Improvements in or appertaining to the Circumferential Rolling of Tubes and Tubular Articles of Steel, Copper, and certain other Metals, and in the Apparatus Employed in so doing.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to the Circumferential Rolling of
Tubes and Tubular Articles of Steel, Copper, and certain other
Metals, and in the Apparatus Employed in so doing.
I, THOMAS BUDWORTH SHARP, of County Chambers, Martineau Street, Birming
ham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The circumferential rolling of metal tubes has hitherto been practised in an
ordinary lathe, as described in the Specification in connection with Letters
Patent granted to me, for my invention Number 18307, and dated the Sixth
day of August 1897. Now, the adjustment which regulates the external dia-
meter and the thickness, as well as the stopping of the apparatus, as soon as
it has travelled the necessary distance, has always been manual as opposed to
automatic; while the knowledge of what will be the exact dimensions of that
portion of the tube which has been operated on, has always been a matter of un-
certainty and guesswork and not regulatable, so that, the operator will have
any definite knowledge of what any alteration of the adjustment will bring
forth. Furthermore, the running of the bar between centres has many disad-
vantages in the matter of rapidity of production.
Now, my invention consists, in so modifying the apparatus described in the
patent above referred to, and in so putting it to work in connection with cer-
tain appliances and in a certain machine, all of which I am about to describe-
that when I have done all this, I shall have an apparatus and machine working
in conjunction with one another which stops automatically at the right time,
which automatically varies the thickness of the tube as desired, which gives a
definite reliable and exact result in the matter of the dimensions of the tube
operated on and which will be accurately subservient to the will of the operator
if he wishes to make any practicable alteration in the thickness of the fube or
tubes he is operating on. Furthermore with my new invention the back or
movable centre is not requisite, and so the productive capacity is increased.
Now, the way in which I accomplish these desiderata (and which I will pre-
ferentially describe in connection with such a thick or butt ended tube as would
be suitable for the frame of a velocipede) is as follows:-On a short bed, similar
to a lathe bed, I place a headstock somewhat similar to a lathe headstock, ex-
cept that, instead of having speed pulleys on its spindle, it has a fast and loose
pulley. On the rear end of this spindle is a worm; this worm engages in a
worm wheel; on the other end of the spindle carrying the worm wheel just
mentioned is another worm; this second worm engages in a second worm wheel
which second worm wheel drives a screw running the length of the bed; this
screw then drives a saddle which runs along the bed; this saddle has a releas-
ing apparatus which enables the operator to disengage the saddle from the screw
and to re-engage it at will; to this saddle is affixed an apparatus somewhat
similar to the box apparatus described in my Patent 18307 of 1897-and in such
a position that its centre coincides with the centre of the headstock. On the

page_text: front end of this spindle is a chuck into which the bar supporting the tube about
to be operated on is securely fixed by screwing or otherwise.
We now have our bar revolving at a high speed; and around this bar we have
our ball box or roller box as the case may be; then we clip a tube on to the bar
and securely connect the tube and the bar at the end furthest from the head-
stock; next we close in our balls in the usual way so as to nip and thin the tube
at some short distance from that end which is secured to the bar; and the saddle
carrying the apparatus is now slowly drawn along the bed to the headstock-
the length of the tube thinned being commensinate with the traverse of the
saddle and consequently of the ball box or roller box; but it has hitherto been
the practice to mark on the bed how far the reducing apparatus (which is the
ball or roller box) should traverse, and then as nearly simultaneously as is prac-
ticable, to throw out of gear both the revolving of the tube and bar and the
traversing of the ball or roller box-and here I may remark that it is of the
greatest importance that both the revolving of the tube and the traverse of the
reducing apparatus should go out of gear simultaneously, for if the traverse stops
before the revolving stops then the natural spring of the apparatus keeps on
closing in the balls or rollers and we get a low and consequently a thin place
in the tube whereas, if the revolving stops before the traversing then we have
a number of grooves (which number of grooves corresponds with the number of
