AN IMPROVED ROASTING JACK
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Holden and Richard Nicholas, of
Brook Street, Saint Paul's, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturers, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ROASTING JACK."
Sealed the 29th February 1856, and dated the 3rd September 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Holden
and Richard Nicholas at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 3rd September 1855.
We, GEORGE THOMAS HOLDEN and RICHARD NICHOLAS, of Brook Street,
Saint Paul's, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ROASTING
JACK" to be as follows:-
The peculiarities of our Invention will be best explained by the following
references to the annexed Drawing, which presents a sectional view of the
works of our improved jack.
A, the main driving wheel, which is connected to the spring by the ordinary
mechanism used for such purposes; B, the saw tooth wheel. The wheels A
and B work on a vertical axis H, such axis being in the centre of the works
of the jack, and made hollow to allow the silk G to pass through. C, the
verge, which oscillates horizontally upon its axis, and is constructed with a
rectangular opening, which allows the silk to pass through without obstruc-
tion; D, a rod or finger, attached to the verge, and which works in a slot in

page_text: the quadrant (an edge view of which is given at E), whereby an oscil-
lating motion is transmitted to the latter; F, the key by means of which
the jack is wound up; G, the silk passing through the centre of the works.
The remaining details of the mechanism are such as are ordinarily used in
roasting jacks, and are well known to persons engaged in the manufacture of
such articles, and therefore we do not particularly describe them.
By the above-mentioned arrangement, less space is required than in the
roasting jacks, previously constructed, while the materials and cost of work-
manship are also greatly economised. The internal mechanism may be held
together by means of a metallic frame, which we propose shall be stamped
of the desired form, with the necessary holes for the centres, screws, and
other fastenings, and the whole may be, enclosed in a case of any suitable
material and form.
The novelty of our Invention consists, firstly, in arranging the verge so
as to oscillate horizontally upon its axis, and working into the saw-tooth
wheel B, which works upon the vertical hollow axis H, whereby much space
is economised, the roasting jacks hitherto in use having been constructed with
verges acting in a vertical position; and, secondly, in the general arrangement
of the mechanism herein-before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Thomas Holden and Richard Nicholas in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 1st March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
THOMAS HOLDEN and RICHARD NICHOLAS, of Brook Street, Saint Paul's,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year. of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said George Thomas Holden and Richard Nicholas, Her special licence
that we, the said George Thomas Holden and Richard Nicholas, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Thomas
Holden and Richard Nicholas, our 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

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED ROASTING JACK," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said George Thomas Holden and Richard Nicholas, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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 we, the said George Thomas Holden and Richard
Nicholas, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
Our said Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of
roasting jacks, and will be understood with the assistance of the annexed
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a roasting jack constructed with our
improvements. a, a, is the key by means of which the jack is wound up. It
is screwed on to the tube b, which is constructed so as to work freely on the
neck tube c, c. To the tube 6 is fixed one end of the main spring d, d, and
also the ratchet wheel e, the latter being connected by a click to the main
wheel f, f, in the ordinary manner. The main wheel (which we prefer should
be an internal toothed one) is constructed so as to fit the tube b, and revolves
with it, giving a rotary motion to the saw-tooth wheel g, by means of the
intermediate wheel h and its pinion i. The saw-tooth wheel g rotates upon
the hollow axis, as shewn at p, Figure 5. The verge j, the axis of which is
horizontal, receives its oscillatory motion from the saw-tooth wheel in the usual
manner, and is constructed with a rectangular, elliptical, or other opening
in the centre to let the silk pass freely through. The oscillating motion of
the verge is communicated to the quadrant k by the finger 1, attached to the
verge j; as shewn in Figures 1 and 7, and which finger works in a slot in the
quadrant, as shewn in Figure 3, at m, the latter giving motion in the usual
manner through the multiplying wheel n to the centre pinion o, Figure 1.
Figure 2, a horizontal section at the line A, A, Figure 1; Figure 3, a horizontal
section at the line B, B, Figure 1; Figure 4, a horizontal section of the neck
tube and hollow axis; Figure 5, a vertical section of the neck tube and hollow
axis, upon which latter the saw-tooth wheel rotates; Figure 6, a perspective
view of the saw-tooth wheel and pinion, shewing the hollow axis of each;

page_text: Figure 7, a perspective view of the verge (j), having a rectangular, elliptical,
or other opening in the centre to let the silk pass freely through. 7 is the
finger, herein-before mentioned, by means of which the oscillating motion is
communicated to the quadrant. Figure 8, a vertical section of the escape-
ment; and Figure 9, a horizontal section of the same. a is the escape wheel,
with a hollow axis d, to allow of the free passage of the silk through the
same, and having teeth only on portions of its circumference, which teeth
gear alternately into the pinions 6', b, of the wheels c², c.
The wheel c¹ gears
into the centre pinion of the jack, thus giving it the required motion.
Figure 10, b is a pinion sliding freely upon
the square rod a, and which may
be used instead of the pinion o, Figure 1.
The silk is fastened to the upper
end of the rod a; and the object of this arrangement is to obviate any
inconvenience arising from the stretching of the silk, for as the pinion 6 will
adjust itself upon the rod a, no stoppage of the works of the jack will ensue
in the event of the silk becoming elongated.
We have thus described the mechanism of our improved roasting jacks, and
we consider it unnecessary to go into any further particulars, inasmuch as the
mode of construction of the parts and matters of detail will be well under-
stood by persons conversant with mechanism and the manufacture of such
articles.
By the arrangement which we have described less space is required than in
the roasting jacks previously constructed, while the materials and cost of
workmanship are also greatly economised. The internal mechanism may be
held together by means of a metallic frame, which we propose shall be stamped
of the desired form, with the necessary holes for the centres, screws, and
other fastenings, and the whole may be enclosed in a case of any suitable
material and form.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into
effect, we would observe, in conclusion, that we do not confine or restrict
ourselves to the precise details or arrangements which we have described or
referred to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of the said Invention, nor do we claim all the
parts thereof as being novel and original; but what we consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the employment of the neck tube of roasting jacks as an axis of
rotation for the key a, a, and tube 6, as shewn in Figure 1 of the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and for the ratchet and main wheels. .

page_text: Second, the construction of the escape wheels of roasting jacks with hollow
axes for the purpose of allowing the silk to pass freely through, the pinions of
the same wheels being also constructed hollow for the like purpose.
And, third, the arrangement of the verge so as to work horizontally, and the
construction of the same with a rectangular, elliptical, or other opening to
allow the silk to pass through.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Thomas Holden and Richard
Nicholas, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
GEORGE THOMAS HOLDEN. (L.S.)
RICHARD NICHOLAS.
(L.S.)