Improvements in the Manufacture of Ordinary Chairs, Railway and Steam Boat Chairs, Seats, and other Furniture, in Upholstering, Stoveing, and Gimping the same, and in Machinery and Apparatus Connected therewith.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 19th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
Improvements in the Manufacture of Ordinary Chairs, Railway and
Steam Boat Chairs, Seats, and other Furniture, in Upholstering,
Stoveing, and Gimping the same, and in Machinery and Apparatus
Connected therewith.
JAMES REILLY Pomona Cornbrook Road Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Chair Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For improvements in manufacturing ordinary Chairs upholstering and Gimping
Railway and Steam Boat Chairs, Seats, Sofas Couches and other Furniture made of
Mahogany or other woods, or wood and metal combined in the Machinery and
apparatus connected therewith and for destroying Moths Grubs and other vermin in
the future production of Furniture, ordinary Chairs, Railway and Steam Boat Chairs
Carriage and Cab seats and other Furniture. For ornamental outside and inside edge
Turning for Furniture decoration in wood and metal For fly cutter Turning, Chair
legs, spindles and other Furniture work For cutting and Stamping Chair Gimp from
wood inetal or Fibre indenting and raised ornamental decorations on the same.
First. The Public has for years had their Homes made very uncomfortable by the
breeding of Moths, Grubs, and all other sorts of vermin, in consequence of the filthy
sorts of materials, which has been used for inside stuffing of middle and other Class of
Furniture, this sort of material is principally old Rags, Flocks and other rubbishy
materials, gathered from all parts of the Country ground up and carrying sickness and
even Death to many Homes.
Second. To do away with this sort of stuffing materials, I take a Railway or
Steam Boat chair or seat slung from Iron rods fastened on a universal joint from the
roof of the carriage to a little above the floor level to allow the chair to swing like a
Chandelier instead of making the frame in the ordinary way I make the seat frame
or other rails one two or more inches deeper and brace the same with Iron braces or
build up the present class of Chairs to the same depth of frame with wood I round the
top edges so that it will not damage the upholstering when sitting on the seat leaning
against the back or lying down.

page_text: Third. I do away with the ordinary fibre webbing and substitute thin steel 30 to
36 Birmingham wire gauge for the first covering I use a bare covering of Sacking
or strong Carpet stretched tightly on the deep frame with strips of India rubber
nailed to the Top edges of the deep frame any shape and tacked or nailed on the
strong frame having eyelet holes in the covers all round the frame metal nails to
correspond with the eyelet holes to take off or put on the strong frame so made up of
wood to represent the ordinary upholstering of Furniture. I also cover with strong
Sacking stretched tightly nailed fast on to the strong frame in one or two or more
thicknesses and cover the same with morocco leather, hair seating, damask Utrecht velvet
or any other kind of materials used in upholstering and to save this most useful
invention from being infringed I put between the thicknesses of Sacking a little
sawdust hair or other stuffing, with which I prefer doing entirely away with by this
method 1 do away with all the very objectionable materials now used for stuffing or
upholstering and 1 use the bare sacking Carpet or any strong material suitable for the
article required and to prevent infringement I use thin steel, No. 30 to 36
Birmingham wire gauge to represent Web or under covering I fasten springs on the
Sacking or strong material and lay a flat board or any other suitable material on the
springs no stuffing required and cover it over with any suitable upholstering materials
the Furniture is made in parts and bolted together when upholstered.
