CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE Manufacture OF ORNA- MENTAL METALLIC CHAINS FOR FANCY WEAB."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph George Rollason and John Wood, both
of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, for the
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE Manufacture OF ORNA-
MENTAL METALLIC CHAINS FOR FANCY WEAB."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph George
Rollason and John Wood at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 4th March 1874.
We, JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON and JOHN WOOD, both of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF ORNAMENTAL METALLIC CHAINS FOR FANCY WEAR," to be as follows (that is
to say) :-
Our Invention relates to the description of fancy chains made from
links formed from flat metal, and in giving effect to the same we purpose
forming the blank of cach link with two or more projections, cach
terminating with a T shape or other suitable form, provided that the

page_text: said projection is broader at its radial terminal point, and connected
with the body of the link by a small neck; and at a suitable radius from
the centre of the link in the direction of the projections we make pierce
holes of the width of the largest terminal point of the projections above
referred to, and connected with radial slots of the size of the neck of
the projections. Blank links thus formed by suitable mechanism we
make up into chains in the following way: - Over a central orifice we
place a blank, and by means of a cupping tool we press the said blank
link down in a cavity, which causes the projections to stand vertical,
when they will be in position for the next blank to be put over it in
such a way that the projections shall enter the pierce holes before
mentioned, when the projecting points of the lower link will be pressed
inward, thereby carrying the T heads of the projections towards the
centre that their necks may pass along the radial slots. This done, the
second link may be cupped, as before described, thereby bringing its
projecting points in a vertical position for receiving another flat blank
link to be placed over the vertical projections in the link below, and so
on in continuity for the manufacture of such kind of chains, the addition
of cach blank holding and locking the enlarged terminal projections of
the link below in position, so as to make the engagement of the links
one with the other thoroughly secure. Fancy chains thus made will bo
found stronger and more flexible than such kind of chains as manu-
factured by the ordinary method now in use, the pattern of the chains
being diversified by varying the number of projections and the amount
of additional piercings than what are necessary for the purpose of con-
nection.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Joseph
George Rollason and John Wood in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 3rd October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, JOSEPH
GEORGE ROLLASON and JOHN WOOD, both of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturers, send greeting.
3
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of March, in the year of 2
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-

page_text: eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Joseph George Rollason and John
Wood, Her special license that we, the said Joseph George Rollason
and John Wood, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Joseph George Rollason and John Wood, our exe-
cutors, administrators, or 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 " CERTAIN IMPROVE,
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL METALLIC CHAINS FOR FANCY
WEAR," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Joseph
George Rollason and John Wood, by an instrument in writing under
our hands and scals, 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 seven calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joseph George Rollason and
John Wood, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates to the description of fancy chains made from
links formed from flat metal, and in giving effect to the same we purpose
forming the blank of each link with two or more projections, each
terminating with a T shape or other suitable form, provided that the
said projection is broader at its terminal part, and connected with the
body of the link by a small neck; and at a suitable radius from the
centre of the link, in the direction of the projections or otherwise we
make pierce holes of the width of the largest terminal part of the pro-
jections above referred to, and connected with a radial slot or recess of
the size of the neck of the projections. Blank links thus formed of any
desired shape by suitable mechanism we make up into chains in the
following way :-Over a central orifice we place a blank, and by means
of a cupping tool we press the said blank link into a cavity, which
causes the projections to stand vertical, when they will be in position for

