Iм- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND SIMILAR VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR APPLYING OR FIXING SUCH CAPSULES THEREON
Year: 1863

page_text: Betts, of Wharf Road, City Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Capsule Manufacturer, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND
SIMILAR VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR APPLYING OR FIXING
SUCH CAPSULES THEREON."
Sealed the 12th April 1864, and dated the 24th October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William. Betts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
October 1863.
I, WILLIAM BETTS, of Wharf Road, City Road, in the County of Middle-
sex, Capsule Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC CAPSULES POR
BOTTLES AND SIMILAR VESSELS. AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MBANS FOR APPLYING
OR FIXING SUCH CAPSULES THEREON," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a novel form of metallic capsule wherein
provision is made for the close fitting of the capsule over and round the cork
or stopper as well as round the neck of a bottle or similar vessel when such
cork or stopper is left projecting more or less above the lip.
According to this part of my Invention I propose to form a chamber in the
end of the capsule of smaller diameter than the body of the capsule itself, such
chamber being of the shape and dimensions of that part of the cork or stopper
Price Sd.]

page_text: This
which is left protruding beyond the lip of the bottle or similar vessel so as to
fit closely and accurately thereon without creases. Or the end of the capsule
may be so shaped or bevelled as to fit over the top of the cork or stopper, and
slope outwards direct to the neck of the bottle, the diameter of the top of
the capsule corresponding to that of the top of the cork, whilst the bevelled
part at its largest diameter fits closely round the lip of the bottle.
improved capsule may be closed or tightened round the neck of the bottle or
similar vessel by any of the well-known methods now in use, and when
hdjusted presents a much neater appearance than the ordinary capsules.
wherein no special provision is made for the protruding cork or stopper. In
making the improved capsules herein-before described I prefer to employ a
slight modification of the machinery or apparatus for which Letters Patent
were granted to John Thomas Betts bearing date the 16th day of March
1843, No. 9665, but I do not confine myself to this mode of making them. as
they may be produced by hand punches or by other mechanical devices.
When the said patented machinery or apparatus is employed the punch
immediately preceding the finishing punch is slightly reduced or bevelled at
the end so as to contract slightly the end of the capsule and prepare it for
the raising of the smaller chamber therein, which is subsequently effected in
the finishing die by the aid of a small matrix or ferrule introduced therein
and a punch having its end reduced and so shaped as to form a counterpart of
the small matrix, or so as to fit accurately the bore of the ferrule, allowing
for the thickness of the metal of the capsule. If desired the end of the small
chamber may be stamped or embossed with any letters or device at the time
of raising it.
The second part of my Invention relates to the production of a new
manufacture of metallic capsule intended to be applied to bottles containing
champagne and similar valuable wines, and consists in making a raised
metallic capsule of suflicient length to entirely cover the empty space in the
neck of the bottle, thereby replacing the tinfoil hitherto wrapped round the
bottle neck for that purpose. By having a trade mark or name stamped upon
this capsule an effectual prevention of fraud is also obtained, as the capsule
must be destroyed before the cork can be drawn. It has hitherto been found
impracticable to raise metallic capsules of a length sufficient for the purpose
above referred to, the longest capsules made not exceeding 30 lines or about
2 inches and ihs, whereas for champagne and other similar purposes greater
lengths are required, going even so far as 48 lines, or 4 inches and a quarter.
In making these long capsules I prefer to employ a modification of the
capsule-making machine described in the Specification of the Letters Patent

