IM- PROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Roberts, Gentleman, and George Butwell, Mechanic,
both of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE."
Sealed the 25th June 1878, and dated the 8th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Roberts and George
Butwell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th January
1878.
EDWARD ROBERTS, Gentleman, and GEORGE BUTWELL, Mechanic, both of Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE."
Our Invention is improved notches for umbrellas (or parasols), that is, those parts
which connect the ribs and stretches to the handle or stem.
We construct each notch of a single piece of metal, whereby strength with less
weight is secured, and also a cleaner and neater appearance, and we manufacture
them with either a round blank or a piece of tube.
In making them form a round blank we prefer to use a tool similar to a metallic
cartridge machine, whereby the metal is forced through a series of holes or beds
until the tube formed is sufficiently long; we then cut off both ends true, spin the
end of the tube that is strongest in a lathe or otherwise, so as to form two corru-
gations or bulges, and this is done by the pressure of a book tool with a burnisher
end, whilst the outer pressure is by a piece of wood or a concave wheel; the tube
is then placed in a socket or clams, and a split collar being placed between the
corrugations, a mandril is forced into the tube, which said mandril, having a collar
to press the upper or outer end of the corrugation, both the said corrugations are
made flat, and a bead is formed at the other end by burnishing over or otherwise.
In making the notches from tube the process is similar, but we prefer making
the tube from round blanks and finishing as described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Roberts and George Butwell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd July 1878.
EDWARD ROBERTS, Gentleman, and GEORGE BUTWELL, Mechanic, both of Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE."
Our Invention is improved notches for umbrellas (or parasols), that is, those parts
which connect the ribs and stretchers to the handle or stem.
We construct each notch of a single piece of metal, whereby strength with less
weight is secured, and also a cleaner and neater appearance, and we manufacture
them with either a round blank or a piece of tube.
In making them from a round blank we prefer to use a tool similar to a metallic
cartridge machine, whereby the metal is forced through a series of holes or beds,
until the tube formed is sufficiently long; we then cut off both ends true, spin the
end of the tube that is strongest in a lathe or otherwise so as to form two corru-
gations or bulges, and this is done by the pressure of a hook tool with a burnisher
end, whilst the outer pressure is by a piece of wood or a concave wheel; the tube
is then placed in a socket or clams, and a split collar being placed between the
corrugations, a mandril is forced into the tube, which said mandril, having a collar
to press the upper or outer end of the corrugations, both the said corrugations aro
made flat, and a bead is formed at the other end by burnishing over or otherwise.
In making the notches from tube, the process is similar, but we prefer making
the tube from round blanks and finishing as described.
Figure 1 is a tube according to description, both ends being true. We procced
to form Figure 2, which is the tube corrugated by internal pressure by a burnisher
or convex tool, and externally by concave, the tube being made to revolve by a
spindle or a chuck. The inner or outer tool, or both, may be applied by a simple
lever, and if the tube should be necked or contracted next the corrugations, it can
be expanded by a mandril in a socket. The next process is to compress the corru-
gations, and this is done by the plain part of the tube being inserted in a socket
that it fits, so that the corrugation just shoulders. A mandril with a collar is then
inserted so that it will fill the plain part of the tube, and be free to pass until the
said collar compresses the corrugations, whilst the split collar, Figure 3, is placed
The screw press is
between them; the tube compressed is shewn, Figure 4.
suitable for working the punch; the nicking is done by the usual proces, as also
the bead at the lower end; the drawings of tubes are all in section.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, we hereby state that we do not confine ourselves to the particular
way described or the exact form of the notches, but what we claim is, the manu-
facturing runners and top notches for umbrellas from tubes, both runners and top
notches being constructed each from one piece of metal, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Butwell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight
Witness,
JOSEPH COOKE.
GEORGE BUTWELL. (L.S.)