CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAKING OR MANUFACTURING UMBRELLA AND PARASOL STRETCHERS
Year: 1836

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JEREMIAH RUBERY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Umbrella and
Parasol Furniture Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Seventh day of April, in the sixth year of His reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, did, for
Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Jeremiah Rubery, His especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said John Jeremiah Rubery, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Jeremiah Rubery, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MAKING OR MANUFACTURING UMBRELLA AND PARASOL STRETCHERS;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
John Jeremiah Rubery, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled
in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and

page_text: by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Jeremiah Rubery, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, refe-
rence being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of certain improvements in the making or manufacture of
umbrella and parasol stretchers, has for its object the economizing of time and
manual labour in the various processes or operations performed in the making
or manufacturing (that is forming and shaping) stretchers for umbrellas and
parasols out of metal wire, and consists in effecting two, three, or more of the
operations usually performed separately by hand at one and the same time
by peculiarly shaped tools, apparatus, or machinery, whereby great economy
of labour is effected, and the necessity of passing the stretchers through the
hands of the workman for every simple operation is obviated, whereby a less
number of persons need be employed, and a rapidity of operation and manu-
facture is obtained beyond the common system of working by hand.
Having stated the nature and object of my Invention I shall proceed more
particularly to describe and ascertain the same, referring to the several
Drawings or representations of the tools, apparatus, or machinery which I
employ in my improved manufacture of umbrella and parasol stretchers; and
I would here remark that I do not mean or intend to confine myself to the
precise forms, dimensions, or constructions therein shewn, as the same may
be varied to suit different sized and shaped stretchers, neither do I mean or
intend to confine myself to the working of the presses and other apparatus
by hand, as the same may be actuated by steam or other power, if thought
desirable. After the wire has been prepared into bundles, in the usual
manner, I first, in one apparatus or machine, cut off the required length
for the stretcher, and slit the end which is to form the "fork," the wire being
first forced through a draw plate or rollers to straighten it. The proper length
to form one stretcher is then cut off by a peculiar shaped tool or cutting punch,
which cuts off and forms the ends of two lengths of a curved or rounded form at
one time, that is, the "runner end" of the length or stretcher last operated upon,
and the "fork" end of the next or succeeding length. The end intended to
form the fork is then slit or separated lengthwise the required distance for the
prongs of the "fork," and the piece of wire is again moved on under the tools
the proper distance for another length, and the cutting punch and slitting

page_text: "
shears again brought into operation, when the last length, with its "fork" end
previously slit, will be cut off from the piece of wire at its "runner" end, thereby
producing the unfinished stretcher shewn at Figure a of the accompanying
Drawing, at the same time the rounded shape of the "fork" end of the next
or succeeding length is also produced; or the ends of the lengths may be cut
off square, as shewn at Figure 6, and the rounded form of the ends afterwards
produced at the time the holes are being punched or pierced, as herein-after
described in the third apparatus. After the lengths of wire have been prepared
in this
way
with the "fork" end slit, they are submitted to the second apparatus,
tools, or mechanism, in which the two separate sides of the end forming the
prongs of the fork, are forced apart or distended, and bent or formed into the
required shape, as shewn in the several Figures c, d, e, f, g, h, and in this
state the unfinished stretchers with square ends are submitted to the third
apparatus, tools, or mechanism where the holes are made or punched for
attaching them to the "whalebones" and "runners of the umbrella or
parasol, at the same time the ends are cut or finished of the proper rounded
or curved form. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one of the first apparatus or
machines which I employ for cutting off the required lengths of wire to
form the stretchers and slitting their fork ends, and is intended to be worked
by rotary motion communicated to its main shaft by means of a rigger and
band passed from a steam engine or other first mover, or a winch handle
placed on its end turned by hand. Fig. 2 is a plan or horizontal view,
and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. a, a, is the length of wire passing
from the bundle placed on a reel in any convenient situation, where it will
draw off easily to the machine. The wire is first passed through a draw
plate, or drawing or straightening rollers, and drawn into the machine by a
pair of tongs b, b, mounted on a sliding plate c, moving between guides d, d.
The toggles e, e, of the tongs are attached by a piu joint to a lever f, worked
by the lateral grooved cam A, mounted on the rotary shaft B, turning in
proper bearings in the framework of the machine C, C. By these means,
as the cam A revolves, the tongs 6 are made to take fast hold of the wire.
and carries it under a cutting die g, mounted on the lower end of the vertical
piece h, passing through guides, and worked by another lever i, turning in
bearings in the standard D, and actuated by the cam or excentric E on the
shaft B. On the proper length of wire being carried under the cutter g by the
tongs b. (as shewn by dots in Fig. 2) the cam E raises the longer end of the
lever i, and depresses the cutter g, which severs the last length or stretcher
from off the piece of wire, and also forms the rounded end of the next
length, it being formed of a double curved shape, thus
At this time
"

