IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRUSHES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Molesworth, of Halfmoon Street, Bishops-
gate Street, in the City of London, Brush Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRUSHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Molesworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
February 1855.
I, ROBERT MOLESWORTH, of Half Moon Street, Bishopsgate Street, in the
City of London, Brush Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRUSHES" to be as
follows:-
The object of my improvements is by greater simplicity of construction
to impart increased strength to brushes, & diminish their liability to come to
pieces by use.
I make the handle & block of the brush in one piece of wood or other
suitable material, by turning or other proper mode, and I give to the block a
peculiar form, the part next the handle being cylindrical, while that around
which the bristles are attached is a truncated cone, with the base towards the
outer or brush end of the article, the smaller or truncated end being next the
cylindrical portion of the block.
This construction gives rise to a shoulder against which the confined ends

page_text: of the bristles abut. This shoulder prevents the bristles from being forced
backwards in using the brush, while the peculiar arrangement of the cone
around which the bristles are bound prevents their being drawn out, except by
a force sufficient to overcome the strength of the material used in binding
the brush.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Molesworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
MOLESWORTH, of Half Moon Street, Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London
Brush Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Molesworth, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Molesworth,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Molesworth, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BRUSHES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Molesworth, 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 Robert Molesworth, 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,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1
represents a perspective view of the handle and block of my improved brush,
and Figure 2 a longitudinal section of my improved brush complete. The
same parts are marked by the same letters in both Figures
The object of my improvements is by greater simplicity of construction to

page_text: impart increased strength to brushes, and diminish their liability to come to
pieces by wear.
I make the handle A and block B of the brush in one piece of wood or
other suitable material, by turning or other usual mode, and I give to the
block B a peculiar form, the part C next the handle being cylindrical, while
the part D, to which the bristles are attached, is a truncated cone, with the
base towards the outer or brush end, and the smaller or truncated end next
the cylindrical portion C of the block.
This construction produces a shoulder E, E, against which the confined ends
of the bristles abut. This shoulder prevents the bristles from being forced
backwards in using the brush, while the peculiar shape of the cone D around
which they are bound prevents their being drawn out, except by a force suffi-
cient to overcome the strength of the strings or wires (f,f. Figure 2) with
which they are bound to the block.
In addition to strings or wires, I propose to employ, for the purpose of more
effectually binding the bristles to the block, a metallic casing or ferrule (9.9.
9. g, Fig. 2), which is to be passed over the bristles, and attached to the cylin-
drical portion C of the block by screws or otherwise. This casing or ferrule
I make smaller at the brush end than where it is attached to the block, as
shewn in Figure 2. When preferred, I use a casing of wood, leather, or
gutta percha.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Molesworth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this
day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
10
5
Witness,
CHAS. F. STANSBURY,
67, Gracechurch Street.
ROBERT MOLESWORTH. (L.S.)