CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BOBBIN NET LACE
Year: 1832

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALCOCK, of the Parish of Claines, in the County of Worcester, Lace Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I did by petition humbly represent unto His present most
Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, that I had invented "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BOBBIN NET LACE,"
His said Majesty, being willing to encourage useful Inventions, was graciously
pleased to issue certain Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great
Britain, which said Letters Patent do conclude with the words, "Witness
Ourself, at Our Palace at Westminster, this Eighth day of December, in the
.third year of Our reign," and by the said Letters Patent His said Majesty
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Alcock His especial license, sole priviledge and authority, that I,
the said Thomas Alcock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I or they should at any time agree with (and no others), from time
to time and at all times during the term of fourteen years from the date
of the said Letters Patent, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend my said Invention within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad:
And whereas the said Letters Patent, which conclude as aforesaid with the:
words "Witness Ourself, at Our Palace at Westminster, this Eighth day of
December, in the third year of our reign," do contain a provisó, that I; the
said Thomas Alcock, shall cause a particular description of the nature of:
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
A

page_text: enrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as
in and by the same (reference being thereunto had) will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Alcock, do hereby declare that my said Invention is particularly
described and ascertained by the following description thereof, that is to
say:-
My Improvements consist in combining together, in the manner herein-
after set forth, various parts of certain machinery for manufacturing bobbin
net lace, commonly called fluted bar machinery and traverse warp machinery,
the combination being for the purpose of manufacturing what are commonly
called breadths of bobbin net lace, that is, narrow ribbands of such lace with
firm selvedges for their borders, several such breadths being woven at once,
side by side, in the same machine, and the adjacent edges of the several
breadths being joined together during their formation by means of whipping
threads, which unite all the breadths into one tissue as wide as the machinery
will contain, but which whipping threads can be drawn out when the net
is finished so as to seperate the breadths. Fluted bar machinery as hitherto
constructed has been incapable of manufacturing such breadths, but has been
exclusively used for manufacturing wide pieces of bobbin net lace; and
traverse warp machinery, which is peculiarly adapted for manufacturing
breadths, is slow in its operation compared with the operation of fluted bar
machinery. By my said improvements, of combining the suitable parts of both
those kinds of machinery together (in the manner herein-after described),
breadths of bobbin net lace may be manufactured with great dispatch on the
traverse warp system with single tier bobbins and carriages moved backward
and forwards in short circular combs by two fluted bars, all the requisite
movements being derived in the usual manner of fluted bar machinery,
from the uniform and continuous rotative motion of one handle or axis.
Fluted bar machinery is so called because the bobbins and carriages are
moved alternately backwards and forwards in their circular combs by
means of revolving fluted rollers, the flutes whereof interlock into suitable
teeth formed at the lower parts of the carriages, in the same manner as
a toothed wheel is moved by a pinion. Fluted bar machinery as hitherto
constructed has always been of the kind called double tier and traverse
bobbin, that is to say, the bobbins and carriages are passed between the warp
threads in two divisions, one after another, and the bobbin threads are made to.
traverse the width of the net obliquely from selvedge to selvedge in opposite

page_text: directions: A Patent for such fluted bar machinery was granted by King
George the Fourth to William Henson and William Jackson, dated the 11th
of January 1825, and such machinery has since been brought into considerable
use for manufacturing wide pieces of bobbin net lace. Traverse warp machi-
nery is so called because those threads which are warped on a short roller or
spool for use in the machinery are caused by the operation of certain parts
thereof to traverse across the width of each breadth of net in an oblique or
diagonal direction from selvedge to selvedge and then to return with contrary
obliquities, and by crossing one over another those threads make the tops and
bottoms of the hexagonal meshes of the lace or net. Traverse warp machinery
was invented by Mr. John Brown, who had a Patent for the same in 1811, and
such machinery has since been brought into extensive use by him and by others
for making breadths of bobbin net lace; but of late years such traverse warp
machinery has been nearly superseded by quicker working machinery of the
traverse bobbin kind. The aforesaid different kinds of machinery for manu-
facturing bobbin net lace being commonly known, the mention herein-after made
of various parts appertaining to such machinery will be readily understood by
experienced and competent makers of bobbin net lace machinery and manu-
facturers of bobbin net lace.
My said improvements consist in combining (in the manner herein-after
described) the parts called spools and forks and dividers in Mr. Brown's
traverse warp machinery with the parts called bobbins and carriages, combs
and fluted bars, in fluted bar machinery; the said bobbin's, carriages, an
combs being of a single tier gage (instead of double tier gage, as heretofore),
the carriages being larger, and having more teeth at their under sides than
usual, and only two fluted rollers being used instead of four, as heretofore, and
the projecting tangs of the combs (which are held in the leads) being near t
one end of each comb (instead of near the middle of the length of each comb,
as heretofore), the circular part of the combs being also shorter; wherefore,
the combs being cast in leads, and those leads being fastened to the comb bar,
the short ends of the combs will project only a little way over the edge of the
bar towards the warp threads, whilst the long ends of the combs project out-
wards therefrom, as usual, and beneath those long ends a common fluted bar
s applied outside of the comb bar, in the usual manner; but there is no fluted.
par inside the comb bars, as usual, next to the warp threads, wherefore the
comb bar is placed nearer to the warp threads, and the short ends of the
combs project less out of their leads towards those threads by as much
as the space which the said innermost flated bar usually occupies between the
warp threads and the inside of the comb bar. The aforesaid forks and dividers

