A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT DE PERLAYED IN SLAUGHTERING OXEN Hopers AND OTHED ANIMATO
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Baxter, of Ealing Dean, in the County
j
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT
DE PERLAYED IN SLAUGHTERING OXEN Hopers AND OTHED ANIMATO "
Sealed the 29th January 1875, and dated the 26th August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Baxter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th August 1874.
I, ROBERT BAXTER, of Ealing Dean, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
INSTRUMENT TO BE EMPLOYED IN SLAUGHTERING OXEN, HORSES, AND OTHER
ANIMALS," to be as follows:-
The Invention has for its object the production of a new or improved
instrument to be employed in slaughtering oxen, horses, and other
animals. For this purpose I employ a band of steel or other suitable
material of the proper size and shape to reach across the forehead and
clip the sides of the head of the animal to be slaughtered. The lower

page_text: extremities of this band or clip may be suitably perforated to allow of a
strap or cord being passed therethrough when an extra fastening is
required.
cyes
A leather screen is attached to the band or clip to screen the of
the animal when the blow is being struck, as herein-after described.
A plate of metal or other suitable material is formed on or fixed to
the band or clip so that it will project therefrom to a position over the
brain of the animal, and this plate has a hole formed therein. Pro-
jecting upwards from such hole is a tube or cylinder, in which is
mounted with capability of sliding therein a strong probe of steel 1
hollowed out at the base so as to produce a cutting edge at that part.
The probe is formed with a strong head of metal at the upper part, and
is acted upon by a spiral or other suitable spring to force it to the
extremity of its motion in an upward direction.
Suitable guides may be employed to guide and control the action of 1
the probe.
By these means certainty of aim is obtained as well as securely
screening the eyes of the animal from the blow being struck, thus
affording a great improvement to the use of the common poleaxe.
The action of or mode of using the instrument is as follows:-The band
or clip is passed over the forehead of the animal it is desired to slaughter,
when the leather guard will screen its eyes; the strap or cord is then if
necessary passed through the perforations in the extremities of the band
or clip for extra security, the head of the probe is then struck a sharp
blow with some heavy instrument causing the probe to enter the
skull of the animal and probe the brain, thereby causing immediate
insensibility.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Baxter in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th February 1875.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suca
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Baxter, Her special
licence that I, the said Robert Baxter, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Baxter, my executors,
administrators, and 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 "A NEW OR
IMPROVED INSTRUMENT TO BE EMPLOYED IN SLAUGHTERING OXEN, HORSES, AND
OTHER ANIMALS,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Baxter, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Robert Baxter, 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 :--
The Invention has for its object the production of a new or improved
instrument to be employed in slaughtering oxen, horses, and other
animals. For this purpose I employ a band of steel or other suitable
material of the proper size and shape to reach across the forehead and
clip the sides of the head of the animal to be slaughtered. The lower
extremities of this band or clip are to be suitably perforated to allow (if
found necessary) of a strap or cord being passed through samé wlien:
thought requisite..
A leather screen is attached to the band or clip to screen the eyes of
the animal when the blow is being struck, as herein-after described.
A plate of metal or other suitable material is formed on or fixed to:
the band or clip, so that it will project therefrom to a position over the
brain of the animal, and this plate has a hole formed therein. Pro-.

page_text: jecting upwards from such. hole is a tube or cylinder, in which is
mounted with capability of sliding therein a strong probe of steel
hollowed out at the base, so as to produce a cutting edge at that part.
The probe is formed with a strong head of metal at the upper part, and
is acted upon by a spiral or other spring to force it to the extremity of
its motion in an upward direction, thus aiding in the withdrawal of the
probe from the head of the animal after being struck.
Suitable guides may be employed to guide and control the action of
the probe. .
By these means certainty of aim is obtained as well as securely
screening the eyes of the animal when the blow is being struck, thus
affording a great improvement upon the use of the common poleaxe.
The action of or mode of using the instrument is as follows:-The
band or clip is passed over the forehead of the animal it is desired to
slaughter, when the leather guard will screen the oyes. The strap or
cord is then if necessary passed through the perforations in the
extremities of the band or clip for extra security, the head of the probe
is then struck a sharp blow with some heavy instrument causing the
probe to enter the skull of the animal and probe the brain, thereby
producing immediate insensibility.
The sight of the animal is effectually kept from surrounding objects,
although not entirely obscured, thus tending to keep the animal quiet
whilst the blow is being struck.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ANNEXED TO THIS SPECIFICATION.
Fig. 1 represents a front view of the instrument.
Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the instrument.
Figs. 3 and 3 show the instrument adapted to the animals (horse
and ox).
Fig. 5, view showing band or clip with plate and a tube projecting
from hole made for probe.
In these Figures A represents the band or clip of steel or other
suitable material for clipping the sides of the head of the animal; B is
the leather screen attached to the band or clip (A) to screen the eyes of
the animäl; C is the plate of metal or other suitable material. This
Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the instrument.
Figs. 3 and 3 show the instrument adapted to the animals (horse
and ox).
Fig. 5, view showing band or clip with plate and a tube projecting
from hole made for probe.
In these Figures A represents the band or clip of steel or other
suitable material for clipping the sides of the head of the animal; B is
the leather screen attached to the band or clip (A) to screen the eyes of
the animal; C is the plate of metal or other suitable material. This

page_text: plate may be formed with the clip (A) or may be separate from same
and fixed thereto. As will be seen this plate (C) projects from the
band or clip (A) so as to be over the brain of the animal when the
instrument is applied, and in this plate an opening is made for the end
or base of the probe to pass through. D is tube or cylinder fixed to
the plate (C); E is another tube or cylinder capable of sliding within
the tube or cylinder (D) forming in effect a guide for the probe (G).
To the top of this cylinder or tube (E) is the head F, to which is secured
the probo G. The cylinder or tube E is fixed to the probe G by a nut e
(Fig. 2). The probe is at the lower end or base hollowed out and made
with a cutting edge, and passes through the hole before mentioned made
in plate C. H is the spring round the probe (G) enclosed within the
cylinders or tubes D and E.
If preferred the instrument may be made without the cylinder or
tube E and then the spring would be enclosed within the cylinder D
and the probe G. project therefrom and formed with the head (F), as
shown; and also if preferred a small tube (a) (Fig. 5) is secured to the
hole made in the plate C, and this tube would be enclosed by tube or
cylinder D, the spring being between the tube or cylinder D and the
tube a, the probe working inside the said tube a.
6 (Figs. 1 and 2) represents turn studs which hold the screen B.
When the instrument is used where the shape of the horns of the animal
preclude its being satisfactorily applied these studs are turned and the
screen is released, and then same may be pushed up to be clear of the
horns, and yet effectually screen the eyes of the animal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my Invention and in what manner the same is performed or
put in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the herein described In-
vention of "A New or Improved Instrument to be employed in
Slaughtering Oxen, Horses, and other Animals," as the same is herein-
before set forth and described, in which the following are important
points:
First. The method of fixing the instrument on the head of tho animal
by means of the band or clip holding the plate and tube through which
the probe works.
Second. Sufficiently covering the eyes of the animal to be slaughtered
1.
1

page_text: which screen is made movable at the sides to render same suitable for
any shaped horn.
Third. The use of a spring in connection with the before-described
arrangements for the purpose of aiding the withdrawal of the probe from
the head of the animal after the blow has been struck, it being under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise details shown by the
Drawings and herein described, as the same may be varied without
departing substantially from my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Baxter, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five
Witness,
ROBERT BAXTER. (L.S.)
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
London, S.W.