IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS AND IN WHEEL PADS FOR POLISHING KNIVES, FORKS, AND SPOONS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Forrest Walters, of 7, Queen's Road, Bayswater,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS AND IN WHEEL PADS FOR POLISHING KNIVES,
FORKS, AND SPOONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Forrest Walters at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th November 1881.
JOHN FORREST WALTERS, of 7, Queen's Road, Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS AND IN
WHEEL PADS FOr Polishing Knives, Forks, and SPOONS."
•
The object of this Invention is a special combination or arrangement of
appliances forming a machine for polishing knives and forks, also a special
arrangement of pad as part thereof particularly suitable for polishing spoons.
According to my Invention I mount a couple of axles out of the vertical parallel
line, and affix a pinion on each to be geared into by one main toothed wheel
capable of being rotated by a winch handle thereon. Tho axles are carried by a
casing in which a slot is formed on each side, the upper and the lower parts being
cylindrical. The portions between the ends of the casing are occupied by coarse
hair brushes and by flat leather rings, and also by a series of leather washers and
felt washers of different diameters, the latter being arranged on one of the axles in
convex, and on the other in concave order, with uneven surfaces and with an
amount of yielding action at the edges to enable the bowls of spoons which they
are intended to polish to be acted upon. The two axles revolve in the same
direction and at the same or at different speeds according to the distance the axles
are placed from the axis of the main driver wheel. The coarse hair portions are
intended for removing the cleansing paste or powder from forks, and to polish
them, and the flat leather ring portions which are made slightly flexible by rings
of felt to polish knives, the convex and concave portions being intended for
polishing spoons. In the case of silver and other metal forks, and also of spoons,
they can be put into the machine at one side and be withdrawn from the other,
whereby the handles will also be polished.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Forrest Walters in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th May 1882.
JOHN FORREST WALTERS, of 7, Queen's Road, Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS AND IN
WHEEL. PADS FOR POLISHING KNIVES, FORKS, AND SPOONS."
The object of this Invention is an arrangement of appliances forming a machine
for polishing knives and forks, also an arrangement of pad as part thereof,
particularly suitable for polishing spoons.
According to my Invention I mount a couple of axles out of the vertical parallel
line and aflix a pinion on each, to be geared into by one main toothed wheel
capable of being rotated by a winch handle thereon. The axles are carried by a
casing in which a slot is formed on each side, the upper and the lower parts being
cylindrical. The portions between the ends of the casing are occupied by coarse
hair brushes and by flat leather rings, and also by a series of leather washers and
felt washers of different diameters, the latter being arranged on one of the axles in
convex, and on the other in concavo order with uneven surfaces and with an
amount of yielding action at the edges to enable the bowls of spoons which they
are intended to polish to be acted upon. The two axles revolve in the same
direction, and at the same or at different speeds according to the distance the axles
are placed from the axis of the main driver wheel. The coarse hair portions are
intended for removing the cleansing pasto or powder from forks and to polish
them, and the flat leather ring portions which are made slightly flexible by rings
of felt to polish knives. The convex and concave portions being intended for
polishing spoons. In the case of silver and other metal forks, and also of spoons,
they can be put into the machine at one side and be withdrawn from the other,
whereby the handles will also be polished.
My Invention is clearly represented on Sheets 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings,
in which Figures 1 and 2 show two sets of wheel brushes A, A, two sets of leather
or felt pads B, B, and two wool or other soft rubbers C, C, on the axles D, D.
The outside leather or felt pads B, B, are mounted loosely upon the axles and are
kept in contact with the inner pads by springs E, E, to keep the side surfaces in
contact. Both of these sets may be so arranged for the more effectually acting
upon a knife blade with an amount of yielding to adjust themselves to both the
edge and to the back or thicker part of the blade. One of these leather or felt
covered wheel pads is shown separately at Figure 3, F being the side leather or
felt surfaces which may be used as above explained; or the blade may be passed
into and between the meeting edges, both sets being caused to rotate in the same
direction by the pinions G, G, gearing into the driver wheel H which is rotated by
turning the handle I.
The frame work J, on which the main wheel H is mounted, also carries a
casing K provided with a hinged cover L, apertures being provided in them for tho
insertion or the passage of the article to be polished.
Figure 4 shows a wheel pad with varying diameters of leather or felt washers
or discs which may be used instead of the wheel brushes A, A, for polishing forks
which can be pushed in between them, or if the forks have metal handles they
n.ay be pushed through from one side to the other or through from the top.
The wool coverd discs C, C, are intended for polishing spoons, one being
convex to polish the inside of the bowl and the concave for polishing the outside
of the bowl.

page_text: I have shown the frame provided with a thumb screw M, to enable the apparatus
to be temporarilly attached to a table.
It will be understood that my apparatus is not intended to clean knives, forks,
or spoons, but to remove the cleansing powder or paste therefrom and to polish
them only.
In Sheet 1 I have shown wheel pads and brushes in sets, but I intend to arrango
the frame that either can be fitted singly, as is shown on Sheet 2, Figures 5 and 6,
on which I show a bristle or brush wheel A and a leather pad wheel B on the
same axle D, the cover being slotted at N for passing the blade of a knife up to the
hilt, so that the whole of the blade one side at the time can be polished, the point
passing out of the mouth Q, which also serves as a guide. The cover L mny
however be formed with an opening N, Figure 7, so that the knife P can be put
into the machine, as shown at Figures 8, and be drawn to and fro as desired until
sufficiently polished. In these views (7 and 8) I have shown frictional gearing,
but in Figures 9 and 10 I have shown a band R as the means of driving the axle D
from the main wheel H. The frame of the machine in these views carries the
spoon polisher; but these may be arranged in pairs on the same axle, if desired,
one disc to polish the inside of the bowl and one to polish the outside.
I am aware that wheel brushes and pads have been used for cleaning and for
polishing knives, forks, and spoons, but in most cases the wheels or discs have run
in emery or other powder contained in the casing; but there are many incon-
veniences attending their use, notably from dust flying about from agitation while
the wheels revolve, it being impossible to shut the article within the casing as to
prevent the dust escaping. Another disadvantage is, such machines are massivo
and very costly. The brushes or the pads have also to be "set" so firmly in
contact to effect the cleaning that the use of emery powder combined with the
excessive rubbing action grinds the tarnish off instead of gently rubbing the article,
such as can be effected in my machine to produce the polish.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Forrest Walters, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TATTIT HARD RAM
JOHN FORREST WALTERS.
EST WALTERS. (LS)