CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN TAPES POR MEASURING, AND IN THE BOXES FOR CONTAINING THE SAME
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
CHESTERMAN, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Mechanist, and JOHN
BOTTOM, also of Sheffield aforesaid, Mechanist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Eleventh day of January, in the fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said James Chesterman and John Bottom, Her especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that we, the said James Chesterman and John
Bottom, our executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as we,
the said James Chesterman and James Bottom, our executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of " CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TAPES POR MEASURING, AND IN THE BOXES FOR CONTAINING THE SAME;'
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
James Chesterman and John Bottom, by an instrument in writing under our

page_text: hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
James Chesterman and John Bottom, do hereby declare that the nature of
our said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed,
are particularly described and ascertained in and by the following description
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
=
Our Invention of Improvements in Tapes for Measuring, and in the Boxes
for containing the same, is divided into four parts, and consists,―
Firstly, in an improved method of making or manufacturing the tape,
whereby it is made more durable, and less liable to stretch.
Secondly, in improvements upon a former Patent granted to the said James
Chesterman, on the Fourteenth July, One thousand eight hundred and twenty-
nine, for Certain Improvements on Machines or Apparatus for Measuring
Land, and other Purposes, whereby the last-mentioned Invention is much
simplified, and less liable to derangement.
Thirdly, in the application of our improved measuring tape, or any other for
a like purpose, two straight rules of the ordinary construction, whether jointed
or not. And,
Fourthly, in the application to our improved tape box, or to the tape boxes
of the ordinary or any other construction, of a moveable revolving side, consist-
ing of an almanac or calculating tables; or, instead of these latter, a piece of
asses skin, paper, or other substance on which calculations may be made..
In order, however, that the whole of our Invention may be perfectly under-
stood, we have shewn in the accompanying Drawings views of such parts of
the Invention as could not be easily and clearly described without their
assistance.
The first part of the Invention consists in partly or wholly forming the tape
of metal. This may be done by means of thin plates of metal, or woven
metallic fabric, or by the introduction of fine wires or an open woven metallic
fabric in the manufacture of the tape. We prefer, however, introducing any
convenient number of fine wires, composed of copper and silver by preference,
in the warp of the tape. These wires are equally distributed throughout the
width of the tape, one at or near each selvage, and the others at equal

page_text: distances between them. By these means, at a very trifling extra expence,
the tape is made more durable, and prevented from stretching.
The second part of the Iuvention, videlicit, improvements in the boxes for
containing the tapes, consists, as before stated, in improvements upon a former
Patent of the said James Chesterman. In Chesterman's former Patent only
one spring was used, and, when required for long lengths, multiplying wheels
and pinions were applied; but, instead of this wheelwork, we employ an extra
spring or springs, which are always constant and unvarying in their action, and
not so liable to derangement.
This part of our Invention is shewn in the accompanying Dwawings, at
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Fig. 1 represents a side view of our improved tape measure complete, and
Fig. 2 is an edge view. Fig. is another side view, but with one of the sides
of the case removed, to shew the interior. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 2.
The tape measure a, a, Figures 3 and 4, is wound round a case or barrel b, b,
through the centre of which the axle c of the outer box or case passes and
allows the barrel b, b, to turn freely. This case or barrel is shewn detached at
Fig. 5, and has a hollow raised centred furnished with a small hook 1; one
end of the upper spring f, in Fig. 4, is held by this hook, the other end being
connected to the spring barrel 9, 9, shewn detached at Fig. 6, by means of a
stad on the spring, which stud enters a hole h made for that purpose in the
spring barrel. The lower spring i, in Fig. 4, is connected to the lower end of
the upright axle c by means of a hook j, see Fig. 7, similar to the hook e, in
Fig. 5. The other end of the lower spring i is connected to the spring
barrel g, g, by means of a stud taking into the hole k in the same manner as the
upper spring, but in a contrary direction. From the foregoing description, the
action of the springs will be understood. By drawing out the tape the box b, b,
revolves and acts upon the centre coil of the spring f; this spring acts upon
the box g, g, at h; the said box g, g, directly acts upon the external coil of
the spring which is attached to the hook j, so that in the action the
revolutions of the tape winder are divided between the two springs.
When it is required to keep the tape at any particular mark out of the box
it is effected by moving down the slide 1 by means of the stud m, and thereby
causing the end of the slide to bear against the tape and prevent it from
moving.
The third part of the Invention consists in applying our improved spring
tape measure, either with single or double spring, or any other tape measure
of whatever description, to straight rules, sliding rules, or any other rule or
instrument requiring such an addition. Fig. 8 in the Drawing represents

page_text: a method of applying a single spring tape measure to a two-foot folding rule,
so as to make it measure six feet when opened and the tape drawn out, one
spring being quite sufficient for this length. a is the spring box, and 6 the
tape measure. The whole is covered over with a brass plate, and nothing is
seen externally but the end of the tape.
Fig. 9 represents a timber scriber, with an improvement attached. It may
also be applied to the handle of a knife, without making it cumbersome.
From the foregoing examples it is evident that this part of our Invention
may be applied to a variety of instruments which it is not necessary here to
mention, we have therefore only described the above.
The fourth and last head of the Invention is shewn at Figures 10 and 11.
It consists in the application of one, two, or more revolving plates of metal to
our improved tape cases or boxes of the ordinary construction. These plates
may be lettered and figured according to circumstances, or as may be required.
In the Drawing an alınanac or indicator for ascertaining the day of the week
:upon which any day of the month will fall is shewn as applied to a tape box,
but it must be evident that a ready reckoner, or any other table or tables, may
.be employed with equal advantage. Sometimes, in place of any table,
-almanac, or other printed information, we substitute a plain sheet of paper,
asses skin, or other material upon which memoranda or calculations may be
made, and effaced afterwards when done with. The centre or axle a, Fig. 10,
of the box, is surrounded by a male screw b which fits into a female screw con
the under side of the side plate, Fig. 11., and when this side plate is screwed
on to the male screw b it protects the almanac, indicator, ready reckoner, or
calculating table from injury.
Having now described our Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, we wish it to be understood that we claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,.-
First, the method above described of making tapes for measuring, consisting
either wholly of metal, or partly so, by the introduction of metal wires, open
wire fabric, or plates of metal.
Second, the construction of spring tapes with two or more springs, for the
purpose of obtaining sufficient power to wind up a long length of tape, instead
of employing a single spring with wheelwork, as described in the Specification
of the said James Chesterman's former Patent of July Fourteenth, One thou-
sand eight hundred and twenty-nine.
Third, the adaptation or application of tape measures to straight rules, either
jointed or otherwise, and also to other articles or instruments requiring such
addition.

page_text: Fourth, the application of calculating tables, or plain sheets for calculating,
to tape boxes of any construction whatever, in the manner set forth and
described.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Chesterman and John Bottom,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the
within-named James Chesterman
and John Bottom, in the presence of
JAMES (L.S.) CHESTERMAN.
JOHN (L.s.) BOTTOM.
BENJ. WIGHTMAN,
Of Sheffield,
Solicitor.
ELLIOTT PARKER.