matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ERECTING AND SUPPORTING SCAFFOLDINGS OR STAGES, AND WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A FIRE ESCAPE
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Picton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th March
1855.
I, THOMAS PICTON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Wheel-
wright, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR ERECTING AND SUPPORTING SCAFFOLDINGS OR STAGES, AND WHICH IS
ALSO APPLICABLE AS A FIRE ESCAPE," to be as follows:-
To construct an apparatus according to this Invention, it is proposed to use
a stout horizontal frame of (say) a parallelogramical form mounted on wheels.
On each side of the frame are mounted on the same axle (about their centres)
two levers (or beams), which work virtically. Two other X levers, jointed
together at their centres, are jointed by their lower ends to the upper ends of
the first pair of levers; to the second pair of beams are jointed a third pair, in
the same way as the second pair are to the first, and so on until the required
number are attached together. This portion of the machine much resembles
a series of the letter X placed upon one another, and the levers being jointed
together at the points, they intersect each other, and at the extremities of their
It will be seen that if the lower limbs of the first pair of levers be
brought nearer to each other, the upper ends will be elevated and brought
closer together, and the second pair of levers, being jointed by their lower limbs

page_text: to the first pair, have their arms contracted latterally, and which motion is
communicated through the whole series of levers simultaneously. On the
top of, say, four sets of these levers, a stage or platform is placed, to raise
or lower which it is only requisite to contract or expand the limbs of the
lower set of levers, which it is proposed to effect by means of cords and
pulleys worked by a winch attached to the framework, or any other convenient
mechanical arrangement.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Foster at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th March
1855.
I, WILLIAM FOSTER, of Black Dike Mills, near Bradford, in the County of
York, Spinner & Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
apparatus for drying wool and other similar fibrous materials by the aid of
steam & air combined, and consists in the employment of a steam chest filled
with a number of vertical tubes or pipes, which open at the bottom into a cold
air chest, & at the top into a hot air chest or chamber, on the top of which
chamber is fitted a perforated plate or wire grating for the wool or other
fibrous material to dry on. The vertical tubes in the steam chest serve as
conducting pipes to allow the cold air from the bottom air chest to pass
through into the upper air chest, such air being heated on its passage through
the tubes and entering the upper or hot air chamber in a highly heated state.
The cold air may be supplied to the bottom chest by means of a fan blower if
found desirable. The wool to be dried is passed gradually over the perforated
plate or grating herein-before referred to, by means of self-acting apparatus, so

page_text: that it enters the drying machine in a wet state at one end, and leaves it
perfectly dry at the other.
In another arrangement, in place of the tubes being placed vertically, and
the cold air passing through them, they are placed horizontally across the air-
beating chamber, and the steam is passed through them, there being a steam
chest at each side of the apparatus into which these tubes open, with an outlet
for condensation. The air, as it rises from below, -passes round and between
these heated steam pipes, and becomes thereby thoroughly heated before
arriving at the upper or hot air chamber.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PURIFYING COAL GAS, AND FOR OBTAINING A RESIDUIM THEREFROM WHICH MAY BE USED AS A PIGMENT OR COLOR, OR FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Basford, of Penclawdd, Glamorganshire,
Engineor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PURIFYING COAL GAS,
AND FOR OBTAINING A RESIDUIM THEREFROM WHICH MAY BE USED AS A PIGMENT
OR COLOR, OR FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 18th September 1855, and dated the 3rd May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Basford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
May 1855.
I, WILLIAM BASFORD, of Penclawdd, Glamorganshiro, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PURIFYING COAL
GAS, AND FOR OBTAINING A RESIDUUM THEREPROM WHICH MAY BE USED AS A PIGMENT
OR COLOR, OR FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to an improved method of purifying coal gas,
by charging a chest or vessel with charcoal, peat, or other like substances, and
heating the same and causing the gas after it leaves the retort to pass through
the said chest or vessel heated and charged as aforesaid, by which process the
gas is freed from noxious matters, becomes more pure, and contains greater
illuminating power than gas purified in the ordinary way; and at the same
time a residuim is left that may be used as a pigment or color, or for other
useful purposes.
IMPROVE-. MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING WOOL, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO WASHING AND WRINGING MACHINES FOR THE SAME MATERIAL
Year: 1855

