IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF TELEGRAPH POSTS, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE ALSO TO FENCING POSTS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward John Cowling Welch, of Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, General Manager of Francis Morton and
Company, Limited, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF TELEGRAPH POSTS, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE ALSO TO FENCING
POSTS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward John Cowling
Welch at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 4th March 1878.
I, EDWARD JOHN COWLING WELCH, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, General Manager of Francis Morton and Company, Limited,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TELEGRAPH POSTS, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE ALSO TO
FENCING POSTS AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows :-
This Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of
hollow telegraph posts, the same being also applicable for fencing posts,
and other like or analogous purposes. The posts are of a cylindrical or
conical elevation, and of either circular, elliptical, or polygonal section,

page_text: and are formed as follows:-A strip or band of sheet iron or other suit.
able metallic material is wound round a mandril in such a manner that
each succeeding convolution shall join or partially lap over the preceding
one, thus forming a continuous rigid tube, either of one given diameter
throughout its entire length, or of a tapered form, according to the kind a
of tube which it is desired to construct.
When the tube is of one given diameter the edges of the band or strip
of metal are caused to meet, and a narrow flat strip of iron or other
suitable metallic material is wound or placed over the joints. The tube
thus formed is then rendered sound, and the several joints thereof, and 1
parts of which the same consists, by being dipped in a bath of suitable
cementing material, but by preference in molten metal, such as tin or
zinc, or other suitable metal or metallic alloy. The joints are further
secured, if necessary or considered desirable, by means of rivets or other
well known contrivances.
When the tube is of a tapered form the edges of each convolution of
the metallic band or strip of which the same is formed are caused to
overlap the preceding one, and the joints then secured and rendered
sound, in the manner before described with reference to tubes of one
given diameter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward John Cowling Welch in the Great 2
Seal Patent Office on the 4th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
JOHN COWLING WELCH, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
General Manager of Francis Morton and Company, Limited, send
greeting.
:
1
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
8

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Edward John Cowling Welch,
Her special licence that I, the said Edward John Cowling Welch,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward John Cowling Welch, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION
OF TELEGRAPH POSTS, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE ALSO TO FENCING POSTS AND
OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others), that I, the
said Edward John Cowling Welch, my executors or adminstrators,
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 Edward John Cowling Welch,
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, that is to say:—
My said Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction
of hollow telegraph posts, the same being also applicable for fencing
posts and other like or analogous purposes in which lightness combined
with considerable strength is desirable. The posts are made of a rec-
tilinear, or cylindrical, or conical elevation, and of either circular,
elliptical, or polygonal section, and are formed as follows:-A strip or
band of sheet iron or other suitable material is wound round a mandril
in such a manner that each succeeding convolution shall join or partially
lap over the preceding one, thus forming a continuous rigid tube, either
· of one given diameter throughout its entire length, or of a tapered form,
according to the kind of tube which it is desired to construct.
When the tube is of one given diameter, the edges of the band or strip
› of metal are caused to meet, and a narrow flat strip of iron or other suit-
able metallic material is wound or placed over the joints. The tube
thus formed, and the several joints thereof, and the parts of which the
same consists, are then rendered sound by the whole being dipped or

page_text: immersed in a bath of suitable cementing material or materials, but by
preference in molten metal, such as tin, or zinc, or other suitable metal
or metallic alloy, or other mixture. The joints are further secured, if
necessary or considered desirable, by means of rivets or other well known
contrivances.
When the tube is desired to be of a tapered form the edges of each
convolution of the metallic band, or strip of which the same is con-
structed, are caused to overlap the preceding one, and the joints then
secured and rendered sound in the manner before described with reference
to tubes of one given diameter.
Posts constructed as before described, whether of one given diameter
or of a tapered form, possess great lightness combined with rigidity and
strength, and are applicable as telegraph posts, fencing posts, and to
many other purposes. In fixing such posts various appliances for the
purposes of fixing and support would of course be used, but it is 1
unnecessary for me to describe the same, inasmuch as such appliances
are well known and form no part of my said Invention.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim 2
as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in
part recited Lotters Patent is, the construction of hollow posts applicable
to telegraph and other purposes, substantially as herein-before described
and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward John Cowling Welch, 2
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of Sep-
tember, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.
EDWARD J. COWLING WELCH. (L.S.)
Witness,
THO'. OWEN,
57, Oakfield Road,
Liverpool.