IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SADDLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM WOOLLEY, of 18 Saint Martin Street, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SADDLES " to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the production or manufacture of Riding Saddles,
wherein and whereby equal excellence is obtained, with less expenditure of labor
and material than heretofore, and it may be thus described :-
"
Using the ordinary "Saddle tree" or frame, as at present employed, I first take
a sheet of Leather or other convenient or desirable material, and I shape this to
suit the form or nature of the seat of the Saddle for which it is required; and I
then secure to this,-by stitching, longitudinally, and on what will be the under
side, a strip of "wrappering or other similar fabric or material, with the outer
edges left sufficiently large to reach and "tack" to the underside of the "tree;"
and I secure these to the "head" and "cantle" of the "tree," by nails, tacks, or
other strong and efficient means; and to or round the "bellies," by stitching to a
piece or pieces of material, first nailed or otherwise fastened to the "belly" of the
Saddle tree; and I now cut openings in the first-named sheet of material,-
immediately over the bellies of the tree,-through which I pass the necessary
stuffing material, which may be of curled hair, flock, or other elastic or suitable
material.
I now cover the whole of the seat of the Saddle with "felt" or other soft
material, which I keep in position by sewing round the bellies, or where desirable,
to the previously named parts; and, for the heads or "pummels" of Ladie's or
side saddles," I employ similar materials and method of construction, so that
they shall be thoroughly and comfortably cased; the whole forming a firm and
satisfactory foundation for "finishing,"-with the outer skin,-in the ordinary
"
manner.
In constructing the knee pads, I employ a mould for producing the required
shape or form, first laying therein, a piece of felt or other soft material, and filling
up with a semi-elastic material or composition, which renders it ready for laying
upon the "shell" and covering in the usual manner.
In applying my Invention to the "pannel" of the Saddle, I lay together, and
sew through, the lining, facing, and pannel side, at one operation; and, in lieu of
turning over for producing the "facing," I fill from the outside, and sew down to
the pannel side, thus lessening the labor of quilting.

page_text: I, WILLIAM WOOLLEY, of 18 Saint Martin Street, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SADDLES," 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 this Invention is the production or manufacture of Riding Saddles
wherein and whereby equal excellence is obtained, with less expenditure of labor
and material than heretofore, and it may be thus described :-
"
"
Using the ordinary "Saddle tree or frame, as at present employed, I first take
a sheet of Leather, or other convenient or desirable material, and I shape this to
suit the form or nature of the seat of the Saddle for which it is required, and I
then secure to this, by stitching, longitudinally, and on what will be the under
side, a strip of wrappering or other similar fabric or material, with the outer edges
left sufficiently large to reach and "tack to the under side of the tree; and
I secure these to the "head" and "cantle" of the "tree," by means of nails, tacks,
or other strong and efficient means; and to or round the "bellies," by stitching to
a piece or pieces of material first nailed, or otherwise fastened to the "belley" of
the Saddle tree; and I now cut openings in the first-named sheet of material,-
immediately over the bellies of the tree, through which I pass the necessary
stuffing material, which may be of curled hair, flock, or other elastic or suitable
material.
I now cover the whole of the seat of the Saddle with "felt" or other soft
material, which is kept in position by sewing round the "bellies," or where desirable,
to the previously named parts; and, for the heads or "pummels" of Ladie's or
"side" Saddles, I employ similar materials and method of construction, so that they
shall be thoroughly and comfortably cased; the whole forming and constituting a
firm and satisfactory foundation for "finishing"-with the outer skin,-in the
ordinary manner.
In constructing the knee pads, I employ a mould for producing the required
shape or form, first laying therein, a piece of felt or other soft material, and filling
up with a semi-elastic material or composition, which renders it ready for laying
upon the "shell," and covering in the usual manner.
In applying my Invention to the " pannel" of the Saddle, I lay together and
sew through, the lining, facing, and pannel side, at one operation; and, in lieu of
turning over, for producing the "facing;" I fill from the outside,-and-sew_down_to_
the pannel side, thus lessening the labor of quilting.
In the accompanying illustrations, Figure 1 shows the top of a Saddle, with the
first stage or covering, and the seams of the strip of material underneath; Figure 2
is the same for a Ladie's, or "side" saddle; Figure 3 is the pummel for ditto;
Figure 4 a section of the latter; and Figure 5 is a section of one of my moulded
knee pads; and in these, a is the first named and used piece of Leather or other
stout material; b the seams of the under strip; c nails or tacks for securing these
to the Saddle-tree;" d, stiff leather for pummel, before being pressed; e top
leather for ditto; f, (Fig 4) stiff leather, after being pressed; g, felt for knee pads;
and h the composition for the same.
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 The cutting out, of Leather or other suitable material,-the required shape
or form of the top or seat of the Saddle; securing this to the "head" and "cantle
"

page_text: of the "Saddle-tree," by wrappering or other similar or suitable material, and nails,
tacks, or other efficient means; and to the "bellies" by stitching to pieces first
securely fastened to the "bellies" of the tree; then stuffing as described, and
covering entirely with felt or other soft material, before applying the "finishing"
or outer skin or covering.
2nd The use of "blocked" or moulded pieces of Leather, for the heads or
pummels, and the making of the "rolls," before attaching them to the "flaps" and
other parts, and 3rd The "laying together" and sewing through, the lining, facing,
and pannel side, at one operation; filling from the outside, and sewing down to the
pannel side, virtually as, or after the manner herein before described and set forth.
Dated this 97th day of October 1984
WILLIAM WOOLLEY.