page_text: are placed beneath the back comb. bar, nearly in the place where the guide
bars and slea and warp roller are usually situated in common fluted bar
machines, and the spools. which supply the, traverse warp threads for each
breadth are situated below the forks, quite at, the lower parts of the machinery.
The whipping threads for lacing. the several breadths together are supplied
from a small roller suspended beneath the front comb bar, and the said threads
are conducted through the eyes of suitable guides carried by a small whipping
thread guide bar, which is applied at the inside of the front comb bar, and
which is shogged with suitable motions for interweaving the whipping threads
alternately into the adjacent edges of every two adjoining breadths; and I
also apply along with the aforesaid parts of traverse warp and fluted bar
machinery certain other parts, called holding points and lifting points, and extra
thicknesses on the tops of the alternate carriages, which parts, and their mode of
operation in conjunction with the forks and dividers of traverse warp ma-
-chinery are fully described in my former Specification, dated the Thirty-first
day of May last, and which was enrolled in the Office of the Rolls Chapel
yesterday, the Fifth day of this present month, in compliance with the proviso
of certain other Letters Patent, which were granted to me by His present
Majesty on the same day as the Letters Patent herein-before recited. The
said holding points and lifting points are applied in the spaces between the
comb bars and the warp threads, with their pointed extremities between the
warp threads beneath the inner ends of the short combs, and as near thereto
as they can be placed, to keep clear of the teeth of the carriages when the
same pass and repass between the warp threads from the back combs to the
front, and vice versa. The leads and bar for the holding points being next to
the inside of the back comb bar, and the leads and bar for the lifting points
being next to the inside of the front comb bar; the said holding points
retain and guide the warp threads at their proper distances asunder, and
impart the requisite racking motions to those threads. The said lifting points
move up and down, in order when they get down to penetrate beneath the
crossings of the warp threads which are made by the forks and dividers, and
then in going up again the said lifting points lift or carry those crossings
upwards to the holding points, and then the latter withdraw from between the
-crossed warp threads so as to permit the said crossings to run higher up,
after which the holding points re-enter between the threads as before in order
to guide them and give them suitable racking motions, whilst the lifting points
descend again to fetch up other succeeding crosses which are made by the
forks and dividers. The aforesaid extra thicknesses on the tops of the alter-
nate carriages in passing between the crossed warp threads widen those

page_text: alternate spaces between the crossed warp threads into which the ordinary:
taking-up points are to be inserted, whilst the said extra thicknesses keep the:
said spaces so widened, in order by such widening to facilitate the insertion of
the points and enable them to take up the crossings. The taking-up point.
bars are to be suspended in crank bars, back and front, as usual in those fluted
bar machines which take up all the twist with suitable conducting plates at the-
end of each point bar, to guide the points when they are penetrating amongst::
the threads, and rack them as much as is requisite for taking up all the twist...
The lace roller and the wheelwork for turning it round is to be as usual in
fluted bar machines, also the spurs to keep the edges of the net extended;">
the aforesaid parts being provided with all the .usual appurtenances to each.
part, and being suitably modified and adjusted as may be requisite for the
performance of their respective offices in the combination. The whole is to be.
actuated with suitable motions derived from the continuous rotative motion of,
one handle or axis, which may be turned either by the person who attends the
machine or by mechanical power, nearly in the same manner as commonly.
practised in fluted bar machinery.
And for the more complete explanation of my said improvements I have
hereunto annexed four Sheets of Drawings, representing all the aforesaid!
parts suitably combined according to my improvements.
Sheet I. is a section of some of the principal parts which operate immediately
on the threads, drawn full size. Sheet II. contains a like section, drawn one-
fourth of the real size. Sheet III. an end elevation, and Sheet IV. a front.
elevation of the machine. The same letters and figures of reference are used
to denote the same parts in all the different Figures. The fixed framing and.
stationary parts are distingished by a tint of Indian ink. The carcase or frame-
work consists of two upright end standards C, C, united by a horizontal top bar
at top and by four horizontal side rails at bottom, with two strong horizontal sole-
bars beneath the comb bars, as represented in the Drawings. The moveable
parts are tinted with different colors, these parts which concur in effecting
each portion of the operation of the machine being colored alike. The whole
machine is actuated by turning the axes F with a continuous rotative
motion, either by means of a long crank handle E, E, which the person
who attends the machine. turns round with his hands, or else by the
power of millwork, applied by means of an endless strap and a fast and
loose pulley upon the axis F. When the long crank handle E, E, is used it is.
fixed to two axes F, F, situated in the same horizontal line, one at each end
of the machine, supported in suitable bearing brackets affixed to the machine
ends.G, C. On the extreme ends of each of the short axes F, F, a spur cog

page_text: wheel G, G, is fixed, for the purpose of turning two other spur cog wheels I, I,
of double the size and number of teeth, fixed upon the extreme ends of the
horizontal axis J, J, which extends all the length of the machine, and is sup-
ported in bearings at each of the machine ends C, C. One of the large cog
wheels I gives motion to a smaller spur wheel K, of one-third the size and
number of teeth, upon the extreme end of a short axis t, which is supported in
suitable bearing brackets screwed to the front leg of one of the machine ends C,
and the opposite end of the same axis t is formed into a short crank a, from
which a connecting rod M extends across beneath the machine to the lower
end of a lever N at the back of the machine. The lever N is poised on an axis
of motion nearly at the middle of its length, which axis is mounted in suitable
bearing brackets screwed to the back leg of the machine end C, and the upper
end of the lever N gives an oscillating or vibrating motion by means of a
connecting link Q to a sector. P, called the fan, and which is suspended upon
one of those horizontal. fixed centre pins which are situated in the axis of
curvature of the combs, and upon which the comb bars k, k, are suspended
by the joints at their ends, the said fixed centre pins. being supported by the
machine ends C, C, and by upright pieces which project downwards from the
top bar. The sector or fan P is formed with internal teeth in order to give
motion to two pinions m, m, which are fixed on the extreme ends of two
of the pivots of the two fluted bars or long revolving fluted rollers O, those
pivots being supported in suitable bearings screwed to the joint pieces at the
end of each comb bar k, and the pivots at the other ends being supported in
like bearings screwed to the joint pieces at the other ends of the same comb
bars; also, the middle of each fluted roller O is steadied by suitable bearings
fixed to the middle part of each comb bar to prevent any flexure of the
fluted rollers. The leads of combs are screwed against the outside faces of
the comb bars k, k, so that the combs stand above those bars with their short.
ends projecting only a little way from the leads towards the warp threads, and
their long ends projecting outwards therefrom, as shewn in Sheets I. and II.
The carriages are lodged in the spaces between the combs so as to move freely
backwards and forwards therein and out of one row of combs into the opposite
row with a motion corresponding to the circular curvature of the combs, and
each carriage has teeth formed at the. lower part of it, which teeth interlock
with the flutes of one or other of the fluted rollers O, O, in the same manner
as the teeth of wheels and pinions act one in the other. By means of the
connection x, M, N, Q, P, above described, the continual revolving motion
which is given by the handle E and wheelwork G, I, K, to the crank x causes
a regular vibration or oscillation of the sector or fan P about its fixed centre.

