NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS AND PISTOLS, AND FOR SHAPING METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC SUBSTANCES FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Brooks, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and Henry Waters, of Smethwick, in the
County of Stafford, Machinist, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED
MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS AND PISTOLS, AND
FOR SHAPING METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC SUBSTANCES FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 20th April 1860, and dated the 30th January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Brooks and Henry
Waters at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th January 1860..
We, EDGAR BROOKS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, and HENRY WATERS, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "NEW
OR IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS AND PISTOLS,
AND FOR SHAPING METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC SUBSTANCES FOR OTHER PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
We will describe our Invention as applied to the manufacture of guns and
pistols.
Our Invention consists of the machinery hereinafter explained, for shaping
or partly shaping the stocks of guns and pistols, and preparing them for the
reception of the barrel, lock, ramrod, and other parts; portions of the said
machinery may also be applied to the finishing of the trigger, guard, lock plate,
and other metallic portions of guns and pistols. The butt end of the stock
is shaped by a machine constructed as follows:-A travelling platform carries
the sawn-out rough stock, and also a pattern or metallic model stock. Over

page_text: the rough stocks rotating cutters are stationed, and a guide roller of the same
or nearly the same size as the cutters is situated over the pattern. The said
cutters and guide roller turn upon axes carried by a support capable of rising
and falling in a vertical plane; the rough stocks and pattern are made to rotate
simultaneously. The pattern by its rotation causes the support carrying the said
guide roller and cutters. to rise and fall, as the different parts of the said pattern
by its rotation act upon the guide roller; the cutters at the same time rise
and fall, and in cutting the rough stock, give it the figure of the pattern. The
cutters rotate in a vertical plane, and the cutting is effected by their peri-
pheries. The advancing motion of the table carrying the rough stocks and
pattern is effected by a screw. The machine for making the groove for the
barrel is constructed as follows:-A guide, which is capable of expanding to
suit different sized barrels, is placed beside the stock to be grooved, and passed
underneath a rotating cutter fixed on a vertical axis. Beside the cutter is a
guide, both guide and cutter being carried by a plate having motion both hori-
zontally and vertically. The groove formed may be cleared or finished by a
cutter situated horizontally being passed along the groove. The fore end of
the stock is shaped by a machine in which the cutters have only a rotatory
motion, the pattern and stock being carried under the cutters by the motion
The machine for letting in the lock plate resembles generally
the machine for making the groove for the barrel, and is provided with an ex-
panding pattern to suit locks of different sizes. In the machine for making
the ramrod groove and bore and the recesses for the trigger plate and guard,
as well as the holes required in the stock at the trigger plate and lock, the
stock moves under the cutters in making the recesses, but is at rest during
drilling and the cutting of the ramrod groove, which is cut by a rotating
cutter travelling along the stock. The machinery for letting in the butt plate
and nose cap resembles generally the machine for letting in the lock plate,
which said machinery may also be used for finishing the lock plate, trigger,
guard, and butt plate, and also parts of the lock. We also cut or shape the
groove to receive the barrel, ramrod, and butt plate, and also partially shape
the exterior of the fore part of the stock by a machine consisting of rotating
cutters, so placed as to be capable of advancing and retiring from their centres
by levers or inclined planes arranged so as to give the desired angle or shape.
Although for convenience of description we have described our Invention as
applied to the manufacture of guns and pistols, yet we wish it to be clearly un-
derstood that our Invention is equally applicable to the shaping of metallic
and non-metallic substances for various other purposes.
of a screw.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edgar Brooks and Henry Waters in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDGAR
BROOKS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and
HENRY WATERS, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Edgar Brooks and Henry Waters, Her special licence that we, the said Edgar
Brooks and Henry Waters, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Edgar Brooks and Henry Waters, our 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 "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GUNS AND PISTOLS, AND FOR SHAPING METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC
SUBSTANCES FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Edgar Brooks and Henry Waters, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our or their bands and seals, or
under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 Edgar Brooks, on behalf of myself and
the said Henry Waters, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly de-
scribed and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that
is to say:
Our Invention consists of the new or improved machinery herein-after
explained and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for shaping or partly
shaping the stocks of guns and pistols, and preparing the said stocks for the
reception of the barrel, lock, ramrod, and other parts of the guns and pistols.
