A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE OPERATION OR WORKING PART OF MACHINERY FORMERLY INVENTED BY ME, FOR MAKING AND MANUFACTURING OF CORDAGE OF ALL KINDS, AND FOR WHICH IN THE YEARS ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-THREE, AND ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHT I OBTAINED HIS MAJESTY'S ROYAL LETTERS PATENT, BY MEANS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS THE WORK IS ACCELERATED AND COMPLETED IN LESS TIME, WITH LESS LABOUR, AND TO GREATER PERFECTION THAN BY THE METHODS ORIGIN- ALLY USED BY ME FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES
Year: 1799

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN DANIEL
BELFOUR, of the Town of Elsenure, in the Kingdom of Denmark, Merchant
and British Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirtieth day of April, in the thirty-ninth year of His reign,
give and grant unto me, the said John Daniel Belfour, His special licence,
that I, the said John Daniel Belfour, during the term of years therein men-
tioned, should and lawfully might use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention, and the advan-
tages arising therefrom, of "A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE OPERATION
OR WORKING PART OF MACHINERY FORMERLY INVENTED BY ME, FOR MAKING AND
MANUFACTURING OF CORDAGE OF ALL KINDS, AND FOR WHICH IN THE YEARS ONE
THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-THREE, AND ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED
AND NINETY-EIGHT I OBTAINED HIS MAJESTY'S ROYAL LETTERS PATENT, BY MEANS
OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS THE WORK IS ACCELERATED AND COMPLETED IN LESS TIME,
WITH LESS LABOUR, AND TO GREATER PERFECTION THAN BY THE METHODS ORIGIN-
ALLY USED BY ME FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent there
is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said John Daniel Belfour, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery, within
one calendar month after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same (relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large
appear.

page_text: NOW THEREFORE KNOW YE, that I, the said John Daniel Belfour
do, by this instrument under my hand and seal, in pursuance of such proviso
in the said recited Letters Patent contained, and in compliance therewith
declare that the Plans and Drawings annexed to this instrument, and the
description and references herein-after contained, do particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention and improvements for which such
Letters Patent were granted, me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same
are to be performed, premising and desiring it to be particularly understood
that the size and dimensions of the machines and their component parts, which
are herein described, are taken from those which I myself have constructed
and used, and from which the annexed Drawings are taken, but that the
machines, &. may be made of different sizes and dimensions or of different
materials if thought proper or required. It will be found in my former
Patents of One thousand seven hundred and ninety-three and One thousand
seven hundred and ninety-eight, that the advantages to arise from ropes and
cordage of all sizes made on this principle were, that the ropes and cordage
so manufactured receive a considerable degree of additional strength, are
much less liable to stretch, from their compactness keep the water better
out, wear longer, and' are less subject to what is called meg, or break partially,
called by the seamen stranding, and that' it also saves a considerable quantity
of the yarn...
NOW KNOW YE, that these Presents are to claim and continue all the
aforesaid advantages and improvements, together with others, namely, that ropes,
cables, and cordage made and manufactured by the machinery hereafter
described, will, by the yarn or yarns being kept tight and stretched during the
operation, be much stronger, less liable to stretch, keep the water better out,
wear longer, and less liable to strand or meg, more elastic, and save in the
operation a considerable quantity of yarn, than ropes and cordage are, and do, and
is done when made in the usual method. But although the same advantages
and improvements, together with others, are to arise from this mode of manu-
.facture that arose from the machinery as described in my former Patents of
One thousand seven hundred and ninety-three and One thousand seven
hundred and ninety-eight, yet the reason of my suing for this Patent arises
from my having discovered and invented machinery by which the mode of
manufacturing is considerably facilitated and improved, but by doing of which
I by no means abandon the mode of operation in my former Patents of the dates
as above mentioned, or any other that may be used to obtain, gain, and effect
the same ends and advantages, námély, by the yarns being kept single, double,
treble, or at most quadruple; during the operation the cordage, cables, and

