Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 31st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec., 1888
1, THOMAS SMITH of 16 Commercial Road, Southampton, Carver and Gilder, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This instrument is especially designed for cutting cardboard amounts, glass for picture
frames and templates for making the frames by, all of oval shape; it may however
also be used for merely marking or setting out oval designs. It can also be used for
marking or cutting circles.
σ
The instrument proper may be formed of a bar of wood brass or other suitable
material preferably graduated and upon this slide the two sleeves which carry the two
trammel pins, which can turn in the sleeves and while the instrument is in use engage
with the grooves in the trammel plate the latter being preferably separate from the
instrument for convenience but the two could be movably connected if desired. By
sliding the sleeves along the graduated bar and then fixing them by set screws provided
for the purpose the lengths of the two axes of the oval can be determined without
special measurement.
The bar may be made of any convenient length and may be in lengths or telescopic
if required and at one end which I will call the head has the tool carriage &c. which
if used for glass is fitted with a diamond cutter if for cutting cardboard with a knife,
or if for marking only, with a pencil or point. For cutting an ordinary mount I find
it best to form the swivelling tool carriage so as to hold a straight knife at the same
angle as the bevil of the mount when cut; I provide however for altering the angle of
the knife according to the work to be done. I also prefer to have a thumb piece or
handle to push the tool by. In use the trammel plate is secured in any convenient
manner (as by pins, cement or suction) to the piece to be cut out, the trammel pins are
placed in their grooves and while the instrument is held in place with one hand at the
centre of motion it may be pushed round with the other hand the depth of cut being
regulated by the extent to which the point or cutting edge of the knife passes beyond
the face of the guard plate or foot upon which the tool is supported as it is moved.
If a bevilled edge be not required the knife is carried in a plane perpendicular to the
surface of the material to be cut.

page_text: For cutting glass I not only use a tool carriage swivelling in what would usually be
a horizontal plane but I also provide for play in a vertical plane so that the plate which
rests upon the surface of the glass, may accomodate itself to variations of inclination
or irregularities of surface, without which accomodation the glass might he broken.
I also provide for regulated spring pressure upon the cutter and may also have a knob
or handle for moving the instrument by...
I, THOMAS SMITH of 16 ('ommercial Road, Southampton Carver and Gilder, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
This instrument is especially designed for cutting cardboard mounts, glass for
picture frames and templates for making the frames by, all of oval shape; it may how-
ever also be used for merely marking or setting out oval designs. It can also be used
for marking or cutting circles.
The instrument proper may be formed of a bar of wood brass or other suitable
material, preferably graduated and upon this slide the two sleeves which carry the two
trammel pins, which can turn in the sleeves, and while the instrument is in use,
engage with the grooves in the trammel plate the latter being preferably separate from
the instrument for convenience but the two could be movably connected if desired.
By sliding the sleeves along the graduated bar and then fixing them by set screws
provided for the purpose, the lengths of the two axes of the oval can be determined
without special measurement.
-
The bar may be made of any convenient length and may be in lengths or telescopic
if required and at one end which I will call the head has the tool carriage &c., which
if used for glass is fitted with a diamond cutter, if for cutting cardboard, with a knife,
or if for marking only, with a pencil or point. For-cutting an ordinary mount I find
it best to form the swivelling tool carriage so as to hold a straight knife at the same angle
as the bevel of the mount when cut; I provide however for altering the angle of the
knife according to the work to be done. I also prefer to have a thumb piece or handle
to push the tool by. In use the trammel plate is secured in any convenient manner
(as by pins, cement or suction) to the piece to be cut out, the trammel pins are placed

page_text: in their grooves and while the instrument is held in place with one hand at the centre
of motion it may be pushed round with the other hand the depth of cut being regu-
lated by the extent to which the point or cutting edge of the knife passes beyond the
face of the guard plate or foot upon which the tool is supported as it is moved.
If a bevelled edge be not required the knife is carried in a plane perpendicular to the
surface of the material to be cut.