page_text: www
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Carr Thornton and
Benjamin Thornton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 12th November 1855.
We, the said WILLIAM CARR THORNTON, of Cleckheaton, in the County of
York, Machine Maker, and BENJAMIN THORNTON, of the same Place, Machine
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-.
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING WOOL, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO WASHING AND WRINGING MACHINES FOR
THE SAME MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in covering the rollers used for drawing or conveying
wool in preparing and spinning machinery with "vulcanized" india-rubber;
the material may be adapted in the form of tubes a little less than the
diameter of the roller, so that it may be cut into suitable lengths and drawn on.
Our Invention is also applicable to the covering of rollers used in washing and
wringing machines for wool.
AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SPLITTING OR SAWING THE SKINS OF CALVES, OXEN, Cows, HORSES, AND OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Isaic Lippmann at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd January
1855.
I, ISAIE LIPPMANN, of No. 4, Rue Geoffroy, St. Hilaire, Paris, in the King-
dom of France, Tanner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SPLITTING OR SAWING THE SKINS OF CALVES,
OXEN, Cows, HORSES, AND OTHER ANIMALS," to be as follows:-
1. By means of a machine, which differs essentially from those made use of
in the trade, and which softens or renders the skins more pliable preparatory
to their being sawed, the process of pressing or fulling being indispensably
necessary previous to such sawing. The machine possesses four mallets or
wooden fullers, which when set in motion each in turn strike the skins in a
slanting direction. The mallets are set in motion by an axletree, and do not
come into contact with the edges of the trough, into which they work.
2. By means of a saw, the action of which can be regulated at will, and
differs essentially from those usually made use of in the trade by its power of
regulating, that is, increasing or decreasing the velocity of the cylinder which
feeds the saw. This improvement has been obtained by a large wheel, set in
motion by a small Archimedian screw, by means whereof the movement of the
cylinder which feeds the saw is considerably decreased and modified.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF LOADING OR DISCHARGING FIRE- ARMS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Gustav Charles Reitheimer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th March 1855.
I, GUSTAV CHARLES REITHEIMER, of Holyhead, in the Isle of Anglesea,
North Wales, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF LOADING OR DISCHARGING FIRE-
ARMS" to be as follows:-
I propose to dispense altogether with the use of the pouch for the percussion
cap. I also propose to save two movements in charging a percussion fire-arm;
the first, the biting off the end of the paper cartridge; the second, the drawing
the cap from the pouch. To attain these advantages I propose to fix the
percussion cap to the cartridge in a safe and commodious manner, so that the
cartridge being taken from the (cartridge) pouch, the hand shall hold the per-
cussion cap and cartridge together. The soldier (or sportsman) will then
place the cap on the nipple, and, retiring his hand, will proceed to load the fire-
To the cap is attached a minute piece of copper wire, and the said wire
is also attached to the paper covering of the cartridge; and thus it will be
seen that the cap being fixed on the nipple, and the cartridge withdrawn, the
top or paper of the cartridge is torn off (not bitten as at present). The piece is
then loaded in the usual manner; and by this means the extra pouch for per-
cussion caps, the necessity of taking the percussion cap between the thumb

page_text: and finger (or fingers), and the biting off of the end of the cartridge, are all
saved. On the advantages of saving the placing the percussion cap on the
nipple by the usual manipulation it is unnecessary to dwell, as from cold,
gloves, haste, or tremor, preventing the quick adaption of the cap to the nipple,
numerous lives have been lost.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF OBTAINING SKELETON MAPS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Joseph Halcombe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
September 1855.
I, JOHN JOSEPH HALCOMBE, of Magdalen College, Cambridge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF
OBTAINING SKELETON MAPS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
My improvements in obtaining skeleton maps consist in the use of stencil
plates or patterns from which the outlines of maps may be pricked or marked
off in colour, or by means of an instrument having a series of points arranged
to the outline form of the country or countries to be delineated. This instru-
ment being arranged somewhat similar to an envelope cutter, the prick points
may be forced by pressure through a number of sheets of paper at one time,
thereby marking the whole with the required outline set out in punctures. In
like manner the lines of latitude and longitude may be marked, also the
degrees, rivers, towns, roads, and other detail may be set off, and, if desirable,
using distinctive marks or punctures to indicate different parts of the map.
In this way skeleton maps may be produced at little cost, which skeleton maps
may be filled in by pupils in their geographical lessons or exercises. In using
the stencil plates for marking skeleton maps in ink or colour, one only will be
produced at a time, but will be quickly done; or instead of marking them in