I next refor to ornamental chair banister Top rails or splaths sweep cut or straight
or other Furniture turning by giving it the name of inside and outside edge turning
in Wood Metal or other materials and of any shape of design whatsoever for Furniture
decorations I take as a sample a piece of wood twelve inches long four inches wide
and one inch thick I put it into the lathe and turn the two outside edges to any required
design leaving the square parts not turned to receive the dowels and for jointing I take
it out of the lathe and saw it in two pieces or put two pieces in the lathe separately
and glue dowel and fasten the two turned edges together inside leaving the two
outside edges when so fastened together to be again operated upon by this means any
design may be produced and when finished may be sawn in two or more pieces in the
form of Pillars or other Furniture decorations when a large number has to be
turned together I use a screw spindle with two pinned face plates fit on, for the
pieces of wood to be operated on to go between screwed together with nuts on each
end of the screwed spindle. My other improvements allude to a Quick motion machine
or Turning lathe Fly Cutters and other Tools repeating the exact size of Pattern in
Chair legs, Spindles, and other turned articles used in the manufacture of Furniture
The Machine is self-contained and consists of a strong cast iron casting in the form of
a right angle chuck supported by two Cast Iron standards the upright part carries a
Bed plate slide which moves up or down by screw and nut motion to suit the different
diameters of Chair legs or Spindles to be turned to the Bed plate slide is securely
fastened a fast and loose wood turning Lathe Headstocks holding the Chair legs to be
turned. The horizontal part carries a Sliding carriage moves forward and back by
screw and nut motion on which is two Bearings or Pedestals supporting a spindle.
This Cutter spindle has a slot cut through the middle three eighths of an inch wide
between the Bearings long enough to suit the Chair leg for the purpose of receiving
the series of cutters of different lengths and widths shaped on the ends to suit the
mouldings to be turned on the Chair legs in the middle of the cutters on one edge is
a mortice and on the other is a tenon to fit the mortice. The series of Cutters selected
for the Chair leg or other Furniture turning is put into the Slotted spindle and the
whole is firmly Cottered fast the Chair leg revolves slowly and the cutters revolve at
a very quick speed.
To produce a very cheap chair for inside or outside work I put together a round
frame turned or cased in and out made from one two or more parts or thicknesses firmly
put together about eighteen inches in diameter on the outside and twelve inches on
the inside and two and a half inches thick more on less I then bore holes and tap the
sa me through the frame and screw and glue the front legs, being screwed at
the top end into the front frame. I bore horizontal bolt holes into the same
frame and let nuts into the same underneath the seat to receive the backs, and

page_text: screw up the same with nicked head Bolts I then fasten a deep Top nail with hand
hole to the two backs and trim up the top and Paint or Polish the same to be used
inside or out of as the case may require for outside work I put no bottom in it to let
the rain go through without obstruction for inside work I fasten or nail first thin
metal, sacking then one or more covers of suitable strong material or I fasten the
bottom on with eyelet boles to suit the wet or dry weather to be taken off or left on, or
I put it on double and put between the two covers a little hair, sawdust, sea weed or
other material. To prevent infringement of this important invention I use the sacking
carpet or any other strong material by itself.
The Furniture that requires to have a dark stain I place it in a stove with burning
sawdust, similar to the stoves used for the cure of dried Fish.
I allude to my improvements in Metal upholstering Gimp. From thin sheets of
metal I cut strips the width of Gimp with two level edge circular Cutters fastened on
two adjustable spindles geared by spur pinions fixed to a headstock driven by hand or
power on the same spindles I have Keyed fast two Disc rollers on the periphery is the
he and she worked pattern to be roller impressed on the thin strips of Metal Gimp the
nail noles punched at the same time In the combination of wood and Fibre Gimp I
take thin knife cut. veneers crossed recrossed glued and pressed together with Fibre
between inside or outside cut sawn stamped plain or with pattern on the edge to
the required width of Gimp.
My Inventions refer only to improvements in the manufacture of ordinary Chairs
Railway and Steam Boat Chairs, seats Hammocks, Military, Hospital and Private Beds
and other furniture. In upholstering stoveing and Gimping the same and in the
Machinery and apparatus connected therewith and for no other purpose whatsoever.
Dated 20th day of Santambar 1887

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Ordinary Chairs, Railway and
Steam Boat Chairs, Seats, and other Furniture, in Upholstering,
Stoveing, and Gimping the same, and in Machinery and Apparatus
Connected therewith.