For cutting glass I not only use a tool carriage swivelling in what would usually
be a horizontal plane but I also provide for play in a vertical plane so that the plate
which rests upon the surface of the glass may accomodate itself to variations of
inclinations or irregularities of surface without which accomodation the glass might be
broken. I also provide for regulated spring pressure upon the cutter and may also
have a knob or handle for moving the instrument by.
In the accompanying drawings figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a front elevation, a
plan and a rear elevation of the instrument arranged as a cardboard or similar mount
cutter and fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same arranged for cutting glass; figs. 5
and 6 are sections of the knife-holder detached from its carriage showing the said knife
in different positions; figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a front elevation, a side elevation,
and a plan of the carriage; figs. 10 and 11 are respectively an elevation and a plan of
a glass-cutter holder and carriage detached from the trammel-bar and figs. 12 and 13
are views illustrative of one manner of lengthening the trammel bar; fig. 14 is a front
elevation of one of the sleeves detached from the trammel-bar and fig. 15 is a section
of the same on the line a-b of fig. 14; figs. 16 and 17 are elevations of one of the
trammel-pins and figs. 18 and 19 are views of a spring employed in connection with
the same figs. 20 and 21 are respectively an elevation and a plan of the marking
arrangement fig. 22 is a diagram hereinafter more particularly referred to. Like
letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the trammel-bar which is preferably formed of metal tubing as shown and whose
length may be a fixed measurement or it may be adjustable either telescopically or
otherwise, suitable means for such elongation as an example being illustrated in
figs. 12 and 13 in which A' is a short tube or plug secured to one part of the trammel-
bar for securing the end of the said part to the end of the part next to it into which it
fits as shown in fig. 12 the two said parts being afterwards locked together by a spring
catch or screw or the equivalent thereof. A and A³ are scale markings (the former
for the minor and the latter for the major axis) on the bar A for enabling the instru-
ment to be set for cutting any desired oval or (it may be as hereinafter shown) circular
mount or figure. A fig. 2 is a groove formed preferably in the upper part of the
bar A. B and B are the two sleeves which are longitudinally adjustable upon
the bar A and which may in any desired position be temporarily secured thereon by
the thumb-screws B2 the points of which by engaging with the before-mentioned
groove A prevent the sleeves from turning on the said bar. B3 are pointers formed
in openings B in the sleeves B and B for enabling the positions of the said sleeves to
be readily adjusted for varying the working of the instrument. B is a metal wire or
rod rigidly secured at one end in the sleeve B and capable of sliding easily. through a
hole formed in the sleeve B when the binding screw B is slackened, and which,
when the said screw B is screwed tightly on to it serves to secure together the
two sleeves B and B at any desired distance apart. Care the two trammel pins
capable of revolving in the sleeves B B and each of which as shown clearly at
figs. 16 and 17 is shouldered down so as, at its lower end to form a flat projection (
and is also preferably formed with a groove 02. 03 are springs each of which is
secured to one of the sleeves B B in such manner that its free end passing through an
opening B engages with the before-mentioned groove (and thus prevents any
accidental displacement of the trammel pins C. Dis the trammel-plate which as will
be seen by the drawing fig. 2 may be of well-known construction and D are the
grooves D2 are the pegs or points by which the trammel plate D is secured upon
the cardboard or other material to be cut and 13 are arms which may, by the pins D
fitting into recesses in the plate D as shown clearly in fig. 2 be applied when the size
of the said plate is formed inadequate to the size of the figure to be cut.

page_text: .
A is a bracket plate secured to one end of the bar A for supporting the
'carriage E which for the purpose is provided with the socket E' and binding
screw E, for securing it on such bracket. As will be seen more clearly
in fig. 8 the lower part of the carriage E constitutes the guard plate E³ which
when the instrument is being used slides over the service of the material say the
cardboard (fig. 1) being cut and limits the depth of the cut, to the distance the
point of the knife projects below it. At the front part the guard plate E3 is bent upwards
to form the thumb piece E' by means of which pressure may be applied for forcing
the knife onward. At its upper part the carriage is provided with the plate 15
upon which is pivotied the cover E and which is further provided with the
hole E' fig. 9 for receiving the pivot pin F2 of the tool or knife holder the lower
end of which is pivotted on the footstep pin E secured in the guard plate E³.
