IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF BOXES FOR MATCHES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GEEVES, of Battle Bridge, in the County of Middlesex, Saw Mill Proprietor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the First day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the thirteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Geeves, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William Geeves, my exors,
adiiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Geeves, my exors,
adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF BOXES FOR MATCHES AND OTHER PURPOSES;"" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said. William Geeves, should
cause a particular description of 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, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance_with_the_said proviso, I, the said
William Geeves, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon.
that is to say:-
My Invention consists of a mode of manufacturing boxes for matches,
which consist of channels or recesses each capable of receiving one match.
Secondly, my Invention consists of a mode of making scaleboard boxes for
matches and other purposes.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of a mode of manufacturing boxes having
rabbits for receiving the lids, and also rabbits for fixing the bottoms, or for
either where the other is not required.
Fourthly, my Invention consists of a mode of cutting out circular discs of
scale board for the bottoms and tops of cylindrical boxes, and also in com-
bining two or more thicknesses of wood, reversing the direction of the grain so
as to prevent or for the most part prevent warping.
Fifthly, my Invention consists of improved means of making boxes by
employing expanding and contracting mandrils for forming or shaping the
materials for several boxes at the same time, and employing like mandrils for
holding the materials when cutting the same into suitable lengths for the
bodies or covers of boxes.
Sixthly, my Invention consists of apparatus for cutting cylinders, or it may
be other forms of transverse section on suitable mandrils into lengths for
making parts of boxes.
Seventhly, my Invention consists of apparatus for making cylindrical boxes,
and for applying ends thereto. And,
Eighthly, my Invention consists of improvements in making wood boxes by
a peculiar arrangement of saw cuts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a portion of a considerable length of wood, with a series of
saw cuts therein on either side, which is to be covered with paper, woven
fabric, or suitable material, by pasting or otherwise cementing the same
thereon, so that there will be an even surface produced on either surface
covering the saw cuts or channels, at the same time leaving them hollow
so that when the length of material is cut up into short pieces, each of a
length suitable for receiving a match, such short lengths will form the interior
of boxes for receiving matches, each match being kept separate from its

page_text: neighbour, and it is intended in carrying out this part of my Invention to
place such interiors into cases such as is shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 4, some-
what similar to card cases. Thus, in Figure 2, a case is formed having a
portion cut out on either side, to facilitate the drawing out of the interior
portion, made with channels as before explained. Figures 3 and 4 shew two
views of a case with a lid; in this instance the interior would not be drawn
out, but have the ends of the matches come above the channels; but in
Figure 2 the upper end would be closed with paper or other covering, so as
to require the interior to be drawn out in order to get at the matches. I
would remark, in respect to this part of my Invention, that I am aware that
somewhat similar boxes for matches, that is boxes the interiors of which have
been composed of separate channels, have before been made, and I mention
this circumstance in order more clearly to point out the nature and extent of
this part of my Invention, which consists, as before explained, of producing
considerable lengths of wood with saw cuts or channels, then covering the
surfaces thereof with paper, woven fabric, or suitable material, and then
cutting the same into lengths, by which large quantities may be produced at
very small cost; and although I have explained two arrangements of cases
for completing match boxes, when such a combination is used for the interior,
I do not confine myself to such cases so long as the means of manufacturing
the interior parts consisting of inclosed channels be retained.
Figure 5 shews part of a length of scaleboard made suitably for carrying
out the second part of my Invention. Scaleboard, as is well known, consists of
a thin sheet of wood having paper pasted or cemented on one side, or, in
place of paper, woven fabric or other suitable material may be used. In
making scaleboard boxes according to this part of my Invention, I cause the
paper or material cemented on to the wood to protrude beyond the edge or
edges of the wood, so that when the scale board is divided transversely into
suitable lengths, as is shewn at Figures 5 and 6; a, a, being the thin wood
and b, b, the paper or other material which overlaps the wood at b, b', as
shewn; by which arrangement, when the same is rolled on to a suitable
maudril, one of the projecting ends will be on the interior and the other
overlapping end will be on the exterior, so that the joint or end of the wood
at the outside will be overlapped by the paper or other material, which will
materially aid in making good joints: this will be fully understood when
I have described other parts of my Invention. Figure 7 shews a plan and
Figure 8 a vertical section of a box such as would be produced by such in-
provements. Figure 9 shews a plan of a scale board made as explained in
reference to the preceding Figures, that is, with the paper or material pro-

