereto of the picking strap. The picker spindles (required to 5
be lubricated) being thus placed below the shuttle box, and consequently.
below the line of the warp or the fabric under process of weaving, any
oil or other lubricant thrown of the said spindles will fall on the ground
instead of upon the fabric as heretofore.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention, I will 10
now proceed to describe the same in detail, and in order that the same:
may bo clearly understood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings
illustrating the same, together with modifications thereof, and have
marked the various views or Figures with numbers and with letters of..
reference, the same letter referring to the same part in the various 18
views.
Fig. 1 is a sectional (end) clevation of a shuttle box with picker
therein. Fig. 2 is a side or front view of the same. A is the picker
spindle which is secured to the bottom or under side of the shuttle box.
B. C is the picker. C' is a shank in lieu of the ordinary tongue, the 2
lower portion of the shank C¹ forming a loop or cye D, through which
the picker spindle A is passed. The form of this picker is clearly shown
at Figs. 3 and 4, which are front and end views of the picker C. At
Figs. 5 and 6 (for circular box looms), 7 and 8, are shown sections and
plan views of part of shuttle box, the spindle being placed at the back 2
of the box, the shank C' being attached to the picker and working by
the loop or eye D along the groove and spindle A, as described in
description of Figs. 1 and 2. At Fig. 9 I have shown the lower portion
of the picker grooved at D' instead of the loop D, the projections E, E,
entering the grooves and serving in lieu of the spindle A. Or two 3
spindles may be employed instead of the projections E, E, but I find the
above to work well and give the desired result. At Figs. 10 and 11 is
shown end and front views of the grooved picker.

page_text: Having thus fully described the nature and object of this my Inven-
tion, together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect, I would have it understood
that I claim as my Invention, the construction and arrangement of
pickers as and for the purpose herein fully described and shewn in the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Horrocks, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
JOSEPH HORROCKS. (L.S.)
Tasker & Brierley,
Patent Agents,
Bradford & Halifax.