ROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLID LEATHER BUTTONS WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO UPHOLSTERY AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Freeman Finch, Amethyst
Luther Finch and James Finch at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 19th April 1883.
.L
THOMAS FREEMAN FINCH, AMETHYST LUTHER FINCH and JAMES FINCH all of
Worcester in the County of Worcester Button Manufacturers IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLID LEATHER BUTTONS WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO UPHOLSTERY AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES"
The object of this invention is to effect improvements in the Manufacture of
Leather Buttons, or leather in combination with other substances such as leather
board paper, mill board &c with flexible loop shanks made of leather, tape, lamp-
wick or cord of any kind.
This Invention consists principally in substituting a flexible loop shank, of any
of the above named materials for the present inflexible metal shank of those
buttons known as solid leather buttons which buttons have been extensively used
for Gaiters and for general purposes, and by Upholsterers in particular
Our first feature in this Invention consists in adapting it to Gaiters and
Upholstry purposes as follows:-
We cut a leather disc or pellet with a hole in the Centre, and insert a loop
shank of any of the above mentioned materials which pellet or button is then
contracted and compressed round the said shank in such a manner as to render it
fast and secure and which button is then covered with a suitable substance which
we term composition covering, capable of receiving a leather like or any other
impression.
Our second feathure [sic] in this Invention consists in substituting leather board or
paper or any other suitable substance in place of leather as aforesaid for the head
of such button or disc.
Our third feature in this Invention consists in covering the said buttons with
leather, the object being to enlarge the buttons to any reasonable dimensions so as
to give space and capability for patterns and designs. In some cases we reverse
the position of the leather cover alone referred to, fixing the shank in the centre
of such cover instead of fixing it in the disc; in which case the edge of the Cover
is turned over upon the top edge of the disc sometimes we prefer to use metals for
the disc, inserted in the top of the button.

page_text: t
Our fourth feature in this Invention consists in stamping upon such leather
buttons an imitation of the well known knotted or plaited pattern from dies for
that purpose
Our fifth feature in this Invention consists in stamping the said buttons so as
to represent any kind of wood, bone, vegitable ivory, horn &c
Our sixth feature in this Invention consists in an arrangement for the production,
of a button with a metal prod or pin for driving purposes for which purpose we
use either solid leather board or any other suitable material for the heads of the
said buttons or pin. The method we adopt in the manufacture of this feature of
our Invention is as follows:-we take leather leather-board or any other suitable
material and cut a disc or pellet intended for the button or pin with a hole in its
centre, we then insert a pin or prod in the hole covering the top of the said button
or prod with a second pellet of either of the above named substances, firmly
cementing the same together
Another method which we adopt is to use metal for the under pellet and cover
the same with a solid Leather covering as before described turning the extreme
edge of the leather covering over the edge of the metal pellet which holds the prod
in position, and securing the leather covering by means of pressure, the button or
prod being colored or stained as the trade requires. In some cases we use solid
Leather only for the head of the button or prod.
Our seventh feature in this Invention consists in several methods of attaching
the buttons; the first of which is as follows; we cut a metal disc with a hole or
slot in its centre, which hole or slot being bevelled or countersunk sufficiently to
conceal or cause to lie flat the top of the shank which shank being drawn through
to hole or slot from the under side, and secured by means of any kind of cord,
metal, or any other of the materials herein mentioned
Another method we adopt is to use a metal bar shaped like an I at each end,
which bar is passed through the shank over the top of a recess provided for its
reception, and which pin or bar being then drawn down into the hole in the centre
of the plate, the ends of such pin or bar are contracted thereby and drawn into the
access provided in the plate.
Our eighth feature in our Invention is to secure the shank of the button by
means of a simple bar of metal reduced at its centre and flattened at the two ends,
the metal shank being secured by being pressed round the neck of the pin or bar
This feature is equally suitable for the ordinary manufacture of Leather Buttons
with metal shanks
Our ninth feature in this invention consists of a metal staple, which staple being
sharpened at the two points after being hooked on to the shank of a button, is
forced through the material on which the button rests, the points being turned
back into the material by means of tools for that purpose.