IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF PRIMERS THEREFOR
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Shedden, of Ardgartan House, in the
County of Argyle, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR FIRE-ARMS,
AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF PRIMERS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 10th August 1860, and dated the 13th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Shedden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th February 1860.
I, THOMAS SHEDDEN, of Ardgartan House, in the County of Argyle, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR FIRE-ARMS, AND
IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF PRIMERS THEREPOR," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of cartridges
or shells for the ordinary or other breech-loading fire-arms. Under one
modification the cartridge case or shell is composed of pulp or of paper
materials in a softened or disintegrated state. The mould for forming the
shell or case is filled with a sufficient quantity of pulp or pasty material to
form a cartridge case, and a core of a proper shape is introduced into the
mould and pressure applied, whereby the pulp or pasty material is made to
fill the space between the mould and the core, and the greater part of the
moisture is pressed out of it. A series of moulds are filled in rapid succession

page_text: with the pulp, the operation being effected either by hand or with the aid of
machinery, and upon being pressed and dried the coatings are removed from
the moulds, and thus form perfect shells or cases in one piece. By making
cartridge cases or shells in this way, and having a line or mark in the mould,
and a corresponding mark on the ball made during its manufacture, the
bullets may be placed in the cartridge case or shell so that its projections will
properly fit the grooves of the rifle or the orifices of illiptically or polygonally
bored pieces.
In cartridges manufactured according to these improvements, and in
ordinary cartridges of breech-loading guns, it is preferred to use in some cases,
in lieu of the ordinary percussion cap and wire, or of tubes or primers which
can only be fired by a blow in the direction of their length, primers which
can be fired by a blow at an angle to their length. The primer is a small
tube filled, or partly so, with percussion powder, and is placed in the cartridge
in the same manner as the wire commonly employed to fire the percussion
When placed in the gun a cartridge with the primer so arranged lies
with the primer at such an angle to the vertical that it lies under the hammer
of the gun when such hammer is arranged at the side of the barrel, the
object of the arrangement being that nothing may intervene between the eye
of the user and the sights on the barrel.
cap.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Shedden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SHEDDEN, of Ardgartan House, in the County of Argyle, North Britain,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Thomas Shedden, Her special license that I, the said
Thomas Shedden, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Shedden, my executors, administrators, or 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

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR
FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF PRIMERS THEREFOR," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Shedden, 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 Thomas Shedden, 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 made to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:―
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of cartridges
or shells for the ordinary or other breech-loading fire-arms.
Under one
modification the cartridge case or shell is composed of pulp or of paper
materials in a softened or disintegrated state. The mould for forming the
shell or case is filled with a sufficient quantity of pulp or pasty material to
form a cartridge case, and a core of a proper shape is introduced into the
mould and pressure applied, whereby the pulp or pasty material is made to
fill the space between the mould and the core, and the greater part of the
moisture is pressed out of it. A series of moulds are filled in rapid succession
with the pulp, the operation being effected either by hand or with the aid of
machinery, and upon being pressed and dried the coatings are removed from
the moulds and thus form perfect shells or cases in one piece. By making
cartridge cases or shells in this way, and having a line or mark in the mould,
and a corresponding mark on the ball made during its manufacture, the
bullets may be placed in the cartridge case or shell so that its projections will;
properly fit the grooves of the rifle or the orifices of elliptically or polygonally
bored pieces.
In cartridges manufactured according to these improvements, and in
ordinary cartridges for breech-loading guns, it is preferred to use in some
cases, in lieu of the ordinary percussion cap and wire, or of tubes or primers
which can only be fired by a blow in the direction of their length, primers
which can be fired by a blow at an angle to their length. The primer is a
small tube filled, or partly so, with percussion powder, and is placed in the
cartridge in the same manner as the wire commonly employed to fire the
percussion cap. When placed in the gun a cartridge with the primer so

page_text: arranged lies with the primer at such an angle to the vertical that it comes
under the hammer of the gun, when such hammer is arranged at the side of
the barrel, the object of the arrangement being that nothing may intervene
between the eye of the user and the sights on the barrel.
And in order that my Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of
Cartridge Cases for Fire-arms, and in the Arrangement of Primers therefor,"
may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several
illustrative Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings, which I have
hereunto appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications under
which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice, that is
.to say:
My improved cartridge cases, under one modification, are formed of paper
in a state of pulp, so as to obtain the cases or shells in one piece; this is done
in order to get rid of the brass cap or cover which is used in cartridges as at
present manufactured. Ordinary paper pulp, fern pulp, or other suitable
pulpy or pasty material is used for the purpose, this pulpy material is moulded
to the desired figure by means of suitable machinery, which consists of a series
of moulds and cores arranged so as to be filled with the pulpy material in
rapid succession, either by hand or by self-acting mechanical means.
cartridge cases after being dried form perfect cases or shells in one piece, the
external figure of each case or shell being such as to fit with accuracy the
bore of the weapon for which they are designed.
These
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is shown another modification of
my improved case or shell; Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the case or
shell; Figure 2 is an end view of the case looking on the open end, and
Figure 3 is a longitudinal transverse section of the same; Figure 4 is a side
view of the small metal plate for holding the percussion cap; Figure 5 is a
back view of the same, and Figure 6 is a corresponding plan. The tubular
portion A of the case or shell is composed of paper pasted and rolled to the
desired thickness, or this part may be formed of pulpy, material moulded to
the required tubular figure. The backward end of the cylindrical part A is
filled with a disc B of pasteboard, which is secured by means of glue or
cement. In front of the disc B is, arranged a metal disc C, in which is
formed, either by stamping or other mechanical means, the recess D to receive
the percussion cap. In this arrangement the percussion cap is fired by means
of the vertical pin or wire E when struck by the hammer or doghead of the
gun. The projecting part D of the plate C fits into a corresponding cavity.
formed in the paper disc B at the end of the case or shell. These plates or
discs may also be used with advantage in the solid or moulded cases or shells

page_text: where from the nature of the material such an addition may be found requisite
to give the case or shell the necessary strength. Cartridge shells or cases
manufactured according to this system are equally adapted for artillery or
ships guns as for small arms.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,--
First, the system or mode of manufacturing cartridge cases or shells in
which the pulpy material is formed to the required shape in suitable moulds
so that the shell or case is in one piece and is shaped according to the
internal contour of the barrel of the piece for which the cartridge is specially
designed, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of manufacturing cartridge cases or shells in
the manner herein-before described and delineated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Shedden, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.
THOMAS-SHEDDEN. (L.S.)
THOMAS SHEDDEN. (L.S.)