page_text: colour, a needle point may be used and the whole pricked off by hand. In
this way a number of sheets may be pierced at one time. Stencil plates may
be cut in the usual manner; or where they are intended to be used for pricking
off the map, they may be punched by an instrument in a press in the ordinary
way of perforating metals, the outline of the whole map being arranged in
one punch.
IMPROVED FLUID COMPOUND FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF BUGS AND OTHER INSECTS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Copland at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th September
1855.
I, GEORGE COPLAND, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Practical
5 Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
FLUID COMPOUND FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF BUGS AND OTHER INSECTS" to be as
followes :-
This improved compound consists of camphor desolved in naptha or other
spirit, and oil of claves, or other essential oil or oils, and to which may be
added creosote.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RIPLING AND DRAW-BORING GUN BARRELS AND ORDNANCE
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Scott and Alfred Powell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on
the 10th May 1855.
We, WILLIAM SCOTT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Maker, and ALFRED POWELL, of the same Place, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY
TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RIPLING AND DRAW-BORING GUN BARRELS AND
ORDNANCE" to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention consists of a steam cylinder, having an internal worm or
screw, and a piston, on which is formed a thread or fin, working into the screw
groove in the cylinder. To the piston rod is fixed a cutter, and on the admission
of steam to the cylinder, the piston being caused to travel in a screw, the
cutter describes a similar motion in the gun barrel or cannon, and thus cuts
the groove; or a plain cylinder and piston may be employed, in which case
the piston has a cross-head attaching it to a connecting rod, and a suitable
guido (a quadrant guide being preferred) is attached to the cutter, causing the
cutter to travel in a spiral direction. Either of these arrangements of apparatus
may also be employed for draw-boring barrels.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREW PROPELLERS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas M Low at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th May 1855.
I, THOMAS M Low, of Staples Inn Buildings, No. 6, Middle Row, Holborn,
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SCREW PROPELLERS" to be as follows, viz.:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of forming the blades of screw
propellors, thereby preventing the water from spreading out at right angles,
or radiating from the propeller shaft by the centrifugal action of the blades.
The mode of setting out the form of these propellors is by first making a
vertical line and a horizontal one at right angles to it, and where these lines
meet is the centre of the propellor, and from which centre semi-curves are
struck intersecting the vertical line; these curves represent the diameter. The
width of the extreme ends of the propeller, looking at the propelling face, is
one-fourth of the diameter, that is, one-cighth each side of the vertical line.-
To form the front and back edges of the propeller, lines are made from
where the vertical line intersects its periphery to the width of the extreme-
ends of the propeller, and where these lines intersect on the horizontal line
gives the width of the boss or the width of the blade, looking at the propelling
face. Curved lines may be made for the front and back edges, yet keeping to
the width of one-fourth of the diameter, and allowing the curve of the striking.
Ledge to meet on the extreme edge of the boss presented to the said curved--
lines. This form of propellor, with the curved lines, will destroy the vibration
of the vessel caused by the action of the present propellors.

