An Improvement on the Ordinary Standard for Measuring Height presently in use.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
An Improvement on the Ordinary Standard for Measuring Height
presently in use.
I, WILLIAM OWEN WILLIAMS, F.R.C.V.S., Professor of Veterinary Surgery,
New Veterinary College, Leith Walk, Edinburgh, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
An improvement on the ordinary standard for measuring height presently
in use by (1) providing a new or improved means whereby the perpendicularity
of the rod or pole of the said standard when in use may be more readily ascer-
tained (2) by providing means to lessen the possibility of persons examining
animals making an error or giving unfair decisions and (3) by providing means
to ascertain whether the ground on which the animal being examined is standing
is level or not. The ordinary standard presently in use consists of a rod or
pole with a movable arm at right angles to the same which movable arm is so
attached as to slide up or down the said rod or pole and having on one side of
it marks indicating inches or fractions or portions of inches or other measurements
of height and the arm having on it a spirit level to indicate whether or not it
(the arm) is horizontal and the socket of the arm having a raised attachment
with a plumb line depending. And the means adopted to effect the object first
above mentioned is (1) the attachment of a spirit or other level of similar con-
struction and purpose to the spirit level above mentioned on the socket of the
arm or on the back of the rod or pole which would at once indicate whether cr
not the rod or pole was off the perpendicular to either side. And the means
adopted to effect the object second above mentioned are (1) the attachment of a
mirror or reflector to the said arm in such a position that a person looking from
the back of the standard can see reflected in the said mirror or reflector what
the level on the arm indicates without moving the instrument (2) the marks
indicating the inches or fractions or portions of inches or other measurements
of height to be placed on the face or front of the rod or pole instead of on the
side so as not to be in sight of the person taking the measurement and (3) by
making a hollow in the rod or pole of the standard extending the whole length
thereof and inserting in the said hollow a movable rod with a flag or knob or
other such signal attached to the top thereof and also attached to the top of the
rod or pole of the standard or to a stationary knob fixed thereon and the said
movable rod being slightly longer than the rod or pole of the standard in which
it is inserted and being inserted in such a manner that when the foot of the
standard is off the ground the movable rod extends below the foot of the standard
but when the foot of the standard is placed on the ground the movable rod is
pushed up and raises the flag knob or other such signal erect but when the
standard is raised off the ground again the said flag knob or other such signal
drops down. And the means adopted to effect the object third above mentioned
is by attaching to one side of the said rod or pole of the standard a spirit level

page_text: similar in construction and purpose to those above mentioned and by resting
the said rod or pole on its side (the side to which the spirit level is attached being
uppermost) horizontally on two blocks of wood laid on the ground one at the
side of the forefeet and the other at the side of the hindfeet of the animal being
examined.
Total this Wiftoonth day of Juno 1898
An Improvement on the Ordinary Standard for Measuring Height
presently in use.
I, WILLIAM OWEN WILLIAMS, F.R.C.V.S., Professor of Veterinary Surgery,
New Veterinary College, Leith Walk, Edinburgh, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The ordinary standard presently in use and which is improved by the invention
hereinafter described consists of a rod or pole and moveable arm the said rod
or pole being inserted into a socket at one end of the said arm so that the said
arm is at right angles to the said rod or pole and may be moved up and down
the same as required to ascertain the height of the animal being examined.
On one side of the said rod or pole are marked inches or fractions or portions
of inches which indicate the height of the animal being examined and on one
side of that part of the said arm which is in front of the said rod or pole is a
spirit level which shows when the standard is being used, any swaying of the
arm towards or from the animal being examined and on the end of the said arm
in which the before mentioned socket is, there is a raised attachment to which
when the standard is being used there is appended a plumb line which shows
the error of the animals forelegs from perpendicular.
The respective objects of the aftermentioned improvements are (1) to ascertain
clearly and readily when the standard is in use whether the said rod or pole is
off the perpendicular to either side and (2) to lessen the possibility of persons
examining animals making errors or giving unfair decisions.
The improvement to attain the object first above mentioned is as follows viz.:
The attachment of an ordinary spirit level horizontally on the end of the arm
into which the said rod or pole is fitted and in sight of the
person examining the
animal which spirit level would show when the standard is in use whether or
not the said rod or pole is off the perpendicular to either side.
And the improvements to effect the object second above mentioned are as
follows riz.:
(1) The attachment by a hinge of a mirror to the said arm and nearer the for-
ward end of the said arm than the first before mentioned spirit level attached
thereto and facing the said spirit level so that the person using the standard
who stands at the back of the same can see reflected in the said mirror what
the said spirit level last above referred to indicates without moving the instru-
ment. These two abovementioned improvements have the effect of making both
the said spirit levels he seen at the same time by the operator and are shown
in the Sketch No. 1 sent herewith P representing the new spirit level placed
on the back of the arm C the mirror having reflected therein what A the old
spirit level indicates.
(2) Instead of the before mentioned marks which indicate inches or fractions
or portions of inches being placed on the side of the said rod or pole or otherwise

page_text: in sight of the person using the instrument as heretofore, the said marks shall
be placed on the inside of the said rod or pole facing the animal being examined
so that the person using the instrument who stands behind the said rod or pole
cannot possibly read the height indicated by the standard until after he has taken
it away from the animal. This improvement is shown at E on Sketch No. 2 sent
herewith.
**
(3) The aforesaid rod or pole of the standard (hereinafter called the "stationary"
rod or pole) is to be constructed with a hollow therein extending its whole length
and there is to be constructed in the said hollow another rod (hereinafter called
the moveable" rod) which is to be slightly longer than the said "stationary
rod or pole and which can be moved up and down the said hollow. The said
moveable rod shall have attached to its top by a double hinge shown ou
Sketch No. as hinges 1 and 2 a moveable indicator or pointer, which shall also
be attached to a stationary knob fixed to the top of the said "stationary" rod
or pole by a hinge shown on Sketch No. 3 as hinge 3. When a measurement is
being made by the standard and the end of the "stationary" rod or pole is on
the ground the "nioveable" rod and indicator or pointer are so constructed that
the latter stands erect above the said "stationary" rod or pole and should said
stationary" rod or pole from any cause be raised off the ground the "moveable"
rod slips down causing the said indicator or pointer working on the hinges above-
mentioned to immediately fall into a horizontal position thus indicating to all
present that the standard has been raised off the ground. This improvement is
shown on the beforementioned Sketches Nos. 1 and 2 the former showing the
said "stationary" rod or pole on the ground the indicator or pointer D standing
erect and the latter showing the said "stationary" rod or pole raised of the
ground, the "moveable" rod F having (slipped down and the indicator or
pointer having fallen into a horizontal position in consequence,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim are:-
The improvements on the ordinary standard for measuring height presently
in use all as particularly above described and each and all of said improvements
separately or in combination one with another or all together and the means of
working the same all as particularly above described.
Taal hi hautsanth dave of Mol 1900