AN IMPROVED SPINDLE- THE SPINNING OF SILK OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ichabod Nettleship, of Derby, in the County of
Derby, Overlooker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SPINDLE-FOR THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said, Ichabod Nettleship, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents,, with his Petition, on the 5th
September 1855.
I, ICHABOD NETTLESHIP, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Overlooker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SPINDLE, FOR
THE SPINNING OF SILK OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL" to be as follows:
My Invention consists in the manufacture of an improved spindle for the
spinning of silk or other fibrous material. Heretofore, spindles used in the
spinning of silk have generally been from about fourteen to sixteen inches in
length, thereby occupying a large space, whereas by my Invention the spindle
is only about six or seven inches in length with the following improvements :-
My, spindle working upon a stud, and. which is hollow, and is composed of
mixed metal, whereby I can drive the spindles at a much greater speed than
could otherwise be obtained; its formation is such as to allow of at least, double
the number of spindles within the same area or space, and consequently double
the quantity of work may be produced in the same time. I also make a
provision, by which the oil in the step of the spindle is secured from dirt or
other injurious substances coming in contact with it. I propose that the step
in which the spindle works, shall be let into a solid bar attached to the mill,
and shall not, as heretofore, rest upon a hollow bar
1-1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ichabod Nettleship in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ICHABOD
NETTLESHIP, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Overlooker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Ichabod Nettleship, Her special licence that I, the said Ichabod Nettleship,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ichabod
Nettleship, 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, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SPINDLE
FOR THE SPINNING OF SILK OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Ichabod Nettleship, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument 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 Ichabod Nettleship, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My Invention consists in an improved spindle for the spinning of silk or
other fibrous material. Heretofore spindles used in the spinning of silk have
generally been from about fourteen to sixteen inches in length, thereby
occupying a large space, whereas by my Invention the spindle is only about
six or seven inches in length, with the following improvements:-My spindle
is hollow, and is composed of mixed metal, and works upon a fixed stud,
whereby I can drive it at a much greater speed than could otherwise be
obtained; its construction is such as to allow of at least double the number of
spindles within the same area or space, and consequently double the quantity
of work may be produced in the same time. I also make a provision, by

page_text: which the oil in the step of the spindle is protected from dirt or other injurious
substances coming in contact with it. The step in which the spindle works is
let into a solid bar attached to the mill, instead of resting upon a hollow bar,
as heretofore.
Figure 1 represents an external elevation, and Figure 2 a section, of a spindle
constructed according to my Invention. A is a bar, carrying a steel spindle
stud B, having a conical collar or shoulder C. This stud tapers from the
collar C to near the top, which has a thread tapped on it to receive the nut d.
The lower end of the stud is threaded, and is held fast in the bar by a nut c;
for a short distance above the collar C, and below the screw at the top the
stud is thickened to receive the tube E, which is made of mixed metal. The
stud has a hole bored in it lengthwise at the thin end, and another g cross-
wise below the screw; through these holes the spindle is supplied with oil.
The tube E carries an iron or steel pulley near the lower end, below which is
a collar of mixed metal, which turns free with the spindle above a seat in the
bar, whereby the admission of dust and dirt and the escape of oil are prevented.
This spindle only requires to be oiled once in about fourteen days of ten hours
each, while the old spindles require oiling once in every ten hours. With the
old spindles two bars were necessary, while with mine one bar is sufficient.
My spindles can also be run at a greatly increased speed, and double the
number can be mounted in the same height, breadth, and length of frame,
and the power required to drive them is considerably less. Each of my
spindles is only about four ounces in weight, whereas the old ones weigh about
twelve ounces.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the improved
spindle for the spinning of silk and other fibrous materials constructed in the
manner herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ichabod Nettleship, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, One thousand eight
Lundred and fifty civ
Witness,
ICHABOD NETTLESHIP. (LS.)
GEO. JON. ROBINSON, Patent Agent,
Nottingham.