IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MODELLING STATUARY FROM LIFE, AND FOR MEASURING AND COPYING STATUARY AND OTHER UNEVEN SURFACES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joel Tanner Hart, of Lexington, Kentucky, in the
United States of America, now of 67, Gracechurch Street, London,
Sculptor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MODELLING
STATUARY FROM LIFE, AND FOR MEASURING AND COPYING STATUARY AND OTHER
UNEVEN SURFACES."
Sealed the 27th February 1857, and dated the 4th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joel Tanner Hart at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th September 1856.
I, JOEL TANNER HART, of Lexington, Kentucky, in the United States of
America, now of 67, Gracechurch Street, London, Sculptor, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MODELLING
STATUARY FROM LIFE, AND FOR MEASURING AND COPYING STATUARY & OTHER UNEVEN
SURFACES," to be as follows:-
They consist in the combination of certain mechanical arrangements, and
in the mode of effecting certain mechanical results, and are principally:-
In constructing the plate that supports the measuring and, if desired, the
posture regulating apparatus, with sockets for the legs & feather edges for
the arms of the base of said apparatus, and a device to lock the base firmly
& securely to the plate.
In combining upon bars or rails of various forms, movable in every direction,
numerous stands for holding needles, whose points passing through the tubular
holders can, by the use of joints & other devices in the shafts & other inter-
mediate places, be brought to touch the surface of the model, and thus enable
the artist at one operation or sitting to obtain a greater number of guide

page_text: points, and consequently the relative position of more features in the model,
than can be obtained by any other mode in use.
In the use of duplicate plates, the exact counterpart of each other, so that
the apparatus, having been applied to the model, and the adjusted points
secured from alteration by means of set screws applied to the various movable
parts, can be removed from the one to the other, and the points there used
as guides for cutting the material worked as the copy.
In arranging & securing the seat for and various pieces to different parts
of the model, the same being adjusted in every desirable position by means of
joints, set screws, &c., in order to preserve for the model always the same
posture, or if the copy is substituted that it may take the same relative
position.
Also in the arrangement of the stand which holds the drapery to be copied,
by supporting it underneath by means of rods, that descending vertically until
below the bottom of the drapery are bent outward sufficiently so as not to
interfere with or touch it, and are then carried up and attached to the plate
holding the measuring apparatus. The plate may be attached to a movable
stand, upon which it can revolve.
In the mode of setting a ball & socket joint, by means of a conical pin or
wedge working at right angles to the bottom of the socket; and in the mode
of setting the joint working like that of a calliper, by forming a long narrow
circular groove in the male portion, and a corresponding narrower circular
cutting in that part of the female joint opposite the groove, so as to preserve
a narrow circular rim; upon this rim is adjusted a set screw. In moving
the joint the groove allows the movement until the under portion of the set
screw comes against the end of the groove, & no further. This can be and
is intended to be applied as a substitute for the circular bar and set screw
in general use on callipers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joel Tanner Hart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3
4th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOEL
TANNER HART, of Lexington, Kentucky, in the United States of America, now
of 67, Gracechurch Street, London, Sculptor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3.
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the
year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joel Tanner Hart, Her special licence that I, the said Joel
Tanner Hart, or my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Joel Tanner Hart, or my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MODELLING STATUARY FROM LIFE, AND
the
FOR MEASURING AND COPYING STATUARY AND OTHER UNEVEN SURFACES," upon
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joel Tanner Hart, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joel Tannar Hart, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings:-
Figure 1, represents the apparatus in a very compact form, showing the
stand, seat, hip and shoulder supported, head rest, and eliptical
needle frame.

