IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AR OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Pym, of Pimlico, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
AR OF RAILWAYS"
Sealed the 29th September 1853, and dated the 29th March 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Pym at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th March 1853..
I, JOHN PYM, of Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
I construct my sleepers (of whatever material they may be composed)
hollow, instead of solid as heretofore, and perforate the bottom or sides
thereof, in order to prevent what is now termed "sopping," by allowing
the water to enter the body of the sleeper, and to run off at either end.
I also form sleepers of earthenware, stoneware, or slate, and in such
cases I place felt, vulcanized caoutchouc, or other like material, between
the sleeper and chair. To fix the chairs upon sleepers where not advisable

page_text: or practicable to adopt the methods now in use, I form the sole of the
chair sufficiently long to overlap the sides or edges of the sleeper, and
secure the ends of the sole by passing a bolt, pin, or rivet from side to
side, or right through them and the sleeper. I fix a rib or ribs on the
sleeper, upon, by the side of, or between which I place the chair.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Pym, in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 29th September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN PYM, of Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Ier heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Pym, Her special licence that
1, the said John Pym, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Pym, 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 PERMANENT
WAY OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Pym, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 John Pym, 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 thereof, that is to say:

page_text: I construct my sleepers (which are transverse sleepers) of earthen-
ware, slate, stone, or other suitable materials; and of whatever material
they may be made, I form them hollow, instead of solid as heretofore;
and in order to prevent what is termed sopping, I perforate the bottom
or sides, to allow the water to enter the interior chamber thercof, and to
run off at either end. To fix the chairs upon the sleepers where not
desirable or practicable to adopt the methods now in use, I form the solc
of the chair sufficiently long to overlap the sides or edges of the
sleeper, and secure the ends of the sole by passing a bolt from side to
side, through the sleeper, and fastening the same by a nut, pin, or rivet.
To prevent the jarring of the chair and sleeper, I place wood, felt,
or other suitable material between the chair and the sleeper.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as of
my said Invention,-
First, the construction of hollow perforated sleepers, as hercin-before
described.
Second, the construction of sleepers of slate and earthenware.
Third, the construction of chairs, and mode of fastening the
herein-before described.
same, as
In witness whereof, I, the said John Pym, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
ΓΥΜ.
JOHN PYM. (L.S.)