IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DEMONACING OR PERCUSSION CARS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Horrocks, junior, and James Dunlop
Horrocks, of Down Street, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
DEMONACING OR PERCUSSION CARS"--A Communication.
Sealed the 5th August 1853, and dated the 8th June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Horrocks,
junior, and James Dunlop Horrocks, at the Office of the Commis-
sioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 8th June 1853.
We, JOHN HORROCKS, junior, and JAMES DUNLOP HORROCKS, of
Down Street, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFAC-
TURE OF DETONATING OR PERCUSSION CAPS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of making such caps of gutta percha in the
following manner :-Portions of woven or suitable fabric are cut into
cross like forms, and the gutta percha is used in the form of short
cylinders cut from a sheet of gutta percha. The fabric is placed over a
perforated plate or die, each perforation having a forcer, which, descend-
ing into the die, forces the fabric and the gutta percha in a plastic state

page_text: into the die, by which each die produces a cap, into which the
detonating material is placed; and then a sheet of very thin metal
(copper) is placed over the die, and, by the descent of a cutting tool to
each dic, a disc of copper is cut out, and the same is forced into the cap
of gutta percha, and the periphery of the metal disc will be so raised in
contact with the interior of gutta percha as to render the whole
waterproof
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Horrocks, junior, and James Dunlop
Horrocks in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 7th December
1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
JOHN HORROCKS, junior, and JAMES DUNLOP HORROCKS, of Down
Street, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said John Horrocks and James Dunlop Horrocks,
Her special licence that we, the said John Horrocks and James
Dunlop Horrocks, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said John Horrocks and James Dunlop Horrocks, our
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 MANUFACTURE OF DETONATING OR PERCUSSION
CAPS," communicated to us from abroad, upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said John Horrocks and James Dunlop Horrocks,
by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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

page_text: 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
the said
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 thereof
(that is to say):
The object of this Invention is to manufacture percussion caps in
such manner that the interior surfaces or lining may be flexible and
elastic, in order that a cap may tightly and closely fit different nipples,
though they may somewhat differ in size and shape, and also fit each
nipple in a manner to be waterproof. In manufacturing percussion
caps according to the Invention, they are to have their inner surfaces
composed of a flexible, elastic, and waterproof material or materials, and
for this purpose gutta percha is believed to be the best substance.
The manufacture of percussion caps, when waterproof elastic matters
are used on the interior, does not, so far as the details of the making
are concerned, largely differ from what is now pursued in manufacturing
such caps of metal.
When percussion caps are to be made according to the Invention,
having an outside covering of thin metal, the micans pursued are as
follows: A metal cap similar to that heretofore made, but it is recom-
mended to be of thinner metal, is placed in a hole (in a plate with a
piston at the bottom capable of raising the cap out of the hole when
the cap is finished), and a quantity of gutta percha (suitable to form the
interior), rendered plastic by heat, is to be put into the metal cap, and
then by the pressure of a plunger (of a size corresponding with the
interior of the cap when formed) the gutta percha is caused to spread
and assume the interior form of the desired cap. The gutta percha is
allowed to cool for about half a minute; the plunger is then to be
withdrawn, and the detonating powder, in a pulverized state, or in the
shape of a sphere, is to be introduced into the cap or disc of copper or
brass, or other thin metal (which is to fit the interior of the cap tightly)
is next to be forced down to cover the powder, the rough or protruding
edges of the gutta percha are to be cut off, and the cap will be ready

page_text: for use, and will, by reason of the elasticity and waterproof character of
the interior surface, fit on to a nipple and form a waterproof joint
thereon. In place of metal, calico or other woven fabric, or other ma-
terial, may be used for the outside covering of caps. It is preferred to
have an outside covering, and such material is to be cut into the formi
of a cross, as when making metal caps, and such crosses are to be
forced into dies or holes, such as above mentioned, by plungers, and the
gutta percha is to be introduced and pressed into form, as above
explained, and the percussion powder introduced, as before stated, on to
the powder; a dise of tinfoil is placed, after which a disc (with the
centre portion punched out) of copper or brass or other thin metal is
forced into the cap. The rough edges of the gutta percha are to be
trimmed off, and the caps will be complete.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, we would
have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the detail, as tlie
same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of
the Invention. But what we claim is, the manufacture of percussion
caps herein described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Horrocks and James
Horrocks, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thir-
tieth day of November,, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness, KETREHOFF
aüs Weimar.
Kauftmann
JOHN HORROCKS.
(L.S.)
JAMES D. HORROCKS. (L.s.)
GRAF PAUMGARTEN, Regl. Cayer,
Legations De Partar.