A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND SKINNING ANIMALS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Biggin, of 165, Fitzwilliam Street, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Manager, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND SKINNING ANIMALS."
Sealed the 8th December 1876, and dated the 27th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Biggin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1876.
JOSHUA BIGGIN, of 165, Fitzwilliam Street, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Munager. "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND
SKINNING ANIMALS."
The object and nature of this Invention is to secure a protection against the
scratching, cutting, or the flawing of hides or skins of calves, sheep, beasts, and
other animals whilst in the act of dressing or skinning the same, and for the more
easy and quick manner whilst in the operation or act of dressing or skinning the
same, thereby securing the hides or skins when dressed or skinned free from scratches,
cuts, flaws, or damage, and a saving of time and labour, thereby increasing their
value by keeping that portion of the hides (which by the old mode may be cut,
scratched, or damaged) sound and perfect which would otherwise be of little or
no lise.
For this purpose I propose to construct an instrument or knife with a blade or
cutter of steel of any length or shape as may best suit the purpose. The blade is
made to work on a pin, screw, or pivot, with a casing made of nickel, argentine,
steel, iron, Britannia metal, cast or other metals, the said casing to be made of
suitable length and shape as may best suit the purpose. The said casing to bave an
aperture to allow the blade or cutter to slide in between to work backwards or
forwards on a pin or pivot with holes perforated in the tang of the blade or cutters,
so as also to allow the blade or cutter to slide forward as the case may be, by means
of screws or springs, the thickness and shape of the outside casing will act as a
means to protect the blade or cutter and act as a preventative from damaging the
hides or skins, as it will part the skin on the one side and the flesh on the other
whilst in the act of working in, dressing, or skinning the same as the person may
think fit. When in use the casing is fastened to a handle by means of pins, rivets,
or screws, as best may be for the purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
•
by the said Joshua Biggin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
December 1876.
JOSHUA BIGGIN, of 165, Fitzwilliam Street, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Manager. "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND
SKINNING ANIMALS."
The object and nature of this Invention is to secure a protection against the
scratching, cutting, or flawing of hides or skins of birds, calves, sheep, beasts, and
other animals whilst in the act of dressing or skinning the same, and for a more
easy and quicker mode of operation in dressing, the same, thereby securing the
hides or skins, when dressed or skinned, free froni 'scratches, cuts, flaws, or damage
of a like description, and a consequent saving of time and labor, thereby increasing
their value by keeping that portion of the hides or skins (which by the old mode
are cut, scratched, or damaged) sound and perfect and which would be otherwise
of little or no use.
For this purpose or object I propose to construct an instrument or knife with
a blade or cutter of steel of any length or shape as may best suit the purpose. The
blade is made to work on a pin, screw, or pivot, with a casing made of nickel,
argentine,. steel, tin, iron, German silver, or silver, Britannia metal, cast or other
metals, the said casing to be made of suitable length and shape as may best suit
the purpose for which they are proposed. The said casing. to have an aperture to
allow the blade or cutter to slide in between and to work backwards or forwards
on a pin, screw, or pivot, with holes or slot perforated in the tang of the blade
or cutter so as to allow the blade or cutter to slide forward, as the case may be,
by means of screws or springs, the thickness and shape of the outside, which
will act as a means to protect the blade or cutter and act as a preventative from
damaging the hides or skins, it having the effect of parting the skin on the one
side and the flesh on the other whilst in the act of working in the dressing or
skinning the same as the person may think fit. When in use the casing is
fastened to a handle by means of pins, rivets, or screws, as may be best for the
purpose.
The casing is made either by cutting out and stamping or running in metals
into moulds of proper lengths and shapes.
These instruments can be made or constructed of various sizes to suit the
requirements of the operation of skinning or dressing and for easy and convenient
manipulation or handling during such operation, and should it be found requisite
or necessary in course of time that the blade should be sharpened then upon pressing
the back of the blade it will cause it to project and the requisite sharpening given
to it, and this in the ordinary way by means of a steel, but this operation will
seldom be requisite on account of the thinness of the blade, it being intended to
retain its perfect cutting properties for a long period nor require grinding on a
stone, as in the case of a thick blade, the casing in this Invention having the effect
of properly steadying, securing, and directing the blade however thin. And when
a new blade is required it can be readily fixed in the casing by the pin, screw, or
pivot before described.
The peculiar shape or configuration of the casing or guard being such that the
operation of skinning or dressing can be performed with certainty and readiness
with no risk of damage to the skins (and consequent serious deterioration in value)
as is now commonly the case.
And in order that this my Invention may be clearly and readily understood I
will now refer to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the figures and letters
of reference shewn thereon, the same letters refer to like parts throughout.
Figure 1 is a side view of the instrument, a, a, being the hollow convex casing or
shield; b, the blade fixed between the two lower halves of a, a, but capable of being
pushed in or out, working on the pivot or screw c in hole or slot e, see Figure 5;
d is the handle, within which the flat portions of the metal casing are contained.

page_text: Figure 2 is a sectional view through convex casing a, a, and blade b, showing
position of blade in lower portion of a, a.
Figure 3 is an under or edge view of the instrument, shewing position of blade b
between casing a, a.
Figure 4 is a side view, showing the blade projected for the purpose of sharpening,
or as may be required.
Figure 5 is the blade b detached, showing the slot or hole e for attaching it
between the convex casing, as shown on Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Having thus described and illustrated this my said Invention, I would have it
understood that what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is, the said Invention for a new or improved instru-
ment or apparatus for dressing and skinning animals, substantially as herein
described and as shown or illustrated in the accompanying Drawings or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joshua Biggin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 18th day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOSHUA BIGGIN. (L.S.)