+
I, JAMES REILLY Pomona Cornbrook Road, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Chair Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates chiefly to the more expeditious manufacture of the various
ornamented parts of furniture such as the legs, arms, backs, etcetera and to the
manufacture of chairs, seats, and the like without the usual padding, as such
padding if not of good quality is objectionable on account of harbouring moths and
other vermin.
In carrying out the invention 1 construct the seat frame of the chair one, two, or
more inches deeper than is usually the case and cover it with a covering of canvas, or
sacking, tightly drawn across over which the plush, leather, cloth, or other covering
to form the seat is placed. This may or may not be supported on strips of thin steel
to represent webbing. The legs, toprails, or other furniture decorations I turn in a
lathe to any design required a special construction of apparatus or holder being used
to carry any number of the seperate pieces at the same time. The arrangement of
the apparatus will differ according to the shape or design to be produced and for
circular legs, pillars, and the like each will be turned separately by a number of
revolving cutters set together to form the required design and the gimp I prefer to
make of metal either stamped from sheets or coiled or twisted into shape from metallic
wire square or round.
The invention will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings :-
Fig. 1. Elevation of apparatus for holding the wood for ornamental turning.
Fig. 2. Elevation in section of fly or revolving cutter for turning circular legs,
pillars, etcetera.
Fig. 2 a. End view of cutter.
Fig. 3. Elevation of lathe for turning circular legs, pillars, etcetera with revolving
cutter in position.
Fig. 4. Elevation of apparatus for turning square or polygonal, legs, pillars,
etcetera.
Fig. 5. Elevation enlarged of design for back of chair the parts of which have been
turned in apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6. Elevation of chair without padded seat.
Fig. 7. Section through seat of chair, Fig. 6.
Figs. 8. 9. 10. and 11. Different designs of metallic gimp.
Fig. 12. Rolling and shearing machine for use in the manufacture of the metallic
gimp.
Referring to Figs. 1, and 5, 1 propose to produce such ornamental parts of furniture
as the backs of chairs, or other seats bannisters, top-rails, or splaths by turning them

page_text: in a lathe. The wood or other material to be turned is cut into lengths of the required
size and fitted in between the two discs or face plates D of the machine. The discs
or face plates D are bored and turned to fit the shaft A upon which they are carried
moving longitudinally thereon. The shaft A is cut with right and left hand screws to
receive the nuts B which act when screwed up to force the discs D together. The
shaft A is also grooved from end to end to receive a key carried by the discs D.
The discs or face plates D have a series of holes drilled through the face to receive
pins which securely hold the wood. For the convenience of putting the wood in
position the pins on one plate are longer than those on the other. On the shaft A is
also placed a plate or disc E which acts as a support or stay when working long or
weak sweep cut work. One, two, or more of these stays may be used as required.
C is a fixed drum on one end of the shaft A. The pieces of wood a are drilled with
one or two holes at each end (preferably two to fit onto two pins) which fit onto the
pins d and are placed round projecting beyond the peripheries of the discs D some-
what like the staves of a barrel placed upon edge. The apparatus is fitted into a lathe
and rapidly rotated and the outside edges of the pieces of wood are turned to any
design they are then removed and replaced with the other edge outermost which is
also turned to any required design. As shown in Fig. 5. the rails or other parts of
furniture with an open centre are built up of two of these pieces one half of the
pattern having been turned on one and the other half pattern on the other. Instead
of using two pieces of wood one piece may be used which has had the outer edges
first turned to the required pattern and then cut in two with a saw and the other edges
turned. Except where it is desired to obtain the greatest continuity in the grain of
the wood I prefer to use separately prepared piecos a. The pieces a when finished
are secured together in one, two, or more parts by glue and dowels. By this means
any design may be produced, but that shown in Fig. 5, is sufficient for
illustration.
