CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MEASURES OF CAPACITY
Year: 1819

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CARTER, of Grove Place, Paddington, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His late most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Ninth day of
December, in the sixtieth year of His reign, give and grant unto me., the
said William Carter, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, His especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William Carter,
my exors, adiñors, and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term
of years therein mentioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MEASURES OF CAPACITY; " in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that if. I, the said William.
Carter, shall not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in
His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then the said
Letters Patent, and all liberties and privileges thereby granted, shall utterly
cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same, relation being
thereunto may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Carter, do hereby declare that my Invention and improvement
consists in making measures of capacity of cast iron, and then covering the

page_text: whole surface, both inside and outside, with tin, either pure or mixed with any
of the metals that are now commonly used, or that may be properly applied
with tin to cover or coat cast iron to preserve it from oxydation, and which
by workmen is called "tinning.".
By using cast iron as the principal material in the manufacture of measures
of capacity, I effectually prevent the great temptation that has so long
existed for stealing publicans' measures, whereby great losses are sustained
by that class of persons, and crimes increased to a most alarming, and serious
extent. It is a well-known fact that depredations of this kind always take
place in consequence of the intrinsic value of the metal of which publicans'
measures are constructed; but as the metal I make use of is of very trifling
value when compared with pewter, there can be no doubt that the temptation
will on that account be largely diminished or nearly frustrated.
Another very important advantage that results from the use of cast iron is
the certainty of having measures that will retain their perfect shape; for as
this metal is not liable to be bruised, whatever shape is given to it in the
first instance will be retained as long as the measure remains whole. I shall
also observe, that in the case of large measures cast iron will be found greatly
superior to the materials now used, namely, wood braced with bars or straps
of iron, cast iron being much less liable to variation than any kind of wood,
however carefully prepared. And I hereby further declare, that measures
made of cast iron may be cast either in metal moulds (in which case the
handles may be cast as the same time and in one entire piece), or they may
be cast in sand or loam, at the option of the founder.. But I prefer casting
the body of the measure in sand, after which it may be annealed in the
usual way, and then turned in a lathe to prepare the surface to receive
the coating of tin or any of the usual mixtures of metals that are applied or
may be used to prevent the oxydation of the iron. Handles of various shapes
soldering or rivetting after
may be fixed upon any convenient part, either by a
the turning is effected; but when the method of casting in metal moulds is
practised then the handles will be cast with the body of the measure; and
as this method gives such a peculiar hardness to the iron, turning in the
lathe would be impracticable, therefore, in such cases, the best mode of
preparing the surface to receive the coating of tin will be by the operation
of pickling or scouring, which scouring may be accomplished either by making
the measure revolve in a lathe, or by making the emery bob or grinder turn,
whichever is most convenient to the operator.
Another great advantage will be found by making the measures of capacity
with cast iron, namely, the great degree of heat they will bear without injury,

page_text: it being a well-known fact that great quantities of publicans' pewter measures
are destroyed by setting them on the fire in order to heat the beer or other
liquids contained in them; but as cast iron is not liable to be so injured, it will
be found greatly preferable.
And I hereby further declare, that cast-iron measures may be made of
any convenient shape or form at the option of the manufacturer; and they
may likewise have handles of any shape or kind fixed either by soldering
or rivetting at any part of the body that may be considered most convenient,
and in some cases may be made without handles.
And I hereby further declare, that my Invention does not consist in any new
treatment of the metals herein-before named.
My Invention consists in using these metals in the way and manner I have
described for the purpose of making more perfect measures of capacity than
were ever before known or made use of; for although measures of capacity
have been made of sheet or wrought iron, and tinned to prevent oxydation, yet
none were ever made of cast iron tinned both inside and outside, by which
means a more certain and durable measure of capacity will be made than can
be effected by any other means at present known.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Carter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twenty.