IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES AND HARROWS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Howard, of Bedford, Ironfounder, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES AND HARROWS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howard at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd November 1853.
I, JAMES HOWARD, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES AND HARROWS" to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to the substitution of stee tines or
teeth for the ordinary wrought iron tines of horse rakes. The chief
advantages derivable from this new application are greater strength and
durability, with a decrease in the weight of the implements, which
advantages are due to the great tenacity of the metal.
The Invention relates, secondly, to a new mode of fixing the tines
of harrows to their frames. The threaded end of the tines is at
present passed through the main beams and connecting bars, and
secured by a binding nut and a "lock" nut above it. Now I find
that I obtain a firmer and cheaper joint by tapping the holes in the

page_text: main beams and screwing the tines therein, for by that means it is
next to impossible for the tines to work loose, and the necessity for the
nt is avoided
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Howard in the Great Seal Patent Office 5
on the 2nd May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, Ironfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year. of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give 'and grant unto me, the said James Howard, Her special licence
that I, the said James Howard, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said James Howard, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein. ex-
pressed; should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdoni of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES AND
HARROWS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I; the said James
Howard, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 James Howard, 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 (that is to say):
The object of the first part of this Invention is to increase the
strength and durability of horse rakes, and at the same time materially
to lighten their weight. It has bitherto been the practice in manu

page_text: facturing horse rakes to form the tines or teeth of wrought iron, but
these, as is well known, are liable to be pulled out of shape when the
implement is at work. To remedy this inconvenience the weight of
the tines lias of late been considérably increased; but, in--addition to
the extra cost of material thereby occasioned, the labour of lifting the
tines from the ground when the implement is in use is greatly aug-
mented. Now this part of the Invention consists in the substitution,
for-the ordinary wrought iron; tines or teeth of horse rakes, of steel
tines or teeth, which may be hardened or not, as desired. By this
new application the weight of the tines may safely be reduced by one
fourth part, while at the same time greater strength and durability
are ensured to the implement, which advantages are due to the supe-
rior tenacity of the steel.
The Invention relates, secondly, to an improvement in the manu-
facture of that class of harrows which are composed wholly of metal,
and consists in a new mode of fixing the tines of such harrows in
their sockets. The frames of these metal harrows,. it will be under-
stood, are composed of beams set at equal distances apart and parallel
to each other, which beams are connected together by means of cross
beams or bars, also arranged at equal distances apart and parallel to
each other. At the points of intersection of the beams and cross
bars bolt holes are formed therein to receive the ends of the tines, by
which means the several parts of the harrow frame are held together.
These tines are threaded at their upper extremity above their shoulder,
which bears against the under side of the beams, and they are com-
monly secured in place by a binding nut and a "lock"nut above it.
Now I find that I obtain a firmer and cheaper joint by tapping the
holes in the upper beams or bars, and screwing the tines therein, for by
that means it is next to impossible for the tines to work loose, and the
necessity for either a binding nut or lock nut is avoided. propose,
however, as an additional security, to employ a binding nut when the
same may be deemed desirable; but in all cases I avoid the use of the
second nut by this improved mode of fixing the tines.
I
Having now set forth the nature and object of my Invention of
"Improvements in Horse Rakes and Harrows," and explained the

page_text: manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood
that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,
First, the substitution of steel tines or teeth for the wrought iron
tines or teeth heretofore used in the manufacture of horse rakes.
And, secondly, the mode of attaching tines or teeth to harrow frames,
as above explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Howard, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Second day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four..
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
JAMES HOWARD. (L.B.)