IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLE-TREES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnson, of Little Malvern, in the County of
Worcester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLE-TREES."
Sealed the 24th October 1861, and dated the 29th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th April 1861.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of Little Malvern, in the County of Worcester, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLE-
TREES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in saddle-trees. Heretofore
in constructing saddle-trees it has been usual in each case to employ two
sides, generally of wood connected at their ends, or strengthened by two
raised bars or bridges of metal. Now this Invention as herein described
consists in making saddle-trees of sheet metal, sheet steel being preferred for
the purpose; and in place of an open space being left between the two side
pieces, as in ordinary saddle-trees, and which has heretofore been covered
by stretched webbing and canvas or other fabric or material, no such open
space is left when using sheet metal, but a tree is produced by bending
sheet metal (cut to the desired shape) into a single splayed bridge or arch
resulting in the desired form of the tree dependant on the size and character
or style of saddle to be mounted. In thus using sheet metal a saddle-tree

page_text: will generally consist of one piece, either bent or otherwise embossed into any
desired form, but in some constructions of saddle-trees more than one piece
of sheet metal will be used. In order to shape the various parts of a saddle-
tree which are made of sheet metal, and its accompanying mountings into
the desired forms, such parts are raised or embossed in suitable dies or
otherwise, thus leaving concavities of the surfaces on the one side, and con-
vexities of the surfaces on the other side. By thus using sheet metal in
the construction of saddle-trees, lightness, neatness, and strength are obtained
at a comparatively small cost.
Saddle-trees made of sheet metal may be covered with leather and padded,
or stuffed as heretofore, or as may otherwise be desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHNSON, of Little Malvern, in the County of Worcester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Johnson, Her special licence that I, the said William
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Johnson, 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 Bri-
tain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLE-TREES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu
larly 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
ifter the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manuer the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in saddle-trees.
Heretofore
in constructing saddle-trees it has been usual in each case to employ two
sides, generally of wood connected at their ends, or strengthened by two
raised bars or bridges of metal. Now this Invention, as herein described,
consists in making saddle-trees of sheet metal, sheet steel being preferred
for the purpose. And in place of an open space being left between the two
side pieces, as in ordinary saddle-trees, and which has heretofore been covered
by stretched webbing, and canvas or other fabric or material, no such.open
space is left when using sheet metal, but a tree is produced by bending sheet
metal (cut to the desired shape) into a single splayed bridge or arch, resulting
in the desired form of the tree, dependant on the size and character or
style of saddle to be mounted. In thus using sheet metal a saddle-tree
will generally consist of one piece, either bent or otherwise embossed into
any desired form, but in some constructions of saddle-trees more than one
piece of sheet metal will be used. In order to shape the various parts of a
saddle-tree which are made of sheet metal, and its accompanying mountings,
into the desired forms, such parts are raised or embossed in suitable dies or
otherwise, thus leaving concavities of the surfaces on the one side, and con-
vexities of the surfaces on the other side. By thus using sheet metal in the
construction of saddle-trees, lightness, neatness, and strength are obtained at
a comparatively small cost.
Saddle-trees made of sheet metal may be covered with leather, and padded
or stuffed as heretofore, or as may otherwise be desired.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
WILLIAM JOHNSON. (L.S.)