page_text: the cam G on the shaft B comes into operation on the longer end of the lever k
(also mounted in the standard D), and depresses its shorter end, and with it
the piece 7, which passes through guides and apertures in the slitting shears
or cutters m, m, moving between the guide pieces n, n; and by means of the
inclined plane o, o, the piece 7 brings the cutters m, m, together, thereby
slitting the fork end of the next stretcher the required length, as will be seen
more particularly in reference to Figures 4 and 5, which are representations
of the slitting cutters or shears drawn full size; Fig. 4 shewing the cutters
or shears open or apart, and Fig. 5 when closed after cutting or slitting the
end. As soon as these operations are effected, the cam G moves away from
the end of the lever k, and the cutting shears are again opened by the
inclined planes p, p, on the piece 1, by means of a weight suspended by the
rods q from the longer end of the lever k. As soon as the cutters are open
the cam E recedes from the end of the lever i, and the cutting punch 9 is
again brought up (by another weight attached to the rod r), to allow of another
length of wire being brought under it by the feeding tongs. During the
operation of cutting off and slitting the length, the lateral cam A has moved
back the lever f, first opening the feeding tongs, and carrying them to the
position shewn in Fig. 2, ready to bring in another length of wire, as
before, thereby keeping up a continuous working or operation, the severed
length being allowed to fall away below, or taken off by hand. It will be
perceived that there is a part of the punch g, taken away at s, to allow of the
slitting shears closing while the punch is down. I would here remark that
there are to be proper stops and adjustments of the lever f and feeding tongs b,
to regulate the distance they travel, and determine the length of wire to be fed
into the machine.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are representations of another construction and
arrangement of the first machine or apparatus I use for cutting off the required
length of wire, and slitting the "fork" end of the stretcher, and is intended to
be worked by hand as a common fly press. Fig. 6 is a front elevation, and
Fig. 7 is a plan view, and Fig. 8 a partial side elevation, shewing the manner
of working the slitting shears. a, a, is the length of wire passed through a
draw plate, as before, and is brought under the cutting punch by the workman
pressing his foot on to a lever or treadle, connected to one end of the gut
band or chain b, attached to the joint pin of the toggles c, c, of a pair of
feeding tongs d, d, similar to those shewn in the former apparatus. The
tongs being closed upon the wire, and brought forward by the operation of the
treadle and cord, and opened and run back by a counter balance weight
attached to the cord p into their former position, the cutting off punch e is

