Year: 1888

page_text: ALFRED ALEXANDER ASHBY, Theatre Royal, Haymarket. London, W. in the
management of above Theatre, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
(a.) In this form the brush is loaded with lead at the bottom which is globular,
so that in whatsoever position it is placed it will always right itself and return to a
perpendicular position."
At the neck, where the hairs are inserted, there is a ring which slides up, constricts
the hairs, and the top being drawn out of the hollow column, and reversed, a neat
and compendious article for travelling is the result.
(b.) This form of brush is intended to combine the advantages of a shaving brush
and soap stick in one article. At the top is the brush fitting on a hollow column. In
the column is the circular stick of soap which is pushed up and kept in its place from
time to time, either by a circular spring in the bottom of the column, or more simply
by a round disc at the bottom of the soap stick, which may be pushed up by the
finger, and thus adjust the soap for use as required. Both these brushes may be made
in Steel or other metal nickel plated or electro plated, or in bone, ivory, wood, papier
maché, or any other material. I also reserve all rights of using these articles for all
purposes of advertisement.
Dated this Thirteenth day of March 1888.
ALFRED ALEXANDER ASHBY.

page_text: Shaving Brushes.
I, ALFRED ALEXANDER ASHBY, of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, in the
County of Middlesex, in the Management of the aforesaid Theatre, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement :-
My improvement relates to the construction of the handle of a shaving brush, and it
has for its object counterbalancing the landle in such a manner that in whatever
position the brush is placed or laid down, it will right itself and remain in a perpen-
dicular position.
I attain this end by forming the base of the handle of the brush spherical or
globular, either with, or without, a flat cut thereon in a plane at right angles to the
longitudinal axis of the brush, forming a truncated sphere or globe, and by fixing in
the interior of the said spherical or globular part of the handle, a weight of lead or
other heavy substance.
Since filing my Provisional Specification I find that the other parts of my invention
either have been used prior to the date of my application, or are of no practical value,
and I therefore abandon them.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly describe
it making reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figures 1. and 2. are
views in sectional clovation illustrating some methods of carrying my invention into
practical effect. Throughout both views similar parts are marked with like letters
of reference.
Referring to Figure 1. which illustrates my invention as I prefer to carry it out
when the handles of the brushes are made of metal. The handle is made in two
parts A and A. The hairs of the brush are cemented or otherwise fixed into the top
part A. in the ordinary manner. The bottom part A¹ is made of a spherical or
globular, or approximately spherical or globular form as illustrated, and may either
have a flat a cut or formed on the bottom; or end side thereof, so as to form a seat
for the brush to rest on in a vertical position, or it may be left spherical or globular as
shown by dotted lines. In the interior of the part A¹ of the handle is fixed or formed
a counterbalance weight B. formed of lead or other heavy material. In order to fix
this weight in position, the part A. of the handle is extended below its junction with
the part A', to bear on and confine the said weight as illustrated. The two parts A
and A of the handle are spun or soldered together in the manner well known.
Instead of extending the part A. as illustrated, false pieces may be inserted in the
upper curve of the part A to confine the weight, or tho part A¹ may be so shaped
that the weight may be moulded or formed within the said piece.
Referring to Figure 2, which illustrates one method of carrying out my invention
when the handles of the brushes are made of bone, ivory, or analogous material.
In this case the two parts A and A' are preferably adapted to screw the one into
the other, as illustrated, or in any other convenient manner, and the weight B. may

page_text: be either moulded or formed within the part A' as shown, or it may be placed therein
and fixed by an extension of the part A, or by false pieces as hereinbefore described.
It will be seen that by constructing the handles of shaving brushes in the manner
bereinabove described the brush will not become top-heavy when charged with lather,
and by reason of the shape of the base of the handle and of the weight therein,
the brush will always assume a vertical position when laid or placed down, or when
knocked over accidentally as so often happens.
I am aware that counterbalance weights have already been used in combination
with various articles for the purpose of keeping them in a certain position, and I
therefore do not broadly claim such an arrangement, but having now particularly
described, and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. A handle for a shaving brush, shaped and weighted so that under all conditions
the brush will assume a vertical position as set forth.
2nd. The use in the handle of a shaving brush, of a counterbalance weight,
specifically as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a shaving brush, fortning the base of the handle in the form of a truncated
sphere or globe, and adapting it to receive and enclose a weight, as and for the
purpose set forth.
4th. In a shaving brush the handle of which is shaped and weighted to ensure the
brush always assuming a vertical position, fixing the counterbalance weight within
the base of the handle, as hereinabove described and' shown.
5th. In a shaving brush, the combination of the hollow handle having its base in
the form of a truncated sphere or globe, and of a weight enclosed and held within the
said truncated spherical or globular base, substantially as illustrated, and for the
purpose described.
r 1888.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.