IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD-CUTTING MACHINERY
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Carter, of Home Top Works, Bradford,
in the County of York, Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WOOD-CUTTING MACHINERY."
Sealed the 7th April 1876, and dated the 4th December 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Carter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th December 1875.
I, RICHARD CARTER, of Home Top Works, Bradford, in the County
of York, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD-CUTTING Machinery,” to be as follows, that is to
say:
My Invention "in wood-cutting machinery "relates to that class of
machinery which is used for joinery purposes, such as morticing or
cutting holes or mortices, and cutting away the treads and risers of
staircase strings. For this purpose I employ a machine made with a

page_text: pillar, on which is fitted a rising and lowering table actuated by gear;
this table allows for getting the different heights for morticing horizon-
zontally or sideways in the way commonly called "slotting." "On the
table is fitted a slide worked by a screw and gear, and on the slide is
formed a boss having a screw working through it, and actuated by a
hand wheel; on the end of the screw is fitted a bearing piece for fixing
the wood to be morticed. On the top of the slide working on the lifting
table is fitted an independent table fitted with slides, and actuated by
gear for cutting away the wood of the treads and risers of staircase
strings.
The spindle, in which is fitted the bit, is made to revolve, and to have
an up-and-down motion; the spindle is actuated by a pulley worked by
a belt, or by wheel gear actuated by pullies and belts; the lifting or
lowering motion is actuated by a lever and gear.
The bit is made of improved construction, and is made of steel, and
formed with four, six, or more distinct cutters of a spiral curved shape,
cut round and lengthways of the boring bit, and sharpened on the edges.
When boring (for first passing through the object to be morticed) all
the cutters are acting, but only one cutter is on the cut when the bit is
made to travel sideways or horizontally, that is to say "slotting," the
other cutters being formed equally in a circle steady the bit, preventing
it working sideways, and producing an evenly cut mortice hole, doing
away with the defects in bits heretofore in use, made with two cutters
and two small wings, leaving the bit loose in the hole until the cutters
come in contact with the wood, causing the bit to work sideways, and
producing an unevenly cut hole.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard Carter, Her special
licence that I, the said Richard Carter, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Carter, my exe-
cutors, 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 WOOD-CUTTING MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Richard Carter, 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 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 Richard Carter, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:-
The said Invention relates to that class of machinery which is used
for joinery purposes, such as for mortising or cutting holes or mortises,
and cutting away the treads and rises of staircase strings. For this
purpose I employ a machine made with a pillar, on which is fitted
a rising and lowering table actuated by gear; this table allows of getting
the different heights for mortising horizontally or sideways in the manner
commonly called "slotting." On the table is fitted a slide worked by a
screw and gear, and on the slide is formed a boss having a screw working
through it, and actuated by a hand wheel; on the end of the screw is
fitted a bearing piece for fixing the wood to be mortised. On the top of
the slide working on the lifting table is fitted an independent table fitted

page_text: with slides, and actuated by gear for cutting away the wood of the treads
and rises of staircase strings.
The spindle, in which is fitted the bit, is made to revolve and to have
an up-and-down motion; the spindle is actuated by a pulley worked by
a belt, or by wheel gear actuated by pullies and belts; the lifting or
lowering motion is actuated by a lever and gear.
The bit is of improved construction, and is made of steel, and formed
with three, four, six, or more distinct cutters of a spiral curved shape,
cut round and lengthways of the boring bit, and sharpened on the edges.
When boring (for first passing through the article to be mortised) all
the cutters are acting, but only one or two cutters is or are on the cut,
when the bit is made to travel sideways or horizontally, that is to say
"slotting," the other cutters being formed equally in a circle, steady
the bit, preventing it working sideways, and producing an evenly cut
mortise hole, doing away with the evils in bits heretofore in use, made
with two cutters and two small wings, leaving the bit loose in the hole
until the cutters come in contact with the wood, causing the bit to work
sideways, and producing an unevenly cut hole.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I
will proceed to describe the same, by reference to the accompaning
Drawings, in which Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a side elevation of my
improved apparatus for mortising; Figure 2, front view; and Figure 3,
plan of the same.
Figure 4 represents a plan of independent table with gear for cutting
away the treads and rises of staircase strings; Figure 5, side view of the
same.
Figure 6 represents a plan of the mortise machine table fitted with
apparatus for setting out the mortise holes; Figure 7, side view of the
same.
Figure 8 represents an elevation, drawn full size, of one of my
improved bits with five cutters; and Figure 9, plan of the same.
Figure 10 represents an elevation, drawn full size, of an improved
bit with four cutters; and Figure 11, plan of the same.
Figure 12 represents an elevation, drawn full size, of an improved bit
for cutting away the treads and rises of staircase strings; and Figure 13,
plan of the same.

