Improvements in Toasting Forks or Holders.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toasting Forks or Holders.
ALEXANDER LAWRIE of the Firm of Lawrie & Bishop Manufacturers of Wire
Goods, 55, 56, and 57 Bradford Street, Birmingham do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my improvements in toasting fork's or holder's is to make a
toasting fork, or holder, which shall not pierce holes through the bread, but shall
hold the bread to be toasted before the fire, between frames which are actuated, by
springs, or other mechanism. In carrying out my improvements in toasting forks
or holders I take a long piece of wire, & bend the same arch shape at its centre, &.
bring the two arms of wire paral. make three short narrow pieces of iron, & pierce
three holes in each (or I curl a piece of wire eye shape) & slide them upon
the parallel arm's through the end holes. From the central loop, or arch of the
parallel arms, some nineteen inches more, or less, I bend the end's of the wire
at right angles-some two inches more, I again loop or arch the ends of the
wire outwardly, & bring them parallel with the first angles also again, I
bend the ends of the wire, at right angles & cause the two ends of the wire to
meet, forming a wire square upright frame. The three pieces of iron, or wire
upon the parallel arms, one is near the bottom of the upright frame, & the other
two some little distance apart from each other along the arms. I take another
long piece of wire, & at one end thereof, I form into a somewhat similar upright
frame as upon the end of the parallel wires. I push the long stem, of this single
wire, through the central holes, in the narrow pieces of iron, or eye wire, upon
the arm's, but I put a stop, & slide a Spring upon the single centre stem, before
it enters the last hole of the iron, or eye wire, which when in action draws with
the frame of the single wire, against the frame on the end of the parallel wires.
The end of the single wire, I form into a thumb ring, or pressure stop, also an
eye-wire, I fasten onto the single central stem, & for it to slide upon the two
arm's.
Operation. Thus my improved toasting fork or holder is made as described, When
I want to toast a piece of bread, I take the toasting fork, or holder, in one hand, & press
with the tuumb, the knob, and the frame is opened, I place the bread to be toasted
between the frames, & loose the knob, & the spring pressure holds the bread in
position, while being toasted, on one side Then I open again, with the pressure
upon the knob, the frame, and turn the other side of the bread to be toasted
towards the fire. I do not limit the application, of my present invention, to
any particular form or size of toasting fork, or holder, or to any special arrange-
ments in the construction of such, but I modify the same essential features
herein before described to suit any particular requirement, as the single central
stem with its frame,- may be worked within a tube, & the frame on the wire
arm's attachable or such like.
In order that my invention, may be fully understood, I will more particularly
describe it, with the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which similar parts are
marked with like letter of reference.

page_text: Fig. 1, Represents an elevation of my improved toasting fork, or holder.
a upright frame at the ends of the arms, 6 parallel arms, c loop, d parallel
arm's, e narrow piece of iron, with the holes, f single central stem, g eye wire
to slide on the arms, h spring, i thumb knob, j cover over spring & stop.
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 is:-
1st. A toasting fork, or holder as illustrated, described & set forth in the
accompanying drawing.
2nd. To so construct two frame holders, & their handles or stems, or arms
or tubes to work jointly with each other, for the purpose set forth.
3rd. A frame, or frames jointed or attached, to part or parts to be used before
the fire, instead of the prongs of a toasting fork for the purpose described & set
forth.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1897
J. E. B. BENNETT,
4 Cherry Street, Birmingham, Patent Agent for the Applicant.