A REVOLVER PURSE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, for the
Invention of "A REVOLVER PURSE." A communication from Oscar Frankenau,
of Nürnberg, in the Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 6th November 1877, and dated the 5th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1877.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "A REVOLVER PURSE"
A communication from Oscar Frankenau, of Nürnberg, in the Empire of Germany.
The Invention consists in the combination of a purse or other receptacle for
holding money with a revolver or pistol, in such manner that the latter is held
secret in the said purse or receptacle, and can (when loaded) be fired from and
through the purse at any desired moment.
Also in the arrangement and working of an opening in the frame, or other con-
venient part of the purse or receptacle, for the passage of the shot or shots from
the revolver, by the act of pressing downwards or cocking a trigger ready for firing,
and the closing said opening by placing or bending the trigger close to the frame or
other part of the purse.
The Invention can be performed by using a revolver or pistol somewhat similar to
those at present in use, excepting that no stock is necessary. The said revolver is
mounted in or on a metal or other frame of the purse, said frame being specially
formed to allow a hinged trigger to project through it and the purse; to the said
trigger is fixed a mechanism (preferably inside the frame or cover of the purse), so
contrived that on pulling down or cocking the trigger, the frame at the side or other
part of the purse shall be wholly or in part opened to allow of the free passage
of the charge from the revolver, and after firing, or on bending back the trigger
to lie flat on the purse or frame, the said aperture shall become and remain closed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th December
1877.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort-on-the-Maine, in the Empire of Germany. "A REVOLVER PURSE."
A communication from Oscar Frankenau, of Nürnberg, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention consists of the combination of a purse or portemonnaie with a
revolver, in such manner that the latter is held secret in the said portemonnaie or
purse, and can at the desired moment suddenly be fired.
The advantages of such revolver purse are evident, and the safd revolver purse
will especially be of great utility to travellers and others exposed to sudden attack
from robbers, as the attacked traveller can offer his purse, and by the same move.
ment fire the revolver against the robber.
The Invention cousists furthermore of an arrangement by which an opening in
the frame of the purse is made clear for the passage of the shot, as soon as the
trigger of the revolver is pressed downward for becoming ready for firing; this
opening being closed as soon as the trigger is put close on the frame of the purse.
The accompanying Drawing forms part of this Specification, and will serve to
illustrate a convenient mode of performing the Invention.
Figure 1 is a lateral view of a revolver, arranged according to this Invention in
the frame of a purse or portemonnaie, and also of the arrangement for clearing and
closing the opening for the passage of the shot.
Figure 2 is a lateral view of a part of a revolver purse constructed according to
this Invention, with the trigger clasped downward and opening cleared for the
passage of the shot.
Figure 3 is a front view of the opened purse, the trigger being clasped downward
and ready for firing.
Similar letters of reference represent like parts in all the Figures.
A is the frame of the purse to which the revolver R having, say, 4 barrels is fixed
by means of the screws a, a; B (Figure 3) represents the several compartments of
the
purse. These compartments are fixed at the right side on the frame opposite to
the frame A, whilst at the left side they are fixed to a suitably bent sheet metal
piece h, which is covered with leather, and is destined to separate the revolver from
the compartments of the purse, and to protect the same against pressure. The
revolver R does not offer any particular novelty over those used till now.
On the Drawing the same is represented having 4 barrels, but in some cases it
may be made with more or less barrels. The trigger b of the revolver projects
below the frame A, and if at rest (as shown by Figure 1) it holds closed the flap c.
The small hook d retains the trigger in the position shown by Figure 1. If however
the trigger is by the finger of the operator released from the hook d and allowed to
swing down, the helical spring wound around the bar e, and till then compressed by
the pressure of the trigger b is released, and causes the bar e to descend, thereby
causing the flap c to make the fourth part of a rotation, and to open the passage
for the shot (as shown by Figures 2 and 3). By pressing the trigger on the frame
the bar e is raised again, and the flap c is caused to close the opening f.
Although the trigger is shown on the Drawing projecting out of the frame A it
would in some cases be preferable to lodge the same when at rest wholly within the
said frame, which for that purpose will be provided with a corresponding groove in
which the trigger is laid, so that it will be flush with the outer surface of the frame
and cannot readily be remarked.
Although the combination of a revolver with a purse will be the most useful and
usual, I wish it to be understood that I claim also the combination of a revolver
with a pocket book, cigar case, and other like articles.

page_text: Essentially what I claim as new and as my Invention is,―
1st. As a new article of manufacture a purse and other like articles in combination
with a revolver, substantially in the manner set forth and described.
2nd. The purse or case frame A in combination with the revolver R and trigger b,
which latter is pivoted to and may project out of the frame, and can, if not in use,
be swung upwards, and laid close against the outer surface of the frame, or can
in some cases be lodged in a suitable groove or recess in the frame, 80 as to
be flush with the outer surface of the frame, as and for the purpose set forth and
described.
3rd. The frame A, revolver R, trigger b, and hook d, in combination with the
bar e, around which is wound a helical spring, and to which bar is pivoted a
flapf, also pivoted to the frame A to close or open the opening f, as and for the
purpose described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
F. WIRTH. (L.S.)