IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEET METAL SADDLETREES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnson, of the Wynd's Point, Little
Malvern, in the County of Worcester, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEET METAL SADDLETREES."
Scaled the 21th September 1870, and dated the 4th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1th April 1870.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of the Wynd's Point, Little Malvern, in the
County of Worcester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEET METAL SADDLETREES," to be
as follows:--
When using sheet metal or any other similar material for saddle-
trees it has been usual to cut and bend it into a single splayed bridge
or arch resulting in the desired form, but without leaving any open.
space in it, as in ordinary wooden saddletrees.

page_text: Now my improvements consist, firstly, in framing the tree out of any
two plates of sheet metal, using the first plate (when cut and bent into
a shape to bed well on the back of the horse) as the base plate, the
second (when embossed into a suitable plane for the sphere and legs of
the rider) as the mainstay of the saddle tree; either plate being framed 5
out of one or more pieces of sheet metal, care being taken to have the
contour of the outline of the base plate suitable for the yield of the
metal and the figure and motion of the horse, that it may bed evenly
and smoothly on the back of the horse.
The mountings, as the plate that should cap the base plate, may be of 1
any style or character, shape or form, suitable for the base plate and
most fit for its ultimate duty, whether the animal be engaged in hauling
or in carrying.
Secondly. Both the plates may be slotted in front widely through the
centre where the pommel usually is, and in the rear with a proportionate 1
breadth and length through the cantle; in the former case to admit the
shoulder bone and withers of the horse into the space, and in the latter
case to effect a clearance for the monboddo bone, a most tender part of
the rider.
So too by the former arrangement another most important advantage a
is obtained. It frees the person, consequently removes the point of
danger, and thereby secures from all risk the testicles of the rider. A
circular or other space may be slotted in the centre of the base plate
and in the upper mounting where the centre of the load should rest,
where it is deemed the centre of motion of the horse exists, and con- 3
sequently the least risk of displacement of the burthen, of whatever
kind it may be.
On either side of the base plate it may be slotted longitudinally in
the curved form of a raised arch from the pommel points to the cantle
ends, leaving space however on its margins as a bar sufficiently wide to
bed well on the back of the horse. Long and wide slots before and
behind shorten the length of the arch of the tree and lessen its span,
but nevertheless it is kept sufficiently elevated to clear the vertebræ
and spinal cord of the horse.
Having thus defined the base plate I may now enter upon the plate
that caps it, which should correspond in length and breadth with the
base plate and bed well on its margins all the way round, except under

page_text: the belly of the seat, which in this instance departs from the base plate,
touching, nevertheless, near the cantle ends and bedding throughout
longitudinally on the invert of the base plate on a packing between,
freedom to cach nevertheless being possessed. This plate may be
varied in form to carry any mountings for the burthen or the seat of
the rider.
To make the outlines of the upper plate when it forms the seat plate
correspond with the base plate it may be slotted, as before said, longitu-
dinally through the pommel point and the cantle ends, and thus destroy
the old established forms of both pommel and cantle, the ancient forms
in this case being supplanted by a raised form produced on either
side of the slot, which gives a double pommel, and the plate being
inverted in the rear on either side of the slot gives a double cantle.
The apex of the pommel and the inverted plate in the rear that forms
the double cantle may coincide in clevation and give the consequent
depth of the longitudinal invert of the tree as near as may be in its very
centre, whilst the undulating planes may be so set out as to provide for
the grip of the rider on the waist of the horse. Concave forms on either
side of the invert may be provided for the scat bones of the rider, and
the plate may be inverted on either side to form the bellies of the
saddle. The whole surface harmonizing may become a series of un-
dulating planes for the " sphere" of the rider to repose, or at pleasure
advance or recede, or pose or adjust himself on the balance axis of the
tree. The balance axis may extend transversely from belly to belly
on the ridge of the arch which lies in front of the concave forms
provided for the seat bones of the rider, and immediately before the
spaces for the fall of his legs in his grip on the waist of the horse.
The earliest momentum is in case of need broken by the raised planes
of the pommels, which cushion the force of the rider, and the grip may
be completed when occasion requires by the knee pans locking them-
selves into concave forms provided for them in an elongated plate, whilst
a raised form in the rear receives the calf of the leg where presenting
itself as a hook, and thus in connection with the grip by the knee form
a double lock, so that no buck jumper even could dislodge its rider.
The two thigh bones being inverted naturally in their fall work in
their recesses as two shafts, moving eccentrically on their axes from
the knee joint to the hip joint, the only parts of the rider deemed to