page_text: of John Thomas Betts herein-before referred to, but in order to render such
machine suitable for the manufacture in question it is necessary to increase
the number of punches from 13 to about 19 or 20, to increase the throw of
the eccentrics in proportion to the extra travel required in the punches by
reason of the increased length of the capsule, and generally to strengthen the
principal working parts and give greater power to the machine, since the disc
from which the capsule is raised is both larger and occasionally thicker, and
more punches and cups are requisite to be working at the same time than
those hitherto operated upon and will consequently necessitate the employ-
ment of greater force in the operation of raising. This capsule, like those
hitherto produced, is tapered towards the closed end, and in order to prepare it
to receive such tapered form in the finishing die I cause three or more of the
preceding punches each to advance a less distance through the die or draw
plate than the preceding one, so that they will leave a series of shoulders or
parallel enlargements upon the capsule of increasing diameter towards the
rear end of the same, which are readily pressed out in the tapered finishing
die by the correspondingly tapered punch, and leave the capsule in the form of
a truncated conc. In some cases if preferred these capsules may be made by
means of hand punches in lieu of by self-acting machinery. Any desirable
trade mark or name may be produced either plain or in colors upon the end
of the capsule during the process of its manufacture, and I prefer for this
purpose to employ the means described in the Specifications of Letters Patent
granted to me and bearing date respectively the 2nd of December 1859,
No. 2727, and the 9th of December 1859, No. 2798. In order to fix the
capsule to the neck of the bottle 1 compress it when adjusted upon the neck
between a pair of matrices or disc shaped to conform to that part of the neck
along which the capsule extends. The result of this operation is io nip the
superabundant metal or opposite sides in the form of plaits, whilst the rest
of the capsule remains tightly gripping the neck of the bottle. In order to
fold down these projecting plaits I next place the neck between a somewhat
similar pair of matrices or dies, the lower one of which has a nick or groove
formed therein near one side to receive one of the plaits, whilst the opposite
plait is pressed or folded down flat to the neck by the upper die. The bottle
is then removed and replaced again in such a position as to bring the
remaining plait upwards, and the pressure is repeated so as to fold down the
second plait like the first. A third die is now brought down upon the
capsule which still lies in the cavity of the lower die, and this third die is
provided with a metal stamp or impressing die, its object being to impress a
name or trade mark upon one or both of the folded plaits. The final

page_text: operation of smoothing or sleeking the capsule well down upon and along the
neck of the bottle is effected by preference in a machine similar to that
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to John Henry
Johnson bearing date the 8th of December 1860, No. 3014, or if preferred
the ordinary and well loop machine may be used for that purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Betts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BETTS, of Wharf Road, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, Capsule
Manufacturer, send greeting.
,WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Betts, Her special license that 1, the said William
Betts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Betts, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND SIMILAR VESSELS, AND
IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR APPLYING OR FIXING SUCH CAPSULES THEREON."
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Betts, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
scal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, 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 I, the said
William Betts, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:--

page_text: My said Invention relates, firstly, to a novel form of metallic capsule,
wherein provision is made for the close fitting of the capsule over and round
the cork or stopper, as well as round the neck of the bottle or similar vessel
when such cork or stopper is left projecting more or less above the lip.
According to this part of my Invention I propose to form a chamber in the
end of the capsule of smaller diameter than the body of the capsule itself,
such chamber being of the shape and dimensions of that part of the cork or
stopper which is left protruding beyond the lip of the bottle or similar vessel,
so as to fit closely and accurately thereon without creases. Or the end of the
capsule may be so shaped or bevelled as to fit over the top of the cork or
stopper, and slope outwards direct to the neck of the bottle, the diameter of
the top of the capsule corresponding to that of the top of the cork, whilst the
levelled part at its largest diameter fits closely round the lip of the bottle.
This improved capsule may be closed or tightened round the neck of the bottle
or similar vessel by any of the well-known methods now in use, and when
adjusted presents a much neater appearance than the ordinary capsules,
wherein no special provision is made for the protruding cork or stopper.
In making the improved capsules herein-before described I prefer to employ
a slight modification of the machinery or apparatus for which Letters Patent
were granted to John Thomas Betts, bearing date the Sixteenth day of March,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-three, No. 9665; but I do not confine
myself to this mode of making them, as they may be produced by hand
punches, or by other mechanical devices. When the said patented machinery
or apparatus is employed, the punch immediately preceding the finishing
punch is slightly reduced or levelled at the end, so as to contract slightly the
end of the capsule, and prepare it for the raising of the smaller chamber
therein, which is subsequently effected in the finishing die by the aid of a
small matrix or ferrule introduced therein, and a punch having its end reduced
and so shaped as to form a counterpart of the small matrix, or so as to fit
accurately the bore of the ferrule, allowing for the thickness of the metal of
the capsule. If desired the end of the small chamber may be stamped or
embossed with any letters or device at the time of raising it.
The second part of my Invention relates to the production of a new manu-
facture of metallic capsule, intended to be applied to bottles containing
champagne and similar valuable wines, and consists in making a raised
metallic capsule of sufficient length to entirely cover the empty space in the
neck of the bottle, thereby replacing the tinfoil hitherto wrapped round the
bottle neck for that purpose. By having a trade mark or name stamped upon
this capsule an effectual prevention of fraud is also obtained, as the capsule