page_text: pin, and by its internal teeth acting in those of the pinions m, m, it turns the
two fluted rollers O, O, round with an alternate backwards and forwards motion,
whereby their flutes acting in the teeth of the carriages cause the same to move
alternately backwards and forwards in their combs with a sufficient extent of.
motion. to pass and repass the carriages between the warp threads, front the-
front combs to the back ones, and vice versa, without intermission. The
revolving crank pin of the crank x can be adjusted by suitable setting
screws, and fixed at such a distance from the centre of its axis t as will produce
the required extent of motion. The two fluted rollers 0, 0, being both turned.
by means of the same sector P working both their pinions m, m, they are both
moved with precisely equal and simultaneous motion, and when the carriages
are passing between the warp threads out of one row of combs into the
opposite ones those teeth of the carriages which are going foremost are engaged..
by the flutes of that roller towards which the carriages are advancing before
the teeth at the opposite end of the same carriages have quitted the flutes
of the other roller, and therefore the carriages are transferred from one
row of combs with its fluted roller to the other; and by the motion of the
said rollers the carriages are moved so far outwards in the combs as to
withdraw the extreme ends of the carriages entirely within the short ends of
the combs, in order to leave the warp threads quite detached whilst they are.
racked or crossed, which must be done at the instant when the pin of the
revolving crank a is passing across a centre line, supposed to be drawn through
the centre of its axis t and that of the joint pin at the lower end of the-
lever N, by which pin the connecting rod M is united to it. The comb bars.
k, k, have no racking motions, because the carriages do not traverse, but
the same carriages always occupy the same spaces between the combs. The
carriages are single tier, that is, the whole number are arranged side by side.
in one row, and they are passed between the warp threads altogether at one
motion, and therefore they must be made very thin, being what is termed a
single tier gage, and the combs the same; that is, there are twice as many.
combs and carriages side by side in every inch (measured along their rows in
the direction of the width of the machine) as the number of taking-up points.
in every such inch. For instance, if there are 10 points per inch, there
must be 20 bobbins and carriages per inch and 20 combs per inch... The
warp threads which are to form the diagonal or traverse threads in the. net.
are kept at regular distances apart, (corresponding with the distances between
the carriages) by the dividers A, which are cast in leads, and fastened in a.
row on the divider bar a, which is fixed horizontally beneath the back comb
bar k, and beneath the dividers, are two sets of forks B, D, for crossing the

page_text: warp threads, in the same manner as in Brown's traverse warp machines
(except that the dividers have no shogging motion). The two fork bars 6 and
d are supported on joints at the upper ends of the upright crank bar arms s
of a horizontal axis or spindle bar e, which is supported on pivots at each end
in bearings fastened to the machine ends C, C, and steadied by a suitable
bearing in the middle of its length. A tipper arm u, which is fixed to the.
lower fork bar dat each end thereof, projects out forwards with an upright.
gage screw through the end of it, to bear on a fixed support screwed to the
front sole bar or fixed bar under the comb bar k. A lever 14 projects down-
wards from the axis I, near to each end thereof, and carries a small roller 18,1
which applies to the circumference of a circular camm 11, 11, upon the axis J,:
near to each end thereof, and these camms make one revolution whilst a row:
of complete meshes of net are formed. There are two prominences 11, 11
upon the circumference of each of the said camms at opposite sides of their
centres, which, in passing by the roller 18, push it backwards, and thereby
the fork bars b, d, are advanced forwards, in order that the forks B, D, may
take the warp threads out of the dividers A, the upper forks B taking every-
alternate thread, and the lower forks D taking the other alternate inter-
mediate threads; also, the row of the lower forks D is so much more forward
than that of the upper ones B as to seperate the warp threads into two
divisions, one a little more forwards than the other. When the forks have
pushed all the threads forwards out of the dividers A, and clear thereof, both
sets of forks B, D, are shogged in opposite directions, so as to cross each
warp thread over the adjoining or neighbouring warp thread, which being done,
the prominences 11 of the revolving camms permit the fork bars b, d, to go
back again by the action of suitable springs, in order to return the warp
threads into the dividers A in their crossed state. This is the usual action of
the forks and dividers in Brown's traverse warp machinery, and the aforesaid
slogging motions of the two fork bars is given in the usual manner by a small
racking wheel applied to those bars, so as to come forwards therewith and be
turned round by suitable ratchet wheels and drivers both when the fork bars
come forwards and when they return, and also the fork bars are racked when
they have returned and have quite quitted the threads. The warp threads are
warped upon spools f, f, which are small rollers, each one containing as many
threads as are required for the diagonal or traverse threads of one breadth of
net. Each spool ff is mounted loose upon a spindle or axis h, and a
forked flyer z, z, which is fixed fast on the upper end of the spindle h, includes
the spoolf between its two branches 2, 2, so as to revolve around the spool, but
independently thereof. The branches z, z of the flyer are pierced with small