page_text: A double or auxiliary propellor may be used, or a diminutive power with
a large diameter of propellor, by adopting that with the straight front and
back edges; the width of the extreme ends of the auxiliary propellors to be
reduced, so as to suit the speed and power of the engine. The pitch of the
end propeller is to be made 1-10th more than the front propeller, so as to allow
the water to escape freely between the propellers. Immediately the propellers
are put in motion, the front propeller, owing to its being loose on the shaft,
moves so that its front extreme edge will be at right angles with the blade
of the end propeller; and when the vessel is under sail, the front propeller
will, owing to the pressure of the water, assume an upright position, care,
however, being taken that the engines are stopped so that the end propeller
shall also be upright, thereby not impeding the progress of the vessel, as the
propellers will lay in the dead wood of most ships made of timber.
The blades of the auxiliary and other propellors must be hollowed one-
eighth of an inch to a foot, commencing at the periphery and terminating at
the boss.
IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERBERATORY FURNACES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Dalton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th February
1855.
I, GEORGE DALTON, of Lymington, in the County of Southampton, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REVERBERATORY FURNACES" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing air chambers at the sides and back
of the ash-pit of reverberatory furnace with numerous perforations or openings
into the ash-pit, so that the air which enters such air chambers from the ash-pit,
or by means of external openings, becomes heated, and passing into the ash-pit,
divided into numerous streams, materially assists the combustion of the fuel;
and combined with such perforated air chambers perforated doors may be
used to the ash-pit.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING CORK AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR STUFFING
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Ritchie and George Ritchie
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on
the 3rd August 1855.
We, CHARLES RITCHIE, of New Palace Yard, and GEORGE RITCHIE, of
Millbank Street, both in the City of Westminster, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING CORK AND OTHER
MATERIALS FOR STUFFING " to be as follows:-
In the stuffing of articles, hair, wool, cotton, and other fibres have for the
most part been used; cuttings of cork and ground cork have also in some cases
been used, and cuttings of cork have been proposed to be mixed with fibres.
for stuffing articles. Now, these improvements consist of combining ground
cork with hair, wool, cotton, and other fibrous substances, for the purposes of
stuffing; and this I prefer to do by grinding cork with hair, wool, cotton, or
other fibrous substances, and thus intimately to blend and mix them, but the
blending or mixing may be otherwise accomplished. By thus preparing ground
cork, intimately blended or mixed with fibres, very useful stuffing materials
will be obtained.
IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Armstrong at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th February
1855.
I, JOSEPH ARMSTRONG, of the Normanton Station, Wakefield, in the County
of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object an improved mode of connecting together
by their ends the several lengths of rails of a permanent line of railway; and
this I propose to effect by the following means:-I form those chairs which
are to support the rails at their points of junction considerably longer than
usual, and with a taper opening through the same, of corresponding shape to
the section of the rail which is to be held thereby, and into such said opening
in the chair I fit and adapt a piece of wrought iron or hollow wedge, the inner
surface of which is of corresponding shape to the sides and head of the rails
which are to be connected together, and the outer surface of the aforesaid
piece of wrought iron or hollow wedge I form taper, and of corresponding
shape to the taper opening in the before-mentioned chair; and I form the
thickest end of the aforesaid piece or hollow wedge with a flanch, in which I
form holes, through which are passed the screwed ends of two wrought-iron

page_text: bolts, the barrels and heads of which are securely held by holes formed through
the chair in the direction of its length and at opposite sides thereof; said
hollow wedge being connected to the chair and rails by nuts passed upon the
screwed ends of the before mentioned bolts, so that as the said nuts are
tightened up, the hollow taper wedge will be forcibly pressed against the sides of
the two rails, and thus hold them firm and steady, and preservo their points
of junction in a line with the top of the rails.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BLINDS, SCREENS, REFLECTORS, & OTHER ARTICLES OF A SIMILAR NATURE
Year: 1855

page_text: ແພ
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Louis Frédéric Isidore Ravenstin
and Charles Chatel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 21st May 1855.
We, LOUIS FREDERIC ISIDORE RAVENSTIN, Merchant, and CHARLES CHATEL,
Designer, of Paris (Empire of France), and of 382, Essex Street, Strand,
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BLINDS, SCREENS, REFLECTORS, & OTHER ARTICLES OF A
SIMILAR NATURE," to be as follows, viz. :-
This Invention applies chiefly to the manufacture of blinds, screens, shades,
&c., which, as is well known, are articles for screening from the action of the
sun, fire, &c. and which are now generally made from transparent or semi-
transparent fabrics, upon which designs are printed or painted, &c. &c. Our
improvements consist in producing the designs required by cutting out openings
in the fabric which is to form the ground of the design, these openings corre-
sponding with the designs, and being covered or closed with fabrics of different
colours, according to the effect to be produced. Also, in order to conceal and
ornament the joints of the different pieces, we print upon them designs with a
mordant, the impression being powdered over with a velvet powder, thus
imitating velvet. This novel application to the manufacture of stores can be
carried on, as far as the cutting out and printing is concerned, by hand, or

