IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY. OR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOBBIN NET OR TWIST LACE
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Walker, of Lenton, in the County of
Nottingham, Lace Manufacturer, and William Tilson, of the same Place,
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY. OR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Walker and
William Tilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th March 1861.
We, BENJAMIN WALKER, of Lenton, in the County of Nottingham, Lace
Manufacturer, and WILLIAM TILSON, of the same Place, Draughtsman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOBBIN NET OR TWIST
LACE," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of moveable stumps or jacks, of which there are two
to each carriage; one of such stumps or jacks is capable of counting either
two gates or no gate whatever, the other stump or jack, although it moves,
does not count. any gate. These stumps or jacks can be moved either
separately or both together, according to the pattern of the card or cards
used, and they work close underneath the carriages, and are actuated by a
jacquard or other suitable mechanical contrivance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Walker and William Tilson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th September 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, BENJAMIN
WALKER, of Lenton, in the County of Nottingham, Lace Manufacturer, and
WILLIAM TILSON, of the same Place, Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Benjamin Walker and William Tilson, Her special licence that we,
the said Benjamin Walker and William Tilson, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Benjamin Walker and William
Tilson, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOBBIN NET OR TWIST
LACE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Benjamin
Walker and William Tilson, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their'hands 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 per-
formed, 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 we, the said Benjamin Walker and William
Tilson, do hereby declare the nature of the 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, reference. being had
to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say,
Our Invention consists of moveable stumps or jacks, of which there are two
to each carriage; one of such stumps or jacks is capable of counting either
two gates or no gate whatever, the other. stump or jack, although it moves,
does not count any gate. These stumps or jacks can be moved either
separately or both together, according to the pattern of the card or cards

page_text: used, and they work close underneath the carriages, and are actuated by a
jacquard or other suitable mechanical contrivance.
Having thus set forth the nature of our said Invention, we now proceed
with reference to the accompanying Drawings more particularly to exemplify
the said Invention, and the manner in which the same may be carried into
effect.
Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 1, are front views of portions of a rolling locker
lace machine, shewing the right and left hand ends with the parts of the
machine heretofore used working in conjunction with the newly invented
parts; the central part of the machine is not shewn, it being similar to the
parts which are shewn. The front point bar is 'broken away in both views,
and the front comb bar C and the front roller E are broken away at the right
hand end to shew more fully the heads of the stumps or jacks and their top
sleys. Figure 3, Sheet 2, is a right-hand end view of the same machine,
shewing the wheels which give motion to the several bars herein-after
mentioned, together with the jacquard which selects the stumps or jacks.
In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, we declare that where herein-after
in this Specification we use the words stumps only, we desire that such term
shall imply éither stumps or jacks, and shall be understood as signifying either
stumps or jacks; and also that where we use the words bars or guide bars, we
not only mean a plain bar, but also a bar having guides soldered thereon or
therein; or a bar having holes or slots where required punched therein, or a
wire bar or sley bar, according to the machine in which and the purpose for
which the arrangement of stumps are used. Figure 4, Sheet 3, "is a left-
hand end view of the machine with the two wheels T, which give the requisite
movements to the point bar G, to which the point leads G¹ are screwed.
Figure 5, Sheet 3, represents one of a series of wheels S, one-half the full
size secured on the vertical shaft Q, shewn on Figures 1 and 3, the use of
these wheels we herein-after describe. The shaft Q revolves once while the
cam shaft revolves four times, the two shafts being provided with wheels gearing
into each other, as shewn. We do not confine ourselves to the use of wheels
having a relative proportion of 4 to 1, as we use wheels having a proportion of
2 to 1, 4 or 6 to 1, or other suitable convenient proportions, according to the
net or fabric intended to be made, as is well-known to the trade, such wheels
working in conjunction with the parts herein-after described, and moving the
shaft which carries the several bar wheels; and we do not confine ourselves to
moving the bars by wheels alone, as we sometimes move them 'by means of a
jacquard or other suitable contrivance. The vertical shaft V at the left-hand
end of the machine besides carrying the wheels T also carries a wheel W at