page_text: ropes do receive considerable additional strength, are less liable to stretch, keep
the water better out, wear longer, are less liable to meg or strand, are more
elastic, and a considerable quantity of yarn is saved. Lett no one attempt to
infringe on this Patent, or my former Patents, by using five, six, seven, or other
number of yarns on reels or otherwise, if the number differ from the usual custom
of rope-making, as I claim all that privilege, but I avoid using it, as any greater
number than four yarns on one reel, or otherwise, would be imposing on the
consumer, and deceiving him by approaching the old and weak method of rope-
making.
Having thus stated my reasons for suing for this new Patent, and the
advantages to arise from it, I proceed to declare that the improvements as well
as the original design are all my own Invention, and arise from the effect. of
practice. Claiming the sole right to these advantages (during, the term of this
present Patent) by whatever machinery or mode of operation they or any of
them may be attained or effected, I proceed to describe them :-
After the hemp, flax, or other material is properly dressed and heckled, it is
to be spun into yarn, and that which is designed for tarred ropes may either be
tarred before spun into yarn or after spun into yarn. If tarred before spun into
yarn, I claim the sole and exclusive right thereof, it never before having been
practiced to my knowledge. When, the yarns are spun, whether intended for
white or tarred ropes, they are to be carefully wound on reels, say, one, two, or
three, or, at most, four yarns on each reel, and these yarns may be of any length
the manufacturer chuses, according to the length or number of ropes he
intends to make, and he is to use as many reels at once as will make
the ropes the required thickness according to the number of yarns he has
put on each reel; but I repeat that I most strongly recommend he never
puts more than four yarns on each reel even for the largest cables, hausers,
or ropes, warning him again that if he does, either for the sake of expedition
or economy, he will approach the old and improper custom, and by the
yarns not bearing equal, destroy much of the groundwork of this Invention,
and impose on the consumer. The yarns being wound on their reels, each
of which reels should be large enough to contain about six thousand fathom of
common yarn, and have an iron or other spindle through them, on one
end of which spindle a screw or other contrivance is placed to admit a
handle for the purpose of winding the yarn. on the reel: see an end view of
one reel, letter A,-see a front view of one reel letter B (with its handle on);
let there be fixed at one end of the rope ground, in a perpendicular or other
position, posts or stantions of firr or other wood, or of any other materials
sufficient to bear the reels, on which the yarns are wound. I recommend firr

page_text: wood, about four inches square, and so high as to admit three reels to be
placed one above another, at about three inches distant from each other, and
on the sides of these posts let there be cleets of wood, iron, or other materials,
"fixed to receive the ends of the spindles in the reels, so that they can easily
turn round, for which purpose the projecting ends of the spindles in the reels
must be round and the cleets be made to suit them; or holes can be bored in
the posts to receive the ends of the spindles. I recommend cast-iron cleets,
which I find answers best. See a section of three reels on their posts, with
their levers C; see a front view or elevation of nine reels, being equal to one
of the twenty-seven perpendicular departments in the pressing machine, dis-
tinguished by the three A; and numbered 1 @ 9 inclusive. At letter D, I'find
that two hundred and forty-three reels have four yarns of the usual size on it,
will contain a sufficient quantity of the largest rope necessary to be made, say,
between a twenty-three and twenty-four inch cable; therefore there should be
as many posts as to allow that quantity to be fixed, and I recommend them to
be in two rows; opposite to each other, one row to contain one hundred and
twenty, the other one hundred and twenty-three reels, the posts and reels so
placed that the ends of the reels face or front the ends of the rope-ground.
Let the posts' on which the reels work that are opposite to each other at the
end of the rows next the pressing machine be about fourteen feet distant from
each, and the opposite posts at the other end of the rows be about seven feet
from each other, all the intermediate posts on which the reels work following
in that perspective position to throw the yarns clear of each other. Now, in this
position of the reels they must turn round across the rope ground; therefore 'tis
necessary to fix opposite and within each three reels another post of about four
⚫inches square, in a perpendicular position, to be about three feet from the centre
of the reels when they are in their places, and in each of these posts either bore
holes, fix staples, or small eye bolts, or other contrivance, through which the
yarns are to be rove, in order to direct them to their proper places in the
pressing machine; and these holes, staples, or bolts may be higher or lower on
the post as the manufacturer chuses, to keep the yarn clear of each other.
The elevation D shews how I have fixed mine, which I find answers best, as
there are twenty-seven divisions in the crossway of the pressing machine, and
nine divisions in the perpendicular way thereof. I recommend that on the
upper part of the frame of the pressing machines the letters of the alphabet
or other marks be painted, one letter over each division, and the nine per-
pendicular divisions be marked each of them from one to nine inclusive with
figures, and then every three of the posts thro' which the yarns lead be
-marked with one of these letters on each post, and on each post the three

