AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT FOR CLIPPING HAIR OR WOOL FROM HORSES OR OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Smith, of No. 151, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Saddler, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT
FOR CLIPPING HAIR OR WOOL FROM HORSES OR OTHER ANIMALS."
Sealed the 2nd August 1872, and dated the 7th February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th February 1872.
I, GEORGE SMITH, of No. 151, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED INSTRUMENT FOR CLIPPING HAIR OR WOOL FROM HORSES OR OTHER
ANIMALS," to be as follows:-
'
Instruments or apparatus for the above purpose are numerous and
more or less perfect in their operation, but even the best labor under the
disadvantage of being unequal in working if not skilfully used by the
operator.

page_text: By the apparatus invented by me the hair of a horse or other animal
is clipped swiftly and evenly, swiftly because the teeth of my instrument
have a double to-and-fro motion at each movement of the operator on
the handles, and evenly because I place a bar or rest upon the under
side of the lower or fixed plate of the apparatus. Further, it being
desirable to assist the said operator as much as possible, I place a spring
under the junction of the handles with the clips, or on the neck of one
of the handles, or at the side of the lower or bed plate, the effect of
which is to cause the handles to separate of themselves as it were, the
person clipping thus having only to press the handles together instead
of both pulling them apart and pressing them together.
But the principal part of my Invention consists in causing the right
handle or lever by an extension of the end thereof to work in an elbow-
shaped slot (other shape may be used), thus causing double cutting
action of the teeth by a single opening and closing movement of the
handles, or the slot may be formed on or in the lever point and worked
over a pin.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GEORGE
SMITH, of No. 151, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Saddler, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Smith, Her special licence that I,
the said George Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Smith, 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 might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the

page_text: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT FOR CLIPPING
HAIR OR WOOL FROM HORSES OR OTHER ANIMALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Smith, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Smith, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawing, and to the figures and letters of reference placed thereon :-
Instruments or apparatus for clipping hair or wool from horses or
other animals are numerous and more or less perfect in their operation,
but even the best labour under the disadvantage, of being unequal in
working if not skilfully used by the operator.
By my improved instrument the hair of a horse or other animal is
clipped swiftly and evenly, swiftly because the teeth of my instrument
have a to-and-fro or reciprocating motion at each movement of the
operator on the handles, and evenly because I place a bar or rest upon
the under side of the lower or fixed plate of the instrument. I may
place a spring under the junction of the handles with the clips, or on
the neck of one of the handles, or at the side of the lower or bed plate
so as to cause the handles to separate of themselves as it were; the
person clipping thus having only to press the handles together instead
of both pulling them apart and pressing them together. But this spring
forms no essential part of my Invention, the principal feature of which
consists in causing the right handle or lever by an extension of the end
thereof to work in an elbow-shaped slot (of any suitable angle), thus
causing double cutting action of the teeth by a single opening and
closing movement of the handles, or the slot may be formed on or in the
lever point or crank and worked over a pin.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Figure 1 represents a front
or face view of a clipping instrument embodying my Invention as seen
".

page_text: .
when held in the hands ready for use; Figure 2 is a side view of the
same; and Figure 3 is a separate view of the sliding plate C showing
the elbow shaped or angular slot F in which the crank pin d works, and
by means of which the to-and-fro or reciprocating motion is imparted to
the plate C. Or, as above stated, this reciprocating motion may be
obtained by forming the slot F in crank D, and placing the pin d on the
plate C, but I prefer the arrangement shewn.
c, c, are two small slots which in connection with the studs a, a,
act as guides for the plate C; A, A, are the two handles or levers, one
of which is firmly secured to the under plate B, whilst the other with
the crank D, in which is the pin or stud d, is free to move on the centre
stud E; C is the upper or sliding plate attached to the lower plate B
by means of the two small studs a, a, but free to move in a horizontal
direction either way; G is a projecting rib on the under side of the
plate B serving whilst the clipping instrument is in use to keep it level,
and thereby prevent any wavy appearance in the cut, or this rest may
be a bar set at any desired distance from the plate B, and be fixed or to
revolve in bearings as a friction roller; e, e, are two small studs attached
to the under side of the crank D, and intended to regulate the movement
of the crank by striking against the end of the fixed lever A as well as
to keep the studs a, a, from striking against the ends of the slots c, c.
I would here observe that the angle given on the Drawing to the
slot F is simply an angle that I have in practice found to answer well,
but that I do not purpose limiting myself thereto, but reserve the right
of making the slot of any angle or curve which will give me the
reciprocating motion the object of this part of my Invention.
I have not shown a spring for separating the handles after being
pressed together by the hands, it forming no essential part of my
instrument, and similar applications of spring power being common;
also because it is doubtful whether the liability to get out of order,
like all spring power, together with the additional cost does not more
than counterbalance its advantage.
I use any kind of metal or material which I may find most suitable
for the various parts of my instrument.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is or may be performed, I would have it
distinctly understood that I lay no claim to the exclusive use of any

page_text: particular form of cutting teeth, nor do I confine myself to the precise
details herein given and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing, as
such may be varied while preserving all the essential features of my
Invention, and that what I claim as secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The use of the combination of crank D and pin d with slot F,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
Secondly. The use of the rib or rest G or its equivalent, substantially
as and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.