IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Woolley, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Saddler, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Woolley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1877:
WILLIAM WOOLLEY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Saddler.
PROVEMENTS IN SADDLES."
My Invention consists,―
"IM-
First. Of the improvements herein-after described in constructing the seats of
saddles, whereby an elastic seat is produced, and the ordinary webs are dispensed
with. I make the foundation of the seat of a piece of sheet iron, wood, leather, or
millboard, or other rigid material. The said foundation plate or piece has the
general figure of the seat of the saddle, but is smaller than the said seat. The
said foundation plate or piece is attached by screwing, rivetting, nailing, or other-
wise at its front end to the front or head of the saddle-tree, but its opposite or
front end is loose or unconnected to the saddle-tree, so that on pressure being put
upon it the said foundation plate slightly moves in the direction of its length.
The said foundation plate or piece is supported at its sides upon the sides of the
saddle tree by strong coiled springs, the said springs permitting of the yielding of
the foundation plate when pressure is put upon it. On the sides of the foun-
dation plate outline or belly pieces are placed for giving the outline to the seat.
These outline or belly pieces are made to overlap the edges of the foundation plate
described, and by thus covering the sharp edges of the said foundation plate
prevent them injuring the seat. The seat is completed in the ordinary way. By
this construction a very durable clastic seat is produced, the seat being capable of.
yielding both vertically and in the direction of its length.
The outline or belly pieces, herein-before described, may be used in conjunction
with webs to form the seats of saddles. In this case the seats are not elastic, as
when the middle elastic foundation plate is used.

page_text: My Invention consists, further, of the following improvements in making the
"leaping heads or crutches" and "little heads" of ladies' saddles.
I will describe this part of my Invention as applied to a leaping head or crutch.
The said leaping head consists of a curved arm, which is screwed to the side of the
saddle. Ordinarily the said leaping head is made by coiling leather around a
central metallic plate, and stuffing the leather so as to give it the required shape,
the bottom end of the metallic plate having a screw by which the leaping head is
screwed to the saddle.
According to this part of my Invention I make the front of the leaping head,
by taking a piece of leather, and by stamping in dies give it the shape of the
front of the leaping head; that is to say, the stamped or shaped leather front con-
sists of a curved piece of leather having a trough or depression along its middle,
the marginal parts or ribbed edges of the trough or depression being semicircular
in cross section. In the trough or depression of the stamped leather front a inetallic
plate is laid and secured, the bottom of the said plate being provided with a screw
by which the leaping head is screwed to the saddle. The plate, carrying the fixing
screw, is thus situated outside the leaping head instead of inside as usual.
I secure the plate described in the trough or depression at the front of the
leaping head in the following manner-At the back of the stamped leather front
a trough or slightly concave metallic plate is situated, the edges of the said plate
projecting into the concave parts of the semicircular ribbed edges of the front of the
leaping head. This inner or back plate carries near its ends screw boxes or sockets
which project into the trough of the front of the leaping head. The external plate
lying in the trough has holes in it which pass on to the projecting ends of the
screw sockets. By means of screws screwed into the sockets described the external
plate is connected to the internal or back plate, and the stamped leather front
bound securely between the two metal plates. The back of the leaping head is
made of felt or other soft material covered with soft leather, the said felt and
leather being sewn or otherwise connected to the stamped leather front described.
The external plate having at its bottom the screw by which the leaping head is
connected to the saddle may either be covered with leather or be left uncovered.
In the latter case I prefer to ornament the said external plate in any desired
manner, whereby an improved appearance is given to the leaping head or crutch.
I make the "little head" of the saddle substantially in the manner described with
respect to the leaping head or crutch.
I attach the surcingles of ladies' saddles to the skirts of the said saddles by means
of metal fastenings instead of by sewing as usual, whereby the said surcingles are
very securely attached to the skirts, and the exposed part of the metal fastenings
may be made ornamental. To the back of that end of the surcingle to be fixed to
the skirt of the saddle I secure a metal plate, and on the front of the skirt of the
saddle I fix another metal plate, the said back and front plates having screw holes
in them. In fixing the surcingle, screws are passed through the [front ornamental
plate through the skirt of the saddle and surcingle, and into the metal plate at the
back of the surcingle.

