CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BELL CRANKS AND OTHER PARTS OF BELL FURNITURE.
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry James Harcourt, of Bristol Street, Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick, Brassfounder, for the Invention
of CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BELL CRANKS AND OTHER PARTS OF BELL
FURNITURE.
Sealed the 20th March 1856, and dated the 24th September 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry James Harcourt
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th September 1855.
I, HENRY JAMES HARCOURT, of Bristol Street, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BELL CRANKS AND OTHER PARTS OF BELL
FURNITURE to be as follows, that is to say:-
Firstly, my Invention or improvements in the manufacture of bell cranks
consists in cutting them out from sheet metal, or iron coated with zinc, tin,
brass, copper, or copper alloys, in contradistinction to casting them (as here-
tofore), whereby I effect a great saving in the cost of manufacture; and for
the purpose of giving additional strength (with lightness) to such bell cranks,
propose in some instances to raise them transversely either into a circular
or angular form; and at the parts of such bell cranks that work on the shank
or plate that is driven into or secured to the wall I apply a bush of brass
tubing or other suitable material in the following way :-After cutting out the
I
1

page_text: crank, I next cut or pierce a hole to receive the tube, such hole being a little
smaller than the tube, and the part that surrounds the hole I raise into a
conical form, and in the centre of the lengthway of the tube I form a groove,
and by inserting the tube, and flattening the conical part of the crank that
surrounds it, the tube will be firmly secured; but such tubes must be of
sufficient length to ensure a steady action, and the shank or crank iron to
which this or the common kind of bell cranks may be attached I propose to
form by cutting them out of sheet iron, in the manner in which cut nails are
nade, the size and form being altered as required.
Secondly, in making the carrier or mounting plate (of such cranks that
require to be secured by screws or nails) of sheet metal, or iron coated or
otherwise, as before described, and bent into the required form, in contra-
distinction to being cast.
Thirdly, my improvements in bell furniture relate to the lever box and an
additional lever, by which a direct action is obtained without the use of crank
chains, and possessing greater facilities in fixing, with less liability to derange-
ment when fixed, than the ordinary bell lever.
Fourthly, my improvements relate to the mode of ornamenting the centres
and knobs of bell levers, and consist in making the front of a suitable metal
shell, and covering the same in the manner in which covered buttons may be
made, with a woven or other fabric, such as velvet, satin, cloth, leather, and
such like material, embossed or otherwise, and which may be further orna-
mented by a centre stud or studs of suitable material.
Lastly, my improvements relate to the mode of making crank chain for
bells, and consist in cutting out the links by means of a fly press and suitable
tools in such form that they may be inserted one in the other, whereby the
trouble of riveting is dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry James Harcourt in the.Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
JAMES HARCOURT, late of Bristol Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Brassfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry James Harcourt, Her special license that I, the said Henry
James Harcourt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Henry James Harcourt, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN BELL CRANKS AND OTHER PARTS OF BELL FURNITURE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry James Harcourt, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and scal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry James Harcourt, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
My improvements in bell furniture has for its object, first, to greatly
economise the cost, and yet to improve the strength and durability of that
general and important part of bell furniture designated and known as bell
cranks, with all their attendant parts, such as carrier plates, mortice plates,
driving cranks, angle cranks, fliers, carriers, etc., as also carriage arms for
bell carriages and other parts, and which parts have heretofore been made
generally of cast brass, and dressed, lacquered, and finished in the usual way
in which brass work is usually completed; in contradistinction to which, my
improvements consist in cutting out such parts (by means of a fly press and
press tools) in the ordinary way from sheet iron, brass, or other suitable
metal, piercing them out where required, and raising them into any desired
form, as a means of increasing their strength and giving them a more sub-
stantial appearance; and the driving irons to which (in frequent cases) the
cranks or flies are attached, I propose, in contradistinction to their being
forged, as heretofore, to cut them from sheet iron, in the same way in which
large cut nails are made.