page_text: figures that are parallel with the same figures on pressing machine; these
letters and figures are only for facilitating the reaving the yarns thro' the
pressing machine and to prevent mistakes therein. N.B.-The above letters
and figures are on the side of the pressing machine not shewn in the elevation.
letter H. N.B.-The letters A, B, C, and the figures on the different depart-
ments of the elevation II, say, three times from 1. @ 81 are only references to
the holes in the three top minors, one of each top minor having 81 holes
in it, and these holes are numbered from 1 @ 81, and one of of them
marked at top A, one B, and one C, and these marks and numbers are
likewise only for facilitating the reeving the yarns from the pressing machine
thro' the top minors, and to prevent mistakes therein. For the convenience
of reeling the yarns, either white or tarred, there should be from six to
twelve small stools or horses, about three feet high, with openings in the top
to. drop the ends of the spindles of the reels in, and in these openings metal
or other bushes should be fixed to make them durable; see an end view, of
one of these stools (which are best made of oak, about four inches square,)
letter E; a front view, letter F; and a plan thereof, letter G., On the inside of
each of the, posts that stand opposite the center of the reels, and by which the.
yarns are guided to the pressing machines, say on that side the post next its
reels, place a lever of iron or other material long enough to reach the center
of. the reel opposite to each reel, hung by a staple at the one end to the post,
so that it can move freely, and the other end is to be laid on the yarns on the.
reel to prevent the reel's running too rapidly round, and thereby yielding these.
yarns too slack; let these levers weigh each four pounds, which lays a resistance
of two pounds on each reel. The pressing machine is for the purpose of keeping
the yarns properly tight between itself and the top minors; it is to stand in the
center and across the rope ground at the distance of about eight feet from the
first row of reels; see elevation thereof, letter H; its end view, letter I; and a
plan thereof, letter J. Its frame should be made of good oak, of about six inches
scantling, to stand on two or more feet, and there are to be in it two hundred and
forty-three divisions for the yarns to pass through, say, twenty-seven divisions in
its length or cross view, and nine divisions in its perpendicular or high view; its
long or cross view should be about eight feet, and its perpendicular or high view
should be about six and a half feet, and that space to be divided by twenty-six
perpendicular posts (exclusive of its outer frame) of oak, so as to form the above
mentioned number, say, twenty-seven divisions, as shewn in the elevation H, and
in the cross-way by nine round iron bars (see same elevation H), through holes
bored in the center of the frame, and twenty-six perpendicular posts, each of these
iron bars being about one inch in diameter; they are to be about six inches distant

page_text: or above one another, lying in a horizontal position; and in order to prevent them
turning round (which they must not do) during the operation, let two inches of
each end of them be square, and one inch of those squares project thro' and
without the frame of the pressing machine, having a thin plate of iron fixed
perpendicular on both outsides of the frame of the pressing machine, with square
holes to suit the ends of these bars; the length of these bárrs will give themselves
when the frame of the pressing machine is made. In each of these two hundred
and forty-three departments in the pressing machine is to be an iron or other
sort of metal, wood, or other contrivance of weight, to fit (but quité loose)
between the upright posts of this pressing machine, so that they can work
easily up and down about one inch above the nine round iron barrs (as above),
on which barrs these weights are to fall close down, to act as a press on the
yarns when between them: see plan of one of these pressing weights, letter K,
profile of one, letter L, and front view of one of them, letter M. Between the
bottoms or convex parts of these weights and the upper parts of the round iron
barrs, the yarns are to be rove prior to their 'being 'rove thro' the top minors,
and in order to prevent these weights either from falling or being forced out by
the yarns during the operation, they must be confined in their places by thin iron
plates fixed perpendicularly on the perpendicular posts on both sides of the
pressing machine, each plate being about a quarter of an inch broader than the
said posts, which will keep the iron weights from falling or being forced out; 'tis
best to put these plates with screws, that they may be easily taken off to clean
the weights. Lett these barrs be as long as the perpendicular posts, and about
three-eighths of an inch thick, and let each of the pressing weights weigh about
three pounds. Let the pressing machine be secured to the floor by spikes, bolts,
or otherwise thro' a piece of firr timber that receives all its feet as at letter N.
Having thus described the pressing machine and its uses, then after the
number of reels are placed between their posts, according to the size of the
rope to be made, the ends of the yarns contained in each reel are to be rove
thro' the hole, staple, or bolt in the perpendicular post opposite the center of
each three reels, and then brought down towards the pressing machine, and
put thro' it in their respective places, say, between the upper part of the round
iron barrs and the bottom or convex part of the weights, from thence to be
rove through the holes in the top minors, that correspond with the holes in the
pressing machine, and which has the same numbers painted or otherwise shewn
on it see an elevation of one of the top minors in its frame, letter O (in
red). Of these top minors there must be one for every strand intended to be
made, which are usually three, see an elevation of three top minors in their
frames, with their conductors, levers, weights, screws, to raise or lower

