IMPROVEMENTS IN VICES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Parkes Matthews, of Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VICES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Parkes Matthews
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with, his Petition, on the
21st April 1862!
I, SAMUEL PARKES MATTHEWS, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VICES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in vices, and consists,
1st, in dispensing with the box and pin (now in use) and substituting in
lieu thereof outside, moveable plates for the purpose of allowing an extension
g'an
of the width of the jaws of the vice, and are secured in their position, when
properly adjusted, by a moveable pin inserted, in holes made in the plates.
2nd, instead of the screw rod hitherto used for the purpose of screwing up.
the vice I substitute a hand lever consisting of a screw and lever working
upon pivots in eyes of the plates for the purpose of varying the width of the
jaws and securing them firmly in their required positions when correctly
adjusted.
3rd. in the substitution of a weight, suspended over pulley wheels working

page_text: on the plates and front jaw instead of the spring commonly used between the
jaws for the purpose of opening them, whereby I obtain greater width of grip
and an invariable horizontal bite.
.SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Parkes Matthews in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
PARKES MATTHEWS, of Wolverhampton; in the County of Stafford, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, 'Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Samuel Parkes Matthews, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel Parkes
Matthews, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Samuel Parkes Matthews, 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
night make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
• IMPROVEMENTS IN VICES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Samuel Parkes Matthews, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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.
66
NOW KNOW. YE, that I, the said Samuel Parkes Matthews, 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, viz. :-
My Invention for improvements in vices consists:-
Firstly, in dispensing with the box and pin, and in lieu thereof applying a
pair of portable side plates, in which is fixed a screw lever, the said plates
bearing upon side rollers attached to the moveable jaw (or front frame; the
aforesaid plates are pierced with pin holes for regulating the width of grip.

page_text: Secondly, I attach to the front jaw (or moveable frame) three pairs of small
pully wheels, over which a small weight is slung by means of string, catgut,
or other material; the weight being a substitute for the usual spring, but
acting on the moveable jaw (or front frame insures an undeviating power, no
matter to what extent the vice is opened.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the way of working
the same, my claim by the improvements extra strength, quicker action, less
friction, and less labour.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Parkes Matthews, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
SAMUEL PARKES MATTHEWS. (L.B.)