page_text: Figure 12, the plan of securing the needle frame and head rest shaft to
the main shaft.
13 & 14, the feather-edged tables and shaft stand.
"
"
15, the apparatus for measuring the drapery.
"
16, the needle & set screw.
17, the bolt for the head rest.
18, two forms of needle frames with joints.
19, the collar for the needle frame.
The same parts are indicated by the same letters, and the Drawings, with
the exception of Figure 11, are one-fifth of the working size.
The design and object of my Invention is to assist the artist and others in
obtaining with accuracy, rapidity, and simultaneously a large number of
measurements from the statues and groups in the galleries, from the human
figure singly or in groups, or from other models, and in preserving and
transferring them to marble, clay, or other material; in the studio or elsewhere
in the absence of the model, with perfect accuracy.
The Invention may be described to consist principally :-
In combining and condensing within a small working space, upon bars or
rails of various forms, numerous receptacles for holding instruments with
pointed terminations, termed needles.
In constructing the arms sustaining the various apparatus of short pieces
when required, and connecting them by joints differing in construction accord-
ing to position and purpose, and in such combination giving flexibility to the
arm, and that it may present the needle frame in any position and to any
part of the model within its range; and in confining these joints by set
screws as the portion of the arm on which it turns is placed in the desired
position, thereby rendering the arm stationary; and in preventing the needle
frame from advancing towards the object beyond a fixed point, by means of
other set screws confining the arm within a certain range upon the quadrant
upon which it slides and is controlled.
In mounting the needle holders on the frame, by setting them upon ball
and socket joints, each of which is to be set when adjusted in the right direction
for the intended point its needle is to measure.
In constructing upon the same principles, so far as essential, an apparatus
either attached to the main shaft or detached therefrom, forming the seat
for the model, and to confine the life figure to a constant posture, by means of
implements consisting of pieces of various suitable shapes, adjusted by screws,
joints, or other means to different portions of the body; and when adjusted
to secure and preserve the adjustments by means similar to those above

page_text: mentioned, in order that when the posture shall be resumed the same position
shall by these as guides be regained with the utmost exactness. These
implements may be long, narrow, and curvilinear in form, to fit the form of
the lower part of the body, viz', under the arms, to the sides, shoulders, &c.,
while those for the head are mounted and adjusted like the needles on the
same frame with these last, or may be on a separate frame, and they may
be the same in form and construction, except in their termination, which is
broad and flat, in order that while confining the head they will also act as
rests to support it with comfort to the sitter. To render all these implements
the more comfortable they may be stuffed or covered with some soft material.
The minor improvements will be hereafter mentioned in the course of the
description.
The arrangement and construction of the apparatus may thus be detailed;
A, represents the tripod stand, Fig. 1 & 2, whose legs should be constructed and
arranged as represented in Fig. 2; a¹ is a castor with a screw working into a
female one in the foot, by which it can be raised or lowered; when lowered the
groove a is intended to rest upon the raised projection in the floor, so that
it will have a fixed position. B is a hollow shaft, into which shaft C is placed,
loosely resting on a collar a, a, of the same diameter with C, and which has
a projection fitted loosely to a groove in the interior of B, and a female screw
fitted to a long screw with a handle b; by turning the screw the collar a, a,
is forced upwards, lifting the shaft C as high as required; and the shaft C
can be turned at will when not confined by the screw m at the top of B.
To C are attached the collars holding the arms of the seat, hip and shoulder
rests, &c., all furnished with set screws, and moveable when desired up, down,
or around the shaft. On the top of C is a stand J, having a slot J', Fig. 12;
another slot L' is cut in the base L, supporting the needle frame shaft N,
so that the shaft may be moved backward or forward; and secured by a set
screw ; to the collar D the arm E is attached; F, represented more fully
in Fig. 3, 4, & 5, is the seat; f, the shaft or pivot supporting it; the screw
cut upon it plays into a feinale screw in the collar f", worked by the handle
F, by which the seat is raised and lowered. G, G, G, represent the sides
and back of the seat, with arms or arms g' sliding into g, and when adjusted
rendered stationary by a set screw. e¹ is a shaft or bar passing through holes
in the arm E, with its upper end passing into a circular slot el in the bottom
of the seat, for the purpose when the seat is required to be stationary of
moving up by a screw the two bars e* on each side of the slot, so as to clasp it
firmly, and making the seat fast; when freed the bar e' is pressed against by

