A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR 'DROPPER' TO BE EMPLOYED IN RETAINING THE WIRES OF WIRE FENCES AT PROPER DISTANCES APART
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Philpot Curran Bain, of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED APPARATUS OR 'DROPPER' TO BE EMPLOYED IN RETAINING THE
WIRES OF WIRE FENCES AT PROPER DISTANCES APART."
caled the 16th March 1877, and dated the 29th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Philpot Curran
Bain at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December
1876.
WILLIAM PHILPOT CURRAN BAIN, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR 'DROPPER' TO BE
EMPLOYED IN RETAINING THE WIRES OF WIRE FENCES AT PROPER DISTANCES
APART."
This Invention, which has for its object to retain the lines of wire constituting a
wire fence at the proper distances apart, or to prevent the said lines of wire from
becoming bent at any point between two straining or supporting posts or standards,
and so preventing irregularities in the line of fence, consists of an apparatus which
is hung vertically on the lines of wires.
This apparatus is composed of a V or other suitably shaped strip or length of
metal, or equivalent material, in which a series of slots are cut horizontally across
the ridge or angle at distances apart corresponding to the distance desired to be
maintained between the lines of wire. This apparatus is hung upon the fence with
the wires passing through the slots, and it is retained in position by pins passing
vertically downwards in the chanuel of the V between the wires and the open
slots; or tongues or projections may be formed on the "dropper" at each slot,
these when the wires are in position being folded down over them, or other equi-
valent means may be used to retain the "dropper" on the fence.
Under modifications the "dropper" in lieu of being V shaped in horizontal
section may be elliptical or semi-elliptical, semi-circular, or of other curved form;
or it may in horizontal section constitute a hollow square or three sides of a square,
or other rectangular figure.

page_text: The "droppers" are placed on the wires at suitable distances apart, a greater or
less number of them being used, according to the distances between the straining
or supporting posts or standards of the fence.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Philpot Curran Bain in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd June 1877.
WILLIAM PHILPOT CURRAN BAIN, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR 'DROPPER' TO BE
EMPLOYED IN RETAINING THE WIRES OF WIRE FENCES AT PROPER DISTANCES
APART."
My said Invention has for its object to retain the lines of wire constituting a
wire fence at the proper distances apart, or to prevent the said lines of wire from
becoming bent at any point between two straining or supporting posts or standards,
and so preventing irregularities in the line of fence, consists of an apparatus which
is hung vertically on the lines of wires.
This apparatus is composed of a V or other suitably shaped strip or length of
metal, or equivalent material, in which a series of slots are cut horizontally across
the ridge or angle at distances apart corresponding to the distance desired to be
maintained between the lines of wire.
This apparatus is hung upon the fence with the wires passing through the slots,
and it is retained in position by pins passing vertically downwards in the channel
of the V between the wires and the open slots.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to
the annexed Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents a portion of a
wire fence fitted with my improved dropper; Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a
front and back view of a portion of the doopper as applied to wire fences; and
Figure 4 is a back view of a part of the dropper as apart from the fence, and shows
the slot cut across the ridge to receive the wire.
The dropper A is composed of a V or other suitably shaped strip or length of
metal, or equivalent material, in which a series of slots a are cut horizontally across
the ridge or angle at distances apart corresponding to the distance desired to be
maintained between the wires B, on which latter, after these have been strained in
the usual manner, the droppers A are hung at such distances apart as may be
desired, and are so suspended as to be clear of the ground. They are secured to
the wires B by the wedges or keys b inserted vertically downwards in the channel
of the droppers, as seen inore particularly at Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of the dropper A, and shows the wedge b inserted
in the angle of the dropper between it and the wire B. The number of droppers
between any two standards may be varied at will, and as the droppers are attachad
to the wires while these latter are in position and strained the inconvenience of
drawing the wires through the droppers is obviated. Under modifications the
droppers instead of being V shaped in transverse section may be elliptical or semi-
elliptical, as seen at Figure 6; or it may be in the form of a square or three sides
of a square, or other rectangular figure, as illustrated at Figure 7; and the edges
of the droppers may be slightly bent or folded to obviate the possibility of cutting
or injuring animals coming in contact therewith.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be

page_text: used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, constructing droppers
with a hollow side or longitudinal cavity, having slots cut across the angled or
closed side for inserting the wires of a strained wire fence, to which the droppers
are secured by means of wedges or pins placed vertically between the wires and
the back or inside of the droppers, substantially as herein-before described and
shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Philpot Curran Bain, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
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