Improvements in the Manufacture of Solid Leather Buttons and Gimp Pins.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Solid Leather Buttons and
Gimp Pins.
We, THOMAS FREEMAN NOTT-FINCH, and AMETHYST LUTHER NOTT-
FINCH, both of Sidbury Works, Worcester, Button Manufacturers do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of those kinds of
buttons known as solid leather buttons.
Our invention consists first in arrangements to strengthen the eyes or shanks of
solid leather buttons, intended specially to remedy the evil of the eye or shank
becoming loose or pulling out.
To effect this purpose we cut out a disc of metal, either of brass, iron, steel, or
any other suitable material, and form it into a cup, with a hole or slot in its centre
to allow the eye or shank to pass through. We then cut out a pellet of leather or
any other suitable material and cut or form a channel or groove round the said
pellet at a suitable distance from its edge. This channel or groove is intended to
receive the rim or underside of the metal cup, the channel or cup being so inclined
as to direct (under pressure) the rim of the said cup into a cup or dovetail, that is
to say to contract the underedge of the cup, causing it to press the leather at the
bottom of the channel, and thereby securing the disc to the leather pellet in such a
manner as to make it impossible to separate the two, no matter what strain may be
put upon the eye or shank. Thus the disc secures the shank to the head of the
button. The rim of the disc may be inclined outwards, if thought fit, or a simple
disc may be embedded in the leather pellet, either cut plain, or with prongs,
diverting from its centre.
In some cases we use a plain flat disc perforated with holes, raised into eyelet
shaped burrs the eye or shank is formed either attached to or separately from
the disc. When separate it is formed in the shape of a staple, its ends being
turned down and flattened, to prevent its pulling through the hole or slot in the
disc; or it may be formed out of the same metal as the disc by cutting two
parallel lines and forcing the metal out between these two lines, and thereby
stretching it so as to form a loop or eye; thus making a complete shank to the
button.
In making the shanks we use leather, cotton, brass, iron, or any other suitable
material. The slot in the metal disc or cup may be cut clean out or only cut
through and forced sufficiently open to allow of the shank passing through.
it
In the application of this invention to gimp pins and all other kinds of nails, we
pierce the hole in the disc or plate, and insert a pin or tack with a head
upon
through the said hole and fix the head to the plate in a similar manner as in the
case of the buttons. The head of the said buttons or pins are made either plain or
ornamental, or may be made with an indentation or recess in the top for the
reception of any kind of material for ornamental purposes.
Dated 23rd June 1891
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Solid Leather Buttons and
Gimp Pins.
We, THOMAS FREEMAN NOTT-FINCH and AMETHYST LUTHER NOTT-
FINCH, both of Sidbury Works, Worcester, Button Manufacturers, 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:-
The object of our invention is to effect improvements in the manufacture of what
are known as solid leather buttons and gimp pins, whereby the eyes, shanks, tags,
and pins, are securely attached to the heads; our invention being especially
intended to remedy the evil of the eyes, shanks, tags, or pins, becoming loose, or
being severed from the heads.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascer
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts; the several figures being drawn
to an enlarged scale for greater clearness.
Fig. is a section showing the pellet and metallic cup ready to be put
together.
Fig. 2 shows the same united.
Fig. 3 is a section showing a button with a metallic disc embedded in the head
of the button.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the method of construction, in which a perforated disc
is used.
Fig. 7 illustrates the method of making the eye or shank in one with the cup or
disc; and
Fig. 8 is a section of a gimp pin.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is a pellet of leather, or any other suitable material,
in which is formed an annular channel or groove a', at a suitable distance from the
edge. is a cup formed of brass, iron, or other suitable material. A slot is made
in the cup at d, to receive the bow of the wire shank e, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.
The lips, on each side of the slot d, are pressed together between the inner ends
of the shank c.
When the cup is placed in the annular groove in the pellet a, they are subjected
to a suitable amount of pressure, whereby the raised edge of the cup is caused to
assume the form shown in Fig. 2: the button being finished.
The relative diameters of the pellet and cup may be varied, and the raised edge
of the cup may incline outwards instead of inwards; in which case the pressure
would force the raised edge outwards in the pellet.
In Fig. 3 a flat plate is shown, instead of the cup b; the plate 61 being
covered by a disc e, of any suitable material, over the edge of which the pellet a is
pressed, as shown in Fig. 3. This form of our invention may be modified by
omitting the disc e, and dovetailing the pellet a round, or over the edge of the
plate b
Another method of carrying out our invention is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. a is
a plain pellet. is a plate perforated with holes having eyelet shaped burrs ff,
the holes being punched by suitable tools so as to leave unevenly edged burrs
projecting above the plate. When the plate is pressed against the pellet a, the
projecting burred edges, round each hole, enter the pellet, and assume the
positions shown in section in Fig. 5, whereby the parts are securely united. The
shank c is secured in the manner herein before described.
Instead of forming the shank c of separate wire, we sometimes press outwards a
strip of metal, forming part of the cup or plate, herein before described, as
illustrated by Fig. 7, wherein is the cup (or it may be a plain plate) and c¹ is a
strip of metal pressed outwards and forming the shank.

page_text: Fig. 8 illustrates the application of one of the before described methods of
uniting the parts, in the manufacture of gimp pins; the pellet a being united to
the cup 6 in a similar manner to that shown in Fig. 2; and the pin g being
secured in position by its head being held between the plate and the pellet.
Instead of forming the cups with a continuous flange, they may have serrated
edges, or a plate with prongs or other projections may be substituted therefor.
The heads of the buttons may be stamped, inlaid, or otherwise formed for the
purpose of ornament or embellishment.
The shanks may be made of brass, iron, steel, or other wire; or of leather, cotton,
linen, cloth, or other suitable material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of buttons, commonly called leather buttons, the com-
bination of a grooved pellet a, a plain, serrated, or pronged cup or disc b, and a
shank ; severally united together substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
2. In the manufacture of buttons as aforesaid, the combination of a pellet a, a
plate shank c, and disc e; severally united together substantially as herein
before described and illustrated by Fig. 3 of the drawings.
3. In the manufacture of buttons as aforesaid, the combination of a pellet a, a
plate having a number of eyelet shaped burrs formed therein, and a shank c;
severally united together substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
4. In the manufacture of buttons as aforesaid, the combination therewith of cups
or plates having shanks formed in one therewith substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by Fig. 7 of the drawings.
5. In the manufacture of gimp pins as aforesaid, the combination of a pellet a, a
cup or plate, or other form of cup or plate herein before described, and a nail or
tack g; severally united together substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by Fig. 8 of the drawings.
6. The improvements in the manufacture of solid leather buttons and gimp pins,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 23rd March 1892
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.