page_text: the next blank to bo put over them in such a way that the said pro-
jections shall enter the pierce holes before mentioned, when the
projecting points of the lower link will be pressed so as to cause their
necks to pass into the radial recesses or reduced parts. This done, the
second link may be cupped or shaped, as before described, thereby
bringing its projecting parts in a vertical position for receiving another
flat blank link to be placed over the vertical projections of the link
below, and so on in continuity for the manufacture of such kinds of
chains, the addition of each blank holding and locking the enlarged
terminal projections of the link below in position, so as to make the
engagement thoroughly securo. Fancy chains thus made will be found
stronger and more flexible than those manufactured by the ordinary
method or methods now in use, the pattern of the chains being
diversified by varying the shape of the link blanks and number and
position of the engaging projections, also the amount of additional
piercings than beyond what are necessary for the purpose of con-
ncction.
But in order that we may be well understood as to the extent and
naturo of our Invention we will proceed to describe the same, aided by
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
The principle of linking involved in our Invention may be said to
differ from all other modes hitherto practised by its direct action (that is
to say), the engaging parts are not required to be bent, closed, or
rivetted, to effect the union, nor to need soldering or the use of inter-
mediate locking links, as such modes are entirely unnecessary and
objectionable in giving effect to our Invention, nor do we requiro other-
wise than the common and ordinary appliances now in use for carrying
our said Invention into practical usc.
Figure 1 represents a chain link drawn to an unusual size for the
better exhibiting and explaining our mode of linking by means of
extended projections. We will suppose this blank has been cut out
from sheet metal suitable for the manufacture of fancy chain, and
pierced as here represented by the ordinary tools and fly press
(appliances well understood by the makers of fancy goods from slicet
metal), and mainly by the same appliances the said blank may be
cupped at its base and horizontally curved in its wings, as at a, b, and b',
Figure 2, which is a section of Figure 1 taken through the dotted

page_text: line c, d. Links thus shaped and bent into form may be readily linked
together by means of a square centre punch with its sides grooved out,
the thickness and width of the terminal projections e, e, and ƒ, f, and
set vertically in the stock or bolt of a fly press, a square hole being
formed through the bed of the said press of the size of the largest part
of the finished links, as exhibited in Figure 3; and with these simple,
common, and well understood appliances the prepared link may be
placed in position over the square orifice in the bed of the press and
pressed down by the descent of the punch, the depth of the wings
which will leave the four projections standing above, when the next
prepared link is passed over it, so that the four projections e, e, and f,f,
pass through corresponding slots g, g, and h, h, when the decent of the
punch will bring the wings together, and thereby force the necks of the
radial projections n, n, and m, m, into corresponding radial recesses p, p,
and q, q, when the engagement will be complete as the angles of the
wings from the cupped base in the finished chain will be on the dotted
lines, ", and r, r, so that when the wings are thus placed in
position the terminal projections will be locked by their necks in their
respective concentric recesses and the engagement made complete by
the spreading metal of the extended parts marked c, c, and f, f, before
referred to, but such parts may be of any other shape provided the shape
conserves the same object, as for instance a T shape will answer well,
and not occupy much space or metal in construction, and if the top part
be curved thus T, more freedom and flexibility will be afforded to
the finished chain made from them.
Figure 4 simply represents a blank for a chain link of another
pattern, but identically the same in the mode of linking; and Figure 5
represents the same form of blanks linked into a chain of a circular
form in its transverse section, avoiding all ornamentation either by
piercing or surface design; and Figure 6 represents another form of
blank chain link, which may be cupped, circular, square, or octagon, as
may be desired, and the concentric circular pierce hole may be omitted
in this as in the other examples if so preferred, for it is by no means
essential to our Invention for the centre of the blanks to be pierced
out.
The 7 Monta
7
13
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page_text: shewn partly in section as take through the dotted line t, t, of Figure 6,
the recess being marked z, whilst the lateral projections marked r,
Figure 7 rest on the metal on each side of the recess, as shown by the
dotted lines w, w, Figure 6, which represents a top view of the part v.
Figure 7 shows its position when linked together in the process of
making chain, and such fancy chains thus made may be cupped into
shape by a punch having a vandyked or waved bottom surface, the
effect of which will be to impart to the finished chain the appearance of
scales, hence the term sometimes given to this kind of chain.
"The snake chain," as will be seen by reference to Figure 8, which is
a flat disc of metal cut by suitable tools into the form of a cross and
divided through the middle line from X to X, but not divided through
the dotted lines y, y.
The disc thus treated may bo sunk into a cup
shape, and by a waived-face punch (as before stated) made to assume
the form as shown in a edge or side view at Figure 9, in which Figure
we have shown the divided cross pieces,, Figure 8, bent up in form
for engaging with the next link, the T heads projection passing through
the enlarged opening of the succeeding link, but when put into a vertical
position, as here shewn, will engage with the succeeding link by the
lateral projection or T shape terminals passing along the radial con-
traction in opposite directions; and thus a strong, pliable, snake-like
chain will be produced.
Figure 10 represents another variety of link or application of our
improvement, consisting of a simple metal disc with radial projections
and pierce holes in the same radial line;. and Figure 11 represents a
section of the same taken through the dotted lines I, J, but cupped into
form for linking together, in the process of which the external con-
tracting pressure and the flattening of the convex bottom of the link, as
shewn in this Figure, will have the effect of reducing and contracting
the size of the perforations in each link as successively applied (in the
process of linking up), so that the projections k, k, and 1, 1, will be
encircled at their necks by the said contracted holes in such a manner
as to prevent the disengagement of one link from the other. And this
same contracting principle may if desired be applied to links made as
represented in a flat and side view at Figures 12 and 13, which represents
two T head projections freed and bent up from the bottom of the cupped
link, as at Figure 8; but in this case we provide pierce holes for the
projections of the preceding link to 'pass through, the said projections