page_text: truding beyond the wood, but in this case the cutting is-so-arranged-trans-
versely that the body of the box will be made with an internal rabbet for
receiving the bottom, and also when desired an external rabbet for receiving
the lid or cover. Figure 10 shows one portion cut off the scale board suitable
for making the body of a box, and Figuré 11 shows a vertical section and a
plan of a box constructed according to this part of my Invention, the part
c to d being cut out, so that when the materials are rolled around a mandril,
commencing with the end d, the part from c to d will form the interior,
against which the bottom will come, and the part from c to e will form the
exterior end of the box, and the bottom will pass within the part c, e. The
rabbit at the exterior of the box will be produced by reason of the cutting
away of the part from f to g, and the lid or cover will fit on the upper part
of the box produced by means of the part from g to h, the lid or cover being
made with its interior diameter suitable to fit the exterior diameter of the upper
part of a box, whilst the exterior diameter of the lid or cover will be of the
same diameter as the lower part of the body of the box, and such lids will be
made of like materials, and in a similar manner to that in which the body
of the box is made, and as hereafter described, but such lid or cover will not
require to have rabbits except where it receives the circular top. I would
remark in respect to this part of my Invention, that although I have spoken
of scale board being used for its construction, other material may be use in
place thereof.
I will now describe the means I employ for cutting out discs of scaleboard
for the bottoms and covers of boxes; but I would first state, that in cases such
as when making wood boxes for night lights, where the bottoms, if single, are
liable to warp, I cause two thicknesses of thin wood (either before or after
working them into scaleboard by pasting or cementing paper or other material
thereon) to be cemented together with paste or other suitable cement, the
grain being caused to run in opposite directions, in order that the tendency
of each may counteract the other from warping. Figure 12 is a side view,
and Figure 13 a plan of a machine employed by me in cutting out discs of
scale board (double or single) for the bottoms and tops of boxes. This
machine, I would remark, is somewhat similar to a machine formerly described
in the Specification of a Patent granted to me for cutting cork, and it only
differs therefrom in order to modify such machine to render it suitable for
carrying out this part of my Invention. i is a hollow spindle having a fast
and loose pulley thereon for receiving a driving strap. The hollow spindle
turns in bearings j, j. The cutting end is sharp and serrated. k is a sliding
ram moved by the handle up towards the cutter of the spindle. Between

page_text: the end of the ram and the cutter there is a channel into which a number
of square pieces of scaleboard m are to be introduced, and which being.
forced up towards the cutter will be successively cut and pass through the
spindle i.
I will now describe the fifth part of my Invention. Figure 14 shows
a longitudinal view and two end views of a mandril, made so as to expand and
contract, the exterior of the mandril being made of two parts with suitable
grooves therein to receive a tapering key n, which being forced in will separate
the two halves of the mandril, and on being withdrawn the mandril will
contract and facilitate the removal of the cylinder which has been made and dried
thereon. In this manner may very considerable lengths of cylinders be made;
or it might be of an eliptical or oblong transverse section, and the mandril
might be composed of more than two parts, and the instrument for expanding
and contracting the same be varied; but having a suitable mandril made, the
workman will proceed to cover its surface when in its contracted state with
scale board or other suitable material, using the scaleboard by preference,
prepared as described under the previous part of my Invention (that is,
having the paper or material projecting beyond the edges or ends); and, having
applied paste to the surface thereof beyond that part which comes next the
mandril, he will roll the same around the mandril, and in place of taking the
same off to dry he will then cause the mandril to be expanded by forcing in
the tapering interior portion, and then leave the materials to dry, when he
will remove the same and place it on to another mandril, Figure 15, which
shows various views thereof and parts separately, which in this case has a
taper or conical expanding mandril of metal on the interior, the exterior of
the mandril being formed of two parts which go together with pins, as shewn,
and the ends of the interior part o are made suitable or to fit at one end o¹ in
a conical mandril of a lathe, and the other end o has a recess to receive the
point of the back centre of the lathe.
dry cylinder on to the mandril, the
in the interior when the mandril is to
Figure 16, which is a plan, and Figure 17, which is a front elevation, &
Figure 17, a transverse section. p is the spindle with a fast and loose
pulley for the driving strap, the end of the spindle being made of a conical
form to receive the conical hollow end of the expanding mandril, and the back
centre of the lathe slides in its bearings, and it is moved to and fro by the
crank lever q, the moving up of the back centre forcing the mandril on to the
conical end of the spindle, which will, by its friction holding, drive round
quickly, and then the workman will force up the slide r, which is provided
The workman having placed the
same is to be expanded by forcing
be placed into the lathe shown at