page_text: mechanically, or partly by hand and partly by mechanical arrangements, the
tools used for the cutting out resembling those used by flower-makers. Differently
coloured surfaces may also be applied to the parts so cut out, but we generally
prefer to arrange our patterns in such regular forms that they can be repeated
periodically and applied by a mechanical process. This is done by means of a
table, upon which the pieces to be glued upon the fabric are laid in order, and
upon which the piece which has been cut out previously is passed.
PREPARING AND DISSOLVING IN NAPTHA, OR OIL OF TURPENTINE, VULCANIZED INDIA-RUBBER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WATERPROOFING, AND ALL OR ANY OF THE OTHER PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE SAME NOT SO PREPARED AND DISSOLVED IS NOW APPLICABLE
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Ford at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th December
1855.
I, ALFRED FORD, of Park Lodge, New Road, Hammersmith, in the Co
of Middlesex, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for PREPARING AND DISSOLVING IN NAPTHA, OR OIL OF TURPENTINE, VULCANIZED
INDIA-RUBBER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WATERPROOFING, AND ALL OR ANY OF THE OTHER
PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE SAME NOT SO PREPARED AND DISSOLVED IS NOW APPLICABLE,
to be as follows:-
Vulcanized india-rubber is cut into pieces and placed in a globular or oval-
shaped boiler, having one or more chimneys placed horizontally, and subjected
to heat under pressure untill by the action of the gas within, it is sufficiently
softened, when it is taken out, and being worked up with French chalk,
sulphur, charcoal, lamp-black, black lead, or some other metallic oxide, is fitted
for applying, either in solution or otherwise, to some of the purposes set forth
in the title of this Invention.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES OF CLAY
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Gernon at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th June 1855.-
A communication.
I, JAMES GERNON, of 14, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES OF CLAY" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in hardening articles of clay during the process of
distilling coal tar. The clay is first moulded to the desired form, and dried
as is usual for preparing articles of clay for burning them. In place of
burning, the article is inserted into a still with coal tar, and the coal tar is
distilled to obtain products therefrom in the ordinary manner. When the
distillation is complete the pitch is run out, and the hardened articles.
are removed from the still. Sometimes the pitch is run out into a vessel
containing potters' clay, burnt and ground, mixed with manganese and sand;
by this means a sort of asphalte is obtained, which is suitable for setting pave-
ment prepared according to the first part of the process.
IMPROVEMENTS IN GATES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Joseph Halcombe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with, his Petition, on the 17th
October 1855.
I, JOHN JOSEPH HALCOMBE, of Magdalen College, Cambridge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GATES" to be
as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in gates relates, in the first place, to
rendering them in some degree self-acting, and which are more especially
applicable to gentlemen's parks, or situations where there is no great amount
of traffic and no one, stationed to open the gate for carriages. These gates I
mount on a central pillar, on which they move round in the manner of a turn-
stile; if the gate and road has sufficient breadth for two carriages the central
pillar may be in the middle of the road, but if not, it is placed at one side, and
the gate made of twice the breadth of road., A constant tendency to turn
round is maintained in the gate by means of a spring acting on its supporting
pillar, which is wound up at intervals, or a rope and weight may be used
instead of the spring.
Four posts are erected where the gate is to stop in its revolution, two in
line with the road, the others at right angles thereto. Catches are applied to
the gate, which take hold of the posts and keep it stationary; when at those