page_text: them, &c., letter P, and each of these top minors is to have as many holes thro
it as one-third the number of departments in the pressing machine (before
mentioned): see plan of three top minors, with their conductors and nut screws
fixed to the ends of the plank on which the conductors.are screwed (in order to
draw them nearer or force them from the top minors), letter Q, and end view
thereof, letter R; but if a four-strand rope is wanted, then there must be four
top minors, and the number of holes in each must be according to the size of
the rope to be made, and capacity of the pressing machine will admit; but.I
strongly (and that from conviction) recommend three strand ropes in preference
to four, as the former are assuredly stronger with the same number of yarns
and cheaper. These top minors may be made of iron, metal, wood, or other
materials, about eighteen inches in breadth and height, either circular, square,.
oxtagon, sextagon, or any other shape, and about one inch thick, having eighty-
one holes bored or made through them in four circles and one center hole, in
first circle eight, second circle sixteen, third circle twenty-four, and in the fourth
or outside circle thirty-two holes, making together eighty-one holes, each hole
large enough to admit. four common-sized rope yarns to pass through it with
ease; these, top minors to be fixed in frames, which frames are to be made so
as to slide up and down in groves .in other frames, as shewn in the Drawings,
and those outside frames are to stand on feet or otherwise, and so made that
the center hole in the top minor plate is about three feet from the ground, and
that it can be screwed up or down about six inches. Letters a, a, a, describe
the screws by which they can be raised or lowered on the frame. At the front
of the top minors. is to be placed a plank on its flatt, letters b, b, about eighteen
inches or two feet. longer than all the three top minor frames are broad; it
can be about two and a half inches thick and fourteen inches broad, and to
lay across before the top minors, for the purpose of holding the conductors
through which the yarns are to pass, and by which they are to be pressed and
formed into a strand or ready as and after they are drawn thro' the top minors
by the power of the hercules and its adherent powers, which powers not only
draw the yarns thro' the top minors and pressing machine, but the strand or
ready is formed at the same time into whatever hard or twist the ropemaker
chuses, as the ropes made in this method can have any optional lay compact-
ness or texture required. These conductors are to be fixed fast on the plank
above, mentioned by .screws, nails, or otherwise, with their broadest ends
towards the top, minors, to receive the yarns in one body and to form it round
and smooth; see them' at letters c, c, c. These conductors may be made of
iron, metal, wood, or other material, about twenty-two inches long, of strength

page_text: sufficient, say, about half an inch thick, flatt at the sides and lower part
concave in the inside, so that the inside of their bottoms and the inside of
their loose tops form nearly a circle, and their sizes are optional, according to
the thickness of the strand or ready that is to be made, as I recommend their
being pretty near to it; their tops, which are loose, and whose shape and forms
are shewed in the Drawings, letters d, d, d, in red, and letter g, g, are, after the
yarns are placed in the conductors, laid on them, with their concave parts
downwards, and 'weights are to be hung on their ends, or a lever placed across
their middles, as at letters e, e, e, in red, to keep them down by the weights f,ff
(in red) at discretion, which weights, about fifty-six pounds each, are suspended
by an iron hook or otherwise, which iron hooks hang on the levers thro' a
grove in the plank on which the conductors are fixed, and may be moved
backwards or forwards on the notches on the levers as more or less press is
required or thought proper. This press is of great consideration, as by it the
ropes during the, operation are formed so compact, close, and firm, that altho
it leaves them much more flexible and elastic than ropes made in any other
method, yet it leaves an impossibility that the water should ever penetrate
them; see a side view of a conductor with its top on, letter g, g. The two
holes thro' the tops of each conductor are to receive a small line thro' to keep it
forward towards the top minor (at option), so that it may play easily up and
down under its leyer, according to the different thickness of the yarns (which
always differ a little), and if these lines were not used the tops might be apt to
be drawn out by strand or ready, according to the different sizes of ropes; the
plank on which the conductors are fixed should be nearer or further from their
top minors; therefore the thumb-screw bolts, as at letters h, h, (in red), are
fixed at each end of that plank, and thro' the frames of the top minors. To
effect that purpose easily, and which is to be regulated by the will of the manu-
facturer, as practice will shew him, and in order to slide that plank backwards
and forwards (endways) for the purpose of presenting the ends of any of the
conductors to the center of the top minors, the little bolt that goes through
the ends of the strap of the thumb-screw bolts at h, h, can be taken out and
put into and through other holes in the plank, at option. I have shewn nine
conductors on the plank, which are to answer nine hooks on the breast board
of the hercules, if the manufacturer chuses to make nine strands of small
ropes at once, in which case he must have his top minor plates divided into
nine parts instead of three, these divisions or circles of holes to fall opposite
the conductors as far as the number of departments in and capacity of the
pressing machine will admit; or these nine conductors can be of three different