Portions of the said machinery may also be applied to the shaping of the

page_text: trigger, trigger plate, guard, lock plate, and other metallic parts of guns
and pistols.
Our new or improved machinery may also be used for shaping metallic and
non-metallic substances for other purposes; for example, the machine, herein-
after first described, for shaping the butt-hand and lock part of a gun stock
may also be employed for shaping the handles of hatchets and other tools, and
various other articles by substituting in the said machine a model of the article
to be produced in place of the model gunstock shewn in the Drawing.
The various other machines, herein-after described and illustrated in the
Drawings, may also be employed for purposes analogous to those described
with reference to the said machines. For convenience of description we will
only describe our new or improved machinery as applied to the manufacture of
parts of guns and pistols.
The machine for shaping the butt-hand and lock part of gun and pistol
stocks is constructed in the manner herein-after described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying Drawings; Figure 1 being
a side elevation; Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section; Figure 3, a plan;
Figure 4, an end elevation; and Figure 5, an elevation of the opposite end to
that represented in Figure 4. The same letters and figures of reference are
employed to indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
A platform travels in a dovetail on the framing c of the machine. The
said platform b carries the sawn-out rough stocks d, d, each being supported so
as to be capable of a rotatory motion, as will be understood by an examination
of the Drawing. Between the rough stocks d, d, is a pattern or model stock e,
supported similarly to the rough stocks d, d. We prefer to make the model
stock e of cast iron or other metal. Over the rough stocks d, d, rotating
cutters f, f, are stationed, and a guide roller g of the same or nearly the same
size as the cutters f, f, is situated over the model stock e. The said cutters f, f,
and guide roller g turn upon axes carried by the frame or support h, which said
frame or support is capable of rising and falling vertically; the said support h
sliding in a dovetail i in the framing of the machine. The rough stocks d, d,
and the pattern e are made to rotate simultaneously, as herein-after explained;
and the frame h is permitted to descend until the guide roller g rests upon the
model e. A rapid rotatory motion is communicated to the cutters f, f, by the
bands k, k. By the rotation of the model e, the frame h carrying the guide
roller and cutters is made to rise and fall as the different parts of the said
model by its rotation act upon the guide roller g. The cutters f. f, in thus
rising and falling in conjunction with their rotatory motion cut the rough-
stocks d, d, to the figure of the model e. The cutters f, f, rotate in a vertical

page_text: b
plane, and the cutting is effected by teeth fixed on their peripheries. The
platform 6 advances under the cutters by the action of the screw l, as best seen
in Figure 2; the said screw / working in a screw box m fixed on the under
side of the platform b; the screw is thrown into and out of gear with the
toothed wheel n by means of the clutch o. The rod p carries a fork g, which
engages in the neck of the clutch o.
By pushing or pulling the vertical end
p" of the rod p, the clutch o engages with the wheel n, and the screw is made
to rotate. By pulling the end p² of the rod p the clutch o is disengaged from
the wheel n, and the screw brought to rest. On the rod p a stop p³ is fixed,
against which the screw box m strikes, when the platform 6 has advanced
sufficiently far under the cutters. The clutch is thereby disengaged from
the wheel n, and the platform b brought to rest. The said platform may be
returned by rotating the screw 7 by means of the handle r. The cutting com-
mences at the thickest or broadest end of the stock. The frame h may be
lifted by means of the handle s. Motion is communicated to the platform b,
cutters ff, and model e by means of the band t, which gives rotation to the
pulley u. A pinion 3 on the axis of the pulley u gears into the toothed wheel
4, and communicates motion to its axis w, and through the toothed wheels a
and y and axis z to the pinion 2. The toothed wheel a slides upon its axis,
being connected therewith by means of a sliding key. The motion of the
pinion 2 is communicated to the axes, by which rotation is given to the rough
stocks d, d, and model e by toothed gearing, the arrangement of which will be
readily understood by an inspection of Figure 4. The motion of the pulley u
is transmitted to the toothed wheel n through the pinion 8, toothed wheel 4,
and the pinion 5.