Secondly, my improvements in bell furniture relate to that part known as
bell levers, which, by means of an additional lever or connecting arm, I am
enabled to obtain a direct action without the use of crank chain and other
attendant complicated parts.

page_text: Thirdly, my improvements relate to the roses or front ornaments used in
connection with bell levers, pulls, quadrants, etc., and which roses have here-
tofore been made of brass, stamped or wrought into any suitable design; and
in some instances discs of china, glass, wood, and other hard substances have
been introduced for this purpose; but as neither of these materials admit of
display or elegant finish to such kind of articles, I propose to make them
with suitable metal shells, and covering them with embossed velvet, leather,
or figured silk, satin, or such like material, so as to have them en suite
with the general upholstery of the room in which such bell levers, pulls,
quadrants, etc. are or may be fixed, such shells with their covering being put
together much in the way in which covered buttons are made; and in some
instances a centre ornament may be applied to such roses, such ornament
being composed of precious or artificial stones, cut glass, china, ivory, or other
suitable material, wrought and worked into any suitable device.
Lastly, my improvements in bell furniture consist in the application to
house bells of a particular kind of chain in lieu of the common crank chain,
and which chain has been used extensively (when made of an ornamental
character) for suspending pictures, gas chandeliers, and other such like pur-
poses, but has never heretofore been made small, and substituted for the
ordinary crank chain in bell work, and which chain is made in double links,
each link being pierced in its lengthway, in order that they may pass through
each other, so as to be bent up, making a continuous chain, saving the necessity
of rivetting.
But as my improvements in bell furniture is distributed through such a
variety of parts, a description of what they consist of will be best understood
by reference to the Drawings hereunto attached, which I will proceed to
describe, observing that I have used the same letters of reference when the
parts are represented detached, or when the same parts are put together.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a front view of a fly or crank, as cut out from sheet
metal, representing the holes a, a, as countersunk, to prevent the keen edges
cutting the wire when in use; and Figures 2 and 3 are front and side views
of a bush made of common tube; this bush is to be applied to the hole b of
the fly A, Figure 1, in the following way:-A small groove is turned in a
suitable part of the bush, as shewn at Figure 3; and that part of the fly A
that surrounds the hole 6 is raised into a conical form, as shewn at b, b,
Figure 4, which is a section of Figure 1, A, through the dotted line c, d; and
when the bush is inserted in the hole, it is again flattened by suitable tools in

page_text: a fly press, securely clipping the bush, as exhibited at b, b, Figure 5, which is
a section of the fly or crank, as also the bush securely applied to the same.
In some instances, where great strength is required in the fly, the outer
portions of it may be raised slightly angular or curved, in the manner exhibited
in the section, Figure 5, at e. The fly thus prepared may next (if cut out
from sheet iron) be japanned, tinned, galvanised, or coated, or covered with
brass or other metallic alloys, and after it is so prepared it is ready to be
applied in the various ways in which such flyers may be required; as for
instance, Figure 6 represents a sectional view of Figure 5 as applied to an iron
shank for driving into masonry, also shewn in section; and the parts thus
united is technically called in the trade an end driving crank. But one
feature of novelty in my improvements is, the cutting out of the iron shank
for driving into masonry, of sheet iron, in the ordinary way in which large
nails are cut out, and a side driving iron thus made I have exhibited at
Figure 7; and in particular work, for the purpose of improving and stiffening
such driving iron at the part that enters the masonry, I heat them and draw
them out by hammering them.
The oblong hole at f is for receiving an iron or other pin for carrying the
fly, and sometimes these irons are bent into an angular form, as exhibited in
a side view at Figure 8, which also shews that a pin has been secured in the
hole and rivetted on the under side, which likewise exhibits an edge view
of the fly A, and a side view of the bush on which it works, and thus
complete is technically called in the trade an angle driving crank.