page_text: Figure 14, Sheet 2, represents a side elevation of mortising apparatus
with moulding tool and apparatus for holding the wood; Figure 15, front
view; and Figure 16, plan of the same.
Figure 17, Sheet 2, represents an elevation, drawn full size, of
moulding tool for cutting circular mouldings; and Figure 18, plan of
with moulding tool and apparatus for holding the wood; Figure 15, front
view; and Figure 16, plan of the same.
Figure 17, Sheet 2, represents an elevation, drawn full size, of
moulding tool for cutting circular mouldings; and Figure 18, plan of
the same.
Figure 19, Sheet 2, represents an elevation, drawn full size, of
moulding tool; and Figure 20, plan of the same.
Figure 21, Sheet 2, represents a side elevation of mortising apparatus
fitted with apparatus for tenoning and cutting the shoulders of
tenons; Figure 22, front elevation; and Figure 23, plan of the
same.
Similar letters and figures of reference are used in all the Figures to
represent similar parts.
The bottom part K of
bracket L, so arranged
one arrangement will
On a foundation plate A is fitted a pillar B, having brackets C formed
or fitted on it; these brackets carry the bearers D of the revolving
spindle E, to which motion is imparted by means of the belt F passing
over the pullies G, H, and I; the spindle E is regulated and raised or
lowered by the spur gear J, which actuates a nut on a screw formed on
the spindle, in which is fitted the mortising bit.
the pillar B is turned true, and on it is fitted a
that it can be swung round the pillar so that the
serve for mortising door locks. The bracket L can be raised or lowered
by means of the worm gear M, which actuates the pinion N, gearing
into the rack O, allowing the different heights for mortising to be
obtained. The bracket L can be swung round the pillar B, and it can
be fixed in any required position by the screws P; on the bracket L are
fitted ordinary longitudinal and transverse slides Q, and on the top slide
is fitted a table R made to slide thereon. Underneath and on the side
of the table R is fitted a rack S actuated by a pinion T, and worked by
the hand wheel U; this wheel is made so that it may be removed when
the table is once fixed to the required position, and when not required
for mortising. The table R is fitted with a moveable fence V working
in slides W. The wood to be fixed for mortising is held against the
fence V, and cramped by the cramping piece X, actuated by the screw Y

page_text: working through the bearer Z; this bearer is fitted with screws, and can
be removed when not required.
On the part K of the pillar B is fitted a ring A' (Figures 1, 6, and 7,
Sheet 1), made so that it can be raised and lowered, and fitted with a
screw B¹ for fixing it to any required position; the ring A' is formed
with a projecting piece C¹, to which is bolted a guide D' made with
openings E¹, in which works a guide lever F¹ fitted on the fence V. The
lever F¹ travels with the table R, and on and in the opening E¹, which
is made equal in travel to the length of the mortise hole to be cut.
On the table R, and bolted to the fence V, is a wooden guidefr ame G¹
on which is placed the wood to be operated on, and the under side of
the frame G' are fitted springs H' having studs I', which pass through
openings made in the bottom of the frame G¹, and enter the mortise
holes which have first been cut, acting as guides for cutting the other
mortise holes, and doing away with the present system of setting out all
the holes to be mortised, and in addition making each piece of wood
mortised mathematically true.
On the side of the table R is fitted a bracket J', Figures 4 and 5,
Sheet 1, in which works the end of a screw K³, which works through a
swivel lug L' fitted underneath an independent table M¹; this table is
fitted on the top of the table R. Underneath the independent table M¹
is fitted a stud N¹, which works in a curved guide O¹ formed in the
table R; on the top of the independent table M¹ is fitted a guide plate
or fence P¹ for guiding the wood operated on. The table M¹ is used for
the purpose of cutting away the wood of the treads Q¹ and rises R' of
staircase strings. When the independent table M¹ is parallel with the
table R the treads Q¹ are cut straight on one side by means of the bit Z',
but by turning the handle S', which actuates the screw K¹, the inde-
pendent table M¹ is made to work sideways, giving the required angle to
cut away the wood of the treads Q¹ and rises R¹, cutting the wood at an
angle giving the required width at the end, as shewn in the Drawing,
Sheet 1, at Figure 4, for the purpose of wedging the treads and rises up
to the proper joint.
The mortise bits are of improved construction, and are made of steel, and