page_text: sizes, which will prevent others from being put on and taken off frequently.
The yarns on their reels, the reels in their places, the yarns rove thro' their
guides, and thence thro' the pressing machine, then thro' the top minors, and
placed in their conductors with the tops thereof on, they are to be placed on
the hooks or twisting cranks at the breast board of the hercules at letter i, i, i,
of which hooks there are three large ones for great work, or those by their
wheels turn nine small ones for small work, and the yarns may be fixed im-
mediately on these hooks, or connected by strops three or four fathom long,
which latter I recommend, as it saves yarn, or what is called fag; then by the
power of the hercules the strands or readys are to be made, which hercules
and its powers are now to be described: see plan thereof at letter S; side
elevation of it, letter T; front elevation of it, letter V; and section of it,
letter U. The machine called the hercules is made of strong oak timber, its
frame and cross binders of about five inches broad by nine inches deep, its
length is about thirteen feet, and extreme breadth about five feet four inches,
and its height and component parts are so clearly shewn in the Drawings that
no description is necessary, as it is not possible for any competent mechanic to
be mistaken in it. I shall therefore describe its uses and how these uses are
employed. When the strands or readys are placed on the top hooks or twisting
handles at i, as before mentioned, the part of the operation then next to be
effected is to draw or convey those strands or readys up the rope ground,
twisting them at the same time into whatever hard or texture the manufac-
turer thinks proper; that hard or twist is to be effected by a sufficient number
of men (walking on the ground) being employed at the handles, or hooks at
the breast board k, which handles or hooks are to be turned round the desired
way to form the strand properly, and which is generally with the sun when
that hook or handle is to form the strand; but if the manufacturer chuses to
make at one time by the hercules nine small strands, then he places them on
the nine small hooks or handles, the position of which are best, seen on the
front elevation of the hercules V, leaving the middle hook in each of the three
divisions free, because on the square end of its spindle the handle is placed,
and by turning it against the sun it turns the three sinaller ones with the sun
(or vice versa) by small pinion wheels on each of them, nine of which wheels
shew themselves plainly on the plan at S, they being parallel with each other,
and the other three shew themselves in the side elevation T; those twelve
pinion wheels having each an equal number of teeth, say, eight, ten, or twelve,
as the mechanic chuses (as no power or time is either gained or lost by that
deviation), it being only necessary to study the room they occupy, and to be

page_text: ruled by that convenience; they are marked with letter ; and for the
convenience of tempering any of these strands or readys, none of, the pinion
wheels, above referred to at letter are rivetted or fixed fast on their respective
spindles, except the center ones in each division; all the other nine have, on
that part of their spindles on which the Drawings in the plan S and elevation 1
shew them, a square part to fit-the inside or square hole thro' the pinion wheel
the other part being round, and before each of these wheels a pin or forelock
is put thro' the spindles to keep them in their places at No. 1; but if any of
these strands or readys should want tempering prior to the top going off in
the closing, or at any other time,, then first place a small crank or handle on
the end of that spindle which is wanted to be turned (either way), then
draw out the forelock from before the wheel at No. 1, shove the wheel
forward towards breast board till out of geer, which leaves its, spindle
free to be turned at pleasure; when the point wanted is effected, draw
the wheel back into its place again, put its forelock in before, it, and then
it turns in common again with the others. To lay or close the strands
with or as wanted, see a Drawing of a small crank or handle, No. 2,
for the above use. No. 3 describes the frame in which all these twelve hooks
with their pinions are fixed; I have preferred it to be of iron, with metal
bushes in which the hooks work, because less subject to be out of repair
than if the frame was-made of wood, and is ultimately less expensive. In order.
to save the unnecessary wearing of the pinion wheels when only three strands
are carried up at once by the hercules, let the middle hooks be made so long
as to let them go forward towards the breast board out of geer, but when wanted
back to turn the smaller ones then the palls No. 4 are to be brought up
under and close to their spindles between the pinion wheel and fore part of the
iron frame on the breast board to keep them in their places, which palls are
hung at one end on a staple, or otherwise on the breast board, and held up at
the other ends by the hooks No. 5. Having thus described the use of the
breast board and its component parts, I shall only add, that the length and
strength of the handles, hooks, cranks, wheels, &c. must be left to the option and
judgment of the mechanic, and according to the larger or smaller ropes:
intended to be made, mine now in use, and of which I thoroughly approve, and
which are described in these annexed Drawings, and their scale. The shading
distinguishes the wood from the iron, the iron being described by the dark or
black, the wood light coloured and shaded, and the brass or metal yellow. I
now begin to describe how the hercules is to be propelled and forced up .the.
rope ground, having the strands or readys on the hooks. First, then, the wooden.

