CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Holland, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Umbrella and Parasol Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTS OF UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS."
Sealed the 21st April 1854, and dated the 17th January 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Holland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
January 1854.
I, HENRY HOLLAND, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Umbrella
5 and Parasol Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTS OF UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS to be as follows, that is to say:
It consists, firstly, in an improved mode of making the runner" to which
the stretchers are attached, whereby greater strength and compactness are
O attained. The ordinary method of constructing the runner is as follows:-A
tube is first formed of the requisite dimensions, and on its extremity is soldered
or brazed the "runner notch." This is an annular piece grooved round its
circumference, and having cross slits cut at intervals for the reception of the
eyes of the stretchers, the threading wire passing round the groove and through
the eyes. It is obvious by this mode of construction that if the cross slits were
cut so deep as to pass entirely through the tubular part, the remaining divisions
would be much weakened, and liable to breakage. In consequence of this the
runner notch requires to be of such diameter as to allow the insertion of the

page_text: extremities of the stretchers without cutting through the tube. Now, my
improvement consists in constructing the runner with its notch both of one
piece of metal, and this I effect by either casting it entire, or by bending it up
out of a plate of the proper shape, and soldering or brazing the longitudinal
joint. The runner notch thus constitutes merely an enlargement of the tube
and I groove it in the usual manner. The slits, however, for the reception of
the stretcher ends, I cut quite through into the tube, but not so deep as to
reach the bottom of the enlargement. I thus am enabled considerably to
reduce the diameter of the notch, attaining at the same time an increased
strength.
My Invention consists, secondly, in extending the above-described piece of
metal to the construction of a runner of the ordinary kind.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in extending as much of the above-described
mode of construction as relates to the shape of the runner notch-to the " 'top
notch," that is to say, the nicked metal piece to which the "top tips" or top
ends of the ribs are attached.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in an improved mode of making, the "top
notch" ends, or, the eyes at the top extremities of the ribs, when such ribs
are made of steel wire. The improvement consists in enlarging the end of
the wire previously to its being flattened and punched to form the eye, whereas
by the method heretofore employed the wire is simply flattened from its ordinary
diameter. I thus gain an increased strength. The head or enlargement I form
by means already well known, namely, such as are used for the heading of
wood screws or other similar articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Holland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HOLLAND, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Umbrella and Parasol
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Holland, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
Holland, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the

page_text: said Henry Holland, 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,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said. Henry Holland, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 Henry Holland, 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 Drawing hereto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in making the "runner" (or tubular slide-
to which the stretchers of umbrellas or parasols are attached) of an improved
construction, whereby I give it. greater strength and compactness than are
possessed by those of the ordinary construction. The mode heretofore' practised
of forming the runner as follows:-
A tube is first made of sheet brass or otherwise, of such diameter as to
slide easily upon the stick of the umbrella or parasol, and to its upper extremity.
is soldered or brazed. the "runner notch." This is an annular piece grooved
round its circumference, and having cross slits cut at intervals for the reception
of the eyes of the stretchers, the threading wire passing round the groove and
through the eyes. The above mode of construction will be more clearly
understood on referring to the Drawing, Figs. 1 and 2, which represent
respectively a section and an elevation of a runner drawn.to an enlarged scale;
a being the tubular part and.6 the notch, carrying in its groove the threading
wire, which also passes through the eyes of the stretchers c. It is here obvious
that if the cross slits for, the introduction of the eyes of the stretchers should
be cut so deep as to pass entirely through the tubular part, the remaining
divisions would be much weakened, and consequently liable to breakage. The
runner notch, therefore, in this case, requires to be of such dimensions as to
allow the cross slit to be deep enough without cutting into the tube. Now;
by my improvements I construct the runner and its notch both of one piece of
metal; so. that the notch constitutes merely an-enlargement of the tube. This
.