page_text: take a fixed position, whilst from the hip upwards and the knee down-
wards all other parts of the limbs may be perfectly free, enabling the
rider to keep himself and his horse in equipose whatever his motions
or attitudes may be, whether those of a jockey or field sportsman or
cavalry rider.
The knee plate may be so applied and so modified as to be equal to
any duty, whether the animal be in the act of carrying or hauling.
Lastly. Each plate may be jacketted with leather, linen, cork, or
other suitable material in parts or as a whole, and the tree thus com-
pleted may be covered up, mainly relying for the attachment of the
plate on rubber or other solution, stitching or other suitable material
and workmanship.
SPECIFICATION în pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHNSON, of the Wynd's Point, Little Malvern, in the County of
Worcester, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, givo and
grant unto me, the said William Johnson, Her special licence that I, the
said William Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Johnson, my exccutors, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEET METAL SADDLETREES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain

page_text: 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 William Johnson, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:
-
When using sheet metal or any other suitable material for saddletrees
it has been usual to cut and bend it into a single splayed bridge or arch
resulting in the desired form, but without leaving any open space in it,
as in ordinary wooden saddletrees.
Now my improvements consist, firstly, in framing the tree out of any
two plates of sheet metal, using the one when cut and bent into a shape
to bed well on the back of the horse as the base plate, the other when
embossed into a suitable combination of convex and concave forms for
the sphere and legs of the rider as the mainstay of the saddletree;
either plate being framed out of one or more pieces, care being taken to
leave the contour of the outline of the base plate suitable for the yield
of the metal and the figure and motion of the horse, that it may bed
evenly and smoothly on the back of the horse.
The mainstay (i.c., the plate that should cap the base plate) may be of
any style, character, shape, or form suitable for the base plate and most
fit for its ultimate duty, whether the animal be engaged in hauling or in
carrying.
Furthermore, both the plates are slotted in front widely through
the centre where the pommel usually is, and in the rear with a propor-
tionate breadth and length through the cantle; in the former case to
admit the shoulder bone and withers of the horse into the space, and
in the latter case to effect a clearance for the monboddo bone, a most
tender part of the rider.
So too by the slotting of the pommel another most important
advantage is obtained. It frees the person, consequently removes the
point of danger, and thereby secures from all risk the testicles of the

page_text: rider. A circular or other hole may be formed in the centre of the base
plate and in the centre of the mainstay where the centre of the load
should rest, where it is deemed the centre of motion of the horse exists,
and consequently the least risk of displacement of the burthen of
whatever kind it
may bc.
On either side of the base plate slots may be formed in a longitudinal
direction, so as to produce arched or curved bars extending from the
pommel points to the cantle ends, leaving space however on the margins
to constitute a bar sufficiently wide to bed well on the back of the horse.
The before-mentioned open long and wide slots before and behind
shorten the length of the arch of the tree and lessen its span, and the
arch being kept sufficiently elevated clears the vertebrae and spinal cord
of the horse.
Ilaving thus defined the base plate I will now enter upon the mainstay
or seat plate that caps the base plate, which should correspond in length
and breadth with the base plate and bed well on its margins all the way
round except under the belly of the scat, which in this instance departs
from the base plate, touching nevertheless near the cantle ends and
bedding throughout longitudinally on the invert of the base plate on a
packing between, freedom to each plate nevertheless being preserved, so
that in bending each plate can move somewhat upon the other. This
plate may be varied in form to carry any mountings for the burthen or
for the seat of the rider, according as the saddle is to be employed as a
male or female, military, hunting, or racing saddle.
To make the outlines of the upper plate when it forms the mainstay
or seat plate correspond with the base plate it is slotted, as before said,
longitudinally through the pommel points and the cantle ends, thus
destroying the old established forms of both pommel and cantle, the
ancient forms in this case being supplanted by a raised form, either
embossed on the mainstay itself or formed of a separate plate on either
side of the slot, which gives a double pommel, and the plate inverted in
the rear on either side of the slot gives a double cantle. The apex of
the pommel and the inverted plate in the rear that forms the double
cantle may coincide in elevation and give the consequent depth of the
longitudinal invert of the tree as near as may be in its very centre,
whilst the undulating planes may be so set out as to provide for the
grip of the rider on the waist of the horse.
Concave forms on either