I do not confine myself to the mode of bushing the flies, as described from
Figures 1 to Figure 5, as they may be east square at one end, and a square
hole may be cut out of the crank fly, as shewn at g, Figure 8, and the bush
being driven in may be further secured. either by the process of rivetting,
tinning, galvanizing, or soldering.
Figure 9 represents the front side of a crank fly, with a bush so applied,
and Figure 10 is a section of the same, taken through the dotted line h, h, of
the last Figure.
Figures 11 and 12 represent a front and sectional view of an end driving
crank thus made. The centre of the fly is represented with a round piece cut
out of it, the tools necessary for cutting out such round piece being made and
repaired with much greater facility than possibly could be if the piece cut out
was of an angular form, as represented at Figure 1.
Figures 13 and 14 represent a front and back view of a mortice crank, and
Figure 15 is a section of the same, taken through the dotted line j, j; and it
will be here seen, that I not only economise (by my process of manufacture)

page_text: the crank fly, but the front plate and ears also, which have heretofore been
generally cast of brass, dressed and finished in the usual way of finishing such
material; instead of which, I cut and pierce the front plate B from sheet
brass or iron, as also the ears C, C, for carrying the fly crank. These ears are
secured to the front plate by having two or more projections which fit into
the corresponding slots cut in the front plate, as at k, k, and I, 1, which when
driven through these projections may be rivetted or flattened down with a
hammer, and of course would be further secured (when made of iron) by hard
or soft soldering or galvanizing, and further finished as required. A side view of
the ears for carrying the crank fly is shewn partly in dotted lines at Figure 15.
In some instances the ears may be cut or formed on the sides of the front
plate, and subsequently bent into the desired form; but I prefer cutting them
out separate and applying them to the front plate, as herein described, as
it economises the material from which they may be made; or small pro-
jections may be left on the sides of the front plate, which may be bent around,
clipping the ears, which in that case must be made angular at the base,
the angle being clipped by the projections, and further secured by rivetting or
soldering.
Figure 16 represents a front view of a leader crank, with the fly A attached
to the back plate D by a pin and bush, as before described; the plate D
being cut from sheet iron or brass, is pierced or countersunk for screws
or nails, by which it is secured; and Figure 16" is a lever crank made in
the same way, with the front rose removed for the purpose of exhibiting its
correct form.
Figures 17 and 18 represent a side and front view of a pillar crank, the flier,
bush, and pillar being shewn in section. In this case, the plate D and flier A
is made as before described, but the pillar E, I prefer casting in malleable
iron. In this Figure I have also shewn that the holes in the fliers through
which the connecting wires pass may be made smooth by the application of
common metal eyelets, known as the single or French eyelet, marked m.
Figures 19 and 20 represent a side and front view of what is technically
called a flat wheel and chain crank. The plate F, I propose cutting out from
sheet metal, as before described, piercing it in the middle for the axis of the
wheel to pass through, as shewn at Figure 21, which is a detached view of
the plate, exhibiting the countersunk screw holes o, o, by which it is secured,
as also the pierced holes p, p, for receiving corresponding projections from
the clip G, which secures the wheel H, and which is shewn detached in
Figures 22 and 23, as also a side view of the clip at Figure 24. This clip I
bave represented as cast of brass or malleable iron, but it can be cut from

page_text: sheet metal by suitable tools, as before described; and one so made I have
exhibited in a front flat view at Figure 25, and at Figure 26 I have repre-
sented the same in an edge view, bent into form, ready to be applied to the
back plate f.
I will now proceed to describe the chain, the novelty of which I by no
means set up a claim to, as it has been used for various purposes and in various
shapes for some years, but has never been applied as a substitute for crank
chain in bell work.
Figure 27 represents a double link of this chain in the flat, which, when
bent into form, and one inserted in the other, would assume the shape
exhibited at K, K, Figure 19, the length of chain there drawn being com-
posed of ten links, as exhibited detached at Figure 27, and two broad end
links, as exhibited detached at Figure 28, and which end links should be
broader than the space between the flanges of the wheel I, or between the
periphery of the wheel and the insides of the ends or angle parts of the clip G,
to prevent the chain from coming through and becoming detached.
