AN IMPROVED MODE OF MANUFACTURING CHINA AND EARTHENWARE ARTICLES ON
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Nash, of Burslem, in the County of
Stafford, Whitesmith, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE
OF MANUFACTURING CHINA AND EARTHENWARE ARTICLES ON THE
Sealed the 27th February 1854, and dated the 14th September 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Nash at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th September 1853.
I, WILLIAM NASI, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF MANUFACTURING CHINA AND EARTHEN-
WARE ARTICLES ON THE LATHE" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the use of a novel construction of profile
gauge or cutter in the manufacture of door knobs and other articles
that are trimmed up or brought to shape in the lathe. It has been
usual to construct the profile of a flat piece of metal, with the cutting
edge filed or moulded to the sectional shape of the article to be pro-
duced; but this construction of profile, in wearing away by use, loses.its
proper form, and requires constant repairs to ensure the continued

page_text: manufacture of the same form of article. Now the present Invention
is intended to remove the necessity for constant repairs; and to effect
this object I form the profile of thin sheet steel, and bend and set it so
that its sectional figure as well as its cutting edge shall correspond to
the contour of the article to be manufactured. This profile or cutting
tool I mount on a slide rest, and bring it into contact with the upper
part of the embryo article while rotating in the lathe, instead of
the side, as is usual with the.common profile. The advance of the
cutting tool may be effected by hand or otherwise, after the manner of
tools in slide rest lathes. By the use of this construction of profile it
will be understood that articles of an unvarying configuration may be
produced, the wearing away of the profile having no other effect than
to keep the cutting edge sharp and fit for its work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Nash in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th March 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM NASH, of Burslem, in the County of Stafford, Whitesmith,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Nash, Her special
license that I, the said William Nash, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Nash, 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 "AN IMPROVED MODE OF
MANUFACTURING CHINA AND EARTHENWARE ARTICLES ON THE LATHE," upon
the condition. (amongst others) that I, the said William Nash, by an

page_text: nstrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly de-
scribe 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 William Nash, 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 the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention relates to the use of a novel construction of profile gauge
or cutter in the manufacture of door knobs and other articles that are
trimmed up or brought to shape in the lathe. It has been usual to
construct the profile of a flat piece of metal, with the cutting edge filed
or moulded to the sectional shape of the article to be produced; but
this construction of profile, in wearing away by use, loses its proper form,
and requires constant repairs to ensure the continued manufacture of
the same form of article. Now the object of the present Invention
is to remove the necessity for constant repairs. This end I effect by
forming the profile of thin sheet steel, and bending and setting it so
that the figure of its cross section, as well as that of its cutting edge,
shall correspond to the profile of the article to be manufactured.
In applying this cutting tool I prefer to mount it on a slide rest, and
bring it into contact with the upper part of the lump of clay or embryo
article while the same is rotating in the lathe, instead of bringing it to
bear against the sides, as is usual when operating with the common
profile. The advance of the cutting tool may be effected by hand or
otherwise after the manner of tools in slide rest lathes.
In the accompanying Drawing the improved cutting tool is shewn
in several views as attached to the slide rest of a lathe; Fig. 1, being
a side elevation, Fig. 2, a plan view, and Fig. 3, an end elevation
thereof; the tool in this instance being adapted to the manufacture
of door knobs. a, a, is the rest socket of the lathe; and b, the slide
which works in V guides, as usual. This slide b, carries at its forward
end a block c, the figure of which corresponds in cross section, both in

page_text: size and shape,, with the profile of the article to be manufactured.. To
this block c, the cutting tool d, formed by preference of thin sheet steel,
is secured by means of a clamp e, which corresponds on its under side to
the figure of the cutting tool, and fitting close around it holds it by the
aid of binding screws e, down to the block c. In order to allow of the
cutting tool being shifted forward as the edge becomes worn away it
is slotted at its upper part so as to permit of the screws e, passing
through it without presenting an obstacle to the adjustment of tlie tool.
The lateral extremities of the tool are secured to the clamp e, by means
of binding screws. The spindle of the lathe is shewn at f, and upon
its, extremity the ball of clay to be converted into a door knob is to be
placed. This spindle is supported by a bracket g, which also carries a
bent spring h, for pressing upon the clay under operation at the opposite
side to that which is in contact with the tool, and thereby neutralizing
the tendency of the tool to push off the clay from the spindlé. Rotary
motion being communicated through the spindle f, to the clay, the tool
is brought up in contact therewith by the workman pulling forward a
lever, the end of which works in a slot *, in the hinder end of the slide
b. An adjustable stop i, is attached to the slide 6, in order to prevent
the tool from being moved so far forward as to throw the cutting edge
of the tool out of action. When the tool, by being gradually advanced
to the position shewn in the Figures, has removed the superfluous clay,
it is thrown back clear of the work. The knob is then removed from
the spindle, and a fresh ball of clay is applied thereto, which, in like
manner, by the gradual movement of the tool to its advanced position,
will be trimmed down into the required shape. The forward edge of
the clamp e, is chamfered to allow the clay to pass away freely as it is
thrown off by the cutting tool. In order to shift the tool as it wears
away further forward on the block c, it is only necessary to slacken the
binding screws, and it will then be free to be adjusted to the required
position.
In the above description I have shewn the application of my In-
vention to the manufacture of door knobs only, but it will be obvious
that a great variety of articles in china and earthenware may be pro-
duced in like manner by shaping the cutting tool, the carrying lock,

page_text: and the clamp to the profile of the article required to be manufactured.
By the use of this construction of cutting tool it will also be understood
that articles of an unvarying configuration may be produced, the wear-
ing away of the cutting tool having no other effect than to keep the
cutting edge sharp and fit for its work, a result which I believe has
never before been obtained in the class of pottery manufacture to which
my cutting tool is applicable.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved
Mode of Manufacturing China and Earthenware Articles on the Lathe,"
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to
be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I
claim the exclusive use, for the purpose of manufacturing china and
earthenware articles, of the profile, gauge, or cutting tool constructed
and operating as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Nash, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
0
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
WILLIAM NASH. (t.s.)