page_text: its upper end, and a wheel U.at.its lower end, which said wheel U gears into
a similar wheel on the cam shaft, the wheel W gearing into a wheel X on the
left-hand end of a shaft, which lies in bearings at each end and centre of the
machine, and upon which are keyed the excentrics Y, which give the required
lift to the wires and throw to the cylinder of the jacquards, as seen at Figure 3,
Sheet 2, the jacquard shaft moving twice to every one revolution of the cam
shaft. Figure 6, Sheet 3, is a side view of an arrangement of stumps herein-
after referred to. Figure 7, Sheet 4, is a sectional view of a portion of the
machine shewn on Sheet 1, and represents the stumps, etc., in their several
relative positions. The several kinds of stumps we use are shewn separately
on Sheet 4, Number 1. stump being seen at Figure 8, Number 2 stump at
Figure 10, Number 3 stump at Figure 12, Number 4 stump at Figure 13,
Number 5. stump at Figure 16, and Number 6. stump at Figures 17 and 18.
Figure 174, Sheet 5, is a sectional view of a fluted locker machine with the
stumps K, K, and K in their respective places. This view also shews one
method of moving both the front and back tiers of stumps with a double
driving bar.
We also apply the same or a similar arrangement of any of the
stumps described below to any description of what is known in the lace trade
as "circular" machines, or of what is known in the lace trade as "Lever's "
machines. Figures. 19 to 25 are front views of the stumps and threads shewing
the position which they severally and respectively occupy as they are moved
by the guide or other bars; and Figures 26 to 29 represent the wheels in plan
which give motion to the several guide bars. The several corresponding
parts in each Sheet being lettered alike, the following description will apply
to each.
In Figure 7 are shewn the carriage in the front combs and in the back
point bar in position, having taken up the twist made by the carriage threads,
guide bars, and by the moveable stumps. This Figure represents the shortest
method we use when employing two or three threads to a carriage, equally
divided on each side of the division bar and placed between the stumps, the
movements of the stumps working in a distance of about half an inch hori-
zontally, thus leaving sufficient space for the working of back or front gimps,
thick threads or cords, which are threaded through the holes of guide or per-
forated bars, as most convenient.
A, A, are portions of the end standards of the machine connected by the
tie bars B, B, at the back and front; C, C, are the bars to which the
combs D are screwed. Near the ends of these bars are secured bearings for
the fluted rollers E which give the requisite movement to the carriages F;
G. is the back. point bar, to which are screwed the point leads G'; H, H, are

page_text: the facing bars, and H2 is the beam upon which the work is wound as it is
made. Intermediately between the tie bars B is a bar I secured to the cross
tie bars B'; to the bar I are secured brackets I', which support a fixed
division bar 1, which said division bar I² occupies a nearly central-position
between the comb bars. The bar I carries a number of studs on each side
on which the guide bars I³ slide. At the back of the bar I are a number of
brackets which support the front bottom sley I', in which the bottom of the
back stump K slides; it is prevented from rising by a light bar Is held by
brackets screwed to a bar I', which is supported by brackets on the tie bars
B', bar I also affords support for brackets which carry the top front sley I",
in which the front stump K¹ slides, it also being prevented from rising by a
light bar similar to I³, not shewn in the Figure; the tails of the stumps have
a piece or portion cut out from the under side near the end at the back of the
machine. The tails of the stumps pass through the sleys I³; between the
front and back sleys are placed stationary spring bars L secured to supports
at either end of the machine and intermediately where required. To these
bars are screwed the leads in which are cast the springs L', a spring bearing
upon each stump. To the bar carrying the sley 1' are screwed brackets
which support the back top sley M, and to the brackets I' are screwed bearings
for the front top sley M³, the sleys M and M¹ being for the purpose of steady-
ing the heads of the stumps, the stumps being free to slide a short distance
horizontally in the sleys. The stumps are shown as if at work in this view,
being placed among the threads by the driving bars N and N¹; the upper edge
of which takes into the recess which is in the under side of the tails of the
stumps, the driving bar N moving the back stumps up towards the front, and
the bar N' moving the front stumps towards the back. Each stump has a string
fastened to it from a jacquard or other equivalent, which, when the stump
tails are raised by the jacquard, the drivers do not act upon such stumps, but
all other stumps are moved in as above described, the jacks being moved out
and in at every motion of the machine. The driving bars N and N' are each
attached to separate spindle bars N* and N³, and derive their motion by means
of brackets N and N and links N and N" attached to the levers Ns and N°;
which carry trucks; and are moved by the cams O and' O¹.
Figure 8 represents a front and back number 1 stump in position for
holding the threads after a selection is made, and Figure 9 shews a number of
similar stumps in the same position seen from above. In these views each
back stump lies with its centre intermediately with the centre of the front
stumps, by which arrangement each stump will cover two combs and a counter'
forming two gates, and by the threads being placed on each side of the back

