CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES AND HORSE HARNESS
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
BANTON, of Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Saddler's Ironmonger, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fifth day of October, in the seventh year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward
Banton, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Edward Banton, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Edward Banton, my exors, adñiors, 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 expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES AND HORSE
HARNESS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the
said Edward Banton, shall 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 Her said 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, I, the said
Edward Banton, do hereby declare that the nature of my Invention, and the

page_text: tained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention consists of,-
Firstly, an improved construction of saddles in which those parts of a saddle
called the pannels are made moveable or detachable, so as to admit of their
removal from the saddle, for the purpose of cleaning or drying them, or
otherwise.
Secondly, of an improved construction of bits for horses, in which those
parts of a bit called the cheeks are made moveable or detachable from that
part of a bit called the mouth, so as to admit of the adaptation of the same
cheeks" to "mouths" of different forms.
"
Thirdly, of an improved or safety bit in which the "chin stay" and "nose
band" can be drawn tight around the mouth of the horse wearing the same,
so as to prevent him from running away.
Fourthly, of an improved method of lengthening and shortening straps,
and all those parts of harness usually lengthened and shortened by means of
buckles.
Fifthly, of an improvement in the construction of straps for harness, which
improvement consists in applying a coating or coatings of the black varnish
called by leather manufacturers "enamel " to the said straps, whether the said
straps are made of a single strip of leather or of two or more strips of leather.
Sixthly, of an improvement or improvements in the various parts of harness
which are subjected to friction during use, which improvement consists in
coating or covering or lining such portions of harness with an enamel or
vitreous composition.
And lastly, of an improvement in that part of a saddle called the girth,
which improvement consists in making the said girth elastic.
Figure 1 represents a view of the under side of the tree of a saddle in
which my improvement is introduced; and Figures 2 and 8 represent parts of
the same.
Figure 4 represents a tree and pannel in which my improvement is intro-
duced in the position in which they are worn by a horse. a is the saddle-
tree to which, in ordinary saddles, that part of the saddle called the pannel is
attached by nails or otherwise. The object of my improvement is to attach
the said pannels to the trees in such a manner as to render them easy of
removal. I effect this in the following manner:-I attach a peg or projection
to one end of the said tree, and to the other end I affix a spring lock c, or

page_text: any other convenient spring fastening or bolt. I attach to one end of the
pannel (that is to say), to that end corresponding to the end of the tree to
which the peg or projection is affixed) a staple d (shewn separately in
Figure 2). The size of this staple is such, that it admits readily the peg or
5 projection b. To the other end of the said pannel (that is to say), to that
end which corresponds to the end of the tree to which the spring lock or other
fastening c is attached), I attach the pivot or staple e (shewn separately in
Figure 3). The form of this pivot or staple depends on the kind of lock or
fastening used at c, and is such that it may enter the said lock or fastening,
and by the introduction of a key at, or otherwise, may be secured thereto
or detached therefrom at pleasure.
The action of the various parts of my improved saddle is as follows:- In
order to attach the pannel to the tree to which it belongs, the peg or projec-
tion is introduced into the staple d, and the pivot or staple e is then intro-
duced into the spring lock or fastening c, where it becomes fastened by the
self action of the fastening, or by the operation of a key introduced at f. The
positions of the staple d and pivot or staple e, when the pannel is attached to
the tree are indicated in Figures 1 and 4 by dotted lines. The means to be
taken for the removal of the pannel are so obvious that I deem description
unnecessary.
Figure 5 represents partly in section my improved bit. a is that part of
the bit called the mouth, and b, b, are the cheeks of the said bit. In a bit of
the common construction, the cheeks b, b, and the mouth a are constructed in
one piece of metal, or are joined together by rivetting. My improvement
consists in making the cheeks and mouth of three distinct pieces of metal, so
as to admit of the port or curved piece c of the mouth a assuming different
positions. The ends of the mouth a are made either square or octagonal, or
of a figure having a greater or less number of sides; and the holes in the
cheeks b, b', are made of a corresponding figure, so that the mouth a and
port c may be fastened to the cheeks b, b', in four, eight, or a greater number
of positions, as the case may be. The cheeks b, b', are secured to the mouth a
by the screws d, d', which enter holes in the ends of the said mouth suitably
screwed to receive them. When the said screws are driven home, their heads
press on the said cheeks, and hold them securely on the said mouth.
Figure 6 represents in side view, Figure 7 in front view, and Figure 8 in
plan, my improved or safety bit. a is the mouth of the bit, and b, b¹, are the
cheeks of the same. c, c, are rollers working on arms d, d¹, on the top of
each cheek, and e is a similar roller working on the lower end of each cheek.
f is the chin stay which passes over the rollers c, c, of the arms d, d. g is

