IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HARNESS SADDLETREES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Richard Higson, of Heywood, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
HARNESS SADDLETREES."
Scaled the 21st December 1877, and dated the 24th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Richard Higson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1877.
JOHN RICHARD HIGSON, of Heywood, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HARNESS SADDLETREES."
" IMPROVE-
The object of this Invention is to make harness saddletrees cheaper and more
durable than those hitherto constructed, which have always been made of four
or more pieces of wood glued or cemented together, and strengthened by iron
straps.
I make the saddletree all of one piece of thin malleable cast iron, in the form
of two bent bars connected together by cross pieces, the angle and curve of the
bend being in accordance with the form of the back of the horse or other animal.
The saddle piece itself I also make of metal, either sheet iron bent to the required
form, or cast in malleable iron, and I attach this piece to the saddletree by
rivets. The holes for screwing in the bearing hook and terrets are drilled and
tapped into this metal saddle piece; the "crupper loop" is attached by rivetting.
Saddletrees made according to my Invention will be found to be less costly and
inore durable, and much less liable to fracture than those made according to the
ordinary plan.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Richard Higson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
April 1878.
JOHN RICHARD HIGSON, of Heywood, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HARNESS SADDLETREES."
" IMPROVE-
The object of this Invention is to make harness saddletrees cheaper and more
durable than those hitherto constructed, which have always been made of four
or more pieces of wood glued or cemented together, and strengthened by iron
straps.
I make the saddletree all of one piece of thin malleable cast iron, in the form of
two bent bars connected together by cross pieces, the angle and curve of the bend
being in accordance with the back of the horse or other animal.
The saddle piece itself I also make of metal, either sheet iron bent to the required
form, or (which is preferable) cast in malleable iron, and I attach this piece on to
the saddletree by rivets or screws. The holes for screwing in the bearing hook and
terrets are drilled and tapped into this metal saddle piece, and the "crupper hook
is attached by rivetting.
"
Saddletrees made according to my Invention will be found more durable, and
much less liable to fracture than those made according to the ordinary plan.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be clearly under-
stood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation thereof.
In the annexed Drawing,-
Fig. 1 is a side view.
Fig. 2, a vertical section, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the frame of a harness saddle-
tree cast in one piece of malleable iron according to my Invention.
Fig. 4 is a view of the saddle detached (also of malleable cast iron).
And Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the saddletree complete.
a, a, are the holes for screwing in the "terrets" for the rains to pass through,
and b, b, is the "crupper hook" which is cast thereto, or may be fixed by rivetting.
The saddle is fastened on to the frame by means of a screw at c, and also by
screwing in the bearing rein hook through the front part of the saddle into the
frame at d.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention making harness
saddletrees of malleable cast iron, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Richard Higson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.