Our machine for giving a cylindrical or nearly cylindrical figure to the
fore part of the stock is represented in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the
Drawings, Figure 6 being an elevation of one side, and Figure 7 an elevation
of the opposite side; Figure 8 is a plan; and Figure 9 is an end elevation;
Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section taken through the line a, Figure 8.
The same letters are used to indicate the same parts in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9,
and 10. b is the stock to be shaped, and c is the model made by preference of
metal; d is a rotating cutter, and e a guide roller; the said cutter and roller
being supported by the plate f capable of a vertical sliding motion in the
frame g. The stock band model c have rotatory motions communicated to
them by toothed gearing; but as the method of giving rotation to the stock b
and model c, as well as the construction and action of the cutter d, guide
roller e, and plate f resemble in all essential respects similar parts in the
machinery already described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, we

page_text: do not think it necessary more minutely to describe these parts. The frame g
carrying the cutter and parts appertaining thereto is supported by and works
in a dovetail h on the bed of the machine, and is made to move over the stock
and model in the following manner :-i is a screw to which an intermitting
rotatory motion is given thus; the motion of the shaft k driven by the pulley
is transmitted through a band to the pulley m. On the shaft n a series of
arms or radii o are situated, and on the inner side of the pulley m a pin p is
fixed. On each rotation of the pulley m the pin p strikes one of the arms o, and
causes the shaft n, screw i, and toothed wheel q to perform one-sixth of a rota-
tion; the motion of the said screw i, shaft n, and wheel 7 being intermittent;
7 is a worm wheel fixed on the end of an axis situated transversely in the
lower part g2 of the frame g. A second worm wheel is situated opposite the
worm wheel 7, and serves only to support the screw i. The axis of the worm
wheel 7 is fixed during the action of the machine, in the manner herein-after
explained, in which case the said wheel being incapable of a rotatory motion,
the intermittent motion of the screw i carries the said pinion » along the said
screw i as though the said pinion were a fixed rack or a portion of a screw
box upon the said screw. In this way the frame g is gradually carried from
end to end of the model c by means of the fixed worm wheel r. A slow inter-
mittent rotatory motion is at the same time communicated to the stock band
model c by means of the toothed wheel q, acting on the pinion and toothed
wheels t, u. A rotatory motion is given to the cutter d by means of the pulley
v and band w. The pulley vis situated upon the shaft or axis k, but is not
fixed thereto. The said pulley slides upon the shaft k by means of a key or
projection inside the collar y engaging in a slot a in the said shaft k. An arm z
fixed on the frame g clips the collar y of the pulley v, and causes the said
pulley to travel with the said frame g. By the rotation of the said model c,
on which the guide roller e rests, the frame f is made to rise and fall, and
with it the rotating cutter d. These motions of the cutter d, combined with
its progressive motion along that part of the stock to be shaped, give the
rotating stock the figure of the model c. In order to effect the return motion
of the frame g, the axis of the worm wheel r is unlocked in the manner herein-
after explained, when the said axis and wheel r are capable of a rotatory
motion, and by turning the winch 2 on the axis of the worm wheel 1, the said
wheel is carried along the screw i as a pinion upon a rack, and the frame g
brought into a position proper to commence acting on another stock. The
locking and unlocking of the axis of the wheel r, so as to permit the said axis
and wheel to have a rotatory motion or fix them at pleasure, is thus effected.
On the axis of the wheel r is a disc 3, having notches 4 in its edge; 5 is an

page_text: arm turning upon a joint, and when the frame has been brought into the right
position by the winch 2, the arm 5 is turned into one of the notches 4 in the
disc 3, and the axis of the wheel r is thereby fixed. Although we have repre-
sented and described this machine as constructed for shaping only one stock
at a time, yet it may be made to shape two or more stocks at the same time
by the use of additional cutters.