page_text: must be destroyed before the cork can be drawn. It has hitherto been found
impracticable to raise metallic capsules of a length sufficient for the purpose
above referred to, the longest capsules made not exceeding thirty lines, or
about two inches and five-eights, whereas for champagne and other similar
purposes greater lengths are required, going even as far as forty-eight lines,
or four inches and a quarter. In making these long capsules I prefer to
employ a modification of the capsule-making machine described in the Specifi-
cation of the Letters Patent of John Thomas Betts, herein-before referred
to; but in order to render such machine suitable for the manufacture in ques-
tion it is necessary to increase the number of punches from thirteen to about
nineteen or twenty, to increase the throw of the eccentrics in proportions to
the extra travel required in the punches by reason of the increased length
of the capsule, and generally to strengthen the principal working parts and
give greater power to the machine, since the disc from which the capule is
raised is both larger and occasionally thicker, and more punches and caps
are requisite to be working at the same time than those hitherto operated
upon, and will consequently necessitate the employment of greater force in
the operation of raising. This capsule, like those hitherto produced, is tapered
towards the closed end, and in order to prepare it to receive such tapered
form in the finishing die cause three or more of the preceding punches each
to advance a less distance through the die or draw plate than the preceding
one, so that they will have a series of shoulders or parallel enlargements upon
the capsule of increasing diameter towards the rear end of the same, which
are readily pressed out in the tapered finishing die by the corre-
spondingly tapered punch, and leave the capsule in the form of a truncated
cone. In some cases, if preferred, these capsules may be made by means of
hand punches in lieu of by self-acting machinery. Any desirable trade mark
or name may be produced, either plain or in colors, upon the end of the capsule
during the process of its manufacture, and I prefer for this purpose to employ
the means described in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to me,
and bearing date respectively the Second of December, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine, No. 2727, and the Ninth of December, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine, No. 2798. In order to fix the capsule to the
neck of the bottle I compress it when adjusted upon the neck between a pair
of matrixes or dies, shaped to conform to that part of the neck along which
the capsule extends. The result of this operation is to nip up the super-
abundant metal on opposite sides in the form of plaits, whilst the rest of the
capsule remains tightly gripping the neck of the bottle. In order to fold down
these projecting plaits I next place the neck between a somewhat similar

