IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPLIANCES FOR CUTTING HAIR
Year: 1884

page_text: We WILLIAM BOWN of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer,
and GEORGE CAPEWELL of Aston, near Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES OR APPLIANCES FOR CUTTING HAIR-to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to improved machines or appliances for cutting hair
or wool, and which machine is specially adapted for the use of hair dressers-or for
clipping the hair of-animals-where either a varying or regular length of hair is
required to be cut.
In making such machines hitherto it has been the practice in order to avoid
cutting the hair too short, to either have a comb plate fixed under and retained in
close proximity to the cutting plates, or to have such comb plate fixed at a distance
from the cutting plates, but which could not be varied without unscrewing the set
pins or nuts to permit of the comb plate being moved to the desired distance-and
afterwards refixed in position. In the former case only one fixed length of hair
could be cut, and in the latter the comb plate failed in guiding the hair into the
cutting plates if required of any length, the comb plate being then in a fixed
position.
Our improvements entirely obviate these disadvantages and consist in hinging
or connecting the additional or comb plate to the back or other part of the clipper
proper or plates, so that it works on a joint, axis, or spring connecti n at that part
the said comb plate being freed at it's outer or front end, and beld apart from or
closed upon the cutting plates by means of a spring; and the range of space
between the comb plate and cutting plates is regulated or altered as required by a
suitable stop or other equivalent in connection with the comb plate or other part of
the machine. This stop or other equivalent controls the opening or closing of the
plates to the required distance. The comb plate is extended at the side or back
beyond the cutting plates, or a projecting piece provided to serve as a handle or
lever in the operation of combing and cutting the hair. In use the comb plate,
and cutting plates are pressed on the part where the hair is required to be cut,
which closes the comb plate against the bottom cutting plate, thus making them
equivalent to one comb. The plates are then inserted in the hair and the pressure
on the comb plate relieved, causing the clipper proper to rise to the required
distance, leaving the comb plate as a support on the bead or other part. The hair
can then be cut to the desired length or range between the plates by closing the

page_text: levers in the usual way. The action of combing and cutting with our improved
clipper or machine being similar to that performed by the hair dresser with ordinary
comb and scissors but of course with greater case regularity and despatch.
This improved machine may be used by holding the Clipper in one hand and the
extended part of the comb plate in the other, the comb being opened or closed by
the action of the hand, and may be worked with or without a spring as desired
although the former is preferable. As a modification we may increase or decrease
the distance between the comb plate or cutting plates, by extending the comb
plate underneath the handles and cause the rise or fall of the comb plate by means
of a slide or lever, or the end of the comb plate may be placed in such a position
that it can be worked by the thumb and finger or by pressing it on the part where
the hair is to be cut.

page_text: We WILLIAM BOwn of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Manufacturer
and GEORGE CAPEWELL of Aston near Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Machinist do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES OR APPLIANCES FOR CUTTING HAIR" and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention has reference to improved machines or appliances for cutting hair
or wool, and which machine is specially adapted for the use of hair dressers or for
clipping the hair of animals where either a varying or regular length of hair is
required to be cut.
In making such machines hitherto it has been the practice to avoid cutting the
hair too short, to either have a comb plate fixed under and retained in close
proximity to the cutting plates or to have such comb plates fixed at a distance from
the cutting plates, but which could not be varied without unscrewing the set pins
or nuts to permit of the comb plate being moved to the desired distance and after-
wards refixed in position. In the former case only one fixed length of hair could
be cut, and in the latter the comb plate failed in guiding the hair into the cutting
plates if required of any length the comb plate being then in a fixed position.
Our improvements entirely obviate these disadvantages and consist in bringing
or connecting the additional or comb plate to the back or other part of the clipper
proper or plates, so that it works on a joint axis or spring connection at that part,
the said comb plate being freed at its outer or front end, and held apart from or
closed upon the cutting plates by means of a spring; the range of space between
the comb plate and cutting plate is regulated or altered as required by a suitable
stop or other equivalent in connection with the comb plate or other part of the
machine, this stop or other equivalent controls the opening or closing of the plates
to the required distances.
The comb plate is extended at the side or back beyond the cutting plates, or
a projecting piece provided to serve as a handle or lever in the operation of combing
and cutting the hair. In use the comb plate and cutting plates are pressed on the
part where the hair is required to be cut, which closes the comb plate against the
bottom cutting plate, thus making them equivalent to one comb-the plates are
then inserted in the hair and the pressure on the comb plate relieved causing
the clipper proper to rise to the required distance, leaving the comb plato as a
support on the head or other part-the hair can then be cut to the desired length
or range between the plates by closing the levers in the usual way the action of
combing and cutting with our improved clipper or machine being similar to that
performed by the hair dresser with ordinary comb and scissors but of course with
greater ease regularity and despatch.
This improved Machine inay be used by holding the clipper in one hand, and the
extended part of the comb plate in the other, the comb being opened or closed by

