AN IMPROVED KNIFE CLEANER
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Theodore Dethier, of Pimlico, in the County o
Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED KNIFE CLEANER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Theodore Dethier at
tho Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd December 1856.
I, THEODORE DETHIER, of Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Cabinet
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
KNIFE CLEANER," to be as follows:-
My improved knife cleaner consists in such an arrangement of its component
parts, that tho knives may be so placed in the frame as to present their points,
which generally require most cleaning, to the more rapid and consequently to
the more cleansing action of the rubbers, between which the cleansing powder
is applied, and in causing the knives, together with the frame on which they
are placed, to revolve or rotate, instead of the rubbers and their frames, by
which the apparatus is rendered simpler and less costly in construction; and
this I effect by placing the knives radiating from the centre of the apparatus
(which I make of a circular and annular form) with the points or ends towards
the circumference, and the handles towards the centre, by which arrangement

page_text: I cause the largest portion of the surface of the rubbers to pass over the points
or ends of the knife blades. I employ rubbers of felted cloth or other suitable
similar material, which from its retentive nature prevents the dispersion of the
cleansing powder, while their elasticity and softness and the absence of undue
pressure (the pressure being limitted by the weight of the upper rubbers and
frame, or, if necessary, assisted or augmented by springs pressing on the back
frame,) prevents not only undue wear of the knife blades but the destruction
of their edges, at the same time that the knives are more effectually cleaned.
The apparatus being used in a horizontal position (as a table), the cleansing
powder is more uniformly distributed over the surface of the rubbers, and by
which the trouble attending any partial accumulation of the powder is avoided,
and a more perfect action maintained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Theodore Dethier in the Great Seal Patent. Office on the
30th May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THEODORE
DETHIER, of the City of Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eiglit; hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
ne, the said Theodore Dethier, Her special licence that I, the said Theodore
Dethier, my executors,, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Theodore Dethier, 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 Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
KNIFE CLEANER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Theodore
Detheir, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Theodore Dethier, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
My Invention of an improved knife cleaner consists in such an arrangement
of its component parts, that the knives may be so placed in the frame as to
present their points (which generally require most cleaning) to the more rapid
and consequently to the more cleansing action of the rubbers or pads, between
which the cleansing powder is applied; and this I effect by placing the knives
radiating from the centre of the apparatus, which I make of. a circular form,
with the points or ends towards the circumference, and the handles towards
the centre, by which arrangement I cause the largest portion of the rubbers
or pads to pass over the points or ends of the knife blades, whether I make
the knives or rubbers to revolve, either. of which I adopt as I find most con-
venient. I employ rubbers or pads of buff leather, felted cloth, or other
suitable similar material, which having a more retentive hold of the cleansing
powder prevents its dispersion, while their elasticity and softness and the
absence of undue pressure prevents not only undue wear of the knife blades
but the destruction of their edges, at the same time that the knives are most
effectually cleaned. The apparatus being generally. used in a horizontal
position (as a table), the cleansing powder is more uniformly distributed over
the surface of the rubbers, and prevents any partial accumulation, by which
trouble is avoided and a more perfect action maintained..
The machine is constructed chiefly of wood for the sake of portability, and
its size or dimension is adapted to receive and cleanso at one operation from
four to twelve knives. The rubbers or pads, which are circular and annular,
may be of a breadth suited to desert, table, or carving knives, or if made wide
enough to receive a carving knife, the apparatus will admit of all the smaller
kinds being applied to it.
The following description and accompanying Drawing, in which the same
letters of reference apply to similar parts, will more fully explain my
Invention.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a section through the
centre of the machine; Fig. 3 is a plan, having one-half of the top frame or
cover removed to shew the lower pad or rubber and the knives in place;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the handle socket and pin. a is a cross of wood,
upon which the concentric rings b, b, are secured by screws, these together
forming a frame, upon which a floor c (which I prefer of narrow bat ens) is
screwed.. Upon this floor a facing of thick hair or woollen felt, carpet, or other

page_text: elastic material d is glued or otherwise secured, and is covered with a thick-
ness of close felt, confined at the edges of the floor by tacks or nails, aud
offering a rounded edge to the shoulder of the knife blade. This mode of
laying the facing cloth or felt insures an elastic and retentive surface. e is an
iron hoop, which forms a rim to the machine, and confines the powder; fis
the cover of the machine, composed of narrow battens and faced with felt g,
in a similar manner to the bottom or floor c. Each batten is fixed to the
ring h by a screw, which, passing through a hole somewhat larger than the
screw, admits of a slight degree of motion, by which the felt facing or pad
adjusts itself to the inequalities of the knives. i, i, are iron standards, each
spread out at the bottom into a flat foot, and let into and screwed to the under
side of the frame a; j, j, are arms or clamps turning on the top of i, i, and
having thumb screws k, k, at their extremities, the points of which press upon
the ring h, and give any required pressure upon the knives. It is not desirable
that great pressure be used, as the weight of the cover will generally be found
sufficient to effect the efficient cleaning of the knives. is a disc, having
blocks on its surface so placed as to present the kuives in a favorable position
to the rubbers for cleaning; the angles m, m, against which the handles of the
knives press, are armed with cloth, to prevent them from slipping, and to pre-
serve them from injury. The disc is fitted with an inverted socket n to
prevent the powder from working into and wearing it, and is supported upon
and turns upon a fixed pin o screwed to the frame a; near to the circum-
ference of the disc la pin p is inserted, having a spiral or inclined shoulder,
and carrying a key or handle g, having a corresponding inclined end, by which
the knives can only be turned in one direction, and if turned in the opposite
direction it slips round the pin without turning the knives, thus insuring the
proper action of the pads upon the knives when it is required to reinove
the cover for the purpose of occasionally replenishing the rubbers with powder
(which may be the ordinary Bath brick pounded fine), or distributing it more
uniformly, if it should accumulate near the circumference by the centrifugal
action of the knives, though it will rarely be found necessary. When the
machine is used it may be placed on a table or tressel, or may be fitted with
legs, and when not in use may be hung against the wall.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which I construct the same, would have it understood that I do not confine
myself strictly to the form and arrangement of the parts as shewn in the
Drawing; for although I prefer to construct the machine chiefly of wood for
the sake of economy and lightness, it may, nevertheless, be constructed inore
or less of iron or other metal; and although I prefer to make the knives. to

page_text: move between the rubbers or pads, as the most convenient and least laborious
modo of action, it may, nevertheless, be so made as that the disc and knives
may remain stationary and the rubbers revolve; and therefore I claim as my
Invention the combination of parts herein described, whereby I place the
knives radiating from the centre with their points towards the circumference
of the machine, using rubbers as described, whether the knives or the rubbers
be made to revolve or rotate, by which arrangement I obtain an efficient and
economical machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theodore Dethier, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
THEODORE DÉTHIER. (L.S.)
Witness,
AMH. H. RENTON,
12, Buckingham Street, Adelphi.