A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT OR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS
Year: 1834

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
and JOHN HARTLEY, of West Bromwich, near Birmingham, Glass Manu-
facturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-second day of October, in the fifth year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said James and John Hartley, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that we, the said James and John Hartley, our exors, adñors,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said James and John Hartley, our
exors, adñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of "A CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENT OR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that we, the said James and
John Hartley, or one of us, shall cause a particular description of the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
James and John Hartley, do hereby declare the nature of our Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into effect, are
fully described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,
reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon (that is to say):-
Our Invention relates to part of the process employed in the manufacture
of that description of glass called "crown glass," used for the purpose of
glazing windows and other purposes. It is well known that this description
of glass is produced from the metal by blowing the same into the form of
globes, and afterward, by means of the operation called "flashing," such globes
are thrown open inte flat circular plates called "tables."
Now, our Invention relates to that part of the process of manufacture which
consists in blowing the metal into globes. According to the ordinary process,
the metal when taken from the pot by the pipe is rolled on a smooth iron
surface in order to bring the outer end of the metal to a conical form, the
extreme end of which becomes the outer axis of the globe during the operation
of blowing and working the glass into the required form. This outer axis is
called the "bullion." During the expanding of the metal into the globular
form, the workman rolls the "bullion" along a straight edge or bar, called
the "bullion bar," as is well understood; in doing this the outer end of the
glass globe whilst expanding and continually revolving rubs against the
"bullion bar," by which action parts of the surface of glass is disturbed or
made irregular, and as the globe extends in dimensions this rubbed surface
enlarges, the consequence is, that when the table of glass is complete there are
at all times more or less waved lines for some inches around the "bullion or
the centre of the table of glass, which lessens the value of so much of the
table. This prejudicial appearance is produced to the glass, as before stated,
by that part of the surface coming in contact with and rubbing against the
"bullion bar" when the metal isi na soft and pliant state.
"
Now, the object of our Invention is to dispense with the bullion bar, and to
supply its place by the application of a tube or hollow bearing for the
"bullion" or outer axis of the globe of glass during the expansion of the same.
By this means that part of the surface which was heretofore rubbed against
the "bullion bar," is, when worked according to our Invention, in no way
prejudicially acted on, and the waved appearance before, consequent on the
manner of operating, is avoided.

page_text: when working the metal into the globular form desired during its expansion.
On the tube is placed a shield c, which is intended to prevent the heat
coming from the heated glass injuring the hands of the boy who holds the
tube. The workman in performing this part of the process of manufacturing
glass takes a proper quantity of metal on the end of the pipe and proceeds to
form the outer end of such metal into a cone; he proceeds with the process
in like manner to that heretofore pursued, till the globe of glass requires
support at the outer end by its axis or "bullion" a, (that is to say) he
proceeds in the ordinary manner up to the period at whch (according to the
old means of operating) the bullion would have been rested on, and revolved,
and run along the "bullion bar;" but in place of so running it along the
bullion bar, a boy holds the tube or hollow bearing b in such manner as to
receive the "bullion" a, and the workman causes the globe to revolve till the
globe is sufficiently expanded. The same is then to undergo the operation of
flashing, as heretofore.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that our Invention
consists in the application of the tube or hollow axis 6 in place of running the
bullion along the straight edge, called the bullion bar, as above described.
In witness whereof, we, the said James and John Hartley, have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five
Inrolled the Twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.