page_text: the nose band which passes over the rollers c¹, c¹, of the arms d', d. The
ends of the chin stay fand nose band 9 are connected with the rein h which
passes over the rollers e, on the lower end or other convenient part of each
check. By pulling the rein h, the chin stay f and the nose band g are drawn
tight around the horse's mouth, which is thereby closed, and a horse running
away may by this means be stopped.
The
Figure 9 represents in section, and Figure 10 in plan, my improved method
of lengthening and shortening the various straps used in harness in place of
buckles. a is a metal trough fastened, by rivetting or otherwise, to the end
of one of the straps; b is a flat metal cover to the top of the trough a;
c, c, c, are hollow cylindrical projections on the bottom of the trough a.
whole of these hollow cylindrical projections, excepting the one marked c¹, are
closed at bottom. The one marked c is open at bottom for a purpose herein-
after explained. d, d, are cylindrical projections on the plate or cover b.
These projections are equal in number to the hollow cylindrical projections
c, c, c, on the bottom of the trough a, and are of such a size, and situated at
such distances from each other, as to enter freely the said hollow cylindrical
projections on the trough a. One of the projections on the cover b, that is to
say, the one marked d', is longer than the others; and when the cover b is in
its place on the trough, passes through the hollow cylinder c¹, its end project-
ing a little beyond the external surface of the trough a.
The hollow cylinder
When the cover bis
c' is open at bottom as herein-before explained, for the purpose of allowing
the projection d' to pass through. The cover 6 is attached by one end to the
strap, to which the trough a is affixed, and the end of the said strap being
slit, as seen in the Drawing, serves as a hinge on which the cover b opens.
When the strap used is composed of two strips of leather sewn together, the
ends of the said strips are left unsewn, and a hinge or joint is thus formed
similar to the one made in a single strap, by slitting.
shut down it is secured in its place by the bolt of the fastening g being pushed
into the slit made in the projection d', for the purpose of its reception. a is
the strap to be lengthened or shortened. This strap is perforated with any
convenient number of holes, of such size and at such distances from each
other that when the said strap is laid in the trough a, the cylindrical projec-
tions thereon pass through the said holes in the strap a. In order to lengthen
the strap, the cover 6 of the trough a is removed (the spring bolt or fastening
g having been previously unfastened), and the strap is raised from the cylin
drical projections, and introduced further into or withdrawn from the trough a
as the case may be, the cylindrical projections on the bottom of the said
trough passing through the holes of the strap. The cover is placed on the