Our machine for cutting the recess in the stock for receiving the lock is
represented in Figures 11, 12, 18, and 14 of the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 11 being a side elevation, and Figure 12 a plan; Figures 13 and 14 are
end elevations taken from opposite ends of the machine. The same letters are
employed to indicate the same parts in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14. The stock
to be operated upon is marked a, and is supported on the platform of the
machine by being connected to the barrel c, which latter is screwed to the said
bed at d. The said platform 6 slides on the bars e, e, on the bed of the
machine. Motion is given to the platform b by means of the lever f and con-
necting rod g. A pattern his screwed on the platform 6 by the side of the
stock a. The said pattern h is made of metal, and may be divided into two or
more parts, so as to be capable of being expanded or opened in any required
direction to suit locks of different sizes. A rotating cutter i, by which the
recess is cut in the stock, is carried by the plate k, which said plate is capable
of both a horizontal and vertical motion. The said plate k moves horizontally
on a dovetail on the plate 7, and the plate moves vertically on a dovetail on
the uprights m. The cutter is raised by means of springs n, and is brought
down to its work by the handle o, by which said handle the cutter can be
moved about horizontally as well as vertically. A guide p fixed beside the
cutter on the plate k enters the pattern h, and limits the motion of the cutter i
to the figure of the said pattern. The cutter i is driven by the band q, and by
moving the cutter i by means of the handle and the stock a by means of
the handle f, the workman can give all the necessary motions to effect the
cutting of the recess for the lock in the stock a. The recess cut resembles
that in the model or pattern h.
Our machinery for making the ramrod groove, and the recesses for the trigger,
trigger plate, and guard, as well as the holes required in the stock at the
trigger plate and lock, is represented in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
22, 23, and 24 of the accompanying Drawings; Figure 15 representing a
side elevation, and Figure 16, a plan; Figures 17 and 18 represent vertical
transverse sections taken respectively through the lines a, b, Figure 16;
Figure 19 represents a plan of a portion of the same; and Figure 20 represents
an elevation of a portion of the same. The other Figures represent separate

page_text: portions of the same, as herein-after explained. The same letters are employed
to indicate the same parts in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
and 24. c is a model of a barrel fixed on the bed of the machine. Ou the
said barrel c the stock d is placed, the said stock & being fixed by the block e,
shown separately on a larger scale in Figure 21. The said block e is supported
on an axis f, f', shown separately on a larger scale in Figure 22. The partƒ³
of the axis f, f, turns in a support at g, the block e being situated on the
excentric portion f on the said axis. By turning the axis f, f, by means of
the key or handle h, the block e is made to press upon and hold the stock d.
The groove for the ramrod is cut by the circular cutter i, the support k
carrying the said cutter i being capable of sliding on a dovetail on the bed m
of the machine. As the cutter i works, it is pushed by the workman along
the stock d. The cutter i and parts appertaining thereto are shown on a
larger scale in elevation in Figure 23, and in horizontal section in Figure 24;
the cutter is fixed on an axis n, which is situated excentrically in the
cylinder o, and by turning the said cylinder o in the collar or bearing p, the
cutter may be adjusted with great nicety to the required height. The
position of the cylinder o is fixed by means of the screw washers q, q. Motion
is given to the cutter i by means of the band r driven by the pulley s.
The
said band passes over the guide pulleys t, t, and u, u, and around the pulley v
on the axis of the cutter. In making the recesses for the trigger plate and
guard, as well as the holes required in the stock for the trigger plate and lock,
the barrel c is disengaged from the pin c², the said barrel and stock d are
turned upon the centre w, until the butt of the stock assumes a horizontal or
nearly horizontal position, in which position they are fixed by a pin being
passed through one of the holes x, and made to engage in a hole in the axis w.