The form of knife holder shown in figs. 5 and 6 consists essentially of two parts the
frame or case F and the wedge shaped fixing block F which is pivotted at 13 within
the said case F. This case at it lower side is provided with the hole or socket F4 fig. 5
which fits over the pin Es figs. 7 and 8 and by means of it and the pin F² is pivotted in
the carriage so that it is free to swing or play in a horizontal plane after the manner
of a caster wheel in the frame carriage E as indicated in dotted lines in fig. 2. The
case and block F¹ are drilled and screw-threaded to receive respectively the screw F³
and two screws F by means of which the knife G may be securely held at any desired
angle within the range of the apparatus. It will be seen more clearly by reference to
figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings that the arrangement of the tool holder
is such that the knife may be held tightest at the bottom of the holder so that there
can be but little if any yielding of the knife which is grasped at the point G¹ between
the block F and case E. In fig. 5 the knife is shown held in an inclined position
and in fig. 6 in a vertical position the former position of which as will be obvious by
the employment of the screws F5 and Fe and as indicated in dotted lines can be varied
according to the inclination of the mount or the like it is desired to cut.
The position on the trammel bar of the scale marking A² is determined by the
distance measured in a direction parallel with the axis of the bar A which exists
between the axes of the trammel pin C of the sleeve B and that of the pivot F2 E8
when the said sleeve abuts against the bracket plate A³, and that of the scale A³ is
determined by a corresponding measurement when the sleeve B¹ abuts against the
other one when they both occupy such a position that, they can be moved no nearer to
the carriage E. This will perhaps be better understood when it is explained as an
example in reference to fig. 2 that when the sleeve B is closest to the carriage E the
axis of the pin (thereof is seven-eighths of an inch from the axis of the pivot F E
so that the scale A' commences at that measurement. With the sleeve B in the same
position and the sleeve B abutting close against it the distance between the axes of the
pivot F E and of the pin C of the said sleeve B' being an inch and an eighth the
Scale A commences at the part then indicated by its pointer B3 at that measurement
so that by an instrument so constructed the smallest oval which can be cut is one having
a minor axis of an inch and three quarters and a major axis of two inches and a
quarter. These minimum measurements are however by no means arbitrary as by
modifying the construction or dimension of parts an instrument for cutting smaller
ovals can easily be made.
It is to be observed that in order to ensure the knife G properly adjusting its position
to the direction of the cut it is necessary that it shall be so carried in the holder E F¹
that the pressure against its effective or cutting edge will practically be as great above
as below the point of intersection of an imaginary horizontal line drawn through
the middle of the board to be cut parallel with its surfaces with an imaginary line x-y
figs. 1 and 22. which as shown, in fig. 1 corresponds with the plane in which is included
the axial line of the knife-holder's pivot F E thus in fig. 22 the distance from J⭑to K-
must be equal to the distance from K to L-M N representing the imaginary
horizontal line through the material Y.
When it is desired to ent say a card-board oval mount of 6 inches by 8 inches by
the instrument herein before described the sleeves B B are adjusted to and.fixed by

page_text: the screws B² in the respective positions corresponding to the two axes of the oval
that is to say the pointer of the sleeve B is set at 3 inches on the scale A for the
minor axis and the pointer of the sleeve B' is set at 4 inches on the scale A³ for the
major axis. The trammel plate is then secured on the cardboard and the flattened
projections C of the trainmel pins ( are inserted in the grooves D' and the instrument
is then moved round, the knife meanwhile cutting the cardboard.