page_text: of the preceding link being held by their necks, either falling into
reduced concentric recesses, or as before expressed, by external and
central pressure contracting the holes through which the projections
have passed. This mode of making chain permits of their being made
of an oval or even rectangular shape, but in making chain of the latter
form we prefer cutting the blanks out, as at Figure 14, the said blank
being afterwards put through a process to slightly crank the pro-
jections at the base of the necks, hereafter to be referred to, next tho
bending up of the sides and ends, as exhibited in a transverse section
at Figure 15, and further by way of embellishment impart to the link
the waved lines, as shewn in the side view at Figure 16, which operation
is effected (by preference) at the time of linking, in order that it should
conduco when desired to the lateral contraction of the pierce holes a¹
and a¹, Figure 14, which will make the engagement complete and yet
allow sufficient freedom. Chains of this shape, whether round or
square at the sides, may be appropriately made up into ladies' bracelets
or other like purposes where flatness may be desirable.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner in
which the same may be carried into effect by skilled artizans accustomed
to the manufacture of fancy chains, we wish to remark in a general
sense that we have sought to avoid exhibiting a large variety of forms of
links which may be necessary to vary the designs or patterns of chain
that may be made or that may be produced by our mode of linking, as
for instance blanks of two, three, four, or more radial projections may be
formed, the said radial projections having necks with increased terminal
parts, with corresponding concentric or radial recesses for the respective
necks of the projections of the succeeding or preceding links to fall
into, nor is it essential that an elongated piece hole shall be provided for
the enlarged part of the radial terminal projection to pass through, as
the same result may be obtained by forming the blank of an open
segmental pattern, that when capped or formed into shape the necks of
the terminal parts of the link first placed in the process of making up
will be engaged by the succeeding link, and so on in continuity, whether
performed by tho chain-making machines now commonly in use by the
numerous manufacturers of fancy chains or the appliances herein-before
named, known as a fly press; nor do we lay any claim to the piercing
of the blanks of chain links or the forming of terminal projections, as
that has been practised before; but what we claim and wish to protect

page_text: .
by these our in part recited Letters Patent is, the production of fancy
chains by forming the links of blanks provided with projections, cachi
having a neck or reduced portion of less width than its extremity, and
with recesses or perforations of corresponding widths to the projections,
and linking up the same by causing the neck or reduced part of the pro-
jection of one link to enter or engage with a contracted portion of the
recess or perforation of the following link, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph George Rollason and
John Wood, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the First
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand cight
hundred and soventy-four.
Witness,
JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON.
JOHN WOOD.
JAMES S. COCKINGS,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)