page_text: rollers, described by letter m, are made of elm or other wood, or may be made
of iron or metal, are round, sixteen inches in diameter, and each about eighteen
inches long, but let their length be governed by the breadth of the frame
of the hercules; keep them as long as you can, as that gives more adhesion
to the floor or ground; thro' them runs an iron bolt or spindle, of two and a
half inches diameter, long enough to go thro' the rollers and the frame of.the
hercules; it is square, except at both ends, which are to be round as far as the
frames of the hercules are thick, in which are placed brass or other bushes for
the ends of this bolt or spindle to turn easily round in. The plan and section
of the hercules shew that there are iron tooth wheels, letter o, fixed on the
spindle and to the ends of the rollers m, in which tooth wheels there
works 'three tooth wheels, letter p, of the same size and dimensions, say, fifteen
inches diameter, each having the same number of teeth immediately above
them propelling them round, as these wheels, letter p, are bolted fast to and
on the same spindle with the wheels, letter q, which wheels, letter q, are
twenty-five inches diameter, and which are forced round by the pinion wheels,
of about five inches diameter, letter r. These pinions are placed immediately over
and working in the teeth of the wheels q, on the shank or spindle, letter f, which
is turned by its handles t; therefore, by the turning the spindle f, its pinions r
turn the wheels g, those take with them the wheels p, which turn the wheels o,
and they the rollers m, by which means and force the hercules is propelled.
forwards, drawing up and twisting the strands at the same time by a proper
number of men at their respective cranks and hooks; it is at the option of the
mechanic to have one, two, or three setts of these wheels fixed to the rollers.
The reason why I shew three is, because by the friction being divided the teeth
last longer; but in mine I at present only use one set, say, the middle ones,
and that accounts for the end of the roller being seen in the side elevation T.
The thickness of all these iron wheels should be about an inch and a half, the
pinions about two inches, and their diameters should be so arranged as to raise
the spindle f, on which the pinions work, three fect two inches from the ground,
which mine are, that being the most convenient height for the men to work
all their spindles, and their appurtenances are to be fixed in good and sufficient
framework in the hercules, at the will of the mechanic; I recommend also
that these pinions and wheels are so contrived that they can be easily drawn.
out of geer, as that saves the teeth when the hercules is run back again, which
it must be for every sett of strands to be made. The swivel roller V (which
may be made of cast iron, metal, or wood, about sixteen inches diameter and
six inches broad), is fixed thro' and under the end of the piece of oak wood at