page_text: enlargement I groove in the usual manner; the slits, however, for the reception
of the stretcher ends I cut quite through into the tube, but not so deep as to
reach to the bottom of the enlargement. I am thus enabled considerably to
reduce the diameter of the notch, obtaining at the same time an increased
strength. This improved mode of construction will be found illustrated. in
section and elevation in Figs. 3 and 4, in the annexed Drawing, an inspection
of which will be sufficient to shew the advantage gained in respect to compact-
ness and strength in comparison with the metliod illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2..
In order, however, to give a more clear understanding of the mode in which I
carry. this part of my Invention into effect, I shall here describe the manner of
proceeding which I at present pursue. Supposing it is desired to make a runner
eight-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, I proceed as follows:-I cast a piece
of metal of the requisite dimensions for the finished runner, and of the.shape
shewn in Fig. 5 in section. This piece of metal I submit to be rolled between a
pair of rollers, one of which has a groove (which I prefer to be cut in it length-
wise) for the reception of the enlarged or notching part b. By several suc-
cessive rollings, to facilitate which I anneal the metal twice or thrice during
the process, I thus extend the flat part to the required length, reducing it at
the same time in thickness, which latter may be that of No. 7 metal guage, or
thereabouts. I now cut the rim or enlarged part to the right length, but with
slanting cuts, as in Fig. 6, which is a view of the blank, looking down on the
rim, such mode of cutting being with the intention of allowing for the larger
diameter of the outside of the finished runner. as compared with the inside. The
remaining part of the blank is then cut out in a press in the usual manner of
cutting blanks of a similar kind, and the whole assumes the form, Fig. 7. The
next process is to double over a narrow strip at the lower edge of the blank
at d, in order to form a bead, as is well understood; and I then proceed to bend
up the blank into a tubular shape, which I do as follows:-I first place the
blank (which is to form, as before stated, an eight-sixteenth runner) upon a bed
having a semicircular groove across at all parts, except where. the rim lies,
at which point it should be so much larger as to fit the rim. Amaundril
is now placed upon the blank, and pressed. down by means of a punch of a
forked shape, so as to allow the sides of the blank to turn up freely, and pressure
is exerted upon it three or more different times, shifting the blank each time
laterally to a new position, so that the whole may assume a circular form, the
edges being about a quarter of an inch asunder. For the forked punch is now
substituted another, having on its under surface an exact counterpart of the
groove in the bed; and between the two tools, thus formed, the incomplete tube,
placed upon the maundril, is submitted to a succession of blows, turning the

page_text: maundril round a little at each blow.
After this a smaller: maundril, say
(diameter), and smaller pressing tools, say, are used in the same manner,
so as to bring the edges of the blank to within 1' of each other: These edges.
will now be found to be somewhat irregular; and in order to clear them, so as
to make a good joint, I pass a small circular saw up the opening, which leaves
the edges straight and parallel, and a little over 1 inch asunder. The still
incomplete tube is after this annealed, and the edges are finally closed up
between press tools, and upon a maundril diameter. The. necessary
processes to complete the runner are well known, and need not be here
described; and it will be readily understood that all sizes of runners may be
made in a similar manner by varying the sizes of the tools employed. The
kind of metal which I at present prefer to use is an alloy of copper and zinc, in
the proportion of two and a half of the former to one of the latter. I do not
confine myself, however, to the use of any simple metal or metallic alloy, as any
such of these may be used as experience may prove to be, advantageous.
Moreover, I do not adhere to the peculiar shape of the improved runner, as
shewn in the Drawing, as it may be made of the ordinary or any other shape,
and still be in accordance with this part of my Invention, provided the tube
and the notch are made both in one piece, as before described.
My Invention consists, secondly, in an improved mode of making the "top
notch ends," or the eyes at the extremities of the ribs, when such ribs are made
of steel wire. The improvement consists in enlarging the end of the wire
previously to its being flattened and pierced to form the eye; whereas, by the
method heretofore employed, the wire is simply flattened from its ordinary
dimensions. By my improved method I thus gain an increased strength.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, all of which are
drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 shews the end of the rib previously to its
being flattened. The globular enlargement I produce by a process similar to
that already well known and practised in the heading of wood screws; but I do
not confine myself to this or any particular mode. This globular enlargement
should, however, in all cases, be flattened while the metal is in a red hot state,
and afterwards pierced, when it assumes on edge the shape shewn in Fig. 9,
and when viewed the flat way, the shape Fig. 10.
Having now fully ascertained and described the nature of my Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that
what I claim in respect to the foregoing description as being new and of my
Invention is as follows:-
First, I claim the constructing of umbrella and parasol runners each of
one piece of metal, as described.

page_text: Secondly, I claim the mode described of making the "top notch "-ends of
steel wire ribs of umbrellas and parasols, namely, by first enlarging the ends,
and then flattening and piercing them.
.
In witness whereof, I, Henry Holland, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
fifter four
HENRY HOLLAND. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-
named Henry Holland in the presence of
JOHN PINSON,
AA2 i.
Sol,
Birmingham.