IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING KNIVES, SCISSORS, AND OTHER SIMILAR EDGED TOOLS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edwin Moore, of 3, Great Titchfield Street,
Oxford Street, London, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING KNIVES,
SCISSORS, AND OTHER SIMILAR EDGED TOOLS."
Sealed the 5th April 1855, and dated the 16th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edwin Moore at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th October 1854.
I, THOMAS EDWIN MOORE, of 3, Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING KNIVES,
SCISSORS, AND OTHER SIMILAR EDGED TOOLS," to be as follows, reference being had
to the annexed Drawings, and figures and letters marked therein :-
The improvements consist in fixing vertically to an appropriate holding
frame, by means of screws and washers, two square plates of properly tempered
steel, with their edges more or less bevelled, and so arranged that the meeting
sides shall be alike, and when the plates are placed, as seen in Figure 4, their
corresponding sides form a suitable angle, and by drawing the knife or other
similar edged tool from heel to point across the same with a slight degree of
pressure, the desired object will be effectually accomplished, the edge being

page_text: rendered more or less keen and smooth, according to the more or less bevelled
edges used. When scissors and other tools with edges like them are to be
sharpened, they are to be drawn over one side of the plate only.
With reference to the Drawings, Figure 1 shews a front elevation view of
the holding frame, with the steel plates removed. A, A, represents the holding
frame, with its pillars rising from the base. Figure 2 indicates one of said
plates unattached, and marked B, with its square centre opening for binding
screw. Figure 3 shows one of the washers unattached; C is the body thereof,
and F, its round centre opening for binding screw. Figure 4 shows a front
elevation view of the apparatus set up and in working condition. A, A, is
the holding frame; B, B, the steel plates; C, C, the washers; and D, D, the
binding screw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said. Thomas Edwin Moore in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 12th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
EDWIN MOORE, of 3, Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Edwin Moore, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Edwin Moore, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or' such others as
I, the said Thomas Edwin Moore, 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 "IкM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING KNIVES, SCISSORS, AND OTHER SIMILAR
EDGED TOOLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Edwin Moore, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Edwin Moore, 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 by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings annexed, and the
figures and letters marked therein :—
The improvements consist in effecting the above-named objects by simpler
and more ready means than had previously been adopted. The construction
of the apparatus therefor, and the manner of using the same, ȧre as herein-
after described.
...Of the said. Drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent the several parts of said
apparatus, detached. Figure 1 shows an elevation of the holding frame, with
the steel plates removed. A is the holding frame, with the two holding pillars
rising from the base of the same. Figure 2 represents one of the steel plates,
and is marked B, with its square centre opening for binding screw, and its
edges bevelled. Figure 3 is one of the washers with its centre opening for
binding screw, and marked F; C is the disk thereof. Figure 4 shows a front
elevation view of the said apparatus set up and in working condition, the
several parts bearing the same distinguishing letters as shown in the foregoing
Figures; viz., A represents the holding frame, with its two holding pillars
rising from its its base, each supporting one of the square steel plates B, B.
C, C, are the washers; and D, D, the binding screws.
Its construction is comprised in fixing vertically to an appropriate holding
frame as A, by means of binding screws and washers, two square plates of
properly tempered steel, part of an inch in thickness, or even thinner, and
of any convenient size, with their edges more or less bevelled, as seen at
Figure 4, B, B, and so arranged that the meeting sides shall be alike (with the
sharp edges of the same set from the observer), and thus an angle is formed
(see Figure 4) suitable for the purpose required.
The mode of using said apparatus for sharpening knives and other similar
edged tools.-The apparatus being set up as above described, and secured by
some suitable means to a table, or held by the left hand, the edge of the knife
or other similar edged tool to be sharpened is to be drawn straight and
square through between the plates with a slight degree of pressure till it is
brought to an edge required. The point of knife or other similar edged tools
should be kept during the operation considerably lower than the handle,
at an angle of about forty-five degrees. If a thin edge is required, or one
with a wider bevel, bring the plates nearer together, and vice versa. A still
smother edge may be obtained by using the less bevelled edges of the steel
plates afterwards.

page_text: For sharpening scissors.-Draw the bevel of each blade, or that part
usually ground in sharpening, across one of the plates, in a careful manner
(not between them) until they are sharp.
Having thus described the nature and construction of apparatus and manner
of use of the same of my Invention, I will now state my claims.
First, I claim the adaptation of the thin square form of the plates, together
with the peculiar mode of setting them up, as set forth.
Secondly, I claim the bevelling of the edges of the said steel plates, as also
set forth; as also the smooth straight edges or sides thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edwin Moore, have heretofore
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, A.D. 1855.