page_text: holes, in the manner of a guide plate, and the threads which are warped on the
spool are conducted from the same through the said holes, and then through a
circular row of holes around the circumference of a circular dividing platè g,
which is fixed on the upper end of the spindle h, and from those holes the
threads go to the dividers A. The spools are placed in an inclined position
side by side, in a row beneath the dividers, and pointing upwards thereto,
the spindles h being supported in sockets at their lower ends, which are
screwed in a row to a horizontal bar H, supported at the back of the machine
by the lower side rail at the back of the frame. Each spindle h has a worm
cog wheel fixed upon it, and the teeth of those wheels are engaged by as many
endless screws as there are spools; they are all fixed upon a long horizontal
axis v, which extends along all the row of spools, being supported in suitable
bearings at each end, and turned round by means of a ratchet wheel, which is
fixed on near one end of it, and is turned round a tooth at a time by a suitable"
claw and driver, so as to communicate a very slow turning motion to each of
the spindles h, and to its forked flyer z, z, and circular dividing plate g, whereby
the threads which pass through the holes thereof are caused to traverse in.
contrary directions, that is, every alternate thread traverses to the right whilst
the other intermediate threads traverse to the left (in order that their inter-
sections or crossings may form the tops and bottoms of the meshes), and when
each pair of traversing thread arrives at the edges of each breadth the circular
motion of the dividing plate causes the turn again of those traversing threads at
the two selvedges of each breadth, in order that they may begin to traverse
anew with contrary obliquities to their former directions. The crossing action
of the forks concurs with the action of the circular dividing plate g to produce
that turn again of the extreme warp threads when they are returned into the
dividers in their crossed state. All the aforesaid forks and dividers and spools,
with their appurtenances and their mode of action, are exactly the same as
were commonly used in Mr. Brown's traverse warp machinery, which being
well known, they require no farther explanation. A strip of brass plate is
fixed over the row of dividers A at n for the warp threads to bear against, and
the edge of the plate being straight, it keeps the threads in an even row. The
crosses of the warp threads, which are produced by the forks and dividers as
aforesaid, have a tendency to run upwards; but as the dividers A must be
placed below the comb bars k, k, the crosses have to run up so far that
they might be prevented by the entanglement of harls or knots in the thread;
wherefore to ensure the due running, up of the crossings, a row of lifting
points 4 and holding points 1 are applied in the spaces between the comb bars
and the warp threads, the lifting points 4 at the front, and the holding.

page_text: points 1 at the back.
points are bended into a horizontal position suitable for insertion between the
warp threads, whilst their shanks and the leads into which they are cast stand
in a vertical position, as well as the thin blades of their bars 3 and 2, to which
the leads are screwed, the thick part of each bar being below the comb bars.
The lifting points 4 and holding points 1 are each cast in their leads,
the same number per inch as the dividers, and twice as many per inch as the
taking-up points. The holding point bar 2 is formed with pivots at each each
end, which are supported in bearings screwed to the machine ends C, and
by tilting the bar about those pivots the pointed extremities of the holding
points 1 can be inserted between the warp threads or withdrawn therefrom..
When the holding points are inserted they keep the warp threads seperated
at their proper distances apart suitably for the carriages to pass and repass.
between the same, but they must be withdrawn for a moment after
those threads are crossed in order to allow the crossings to run upwards above
the holding points, which may be inserted again immediately after the crosses
have so run up. A short lever or arm 13 is fixed to the holding point bar 2,
near to each end of it projecting downwards therefrom, and a roller at the
lower end of the arm 13 bears against the circumference of a circular camm
10, 10, which is fixed on the axis J, J, and revolves therewith, making one
turn whilst a row of complete meshes is formed. There are two notches cut
out at 10, 10, in the circumference of the camm, which; when they come
opposite to the roller of the arm 13, permit the holding points to be withdrawn
from the threads by the action of suitable springs, which are applied to the
arms 13, but they remain withdrawn only during a very short interval, because
as the notch 10 in the camm passes away from the roller, the same is pressed
backward, so as to insert the holding points again between the threads. The
holding point bar 2 is shogged every time that the carriages are passed
between the warp threads and before they return again. This is done by a
racking wheel i, which is fixed fast on the main axis J, J, and the flat face
thereof near to its circumference is cut into alternate steps with elevations
above and depressions below the said flat surface. These steps act upon a
roller at the lower end of a lever V, which is poised upon an axis of motion
near the middle of its length, which axis is supported in bearing brackets
affixed to the machine end C, and the upper end is connected with a horizontal
sliding bolt, which passes through an opening in the machine end C, and the
extremity acts with a suitable gage screw against the end of one of the
pivots on which the holding point bar is supported. A spring is applied at
the end of the opposite pivot, tending to force the holding points. endways
The pointed extremities of both lifting and holding