page_text: pair of matrices or dies, the lower one of which has a nick or groove formed
therein near one side, to receive one of the plaits, whilst the opposite plait is
pressed or folded down flat to the neck by the upper die. The bottle is then
removed and replaced again in such a position as to bring the remaining plait
upwards, and the pressure is repeated so as to fold down the second plait like
the first. A third die is now brought down upon the capsule which still lies
in the cavity of the lower die, and this third die is provided with a metal
stamp or impressing die, its object being to impress a name or trade mark
upon one or both of the folded plaits. The final operation of smoothing or
sleeking the capsule well down upon and along the neck of the bottle. is
effected, by preference, in a machine similar to that described in the Speci-
fication of Letters Patent to John Henry Johnson, hearing date the Eighth
day of December. One thousand cight hundred and sixty. No. 3014. or, if
preferred, the ordinary and well-known loop machine may be used for that
purpose.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
I shall refer to the three Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.
Figures 1. 2. and 3, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represent different forms of
capsules constructed according to the first part of my Invention. Figures 4,
5, and 6, shew sectional views of the several capsules applied. Figure 1 repre-
sents a capsule which is intended to fit closely and accurately over and round
the sides of a protruding cork, as shewn in section in Figure 4. A small
chamber a of the shape and dimensions of the protruding part of the cork is
formed in the end of the capsule. The larger diameter b of the capsule is in
all cases made to suit the diameter of the lip on the bottle neck. Figure 2
shews a modified form of capsule. the crown of which is made in the form of
a truncated cone, the smaller diameter or top of which is intended to cor-
respond to and fit accurately upon the top of a protruding cork, as shewn in
Figure 5; whilst the larger diameter corresponds to the diameter of the lip of
the bottle nick, as in the previous case. In this capsule, consequently, there
is a regular and even bevel or slope from the top of the cork down to the lip
of the bottle, similar in appearance to the effect produced by the present
system of stretching a piece of leather, bladder, or parchment over the cork,
and confining it round the neck of the bottle. This form of capsule will be
found particularly applicable to the perfumery trade, as it imparts a much
neater appearance to the bottle than can be obtained by the various modes of

page_text: finishing, whilst at the same time an effectual guarantee against fraud can be
secured by having a trade mark stamped or printed on the capsule. Figure 3
represents two other views (the one at right angles to the other) of a similar
capsule suitable for glass stoppered bottles, its application being shewn at
Figure 6. In making capsules of the description above referred to it is
simply requisite to modify slightly the forms of the ends of the last punches
employed in their manufacture. For example, Figure 7 represents the last
punch and die but one of the series, the extremity of the punch being levelled
in place of being flat, so as to bulge outwards slightly the crown of the
capsule, and thereby prepare it for the final operation of raising the smaller
chamber a, if intended for a capsule similar to Figure 1, or of completing the
bevel or conical form of the end if intended for a capsule similar to Figures 2
and 3. This latter form of the end of the capsule may, however, be sometime
made by one single punch and die, as shewn in Figure 7. In making the
capsule, Figure 1, I prefer to use two punches, as in Figure 7 and 8. the one
(Figure 7) slightly bulging the end or crown, and the other (Figure 8) com-
pleting the small chamber by the aid of a small ferrule or matrix marked a
inserted inside the tapered finishing die b, the small or reduced end or pro-
jecting boss of the punch fitting the opening in the ferrule, and forcing a
portion of the capsule therein. By using different sizes of ferrules and
punches to correspond the diameter of the small chamber in the capsule
may be varied to any extent, and it may be made longer or shorter by using
a punch having a longer or shorter projecting boss at the end. These capsules
may be secured to the neck of the bottle by any of the ordinary well-known
methods.
With reference to the second part of my Invention I may remark, that in
the champagne wine trade it is the custom to apply a thin sheet of tinfoil
wrapped round the neck of the bottle after the bottle has been finally corked
and strung, the object of such tinfoil wrapping being solely the covering or
concealing of the void or empty space left in the neck by the operation of
discharging the sediment which collects in the neck during the first few
months after the wine has been bottled. The operation of wrapping the tin-
foil round the bottle neck is tedious, and when applied the wrapping affords
no guarantee whatever of the genuineness of the wine, nor protection to the
cork, being readily destroyed by insects. The great desideratum, therefore,
has been to obtain a stout metallic capsule which would not only protect the
cork, but should at the same time be of sufficient length to serve as an entire
substitute for the tinfoil wrapping, by covering the void or empty space in the
bottle neck, and, moreover, afford perfect safeguard against fraud by bear-