page_text: with. I make the foundation of the seat of a piece of sheet iron, wood, leather,or
millboard, or other rigid material. The said foundation plate or piece has the
general figure of the seat of the saddle, but is smaller than the said seat. The
said foundation plate or piece is attached by screwing, rivetting, nailing, or other-
wise at its front end to the front or head of the saddle tree, but its opposite or
rear end is loose or unconnected with the saddle tree, so that on pressure being put
upon it the said foundation plate slightly moves in the direction of its length.
The said foundation plate or piece is supported at its sides upon the sides of the
saddle tree by strong coiled or other springs, the said springs permitting of the
yielding of the foundation plate when pressure is put upon it. On the sides of
the foundation plate outline or belly pieces are placed for giving the outline to the
seat.
These outline or belly pieces are made to overlap the edges of the foundation
plate described, and by thus covering the sharp edges of the said foundation plate
prevent them from injuring the seat. The seat is completed in the ordinary way.
By this construction a very durable elastic sent is produced, the seat being capable
of yielding both vertically and in the direction of its length.
The outline or belly pieces, herein-before described, may be used in conjunction
with webs to form the seats of saddles. In this case the seats are not elastic, as
when the middle elastic foundation plate is used.
My Invention consists, further, of the following improvements in making the
"leaping heads or "crutches" and "little heads" of ladies' saddles.
"
I will describe this part of my Invention as applied to a leaping head or crutch.
The said leaping head consists of a curved arm, which is screwed to the side of the
saddle. Ordinarily the said leaping head is made by coiling leather around a
central metallic plate, and stuffing the leather so as to give it the required shape,
the bottom end of the metallic plate having a screw by which the leaping head is
screwed to the saddle.
According to this part of my Invention I make the front of the leaping head by
taking a piece of leather, and by stamping in dies give it the shape of the front of
the leaping head; that is to say, the stamped or shaped leather front consists of a
curved piece of leather having a trough or depression along its middle, the marginal.
parts or ribbed edges of the trough or depression being semicircular in cross section.
In the trough or depression of the stamped leather front a metallic plate is laid and
secured, the bottom of the said plate being provided with a screw by which the
leaping head is screwed to the saddle. The plate, carrying the fixing screw, is thus
situated outside the leaping head instead of inside as usual.
I secure the plate described in the trough or depression at the front of the
leaping head in the following manner-At the back of the stamped leather front a
trough or concave metallic plate is situated, the edges of the said plate projecting
into the concave parts of the semicircular ribbed edges of the front of the leaping
head. This inner or back plate carries near its ends screw boxes or sockets which
project into the trough of the front of the leaping head. The external plate lying.
in the trough has holes in it which pass on to the projecting ends of the screw
sockets. By means of the screws screwed into the sockets described the external
plate is connected to the internal or back plate, and the stamped leather front bound
securely between the two metal plates. The back of the leaping head is made of
felt or other soft material covered with soft leather, the said felt and leather being
sewn or otherwise connected to the stamped leather front described.
The external plate, having at its bottom the screw by which the leaping head is
connected to the saddle, may either be covered with leather or be left uncovered.
In the latter case I prefer to ornament the said external plate in any desired
manner whereby an improved appearance is given to the leaping head or crutch.
I make the "little head" of the saddle substantially in the manner described with
respect to the leaping head or crutch.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan, and Figure 2 in cross section taken through the line..

page_text: A, A, Figure 1, a portion of a lady's saddle, the seat of which is constructed
according to my Invention.
Figure 3 represents a plan, and Figure 4 a cross section taken on the line B, B,
Figure 3, of the said scat, to which outline or belly pieces are applied; and
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the seat of the saddle.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5.
The
a is the saddle-tree, and b is the foundation plate or piece constituting the elastic
seat of the saddle. The said foundation plate or seat bis made of sheet iron, by
preference, but it may be made of wood or other non-metallic rigid material.
said foundation plate & has the general figure of the seat of the saddle, but is smaller
than the said seat, and the said foundation plate is attached at its front end b² by
screwing or otherwise to the front or head c of the saddle-tree, but its opposite or rear
end is loose or unconnected with the saddle-tree (see the longitudinal section,
Figure 5). When pressure is put upon the foundation plate bit slightly moves
in the direction of its length, the end 6 riding on the tail part d of the saddle-tree.
The foundation plate or piece bis supported at its sides upon the sides of the saddle-
tree a by the strong coiled springs e, c, but bow or other springs may be used. By
means of the springs e, or other springs, the foundation plate b yields when pressure
is put upon it. A very durable elastic seat is by this arrangement produced,
the seat being capable of yielding in the direction of its length when pressure is
put upon it vertically. ff, (Figures 3 and 4) are the outline or belly pieces fixed to
the sides of the elastic foundation plate b for giving the outline to the seat. These
outline or belly pieces f, f, are fixed by rivetting or otherwise to the edges of the
foundation plate b, the said outline pieces overlapping the edges of the said plate b
in the manner illustrated in Figure 4, and by thus protecting the said edges of the
plate b prevent them from injuring the seat. The elastic seat thus constructed is
completed in the ordinary way.
Figure 6 represents in plan, and Figure 7 in cross section the ordinary or web
seat of a saddle to which outline or belly pieces of the kind herein-before described
are applied. The said outline or belly pieces are marked h, h, and are attached to
the edges of the saddle tree in the inanner best seen in the section, Figure 7.
Between the overhanging parts of the outline or belly pieces h, k, and the saddle
tree, stuffing at i is placed to support the said outline or belly pieces, and upon the
said outline or belly pieces the ordinary leather seat of the saddle is placed.
My improvements in the seats of saddles may be applied to riding saddles
generally.
Figure 8 represents in front elevation, and Figure 9 in side elevation a leaping
head or crutch of a lady's saddle constructed according to my Invention; Figure 10
is a cross section of the same taken on the line A, A, Figure 8.
Figures 11 and 12 are parts of the leaping head, and Figure 13 is a modification
of the same, as herein-after described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 8 to 13.
b, b, 62, is the stamped leather front of the leaping head, the said leather front
having a trough or depression b along its middle, and having ribbed edges b2, b²,
the said edges b, b, having a semicircular figure in cross section. A part of the
stamped feather front b, 62, 62, is represented in plan and cross section in Figure 11.
In the trough or depression b of the stamped leather front the metallic plate c is
laid and secured, the said plate c having at its bottom the screw c² by which the
leaping head is screwed to the side of the saddle.
The external plate c, carrying the fixing screw c², is secured in the depression or
trough b in the following manner-At the back of the stamped leather front b, b³,
is a trough-shaped metallic plate d (shown separately in plan and cross section in
Figure 12), the edges of the said plate d lying against the ribbed edges b² of the
said leather front in the manner best seen in cross section in Figure 10. Near the
ends of the said trough plate d are screw boxes or sockets e, e, which project into
the middle trough b of the front of the leaping bead. The external plate c is fixed