points of rolling contact on the outside of the tube) running a distance up that
remaining part of the tube which has not been properly acted on-and-it is
manifest that the length of such grooves corresponds with the distance travelled
by the saddle after the revolving stopped: hence the necessity for an automatic
throw out, and this throwing out I cause to be done by a regulatable distance
piece affixed to the saddle: this regulatable distance piece throws the belt from
the fast to the loose pulley in the spindle and the whole apparatus stops all at
once. We then release our balls, draw our tube off, release our saddle from the
traversing screw, pull our saddle away from the spindle and are ready to start
again with another tube; but still we are only in a position to make such a tube
as is shewn at Figure 4 in my Specification No. 18307 of 1897 that is one with
a somewhat sharp shoulder at the point where the thick part descends to the
thin part and as in many cases tubes are required with a gradual descent from
thick to thin, this gradual descent has usually been attempted by closing in the
balls by a manual action; the practical result of which is that the descent is
not gradual but shews a series of steps in its descent. This I avoid by affixing
a shaper-plate along the bed and to it, and a long arm to the screwable cap of
my reducing apparatus; on the end of this long arm (which said long arm
rests on the shaper-plate I attach a weight, which weight causes the long arm to
bear firmly down upon, and to follow the contour of the said shaper-plate; in
the case of a thick ended tube for velocipede frames the requisite contour of
the shaper plate may be described as a high level plateau, gradually and evenly
descending in a distance of say about 3 inches to a lower level, which lower
level is then continued evenly for a distance of say twelve or 15 inches, when
an ascent commences, the ascent being preferably similar to the descent, then
another high level plateau and the tube operation is ended-but still when we
screw up the cap to close in the balls we have an element of uncertainty as to
what alteration in the gauge of the tube such screwing up will produce: this I
overcome by some such arrangement as the following: the dies are bored out
to an angle of 90 degrees; this means that a lateral motion of one inch would
cause each ball to advance in the direction of the centre line of the bar a dis-
tance of exactly half an inch; next I screw the cap to five threads per inch;
this means that one revolution of the cap advances the balls in the direction of
the centre line .5 x .2 1 :1 next I affix a plate like a watch face on the cap;
but this face is divided into exactly 100 parts; then on the non-revolving part
of the apparatus, I affix a pointer or make a mark to show through how many
of the divisions on the face, it (the face) has been moved, we then get, supposing

page_text: =
we have only moved the face through one division (that is through an angle of
360 degrees x .01 8.6 degrees) .6" x .2 x .01 .001". Thus each division
on the face represents a reduction in the thickness of the tube of exactly 1/1000
part of an inch-the convenience of which is manifest especially in working
tubes to the imperial standard wire gauge, for instance, if by trial we find, when
the pointer is at 46 on the dial, the thickness of the tube is 23 I.S.W.G. (that is
to say .024") and we want it to be 24 I.S.W.G. (that is to say .022") we merely
move the face two divisions that is two thousandths of an inch, namely to 48
and then we know without further trial that the thickness will be 24 I.S.W.G.
My invention is capable of much modification in detail without departing from
its nature so I do not limit myself to the precise details herein given.
2011
1000
Improvements in or appertaining to the Circumferential Rolfing of
Tubes and Tubular Articles of Steel, Copper, and certain other
Metals, and in the Apparatus Employed in so doing.
I, THOMAS BUDWORTH SILARP, of County Chambers, Martineau Street, Birming-
ham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
The circumferential rolling of metal tubes has hitherto been practised in an
ordinary lathe, as described in the Specification in connection with Letters
Patent granted to me for an invention Number 18307, and dated the Sixth day
of August, 1897.
Now the adjustment which regulates the external diameter and the thickness,
as well as the stopping of the apparatus as soon as it has travelled the necessary
distance, has always been manual as opposed to automatic while the knowledge
of what will be the exact dimensions of that portion of the tube which has been
operated on, has always been a matter of uncertainty and guesswork, and not
regulatable, so that the operator will have any definite knowledge of what any
alteration of the adjustment will bring forth.
Furthermore the running of the bar between contres has many disadvantages
in the matter of rapidity of production.
