AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND RAMMING BRO TOLDING AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bartram and William Sheldon Harwood,
of Sheffield, in the County of York, Powder Flask Manufacturers, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND RAMMING
BRO TOLDING AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bartram and
William Sheldon Harwood at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 16th December 1861.
We, WILLIAM BARTRAM and WILLIAM SHELDON HARWOOD, of Sheffield, in the
County of York, Powder Flask Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND RAMMING
CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists of a cylindrical tube of sufficient bore or internal
diameter to receive the cartridge case, which is inserted at the lower end of
the tube, the upper end of which is furnished with a cap screwed thereon,
through which a cylindrical rammer is worked by hand or otherwise. The
cylinder and rammer being in a vertical position, and the cartridge case
having been inserted, the gunpowder is poured into the cylindrical rammer,
which is funnel-mouthed at the top, and forms both a rammer and feeder;
the powder falls into the cartridge case, and a wad is then inserted through a
slot or aperture in the cylinder above the cartridge case. The wad falls on
to the powder in the case, and the ranuner is then brought to bear upon. the

page_text: wad so as to firmly fix it in its place on the top of the powder; the same
process is then to be repeated with the shot. A spiral spring round the
exterior of the raminer (to which one end of it is attached) serves to raise
the rammer to its first position. The cylinder is furnished with a small slot
or opening at its lowest part, so as to allow the wire in cartridges for breech-
loading guns to pass through the cylinder, and still allow it to stand flat on the
table or bench on which it is operated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Bartram and William Sheldon Harwood in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
BARTRAM and WILLIAM SHELDON HARWOOD, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Powder Flask Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said William Bartram and William Sheldon Harwood, Her special
licence that we, the said William Bartram and William Sheldon Harwood,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
William Bartram and William Sheldon Harwood, 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, exercise, and vend within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND RAMMING CARTRIDGES
FOR BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said William Bartram and William Sheldon Harwood,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Bartram and William
Sheldon Harwood, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,

page_text: 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 improved apparatus for filling and ramming car-
tridges for breech-loading and other fire-arms, and consists of a cylindrical tube
of sufficient bore or internal diameter to receive the cartridge case, which is
inserted at the lower end of the tube, the upper end of which is furnished with
a cap screwed thereon, through which a cylindrical rammer is worked by hand
or otherwise. The cylinder and rammer being in a vertical position, and the
cartridge case having been inserted, the gunpowder is poured into the cylin-
drical rammer, which is funnel-mouthed at the top, and forms both a rammer
and feeder; the powder falls into the cartridge case, and a wad is then inserted
through a slot or aperture in the cylinder above the cartridge case. The wad
falls on to the powder in the case, and the rammer is then brought to bear
upon the wad so as to firmly fix it in its place on the top of the powder. The
same process is then to be repeated with the shot. A spiral spring round
the exterior of the rammer (to which one end of it is attached) serves to
raise the rammer to its first position. The cylinder is furnished with a small
slot or opening at its lowest part, so as to allow the wire in cartridges for
breech-loading guns to pass through the cylinder, and still allow it to stand
flat on the table or bench on which it is operated.
In order that our said Invention may be more completely understood, we
now proceed to explain the best means we are acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of
Drawings hereto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference
marked thereon respectively, Fig. 1 being a side elevation of the apparatus,
and Fig. 2 a transverse vertical section thereof, similar letters denoting
corresponding parts in each Figure.
A is an opening to receive the cartridge case; the upper portion B is a
cylindrical rammer with a funnel-shaped top C, into which the powder is first
introduced, passing thence into the cartridge case. A wad is then to be
introduced into the case through the aperture D; the rammer B is then
pressed down on to the wad, firmly fixing it in its place on the top of the
powder. The same process is then repeated with the shot; the spiral spring E,
shewn in Fig. 2, forces the funnel C and rammer B after each ram back into
the position shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we would remark, in conclusion, that we
do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein expressed, as the same may
be varied or modified without in any way departing from the principle of our

page_text: Invention; but what we claim, and desire to be secured to us by the herein in
part recited Letters Patent, is,—
Firstly, the mode of fixing the cartridge case in the lower portion of the
apparatus.
And, secondly, the arrangement and action of the funnel-shaped feeder and 5
rammer.
And, thirdly, the mode of introducing the wad through the aperture D,
substantially as herein specified and illustrated by the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Bartram and William Sheldon 1
Harwood, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day
of June, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
SAM. F. HOLMES,
Surveyor,
Sheffield.
WILLIAM BARTRAM.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM SHELDON HARWOOD. (L.S.)