IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-PIRE CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE- ARMS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Horace Brandon, of 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-PIRE CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS." A communication from George Roth, Manufacturer, of
Vienna, in the Empire of Austria.
Sealed the 8th March 1870, and dated the 10th September 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Horace
も
Brandon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th September 1869.
I, ALEXANDER HORACE BRANDON, of 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, in
5 the Empire of France, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE CARTRIDGES FOR

page_text: BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a communication from George Roth, Manu-
facturer,
of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, to be as follows:-
A metallic cartridge is employed, in the head of which is made a
cylindrical cavity, the depth of which is equal to about one-quarter of
the diameter of the cartridge, and its diameter about one-third of the
same. This cavity is terminated by sides sloping inwards with a small
aperture in the centre. Within the cavity is placed a circular metallic
cup or receptacle, and within this latter a circular metallic anvil pierced
with a central hole and terminated at its upper extremity with a small
teat to fit into the central hole left at the bottom of the cavity in the
cartridge. The priming is placed between the bottom surface of the
anvil and the inner surface of the cup, which surfaces are serrated or
roughened. These two pieces are driven together in the cavity of the
cartridge until the outer face of the cup is level with that of the head of
the cartridge, and by so doing the rim of the cup projecting upwards is
by its contact with the bottom of the cavity also turned inwards.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Horace Brandon in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 10th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
HORACE BRANDON, of 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Horace Brandon, 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

page_text: Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE CARTRIDGES POR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS," a communication to me from George Roth, Manufacturer, of
Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 per-
formed, 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 Alexander Horace Brandon, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
A metallic cartridge is employed, in the head of which is made a
cylindrical cavity, the depth of which is equal to about one-quarter of
the diameter of the cartridge, and its diameter about one-third of the
same. This cavity is terminated by sides sloping inwards with a
small aperture in the centre. Within the cavity is placed a circular
cup or receptacle, and within the latter a circular metallic anvil
pierced with a central hole and terminated at its upper extremity with
a small teat to fit into the central hole left at the bottom of the cavity
in the cartridge. The priming is placed between the bottom surface
of the anvil and the inner surface of the cup, which surfaces are serrated
or roughened. These two pieces are driven together in the cavity of
the cartridge until the outer face of the cup is level with that of the
head of the cartridge, and by so doing the rim of the cup projecting
upwards is by its contact with the bottom of the cavity also turned
inwards.
Figure 1 is a cartridge head made in metal. At its centre it is formed
into the cavity or recess a¹ for the reception of the priming cup or

page_text: fulminate. The priming is lodged in a cup, Figure 2, in which is
carefully fitted an anvil Figure 3. These two pieces are in metal and
they are placed in the recess a¹ of the cartridge head. The inside.
bottom of the cup, Figure 2, is channelled or roughened, as is shown at
Figure 2. The under side of the anvil Figure 3 is also roughened or
channelled. The priming, which may be composed of the material
usually employed, is placed in the cup and the anvil upon it. The rim
of the cup projects beyond the anvil, as is shown at Figure 4, where a
is the cup, 6 the anvil, and c the priming which is thus placed between
two rough surfaces and in close contact with them. It is easy to sec
that the percussion of the firing pin upon the cup will act with
certainty to fire the charge if the anvil presents sufficient resistance,
and this resistance is given in the following manner by the suitable.com-
pression of the two parts and c, which are solidly lodged in the
cavity a¹ of the cartridge head, Figure 1, and shown progressively in
Figures 5 and 6. The conical part of the anvil enters into the aperture
of the cartridge head, the thin edge of the cup a meeting with the
curved cavity folds over the anvil 6 and imprisons it in manner shown
complete at Figure 6. At the moment of explosion of the fulminate
and powder, since the cup a is prevented by the breech of the gun
from retiring backwards, the pressure of the gases resulting from the
explosion is excrted upon the inner sides of the cup a, and thus produces
a closer contact of the outer side of the cup with the inner side of
the cartridge head or cavity a¹ so that all escape of gas is prevented.
The roughened surfaces between which lies the fulminate prevent its
displacement. After firing the cartridge head can be reprimed by
driving out the cup and anvil and replacing them with newly charged
ones.
Having now described the said Invention and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what
I claim is,-
Firstly. The two roughened surfaces of the anvil and the cup between
which the fulminate is placed.
Secondly. The particular form of the cavity a¹ for the purposes
described in reference to the anvil and cup.
Thirdly. The tubular and conical form of the anvil, and its insertion
in the cartridge head, as described.

page_text: with its anvil in the cavity of the cartridge head for preventing escape
of gas at each explosion.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
D. H. BRANDON,
13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris.
A. H. BRANDON. (L.S.)