Improvements in Saddles for Draught and other Horses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 24th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddles for Draught and other Horses.
I, FREDERICK ANDREW CLOSE, of No. 1, Cannon Street, Bedminster, Bristol,
Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved saddle for draught and other horses; the
improvements being principally those which will ensure greater durability, lightness,
and comfort.
In the cart saddles now generally used, the covering is of leather, and the pannels
or pads are stuffed with straw, wool, or other similar material, and the various parts
of the saddle are made and fastened together by stitches; the consequence being
that the leather covering is liable to get out of shape, the pannels to become soaked
with perspiration, causing sores and discomfort to the horse; while the stitching is
frequently getting undone, incurring considerable expense and annoyance.
By my invention, the covering or upper part of the saddle is made of enamelled
steel or other suitable metal, of sufficient texture to ensure durability in wear, the
saddle tree protruding through an opening in the metal covering the pannels are
made on frames of wood or metal, or wood and metal combined, the sides of the frames
being kept apart by springs, which give elasticity and comfort to the horse in
wearing; these pannels are fastened to an adjustable plate fixed to the saddle tree,
so that they may be adapted to a horse of any size or shape; and all the parts of
the saddle are made and fastened together by nails, rivets, or by bolts and screws, so
that very great durability is obtained.
To carry my invention into effect, I provide a saddle tree of an ordinary shape;
instead of the saddle boards which are usually fixed to the ends of the tree, I screw
plates of steel or other suitable metal: these plates have holes at their ends to
which the pannels are attached by screws and nuts, the holes in the plates allow the
pannels to be adjusted at suitable angles to fit a horse with wide or narrow withers;
the plates may be screwed to the saddle tree at any required distance from the ends,
to suit a large or small sized horse: instead of the ordinary crupper dock, an iron
staple having a roller round its end is attached to the back of the saddle tree: the
covering of enamelled steel or other metal is fitted over the frame of the tree: the
pannels are formed of two pieces of wood or metal, kept apart by springs which
give elasticity to the pannel; conveniently the upper part of the pannel is made of
wood through which the bolts are passed which fasten the pannels to the metal
plates on the tree; I prefer to make the lower part of the pannel, which rests on
the horse's back, of metal, which is pressed into a cushion shape; spiral springs are
placed between, and attached to, the upper and lower sides, which form the frame
of the pannel and keep it in proper shape; the metal or lower side is then covered
with felt or other suitable material, and a piece of leather or stout textile fabric is
put over the bottom and sides of the frame, and nailed to the upper or wood part
of the frame, which completes the pannel ready for attaching to the saddle tree
plate; the girth of the saddle is fastened by staples and rings to the lower or metal
side of the pannels, which keeps the saddle firmly in position on the horse's back,
and the springs serve to relieve the pressure of the weight which is placed on the
tree on the front of the saddle is an ornamental cap, which is fastened by rivets
or screws to the steel or metal covering, and forms the head of the saddle; this cap
may be conveniently attached to the leather covering of ordinary saddles, and save
a considerable amount of labour which is expended in sewing and fixing the leather
capping now generally used.
The ornamental brass and other mountings usually put on the harness of draught
horses can be attached by rivets or screws through holes pierced in the metai

page_text: covering. With the exceptions already named, the saddle will be formed of metal,
so that much greater durability is ensured, and, as according to this invention, no
stitching whatever is employed, even the girths being fastened to the pannels and
the buckles to the leather straps by rivets, a saddle will last much longer than where
the wear and tear is constantly loosening the stitches.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1890.
FREDERICK ANDREW CLOSE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddles for Draught and other Horses.
1, FREDERICK ANDREW CLOSE of 1, Cannon Street, Bedminster, Bristol
Saddler 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 to improved saddles for horses and other animals, the
improvements being principally those which will ensure greater lightness, comfort,
and durability.
In the harness and other saddles now generally used the covering is of leather,
and the pannels or pads are stuffed with wool, straw, or other similar materials, and
the various parts of the saddle are made and fastened together by stitches, the
consequence being that the pannels get out of shape, and saturated with perspiration,
causing sores and discomfort to the horse, while the stitching is frequently getting
undone, thereby incurring considerable expense and annoyance.
According to my invention, the covering or upper part of the saddle is made of
steel or other suitable material of sufficient texture to ensure durability, placed
upon a saddle tree of the ordinary shape, an opening of a suitable size being made
in the centre of the metal covering, through which the ridge of the tree projects.
The pannels, instead of being stuffed or padded in the ordinary manner, are made
of metal pressed into cushion shape, and kept in position by springs which yield
readily to any additional weight or strain on the horse's back. To secure ventilation
and coolness, the cushioned pannel frames may be perforated with a number of
small holes, so that perspiration or damp can easily escape. The pannel frames
may be used without any covering whatever, in which case the maximum of coolness
and ventilation is obtained. The pannel frame may also be made of two metals,
such as steel for the interior and zinc for the exterior, whereby the durability of
steel and the chemical or galvanic properties of zinc are combined, and a lining of
thin felt may be placed between the steel and zinc, to relieve the pressure.
steel pannel frame may be covered with felt and leather, giving it the appearance
of an ordinary pannel, the leather being drawn round the top in folds, and kept in
place by threaded wire. All the various parts of the saddle are made and fastened
together by rivets, screws, bolts and nuts, or other similar means, no sewing or
stitching of any kind being employed, whereby great durability is ensured. The
pannels made with springs as described may be fitted to riding saddles when desired,
the shape and fittings being arranged accordingly.
The
To carry my invention into effect, I provide a saddle tree of any ordinary shape
and of the size required, but instead of the saddle boards at the ends of the tree,
1 crew slotted plates or elongated staples underneath or on the sides, through
which project bolts by which the pannels are attached to the tree. These slotted
plates or staples are so arranged that the bolts may slide in them & the pannels
may be shifted according to the width of the horse's withers or back. The pannel
frames are made of metal, preferably galvanized steel, or other suitable material, a
number of holes being punched in them for purposes of ventilation, and they are
stamped into the required cushion shape and strengthened by stay plates, on which
a number of spiral or other springs, conveniently three, are placed and fastened by

