A METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING DEVICES IN OR ON WOOD, LEATHER, AND OTHER SIMILAR SURFACES, WHETHER FOR ORAMENTING THE SAME OR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PRINTING AND EMBOSSING SURFACES THEREFROM
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Whitehead, of Crayford, in the County of
Kent, Draughtsman, for the Invention of "A METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING DEVICES IN OR ON WOOD, LEATHER, AND OTHER SIMILAR
SURFACES, WHETHER FOR ORAMENTING THE SAME OR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
PRINTING AND EMBOSSING SURFACES THEREFROM."
Sealed the 20th March 1857, and dated the 8th October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Whitehead at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th October 1856.
I, FRANCIS WHITEHEAD, of Crayford, in the County of Kent, Draughtsman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING DEVICES IN OR ON WOOD, LEATHER, AND OTHER SIMILAR
SURFACES, WHETHER FOR ORNAMENTING THE SAME OR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
PRINTING AND EMBOSSING SURFACES THEREPROM," to be as follows:-
My improved method consists in the employment of an apparatus holding
a tool made hot by gas (or otherwise) supplied to and round it, connected
by a flexible gas pipe worked and directed by hand over a wooden or other
suitable block to be ornamented, or from which the printing or embossing
surfaces are to be produced after the pattern has been sunk by the hot tool
in the block.
My apparatus for heating, holding, and directing the tool consists of an

page_text: upright holder, through which the fore finger is inserted, and from which the
rest of the apparatus is suspended in such manner that the tool may be
rotated or moved about it by the remaining fingers and thumb. At the bottom
of the apparatus the tool itself or the metal containing it is surrounded by
one or more gas rings, jets, or burners, supplied through a flexible tube.
The burners, like the holder, do not revolve. Between the burners and the
collar, connected to the apparatus just. below the holder, and on which the
fingers and thumb rest to work the tool, are guards, to keep the hand cool,
and certain contrivances for regulating the depth to which the tool may be
protruded into the block, and spring arrangements for retaining the tool in
its seat, whereby also it may be released from the apparatus, and changed
when required, according to the pattern to be produced on the block.
In some cases I modify my apparatus, by fitting it with a spring, to bring
up the tool after having been depressed into the block, and mount it upon
a rod, plate, or frame, free to be moved over a fixed block. This arrangement
will be found very advantageous, especially where a series of lines or shapes in
the same direction have to be produced.
In the foregoing description I have supposed gas to be the heating medium,
but should any other be applied, then such modifications must be made in
the heating part of the apparatus to fit it to the medium employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Whitehead in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
WHITEHEAD, of Crayford, in the County of Kent, Draughtsman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Francis Whitehead, Her special licence that I, the said Francis Whitehead,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others. as I, the said Francis
Whitehead, my 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
send, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING DEVICES IN OR ON WOOD, LEATHER, AND OTHER SIMILAR SURFACES,
WHETHER FOR ORNAMENTING THE SAME OR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PRINTING AND.
EMBOSSING SURFACES THERE FROM," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Francis Whitehead, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly 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 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 I, the said Francis Whitehead, do hereby declare!
the nature of my 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, reference being had to the Drawings annexed (that is to
say):
My improved method consists in the employment of an apparatus holding
a tool or tools made hot by gas (or otherwise) supplied to and round it, :
worked and directed by hand over a wooden or other suitable block to be
ornamented, or from which the printing or embossing surfaces are to be:
produced after the pattern has been sunk by the hot tool in the block.
My apparatus for heating, holding, and directing the tool consists of an
upright holder, through which the fore finger is inserted, and from which:
the rest of the apparatus is suspended in such manner that the tool may be'
rotated or moved about it by the remaining fingers and thumb. At the.
bottom of the apparatus the tool itself or the metal containing it is surrounded
by one or more gas rings, jets, or burners, supplied through a flexible tube..