page_text: this tool is made with five cutters J2 of a curved shape, as represented
in the Drawing. The bit or moulding tool can be made of any pattern
to suit the required mouldings; on the bottom part of the bit is formed
a stud K², which fits in a hole formed in the top table R, and the top L
is made taper to fit the spindle E. The improved moulding tools
save the labour of setting the tools, i.e., single moulding tools heretofore
employed.
Figures 17 and 18, Sheet 2, represent a moulding tool, drawn full
size; this moulding tool is for the purpose of cutting the mouldings on
circular wood for tops of windows, doors, or other purposes. The bit or
tool is made with eight cutters; four of the cutters M³ cut one way, the
other four cutters N' cutting the reverse way. When the cutters como
in contact with the cross grain of the wood the belt is reversed, and the
other cutters put in operation; the cutters that are not on the cut get
sharpened during the time the other cutters are acting. The top part of
the bit is made with a boss O2, through which and the bit passes the
spindle P²; a set nut Q is fitted in the boss to secure the bit to the
spindle; the bottom part of the spindle P² is formed with a stud R³,
which works in the hole formed in the top of the table R to steady
the bit or tool when working.
Figures 21, 22, and 23, Sheet 2, represent the improved mortising
machine fitted with apparatus for cutting shoulders and tenons. On
the table R is bolted a frame S having slides T, in which are fitted the
bearers U2 of the saw spindles V'; these slides and bearers are raised or
lowered to suit the thickness of the wood to be cut, and are actuated by
screws W2 worked by the handle Y³, which is made to fit the heads of
the screws W2. On the ends of the spindles V₁ are fitted small circular
saws X², which are actuated by a rope or belting Y' working over
pullies Z; the circular saws X cut the shoulders of the tenons, and
prevent broken shoulders, and consequently bad workmanship. On the
end of the spindle E of the mortising machine is cut a screw, on which
is screwed a disk A³ having three cutters or sections of a saw B³ fitted on
it. The spaces C³ are for the purpose of clearing the cutters from the
chips or sawdust. A similar disk D³ is fitted underneath the disk A³,
having similar cutters; the top disk cuts the top of the tenon, and the
bottom one the under side of the tenon. Between the disks is fitted a

page_text: wooden washer E³, and this washer varies in thickness according to the
thickness of the tenons to be cut. A set screw F³ is passed through the
bottom disk and washer, and screwed in the boss G³ of the top disk.
The wood operated on is made to slide on a top sliding frame H³ working
on bottom frames I'; stops and a break are employed to keep the wood
firmly fixed on the sliding frame H³, and to regulate the length of the
tenons being cut; the sliding frame H³ brings the wood first through the
circular saws W³, cutting the shoulders, and afterwards through the
disks cutting the tenons.
For plaining wood I fit a long wooden or iron table on the table R,
and screw on the spindle E a planing tool; the table for planing is
actuated by gear fitted on the table R and bracket L.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim any of the
parts taken separately of the pillar, rising and lowering table, and
spindle gear, nor do I confine myself to the details shewn and
described, provided that in any variation which may be made the peculiar
character of my Invention be ratained; but what I do claim is,―
Firstly. The combination, construction, and arrangement of machinery
for mortising, substantially as herein-before described and represented in
the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of apparatus for cutting
away the treads and rises of staircase strings, substantially as herein
described and represented in the Drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangement and construction of apparatus for setting
out mortise holes, substantially as described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The construction, arrangement, and employment of
apparatus for tenoning and cutting tenon shoulders, substantially as
herein-before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifthly. The construction and employment of mortising bits or tools
made of steel, and formed with three, four, or more distinct cutters of a
spiral curved shape, cut round and lengthways of the boring bit, and
sharpened on the edges, substantially as herein-before described and
represented in the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Sixthly. The construction and employment of bits or tools for cutting
away the treads and rises of staircase strings, substantially as described
and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly. The construction and employment of moulding tools for
cutting straight and circular mouldings, substantially as herein-before 5
described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Carter, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
WALTER JAMES TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
RICHARD CARTER. (L.s.)