IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SCYTHES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Booth, of the Firm of George Booth and Sons, of
Conisborough, near Rotherham, in the County of York, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SCYTHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Booth at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1877.
GEORGE BOOTH, of the Firm of George Booth and Sons, of Conisborough, near
Rotherham, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SCYTHES."
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of rivetted-backed
scythes, the object of the improvements being to effect an economy in both the
time and material employed in such manufacture.
Hitherto it has been the practice to make the backs of this class of scythes from
flat strips of iron of the same width as the tang, the flange being afterwards forged
thereon; this strip of iron was then tapered from one end to the other by being cut
or stripped up in an oblique direction, the thickest or widest part forming the
tang.
Now, by my improvements I make the backs of scythes from iron rolled in
continuous lengths and of the width only of the tang end of the back, the rolls
being so constructed as to form the iron with the required flange thereon. I then
cut the iron into lengths suitable for forming the backs, and taper them by any
suitable means, the tang being afterwards forged thereon.
Further, instead of gristing or creasing the plate or blade by hand, as hitherto, I
effect this operation by pressure by any suitable machine, the back edge of the plate
or blade being also turned up by pressure.

page_text: It will thus be understood that by these improvements I not only avoid the
larger portion of the waste of metal hitherto lost, but also save the labour of forging
the flange on the backs of the scythes, and facilitate the gristing or creasing of the
plate or blade.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said George Booth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th March 1878.
GEORGE BOOTH, of the Firm of George Booth and Sons, of Conisborough, near
Rotherham, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SCYTHES."
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of rivetted-backed
scythes, the object of the improvements being to effect an economy in both the time
and material employed in such manufacture.
Hitherto it has been the practice to make the backs of this class of scythes from
flat strips of iron of the same width as the tang, the flange being afterwards forged
thereon; this strip of iron was then tapered from one end to the other by being cut
or stripped up in an oblique direction, the thickest or widest part forming the
tang.
Now, by my improvements I make the backs of scythes from iron rolled in
continuous lengths and of the width only of the tang end of the back, the rolls
being so constructed as to form the iron with the required flange thereon. I then
cut the iron into lengths suitable for forming the backs, and taper them by any
suitable means, the tang being afterwards forged thereon.
Further, instead of gristing or creasing the plate or blade by hand, as hitherto, I
effect this operation by pressure by any suitable machine, the back edge of the.plate
or blade being also turned up by pressure.
But to make my Invention better understood, I will proceed to more fully describe
the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which,―
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a section shewing the shape of the strip of iron
from which I form the backs of scythes according to my Invention.
Figure 3 is a plan shewing the piece cut off and tapered.
Figure 4, edge view of the same, with the tang forged thereon.
Figure 5, plan of Figure 4, but shewing the piece or back curved to suit the shape
of the scythe, and shewing also the rivet holes.
Figure 6, a plan of the scythe plate or blade before the back is applied thereto;
Figure 7, section of same on line A, B.
Figure 8, plan of the completed scythe.
In carrying out my improvements I employ for the backs of scythes iron rolled in
continuous lengths, and with a flange a on one edge thereof, as shewn in Figures
1 and 2, the width of the iron being only that of the tang end of the back. I then
cut the iron into proper lengths for forming the backs and taper them, as shewn in
Figure 3, by any suitable means; the tang b is then forged thereon, as shewn in
Figure 4; the rivet holes are then formed, and the piece bent to the proper curve, as
shewn in Figure 5, to suit the scythe plate or blade, shewn in Figure 6, the
gristing or creasing c of the scythe plate or blade being effected by pressure by any
suitable machine, instead of by hand, as hitherto, the back edge d of the plate or

page_text: blade being also turned up by pressure. The back is then rivetted to the plate or
blade, and the scythe completed in the usual manner.
It will thus be understood that by these improvements I not only avoid the larger
portion of the waste of metal hitherto lost, but also save the labour of forging the
flange on the backs of the scythes, and facilitate the gristing or creasing of the
plate or blade.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means with which
I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
what I claim is, the improvements in the manufacture of scythes, substantially as
herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Booth, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight
Witness,
HARRY WILSON,
Steel Manuf.,
Kilnhurst.
GEORGE BOOTH. (L.S.)