"
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, I turn circular legs, pillars, spindles, etcetera, singly in a
lathe with a rapidly revolving fly cutter H formed to the pattern to be produced. The
cutter His built up of a series of blocks ¹ placed together on a shaft to form
the required pattern. Each of these is fitted with about 8 cutting blades / moulded
to the pattern for a certain length of the article. By the use of such cutters any
number of articles of the same pattern can be quickly produced. As shown in
Fig. 3, the apparatus consists of a strong iron casting preferably of angular shape
with a horizontal bed 1. in front and a vertical bed J, at back though the back
piece J, may be made of a separate casting and bolted to the bed I.
On the horizontal bed I, is a slide or carriage K upon which are placed a fast and
loose headstock_kk which hold the leg or article to be turned. The vertical bed
carries a slide L fitted with two pedestals or bearings for the shaft H' of the
revolving cutter H. The shaft H' is cut with a slot for the greater part of its length
to receive a key or feather carried by the blocks of the cutter. Any number or
design of the blocks may be employed according to the pattern to be produced.
In the middle of the blocks on one side is a mortice or slot and on the other a tenon
to fit the mortice. The series of blocks ¹ to form the cutter are selected and threaded
onto the shaft H' and the whole securely fastened by nut or cotter. In operation the
slide L is set to bring the cutter H into position to turn the article to the required
diameter and the cutter set in rapid motion. A slow movement is given to the article
between the headstocks which by the action of the slide K is carried under the
revolving cutter H and quickly turned to the desired pattern and dimension.
Referring to Fig. 4. For the turning of square or polygonal legs or other articles
of furniture I use a machine similar in principle to that shown in Fig. 1. but prefer
to bolt the pieces of wood m on the periphery of the discs M as shown in Fig. 4.
The shaft M is mounted on pedestals or bearings n on the frame N., and a revolving
cutter F is mounted on a slide rest F¹. The cutter F may be constructed in a similar
way to the cutter H figs. 2 and 3 or may be inade with one or more blades cut to the
required pattern mounted on a shaft as shown, at the other end of the machine may be
placed a hand tool rest for finishing the work or turning it by a hand tool, when

page_text: required. Instead of the cutter F revolving a stationary cutter may be used mounted
on the slide rest F¹.
When one side is turned the position of the pieces m are changed until each side
has been turned in succession. I prefer to make the apparatus as shown in Fig. 4
though the discs may be mounted on the shaft to be placed in a lathe as in Fig. 1.
Similarly the discs shown in Fig. 1. may be mounted on separate framing to make a
complete machine.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7. a chair is shown constructed according to my invention
without the usual padding to form the seat. The back and legs are preferably turned
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 4 and securely attached to
the seat frame P by bolts or in other usual manner. The frame P is formed with an
upper part p in depth equal to that of the padding in ordinary chairs, say 1, 2, 3, or
more inches deep. The frame may be constructed in any ordinary way for seat frames
or may he braced together with iron braces to increase the strength. Instead of
making the seat frame P as shown the part may be built up separately on top of
a frame of ordinary construction. The top edges of the frame p are rounded off on
both sides so as not to damage the upholstery. The top of the frame p may be faced
with indiarubber or other soft or pliable material to give greater elasticity to the seat.
The frame P is covered with a covering of canvas, strong carpet, or other suitable
material stretched tightly across I prefer a covering made from two or more thicknesses
of strong sacking canvas glued together and pressed in a steam press. The covering
when cut to the required size and shape is preferably made with eyelet holes formed
in it by which it is secured to the frame P by studs, pins, tacks, or the like. When
made with eyelet holes the covering may be readily removed and replaced. Instead
of providing eyelet holes in the cover it may he tacked on in the usual way. The
canvas.covering Q is covered or upholstered with leather, hair cloth, damask, velvet,
or other suitable material. If desired a thin layer of padding of sawdust or other
suitable material may be inserted between the canvas covering and the top cover but
I prefer to omit all padding. I substitute for the ordinary woven webbing, where
necessary to use such, thin steel of 30 to 36 B. W. guage or use this instead of the
canvas cover Q. Springs may be supported on the canvas covering Q or on the thin
steel strips which represent or take the place of the webbing.
