IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STONEWARE BOTTLES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Fullarton Murray at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
June 1862.
I, WILLIAM FULLARTON MURRAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,.
North Britain, Potter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STONEWARE BOTTLES, AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of forming the internal part
of the necks of stoneware bottles, by means of which exact uniformity of size
and form of the internal diameter of the neck of each bottle is obtained, as
well as a superior hold of the cork, which is a matter of great importance in
the bottling and preservation of certain liquors.
Stoneware bottles are coming extensively into use for bottling ale intended
for the export trade. According to the ordinary mode of forming the mouths
of these bottles they are irregular in size and form, and are frequently of a
conical figure, which does not exert a good hold on the cork, and is liable to
allow of the admission of air arising from the partial loosening of the cork in
the shaking or ordinary usage to which the bottle is subjected in transit.
According to the improved system or mode of manufacture, the material of
which the bottle is composed is formed with an inwardly projecting part a
short distance below the mouth. This projection forms a smooth swell or
bulge which facilitates the driving of the cork into the bottle, and grips it at

page_text: the central part in such manner as to effectually exclude air;.at the same
time the expansion of the cork below the projecting part of the neck prevents
the cork from becoming loose or being driven out by accident or the expan-
sion of the fluids. The certainty of producing bottles of a uniform size and
shape in the neck will enable bottlers to dispense with keeping an assortment
of various sized corks, as well as save them both time and trouble.
Under one modification or system of arrangement the upper part of the
neck is formed by means of a peculiar construction of tool which imparts the
desired shape to the interior of the neck. This tool consists of two small
cheek plates of metal jointed together towards the lower part somewhat in
the manner of a pair of pliers. The outer edges of the plates at the parts
near and below the joint are curved or shaped so that when these edges are
pressed in contact with the plastic clay, it will be caused to take the desired
figure. The upper part of the cheek plates are flattened out so as to form
thumb and finger plates, and a couple of blade springs are interposed between
the plates, so that when not otherwise acted upon, the operating edges are
kept closed and overlapping each other. This tool is suspended by a central
stem to an overhanging. lever arranged within convenient reach of the potter.
A counterweight is hung to the other end of the lever, or a spring may be
applied so as to take the tool out of the way when not required. The bottle
is formed in the usual way on the wheel, and at the last part of the operation
when the neck is to be finished the potter brings the tool down, and inserts the
lower part of it into the partly formed neck; the potter then presses the upper
ends of the cheek plates together, which causes the templates or moulding
edges to expand and give the necessary form to the neck. Upon the potter
releasing his hold the lower parts of the tool contract, and it is then easily
drawn out from the neck. The bottle is then fired and glazed in the ordinary
way, which completes the manufacture.