Now, my invention consists in so modifying the apparatus described in the
patent above referred to, and in so putting it to work in connection with certain
appliances and in a certain machine, all of which I am about to describe, that
when I have done all this I shall have an apparatus and machine working in
conjunction with one another, which stops automatically at the right time,
which automatically varies the thickness of the tube as desired, which gives a
definite reliable and exact result in the matter of the dimensions of the tube
operated on, and which will be accurately subservient to the will of the operator
if he wishes to make any practicable alteration in the thickness of the tube or
tubes he is operating on.
Furthermore with my new invention, the back or movable centre is not requisite,
and so the productive capacity is increased.
Now the way in which I accomplish these desiderata (and which I will pre-
ferentially describe in connection with such a thick or butt ended tube as would
be suitable for the frame of a velocipede) is as follows:-
On a short bed similar to a lathe bed I place a headstock similar to a lathe

page_text: headstock, except that instead of having speed pulleys on its spindle, it has a
fast and loose pulley. On the rear end of this spindle is a worm, this worm
engages in a worm wheel on the other end of the spindle carrying the worm
wheel just mentioned, is another worm, this second worm engages in a second
worm wheel which second worm wheel drives a screw running the length of
the bed. This screw then drives a saddle which runs along the bed. This saddle
has a releasing apparatus which enables the operator to disengage the saddle
from the screw, and to re-engage it at will. To this saddle is affixed an apparatus
somewhat similar to the box apparatus described in my Patent 18307 of 1897,
and in such a position that its centre coincides with the centre of the headstock.
On the front end of the headstock spindle is a chuck or face-plate, into which
chuck or faceplate the bar or mandrill which supports the tube about to be
operated on, is securely fixed by screwing or otherwise.
We now have our bar which can be revolved at a high speed and around this
bar we have our ball box or roller box as the case may be-then we slip a tube
on to the bar and securely connect the tube to the bar but at one end only and
preferably at that end which is furthest from the headstock. Next we start the
spindle revolving, and then we close in our balls in the usual way so as to nip,
and thin the tube at some short distance from that end which is secured to the
bar. Next we throw the saddle into gear with the screw, and this said saddle
which carries the reducing apparatus is in consequence slowly drawn along the
bed in the direction of the headstock, consequently the tube is thinned down,
the length of such thinned part being commensurate with the traverse of the
saddle and consequently of the ball box or roller box-but-it has hitherto been
the practice to mark on the bed how far the reducing apparatus (which is the
ball or roller box) should traverse, and then as nearly simultaneously as is prae-
ticable, to throw out of gear and so stop both the revolving of the tube and
bar, and the traverse of the ball or roller box; and here I may remark that it
is of the greatest importance that both the revolving of the tube and the traverse
of the reducing apparatus should go out of gear quite simultaneously, for if the
traverse stops before the revolving stops, then the natural spring of the ap-
paratus keeps on closing in the balls or rollers, and we get a low and consequently
a thin place in the tube whereas if the revolving stops before the traversing,
then we have a number of grooves (which number of grooves corresponds with
the number of points of contact between the balls and the outside of the. tube)
running a distance up that part of the tube which has not yet been properly
acted on-and-it is manifest that the length of such grooves will correspond
with the distance travelled by the saddle after the revolving has stopped-
hence the necessity for an automatic throw out, and this throwing out I cause
to be done by a regulatable distance piece affixed to the saddle which regula-
table distance piece throws the belt from the fast to the loose pulley, and the
whole apparatus stops all at once.
We then release our balls, draw our tube off, release our saddle from the
traversing screw, pull our saddle away from the spindle, and are ready to start
again with another tube, but still we are only in a position to make such a
tube as is shewn at Figure 4 in my Specification 18307 of 1897, that is one
with a somewhat sharp shoulder at the point where the thick part descends to
the thin part, and as in many cases tubes are required with a gradual descent
from thick to thin, this gradual descent has usually been attempted by closing
in the balls by a manual action-the practical result of which, is that the descent
is not gradual but 'shews a series of steps and irregularities on its surface.
These defects I avoid by affixing a shaper plate along the bed and to it, and
an arm of suitable length to the screwable cap of my reducing apparatus. On
the ends of this arm (which said arın rests on the shaper plate) I fix a weight,
which said weight causes the said arm to bear firmly down upon, and to follow
the contour of the said shaper plate, and, in the case of a thick ended tube for
velocipede frames, the requisite contour of the shaper plate may be described

page_text: as a high level plateau, gradually and evenly descending in a distance of about
8 inches to a lower level, which lower level is then continued evenly for a dis-
tance of say 12 or 15 inches when an ascent commences, the ascent being pre-
ferably similar to the descent, then another high level plateau and the opera-
tion is ended.