page_text: towards the racking wheel i, which as it turns round gives the requisite
shogging motions to the holding points for racking the warp threads, viz.,.
whenever the carriages are all drawn forwards into the front combs the threads"
must rack one space to the right before the carriages are passed again between
them, and when the carriages are all in the back combs the threads must
rack one space to the left before the carriages are repassed again. The lifting.
point bar 3 is supported on pivots near each end of it, so that it can be tilted
thereon in order to insert the points 4 between the warp threads or to with-
draw them therefrom; but the said pivots are out of the line of the bar in the.
front thereof, and are supported at the upper ends of upright links 5, which
are jointed at their lower ends to crank bar arms 6, projecting out from a
horizontal axis 8, which is supported in bearings at each end, screwed to the
lower front rail of the frame, with a suitable middle bearing to steady it. The
lifting point bar 3 is let down and raised up alternately by means of the
links 5 and crank bar arms 6 on the axis 8, and with equal motion at each
end, also with one or more upright links 5 in the middle part to support the
bar from bending. The lifting point bar 3 is guided, so as to move vertically.
as it goes up and down, by small rollers applied on the pivots of the bar, and
running in vertical slots, which are formed in fixed brackets 7, 7, fastened by
braces to the sole bars of the framing. The up-and-down motion of the.
lifting point bar 3 is produced by a short crank 21 on one of the same axes F to
which the revolving handle E is affixed, and a crank rod 22 descends from the
crank 21 to a lever 23, which projects outwards in front from the axis 8 of the
several crank bar arms 6, in order that the continual revolution of the crank 21
may move the axis 8 with all its arms 6 and upright links 5, so as to alter-
nately raise and lower the lifting point bar 3 in a vertical plane parallel
to itself with such an extent of vertical motion as will carry the lifting
points 4 very nearly up to the holding points 1 when at their highest position,
and let them down very near to the dividers A when at their lowest,
position. The pin. of the short crank 21 can be adjusted by suitable
setting screws, as shewn in Sheet IV., in order to fix it at such a distance from.
the centre of the axis F as will produce the requisite extent of motion. In
order to withdraw the lifting points from between the warp threads and insert
them again whilst they are thus moving vertically, a lever 15, called a tipper
arm, is fastened to the lifting point bar 3, near to each end of it, and descending
downwards, but bended so much forwards as to avoid the axis J. The lower
end of each tipper arm 15, has a small roller 16 applied to it to run up and
down against a fixed upright bearing bar. 17, which is supported by suitable,
brackets from the fixed framework. The weight of the bar 3 causes the.

page_text: roller 16 of the tipper arm 15 to bear against the upright bearing bar 17, and
then the lifting points will be properly inserted between the warp threads, and
will continue so inserted notwithstanding their up-and-down motion; but
in going down, when the lifting points have only descended a little way from
their highest position, the roller 16 is intercepted by a wedge-shaped piece 12,
called the caster back, which is applied against the upright face of the bearing
bar 17, and which caster back forces the roller 16 away from the bar 17,
thereby tilting the lifting point bar 3 so much as to withdraw the lifting
points 4 from between the warp threads, and then by the roller 16 running
down the upright face of the caster back 12, the lifting points 4 are kept so
withdrawn until they get to their lowest position, and then the roller 16
descends below the lower end of the caster back 12, and the weight of the.
bar 3 causes the roller 16 to return to the upright face of the bearing bar 17,
whereby in so returning the lifting points are again inserted between the
warp threads a very little above the dividers A. As the lifting points are
raised upwards again they are not withdrawn from between the threads,
because the roller 16 removes the caster back 12 away from the upright
bearing bar 17, and rolls up against the same behind the caster back, which
is suspended on a centre pin 27, affixed to the bar 17, in order that it may
readily yield to allow the roller 16 to go up behind it. But as the caster.
back inclines by its weight towards the upright face of the bearing bar 17 it
closes to the same, when the roller 16 rises up above it, and when that roller
descends again the wedged-shaped top of the caster back 12 leads the
roller 16 to pass down over the caster back 12 and withdraw the lifting
points, as before described. Note.-The construction and operation of the said
caster back is the same as that which is commonly used in Lever's machines
for putting the taking-up points out of the work and letting them drop in
again. Note. The several parts must be so adjusted that the camm 10 will
cause the holding points 1 to be reinserted properly between the warp threads
before the caster back 12 withdraws the lifting points 4 from between the
And note. During the time that the caster back 12 has (by its action
as aforesaid) withdrawn the lifting points 4 from between the warp threads as
they are going down, the forks B, D, must come forward to perform their office
of crossing the warp threads, as before described, and the forks must-get back
again so as to have returned the threads which they have crossed into the
dividers A in their crossed state before the lifting points 4 have descended so far
that the caster back 12 will allow them to be again inserted between the warp
threads. The lifting points 4 when they are at their highest position require
to be shogged correspondingly with the holding points 1, but in order that
same.

page_text: the lifting points 4 may accompany the racking motions of the warp threads
at all periods of their descent and ascent they must have less and less shog as
they descend, so as not to be shogged at all (or only a very little) when they
get down to their lowest position near to the dividers A, which are motionless.
For this purpose one of the end pivots on which the bar 3 is supported at the
upper ends of the upright links 5 has a gage screw in it to bear against
the edge of a suitable conductor plate, which is connected with the afore-
said sliding bolt, which shogs the holding point bar 2 by the racking wheel i
and lever V, before described, and the lower end of the same conducting
plate is mounted, upon a fixed centre of motion, supported by a bracket from
the fixed framework. The lifting point bar 3 is drawn endways towards the
said conducting plate by a suitable spring, and the gage screw in its end pivot
must be so adjusted in respect to the edge of the conducting plate that the
pointed extremities of the lifting points 4 will fall exactly beneath those of the
holding points 1 when the former are raised up to their highest positions, in
order to carry up the crossings of the warp threads; but when they get down
to their lowest position the said pointed extremities 4 will stand exactly over
the teeth or pins of the dividers A, in order that they may be inserted beneath
the crosses which the warp threads make one over the other after the forks
B, D, have performed their office of crossing the threads, as before described.
In the latter position, the gage screw bearing against the edge of the con-
ducting plate nearly opposite to the centre of motion thereof, no shog (or very.
little) will be given to the lifting points; but when the lifting points are raised
up to their highest position the said gage screw bears against the edge of the
conducting plate, very nearly opposite to its connection with the sliding bolt of
the lever V of the racking wheel i, and therefore the lifting points will receive.
the same extent of shog as the holding points, suitably for guiding and racking
the warp threads in the interval whilst the holding points are withdrawn from
between them. The several parts above described which give the up-and-
down motion to the lifting points, and those before described, which give the
backwards and forwards motion to the carriages in the combs, must be so
adjusted one to the other that the carriages will be drawn out clear from
between the warp threads within the short ends of their combs at the moment.
when the holding points are withdrawn after the lifting points have carried up.
the crossing of the warp threads and have reached their highest position. The
said crossings will run higher up above the holding points instantaneously.
on the said points being withdrawn, and immediately afterwards the carriages
begin to return between the crossed threads, commencing their entrance;
beneath the said crosses which have so run upwards, because the lowest parts of