"
When being thus operated the holder F F by reason of the before-mentioned
adjustment of the knife G relatively to the line y, will be constantly changing its
position by swinging on its pivot F E so that at all times the cutting edge of the
knife G bears the proper relation to the curve to be cut and thus ensures the cutting
of a mount or the like without any of the defects with which the operation would, be
attended were the knife not so properly directed and caused to drag at parts of the
cut. After one such mount has been cut should it be desired to cut another of larger
dimensions say for example one 7 inches by 9 inches all that is necessary is to tighten
the screw Bs upon the rod B' slacken the screws B2 slide the then-united sleeves B B¹
farther from the tool carriage E and again secure by the screws B² in such desired
position that the pointer of the sleeve B is at 3 and a half inches of the scale A² and
that of the sleeve B at 4 and a half inches of the scale A³. The mount cut by
the instrument so adjusted will be specially adapted for laying over the mount
previously cut for the purpose of making what may be termed a stepped" mount.
Should it be desired in place of an oval mount to cut a circular mount all that is
necessary is to remove one of the pins Cout of range of the trammel plate D and secure
the sleeve carrying the other pin where desired upon the trammel bar. The instrument
so adjusted may then be used as before, care being taken to prevent the trammel pin C
in use from moving in its groove as in this application the retentive support furnished
by the second trainmel pin when ovals are being cut is withdrawn and must be
replaced by other support such as that which can be provided by hand or otherwise
or a special plate having a slot of sufficient size only to admit the projection (1
without allowing it any travel might be used; or, if desired a special trammel pin
having two flattened projections such as (crossing each other at right angles may be
employed in place of one of the before-mentioned pins C the pin so constructed
being used at the point of intersection of the grooves D' would not be likely to shift
its position.
When instead of cutting cardboard for mounts it is desired to cut glass or the like
I substitute for the knife carriage the arrangement shown in figs. 10 and 11 and
for the trammel plate before-described another specially suited to the purpose so
that the instrument then assumes the appearance illustrated in fig. 4.
In the said arrangement shown in figs. 10 and 11, the carriage E instead of being
formed in part with the socket E¹ as in the cardboard cutter is pivotted to it by
centre pins H which provide for the guard plate adjusting itself to inequalities
in the glass over which it is moved. His a knob or handle which is free to rotate in
the arm secured to the socket E' and by means of which the glass cutter may be
pushed over the glass. H² is a clamping jaw fitted with the screw H³ by means of
which an ordinary glazier's diamond such as is marked H in figs. 4 and 10 may be
clamped in such position that the diamond projects through the opening H³, and below
the under surface of the guard plate E³. F2 fig. 10 is the vertical pivot of the
carriage, which is secured to the clamp H2 and the lower end of which is free to turn
in a hole H formed in the guard plate E³ its upper end which terminates in a centre
point being engaged by the lower or inverted-cup-shaped end of the socket H. H' is
a spring to one end of which the socket He is secured and whose opposite end is
fastened to the top part of the carriage as shown. He is another spring fixed at one
end above the fixed end of the spring H' upon whose free end the opposite end of the
said spring H³ bears with a degree of pressure which is adjustable by the screw HP.
The clamp His provided with a tail piece H10 (fig. 10) which is drilled so as to
engage with a pin or stud E' provided on the guard plate E³ when the said clamp is
in its central position.

page_text: The trammel plate D which I employ when cutting glass may be secured to the said
glass by cement or other suitable means such for example as the means represented in
fig. 4 where india-rubber or equivalent suction cups 10 are secured to the underside.
of the trammel plate D or arms 123 (fig. 2). By pressing these cups downwards.
on to the glass the traminel plate D becomes secured thereon with sufficient suction
to enable the cutting instrument to work upon it as its fixed centre of motion without
risk of moving.