page_text: the spring e to keep it from falling; E is also to be used as a stand, upon which
the clay bust stands to be modelled, by raising it on the shafts to the requisite
height. The bip supporter k, Fig. 7, is attached to the arm k by a ball and
socket joint ; this arm slides into the cross collar k', attached to the collar
K on the main shaft; a similar supporter is also arranged on the other side
of the main collar K, so as not to interfere in its movements with the first.
The shoulder adjustments II., Fig. 8, are moveable and adjustable in any
position on h", by collar l' and set screw. The shaft h" is connected by
hinge joint to the bent arm h, which is moveable in its collar H', attached to
the collar H on the shaft C.
O, Fig. 9, represents one of a pair of needle frames in the form of an elipse,
the arm of which is fitted closely to the neck n of the collar P on shaft N
at o', while it is governed in its horizontal motion by sliding upon its quadrant
n, n, constructed as part of the collar P; the collar P is fixed by the set
screw; at the neck the screw cap O" secures the arm above mentioned.
The other needle frame is attached in the same way to the other end of the
collar P at n, and controlled by the other quadrant, as represented, so that
no movement of either interferes with the other. These elipses are studded
upon its rails as thickly as may be required with needle holders Y, secured
to them by ball and socket joints Y', each with a set screw on the other side
of the rail, which sets it by the pressure of its point on the ball; or if this
mode be unsuitable, by the side pressure of the conical screw Y", as repre-
sented in Fig. II.
Figure 18, represents other modes of constructing the arms arranged with
quadrant hinge joint, and ball and socket joint. To the same collar P, by
arms q, q, moving in a slot, and secured by screw, the head rest R is
secured, and moves with it when turned. This is intended to have only a
forward and backward movement. It is studded with a number of blunt
instruments or bolts r, r, adjustable to the head in a similar manner to the
needles.
The apparatus represented in Figure 1 is constructed so as to be carried
easily from place to place, but one intended to remain stationary in the studio
may if desired be so constructed and arranged that the shaft c, holding the
needle frame, can be attached to a stand S¹, Fig. 13 & 14. This stand can
be removed from the table T that supports it, when obtaining the measure-
ments, to another table corresponding in every respect with the first, where
the measurements may be applied to the work to be executed. For this
purpose and to ensure the most correct position, I have contrived tables with

page_text: a feather edge t, to avoid the dust and dirt, for the horizontal arms S' of the
stand to rest upon, while the vertical ones S" or legs pass into sockets T¹,
whereby it is rendered steady.
For arranging, displaying, and measuring the drapery I use a moveable
stand on castors like A in Fig. 2; upon this a plate Q, Fig. 15, is secured.
To this plate or table a copying apparatus composed of one or more needle
frames, already described, is attached. The bust around which the drapery
is to be arranged is held by a light plate Q, which is itself supported by means
of wires or rods S, S, so bent that being attached to the plate Q they are
carried down outside below the cloak or drapery and then turned up under
it until it receives the plate Q'; the object being to allow the drapery to
hang with perfect freedom; the moveable stand may be entirely turned round
or only the upper part, by which different lights may be obtained.
In order to work conveniently and securely many parts of my apparatus,
I have invented several modes or devices, and combinations of old devices,
that are useful not only for this but for other purposes.
From the compact space within which the needles are set it would be found
difficult to set securely the ball and sockets of some of them, for the reason
that the set cannot easily be applied to the ball at the proper place, while
applied to the side of the ball its security could not be depended upon. I
have, to remedy this difficulty, contrived a wedge shaped screw y', Fig. 11,
and applied it at right angles to and in contact with the bottom of the ball,
or to the end of a cup acting upon it, as represented in the Figure 11, so
that when turned the lateral pressure caused by the by the enlarging diameter
of the screw at the particular point sets the ball.
Figure 10, represents a mode of supporting and sustaining an arm V* upon
and by means of a quadrant W. It is permanently attached to the side of a
collar C upon the upright shaft C. The collar V, through which arm V²
passes, is pivoted at X, and describes an arc when moved by means of a piece
of metal or spring U secured to V, having a groove u¹ fitted and adjusted to
the quadrant, which not only confines its motion but when properly adjusted
creates sufficient adhesion to the quadrant, that when the collar and arm are
raised or lowered they retain the position in which they were left. The sliding
set screws W', W¹, limit its sphere of action on the quadrant. This arrange-
ment is particularly applicable to an arm holding measuring points to be
applied constantly to the marble in process of cutting, and removed by raising
them out of the way for the instant until required again.
The Apparatus is operated as follows:-The living model takes his position on
the seat F; the side and back pieces are then fitted to the lower part of the