Figures 29 and 30 represent a front and side view of a bell carriage, but the
front rose is removed from Figure 29 for the purpose of shewing a clear view
of the bell carrier and arm L, which I propose cutting out from sheet brass or
iron with suitable press and tools, as before described; and, in some instances,
with a view of giving additional strength to this important part of bell furni-
ture, I propose to slightly raise them either angularly or curvelineally in their
transverse sections. The bell wire is attached to either of the holes q, q, to be
pulled right or left as required, and the spiral spring to which the bell is
attached is secured to the carrier by the screw », and when pendulums are
required, I propose, with suitable tools, to cut a piece on the end and two sides
in the front of the carrier, as exhibited at s, s, and also to pierce a slot in the
same, extending from t to t. This piece must be bent inward, say, at right angles
with the front of the carrier, and again bent up at the end, as exhibited in the
side view at r, r, Figure 30, and on this the pendulum rests. The pendulum
spring u I have shewn in an edge view at Figure 31, with two bits of metal
v, v, secured to it by a rivet, which prevents it falling through the rest r, r.
M is the carrier stand, made square at the end for driving through a square
hole in the carrier and arm L, as seen at Figure 29, and is united to the
carrier plate N by rivetting from the back. This stand may be made of malle-
able cast iron, or formed by rod iron heated and struck between suitable dies.
The plate I propose to make from sheet iron, and with its stand and carrier
arm to be tinned, galvanized, or coated with brass, or otherwise finished. The
rose that goes in front of the carrier, by screwing on the front of the carrier

page_text: stand M, may be made in the usual way, as I have no novelty to introduce
into this part.
Figure 32 represents the front view of a bell lever, with the front plate and
rose removed for the purpose of shewing my improved direct action. 0, 0, is
the lever box, made of cast iron; and in the process of setting up new bells, this
lever box may be applied in the desired position by suitable screws and plugs,
and covered with the plastering of the room. Level with the circular edge of the
box w is a projecting part, hollow behind, in order to allow the end of the
lever P to work. This lever or arm works on the fulcrum x, and is fitted with
a pin aty, and at the bottom of the box are two curved projections, marked *, *,
rising a little higher than the lever or arm P. Upon these projections the plate
Qis fixed by the screws a', a'. In the centre of the plate Q is secured a strong
centre pin ', on which the lever R (partly shewn in dotted lines) works, and
from the circular boss of which, on the under side, the projecting part c¹ is
formed, which rests against the pin y of the arm or extra lever P; and it will
be evident, that the bell wire d' passing down through a hole in the projecting
part of the box w, and united to the end of the arm P, shewn in dotted lines,
that when the lever is pulled in the direction of the arrow that the end of the
arm P will be pressed down, thus causing the bell to ring. This mode of
constructing bell levers renders them more efficient and less subject to dis-
arrangement, in addition to which they can be more securely set up and fitted
for the plasterer's work.
Figure 33 is a back view of the lever box O, last described, shewing the
wire d' brought down and attached to the end of the arm P, the largest portion
of which, with other parts, is shewn in dotted lines; and Figure 34 is a sec-
tional view of Figure 32, taken through f¹, g', the dotted sectional lines S, S,
representing the plaster. The corresponding parts are marked with the same
letter as in Figure 32, but in this Figure I have represented a sectional view of
the front plate and rose, the plate being marked T; and the rose, composed
of the front and back plate, is put together with the front covered with embossed
leather, velvet, silk, satin, or other suitable material in the following way:-A
rim is formed around the edge of the front plate, and the back plate must be
small enough to fit within this rim, leaving sufficient room for the fabric with
which the front is to be covered to be taken in around the edge by the back
plate, when the rim of the front plate is thrown over by suitable tools, in a
similar manner in which covered buttons are made. The velvet or other
covering I have represented in red lines; and it will be seen that in the middle
of the rose a hole is formed through the plate to allow the pin b to pass through,
by which means a centre ornament (such as precious stones, cut glass, china,

page_text: ivory, or other suitable material) may be applied. In this case I have repre-
sented in section a conical cut glass stud h¹ set in a metal shell, marked n³, n¹.