page_text: with several sharp-pointed knives s, s, at intervals apart suitable for cutting
the cylinder into numerous portions, and the retiring of the back centre will
immediately release the mandril and allow of its being replaced by another;
and the mandril taken out on being contracted will allow of the several parts
of the cylinder being drawn off readily. I prefer the parts of the mandril to
be made as shown and described, but the same may be varied, so long as it
will readily contract and expand and allow of its being readily introduced into
and taken from a suitable lathe or apparatus for giving motion thereto. It
will be evident that in place of the mandril being cylindrical it may be of
other form, provided suitable motion be given thereto or to the cutters so
as to retain the cutters correctly in a manner as only to penetrate through the
matter to be cut.
I will now proceed to describe the seventh part of my Invention. Figure
18 shows a front view, Figure 19 a plan, and Figures 20 and 21 two trans-
verse sections of machinery for carrying out this part of my Invention, which
consists of two cylinders --, on to one of which the scaleboard or other
material is to be wound, the other roller acting as a pressing roller; and the
apparatus is so arranged that an end or bottom can be introduced and held in
position during the time of making part of a box on the roller which acts as
a mandril. a is a rod or shaft which slides to and fro in bearings b; b; upon
one end of this shaft is fixed the ram or plunger c, upon the inner end of
which is a small point upon which the bottom of the box is placed, by which
means it is brought forward to the roller d, upon which the material is wound
to form the box. e is a rod or shaft working in bearings at f, f, having fast
and loose pulleys affixed thereon. Upon one end of the shaft e is a roller
which serves as a mandril to form the box upon. Beneath this roller e is
another roller g, which is driven by the elastic band h and acts as a presser
upon the roller g, and causes the material to wind closely and evenly around
the roller e as it is fed in between them from the table i. This table is
furnished with a guide piece j in order to ensure the material of which the
box is composed to be fed in true or parallel with the roller e; after the mate-
rial has been wound around the roller e, the outer case or tube e' is drawn
forward by means of the bar and fork k moving in guides I, 1, so as to remove
the box now formed from the roller c.
I will now describe the eighth part of my Invention. Figure 22 is a plan
of the saw bench, and Figure 23 is a section of the axis and saws for pro-
ducing the desired cuts; Figure 24 shows part of a long length of wood which
has been passed under the action of the saw bench Figures 22 and 23; and
this length of wood is to be cut into shorter lengths, as marked, and there is to

page_text: be a rabbet cut at either edge of such piece, as shewn at t, v, in Figure 25,
which represents one of the pieces cut off, having its rabbetted edges and
grooves where the folding takes place to form the angles, and the angles will
be formed by the ends butting together, which forms the peculiarity of this
part of my Invention; for I would remark, that I am aware that it has before
been proposed to make boxes of wood by cutting V-formed grooves in the
wood where the angles are to be formed, so as to form what are called mitre
joints at the angles, whereas by making each groove or saw cut as wide at
bottom as at the top the ends will butt together, and thus make a better joint.
Figure 26 shows one of the pieces of wood so cut, folded on three sides, the
fourth side being partly folded, and the other two sides are put into the rabbits
formed at either edge, or it might be in grooves in place of the rabbits,
the fourth side, which is shewn to be partly folded, forming the lid or cover to
the box.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would remark that, although I have been particular
in describing and showing the exact details of the means pursued by mo
in carrying out each part of my Invention, I do not confine myself thereto, so
long as the peculiar character of any part of my Invention be retained; but
what I claim is,-
First, the mode of manufacturing boxes for matches by cutting numerous
grooves in considerable lengths of wood, covering the same and then cutting
off lengths, as herein explained.
Secondly, I claim the mode of making scaleboard boxes for matches and
other articles by causing the paper or material to extend beyond the edge or
edges, as herein described.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of manufacturing boxes for matches and other
articles of scaleboard or other material with rabbets at one or both ends.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of cutting out circular discs for the ends
of boxes for matches and other articles, and also the making the ends of such
boxes with two or more thicknesses of wood with the grain in different
directions.
Fifthly, I claim the use of expanding and contracting mandrils, as herein
explained.
Sixthly, I claim the mode herein described of cutting long cylinders, or it
may be other forms, into lengths suitable for making boxes for matches and
other articles.
Seventhly, I claim the mode of making cylindrical boxes and applying ends
thereto. And,

page_text: Eighthly, I claim the mode of forming wood boxes by saw cuts, as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Geeves, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the First day of February, in
the
year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid William Geeves came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the First day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.