Although a chair is shown in figs. 6 etcetera it will be understood that the invention
refers to other seats, couches and the like.
Referring to figs. 8 to 12 I trim chairs and other articles of furniture with metallic
gimp. This I prepare either from metallic wire or form thin sheet metal strips
embossed or cut out to the required design.
The wire gimp is made from pliable wire worked to the required pattern. The
pattern shown in Fig. 8, is made by coiling wire on a circular rod or spindle into
the form of a spring and then passing it between the rollers of the machine other
designs may be made in a similar manner by coiling the wire more or less close or by
varying the shape of the rod on which it is coiled before being passed between the
rollers (see Fig. 8). The pattern shown in Fig. 9, is formed by passing the wire
between toothed wheels. Other patterns of gimp such as the Greek key pattern,
scrolls, and the like may be similarly produced. The metallic gimp shown in figs. 10
and 11 is cut from thin sheet metal and embossed, stamped, or otherwise cut to the
required pattern.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 12, will be found suitable for the purpose. On the
shafts Tare keyed two bevel cutters which cut the sheet metal into the required
strips and two embossing or stamping rollers U upon which the pattern is engraved ;
u are pinions which gear together the shafts T, and V the driving pulley.
I also prepare gimp from wood and fibre. I take thin knife cut veneers and
glue upon one or between two a fibrous or textile material to strengthen them.
These are then cut, sawn, or stamped to the required width and with any pattern.
Furniture that requires to have a dark stain I stove with burning sawdust in a stove
similar to that used by provision merchants for stoving or smoking hog products or
in the process of curing dried fish.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of manufacturing a number of ornamental parts of furniture of the
same design by securing the parts closely together at or near the periphery of two
or more discs which hold them, rotating them quickly about the axis of the discs
and turning the outer edges substantially as described.
2. The apparatus for turning a number of the ornamental parts of furniture to
the same design substantially as described and shown in Fig. 1.
3. The method of making a number of circular legs, pillars, spindles, and other
ornamented parts of furniture of the same design and size by means of a rotating or
fly cutter shaped to the required design mounted upon a rest on a lathe and capable
of being set at any required height while the article is rapidly rotated substantially
as described.
4. The apparatus for turning circular legs, pillars, spindles and other ornamental
parts of furniture having a couple of headstocks to carry the article mounted on a
sliding bed, preferably horizontal and a rotating cutter shaped to the design of the
article carried in bearings on a slide rest preferably vertical substantially as described
with reference to figs. 2 and 3.
5. The revolving or fly cutter built up to the required pattern by a number of
blocks or discs carrying the cutting blades substantially as described and shown.
6. The method of manufacturing a number of square or polygonal legs or other
parts of furniture by rotating same together in a circle about a common centre and
turning the outside edge of same as they revolve substantially as described.
7. The apparatus for turning square or polygonal legs or other parts of furniture
substantially as described and shown in Fig. 4.
S. A chair, seat, or similar article of furniture, manufactured without stuffing or
padding having the seat frame inade or built up one, two, or three inches above the
ordinary level rounded at top and covered with a covering of canvas, carpet, or other
strong material to receive the upholstering with or without india-rubber or other
yielding material between the frame and the canvas, substantially as described with
reference to figs. 6 and 7.
9. In the manufacture of chairs, seats, and other similar articles of furniture the
use of thin steel strips to represent webbing and in substitution thereof substantially
as described.
10. In the manufacture of chairs, seats, and other similar articles of furniture the
use of a gimp formed from metallic wire or thin sheet metal substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I the said James Reilly have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sights night