page_text: trough a, and the whole is fastened by means of the spring bolt, as herein-
before described.
My improvement in the construction of straps for harness consists in
covering the said straps with a coating or coatings of the black varnish used
in the manufacture of a certain kind or certain kinds of leather, and commonly
called in the leather manufacture "enamel." The composition of the said
black varnish or enamel is well known, and constitutes no part of my Invention,
and I therefore deem a description of its composition unnecessary. I apply the
said enamel to the said straps after the same are finished in every respect, save
in the application of such enamel (that is to say), in applying my improve-
ment to single straps, or straps formed of one piece of leather, I do not apply
the said enamel to the leather of which such straps are to be formed; but I
first cut, or otherwise properly shape, the said leather into straps, and complete
or finish the said straps by applying the said enamel; and in applying my
said improvement to straps composed of two or more pieces of leather sewn
together, I first sew the said pieces together, and afterwards apply the said
enamel. By my improvement, that is to say, by varnishing the straps all over,
the edges of the leather are defended from the action of water, and the
consequent decay.
My improvement in the various parts of harness which are subject during
use to friction, consists in covering such parts with a coating of enamel. The
parts to which I apply the coating are "terretts," "hames," "swivels,"
"buckles," "rings,"
""decs,"
," "hooks," and those parts of harness in general
which are formed of metal; and the manner in which I apply it is as follows:-
I mix china clay with water till it has the consistence of cream, and I dip
the articles to be enamelled in this mixture; on removal from the said mixture
they are set aside to dry, and when dry they are heated in a furnace or oven
until they acquire a red heat. The articles are then allowed to cool, and when
cold I sprinkle on them a small quantity of the powder called "lead or soft
glaze." The articles are again heated, and the said powder fluxes and com-
bines with the china clay with which the articles are coated, and forms there-
with an enamel. Instead of sprinkling the said lead or soft glaze on the
articles, I sometimes mix it with water and dip the articles into the mixture.
The composition of the china clay and that of the lead or soft glaze are well
known, and constitute no part of my Invention. I, therefore, deem a descrip-
tion of their composition unnecessary. Instead of enamelling or covering
all over with a vitreous composition the parts of harness which are subjected
to friction during use, I sometimes only cover the interior parts of the same
with a vitreous lining; in such cases I form linings of glass of a suitable form,

page_text: and attach them in any convenient manner to the parts they are intended to
defend from friction. The said linings are formed in moulds by processes well
understood, and they may be made either of flint or colorless glass, or they
may be made of glass of any desired color.
Figure 11 represents in section a terrett in which my improvement is
adopted. a is the glass lining.
66
"
My improvement in that part of the saddle called the girth consists
in making that part of the said girth called the "chape of caoutchouc
or india rubber, so as to make the said girth elastic. My improved
'chape" is represented in Figure 12. It is longer than that in common
use, and is made of caoutchouc or india rubber. It may be attached
to the girth by sewing, as in the ordinary method of construction, or it may
be attached thereto by a solution of caoutchouc in naptha, or in any of the
well-known solvents of that substance.
I claim, firstly, the construction of saddles with moveable pannels, whether 1
the said pannels are attached to and detached from the said saddles by the
spring lock herein-before described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4
of the accompanying Drawing, or by any other spring fastening, or spring or
slide bolt.
Secondly, the construction of bits for horses, in which the parts of the said 2
bits called the cheeks are removable or detachable from the parts of the said
bits called the mouths, as herein-before described and represented in Figure 5
of the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly, the construction of safety bits for horses, in which the chin stay
and nose band of the said bits can be drawn tight around the mouth of a horse 2
wearing such safety bit, as herein-before described and represented in Figures
6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly, the method of lengthening and shortening the straps used in
harness herein-before described and represented in Figures 9 and 10 of the
accompanying Drawing.
3
Fifthly, the application to straps used in harness of a coating or coatings of
the black varnish used in the manufacture of a certain kind or certain kinds
of leather, and called in the leather manufacture "enamel," such coating
or coatings of the said "enamel "being applied after the said straps are com-
pletely finished, excepting in respect of the application of the said enamel, as 3
herein-before described.
Sixthly, the application of a coating of vitreous enamel to those parts of
harness furniture which are subjected to friction during use, whether such
enamelling be effected with the composition and by the process herein-before

page_text: described, or by any modification of such composition and process; also the
application of linings of glass to those parts of harness which are subjected to
friction during wear, as herein-before explained and represented in Figure 11
of the accompanying Drawing.
Lastly, the application of caoutchouc or india-rubber to that part of a
saddle called the girth, the said application consisting in making that part of
the girth called the "chape" of caoutchouc or india rubber, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Banton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
Enrolled the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.