IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CUTLERY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Wragg, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CUTLERY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Wragg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY WRAGG, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CUTLERY."
This Invention relates to a novel and expeditious method of securing together the
handles of knives and forks and other cutlery when such handles are made in two
or more parts.
In carrying out this Invention as applied for example to the manufacture of a
combined pocket knife and fork for picnic or other purposes, the handles are made
in halves, the division being lengthwise of the handle.
The inside of each half has a flat groove formed in it down a portion of its length,.
the groove in one half being to receive the flat tang of the knife, which may be
secured to it by pins or other means, and the other forms a cavity to receive the
prongs of the fork, the other handle to which the fork is secured having a similar
cavity to receive the blade of the knife. The handle having previously been suitably
grooved round the outside in the shape of rings, hoops, ferrules, bands, or caps, is
firmly held in a mould and metal in a molten state is poured into and round them
by any suitable means, forming solid bands or rings of metal, firmly clasping the
2 halves of the handles together, and are afterwards dressed off and finished.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Henry Wragg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th October
1876.
WILLIAM HENRY WRAGG, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CUTLERY."
My said Invention relates to a novel and expeditious method of securing together
the constituent parts of the handles of knives and forks and other cutlery when
such handles are made in two or more parts, and it consists in forming the halves
or segments of the handles with groves on their exterior, and then bringing such
[Price 4d.]

page_text: halves or segments into their proper position to form a handle, and running metal
in a molten state into the grooves so as to produce solid bands or rings of metal
whereby the halves or segments are securely held together.
The Invention is especially applicable to combined pocket knives and forks for
picnic or other purposes, an example of which I have shewn on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings in order to illustrate in what manner my Invention is or may
be carried into effect.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a perspective view of a combined knife and
fork complete with the handles made in two longitudinal halves united together
in accordance with my Invention. Figures 2 and 3 are respectively plans of the
two halves of the fork in their condition before being united, and Figures 4 and 5
similar views of the two halves of a knive. Figure 6 is a transverse section of the
knife or fork, and Figure 7 is a transverse section of one of the halves corresponding
to Figures 3 and 5, similar letters indicate like parts in all the Figures.
a, a, are the two halves together constituting the handle, and which are united
together by bands or rings of metal cast around them in the manner more fully
herein-after described.
The inside of each half has a flat groove .b formed in it down a portion of its
length, the groove in the half a being intended to receive the flat tang c of the
knife (for example), as shewn in detail in Figure 4, which tang may be secured to
the half handle a by pins d or other suitable means, whilst the grooves b in the
other half a¹ forms a cavity to receive the prongs e of the fork, Figure 2-the other
handle, to the half a of which the fork is secured, as shewn at d' Figure 2, having in
its half a, Figure 3 a similar cavity b for the reception of the blade el of the knife.
The handle having been previously suitably grooved round the outside in the shape
of rings, hoops, or bands, as shewn at f, Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, is firmly held in a
mould, and metal in a molten state is poured into and round them by any suitable
means whereby solid bands or rings of metal g (see Figures 1 and 6) are formed
which firmly clasp the two halves of the handle together, after which they are
dressed off and finished in any usual or convenient manner.
In the arrangement illustrated three grooves and bands for each handle are
represented as employed, but it is obvious that the number as also the shape of the
grooves and bands or rings may be varied according to circumstances and the taste
of the manufacturer.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried in effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is forming grooves on the exterior of the halves or segments of
the handles of cutlery when they are made in two or more parts, and uniting the
halves or segments by running molten metal into such grooves, so as to produce
surrounding or encircleing rings, hoops, or bands, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Wragg, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of October One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. ·
WILLIAM HENRY WRAGG. (L.S.)