The burners, like the holder, do not revolve. Between the burners and the
collar, connected to the apparatus just below the holder, and on which the
fingers and thumb rest to work the tool, are guards, to keep the hand cool,
and certain contrivances for regulating the depth to which the tool may be:
pressed into the block, and spring arrangements for retaining the tool in
its seat, whereby also it may be released from the apparatus, and changed
when required, according to the pattern to be produced on the block, mould,
or surface upon which it is made to operate.
In some cases I modify my apparatus, by fitting it with a spring, to bring
up the tool after having been depressed into or upon the block, and mount
it upon a rod, plate, frame, free to be moved over a fixed block. This
arrangement will be found very advantageous, especially where a series of
lines or shapes in the same direction have to be produced.

page_text: In the foregoing description I have supposed gas to be the heating medium;
but should any other be applied; then modifications must be made in the
heating part of the apparatus to fit it to the medium.omployed.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and carried into effect,
I proceed to describe it with reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed, in
which Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus, and Figure 2 à vertical.
section of the same. A is a hollow handle, covered with felt or other non-:
conducting material, in which handle the gas tube or pipe B is inserted; on:
this pipe a tap or cock C is fitted, for regulating the quantity of gas to be
used. The tap tube has.a screw formed on it, so that a flexible tube D may
be attached thereto; the other end of the flexible tube may be attached to any
convenient gas supply pipe. In the handle A the pipe B branches off into:
two parts a, a';, the part a enters through a slot 6 in the frame E, and is held
in proper position.by.a screw c; the other branch a' passes by the back of the
frame E, and is turned in and. fixed through the frame E by the screw c¹..
The ends of the two branch pipes, a and a¹ are thus brought to point in oppo-
site directions, and to the centre of the bit or tool F, and terminate at a short:
distance froin the tool, and are formed into burners d, d', through which the
gas flows. On the gas being lighted the flame impinges on the bit or tool F,
and thus keeps it.at.a proper temperature. The bit F is inserted in a hole.
formed in the end of the spindle G, and is secured in its place by a notched
catch e, which is placed in a groove formed in the spindle G, and is pulled:
by a spring coiled round the spindle G, and strained by being hung on
aping, inserted in it near the top; sufficient tension is always maintained:
on the spring, so as to keep the bit F in its place. When it is necessary to
change the bit for another of a different size or shape, the catch is withdrawn
from the notch h (formed in the bit) by means of the projection h', which
projects through a slot in the cylindrical casing H. This casing is inserted in
circular grooves at top and bottom; one of which is formed in a collar or
flange I, formed or fixed on the spindle G; the other is formed in a washer,
which is placed over the top end, and fixed by the nut i, screwed on the top of
the spindle, thus jamming and securely fixing the cylindrical casing H. Arms or
discs J, J, are attached to the casing, to the outer extremities of which another
large cylinder K, having a flange j at bottom, is fixed.
covered with felt, cloth, or other non-conductor of heat k.
spindle G a swivel piece. L is placed, which has a hole
passing the finger, through; this piece is secured on the spindle G by a
screw m in such a manner as to allow the spindle being turned round or
made to rotate by applying the fingers and. thumb to the felt casing K on
The cylinder is
On the top of the
formed in it for

page_text: cylinder K, while the swivel piece L is held stationary by the fore finger being
inserted through the hole 1. The spindle G is screw-threaded at n (below the
flange or collar I), and is screwed through a corresponding female screw in
the disc o, which has a recess formed in its under side to receive the tubular
head p of the frame E. A projection, ruff, or collar, is formed on the head p,
which is sunk flush in the recess, and secured in it by a ring q and screws r, r.
The ring 9 may either be put on in. halves or turned out of the solid metal of
the neck of the frame E. A small bolt s is placed parallel to the spindle G;-
and is kept in place by the keeper s¹; the lower end of this bolt is round, and'
passes downward through a hole formed in the collar I, and takes into one of
a series of holes t, t, formed in the disc o, a plan of which is seen in Figure 3.
