AN IMPROVED HORSE-SHOE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED HORSE-SHOE."―A
communication from abroad by Charles Jean Baptiste Peillard, of 39,
Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France.
Sealed the 8th February 1867, and dated the 14th August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th August 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED HORSE-
SHOE," (a communication to me from abroad by Charles Jean Baptiste Peillard,
of 39, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France,) to be as follows:-
This improved horse-shoe is shaped like an ordinary one, but it is cut at.
the toe or front centre by a V-shaped section, the maximum width of which is
about of an inch, the two parts of the shoe touching in one-third of the hind
part of the section. Eight holes are made in this shoe at the same distance
apart as in ordinary shoes, and arranged (as shewn on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawing forming part of this Provisional Specification) two and two
facing each other, the first being placed at about an inch from the edges of

page_text: the section. The division into two branches lessens the strength of the shoe,
but this defect is remedied by four tongue or toe pieces distributed as follows,
two placed right and left of the section at A, B, (see Fig. 2) and two others,
somewhat larger, raised at the inner angle of each sponge, the result being
that the sponges must end exactly at the spot where these tongues lodge in the
lateral openings of the frog. For large feet, such as those of dray horses,
a small additional toe or tongue piece is raised on each side of the quarters
between the two last holes. In consequence of these arrangements this borse-
shoe offers. great advantages, 1, the effect of the section or division leaves
the horse's foot free to expand under his weight; 2, the shoe lasts much longer.
In the ordinary shoe the elastic play of the foot takes place very imperfectly,
and only in moving the nails, whereas in this improved shoe, the elasticity
being in nowise counteracted, and being produced by means of the separation
of its two branches, the nails remain firmly fixed and the hoof is less subject
to exfoliation; further, this horse-shoe cures horses narrow hoofed or hoof-
bound, or those having seyms, the narrow hoofs enlarge, the bound hoofs open
perceptibly, and a very visible concavity is to be seen on the sides of the hoof;
lastly, the seyms or divisions from the cornet to the toe entirely disappear.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the said William Edward
Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Gedge, my executors, 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 "Ar
IMPROVED HORSE-SHOв," a communication to me from abroad by Charles Jean

page_text: Baptiste Peillard, of 39, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France; upon; the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 William Edward Gedge, 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 accompanying Sheet of
Drawing forming part of this Specification
:-
This improved horse-shoe is shaped like an ordinary one, but it is cut at
the toe or front centre by a V-shaped section, the maximum width of which is
about of an inch, the two parts of the shoe touching in one-third of the bind
part of the section. Eight holes are made in the shoe at the same distance
apart as in ordinary shoes (as; shewn on the Drawing) two and two
facing each other, the first being placed at about an inch from the edges
of the section (see Figures 1 and 2). The division into two branches lessens
the strength of the shoe, but this defect is remedied by four tongue or toe
pieces distributed as follows, two placed right and left of the section at A, B,
(see Fig. 2) and two others, somewhat larger, raised at the inner angle of
each spunge, the result being that the spunges must end exactly at the spot
where these tongues lodge in the lateral openings of the frog. For large feet,
such as those of dray horses, a small additional toc or tongue piece is raised
on each side of the quarters between the two last holes.
This improved horse-shoe may be modified, as shewn Fig. 3, where it will
be seen that the section instead of terminating in a V starting from one-third
of the hind part of the section (as at Figs. 1 and 2) has a re-entering part of
a semicircular shape, also commencing at the third of the hind part of the
section; there will thus be a sort of notch which will render the shoe stronger by
increasing the points of contact of the two branches at the same height. This
modification will have the further advantage of dispensing with the nipping
toe or tongue pieces or of preserving them at pleasure. This section will be
made by means of a cold chisel, the shape of which (see Fig. 4) will correspond
with that of the said section, and the cutting edge of which will embrace the
entire width of the shoe, which will always be divided as above set forth and
shewn on the Drawing. In consequence of these arrangements this horse-shoc

page_text: offers great advantages, firstly, the effect of the section or division leaves the
horse's foot free to expand under his weight; secondly, the shoe lasts much
longer. In the ordinary shoe the elastic play of the foot takes place very
imperfectly, and only in moving the nails, whereas in this improved shoe the
elasticity being in nowise counteracted, and being produced by means of the
separation of its two branches, the nails remain firmly fixed, and the hoof is
less subject to exfoliation; further, this horse-shoe cures horses narrow hoofed
or hoof-bound, or those having seyms, the narrow hoofs enlarge, the bound
hoofs open perceptibly, and a very visible concavity is to be seen on the sides
of the hoof; lastly, the seyms or divisions from the cornet to the toe entirely
disappear.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)