Of course it is evident that the contour of the shaper plate will regulate the
external diameter of the tube, and consequently its thickness, always provided
that the bar inside the tube is the proper diameter, and, it is further evident
that instead of a weighted, arm we may, if we like, have an unweighted arm,
whose end is suitably moved about by a shaper plate or shaper plates, and that
then the same effect will be produced.
Up to this point, though, we have the means of altering the outside diameter,
and thickness of the tube by this screwing up or unscrewing of the ball box or
its equivalent, yet there is always an element of uncertainty as to the exact
gauge the tube will be when finished, and this element of uncertainty I remove
by the adoption of a graduated or divided face plate which I carry out in a
manner preferably as follows:
The dies or ball races of my ball box are bored out to an angle of 90 degrees:
this means that a lateral motion of one inch would cause each ball to advance
in the direction of the centre line of the bar a distance of exactly half an inch.'
Next I screw the cap to five threads per inch, and this means that one revolution
.1".
of the cap advances the balls in the direction of the centre line .5" x .2 =
Next I affix a circular dial or division plate on the cap of the ball box and this
dial I divide preferably into exactly 100 parts. Then on the non revolving part
of the apparatus I affix a pointer or its equivalent to shew through how many
of the divisions on the face, it (the face) has been moved, and so we then get
(i.e. supposing we have only moved the face a distance of one division)
.5" x .2 x .01
1
.001"
Thus each division on the face represents a reduction in the thickness of the
tube of exactly 1/1000 part of an inch-the convenience of which is manifest
especially in working tubes to the imperial standard wire gauge; for instance
if by trial we find that when the pointer is at division number 46 on the dial,
the thickness of the tube gauges or measures by trial 23 I.S.W.G. (that is to
say .024") but we want it to be 24 I.S.W.G. (that is to say .022") then we merely
move the face two divisions, that is to say 1007" namely to 48, and then we
know without further trial that the thickness will be 24 I.S.W.G.
Of course a similar effect can be produced by having the pointer on the
Screwable cap and a hollow or annular division plate fixed to the ball box.
I will now proceed to further explain my invention with the assistance of
drawings, and for the purpose of brevity and convenience I will confine my
explanation to shewing how I deal with an ordinary length of metal (say steel)
tube, such as is used in building the frame of a cycle.
For the sake of maximum efficiency and strength in such frames, it has been
found necessary to use the tubes thicker at the ends where the junctions occur
than at the middle or main portion of the length of such tubes.
Now my new machine or improved machinery is for the purpose of producing
such thick ended tubes almost automatically and most beautifully in regard to
their regularity in thickness and face polish, so that no surface finishing of the
tube is necessary when it has passed through my machine.
When the machine has commenced to operate upon a tube such as T shown
upon the drawings, it is, as I have already pointed out, absolutely necessary
that the revolving motion of the mandril or bar M should stop with the travel
of the saddle S which carries the reducing box R, and this my machine accom-
of the tube is
plishes as will hereafter be explained. Now the thick ends
(in this instance but not necessarily so) the normal thickness of the tube when
my machine commences its operation and ³ ³ represents the thinner or reduced

page_text: portion after it has passed through the machine, and represents the parts
which pass from the thick to the thin portion, and this I prefer to make very
gradual by a special appliance on or connected with my machine, but the tube
may be left without this long graduated part that is with a more or less sudden
step from the thick to the thin portion.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more casily carried
iuto practical effect I have appended hereunto four sheets of drawings upon
which the same is illustrated, and from which I will proceed to still further
explain the machinery.
Figure 1 is a part side elevation of a tube T which has already passed through
my machine and is reduced at from the original thickness of the ends by
a gradual reduction as seen at 13.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine or machinery by which the reduc-
tion at has been effected, and also the graduated shoulder
though this
may oven be more sudden if so desired, or even so gradual as to be imperceptible
to the naked eye, and only detectable by measuring.
