Improvements in the Manufacture of Scythes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Scythes.
We, JAMES BALL, Senior, of 1, Rippon Road, Hillsbro', Gentleman, and
WILLIAM BALL, of Globe Works, Penistone Road, Manufacturer, both in the
City of Sheffield, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as
follows:-
:-
Our invention relates to an improved method or system of manufacturing
scythes from steel or steelfaced iron.
The methods now employed in making scythes are so well known to those
engaged in the business as to render any description of them unnecessary, but
the one most in use is to cut out the curved blade from sheet steel and to rivet
an iron or mild steel back upon it to strengthen it.
We propose to roll the steel to a suitable bevelled section in lengths from
which one or more blades may be made.
After cutting such strips of steel to length we proceed to point them by cutting
what is required from the back or thicker edge of the steel, the blade so far
being straight.
We now curve the blade to the desired shape between the faces of a lie, or
a pair of dies, by the application of force upon the back edge of the blade, the
sides or cheeks of the die keep the blade straight.
"
We now form a longitudinal groove upon the face side of the curved blade,
close to the back and from end to end or thereabouts known technically as the
grist," the extreme edge being turned up in the process; this gives the
required stiffness to the blade, and forms a means at the butt end of the blade
for securing the tang, which we prefer to affix by means of rivets.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicants,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Scythes.
We, JAMES BALL, Senior, of 1, Rippon Road, Hillsbro', Gentleman, and
WILLIAM BALL, of Globe Works, Penistone Road, Manufacturer, both in the
Price 8d.]

page_text: City of Sheffield, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the method of manufacturing scythes
from steel or steel-faced iron.
The methods now employed are so well known to those engaged in the business
as to render any description of them almost unnecessary, but the system most in
use is to cut out the curved blade from sheet steel, and to rivet upon it a "back
of iron or mild steel, to impart strength and the required rigidity.
"
The annexed sheet of drawings clearly illustrates how the invention is carried
out;
Fig. 1, represents a scythe made according to our invention.
Fig. 2, two views of the material from which the blade is made.
Fig. 3, two views of a portion of the finished. blade.
:
1
It will be seen therefore from the Fig. 2, that we roll the steel or steelfaced
iron to a bevelled section, and in lengths from which one or more blades may
be made, but this part of the process forms no part of our said invention.
The length of material for one blade is then pointed at one end by cutting off
a tapering piece from each edge, still leaving the pointed end thicker on the
back than on the edge E.
We now proceed to bend the point P, from a to or thereabouts to the
required curve, as shown in Fig. 1, and this we accomplish by first heating that
portion to the required degree and then placing it with the edge downwards
between the adjustable side of a die, and driving it down by hand or mechanical
pressure into the tapering recess of the die, the bottom of which is shaped to the
required curve.
As the blade practically fills recess or the groove of the die, any warping or
similar malformation of the blade is avoided, and a perfectly curved end of
the blade is effected.
It is now necessary to impart rigidity to the thin and too flexible blade, which
as before mentioned has usually been accomplished by rivetting a strip of iron
or steel upon one of the flat sides, following the curve of the back edge, & termi-
nating near the point; this termination is the cause of much trouble as being
thin and weak it is very liable to turn up, catch on the ground, fill with grass
or the like.
By our method we dispense with such a separately secured strip and construct
the back edge of the scythe to form its own support and to impart the desired
rigidity.
We form a longitudinal corrugation or groove G, which is technically termed
ja "grist," down the face side F, of the blade, close to and parallel with the
back edge B, extending from the heel H, to the point.
We prefer to commence the groove or grist at the point end of the blade, which
is heated for the purpose, using a pair of top and bottom tools for the work,
operated by a stamp or a press until the groove assumes the full width at about
the position marked I, Fig. 1.
The remainder of the gristing may be done with the blade either heated or
cold as preferred, by means of another pair of swages having faces of the desired
configuration of the groove and capable of turning up the extreme edge B, as
shown in Fig. 3, which configuration we find gives the required rigidity and
stiffness to the blade, and presents a smoother undersurface to the ground when
in use.
These swages are effectually operated by a fly press, or other reciprocating
machine.
The tang T, of any preferred material is made with its underside to fit into
the groove or grist G, and is usually secured to the blade by rivetting but other
means may be used, such as welding or brazing.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is:-
1-A scythe blade constructed from one continuous piece of bevelled material,
in the manner hereinbefore described and shown.
2 The process of manufacturing a scythe blade from strips of bevelled steel
or of steel faced iron, as shown in Fig. 2, in such a manner as to dispense with
the use of a separately made back, as herein before described and set forth.
3 A scythe blade made from material first rolled to a tapering cross section
as shown in Fig. 2, then grooved down the back edge to form the grist G, and
upturned back B, as shown in Fig. 3, and having a tang T, fitting into the said
groove and affixed by rivets or other means, as herein before described and
shown.
Dated the 31st day of January 1800
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicants.