Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads, and in the Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads, and in the Manufacture of
the same.
THOMAS MARK HEWITSON of Greenwood Road Acocks Green in the
County of Worcester Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in metallic bedsteads and in the
manufacture of the same by which I combine the strength and cheapness of iron
or steel with the appearance and beauty of brass nickel and other metals of greater
value. Bedsteads are already made of iron or steel combined with brass and other
metals the iron or steel parts composing such metallic bedsteads being held together
by means of chills i.e. the portions of metal which require to be secured together to
form the bedstead are placed in moulds or stocks and molten metal poured around
the points of juuction so that the various parts are thus held together.
In this process of manufacture considerable difficulty occurs in bringing together
in the stocks or moulds those parts which are partly or wholly composed of metals
having lower fusing points than the metals composing the chills thus rendering it
necessary that any tubes mounts ferruls spindles vases rods and other like
articles which are partly or wholly composed of brass or other easily fused metals
must be secured in place by pins screws rivets or other such means thus
materially adding to the cost of manufacture and to the multiplicity of parts in
the bedstead.
My invention consists of a process or combination of processes and appliances for
use in such processes by which I can produce composite bedsteads much more
cheaply and effectively as regards appearance than the mode of manufacture above
described.
In carrying my invention into effect I. take the head or foot of a bedstead which
is composed of iron or steel in the form removed from the stocks after being cast
or chilled together and from this I remove all unnecessary projections and roughnes
so as to clean and smooth the surface ready for the next process. In effecting this
I may use a sand blast or a brush, rotary or otherwise composed of hair fibre or
any suitable material the bedstead being either held to the brush or the rotary
brush may be revolved by a flexible band so as to enable the brush to be applied
to any part of the bedstead by hand while the hedstead may be fixed in a pivoted
frame so as to allow of being readily reversed.
Polishing or grinding discs composed of any suitable polishing or grinding
material may be applied in a similar manner to that described for the brush and
I may use a polishing or grinding continous band of any suitable material which.
would embrace the various members and ornamentation of the bedstead. In some
cases I may use a polishing band with the ends attached to oscillating points and.
traverse the surface of the bedstead against the band such band having the end or
ends passed between or around any portion of the bedstead cuce or more before
attaching such band to the oscillating connections or I may use a rotary polishing
tool with the centre hollow the polishing material or surface being provided in
such hollow tool and a portion of the outside of such tool made easily removeable
so to enable any portion of the bedstead to be inserted in the hollow centre

page_text: within reach of the polishing material due provision being made to keep the tool in
position. Motion may be transmitted to such tool by means of flexible bands
teeth cones or other convenient mechanical contrivances. In such cases the inside
of the tool may be so arranged as to cause the part of the stead being polished to
move forward so as to bring another part of the surface within reach of the
polishing machine. Having by such meaus brought all parts of the bedstead to a
fair and smooth surface I may then dip it into a solution of copper or any other
suitable solution or preparation as may be required. I then place the bedstead end
complete in an electrolysis bath by which a deposit of brass nickel or any other
metal or alloy found desirable is formed upon the whole of the bedstead end and
including the chilled junctions tubes ornamentations and all parts the bath being
specially arranged for the easy insertion and removal of the said bedstead ends as
a whole. Bedsteads thus treated have a thoroughly substantial appearance equal
to what such articles would be if made of solid brass or other expensive metal
while they are much stronger and substantial in use. I may deposit more than one
metal on the same bedstead and by preparing part of the bedstead with a medium
that will resist the deposit I may partly coat with a deposit of one metal and
partly with another and so produce a variety of design and pattern or by the
same method I may deposit only upon certain portions of the bedsteads.
After a
sufficient thickness of metal has been deposited the bedstead is polished or burnished
in whole or parts in a manner similar to that previously described and is then inserted
in an oven or stove or upon a heated surface prior to being coated with laquer or
varnish or any suitable preparation to prevent the deposited metal from becoming
discoloured.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1895.
Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads, and in the Manufacture of
the same.
I THOMAS MARK HEWITSON of Greenwood Road Acocks Green in the
County of Worcester, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in metallic bedsteads and in the
manufacture of the same by which I combine the strength and cheapness of iron
or steel with the appearance and beauty of brass nickel and other metals of
greater value. Bedsteads are already made of iron or steel combined with brass
and other metals the iron or steel parts composing such metallic bedsteads being
held together by means of chills .e. the portions of metal which require to be
secured together to form the bedstead are placed in moulds or stocks and molten
metal poured around the points of junction so that the various parts are thus held
together.
In this process of manufacture considerable difficulty occurs in bringing together
in the stocks or moulds those parts which are partly or wholly composed of metals
having lower fusing points than the metal composing the chills, thus rendering it
necessary that any tubes mounts ferrules spindles vases, rods and other like articles
which are partly or wholly composed of brass or other easily fused metals must be
secured in place by pins, screws, rivits or other such means thus materially adding
to the cost of manufacture and to the multiplicity of parts in the bedstead.

