IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF SPADES, SHOVELS, GARDEN AND HAY FORKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES HAVING ELONGATED HANDLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Andrew, of Sheffield, in the County
of York, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SPADES, SHOVELS, GARDEN AND HAY FORKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
HAVING ELONGATED HANDLES."
Sealed the 15th December 1876, and dated the 23rd June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Androw at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY ANDREW, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPADES, SHOVELS, GARDEN AND HAY
FORKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES HAVING ELONGATED HANDLES."
My Invention relates to the manufacture of spades, shovels, garden and hay forks,
and similar articles having elongated handles, and consists chiefly in forming the
shafts or handles of steel or iron or other suitable metal either hollow or solid, and
also in adapting certain wood parts thereto as herein-after described.
In carrying out my Invention as applied to the manufacture of spades (for
example), I secure by welding or otherwise, a bar or shaft of steel or iron (a round
section being preferred) to the blade or plate in the usual position of the handle.
I then slide a handle of wood or other suitable material, of any desired length,
over the iron or steel shaft and secure it or not as required; on the top of the shaft
I fix a cross or other shaped handle.
When a hollow metal shaft of larger diameter is used the wood handle may be
dispensed with and a cross handle only be employed fixed to the end of the shaft.
In some cases the steel or iron handle may extend through a portion only of
the wood handle and may then be secured by a pin or screw passing through the
one into the other.
By means of my Invention I obtain simplicity of construction combined with
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SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Henry Andrew in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
December 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY ANDREW, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPADES, SHOVELS, GARDEN AND HAY
FORKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES HAVING ELONGATED HANDLES."
My said Invention relates to the manufacture of spades, shovels, garden and hay
forks, and similar articles having elongated handles, and consists chiefly in forming
[Price 4d.]

page_text: the shafts or handles of steel, iron, or other suitable metal either hollow or solid,
and also in adapting certain wood parts thereto as herein-after described, reference
being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent spades having handles applied thereto constructed
according to four respective modifications of my Invention.
Figure 5 illustrates one mode of applying my Invention to a garden fork.
Similar letters indicate like parts in all the Figures.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a is a bar or shaft of steel or iron (a round section
being preferred), which I secure by welding or otherwise to the blade or plate b
in the usual position of the handle, or form in one piece with such blade or plate
over which bar or shaft I slide a tubular shaft c of wood of any desired length, and
I finally fix on the top of the bar or shaft a a cross or other shaped extremity d,
which forms the handle proper.
The tubular wood shaft c is represented in Figure 1 as fixed to the bar or shaft a
by pins or rivets e, e, but in the modification illustrated by Figure 2 it may be
either fixed or moveable. In the modification shewn in Figures 3 and 4 the
tubular wood shaft c is made in one with the handle proper d, the bar or shaft a
extending either throughout the entire length of such tubular wood shaft cas repre-
sented in Figure 3, or for a portion only of the length thereof, as shown in Figure 4.
In either case the tubular wood shaft c is secured to the bar or shaft a by pins
or rivets e, as in the arrangement Figure 1, and it is also by preference provided
at its lower end with a metal cap or ferrule f, as shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 4.
The handle of the garden fork Figure 5 is constructed in a similar manner to
that of the spade Figure 4.
The bar or shaft a in either application of the Invention may be made hollow,
in which case the tubular wood shaft c may be dispensed with and a wood handle d
of a cross or other suitable shape only to be employed fixed to the end of the bar
or shaft a.
My Invention is also applicable to other articles having elongated handles. By
its means I obtain simplicity of construction combined with increased durability.
The handle being devoid of the iron straps and rivets ordinarily employed is also.
more convenient and agreeable to the land when in use, and as the cofer and
rivets on the face of the spade or shovel, are also dispensed with the tendency to
the accumulation of earth or other matter on these parts is obviated, whilst by
reason of the neck of the implement being free it will penetrate to an increased
depth and is operated with greater facility and less labour than when the handle
is constructed and fitted in the ordinary manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect. I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, constructing the elongated handles of spades, shovels,
garden and hay forks, and other articles of wood and metal portions in combina-
tion substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described and
as illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Andrew, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
WILLIAM HENRY ANDREW. (LS)