The disc o (with its ring 9 and screws r, r,) is capable of turning or rotating.
on the head p, and is taken round with the spindle G by means of the end of
the bolt s being inserted in one of the series of holes t, as shewn. When it
is desired to regulate the depth that the bit or tool F shall penetrate-the-
substance operated upon, the bolt s is withdrawn from the holes t by-taking
hold of the parts", which is formed on the bolt, and at right angles to it, and
which projects through a slot s, formed in the cylindrical casing H. Sufficient
friction between the bolts and guide s to keep the bolt in any position is
produced by a spring u, fixed at its centre on the inner side of the bolt. Tho
two ends of the spring bear on the spindle G, against which they slide, and
press the bolt against the keeper s¹. When the bolt is withdrawn from the
holes t, t, the spindle G is turned round while the disc is held fast, thus with-
drawing or projecting the spindle G with the bit or tool F to the desired:
extent, when it is again secured by sliding the bolt into one of the holes t,
which is nearest its point.
: .
In Figure 4 I have shewn a modification of a spring catch for. securing,
the bits or tools F in the spindle. A groove is formed in the spindle G,.
in which groove the spring catch is inserted, being then fixed in its place
by a screw : A projection wis formed or fixed on the inside of the spring,
and passes through a hole x in the spindle. Opposite to this projection a hole
is formed in the cylindrical casing H, so as to allow of a pin or key being
inserted to push back the spring catch by pressing on the projection 2, thus
throwing the catch out of the notch of the bit and freeing it. I make use of
a guard or shield of brass, copper, iron, or other suitable material to protect
the eyes and hands of the workman while using the apparatus. In the
foregoing Figures the apparatus is shewn without the shield, so that the parts
may be seen, but the shield is represented by the dotted lines a¹, a².
In Figure 5 I have shewn, in vertical section, a modification of my appas

page_text: ratus, whereby. I am enabled to use more than one bit or tool in the same
apparatus. Two only are seen in the Drawing. a and a¹ are the two. branch
pipes, branching off, from the pipe B which is inserted in the handle A; C is
a tap fixed on the pipe B; to the tube part of this tap the flexible tube D
is attached. The pipe a is bent down and formed into a burner, as shewn,
so that its jet may play upon the outside of one of the bits or tools F or F';
the other branch pipe a has a regulating tap on it, and terminates in a
hollow ring a. This ring is fitted and ground on a conical block or
casting a, in which holes are formed, one for each spindle or bit to be
used. A hole is formed in the centre, in which a pipe b is inserted and
fixed. A hole or holes, shewn in dotted lines in Figure 6, which is
a plan view, is or are drilled in a horizontal direction from the exterior
of the block through the portions of metal 6", left between the holes
for inserting the spindles G, G', in and into the central tube or pipe b,
for the purpose of supplying it with gas from the tube a¹, which gas
flows into the hollow ring a", and along a groove. cut in the conical
block a, and through the holes in the same, and thence into the
central tube b, which passes down to a position opposite where the pipe and
burner a terminates. Holes or jets are formed in the side of the tube bat
the bottom, one for every bit or tool employed, so that while at work the bit
in use is impinged on by two jets, one from the burner a aud the other from
the side of the central tube b at c. The bits which are not in use in the
apparatus are played upon by jets from the central tube 6 upon their inner
side, as at c', which keep them near the required temperature, and always
ready for use when required. His the cylindrical casing, which is inserted in
a groove formed in the under side of the block a¹, and in another in the block,
disc, or ring. I, and is fixed between them by screwing or soldering. The
bollow ring a" is kept on the block a¹ by the annular cap being screwed
down on a portion of the block all, which is screw-threaded.
casting I has a groove cut in its periphery, and is clasped by a hinged or
jointed hoop I', shewn in plan in Figure 7, the tail I" of which hoop lies
parallel to the handle A, and is secured to it by the screws 61, 61. To lugs
on the under side of the block I, feet or guides c", c, are secured; these serve
to steady the apparatus, and to regulate the depth to which the bits are to
penetrate the substance acted on. Holes are formed in the block I to cor-
respond with those in the block a¹, and for the same purpose to allow the
spindle G, G¹, and gas tube b to pass down through them. The bits may be
secured in the spindles as those already described and shewn in Figures 2
and 4. Helical springs d, d', are placed round the spindles G, G', near their
The block or

page_text: tops, and abut against shoulders e, e¹, formed or fixed on them, and against the
bottom of the recess formed in the block a, in which they are placed: These
springs serve to draw out the bits from the material when they have penetrated
to the desired depth after the pressure of the hand has been removed.