page_text: body, and each secured; then the pieces K, K, II., or as many as are
requisite, are adjusted to the hips, shoulders, &c.; the supporter R is next
adjusted, and the blunt pointed bolts are pushed forward and set to the head.
This being satisfactorily accomplished, and having first arranged the measuring
rails, say, a large eliptical or circular rail for the head and neck, a curved
jointed one for the bust, and as many more as may be wanted, so as to use them
to the best advantage, I adjust and secure their arms to the height and position
on the shaft where I wish to employ them; the pieces of the arms next to the
shaft in succession are then moved in the proper direction and set. This
brings the measuring frame within working distance, so that it cannot be
moved in any direction except that allowed it on the quadrant bar, on which
it is controlled to prevent it moving towards the model farther than the set
screw allows. The object of allowing this movement on the quadrant is that
the rail can be drawn back out of the way without deranging or affecting
the steps already taken in the measurement; next, the needle holders are
turned each towards the point which the needle is to measure, and are also
set. The operator then takes a needle with a moveable set screw near the
other end, passes it through the holder, where it is pressed gently by a spring,
enough to hold it in any position, and moves it forward until it reaches the
designed point on the model, when the set screw is moved up against the
holder and secures the needle from advancing farther. When all the needles
are thus adjusted the frame can be turned back, and the model may leave
his sitting. When the material of which the copy is to be made is placed
in the same relative position as the model, either by occupying the same or
a stand to which the measuring shaft may be transferred, as before stated,
the frame is brought up to it, and the needles having been drawn back in
their sockets as much as required, are severally pushed forward with their
points against the head of ordinary pins, which are thus forced into the clay
until the set screw in the needle stops further progress; and it will be perceived
that the head of the pin shews in the clay the exact relative point on the
model it was intended to measure, and that the heads of these pins thus
form an outline of guides, corresponding with the features and figure with a
mathematical certainty and exactness as to size and proportion that no eyo
can accomplish.
In a similar manner copies are transferred from groups, or pieces of statuary,
or other work with the same accuracy.
I do not intend to confine myself to the forms of the needle frames and
other parts as herein described, nor to the precise mode of arranging, com-
bining, and operating them, as various modifications may be employed from

page_text: economy and various other reasons. In the foregoing Specification I have
described the best form of arrangement and best mode of operation with
which I am acquainted.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim under the above in part
recited Letters Patent is as follows:-
The mode of arranging, combining, and operating the needles and holders
in frames, substantially as described.
The arrangement, construction, and mode of operating the posture apparatus
consisting of the seat, the rests for the head, hip, shoulders, &c., substantially
as described.
The combined devices used for operating the needle frame, as seen in
Fig. 9, and the mode of holding the arm V2, as in Figure 10.
The application as described of the cone-shaped set screw for this or for
other similar purposes.
The apparatus for arranging and measuring the drapery.
The application of the feather edges and sockets to the tables for the
purpose described, and the construction of the stand resting upon them.
The mode of arranging, combining, and operating the entire apparatus
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, on this
Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
JOEL TANNER HART. (L.8.)