page_text: side of the invert are provided for the seat bones of the rider, and the
plate is inverted on either side to form the bellies of the saddle. The
whole surface harmonizing becomes a series of undulating planes for the
sphere of the rider to repose, or at pleasure advance or recede, or poise
or adjust himself on the balance axis of the tree. The balance axis
extends transversely from belly to belly on the ridge of the arch which
lies in front of the concave forms provided for the seat bones of the rider
and immediately before the spaces for the fall of his legs in his grip on
the waist of the horse.
The earliest momentum is in a case of need broken by the before-
mentioned embossed forms of the pommels, which cushion the force of
the rider, and the grip may be completed when occasion requires by the
knee pans locking themselves into concave forms provided for them in
au elongated plate, whilst a raised form in the rear receives the calf of
the leg when presenting itself as a hook, and thus in connection with
the grip by the knee forms a double lock, so that no buck jumper even
could dislodge its rider. The two thigh bones being inverted naturally
in their fall work in their recesses as two shafts moving excentrically on
their axes from the knee joint to the hip joint, the only parts of the rider
deemed to take a fixed position, whilst from the hip upwards and the
knee downwards all other parts of the limbs may be perfectly free,
enabling the rider to keep himself and his horse in equipoise whatever
his motions or attitudes may be, whether those of a jockey or fick
sportsman or cavalry rider.
The base plate may be so applied and so modified as to be equal to
any duty, whether the animal be in the act of carrying or hauling.
Lastly. Each plate may be jacketted with leather, linen, cork, or other
suitable material in parts or as a whole, and the tree thus completed may
be covered up, mainly relying for the attachment of the plate on rubber
or other solution, stitching or other suitable material and workmanship.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, I will now
proceed more particularly to describe the manner of performing the
same, for which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 shew respectively a plan, side elevation, and per-
sneative view of the base plate A of my improved sheet metal saddlatres

page_text: and Figure 8 shews a full sized transverse section of the same and of
the mainstay or seat plate B when combined, which latter is also shewn
separately in plan, side elevation, and perspective view respectively at
Figures 4, 5, and 6. The base plate A is bent down on each side of the
central point or 'invert" a in such a manner as to produce curved
surfaces that bed on the back of the horse at all points excepting on
the line of the invert, where a space exists between it and the vertibrae C
of the horse, as shewn in Figure 8. The plate is formed with a wide slot b
at the pommel end of the invert and with a similar slot cat the cantic
end, thus producing a double pommel and double cantle and reducing the
arch of the invert to the length x, Figure 2. The metal of the base plate
is at this point still further reduced by the formation of a central hole at
d, so as to form two bars of a very flexible nature connecting the lateral
portions or flanks of the plates; thus, in place of the rigid saddletree of
present construction I produce an elastic flexible plate capable of
adapting itself to any configuration of the horse's back, while by the
slotting of the pommel and cantle ends the most tender parts of the
rider are entirely freed from any possibility of injury. The plate is
furthermore slotted at e, e, in the pommel ends and at f, f, in the cantle
ends, so as while reducing the metal surface actually in contact with
the horse to a minimum, yet to insure a perfect bedding of the plate
upon
his back along the whole surface of the bars surrounding these
slots. The base plate is hollowed out in the form of an arch at g, g, so
as to admit the thighs of the rider, and thus to give him perfect freedom
to exert a grip upon the waist of the horse.
The mainstay or seat plate B has a configuration corresponding
exactly with that of the base plate A. Like this it is slotted at the
pommel and cantle ends b', c¹, and is provided with slots or apertures
d', e', f', corresponding with those of the base plate. It is made to bed
throughout upon the latter, excepting under the bellies h, h, of the
saddle, at which part it is curved upwards departing from the base plate
(excepting where it again takes its bearing at the cantle ends) as shewn
at Figure S, and forming concave surfaces for the reception of the sphere
of the rider, the slots f', f', serving furthermore to relieve the seat
bones from all undue pressure. The bellies are embossed as shewn, so
as to produce a hollow flange or rim round the edges, imparting strength
thereto for supporting the weight of the rider and for providing space for

