AN IMPROVEMENT IN WORKING GUNS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Theophilus Alexander Blakely, of Montpelier Square,
in the County of Middlesex, late Captain Royal Artillery, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN WORKING GUNS."
Sealed the 16th May 1865, and dated the 18th November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Theophilus Alexander
Blakely at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th November 1864.
I, THEOPHILUS ALEXANDER BLAKELY, of Montpelier Square, in the County
of Middlesex, late Captain Royal Artillery, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN WORKING GUNS," to be as
follows:-
In the Specification of former Letters Patent, granted to me 20th Decem-
ber 1862, No. 8404, I described the pivoting of guns in or near the centre
of the port hole or embrasure. Now I find there is some difficulty in working
guns so fitted, and my present improvement consists in the employment of a
counterpoise or weight connected to the rear part of the gun.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Theophilus Alexander Blakely in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THEOPHILUS
ALEXANDER BLAKELY, of Montpelier Square, in the County of Middlesex,
late Captain Royal Artillery, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Theophilus Alexander Blakely, Her special licence that I, the said
Theophilus Alexander Blakely, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Theophilus Alexander Blakely, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN WORKING GUNS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Theophilus Alexander Blakely,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Theophilus Alexander Blakely, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me Twentieth
December, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, No. 3404, I described
the pivoting of guns in or near the centre of the port hole or embrasure.
Now I find there is some difficulty in working guns so fitted, and my present
I improvement consists in the employment of a counterpoise or weight con-
nected to the rear part of the gun.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate a manner in which my Invention
may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of a gun on a carriage
and platform.
A is the gun pivotted on its trunnions B; C, the gun carriage, and D, the
platform; E is the counterpoise free to rise and fall with the working of the
gun. It is attached by ropes or chains F passing over pulleys or rollers, and
secured to the rear of the gun.

page_text: The Drawings shew arrangements for elevating and depressing the gun,
but they form no part of the present Invention.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim as my improve-
ment in working guns, the employment of a weight or counterpoise sub-
stantially in manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theophilus Alexander Blakely, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.