When it is desired to cut say from the glass Z (fig. 4) an oval-shaped piece by this
apparatus the necessary preliminary adjustments are effected in the same manner as
that herein before described in reference to the mount cutting operation, and the
trammel plate having preferably by the suckers D' been secured to the surface of the
glass the instrument is placed in position on the trammel plate and with the diamond
(which is held by the tail-piece H0 in its central position) resting on the glass. If
now the knob His grasped in say the right hand (the other hand resting on the
bar A above the centre of motion) and by it the carriage is pressed in a downward
direction the pin E formerly engaging it is disengaged from the tail piece H10 so that
the clamp with the cutter contained in it is capable of moving upon its, pivot and the
diamond consequently will adjust itself after the manner of a caster wheel and
similarly to the before-mentioned knife G to the direction of the cut at the same time
the diamond is held down upon the glass by the springs H and H and will
conséquently bear with a practically constant degree of pressure upon the glass
throughout the operation notwithstanding any unevenness in the surface of the said
glass. The guard plate E³ will similarly adjust itself on its pivots H to inequalities in
the surface over which it may be moved.
For cutting a circular piece of glass. only one of the trammel pins C is employed
in the same manner as that herein described for cutting a circular piece of card-
board.
A tail-
In the marking attachment which I have represented in figs. 20 and 21 a drawing
or mathematical pen 1 is employed as the marking medium. This pen is secured to
the plate which is fixed to the pivot F2 the lower end of which is supported in the
bracket E and the other .centre-pointed end is engaged by the socket H6.
piece H¹ and pin E are provided in a similar manner and for a like purpose to those
parts shown in Fig. 10. The other parts of this attachment as indicated by the
reference letters being of similar construction to parts hereinbefore described no
further description thereof is deemed necessary. The action of this attachment is
practically the same as that of the glass cutting attachment the marking point being
held down upon the material being marked with an elastic pressure, and in such
manner that it is capable of swinging or playing in a horizontal plane as indicated in
dotted lines in fig. 21.
It is to be observed that by the employment of flattened trammel pins such as C
there can be no risk of them moving out of the grooves D' at the point of intersection
in the manner often experienced when pins of circular section are used and further
that by the springs C3 bearing frictionally upon the said trammel pins the position of
the flattened ends C relatively to cach other is not likely to be disturbed when the
instrument is removed from the trammel plate and consequently no difficulty will be
experienced when replacing the instrument on the said plate.
It will of course he obvious although in the descriptions of operation herein,
contained it is explained that the instrument is moved around while the material
being cut and trammel plate are stationary that with equally satisfactory results
the said material and trammel plate may be inoved around and the instrument held
stationary.
I desire it to be understood that although I have herein described and in the
accompanying drawings have illustrated a particular manner of carrying my invention
into practice I do not confine myself to the particular construction disclosed as
many of the individual parts of such construction are capable of being varied in.
many ways without departing from the essential features of the invention, for.

page_text: example I could obviously with considerable advantage instead of an ordinary
glazier's diamond and apparatus such as is shown in figs. 10 and 11 employ a
glass cutter constructed in the manner described and illustrated in my complete
specification No. 156648.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a glass or mount cutter or marker the combination with a trammel bar of a
knife, cutter or marker so carried that it can swing or play in a horizontal plane
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a glass or mount cutter or marker the combination with a trammel bar and
grooved trammel plate of two flat ended trammel pins such as C each capable of
turning substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. In a glass or mount cutter or marker the combination with a trammel bar
of a knife holder such as F F' pivotted so as to be capable of swinging in a
horizontal plane and holding the knife either vertically or inclinedly substantially
as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. In a glass or mount cutter or marker the mounting of the cutter or marker in
such a manner as to obtain the above described "caster" action.
5. In a glass or mount cutter or marker the combination with a trammel bar of a
carriage such as E in which is pivotted a glazier's diamond in such manner that
besides bearing upon the glass with an elastic pressure it is also capable of adjusting
its relative position to the surface of the glass and direction of the cut being made
substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
6. In a glass or mount cutter or marker a drawing pen or other marking point
so connected to a trammel bar as to be capable of swinging in a horizontal plane
independently of the trammel bar substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
7. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the complete
cardboard cutting or marking instrument substantially as herein described and
illustrated in figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings,
8. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the complete
glass cutting or marking instrument substantially as herein described and illustrated
in figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
1000