page_text: My invention consists of a process or combination of processes and appliances for
use in such processes by which I can produce composite bedsteads much more.
cheaply and effectively as regards appearance than the mode of manufacture above
described.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practise I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have
fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements together with the mode of and
means for carrying the same into effect.
Figure 1 is a view of a table, by which the bedstead end or part to be polished
is supported conviently for its easy manipulation while being operated upon by
the rotary grinders or polishers and also shewing the mode of and means for
applying the rotary polisher or grinder.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of my improved rotary grinder or polisher.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an elevation of one of the pads contained in the rotary polisher
shewing a modified shape to suit certain requirements.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of same.
Figure 6 is a plan of a rotary disc polisher.
Figure 7 shews a mo:lified arrangement by which the bedstead parts are polished
by a band.
In carrying my invention into effect I take the head or foot of a bedstead
which is composed of iron or steel in the form removed from the stocks after
being cast or chilled together and from the chills of which I remove all
unnecessary projections and roughness so as to clear and smooth the surface
ready for the next process. In effecting this I may use a sand blast or a brush
rotary or otherwise, composed of hair fibre or any suitable material the bedstead
being either held to the brush or the rotary brush may be revolved by a flexible
band so as to enable the brush to be applied to any part of the bedstead by hand
while the bedstead may be fixed in a frame such as illustrated by Figure 1 having
the-under frame B which in turn supports the horizontal frame C. The frame C
being mounted on runners c¹ which travel on rails b' so that the bedstead end E
which is supported on the travelling frame C may have an easy reciprocating
movement imparted to it. The bedstead end is clamped to the top frame and is
provided with the under supports D the position of which may be adjusted in the
slots to suit various sized bedstead ends. The laterial supports D may be made
to form a separate frame which would be mounted on the frame C by a centre
pivot so that the bedstead end could be readily turned the reverse way. For
polishing the tubes I prefer to use the rotary polisher A Figures 1. 2. & 3 having
a pully formed around its outer circumference and a hollow centre for receiving
the polishing pads F which are fixed in the recesses a' the said pads being shaped
to form a square bearing inside the polisher so that only the four points fact
upon the surface of the tube thus leaving the remaining four points f' free from
contact with the tube. The polisher A is made in two halves so as to enable it to
be readily placed around the tube to be polished the two halves being secured
together by the screw pins a³ or they may be secured together by spring clips
clasps or other suitable means. The application of the rotary tool A to the bed-
stead E is fully shewn in Figure 1 where the tools A are shewn connected to the
vertical bars of a bedstead end, and receive their rotary movement from the grooved
pully K through the bands H which are provided with ready means of connection
and disconnection from the tools. A slow reciprocating motion is then given to
the frame C while the tools are rotating, thus causing the whole length of the tube
to be polished and by arranging a slight twist in the pads F the bedstead end may
be automatically moved by the action of the said tools from one end to the other.
The pads
may have their polishing surface shaped so as to fit any ornamental
projection on the tube such as illustrated at Figure 4 and the tools may be
made of any length even to the extent of forming hollow spindles with a pully at
each end and the polishing material contained along the whole or only part of the

page_text: length. For polishing the angle and other ornamental chills I prefer to use discs
made up of a number of thicknesses of leather or canvas as shewn by M Figure 6
and having their polishing surface glued and coated with emery. The polishing.
surface may be also in this case shaped to suit the particular ornament to be
polished this being effected by a variation in the sizes of the thicknesses of which the
disc consists as shewn by T Figure 6. In some cases I may find it convenient to
use a polishing or grinding continuous band such as shewn by Figure 7 where the
band N which is coated on its outer side with the necessary polishing material
passes around the pully P and over the small pully R which is supported by the
upright pin such a manner that the bedstead E can be placed over the top for the
bars to be brought into contact with the polishing band N as illustrated and by
turning the bedstead end up or down as shewn by dotted lines the whole of the
circumference of the tube can be polished with only one reversal of the end E and
the band readily accomodates itself to the angles and ornamentation on the tubes.
In polishing the bedstead ends I prefer to first use emery solid or applied and finish up
the surface with any ordinary polishing compound such us crocus. Having by such
means brought all parts of the bedstead end to a fair and smooth surface place
it in an alkali or acid dip and afterwards into an electrolysis bath by which it is
copperplated and afterwards in a second bath by which a deposit of brass, nickel,
or any other metal or alloy found desirable is formed upon the whole of the bedstead
including the chilled junctions, tubes, ornamentation and all parts. The bath being
arranged for the easy insertion and removal of the said bedstead end as a whole.
Bedsteads thus treated have a thoroughly substantial appearance equal to what such
article would be if made of solid brass or other expensive metals while they are
much stronger and substantial in use and I may deposit more than one metal on the
same bedstead and by preparing part of the bedstead with a medium that will resist
the deposit I may partly coat with a deposit of one metal and partly with another
and so produce a variety of design and patten or by the same method I may
deposit only upon certain portions of the bedstead. Small holes are formed in the
bedstead end at convenient points to allow of any of the plating solution which
bas got into the interior of the tubes to escape; the stead is then placed in a bath
of hot water and afterwards in an oven to thoroughly remove any of the solution
remaining in the tubes. After the aforementioned processes the bedstead is,
polished, burnished or frosted in whole or parts in a manner similar to that
previously described and is then inserted in an oven or stove or upon a heated
surface prior to being coated with laquer or varnish or any suitable preparation to
prevent the deposited metal from becoming discoloured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The improvements in metallic bedsteads and in the manufacture of the same
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and shewn upon the accom-
panying drawings.
2nd. The rotary polisher or grinder substantially such as and for the purpose
berein set forth and shewn by Figures 1. 2. and 3.
3rd. Shaping the polishing surface of rotary tools to suit the ornamentation to
be polished substantially as herein set forth and shewn.
4th. The continuous band N mounted and arranged substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth and shewn by Figure 7.
Dated this 26th day of September 1896.
THOS. M. HEWITSON.