The top ends of the spindles may be square, so as to fit the socket K' in the
handle K", which is made hollow, as shewn, so as to make it capable of
turning with the spindle and bit on which it is placed without being inter-
rupted by any of the others. A spring catch K keeps it on the spindle
sufficiently tight, and yet so that it might be easily drawn off when necessary.
A swivelling finger piece L' with hole L" through it for the finger is fixed on
the handle K", in a similar manner to that already described in reference to
Figures 1 and 2. To bring the spindle G¹ into the position of G, it is neces-
sary to make the blocks a, and I, and cylindrical casing H perform a semi-
revolution, by laying hold of the casing II with the right hand, while the whole
apparatus is held steady by the left, which grasps the handle A.
After being
turned round, so as to bring the spindle G¹ into the position of the spindle G,
the gas jet a on the outer side of the bit plays on it, along with one from the
'centre pipe b, which impinges against the inner; thus each bit is brought up
to the proper temperature as it is turned into the position of C.
The mode of operation with the apparatus, such as is represented in
Figures 1 and 2, is as follows:-The pattern having been previously drawn on
the material to be operated on, the latter may be fixed to a table or bench if
necessary. The handle A is laid hold of by the left hand, the fore finger of the
right is inserted through the hole in the swivel top L, while the thumb and
the remainder of the fingers grasps the felt covering k of the cylinder K; the
apparatus is lifted above the drawn pattern, and the bit or tool F is turned
into proper position by the thumb and fingers of the right hand, and, pro-
jecting below the frame E, is placed exactly on the part of the pattern which
it is necessary to burn out; it is then gently pressed into the material, until
the sole of the frame E (which serves both as a guard and gauge) touches
the material; the whole is then lifted up and placed down again on a new
portion to be indented by the tool, and this operation is repeated as often as is
necessary.
The action of the apparatus represented in Figure 5 is similar to that
already described, the difference being that the guide E of the apparatus is set
down on the pattern surface, and the operator then presses down the swivelling
piece L', the handle K", the spindle G, with its bit or tool F, which latter
penetrates the material until arrested by a suitable stop; the pressure of the
right hand is then removed, and the spring raises the spindle G and bit F, and

page_text: .the apparatus is then ready to be placed in a proper position to repeat the
.operation.
One of the applications of my apparatuses which I think desirable to point
out is their use in a pentograph instrument, when the device would be pro-
duced without any previous drawing or marking it out upon the block or
surface operated upon. One apparatus is employed without heat in place of
.the tracer, and a similarly constructed apparatus with heat applied is sub-
stituted for the pencil, an endless tape or other similar agent being used to
ensure simultaneous motions in both apparatuses. A lever or separate operator
may be necessary to depress the working of the apparatus substituted for the
pencil. If the apparatuses are connected on a parallel-frame, and if the tracer
apparatus be used without heat and be directed over the pattern to be copied,
then the pencil apparatus being used with heat will produce a device of the
same size as the pattern.
Another application, whereby curved and elongated lines may be produced,
consists in mounting one of my apparatuses upon a swinging arm or lever pro-
jecting from a fixed upright, and on which the apparatus is free to slide, the
,depression of the tool being effected by the rotation of an excentric bar or
other suitable depressing agent.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the method of pro-
ducing devices in or on wood, leather, and other similar surfaces by means of
apparatuses constructed and operating in the manner herein-before described,
and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Whitehead, have hereunto .set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-seven.
FRANCIS WHITEHEAD. (L.s.)