page_text: an elastic packing of suitable material inserted into the space at y, y,
left between the bellies and the base plate, so that the latter can freely
adjust itself to the back of the horse independently of the seat plate, and
this again can, owing to its elasticity, adjust itself to every position.
which the rider may assume, whether his bearing be sideways, forwards,
or backwards. The concave forms of the bellies, furthermore, slope
forwards and downwards, as shewn at Figures 5 and 6, at the required
angle to correspond with the position that the thighs of the rider assume,
and thus the mainstay or seat plate secures for him the most perfect
balance that can be attained. The double pommel is provided with
raised forms i, i, constituting the fork rests, which are either embossed
upon the mainstay or seat plate B itself, or they are formed upon
separate plates, as shewn detached to an enlarged scale in front and
side elevation respectively at Figures 7 and 7a, in which latter case
these plates are secured at their upper end to the mainstay B by a pin K,
upon which they are free to turn, while at the lower ends they have a
slot through which passes a pin m also fixed to the mainstay, so that
the plate can move somewhat upon such pin and thus be made to adjust
itself to the fork of the rider who takes a bearing with his thighs against
these embossed forms.
Slots are provided in the sides of the embossed fork rests i, i,
(whether embossed on the mainstay B itself or on a separate plate) for
passing the straps through that secure the cloak of the rider. The
stirrup leathers are attached as indicated by red lines to the pins k
beneath the plates i, i, and they pass down from underneath the same
through the openings o formed for that purpose in the sides of the plates
so as not to interfere with the attachment of the lower ends of such
plates to the mainstay by the pins m. It will be seen that by the perfect
scat afforded the rider by the peculiar construction of bellies of the
saddle in combination with the fork rests i, i, his grip upon the horse
will be of the firmest and most secure nature, whilst perfect freedom
of action is left both to the upper part of his body and to his legs
from the kuce downwards, thus enabling him to maintain himself
and the horse in equipoise, no matter what position he or the horse
may assume.

page_text: canvas or other suitable flexible material being made to intervenc
between the two. By this means each plate will possess to a slight
extent freedom to move upon the other, thereby preventing the double
thickness of metal from neutralizing the clastic property of each separate
plate requisite for adjusting itself to the back of the horse and to the
seat of the rider.
It is evident that any required appliances may be added to the base
plate or the mainstay for the attachment of girths, &c., as also for
rendering the saddle applicable as a pack saddle or for hauling purposes,
but I should in such cases prefer to make the requisite appliances form
part of an intermediate sheet metal plate, such as shewn at D, Figures 9.
and 10, which may be interposed between the base plate and the main-
stay, and which while corresponding in its general configuration with
these plates and provided with corresponding slots is in addition
provided with projecting metal straps p, p, p, at the sides and ends,
the slotted eyes of which serve for the attachment of the girths, side
pockets, &c. I do not however claim the employment of this intermediate
plate as forming part of my present Invention.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise configuration of the plates as shewn on the
accompanying Drawing, as these may be variously modified without
departing from the essential features of my Invention; neither do I claim
such part of the before-described metal saddletrees as may properly be
held to be included in the former Letters Patent granted to me and
bearing date Twenty-ninth April One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-one, No. 1075; but what I claim as novel and of my Invention
is,—
33
First. Constructing metal saddletrees of two separate plates termed
the "base plate" and the "mainstay or "scat plate" combined and
operating substantially as herein-before set forth, cach plate being
itself divided into two or more parts or not as found most convenient.
Second. The slotting of such aforesaid plates so as to produce a double
cantle and double pommel, substantially as described.
Third. The peculiar construction of the base plate A provided with slots
b, c, d, e, f, and arches g, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Fourth. The peculiar construction of the mainstay or scat plate B
with slots b', c', d', e', f', and arches g', corresponding with those of the
base plate, and with concave embossed bellies h, h, for the seat of the
rider, and with raised double pommels or fork rests i, i, either embossed
upon the mainstay itself or upon separate plates, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth
Fourth. Tho peculiar construction of the mainstay or scat plate B
with slots b, c, d, e', f', and arches g', corresponding with those of the
base plate, and with concave embossed bellies h, h, for the seat of the
rider, and with raised double pommels or fork rests i, i, either embossed
upon the mainstay itself or upon separate plates, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
rider, and With Faisca avabic pommeis or Tork Tests 7, 6, either CHDOSSIE
upon the mainstay itself or upon separate plates, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.