Figure 3 is a part end elevation shewing the gearing arrangement for trans-
mitting motion to the screw which operates the saddle carrying the reducing
box.
Figure is a part sectional end view shewing the reducing box and clutch
or gripper.
Figure 5 is a part sectional end view shewing the arrangement for varying
the inclination of the shoulder where the reduction of the tube commences.
Figure 6 is a diagram view of the plate carrying the formers.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reducing box.
Figure 8 is a right hand end view of Figure 7, shewing the division plate for
definitely regulating the amount of draught put upon the tube by the reducing
apparatus.
Figure 9 is a left hand end view of Figure 7.
Figures 10 & 11 are plan and edge views respectively of one side of my sensi- 3
tive rocking, regulating washer.
Figures 12 & 13 are plan and edge views respectively of the reverse side of
the sensitive rocking regulating washer.
Figure 14 is a plan view of the reducing box and automatic regulating device.
The sensitive rocking regulating washer illustrated by Figures 10, 11, 12 & 13, 3
and which will be further referred to and fully explained later on, has no place
in this patent. It is being made the subject of special Letters Patent. It has
been referred to in this specification merely because of its great utility in con-
nection with this system of tube making.
In carrying my invention into practice, I mount on the bed A the head- 4
stock B which is somewhat similar to a lathe headstock, excent that instead of
having speed pulleys on its spindle 6, it is provided with the fast and loose
pulleys and 6 and on the rear end of this spindle 6', I fixe or form the
worm which engages with the worm wheel mounted on the spindle 6º,
(which spindle be is clearly shewn on Figure 3) supported in a suitable bearing 4
fixed to the headstock. Fixed to or formed on the other end of the spindle 6ª
is another worm 67 engaging with the worm wheel mounted on the end of
the screw be running the length of the bed. This screw 69 engages with the
jaws or grippers S¹ fixed to the saddle S by which means the saddle is caused to
travel along the bed. The jaws or grippers S¹ are provided with means for enab- 5
ling the operator to disengage them from the screw shaft 69, and to re-engage
them, thereby starting and stopping the saddle at will. Mounted upon the
saddle S is the adjustable clamp D or its equivalent, which grips or holds the
reducing box or chuck R in such a position that its centre coincides with the
centre of the headstock B. This reducing box R in which the tube T is reduced, 5.
consists of the box or casing R, one end of which is left open and screw threaded
to receive the adjusting end r¹ operated by means of the nut solid with the

page_text: end. The inner portion of this adjusting end is provided with the facing
piece made of hard metal for the purpose of operating against the sensitive
regulating rocking washer fitting between the adjusting end and the slid-
ing cone which tightens the balls or rollers upon the tube T when the
machine is in operation. The fixed cone 7 which forms the other half of the
ball race fits into the end of the box R. The tube T and the mandril M upon
which the tube is mounted pass between these balls, and through the box when
being operated upon as clearly shewn at Figures 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9.
This sensitive regulating washer is formed with the apices and 9 on either
side respectively at right angles to one another as clearly shewn at Figures 10,
11, 12 & 13, that is to say when the apex which bears against the sliding cone
is in an horizontal position, the apex against which the adjusting end bears,
is in a perpendicular position, or the other way about, that is to say I place the
two apices at right angles to one another.
The action of this sensitive rocking regulating washer is very beautiful in
principle, and very delicate in action, inasmuch as it centres the pressure and
the effect on the ball races is the same as if they were pressed together from
two points at their centres, that is, two imaginary points where their holes are.
Consequently the races at once regulate themselves to their easiest and most
natural positions, and any inaccuracy from bad workmanship or wear in the
reducing box is compensated for.
Fixed on the front end of the spindle 6 is the chuck m', into which the man-
dril M is securely fixed by screwing or otherwise.
When the mandril and tube are fixed in position the machine is set in motion,
and the balls closed upon the tube by turning the adjusting end r so as to nip
and thin the tube commencing a short distance from that end secured to the
mandril. The saddle S carrying the reducing box now starts to slowly travel
along the bed towards the headstock until the regulatable distance piece E which
is fixed to the slide in such a position that as soon at it (the saddle) has travelled
its allotted distance, it (namely the regulatable distance piece E) throws the belt
from the fast on to the loose pulley and thus instantly stops the machine when
the tube is finished and ready to be withdrawn out of the machine.