page_text: or front stumps by the guide bars moving the threads to the right and left and
left and right, each motion of the machine; as the carriages pass from the front
to the back a carriage will pass on each side the centre between the centre
and the sides of each back stump, consequently the two carriages on each side
of the centre of the, back stump, will each form one of the two carriages
two front stumps lying inter-
These movements take place
are moved, two gates by the
back half bars, and by the
passing between the centres and sides of the
mediately with the back one, or vice versâ.
when the bars on each side of the division bar
wheels number, 1 and number 2 which move the
wheels numbers 3 and 4 which move the front half bars. When the machine
is making net without embossing or weavings, the position of the threads is
seen at Figure 20; these movements occur when the two back half bars are
standing, or twisting on 0 or on 2 gates.
Figure 23 shews the threads in position on each side of the stump (not
counting anything when the threads are standing or twisting on 1 gate); thus
by these simple movements only it will be seen that we can stand or twist on
0 or on 1 or 2 gates according to the cut of the wheels moving the guide
bars. Figures 10 and 11 represent a side view and plan of number 2 stumps,
in their respective positions lying out of the threads until a selection is made;
these stumps, instead of moving towards the centre of the machine, move
from it to be placed in amongst the threads. The way in which such move-
ments are obtained is fully shewn in Sheet 5, Figure 17, the movements of
the threads by the bars and wheels being the same as described for Figures 7,
8, and 9. The several top sleys M and M¹ and M2 for the stumps shewn at
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 have one cut or slot for every alternate carriage,
both for the front and back stumps, which lying intermediately towards each
other, form a full bar. In Figure 8 and 9 the bars are not shewn, but they
оссиру
the same position as in Figure 7, and in Figure 10 the bars would be
placed on each side of the double top sley, the centre of the sley forming the
division. The sleys for the stumps shewn at Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17
have each two cuts or slots in it for every other carriage both for the back and
front stumps, which lying intermediately form two cuts for each carriage, each
sley forming a full bar in the following manner :-In every other slot in the
back top sley is placed a box stump K², and to the right of it, in the next slot,
is placed a stump Ko, the stump K2 counting two combs and the counter, and
the stump Ke not counting anything, lies exactly underneath the centre of
the box stump K2, yet it is of sufficient strength to hold a thread or threads
on either side, as placed in position by the bars. The front top sley is cut in
the same way, but the cuts or slots lie intermediately with the back ones.

