IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SASH LINES AND OTHER LINES, CORDS, AND ROPES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edwin Mewis, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Rope and Twine Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SASH LINES AND
OTHER LINES, CORDS, AND ROPES."
Scaled the 2nd April 1875, and dated the 10th October 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edwin Mewis
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th October 1874.
I, GEORGE EDWIN MEWIS, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Rope and Twine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SASH
LINES AND OTHER LINES, CORDS, AND ROPES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described
which are especially applicable to the manufacture of sash lines, but are
also applicable to other lines, cords, and ropes.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the manufacture of a sash
line: I take fine wires of iron, steel, copper, or other flexible metal or
alloy capable of bearing a great strain, and I twist four or other number

page_text: of the said wires into a strand, and I take three or other number of the
said strands, and by twisting them together form a cord. I employ this
metallic cord as a core or foundation on which I plait by means of the
ordinary plaiting machine a fibrous covering of twine, yarn, or spun
fibre. The line or cord thus formed may be sized with gelatine or
other size, or may be covered with a thin layer of gutta percha, or pro-
tected by other waterproofing composition. The sash line thus formed
has great strength and flexibility. It is very small in diameter compared
with its strength, will readily work over a small pulley, and may be tied
in a knot with nearly the same readiness as a hempen line.
Although my Invention is especially applicable to sash lines, yet it
may be advantageously employed in place of ordinary lines, cords, and
ropes, where a cord having great strength combined with small diameter
is required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Edwin Mewis in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd April 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
EDWIN MEWIS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Rope and
Twine Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year
of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Edwin Mewis, Her special
license that I, the said George Edwin Mewis, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Edwin Mewis,
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 vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SASH LINES AND OTHER LINES,
CORDS, AND ROPES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said George Edwin Mewis, 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 George Edwin Mewis, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described,
which said improvements are especially applicable to the manufacturo
of sash lines and railway communication cords, but are also applicablo
to the manufacture of other lines, cords, and ropes, as herein-after
mentioned.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the manufacture of a sash
line or railway communication cord:-I take fine wires of iron, steel,
copper, or other flexible metal or alloy capable of bearing a great strain.
Wires of soft steel, wrought iron, and copper I have found to answer
well in practice. I twist four or other number of the said wires into a
strand, and I take three or other number of the said strands and by
twisting them together form a cord. I employ this metallic cord as a
core or foundation on which I plait, by means of the ordinary plaiting
machine, a fibrous covering of twine, yarn, or spun fibre. The line or
cord thus formed may be sized with gelatine or other size, or may bo
covered with a thin layer of gutta percha or protected by other water-
proofing composition. A coating of boiled linseed oil or other drying
oil may be employed. The sash line or railway communication cord
thus formed has great strength and flexibility. It is very small in
diameter compared with its strength, will readily work over a small
pulley, and may be tied in a knot with nearly the same readiness as a
hempen cord.
I form the strands of fine wire in the ordinary way and by the
ordinary machinery, and I twist the said strands into a cord or line in
the ordinary way and by the ordinary machinery.

page_text: The plaiting machine by which I cover the wire, rope, or line with
twine or yarn or spun hemp is the ordinary plaiting machine commonly
used for plaiting.
As the machinery I employ constitutes no part of my Invention I do
not think it necessary to describe the same.
Athough my Invention is especially applicable to sash lines and
railway communication cords yet it may be advantageously employed in
place of ordinary lines, cords, and ropes, where a cord having great
strength and of small diameter is required.
Ropes and cords made according to my Invention are especially
applicable for all kinds of hauling or lifting purposes.
.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood, that I
claim as my Invention, the improvements in the manufacture of sash
lines and other lines, cords, and ropes, herein-before described, that is to
say, manufacturing sash lines, railway communication cords, and other
lines, cords, and ropes by twisting fine wires of iron, steel, copper, or
other flexible metal or alloy, capable of bearing a great strain, into
strands, twisting the said strands into cords, and covering the said cords
by the plaiting process with a covering of twine, yarn, or spun fibre;
and when required, sizeing the said cord thus formed with gelatine or
other size, or coating it with a waterproofing material.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edwin Mewis, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- |
five
Witness,
ISABELLA WEAVER,
Birmingham.
GEORGE EDWIN MEWIS. (L.S.)