In order to obtain the gradual descent from thick to thin as shewn at
Figure 1 instead of a somewhat sharp shoulder at the point where the thick
part descends (I have in working out my invention tried many modifications
of the plain weighted arm resting on a shaper plate, such as an arm kept up
to its proper position by a spring, and many other equivalent devices, but the
one I like best, and the only one I propose to describe in detail is the follow-
ing) I fix a plate F to the bed A along the back and to the adjusting end l
of the reducing box R I fix the arm H on the end of which the roller h¹ in
mounted. This roller h¹ comes into contact with, or slides under the inclined
pieces fffixed to the plate F. It will thus be seen that as the saddle and
reducing box travel along the arm H will be gradually depressed, thereby mor-
ing the sliding cone inwards, and consequently gradually tightening the balls
upon the tube until the roller reaches the level portion of this inclined piecc,
then when the reducing box has traversed the required distance along the tube,
this roller commences to travel up the inclined piece, thereby gradually re-
leasing the pressure of the balls or rollers upon the tube, thus forming the
gradual tapering shoulder at the other end.
It will thus be evident that the alteration in the gange of the tube may be
varied considerably by altering the position and shape of the inclined pieces
attached to the plate I. It will be seen also that after experimenting with my
invention I have adopted a compound shaper plate arrangement--that is one
I can alter as required. This arrangement saves having a lot of different shaper
plates.
In order to accurately regulate the alteration in the gauge of the tube by the
Jatim
TA- the dial plate I on the outer face of

page_text: this adjusting end or cap divided into a certain number of parts preferably 100,
and on this end of the box R I fix the pointer J' so as to indicate the move-
ment made by the adjusting end or cap. This, as previously explained enables
me to have a definite knowledge of the effect I shall produce on the tube by any
definite screwing up of the cap.
Although I have described iny machine in connection with thick ended tubes
suitable for velocipede frames, it will be evident that I may use my machine
for the production of externally parallel tubes or for tubes of a varying external
diameter, as for instance for taper tubes, and the internal diameter may also be
varied by using a mandril of a taper or any other varying section so long as
the tube can be withdrawn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
First. The improved machine for rolling tubes and tubular articles consisting
essentially of a bed such as A, having a headstock such as B mounted upon
it provided with a fast and loose pulley, the spindle of which is connected by
suitable gearing to a screw shaft which operates a saddle such as S. carrying
the reducing box R in which a number of balls or rollers are mounted, capable
of being closed or tightened upon a tube placed on a mandril held in a chuck
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth, and as shewn
upon the drawings.
Second: In machines for rolling tubes and tubular articles operating the
screw shaft such as 69 by mounting a worm wheel on one end gearing with a
worm formed on the end of a spindle on the other end of which spindle is fixed.
a worm wheel gearing with a worm formed on the end of the spindle ¹ in the
manner substantially as set forth and as shewn.
Third: In machines for rolling tubes and tubular articles mounting the
reducing box R in a saddle such as S capable of being operated by the screw
shaft 6 in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and
as shewn.
Fourth In machines for rolling tubes and tubular articles in combination
with the saddle S and reducing box R a regulatable distance piece for automa-
tically stopping the machine substantially as set forth.
:
Fifth In machines for rolling tubes and tubular articles, the shaper plate
arrangement such as F and its attachments or a simple shaper plate fixed along
the bed of the machine, and having an inclined or curved piece or inclined or
curved pieces, or its or their equivalent or equivalents, against which an arm
such as H fixed to the adjusting end of the reducing box R bears, and which
alm follows by the action of gravity or otherwise the contour of the inclined 4
or curved piece or pieces in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
herein set forth and as shewn.
Sixth-In machines for rolling tubes and tubular articles regulating the
alteration in the gauge of the tube under operation by attaching a dial plate to
the front of the adjusting end or other part of the reducing box in the manner 4
substantially as set forth and as shewn.
Dated this 8th day of January 1900.