IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLID LEATHER BUTTONS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SOLITAIRES, HEADS FOR SCARF PINS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Finch and Luther Finch, both of Worcester, in
the County of Worcester, Button Manufacturers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLID LEATHER BUTTONS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SOLITAIRES, HEADS FOR SCARF
PINS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
aled the 14th January 1879, and dated the 22nd July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Finch and Luther
Finch at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1878.
THOMAS FINCH and LUTHER FINCH, both of Worcester, in the County of
Worcester, Button Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SOLID LEATHER BUTTONS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
SOLITAIRES, HEADS FOR SCARF PINS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
1
This Invention consists of improvements in the manufacture of those kinds of
buttons known as solid leather buttons, and which improvements are also applicable
to solitaires, heads for scarf pins, and other similar purposes, such as for bracelets or
small brooches.
Our Invention consists, firstly, in an arrangement to strengthen the shanks of
solid leather buttons to remedy the evil of the shanks becoming loose; to effect this
object I fix a metal plate or collar on the under side of the button; this plate or
collar is provided with a hole in the centre, through which the bow of the shank is
passed in the act of fixing the said collar upon the under side of the button; the
button is provided with a recess immediately round the shank, into which recess
the plate or collar is dropped or fitted, and firmly driven home, the leather being
turned over the edge of the plate or collar so as to prevent it getting loose, and thus
giving additional strength to the shank of the button.
Our improvements consists, secondly, in staining, colouring, French polishing, or
enamelling the tops or fronts of solid leather buttons by means of which these
buttons can be ornamented with any design, and made to inatch any color cloth or
any combination of colours, and made to imitate tortoise-shell or any other material
CD 017

page_text: used in the trade as circumstances may require, operation and materials used in the
staining, colouring, French polishing, or enamelling will be performed in the usual
or any suitable manner.
It is obvious that these improvements are equally applicable to the ornamenta-
tion of solitaires and heads of scarf pins, whereby these articles can be produced at
a very cheap rate, and they will be found at the same time to be extremely
durable.
For bracelets and brooches the same process is adopted only in these cases; no
shank is required or under plate as in the case of buttons.
In cases where the buttons are intended for upholstery purposes, such as carriage
seats and such like, work holes can be pierced through the top, and the buttons
sewn with any colour material as fancy may dictate or the nature of the work may
require.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Finch and Luther Finch in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st January 1879.
THOMAS FINCH and LUTHER FINCH, both of Worcester, in the County "of
Worcester, Button Manufacturers."IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SOLID LEATHER BUTTONS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
SOLITAIRES, HEADS FOR SCARF PINS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
This Invention consists in improvements in the manufacture of those kind of
buttons known as solid leather buttons, and which improvements are also partly
applicable to solitaires, heads for scarf pins, and other similar purposes, such as for
bracelets or small brooches.
Our Invention consists, firstly, in an arrangement to strengthen the shanks of
solid leather buttons, and is intended specially to remedy the evil of the said shanks
becoming loose and coming out. To effect this object we fix a metal plate or collar
on the under side of button, which metal plate or collar is provided with a slot or
hole in its centre, through which slot the bow of the shank is passed; in the act of
fixing the said collar or plate upon the under side of button the button being pro-
vided with a recess immediately round the shank into which recess the said plate
or collar is dropped or fitted, and firmly fitted into its place or driven home by
pressure employed in the construction of the said button.
Another feature in our Invention consists in substituting for the ordinary button
shank inetal prongs, either made of round wire or cut from sheet metal; these
prongs being secured to the head of the button in a similar manner to the ordinary
bow shank; we do not always fix these prongs or shanks in the centre of the head
of the button, as sometimes we prefer to fix two or more midway between the
centre of the button and its outer edge. We would have it understood that we do
not claim in this Invention any special right to use this form of attaching the