page_text: points, a handle or other contrivance projects from the gate in such position,
that any person driving a carriage can reach it without dismounting, and which
is in such communication with the gate, catches as to release the gate from
its then position; it moves. round one fourth of a revolution, when it is again
caught by a post, and remains open for the carriages to pass through; having
passed through, the driver or other person on the carriage again acts on the
handle to release the gate, when it moves another fourth of a revolution and
so closes the gate. In this way it may be acted on repeatedly until the spring
runs out.
The next part of my improvements consists in the application of a somewhat
similar gate to railway crossings where there is little traffic and not far from a
station. Wires or lines are conducted from the gate to the station, whereby it
may be operated on and caused to move round a fourth of a revolution, and
open the way and again to close it without the attendance of a porter at the
spot. Instead of using a spring or weight, the conducting wires or ropes
may be simply wound round a barrel on the centre or moving pillar of the
gate, and actuated at the station to produce the desired effect.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OUT THE GORES OF UMBRELLAS & PARASOLS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING OUT FORMS OR SHAPES FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Broadbent and Stanley
Peter Youle at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 29th December 1855.
We, JOHN BROADBENT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mer-
chant, and STANLEY PETER YOULE, of the same Place, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of our said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OUT THE GORES OF UMBRELLAS & PARASOLS, WHICH
SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING OUT FORMS OR SHAPES FOR
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows :"-
Our Invention consists in cutting out gores or other shapes by means of
cutting edges or blades fixed upon the outer surface of a roller. We employ
another roller (as a bed roller) which forms a bed or surface for the knives or
blades to cut against or upon. The required shape or form having been pro-
duced upon the roller by the insertion of the blades or knives, and the bed roller
placed in a convenient position for the knives to cut against, it will be found
that upon a rotatory motion being imparted to the roller furnished with the
blades, one or more gores or shapes will be cut out at every revolution of
the said roller.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN WOVEN COTTON FABRICS
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James King and John Holdsworth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the
18th July 1855.
We, JAMES KING and JouN HOLDSWORTH, of Moss Mill, Rochdale, in the
County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinners, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN WOVEN
COTTON FABRICS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of colored fabrics, and especially
of that class of fabrics known as fustian. It consists in applying to this
purpose warp or weft spun from cotton wholly or partly dyed the color
required in the fabric prior to being spun; or, in other words, it consists in
dyeing cotton intended to be spun and woven into colored fabrics while in a
raw state, or in some stage of its preparation for spinning.
IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Barnabas Daft at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
July 1855.
I, THOMAS BARNABAS DAFT, of the Isle of Man, Esquire, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS" to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in inkstands, and they con-
sist of means of acting on a flexible air-tight cover or diaphragm over or to an
opening into the upper part of the ink vessel. For this purpose a moveable
cover is hinged to or near the dipping cup, so as to cover it when the inkstand
is not in use, and a flexible elastic cover or diaphragm is fixed over an opening
into the ink vessels. The moveable cover of the dipping cup in folding back
to open the dipping cup presses on to the fixed flexible cover or diaphragm,
and depresses it into the ink vessel, which reduces the interior dimensions of
the ink vessel, and thus causes the ink therein to be displaced and to rise into
the dipping cup; or in place of the cover of the dipping cup folding back,
and thereby pressing on the flexible elastic cover or diaphragm, the cover may
be arranged to slide back and press on the elastic flexible cover and to depress
it. The moveable cover of the dipping cup when moved back is retained back
by a spring or other catch.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PLACING ON CARD DRAWINGS USED IN VARIOUS MANUFACTORIES
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Gedge at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th October 1855.
-A communication.
I, JOHN GEDGE, of No. 4, Wellington Street South, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PLACING ON CARD DRAWINGS
USED IN VARIOUS MANUFACTORIES," communicated by Mr. Henry Sauzay, of
Lyons, France, to be as follows:-
I
propose to effect the placing on card the drawings used in various fabrics
by an apparatus more simple than any heretofore, as I believe, in use. I make
two framings or frames, the smaller one moving within the larger. By means
of rollers and pulleys, a cross bar is to be fixed below the smaller frame, and
moves with it. On this a mesh is fixed by a screw, which is to work in an
iron lath, and regulates the vertical threads of the frame, the horizontal
threads being fixed in any convenient manner. On the smaller frame is a stop.
on which is to rest the sketch or design to be drawn. These frames and their
adjunts form one portion of the apparatus; another is to be formed by a series
of framework, composed of cross bars and other framing, whose service will be
to support an object glass, two lamps, and reflectors; the third portion will

page_text: be an upright, composed of two pillars, round or square, and a capital or cross
cornice piece, inside of which work pulleys, chains, and counter weights. The
whole of the above-mentioned parts being fixed in their proper positions will
form an apparatus carrying the lamps, object glass, reflectors, and sketch,
which slides up and down the pillars by means of the chains and counter weights
enclosed therein, and to be worked by a handle behind. Beneath this appa-
ratus is placed a table for the artist, who draws a curtain entirely around him.
The size of the immage or sketch to be drawn can be increased or diminished;
if to be magnified, the operator is to turn the handle, which will allow the
apparatus to descend towards the table; to diminish, he pulls a pulley, which,
with the aid of counter weights in the pillars, will cause the apparatus to rise
gradually, and without jarring.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER HANGINGS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Stanley Hinchliff at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
September 1855.-A communication.
I, GEORGE STANLEY HINCHLIFF, of the firm of Hinchliff and Company, of
Piccadilly, in the City of Westminster, Paper Hanging Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PAPER HANGINGS," (communicated to me by a foreigner
residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the application of velvet, silk, or satin, or of cloth
or other suitable fabric (not in a state of flock) in the manufacture of paper
hangings.
A convenient method of carrying my Invention into effect consists in first
applying an adhesive substance to the back of a sheet of velvet, silk, satin, or
other fabric, and theu cutting out therefrom figures, patterns, or other designs
or devices, which I apply on the paper hangings, having previously heated the
paper by passing it over a heated surface or otherwise. The adhesive com-
position which I prefer to use consists of shellac, mastic, and gum juniper,
combined with a spirit such as naptha, but I do not confine myself to this
composition, as I find that other compounds of gums and spirits will also
answer the purpose.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BENCH PLANES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Collier Bakewell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
June 1855. A communication.
I, FREDERICK COLLIER BAKEWELL, of No. 6, Haverstock Terrace, Hampstead,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BENCH PLANES," being a communication from William
S. Hopper, of the United States of America, to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in an arrangement of the parts of tlie plane in such
manner that the chisel is placed in front of its wedge, and rests against the
front shoulder in the cavity of the plane, in combination with a mouth-piece
countersunk on the face of the plane in front of the edge of the chisel, to
serve as a rest for the chisel and to confine the throat of the plane.
AN IMPROVED MODE OP CUTTING OUT OR SHAPING MATERIAL TO BE EMPLOYED IN MAKING OVERCOATS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES OF DRESS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION- left by William Knight at the::Office:
of the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th. December
1855.
I, WILLIAM KNIGHT, Tailor, of St. Marylebone, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for AN IMPROVED MODE OP CUTTING OUT OR SHAPING
MATERIAL TO BE EMPLOYED IN MAKING OVERCOATS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES OF
DRESS, to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed for the purpose of simplifying the means of
producing from one entire piece of cloth or other material the several parts
of overcoats or other similar articles of dress.
According to the mode commonly practised of making overcoats, the
sleeves, collar, lappells, backs, and sometimes the skirts, have some or all.of
them been made in distinct and separate parts or pieces, thus involving
considerable labor to join such parts together. And the object and intention
of this Invention is to obviate this, by cutting or shaping cloth or other
material from which the several external parts of an overcoat are to be pro-
duced (namely, the back and fore parts, sleeves, collar, lappels, and skirts,) in
such a manner as that such said several parts are only separated from each other
by incisions made in the material, and are not cut into distinct and separate

