IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bayliss, of the Firm of Bayliss, Jones,
and Bayliss, of Monmore Green, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Fence Manufacturers, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING."
Sealed the 22nd September 1871, and dated the 13th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bayliss at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th July 1871.
I, WILLIAM BAYLISS, of the Firm of Bayliss, Jones, and Bayliss,
of Monmore Green, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Fence
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING," to be as follows:-
This Invention refers, firstly, to an improved method of securely fixing
the uprights for fencing, gate posts, and other similar articles; and,

page_text: secondly, to an improved method of fixing the wire (in that description
of fencing termed wire fencing) to the uprights which carry it.
My Invention consists, firstly, in making a block or plate (of cast iron
by preference) of any suitable form and having through it a hole or
holes, which I usually make at or near its centre and of such size and
shape as to allow of it sliding along an upright for fencing, or other
like upright for any required distance either from the upper or lower
extremity of such upright as may be required. In fixing the said
upright it is either driven into the earth first and the said block or plate
slid down it to a few inches or other suitable distance below the surface
of the ground, or the said block or plate is placed thus beneath the
surface of the ground and the upright driven through the hole or holes
thercin to the required depth. The said block or plate is then fixed
firmly to the said upright by a key or wedge, or more than one, or by any
suitable method of fixture. Earth is then rammed around and over
the said block or plate and the upright becomes securely fixed. By
this method of fixture the lower end or ends of the upright may be plain,
thus rendering its construction more simple, as the block or plate from
its large arca in contact with the earth prevents lateral movement of
the said upright.
And my Invention consists, secondly, in providing a small block (of
cast iron by preference) cored out by preference to drop over an upright
for wire fencing and be used as a cap, or having the core to go right
through so that it may slide down the upright to any required distance,
the said last-mentioned block also being provided with holes formed
laterally and in the direction of the fencing. The said lateral holes
communicate with the core before-mentioned opposite to but at an
angle with each other. The said last-mentioned block is placed on
the top of the said upright or is slid down to any required hole in the
said upright, and the wire threaded through it and also through the
hole in the upright. In threading the wire through the block it is
curved sufficiently to allow it to pass through the lateral holes, which
It is then strained
as before stated are at an angle with each other.
tight and becomes thenceforward fixed in the block by reason of the
angle formed by the said lateral holes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Bayliss in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th December 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BAYLISS, of the Firm of Bayliss, Jones, and Bayliss, of Moumore Green,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Fence Manufacturers, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Bayliss, Her special licence
that I, the said William Bayliss, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Bayliss, 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, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION CP FENCING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Bayliss, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 William Bayliss, 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
Drawings (that is to say):-
This Invention has for its object, firstly, an improved method of
securely fixing the uprights for fencing, gate posts, and other similar
articles; and, secondly, an improved method of fixing or holding the wire

page_text: (in that description of fencing termed wire fencing) to the uprights
which carry it.
My Invention consists, firstly, in making a block or plate (of cast
iron by preference) of any suitable form, and having through it a
hole or holes, which I usually make at or near its centre, and of such
size and shape as to allow of its sliding along an upright for fencing,
or other upright for gate post or similar purpose, for any required
distance either from the upper or lower extremity of such upright as
may be required. In fixing the said upright it is either driven into the
earth first and the said block or plate slid down it to a few inches or
other suitable distance below the surface of the ground, or the said
block or plate is placed thus below the surface of the ground and the
said upright driven through the said hole or holes therein to the
required depth. The said block or plate is then fixed firmly to the
said upright by a key or wedge, or more than one, or by any suitable
method of fixture. Earth is then rammed around and over the said
block or plate and the upright becomes securely fixed. By this method
of fixture the lower end or ends of the said upright may be plain (that
is, the same section as the upright), thus rendering its construction
more simple, as the block or plate from its large area in contact with
the earth prevents lateral movement of the said upright.
And my Invention consists, secondly, in providing a small block or
holder (of cast iron by preference) cored out to drop over an upright
for wire fencing and to be used as a cap to the said upright, or having
the core or hole to go right through, so that the said block or holder
may be slid down the said upright for wire fencing to any required
distance. The said block or holder is also provided with two lateral
holes passing from the said core or hole first described to the outside
of the said block or holder, that is, one of the said lateral holes passing
out on either side and in the direction of the fencing. The said lateral a
holes communicate with the core or hole before mentioned opposite to
but at an angle with each other. The said block or holder is placed
on the top of the said upright or is slid down to any required hole
in the said upright, and the wire threaded through the said lateral
holes and also through the hole in the said upright. In threading
the wire through the said lateral holes it is curved sufficiently to
accomodate it to the angle which the said lateral holes form with

page_text: each other. The wire is then strained tight and becomes permanently
fixed in the said block or holder by reason of the angle formed by the
said lateral holes, as it can only slip in the said lateral holes when
it is curved to suit the angle they form with each other.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I now proceed
more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same with
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a plan and sectional elevation (both
drawn full size) illustrating the first part of my Invention. The
Drawing so clearly shews the Invention as to require but little expla-
nation. It will be seen that in this case the block or plate may be
described as a hollow block of the shape given on plan or as a plate
with a rib or raised edge formed around it on one side. The size, shape,
or form as shewn is not necessary, and may be varied considerably,
but is found to answer well as illustrated. The corners are shewn
solid and brought to a point on the lower side. The block or plate
is shewn as for a T iron upright A. fixed with a wedge B, but the said
block or plate may be adapted to any section of upright by forming
the hole or holes through the said block or plate of suitable form.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate respectively a longitudinal sectional
elevation and a side elevation (both drawn full size) of a block or
holder used as a cap for an upright for wire fencing and referred to
in describing the second part of my Invention. A very slight expla-
nation will also be sufficient to make this diagram perfectly intelligible.
The block or holder is shewn dropped on to the upright C for wire
fencing. The wire D is shewn passing through the lateral holes E, E,
shewn at an angle with each other and also through a hole in the
upright C. The wire is shewn as strained tight, and it is obvious that
it cannot slip through the lateral holes even if cut on one side on
account of the bite it has against the sharp angles of the lateral holes.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate respectively a longitudinal sectional
elevation and a side elevation (both drawn full size) of a block or
holder used for sliding down an upright for wire fencing to any required
hole in the said upright otherwise than the hole at the top of the
said upright, and for which hole the cap just described is used. The

page_text: difference between the first-mentioned and the second-mentioned plate
or holder for wire fencing is so slight and is so distinctly shewn by
the Drawing as to require but little explanation. It will be seen that
the hole into which the upright enters is formed right through the
block or holder in the second-mentioned case, so that it may slide
down the said upright. The form of the said block or holder can
of course be varied to suit any section of upright or wire, but the
form illustrated on the said Drawing is found to answer well for an
ordinary flat upright and an ordinary description of wire.
Having now described my said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,―
Firstly. The construction and application of the block or plate first
described for securely fixing the uprights for fencing, gate posts, and
other similar articles.
And, secondly. I claim the construction and application of the block
or holder secondly described for fixing or holding the wire (in that
description of fencing termed wire fencing) to the uprights which
carry it.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bayliss, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Patent Office,
Wolverhampton.
WILLIAM BAYLISS. (L.S.)