y is a cutter, and z is another cutter carried by the plates 2 and 3, which said
plates have a vertical motion in the dovetails 12, 13. Motion is given to the
cutters y, z, by means of pullies 4 and 5. These are driven from the pulley s
by a band, shown in dotted lines in Figure 16, the band r being thrown off the
pulleys so as to throw the cutter i out of gear. On the side of the stock da
model or pattern 6 is fixed, having the form of the parts to be cut out of the
stock. This pattern or model is best seen in Figure 19. Beside the cutters y
and z, guides y and z² are fixed, the points or lower ends of the said guides
entering the recesses in the model 6, and thereby determining the depth aud
figure of the cuttings effected by the cutters y and z. The cutter z is brought
into operation by depressing the handle 7, and the cutter y is brought into
operation by depressing the handle 8. The stock is moved under the cutter z
by means of the handle 9, which, through the connecting rod 10, gives a

page_text: sliding motion to the support 11 carrying the stock. The said support 11
works on the dovetail on the bed of the machine.
We also cut or shape the grooves in gun and pistol stocks for the ramrod
and barrel, and also shape the exterior of the fore part of the stock by means
of the machine represented in side elevation in Figure 25, in transverse vertical
section in Figure 26, and in plan in Figure 27 of the accompanying Drawings;
the same letters are employed to indicate the same parts in Figures 25, 26,
and 27. In the said Figures 25, 26, and 27, the unessential parts are
omitted, in order to make the important parts the clearer. The fore part of
the stock is cut by two cutters a, a, which are driven by pulleys b, b. The
axes c, c, of the said cutters turn in cylindrical bearings d, d, the said axes
being situated excentrically in the said bearings d, d. The bearings d, d, are
carried by and turn in the collars e, e. Arms f, f, are fixed on the tops of the
bearings d, d, and by turning the bearings d, d, by means of the said arms f, f;
the cutters a, a, may be made to approach to or recede from each other. The
roughly formed stock g is passed between the cutters a, a, supported in the
tapering or wedge-shaped support h, which said support h acting on the rollers
i, i, on the ends of the arms f, f, causes the cutters a, a, to separate to the
required degree to shape the fore part of the stock. The groove for the ram-
rod is cut by a cutter k situated in a higher plane than the cutters a, a, and
the groove for the barrel is cut by the cutter / situated at a lower level than
the cutters a, a. The cutters and are supported in the manner described
with reference to the cutters a, a, and are thus capable of being adjusted to
the required heights.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to the precise details herein described and represented, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of our Invention; but we
claim as our Invention,―
Firstly, the general arrangement or combination of parts of the machinery
herein-before described, and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the
accompanying Drawings, for shaping the butt end, hand, and lock part of gun
and pistol stocks, which said machinery may also be applied to the shaping of
metallic and non-metallic substances for other purposes.
Secondly, the general arrangement or combination of parts of the machinery
herein-before described, and represented in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the
accompanying Drawings, for giving a cylindrical or nearly cylindrical figure to
the fore part of gun and pistol stocks, which said machinery may also be

page_text: applied to the shaping of metallic and non-metallic substances for other
purposes.
Thirdly, the general arrangement or combination of parts of the machinery
herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the
accompanying Drawings, for cutting the recess for or letting in the lock in the
stocks of guns and pistols, which said machinery may also be applied to the
shaping of metallic and non-metallic substances for other purposes.
Fourthly, the general arrangement or combination of parts of the machinery
herein-before described, and represented in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
22, 23, and 24 of the accompanying Drawings, for making the ramrod groove
and the recesses for the trigger plate and guard, as well as the holes required
at the trigger plate and lock in the stocks of guns and pistols, which said
machinery may also be applied to the shaping of metallic and non-metallic
substances for other purposes.
Lastly, the general arrangement or combination of parts of the machinery
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 25, 26, and 27 of the
accompanying Drawings, for making the grooves in gun and pistol stocks for
the ramrod and barrel, and also shaping the exterior of the fore part of gun
and pistol stocks, which said machinery may also be applied to the shaping of
metallic and non-metallic substances for other purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edgar Brooks, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
EDGAR BROOKS. (L.S.)