IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS & APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING THE HANDLES OF TABLE KNIVES AND SIMILAR AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Webster, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the
County of York, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS &
APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING THE HANDLES OF TABLE KNIVES AND SIMILAR
AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 28th June 1878, and dated the 24th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Webster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April 1878.
WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS & APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING THE HANDLES OF
TABLE KNIVES AND SIMILAR AND OTHER ARTICLES."
"
This Invention relates to means and appliances for fastening the handles of table
cutlery and similar and other articles.
As hitherto manufactured, the bolsters of table cutlery and other similar articles
have been solid with the blades, and the tangs have been, amongst other forms,
round, and screwed into the handles, and the handles have been liable to turn
round on, and become detached from, the said tangs.
This Invention consists in the employment of a bolster made in one or more,
parts, and so fixed or fitted to the said tang and blade as to prevent the same from
becoming loose.
In carrying into effect the principles of my Invention, the following method can
be adopted, namely, part of the bolster can be forged on or formed with the blade.
and tang, and part of the bolster will be loose, in the form of a collar or ferrule, the
tang will be round, and will have at its extremity a screw or threads, and the
handle will be made to receive it as now ordinarily done.
The end of the handle next to the bolster, can be prepared to receive the loose
collar or ferrule, and in fixing the handle on the tang, the loose collar or ferrule.
will be first fixed on the bandle, and the tang will then be screwed into the

page_text: handle, until the loose collar or ferrule comes in contact with the bolster on the
blade, and the collar and bolster will then be soldered or brazed together, by which
means the tang, handle, loose collar, and bolster will be firmly secured together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th July
1878.
WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS & APPLIANCES FOR FASTENING THE HANDLES
OF TABLE KNIVES AND SIMILAR AND OTHER ARTICLES."
This Invention consists in making, fitting, and fixing the blade and handle of a
table knife, table fork, and other similar article, in the following manner, that is to
sayThe combined blade and tang is formed with a part only of the bolster (com-
monly so called) instead of with the whole of the bolster as now ordinarily made,
and the tang is screwed or chased. The loose part of the bolster is so made, as
that the exterior will have the appearance of a part of an ordinary bolster, but the
interior will be hollow, to allow the tang to pass through it, and will further be so
formed as to fit tightly on to the end of the handle, and the interior of the loose
part of the bolster; and the exterior of the handle being of a form other than
circular, the handle will not turn round in the said loose part of the bolster. The
handle is bored and screwed to admit the screwed or chased tang, and is (or is not,
as preferred) recessed or set down to enter the loose part of the bolster, so as to
bring the exterior of the end of the handle (where joined to the bolster) and the
bolster on a level.
In fitting and fixing together the blade, loose part of the bolster, and handle, the
end of the handle is inserted into the loose part of the bolster, and the tang (with
the blade attached) is screwed into the handle, until the loose part of the bolster is
in contact with that part of the bolster which is formed on the blade (or on the
blade and tang combined); the parts of the bolster are then soldered, brazed, or
otherwise secured together.
So far as my knowledge extends at the present time, I prefer to solder together
the loose parts of the bolster, because it is a simple and inexpensive process, and
one by which I can obtain practically an invisible joint, but I claim to carry into
effect the principles of my Invention, by securing together the loose parts of the
bolster, by any other well-known method of attaining the like end.
By the means and appliances above specified, the handle is prevented from
turning round on the tang, which is the defect in table cutlery of ordinary con-
struction.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 shows a plan of a complete table
knife; Fig. 2 shows an end view of the loose part of the bolster, looking from the
blade towards the handle; Fig. 3 shows an end view of the same, looking from the
handle towards the blade; Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the same;

page_text: Fig. 5 is a plan of the same complete table knife partly in section, showing the
loose part of the bolster, the part of the said bolster formed on and with the tang,
the screwed or chased tang, and the end of the handle inserted in the loose part of
the bolster.
Figs. 1 to 5 show a complete table knife with a large part of the bolster loose,
and a small part thereof combined with the blade and tang.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a complete table knife with only a small part of the bolster
loose, and a large part thereof combined with the blade and tang. The bolster
(commonly so called) as a whole, may be of any desired form on its exterior
surface.
A blade bolster and screwed tang combined, as now ordinarily made, may have a
handle fitted to it, according to the principles of my Invention, as shown in Figs. 6
and 7; in this case the "loose part of the bolster" herein-before described would
be an addition to the bolster (commonly so called). Instead of the end of the
handle being set down as recessed, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, the handle can be left
full size to the end, and so be inserted in the bolster, in which case the bolster
would project above the handle, instead of being level with it at the joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and specified in what manner the same is to be or can be performed, I
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, "Improvements in the Means and Appliances for Fastening the Handles of
Table Knives and similar and other Articles," substantially as herein-before specified
and described, and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Webster, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM WEBSTER. (L.S.)