This ornament being screwed on to the pin b, will press the velvet into the
cavity or hollow of the front shell, thus straining it tight over its surface; and
if such a description of rose should be required for a bell-pull instead of
a lever, the centre stud h' has only to be altered into a globular or other
suitable form of a convenient size for the hand, as indicated by the dotted
line m³, m.
Figure 35 represents a lever box, with an additional lever or arm U, working
oni a centre pin p¹. The arm U has a hole in it at q', into which a pin enters,
passing through from the main lever or handle, so that they may be both moved
simultaneously, as will be seen in the description of the next Figure 36, which
is a section of 35, taken through r¹ and s'; and in this Figure I have repre-
sented, also in section, the front plate, as also a part of the lever or handle and
front rose. t, t, represents the outer flange of the lever box; and u, u¹, the
front plate; V, the lever; and W, a connecting or bearing piece, occupying
the space between the inner lever or arm U and the outer lever V. A top
detached view of this part is represented at Figure 37, and is united to the
outer lever by the screw v', which forms the double purpose of holding the two
together, as well as forming pin to pass into the hole q' of the inner arm
or lever U. The rose I have drawn somewhat different to the one before
described. In this case I have applied a bush to the back plate, in the same
manner in which the bush is represented' as applied to the flier in Figures 4
and 5. The bush being tapped, it is very readily screwed on and secured to the
pin q'; and the front of the rose I have represented simply of a convex form,
and without a centre ornament; and (as at Figure 34) I have represented
the woven or covered fabric in red lines.
L
Having thus described the nature of my various improvements in bell
furniture, and the manner in which the same may be carried into effect, I wish
it understood that I do not confine myself to any particular size or shape,
provided the general principles of my Inventions are adhered to, and which
may be defined in the following manner:-
Firstly, I claim the making of the various crank flies (necessary in setting
up honse bells) of sheet iron or metal by means of the fly press and suitable
press tools, these description of tools being well understood by the general
manufacturers of bell work.
Secondly, I claim the use of sheet iron or metal formed in the same manner
for the back plate and roller clip as exhibited in detached Figures at 21, 25,
and 26, also made by the same description of tools.

page_text: Thirdly, I claim the application to bell work of the description of chain
represented at Figure 19, and in detached links at Figures 27 and 28, the
said chain being made from sheet metal or iron, and put together without
rivets, but which may be varied in shape or size, as required.
Fourthly, I claim the making of the front plate and ears for mortice cranks
of sheet iron or metal by suitable press tools, as before described, these parts
being exhibited at Figures 13, 14, and 15.
Fifthly, I claim the making or forming of bell carriage arms of sheet metal
or iron by the aid of press tools, this part being exhibited in a front and side
view at Figures 29 and 30, whether made with or without the means there
exhibited, for carrying or supporting a pendulum.
Sixthly, I claim the manner of finishing such crank flies, plates, etc., as
before described and claimed, by tinning or galvanizing their surfaces, or by
coating them with a deposit of brass or other metallic alloys.
Seventhly, I claim the application to bell levers of the inner arm or lever in
connection with the box and other parts, as exhibited at Figures 32 and 33,
as also at Figures 35 and 36.
And, lastly, I claim the use of a woven or elastic fabric to the covering of
the roses of bell levers, pulls, quadrant handles, etc., the same being applied
like or similar in manner in which covered buttons are made, and afterwards 2
further ornamented or not, as required.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry James Harcourt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. S. COCKINGS.
HENRY JAMES HARCOURT. (L.S.)