page_text: ing a trade mark or name stamped or indelibly printed thereon, the removal
of such capsule being rendered practically impossible without at the same
time rendering it entirely useless for reapplication, and thence is
obtained an effectual guarantee of the genuineness of all wines so protected or
capsuled. A capsule capable of fulfilling the various requirements above set
forth has never hitherto been manufactured. It has been found impracticable
up to the present time to raise or make a soft metal capsule of more than
thirty lines or two inches and in length. which would be useless for the
purpose in view. Now the improved capsule has a length of not less than
48 lines or 4 inches and a, and in order to produce this increased length it
is necessary to modify the existing machinery heretofore employed in the
raising or manufacture of soft metal capsules. In the first place it is necessary
to employ a more powerful machine. since the disc of metal from which the
capsule is to he raised is required to be thicker and stronger than usual. The
throw or traverse of the raising or shaping punches must be increased to
allow for the extra length of the capsule, and their number must be aug-
mented in order to obtain the requisite gradual raising of the metal to the
extent desired. Capsule machines have hitherto been provided with at most.
thirteen punches, which number was quite adequate to the production of
capsules of thirty lines in length; but I find it necessary in practice when
producing capsules of forty-eight lines in length to employ not less than
eighteen punches, and to add an extra fly wheel to the main driving shaft
which carries the punch actuating eccentrics, the throw of which must also
be considerably increased in practice. I have found a throw of ten and a half
inches to answer the purpose.
These observations have reference to the
modifications required in the capsule-making machine patented by John
Thomas Betts in England, the Sixteenth March. One thousand eight hundred
and forty-three, but I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine
or restrain myself to that type of machine, as other machines provided with a
series of reciprocating punches may be employed, or the capsule may be
raised, if preferred, by hand punches or tools. I give the preference, however,
to the machine above referred to, modified in the manner set forth.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings represents a full-sized elevation of my
novel champagne capsule, the closed end of which may be made either flat, as
shewn, or of a rounded or hemispherical form by using correspondingly shaped
punches, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the metal disc from which it is
raised. The first raising mandril and die are represented half size in Figure
3, A being the mandril, and B the die, the flat disc being dropped into the
narrow space or chamber a in front of the die, and then pushed forward into

page_text: the die, as shewn, whereby it is dished slightly. The partially formed capsule
is next transferred to the second mandril C (Figure 4), and forced by it
through the corresponding die or draw plate D, the circular aperture of which
is of rather smaller diameter than that of the previous die B, so that the metal
of the capsule will be drawn out slightly between the mandril and draw plate,
thereby lengthening the capsule at the same time that its diameter is
diminished. This drawing action is continued throughout a further series of
fifteen mandrils and draw plates or dies, each in succession being rather
smaller in diameter than the preceding one, and the partially formed capsule
is transferred from one to the other by any well-known convenient arrangement
whether self-acting or otherwise. On arriving at the fifteenth of the entire
series of mandrils and dies or draw plates shewn at Figure 5 the capsule is
only partially pushed through the draw plate D so as to leave an enlargement
or shoulder b, b, on the capsule near its rear end. It is next transferred to
the sixteenth mandril and draw plate, Figure 6. when it is pushed a still
shorter distance into or through the draw plate E, so as to leave a second
shoulder or enlargement c, c, on the capsule, and is then transferred to the
seventeenth mandril and draw plate, Figure 7, where a third enlargement or
shoulder d, d, is left. thereon. The object in thus gradually contracting the
capsule towards the end in steps or gradations is to facilitate the imparting of
the conical or tapered form thereto, which is accomplished by the eighteenth
or finishing die and mandril, Figure 8. In this dic no drawing of the metal
is effected, the function of this tapered mandril and correspondingly shaped
die being solely to press or smooth out the enlargements or shoulders left. in
the capsule by the three preceding mandrils and draw plates, and to impart
a regular tapered form to the capsule. The final operation of cutting off the
rear end of the capsule, so as to leave it of the proper length, is effected by the
cutting die and punch, Figure 9, forming the last or nineteenth of the series
of instruments required in the formation of the finished capsule. This cutting
die F has a sharp square edge formed upon it. and the punch G is
provided with a shoulder at e, e, which on coming in contact with the front
edge of the die nips the rear part of the capsule between the die
and punch, and severs it all round at one stroke from the front part of the
capsule.
In applying the improved champagne capsule to the bottle neck I employ
the apparatus illustrated on Sheet 3 of my Drawings.
Figure 1 is a general plan of the apparatus for fixing and stamping the
capsule; Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 1, 2, in Figure 1; Figure 3
is a longitudinal section of the first instrument for nipping up or