page_text: the carriages are most in advance, and the edges of the carriages being inclined
to the warp threads, those inclined edges urge the crosses of those threads to
run upwards in aid of their own tendency to do so. Wherefore, by the time
that the bobbins are entered only a little way between the warp threads, the
crosses will have been run up by the action of the inclined edges of the carriages
as high as the tops thereof, which being done the taking-up points should be
immediately inserted between the crossed threads beneath the said crossings;
and in order to facilitate and ensure the correct insertion of the points between
the crossed threads, extra thicknesses 20, 20, are formed on the tops of the
alternate carriages, being those carriages which will pass between the said
crossed warp threads, and in so passing the said extra thicknesses will widen
the spaces between the said crossed warp threads, so that the points will
be surely inserted therein beneath the crosses so as to be certain of taking
them up, The intermediate carriages, which have no extra thicknesses on
their tops, pass between those pairs of warp threads which are not crossed, and
being very thin they allow those threads to be a little closed towards each
other. The point bars y, y, are suspended on pivots in crank bar arms
descending from the horizontal spindle bars Y, Y, which are supported on
pivots at their ends in suitable bearings affixed on the tops of the machine
ends C, C, with middle bearings fixed to the horizontal top bar to prevent
flexure of the spindle bars Y, Y. The points are withdrawn from the meshes
of the net when they are required to take up new twists and crosses by means
of two long pendulous' levers T, which descend from one of the extreme ends
of each of the axes Y, Y, and both the levers T are acted upon in turn by one
roller, whereof the centre pin is fixed into one of the large cog wheels I at
one end of the axis J, so that the said roller is carried round in a circular
orbit, and in the course of such motion it presses first one and then the other of
the two pendulous levers T outwards from the axis J, so as to withdraw the
points from the meshes of the net, the front points at one time and the back
points the next time. After having thus withdrawn the points, the said roller
in going further round retreats from the pendulous lever T and allows the
points to re-enter amongst the threads by the action of suitable springs, which
connect the back crank bar arms with the front ones so as always to pull
them towards each other. Immediately after the said roller has withdrawn
the points from the meshes their point bar y is tilted down in order to prepare
for taking up; this is done by two curved wipers or camms 1, 1, which are fixed
upon one end of the axis J, J, near to one of the cog wheels I, in a suit-
able position to act in turn upon rollers at the ends of two levers U, U,
which are each mounted upon a horizontal centre pin fixed to the machine

page_text: end C, and which levers are connected by upright links W, W, to short
stumps or lever arms, which project horizontally inwards from the two
point bars y, y; also from the same stump arms other links go upwards to
the horizontal arms of two elbow levers, which are mounted on horizontal
centre pins fixed into an upright standard erected on the top of the machine
end C, and the lower ends of the other arms of the same elbow levers are con-
nected together in pairs by two springs extending across from one to the other.
A similar pair of elbow levers and double springs are applied in like manner
at the opposite ends of the point bars, as is shewn in Sheets III. and IV., and
the force of all the said four taking-up springs tends constantly to pull both
the point bars upwards. Each of the point bars has also other short stump
arms projecting horizontally inwards from it at each end, close to those before
mentioned, in order to strike upwards beneath the ends of upright stop screws,
which are tapped through projecting cocks fastened to the upper part of the
machine ends. The said stop screws are properly adjusted to limit the height
to which the points shall be pulled upwards by the aforesaid action of their
springs. Other stop screws are tapped through the crank bar arms, by which
the point bars are suspended so as to strike against the machine ends, and
they limit the penetration of the points through the meshes of the net. At
the proper moment for taking up with the points, they are first withdrawn
from the meshes of the net by the roller on the wheel I acting against the
pendulous lever T belonging to those points which are to be used in taking up,'
and then the wiper 7 belonging to them pulls them down into a proper tilting
position in opposition to their taking-up springs, which being done, the same
roller beginning to retreat from the pendulous lever T, permits the points to
penetrate first amongst the bobbin threads and then between the crossed warp
threads, just above the extra thicknesses at the tops of the alternate carriages
and beneath the crosses, and then the same wiper allows the points to be
drawn upwards very suddenly by their taking-up springs as far as the stop
screws will allow, in order to take up the crosses and twists, and give form to
the meshes of the net. When the points are thus tilted down and inserted
amongst the threads, they enter first between the bobbin threads, as shewn in
Sheet I., .before they penetrate the warp threads, the carriages at that time
being drawn quite out from between the warp threads into the combs, which
are on the same side thereof as those points which are in the act of taking up,
and to facilitate the entrance of the points amongst the bobbin threads they
are always kept seperated into two divisions, as shewn in Sheet I., (although the
bobbins and carriages are never divided, but always act in one row,) because
the eyes through which the bobbin threads issue from the tops of those