page_text: pieces, as heretofore, and this is effected by arranging the several parts in the
following order: The upper part of the pattern forms one half of the collar,
one lappel, and one breast pocket flap, from the lower part of which said flap
proceeds one sleeve, and that part of the "sye" which comes underneath the
sleeve from the lowermost edge of the sleeve. The outline of the pattern pro-
ceeds in a straight line to about what would otherwise be the waist of the coat,
and to within three or four inches, more or less, of the front edge of the
pattern, which is continued downwards in a sloping direction until the desired
length for the coat is attained, the other side of the pattern forming the
"crease" of the back of the coat. Thus, it will be seen, that from such a
pattern, or by chalking out on a piece of cloth or other material a coat on the
above principle, the doubled cloth when cut and laid open would produce an
entire shape for a coat, so that by bringing the edges at each side of the flaps
to the edges below the sleeves and joining them together, the back and fore
parts of the coat will be completed, and by joining the two edges of each
sleeve together, as also the "sye" parts, the entire coat will be completed,
with the exception of the trimmings, which may be attached thereto in the
usual way.
A NEW OR IMPROVED FIRE-ARM
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Benjamin William Goode and
Nehemiah Brough at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 28th February 1855.
We, BENJAMIN WILLIAM GOODE, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and NEHEMIAH BROUGH, of Birmingham aforesaid,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED FIRE-ARM" to be as follows :-
Figure 1 represents, in plan, a portion of a musket or rifle constructed
according to our Invention; and Figure 2 represents a transverse section of
the same.
The barrel is divided into two parts a, b, the short portion or the breech
end turning on a joint c, so that it may either assume the position
represented, or be brought into a line with the portion a; when in the last-
named position it may be fastened with the fastening d, or any other suitable
contrivance. The short portion 6 of the barrel has a firm bearing against
the shoulder e, when it is in the position in which it is discharged. The
charge is introduced into the portion 6 of the barrel while the said portion
is in the position represented; the said portion 6 is then turned upon the

page_text: joint c, so as to bring it into a line with the portion a, when it is fastened by
the fastening d, and is then ready for firing.
Our Invention may be carried into effect either as a rifle, musket, pistol, or
other fire-arm.
A NEW OR IMPROVED DINNER AND DESSERT FORK
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Yates at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th July 1855.
I, EDWIN YATES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
DINNER AND DESSERT FORK" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates principally to such dinner and dessert forks as are
made wholly of metal, although it may be also applied to forks having ivory or
other handles as well as to other forks.
My said Invention consists in making the prongs of the said forks much
shorter than usual, and giving to that portion of the fork usually occupied by
the upper or unused portion of the prongs a continuous and hollow form, that
is to say, a figure somewhat resembling a spoon, excepting that the sides are
parallel, so as to preserve the same outline as the ordinary fork. A fork made
according to my Invention is more convenient than an ordinary fork, as it
possesses the prongs of the ordinary fork, and also has a spoon-like character,
so that both solid and liquid and semi-liquid matters may be taken up there-
with. In using my improved fork, gravy and sauce may be taken up with
meat or vegetables, and juice with fruit pies or puddings.
Year: 1855