page_text: said buttons as a former invention of ours embodied this peculiar feature, but what
we claim as our Invention are the additions under the following heads, namely:-In
adopting this kind of shank or method of attaching buttons to coats, vests, boots,
shoes, or any kind of garment where a neck is required for buttoning purposes.
If preferred we add a inetal collar in combination with the said prongs, which inetal
collar is placed outside the said prongs or shanks, which prongs or shanks are put
through the centre of the said collar previous to and in the act of forcing the said
prongs or shanks through the material to which the said buttons are to be attached,
the several prongs or pins having been pierced through the material to the opposite
side are by means of a suitable machine or punch turned within the enclosure of the
said collar, and firmly driven down within the inner circle of the same; we do not
always use a loose collar, as sometimes we make the said collar a fixture to the head
of the button.
Thirdly. When the said solid leather buttons are for ornamental purposes we
sometimes fix the shanks or prongs midway between the centre of the under side of
the button and its outer edge, when this is the case the prongs, after being forced
through the material to which the buttons are to be attached, the points of the said
prongs are turned inwards towards the centre of the button, and made to lie in the
hole or recess in its centre.
_ Fourthly. When the said-solid leather buttons are intended for brace-buttons we
dispense with the foregoing shank, and insert instead thereof a metal bar across the
centre of the button to which the fastening is applied, or we may use holes instead
of the metal bar, as occasion may require.
Lastly. Our improvements consist in staining, coloring, printing, or enamelling
the tops of solid leather buttons, by which processes the said solid leather buttons
may be made to match any kind of cloth or any combination of color as circun-
stances may require, the operation of and materials used in the process above named
are performed in the usual or any suitable manner, and in some cases we forin the
top in the shape of a knot or other fancy device.
It is obvious that these improvements are equally applicable to the ornamenta-
tion of the solitaires and heads of scarf pins, whereby these articles can be produced
at a very cheap rate, and they will be found at the same time to be extremely
durable.
For bracelets and brooches the same process is adapted, only in these cases no
shanks is required, or under plate, as in the case of buttons.
In cases where the buttons are intended for upholstery purposes, such as carriage
seats and such like work, holes can be pierced through the top, and the buttons
sewn with any colour material as fancy may dictate or the nature of the work may
require.
And in order that our said Invention may be readily understood we will further
describe the same with reference to the annexed Drawings, wherein,
Fig. 1 represents a solid leather button in its original state prior to the application
or the metal collar or plate.
Fig. 2 shows the metal collar or plate.
Fig. 3 shows the button in its coinplete state.
Fig. 4 shows a button fitted with the prongs, which prongs are intended for the
shank of the said button.
A, A, shows a netal collar slipped over the prongs prior to its being attached to
the garments.
Fig. 5 shows one of the said prongs separate from the button.
Fig. 6 shows a button attached to a piece of cloth with the points of the said
prongs turned back within the circle of the inetal collar A, A.
Fig. 7 shows a solid leather button intended only for ornamental purposes.
B, B, shows the prongs attached to the under side of the button.
C shows hole or recess in the centre of the button intended for the reception
of the points of the shank after the button has been attached, as in Fig. 8.
Fig. 9 shows a section of a solid leather brace button in its first process.

page_text: .
Fig. 10 is a metal bar intended to be inserted in the head of the said button.
Fig. 11 shows the bar across the hole in the centre of the button.
Fig. 12 shows a section of the button when reduced to its proper shape.
Fig. 13 shows the said button complete.
Fig. 14 shows section through line A, B, in Fig. 15, of an upholstery, button with
a cord drawn through the centre of the tuft and down through the centre of the
button.
Fig. 15 shows a face view of the above button with worsted tuft in the centre;
and Fig. 16 shows a modification of the above button with the centre fitted in with
a different coloured leather button, as shewn, and which can be made or used with
or without the plate, and which fitted with a flexible or other suitable shank.
Having thus described the nature and object of our said Invention we declare
that what we claim and desire to be secured to us by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The novel arrangement and combination of parts for strengthening the
shanks of solid leather buttons, substantially as herein-before described, and shewn
on the Drawings.
Second. The arrangement of prongs in substitution for the ordinary button
shank, and the adaptation of this kind of shank to coats, vests, boots, shoes, or
other garments where a neck is required for buttoning purposes as herein-before
described.
Third. The manner of fixing the shanks or prongs of solid leather buttons when
required for ornamental purposes, as herein-before described.
Fourth. The manner of manufacturing solid leather buttons to be used for brace
buttons, substantially as herein-before described, and shewn on Drawings,
Figs. 9, 10, 11, & 12.
Fifth. The novel manufacture of solid leather buttons for upholstery purposes,
substantially as herein-before described and shewn on Drawings, Figs. 14, 15,
and 16.
Lastly. The ornamenting of solid leather buttons for the purposes herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the Thomas Finch, on behalf of myself and the said
Luther Finch, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day
of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-nine.
THOMAS FINCH. (L.S.)