page_text: carriages which have the extra thicknesses on them are more forwards than over
the centres of those carriages, but the eyes of the intermediate carriages which
have no extra. thicknesses at their tops are as much more backwards. . After
the points have entered between the bobbin threads of that division which
is nearest to them they are racked a little, in order. that they may enter
on the contrary sides of the threads of the other division; and after having
thus taken all the bobbin threads the points are racked again just so
much as is requisite to place each of the points r precisely over each of
the extra thicknesses 20, 20, at top of the alternate carriages, but with
their pointed extremities r short of the foremost extremities 20 of the said
extra thicknesses, and then the roller retreating further from the pendulous
lever T permits the points to move forwards along with the carriages, so as
to enter between the warp threads the instant that the said extra thicknesses
20 have entered, and have thereby widened the spaces between the crossed warp
threads beneath the crosses thereof, which the points are required to take up.
To accomplish this, the extra thicknesses 20, 20, must extend further each
way from the centre of the tops of the carriages than the eyes of the carriages
are distant from the said centre, in order that the points may have penetrated
both divisions of bobbin, threads before reaching the warp threads, and
likewise that the extra thicknesses 20, 20, may have fully entered between
the crossed warp threads, and properly widened the spaces between the same
before the points (which have previously secured all the bobbin threads) begin
to enter into the same spaces. Note.-The same alternate carriages with
extra thicknesses on their tops will pass between those pairs of warp threads
which are crossed at every succeeding time of crossing, whether it is the back
or the front points which are used for taking up, so as in each case to widen
those spaces for the insertion of the points. Note.-The points take up all
the twists at every time of taking up. The point bars are racked as much as
is requisite for making their entrance properly amongst the threads in the
manner above described by means of a conducting plate for each bar, which
is fixed to the machine end C, and a short stump arm, fixed to the point
bar y, and projecting downwards therefrom, carries a horizontal gage screw
to bear endways against the upright face of the said conducting plate by the
action of suitable springs which urge the point bar endways towards it. The
said gage screw slides over the surface of the conducting plate in the act of
taking up, and that surface is suitably formed to give the points their requisite
racking motions. Note.-The taking-up points and all their appurtenances
above described are the same as commonly used in many machines. Note.-
The operation of the holding points and lifting points for carrying up the

page_text: crossings, and that of the extra thicknesses at the tops of the carriages, for-
widening the spaces between the crossed warp threads, into which the
taking-up points are to be inserted, is fully described in my former Specifi-
cation, dated the 31st of May last, and which was enrolled in the Office of the-
Rolls Chapel yesterday, the 5th of June. As that Specification can be con--
sulted, it is unnecessary to enter into further explanation, because that which
is herein-before contained is insufficient to show the manner of applying the
said parts to use in single tier fluted bar traverse warp machinery. The
whipping threads for joining the several breadths of net into one tissue whilst.
they are weaving are supplied from a roller L, which is supported by suitable
bearers from the front comb bar k, and the whipping threads from it pass.
beneath the front comb bar and go up through the eyes of small whipping
thread guides o, which are carried by a whipping thread guide bar p, applied
against the inside of the front comb bar, and supported therefrom, so as to be
capable of sliding endways. The requisite shogging motions are given to the.
said whipping guide bar p by means of a sliding bolt and lever and steps on:
the face of a racking wheel at one end of the machine, with a reacting spring
at the opposite end of the bar p, exactly similar to the parts i, V, herein-before
described, for shogging the holding point bar. The said sliding bolts and
levers are side by side, and both are actuated by a series of steps on the flat
face of the same racking wheel i, but the two series are in two distinct circles.
thereon, one within the other, the outermost being for shogging the whipping
thread guide bar P, and the innermost for racking the holding point bar 2.
The racking motions thus given to the whipping threads must be such as
will cause them to be included within the turn again twists, which are
formed at the selvedges of each breadth; but removing the whipping threads
from one of the adjoining selvedges of each breadth to the next one at every
succeeding time of taking up, whereby the whipping threads will whip the
said selvedges together with zig-zag stitches, all which is the same as usual
in Brown's traverse warp machines of the most improved kind. Note.-Two
small strips of brass plate 19, 19, which are bended to an angle (gutter
fashion), must be fixed to the insides of the comb bars k, k, at the upper edges
thereof, the flat blades 19, 19, being only just so much below the short ends
of the combs as will allow the teeth of the carriages to pass clear over them
and close above the pointed extremities of the holding points 1. The straight
edges of the two slips 19, 19, stand exactly opposite to each other, leaving only.
a narrow crevice between them for the warp threads to go down through, and
the said edges retain the warp threads from getting out from between, the