page_text: We now proceed to describe the movements and use of the stumps K and
K' when using a double warp, or two threads to a carriage. We wish it to be
distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the, using of a double
warp only in this arrangement, but we purpose to work as many threads to. a
carriage as the space between the combs will admit. Thus if, for instance,
this arrangement be applied to a Lever's machine having the space of an inch
and a half between the inner ends of the combs, we can work a much greater
number of threads than in any other spacing apparatus or stump bar or bars
heretofore used, having at the same time a much greater facility for standing,
twisting, weaving, and embossing the same. There are two half bars on each
side the division, two half bars at the back lying intermediately with two in
the front moved by the wheels 1 and 2, each thread moving a space of two
gates and back again, thereby not counting anything as they return to their
starting point every motion, the threads being stopped before the bars return
by the box stump K² or the stump K³ (not counting anything), so that any
thread can be stopped on 0 or on 1 or 2 gates, the stumps being moved in for
that purpose by the driving bars above described, according to the selection.
made by the pattern card. The two half bars in the front acting in the same
way are moved by the wheels 3 and 4, the position of the threads on both
stumps being shewn at Figures 20 and 23; thus it is plain that by means of
the stumps working in conjunction with guide bars moved by wheels having a
greater or less number of rises and falls cut on them according to the work
required, we can produce a much greater variety of meshes, twistings, weavings,.
and embossings.
Figures 12 and 14 are respectively side view and plan of number 3 stumps
K2, K³, in position for a selection of threads to be made, and are moved in.
and out of the threads in the same way as that described for Figures 8 and 9..
Figures 13 and 15 are respectively a side view and plan of number 4 stumps,.
which are moved in the same way as described for the stumps shewn at
Figures 10 and 11. Figure 16 shews the number 5 boxed stumps K*, K³,.
baving a slot in the front towards the division to admit of cords or threads.
working in the stumps, but not acted on by them, the movements of the threads
or cords being dependent upon the wheels moving the bars.. The stumps
shewn in the above Figures are those used in the arrangement seen at,
Figure 13, the stump K taking its place in the sley M', and the stump K³.
in the sley M, when the arrangement shewn at Figure 12 is used.
Figures 17 and 18 are respectively a plan and side view of K, not count-.
ing anything, which being somewhat thinner than the space between the

page_text: carriages, and placed below the boxed stump, and being exactly under the
space between the carriages when the bars have moved the threads according
to the cut of the wheels moving such bars, these stumps are moved in by the
driving bars above described, and will stop the several threads a little on one
side of the centre of the space, and the stump lying a little below the gate the
thread is required to pass, it will hold the thread sufficiently beyond the space
to allow the carriage to get in the positions of such threads being shewn at
Figures 23, 24, and 25, Figure 23 shewing the stumps in for pillaring,
Figure 24 the stumps in one half for embossing or weavings 5 gates to the
right, and Figure 25 both to the right and left 5 gates. The Figures shew
only the back portions of the stumps and bars. Figure 19 represents the
stumps covering two gates with the threads in position for embossing or'
weaving with two half bars; Figure 21 represents the open boxed stumps K+,
Ks, and the stumps K, with the threads on each side of the stump K and the
cords or threads in the open box, and on each side of the stumps K; Figure 22
represents the boxed stumps K2 brought forward between the threads, and
the stumps K are left back.
Figure 6, Sheet 3, represents the stumps K2 and K³, or K, K, and K* in
position in the threads, the heads of the whole of the stumps facing towards the
centre of the machines, and lying behind the division I2, the whole of which may
be moved in and out of the threads by the driving bars above described, or only
one driving bar may be used for that purpose. We sometimes arrange the
whole of the several stumps above described as shewn on this Figure, or with
the heads pointing towards the centre, but lying in front of the division.
Although we have shewn and described several methods of applying solid
stumps, open stumps, and stumps not counting anything, we have done so
merely to illustrate a method of applying the stumps safely, as they can be
applied in a vast variety of other ways which are too numerous to mention.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, we declare that what we claim as our improve-
ments in machinery or apparatus for the manufacture of bobbin net or twist
lace, is,
First, the application or employment of either of the stumps above
described working underneath the carriages in the machines in one or more
tiers and on one or both sides of the division bar, or on one or both sides of the
centre of the machines, such stumps not counting anything, or counting one or
two gates, and each stump being arranged with its nose towards the centre both
in the front and back tiers, or in both tiers, with their noses towards the centre

page_text: of the machine either from the front or back of the machine, having their noses
pointing from the centre of the machine both in the front and back tiers, or
in a front or back tier or tiers pointing from the centre.
Second, the general arrangement and combination of machinery constructed
in the manner herein-before described and exemplified in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Benjamin Walker and William Tilson,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Agent,
Nottingham.
D. WALKER L.B.)
W. TILSON. (L.S.)