IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS RESEMBLING NAILS OR SCREWS AND IN MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING THE SAME
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Beckinton Thwaites and
William Phillips Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 18th November 1875.
.
We, JOHN BECKINTON THWAITES, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Cooking Apparatus Manufacturer, and WILLIAM PHILLIPS
THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool (aforesaid), Consulting Engineer
& Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS RESEMBLING NAILS OR SCREWS AND IN MODES
OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
. In making drawers, boxes, and other similar substances, it is usual to
dovetail the ends of the boards forming the sides one into another, this
is more expensive and usually little or no stronger than nailing or
screwing the ends together flush; this latter plan however is rarely
adopted with showy work, because of the unsightliness of the screw and
nail heads; it is to enable one to joint two board ends together without
any nail heads showing, that this our Invention is chiefly designed. It
consists,-

page_text: 1st. In an article resembling two nails with one head, the two shanks
standing out from the head exactly opposite to each other, that is, both
in the same axis, resembling, in fact, a bar pointed at both ends with a
projecting ring welded on round its centre, for convenience sake we will
call this implement a "double sprig."
2nd. In an article resembling a nail having a screw projecting from
its head exactly opposite to the shank, and in the continuation of the
said shank's longitudinal axis. We make the nail in this case, by
preference, tapering and with a cross section throughout, triangular, or
preferably square; this implement we will call a "vis-nail."
3rd. In a handle resembing a railway key, but with the key part
hollow like a watch key, and made to fit the vis-nail aforesaid.
4th. In a hollow punch of any suitable construction made to fit
over one end of the double sprig aforesaid and abut against the head
thereof.
5th. The mode of operating with "double sprigs," is as follows:-
Placing a double sprig in the punch with the rim of the punch pressing
against the head or bead in the centre of the double sprig, we place the
point of the "double sprig" against the place where we wish to drive it,
and hammer the punch till the double sprig sinks up to the head in the
wood, usually till the head itself has sunk flush with the wood, or
nearly so. After hammering in a sufficient number of double sprigs we
take the other piece of wood (to be joined to the piece already operated
upon, and place it on the exposed points of the double sprigs and drive
it home.
6th. The mode of operating with vis-nails is, as follows:-After
boring a small hole in the required position we enter the screw end of
the vis-nail into the said hole, and then fitting the handle to the other
end turn it round till the screw part has been driven in its entire length
and nothing remains visible but the nail or tapering shank; after
driving in a sufficient number thus, we adjust the other board and
hammer it on as in the last instance.
7th. We can for convenience sake make the punch and handle in one
like a railway key, the arms hanging flat when it is used as a punch, but

page_text: of course the shape of handle and punch can both be varied indefinitely.
The double sprigs could also be varied by dispensing with the head
altogether; but this we do not recommend, as they are in such case apt
to stick on the punch or injure it.