page_text: depressed by the screw f of the fly g, which also carries the pieces h, h, with
the inclined planes i, i, which close the cutters or sheers k, k, and slit the end
of the next length, as before described; the inclined planes i, i, opening the
shears or forcing them apart, as the screw f rises on the return of the fly,
which also brings up the cutting off punch, ready for another length of wire
being brought under it, there being a part of the punch e removed, as in the
former instance, to allow of the shears k, k, being brought together or closed.
There are also stop pieces n and m, for adjusting the proper length of wire
required for the stretchers, and determining the motion of the feeding tongs.
After the lengths have been formed as above described and shewn in Figures
a or b, they are severally taken to the second apparatus shewn in the several
sectional and plan views Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, where two further
operations are performed, viz, the slit ends opened and formed or pressed into
the forked shape, as shewn in Figures c or d. Fig. 1 is a side view of the pair
of tools or apparatus. The upper tool or shaping punch A is to be mounted
on the end of the carrier of the screw or fly press, and the lower tool B in
the bed or bolster of the press. Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower die or tool B.
Fig. 3 is a section shewing the prepared end of the length of wire a, placed in
the lower die D, the ends being placed against the guide or stop piece b, and
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same. Fig. 5 is a section shewing the upper tool or
shaping die, forced down into the lower one by the action of the press, and
the prongs of the fork distended and shaped as Figure c or d. Fig. 6 is a
plan view of the same, and Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the lower die;
or the prepared lengths of wire as at Figures a, b, may be separately taken to
the other second apparatus or pair of shaping tools or dies and punches,
shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10, where three of the usual separate operations
are performed by the same dies, punches, or tools, viz:-The prongs of the
fork being opened and shaped as in the former instance, and also flattened at
the extremities, as shewn in Figures e, f, for the purpose of distending the
metal to allow for the holes being made through them, the outer sides of the
upper tool or punch compressing the sides of the punch against the insides of
the counter die or tool, or the prepared lengths, as Figures a, b, may be sepa-
rately taken to the other second apparatus, tools, or mechanism shewn in
Figures 11 and 12, in which four of the usual operations are performed, viz.,
the prongs opened and properly shaped, their ends flattened and curved into
the form as when finished and shewn in Figures g or h; or a similar pair of
tools, apparatus, or mechanism may be formed in which the flattening of the ends
of the prongs may be omitted in the operation, and the working of the tool or
punch perform only three of the usual operations by hand, viz, the opening or

page_text: distending and shaping or forming, and the curving of the prongs of the
fork being effected without flattening the ends, which in some instances
I prefer to the former, all of which tools or apparatus, or dies and punches
are intended to be placed in common screw presses, and worked in the usual
manner by hand or power; and as the mode of fixing up such apparatus is well
known to all mechanics, it is not necessary for me to shew them placed in the
press. After the prongs or forks of the stretchers have been formed, as shewn
in Figure g, by the foregoing tools or punches, and with rounded ends, the
holes for attaching them to the "whalebones" may be pierced in the usual
manner by any simple punching press fit for the purpose; but when the prongs
or forks of the stretchers have been formed as in Fig. h, that is with square
ends, then they are submitted to the action of the third apparatus or dies and
punches shewn at Figures 13 and 14, Fig. 13 being a vertical section of the
tools for punching the holes in the ends of the prongs of the forks, and shewing
one of the stretchers placed therein under operation. Fig. 14 is a plan
view of the lower tool or cutting die or punch. A is the upper tool or
cutting punch and die. B the lower cutting tool or bed. a is the stretcher,
being guided in its position by the stops or guide pieces b, b. c is the punch
for forming the holes taking into its counter bed e. f is the upper cutting
edge or tool, which cuts off the superfluous part of the end against the rounded
counter edge of the bed e; after cutting and punching the end of one of the
prongs, the stretcher is reversed, and the other prong brought under operation
and pierced and finished as with the former. The reverse or "runner" end
of the stretcher, after having been flattened in the usual manner, is placed in
the dies or tools, as shewn in Figures 15, 16, and similarly operated upon as the
ends of the prongs, that is, the end is rounded or properly shaped, the holes
being pierced or punched at the same time. The same letters of reference being
marked upon similar parts as in Figures 14 and 15, no further description
will be necessary, Fig. 15 being a vertical section & Fig. 16 a representation
of the under side of the upper punch and cutter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my In-
vention, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that I do not mean or intend to claim as part of my Invention
any of the tools, apparatus, dies, or punches for simply punching the holes
in the ends of the stretchers, or for performing any one part or single opera-
tion in the making or manufacturing of umbrella or parasol stretchers; but
what I claim as my Invention of Certain Improvements in the Making or
Manufacturing Umbrella and Parasol Stretchers, is the combining two or
more of the usual operations commonly performed separately by band in one

page_text: operation or working of the apparatus or mechanism, tools or dies and punches,
as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Jeremiah Rubery, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.
JOHN JEREMIAH
(L.8.)
KUBERY.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventh day of October, in
the seventh year of the reign of His Majesty King William the Fourth, the
said John Jeremiah Rubery came before our said Lord the King in His
Chancery, and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every
thing therein contained and specified, in form above written. And also the
Instrument aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made
in the fifty-fifth year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Third.