page_text: screws to the interior of the pannel frames. On the other ends of the spiral springs,
I place a bar or plate of stout metal and fasten it by bolts to the springs. This
bar has holes punched in it corresponding to the position of the slotted plates or
staples on the saddle tree, and the bolts by which the pannels are fastened to the
tree pass through the plates or staples & the bar, & are secured by nuts on the
underside of the bar. The pannels are thus formed by bolting the springs to
the frame on one end and the bar at the other. They may be used in this form and
fastened to the tree without any further covering, the springs giving them the
required elasticity; or they may be covered with zinc, or felt and zinc, or felt and
leather, as already described. If covered with zinc, holes will be perforated
therein, to correspond with those in the frame. The pannels being prepared in
either of the ways described, they are laid on the tree in their proper position, and
the bars of the pannels are screwed or bolted to the staples at the sides of the tree.
Over the saddle tree I place a covering of steel or other suitable material, the
ridge of the tree projecting through an opening in the covering, which is then
fitted on the lower part of the tree and fastened thereto by nails or screws.
covering may be either galvanized, enamelled, or otherwise treated for purposes of
ornament or durability. Instead of the ordinary crupper-dock, an iron staple with
a roller round its end, is attached to the back of the tree, to which the crupper or
breeching is fastened. On the front of the saddle is an ornamental nosing which
forms the saddle head. This nosing may be advantageously used on the ordinary
leather covering of saddles as a substitute for the leather nosing which takes a
considerable time to form and stitch into its place. The pattern or design of this
nosing may be varied to suit different shapes and kinds of saddles, and the nosings
with any other ornamental fittings and mounts can be fastened to the metal covering
by screws or bolts.
This
My invention will be further understood by reference to the accompanying sheet
of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a metal pannel frame, perforated and stamped to the required
shape, with stay plates attached;
Fig. 2 is a view of the same with the springs attached to the pannel frame and a
bar at their other end which keeps them in position and forms the pannel;
Fig. 3 is a view of the inside of a saddle tree fitted in the metal covering ready
to receive the pannels;
Fig. 4 is a similar view with the pannels attached, one pannel being shown as used
with the metal coming in direct contact with the horse's back, and the other as
covered with felt and leather;
Fig. 5 is an end view of the saddle complete, showing its general arrangement
and the position of the various parts;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the same, and
Fig. 7 is a view of the metal nosing or cap which is screwed to the front of the
saddle.
A is the frame of the pannel perforated and pressed into the required shape;
a a are stay plates, and a¹ is a stay plate to which a hook is attached for fastening
by a ring to the girth of the saddle; B is the metal covering of the saddle; C is
the saddle tree, D the springs, and E the metal bar which holds the springs in
position on the interior of the pannel, e e are holes in the bar through which bolts
are passed which fasten the bar to the staples F on the sides of or to the slotted
plates underneath the saddle-tree, the staples being elongated so that the position
of the pannels may be shifted to suit the width or shape of a horse's back; G are
metal guard plates fixed on the saddle tree to receive the wear of the back chain,
the upper edges being bent over to prevent the chain from jumping out of its place;
H is a pannel without any covering fitted to its place on the tree, and I is a similar
pannel covered with felt and leather, in each of which the internal springs relieve
the pressure on the horse's back; K, Figs. 5, 6, 7, is an ornamental nosing, which
forms a finishing head piece to the metal covered saddle, being fastened to the metal

page_text: covering by a bolt and nut, or which may be fastened with a clip k, as shown in
Fig. 7, on the fronts of ordinary leather covered saddles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is
―
1. The construction of saddles for draught & other horses, substantially as shewn
and described.
2. The construction and use of metallic nosings or head-plates for the fronts of
saddles, as described.
Dated this 26th day of March 1891.
FREDERICK ANDREW CLOSE.