page_text: the
upper end of the hercules, under the breast board, No. 6, by an iron frame,
and so loose as to swivel or be turned round at pleasure by the handle u, which
handle is of iron, and fixes on the upper end of the spindle or frame of the said
roller at w, it being square for that purpose; the reason of this swivel roller
being placed there is for the double purpose of keeping the ends of the frame
of the hercules off from the ground, and by its being turned one way or the
other it steers or guides the hercules during its operation. Having found in
practice that by having two of these sets of rollers, wheels, &c. to propel the
hercules forward, as described in my Patent, May 1798, there was a difficulty
in steering or guiding it, that it was obliged to be loaded with great weight,
and the men to stand on it to make or cause sufficient adhesion that the rollers
might do their work, and from its great weight or difficulty in steering or
guiding when the men were drawing it back, after having carried its strand up,
it retarded the operation, and was subject to be often out of repair by its work
being so heavy; I therefore now use only one sett of rollers, letters m, with
the steering or guiding wheel V; but in order to effect the same points and
gain the same ends, I have fixed at the upper end of the rope ground a tooth
and pinion power round the wooden barrel, of which a rope of about three.
inches is applied, its end brought down and rove or placed round the horizontal
wheely on the hercules, then carried up again and fastned at the upper end
of the ground, which gives a double purchase; then by turning round the iron-
cranks, No. 7, of the tooth and pinion power at the upper end of the rope
ground, the rope round the barrel thereof forces round the horizontal wheel on
the hercules aty, and assists in drawing the same onward; this power is only to
be used as an auxilary. When the power on the hercules is not sufficient,, a
common capstan windlass or other contrivance would answer this end; but I
prefer this method, as it is easier for the men, and a mode of labour they are:
most used to. The dimensions of the horizontal wheel is optional, but the larger
it can be to lay within the frame of the hercules the better, as the great diameter
it has, the more power it gives without losing time. Mine is about four feet
four inches diameter, about five inches thick, and has a grove in it sufficient to re-
ceive a rope of two, four, or six inches diameter, the spindle being iron, of about.
one and a half inch, which it works on, is fast at the lower end in floor of the
hercules, No. 9, and the upper end is thro' the piece of oak timber, No. 6. It
should have a brass or metal bush in it to make it durable; and under its outer
rim, fixed on the floor at proper heights, I have placed cast-iron rollers, at four
equal distances on their frames, to make the horizontal wheel work light and
easy, and to keep it from casting: see plan of one of these rollers, No. 10; its

page_text: of
clevation, No. 11; and its end, No. 12. The tooth and pinion power should be
so proportioned, that allowing the men to turn the cranks thirty times in a
minute, the hercules will approach onwards three and a half fathoms in that
time, and that may be done either by increasing or decreasing the wooden
barrel, No. 8, or making the pinion wheels larger or smaller; but I recommend
to make the tooth wheels, No. 13, three feet diameter, and the pinion wheels,
No. 14, to turn round five times to the tooth wheel once, then proportion the
wooden barrel thereunto, because this allows the spindle, on which the pinion
wheel is fixed to be about three feet two inches from the ground, which is the
most convenient height for the men. I have made half the wooden barrel,
No. 8, two feet diameter, the other half only sixteen inches, this, to give the
manufacturer the option of using either, as he wants power or, time. I have
shewn it with its cranks, standards, palls, and adherents. as it is fixed (at my
rope ground) to the closing posts where the common breast board is placed for
closing cables, &c., see elevation, at letter W; see its plan, letter X; see its
section,..letter Z; see plans of the standards in which the cranks, No. 7, work
No. 15; see section of one of the middle iron standards, No. 16; every part of
it is so fixed as to allow either one or both the pinion wheels, No. 14, to go out
gear and for that purpose the palls, No. 17, lift up and down; the screw key
No. 18 is to screw on or take off the nutts, &c., with all the cranks, handles,
screws, nutts, bolts, &c. are put on and into their respective places in the usual
and customary manner, as good workmen are wont to do. During the opera-
tion of the hercules (as before described) twisting and drawing up the strands,
there must be placed from time to time, at the distance of about eight fathoms
from each other, tressels or horses of wood under the strands, to keep them from
falling on the ground, see elevation of one of them, with its roller, No. 19; see
plan of one of them with ditto, No. 20; see end view of one of them with ditto,
No. 21. They should be about five and a half feet long, to stand on four feet, the
top of the roller to be as high from the ground as the hook at the breast board on
the hercules and the center holes in the top minors, by which the strands will be
kept in a proper horizontal position. The rollers on them should be of, wood, round,
about four inches diameter, with an iron bolt of about seven eights of an inch
all through them, the bolts projecting with round ends, long enough to work
easily round in small eye bolts in the tressels at .No. 25;. by these rollers
turning round easily, the labour of propelling the hercules up is decreased, and
the tressels less liable to overset or fall down.. I use about twenty-two of these
tressels; they may be made of good strong oak or other wood, as they are to
. close the cables on, therefore they should not be weak.. The number of pins, as
at number 26, in them must be according to the number of strands.to.be made,