page_text: The
in the depression or trough 6 by the ornamental or other screws f, f, passed through
holes in the said plate c, and made to take into the screw boxes or screw sockets c, c,
in the trough plate d. By means of the said screws f, f, the external plate c is
secured in its place in the trough b, and the stamped leather front b, b², securely
bound between the inner trough plate d and the external fixing plate c.
leaping head is made of two or more layers of serge, felt, or other soft material g,
the longer edges of which are sewn or othewise connected to the inner edges of the
rolls 62, 62, of the leather front. The shape of the back part of the leaping head is
formed by stuffing the space between the serge or other back g, and the leather
front b, b, with stuffing composed of flock, as seen in the cross section, Figure 10.
The back of the leaping head is finished by covering it with leather, as seen at i,
Figure 10.
The external plate c may be covered with leather or left uncovered. When left
uncovered the said plate c may be japanned or ornamented by painting, engraving,
chasing, or otherwise ornamented, so as to give an ornamental appearance to the
front of the leaping head. A light metal fraine , having ornamental edges, may bo
laid in the trough b of the leather front before the external plate c is fixed in its place.
The edges of the said light metal frame form an ornamental beading between the
edges of the plate c and the leather front; the said light metal frame may, however,
be dispensed with.
Instead of using the inner trough-shaped plate d with screw boxes in it for
securing the external plate to the leather front the said inner trough plate may be
dispensed with, and in place thereof a wooden block curved of the required figure
may be placed inside the leaping head to receive the fixing screws.
This modification of my Invention is illustrated in cross section in Figure 13,
where the wooden block into which the fixing screws f, f, are passed is marked l.
In this modification the shanks of the fixing screws are screws of the kind called
wood screws. The other parts of the leaping head are constructed as herein-before
described, and corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
The stamped leather front in the arrangements of the leading head, herein-before
described, may be dispensed with, and the external plate carrying the fixing screw
may be made to constitute the entire front of the leaping head.
This modification of my Invention is represented in front elevation in Figure 14,
longitudinal section in Figure 15, and cross section in Figure 16, where m is the
plate covering the entire front of the leaping head, and m² is the fixing screw at
the middle of the bottom end thereof, by which screw the leaping head is connected
to the saddle. The external plate m is connected to the internal wooden block n
by the ornamental screws p, p, and the back of the leaping head is made of tho
layers of serge or felt or other soft material q stuffed as represented, and completed
by a covering of leather r. The serge or felt covering at q may be nailed or other-
wise fastened to the wooden block n, or a layer of leather may be interposed between
the front plate m and the block n, to which leather the serge or felt layers for
forming the back may be secured.
In making little heads of ladies' saddles, according to my Invention, I proceed
in the ways described and illustrated with respect to a leaping head, excepting that
the lower end of the external plate is provided with a connecting arm or piece by
which it is permanently fixed to the head of the saddle instead of with a screw, as
described and represented with respect to a leaping head.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention
of improvements in saddles,-
First. The improvements in constructing the seats of saddles, herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, constructing an elastic seat of a foundation plate or piece
connected at its front end to the saddle tree, and unconnected at its rear end, and
supported at its sides upon the sides of the saddle tree by coiled or other springs,
substantially as described and illustrated; also the combination with the said

page_text: elastic seat of the outline or belly pieces described and illustrated, and the appli-
cation of the said outline or belly pieces to the ordinary web seats of saddles.
Secondly. The improvements in the leaping heads or crutches and little heads of
ladies' saddles, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 8 to 16, both
inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings; that is to say, the construction and
arrangements of the parts of the said leaping heads and little heads, substantially
as described and illustrated, whereby the plate carrying the fixing screw or arm or
connection by which the leaping or little head is secured to the saddle is situated
outside the front of the leaping head or little head, the said construction permitting
of the external plate which forms the front or part of the front of the leaping head
or little head being ornamented if desired.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Woolley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM WOOLLEY. (L.S.)