page_text: the action of the hand, and may be worked with or without a spring as desired
altbough the former is preferable.
But as our invention may be more clearly understood by aid of the drawings
hereunto annexed we will proceed to describe the same reference being had to the
figures and letters marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improved Machine or appliances
for cutting hair A and B are the ordinary bottom and top cutting plates, which
with tho bar C and levers D. E. form what may be termed the hair clipper or
cutter proper and noeds no further description-F. F. is the additional or comb
plate and the mode of attaching the said comb plate to the bottom plate A and the
actuating of the same as herein described and exhibited constitutes the novelty of
our invention.
At the back part of the bottom plate A the additional or comb plate F is hinged
jointed or connected to the bar M. M. or any other suitable part by means of pins
or their equivalenta passing through the ears or lugs H. H. of the comb plate best
seen at Figure 2 or this connection may be effected in various other ways. This
permits the said comb plate F. to be held apart from the bottom plate to any
desirable distance at its outer end, as shown by the dotted lines in figure 1. For
this purpose the comb plate F is extended or an additional part provided forming
a handle as at G, which may be of vulcanite or other suitable material. O is the
end of a lever shown detached at Figure 3, and in position on the comb plate at
Figure 4 hinged at I, and on this lever the stop or regulator J. is formed-This
lever is of such a convenient shape that it permits the forefinger of the left hand of
the operator to be inserted in the loop O to actuate the lover and stop or regulator J.
for increasing or decreasing the distance between the bottom cutting plate and the
comb plate to any desired extent as seen in dotted lines Figure 1.
The additional comb plate F. and bottom cutting plate A. are by preference held
apart in the desired fixed position by means of a suitable spring shown in sectional
view of the cutting plates and additional comb plate at N. Figure 5.
The stop or regulator J. may be used in various forms but we prefer from our
present experience using the one shown.
-
This apparatus or appliance for cutting hair is constructed to resemble as much
as possible in its action when being used the ordinary comb and scissors used by
the hair dressers na will be seen from the following-The operator inserts the thumb
of his right hand in the loop K. and his fingers in the loop L. and by opening and
closing the lovers D and E produces the cutting action of the plates A and B. while
with his left hand he holds the projecting part or handle Q. and is also able with
his forefinger inserted in the loop of the lover O. to instantly regulate the distance
between the plates and consequently the length of hair to be cut to any desired
extent.
When operating the comb plate F. is pressed on the head or part where the hair
is desired to be cut bringing the bottom plate A close in contact with it making
them as one comb, the plates are then inserted in the hair, the pressure relieved
when the clipper proper rises to the required distance and the hair can then be cut
to the desired length by closing the levers D and E. this action being similar to
that of the ordinary hairdresser with comb and scissors, but with greater regularity
case and despatch.
As a modification if desirable we may regulate the distance between the comb
and cutting plates by extending the comb plate underneath or above the bandle
and actuate the comb plate by a slide or lever or the end of the comb plate may be
placed in such a position that it can be worked by the thumb and finger or by
pressing it on the part where the hair is to be cut.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
The hinging jointing pivotting or connecting the additional comb plate to the
back or other part of the clipper and the means substantially as herein described
and exhibited or their equivalents for instantaneously regulating the distance
between the additional comb and cutting plates.