page_text: holding or lifting points and prevent the said threads being deflected from
their vertical position when the carriages are passed between them. The
whipping thread guides o pass-up through holes in the brass strips 19, 19, so
that the eyes thereof stand above the same. Note.-The lace roller is turned
round in the usual manner, as fast as is required for winding up the net as it is
made, by means of a worm wheel on one end of the axis of the roller, turned by
a worm or endless screw, on the axis of which is a ratchet wheel, to be turned
round one tooth at a time by a claw or driver, which is moved by a suitable
connection of levers and connecting links proceeding upwards from. a small
camm fixed on the main axis J, and there is also. another connecting link
proceeding downwards from the same lever to a like lever, driver, claw, and
ratchet wheel on the extreme end of the long horizontal axis v of the endless
screws, for turning the spindles of the spools, in order to turn the same round,
and by the said endless screws and the worm wheels on the several-spindles.h
of the spools, those spindles, and the forked flyers z, z, and the circular dividing
plates g, which are fastened to them, are all turned slowly round with suitable
rapidity to
produce the turn again of the spool or warp threads, in the usual
manner of Brown's traverse warp machines of the most improved kind. And in
like manner each of the spools is to be retarded from turning round as the thread
which is warped thereon is unwound and drawn off by the wining up of the
lace roller, in order by such retardation to give suitable tension to those warp
threads. This may be done as usual by small cords applied round suitable
grooves at the lower ends of each of the spools, the said cords being made fast
at one end, and then after passing around the grooves being conducted over
suitable pullies to have weights appended to the other ends, but in this way the
several weights must be regulated with great care to produce an exact equality
of tension in the traverse warp 'threads of all the different breadths, where-
fore to ensure an equality of tension, I fix a. spur cog wheel 24 to the
lower end of each spool just above the groove thereof, and I apply an
intermediate spur wheel 25 between every two of the adjoining spur wheels
24, so as to work in the teeth of both, all the wheels 24 being of equal
size and. number of teeth, and the spools and their dividing plates 'g being
all alike. The said intermediate wheels. 25 are mounted upon stud centre
pins or axles affixed to the same bar H which supports the row of
sockets for the spindles h of all the spools. The whole number of spools
being thus connected together by their wheels 24 and 'the intermediate wheels
25, they will all turn round with equal motion in order that they may give off
thread equally, and that the traverse warp threads of all the several breadths

page_text: may have equal tension, which tension may be produced by retardation applied
as usual by a seperate cord and weight to each spool, but the exact equality
of retardation to each one (which usually requires so much attention,) will be
of no importance when they are all connected together by the wheels 24, 25,
as above described. Or instead of the cords and weights being applied to the
spools themselves, they may be applied to grooves made round the intermediate
wheels 25, or to part of them, or to only one of them. Note.-In this way of
regulating the tension of all the different spool threads, the same quantity of
the same kind of thread must be warped on each spool that is exactly the
same thickness or diameter of accumulated thread being warped on one
spool as on another at first starting, so that they will all work off alike. The
carriages and the combs are grooved on one side of each carriage and of
each comb," in the manner of those used in common fluted bar machines,
except that they are only half the thickness, or single tier gage, and con-
sequently only half the depth of groove. The bobbins are the same as those
commonly used in Lever's machines, which from their thinness require to be
larger in diameter than those generally used in common fluted bar machines,
which, are all double tier gage. In consequence of the large bobbins, the car-
riages require to be larger than usual in fluted bar machines, and also to have
more teeth at their under sides, as is represented in Sheet I. And note.-The
carriages have half teeth 26, 26, at each extremity, in order that they may
commence their entrance between the crossed warp thread at their very
lowest parts, so as to set in or begin to penetrate, as near as can conveniently
be done, to the lifting points 4, when those points are raised up to their
highest position; and after they have (on the withdrawing of the holding
points 1) caused the crossings to run upwards, in preparation for the car-
riages to be passed between the warp threads beneath the' said crossings,
that is to say, the foremost parts of the carriages (which are also the lowest
parts thereof) begin to enter beneath the said crossings, and by the inclined
direction of the edges of the carriages they urge those crossings to run upwards
as high as the tops of the carriages; as herein-before explained. Every
alternate carriage has the extra thickness 20, 20, (herein-before described)
fastened to the upper part of it, by soldering or rivetting, so as to stand quite
above the tops of the other intermediate carriages, which have no such extra
thicknesses. The said extra thicknesses must make out nearly double the
thickness of the other parts of the carriages, and they must extend from 20
to 20 over a sufficient portion of the length of the carriages on which they
are applied, so as to enter between the crossed warp threads and widen the

page_text: spaces thereof before any of the bobbin threads come to a vertical position,
or range with the row of warp threads. The eyes at the tops of all the
carriages must be placed a little way from the middle of the top of each car-
riage, as before mentioned, those with the extra thicknesses being before, and
the other intermediate carriages being behind the said middle of the top.
Note. The comb bars k, k, can be raised up by motion about their joints
in order to get at the warp threads, as in common fluted bar or Lever's
machinery.
Having now described my said improvements, I, the said Thomas Alcock,
do hereby declare that my new Invention, whereof the exclusive use is granted
to me by His Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, which conclude (as herein-
before recited) with the words, "Witness Ourself, at Our Palace at West-
mins, this Eighth day of December, in the third year of Our reign," consists in
the improvements of combining together, in the manner herein-before described,
and for the purpose of manufacturing breadths of bobbin net lace, the several
parts of Brown's traverse warp machinery called spools, forks, and dividers (with
their appurtenances), along with the several parts of Henson & Jackson's
fluted bar or fluted roller machinery called bobbins, carriages, combs, and
fluted bars or rollers (with their appurtenances), and also along with the
new parts called lifting points and holding points, and extra thicknesses on the
tops of the carriages, (which lifting and holding points and extra thicknesses
have been described by me in my said former Specification, dated the Thirty-
first of May last, and which said parts are therein claimed by me as the new
Invention for which His said Majesty did grant me other Letters Patent on
the same day as the Letters Patent herein-before recited); and likewise con-
sists in the improvements of modifying the combs and the carriages of ordinary
fluted bar machinery, as follows, (suitably for the performance of their
respective functions in combination with the other parts (as herein-before
described), so as that the comb bars to which the leads of the combs are
screwed, and also those leads shall go nearer towards the warp threads than
heretofore in ordinary fluted bar machinery, because no fluted bar or roller is
required to be interposed between the comb bars and the threads, as has been
hitherto requisite, and so as that the carriages shall have half teeth 26, 26, at
each end, in order to set in or make their entrance low down between the
crossed warp threads, as herein-before described. And likewise consists in the
improvement, herein-before described, of connecting all the different spools
together by means of the equal cog wheels 24 with intermediate cog wheels 25,
so as to cause all the several spools g to turn round with equal motions, and