page_text: plaiting the capsule on opposite sides of the bottle neck; Figure 4 is a trans-
verse section of the same along the line 3, 4: Figure 5 is a longitudinal sec-
tion of the second instrument. which folds down the plaits and also stamps
them; Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same shewing the position of
the plaits before being folded down, and Figures 7, 8, and 9 are
full-sized transverse sections of the capsule in the different stages of being
applied.
A is a table or support for the apparatus, and B is the rest or beds upon
which the bottle C is laid horizontally during the fixing of the capsule D
thereon; E is a stop or bearing against which the bottom of the bottle is held,
this stop being made to slide along the table by means of the adjusting screws
or other device F, F, so as to enable bottles of different lengths to be placed
in the apparatus. The capsule having been placed on the neck of the bottle
and pushed well home to the cork, the botile neck is laid in the matrix G.
and the counterpart. H, which is hinged to G. is then brought down upon the
neck and capsule, as shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 3, and in full lines in
Figure 4. The closing of the matrix or die has the effect of squeezing the
capsule in close contact with the neck, the superabundant metal being nipped
up between the flat faces of the die as shewn at Figure 4, and when the
bottle is removed the capsule presents the appearance shewn in Figure 7,
having two plaits or folds a, a, one on each side of the neck extending
longitudinally from the lip of the bottle to the extreme end of the capsule.
The neck of the bottle is next laid in the matrix or die I. to which are hinged
the two dies K and L. shewn in Figures 1, 5, and 6. In the lower matrix
or die there is made a nick or slot. b. (Figure 6) for the reception of one of
the plaits a, whilst the opposite plait is turned or folded down neatly into the
capsule by bringing down the die K, the result being shewn at Figure 8.
The neck is now removed and replaced with a second plait upwards, which
is in turn folded down like the first plait; Figure 9 shews the two plaits
folded or turned down as described. In order to increase the security against
fraud I stamp the maker's name upon one or both the folded plaits by means
of the metal die M contained within the die L, as shewn by the dotted and
full lines in Figure 5. In these apparatus provision is made for the proper
reception of the cork and lip of the bottle by having a cavity or space
sufficiently large to receive them without pressure. In order to smooth and
sleek the capsule well down over the bottle neck, and finish it ready for the
market, I pass it through any well-known loop capsuling machine, but I pre-
fer to employ for that purpose a machine similar to that described in the

page_text: Specification of Letters Patent granted to John Henry Johnson, bearing date
the Eighth December, One thousand eight hundred and sixty No. 3014.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what. I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part. recited Letters Patent, is,-
1st. the manufacture of soft metal capsules wherein special provision is
made for covering or fitting over and round a projecting cork or stopper as
herein-before described in reference to Sheet 1 of my Drawings.
2nd, the manufacture of metallic capsules of sufficient length to cover
entirely the empty space left in the necks of champagne bottles, and the
application of trade marks or names to such capsules as herein-before
described.
3rd. the mode of and apparatus for applying capsules to champagne and
similar wine bottles as herein-before described in reference to Sheet. 3 of my
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Belis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
WILLIAM BETTS. (L.S.)