page_text: all exactly the same size and shape. The first of these maps represents and
refers to the physical aspect of the country; the second, the principal political
and administrative divisions, with the chief towns only; the third contains the
more important towns, superficially represented, numbered, indicating to which
divisions they belong and their respective degrees; the fourth shows the most
direct lines of communication from one point or place to another, with the
distances marked according to the custom of the country represented. I next
divide my introductory maps into a certain number of parallelograms, each
forming a sufficiently large general map or plan to contain the whole details
required; each parallelogram I call a fragment, and in each I place a large
alphabetical capital letter for indication. I then reproduce each fragment
enlarged to the size of the open book or atlas, and this contains the united
details of the map introductory, such as mountains, rivers, canals, routes,
limites, towns, villages, &c.; and for the plans, the streets, places, monuments,
and the most important houses. Each fragment is a reproduction of a part of
the introductory maps 1, 2, 3, 4, on at least twenty times larger scale if required,
containing infinitely more detail easily to be studied. The more numerous the
divisions of the introductory maps the larger the fragments are without increase
of the adopted size of the book or atlas, which may contain very large maps in
folio only. The framing of all the large fragments readily serves to show the
cardinal points, and gives easy access to any map required. They have very
visible the degrees and their subdivisions, together with corresponding names
and numbers of the order of divisions, contained in the interior of the fragment.
I then establish a form statistical, administrative, and other tableaux useful or.
necessary to complete the details of the maps or plans on my system. Finally,
I make an alphabetical table of all names of towns, districts, villages, places,.
indicating also their rank, order, importance, position, and legal distance from.
the capital. For the plans of cities or towns this table shows the names of the
streets, places, monuments, and even the numbers of important houses.. The
maps, fragments, and tableaux will be bound without visible folds in them,
having on their exterior or margin, like a repertory, their proper letter or
number, to facilitate search or inquiry; and on the backs or after each map
or fragment may be placed explanatory descriptions or pages to represent the
geographical or topographical situation of the country, towns, or places, or blank
pages also may be used for illustrations, publishing, or other useful purposes..
AN IMPROVED MODE OF CON- STRUCTING BOXES OR CASES FOR HOLDING NEEDLES, BUTTONS, AND OTHER WARES
Year: 1855

page_text: (This Invention received Provisional Protection, but notice to proceed with the
application for Letter's Patent was not given unthin the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Taylor Dore at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with. his Petition, on the 2nd June 1855.
I, JAMES TAYLOR DORE, of High Street, Southampton, Draper, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF CON-
STRUCTING BOXES OR CASES FOR HOLDING NEEDLES, BUTTONS, AND OTHER WARES,"
to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to construct small metal or other boxes for
containing packets of needles, buttons, or other wares, in such a manner that
packets of any particular article may be kept together, and presented at the
upper part of the box or case ready to be removed therefrom when required.
These improved boxes or cases are intended to be adopted for the use of drapers
or other persons who deal in small articles, which are usually put up in small
packets or small quantities.
It has been found that when packets of needles, pins, buttons, or other
small wares are kept in drawers or large boxes together, they are liable to get
mixed up, and get into such confusion that when any particular article is
required it cannot be easily found. To remedy this inconvenience, for instance,
in the case of pins or needles, which are usually sold in small packets con-
taining a certain number, I propose to construct the boxes or cases with a
movable false bottom, on which the small packets are placed one on the other

page_text: in a pile, and beneath. the movable false bottom I place a spring, which will
force up the false bottom, and also, the small packets placed thereon. The
upper part of the box or case is open, and the packets are forced up against
rebates at the sides. The upper surface of the top packet is therefore exposed
to view, and when one packet is removed from the top the second immediately
occupies its place, and so on, until all the packets are removed from the
box. Although I prefer to place a spring beneath the movable false bottom, so
that the latter may be self-acting, yet the movable false bottom may be fitted
to the box in such a manner that it may be pushed up by means of the finger
from beneath.
Boxes or cases constructed on the plan above set forth may be used for a
variety of purposes where a number of small packets are required to be kept
together.