page_text: as they are to keep one strand from turning foule of another; I prefer a sledge
for the top to travel on during closing the ropes (sec side elevation of it, No. 22;
see front elevation thereof No. 23, and plan thereof No. 24,) to the present
method, of a bolt or pole through it, with a wheel or wheels on the floor, as it
is more regular in its motion, keeps the top high, and thereby eases the men
.in lifting the strands and ropes on and off from the tressels, and the top can be
raised higher or lower at pleasure by raising or lowering the iron (or other
pins,. No.. 27, shewn on the side elevation No. 22,. and the holes for them
appear in the front elevation No. 23, an iron bolt being run thro' the top,
. each end of which bolt lays on these pins, of which there should be four, say,
two at each end, strong ones, to support the top when closing a large cable;
mine are one and a half inch iron, and project about six inches for the bolt in
the top to lay on and keep it up. When the hercules has carried its strands
or readys up to the required length, then the strands or. readys are to be cut
off an equal length, and great care is to be taken that none of the hard or
twist is suffered to go out of them; then for every fathom the said. strands
or readys-are.long, they are to be hardened up one and a half inch before the
top is suffered to go on, and then during the tops going up, that hard is to be
very carefully and attentively. preserved, without gaining or losing the least
thereof; and when a cable or cable-laid rope is to be closed after the strands.
..are made, let those strands be hardned in (after stretched or reached), for
every fathom the said strand is long, one and a quarter inch before the top
goes off, preserving also. that hard with great attention, neither losing or
gaining the least. thereof. To the above. regulations and rules let great
attention be paid, as therein depends very much the quality of the ropes. I
have always observed, that in closing cables, particularly large, ones, the men
have very hard labour, and then can seldom throw a proper after turn behind
the, top. I therefore, recommend that on the breast board of the sledge
by which the cable is.closed, a tooth and pinion power is fixed, with double or
single cranks upon the pinion wheels, giving the pinions the power of two to
one, one pinion on each side the tooth wheel, and the spindle of the tooth wheel
to project about. two. fect through the breast board, on which spindle the
strands are, to. be hung, as they are in the usual method, on the hook, and by
turning the cranks. as required, it will ease the labour, and throw a better after
.turn behind the-top. This power can be bolted on behind the press board, so as
to be taken off at pleasure; see side elevation of a sledge with it on, No. 28;
back elevation of ditto, No. 29; and plan thereof, No..30. As I have before
mentioned, the size, strength, powers and dimensions,-quality and magnitude of
this. machinery or any part thereof may be varied, made of other materials,

page_text: placed differently or otherwise altered, but none of which must in any wise alter
or intrude on my sole right and exclusive claim to the advantages arising
from the merits of this Invention, for I have in this construction and description,
and in all these constructions and descriptions, carefully studied to, preserve
the groundwork, and the advantages to arise therefrom, both as to the personal
safety and benefit of the consumer, and which groundwork and advantages
have no difference-from their original in my Patent of One thousand seven
hundred and ninety-three, continued and improved in One thousand seven
hundred and ninety-eight, and now further improved by these Presents, as the
effects to be produced from each and all of them all to make ropes much
stronger, more elastic, wear longer and better, keep the water better out, be
much easier to handle and quoil, and will stretch much less than ropes made in
the usual manner; they will also be less liable to meg or strand, and a very
considerable quantity of yarn is saved during the operation, all of which
improvements, excellencies, and good qualities have arisen, do arise, and will
arise if the manufacturer adheres to the principles of these Patents, which
I have taken so much pains to explain, elucidate, make plain, and describe, so
that in my opinion the commonest capacity must be able to form and make
every and all parts of these machines; but should there be any part that a
thorough understanding of is doubted, I have leave to refer the enquirer to Mr
James Bradley, Mr Charles Bradley, or Mr George Bradley, of Bank Side,
Southwark, London, Founders, who, having made and directed the making of
my machinery, will explain fully and amply every part thereof; I have
cautiously and studiously avoided all complexity in the machinery, and used
those phrazes generally understood by rope makers. I have attended to the
ease and comfort of the workmen, have preserved as much of their usual mode
of labour as I could consonant with the groundwork and intentions of my
Invention. I have studiously avoided introducing steam engines, horse labour,
wind or water mills, which would deprive so many active and valuable men
and their families of support; and it is no small satisfaction to my mind to
have received in writing acknowledgments that I have done so from the rope
makers in His Majesty's Royal dock yards, in each of which, say, Woolwich,
Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, I have fixed one set of my machinery,
as per my Patent, One thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Daniel Belfour, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine.
JOHN DANIEL (L.s.) BELFOUR.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Seventeenth day of May,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid John Daniel Belfour came before
our Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
· Inrolled the same Seventeenth day of Mow in the woon above
· Inrolled the same Seventeenth day of May, in the year above written.