IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Drumgoole Brady, of Calais, in the Empire
of France, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES."
Sealed the 23rd February 1858, and dated the 28th August 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Drumgoole Brady
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th August 1857.
I, JONN DRUMGOOLE BRADY, of Calais, in the Empire of France, Esquire,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SADDLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention is intended to apply chiefly to cavalry saddles, and its object
is to produce an adjustable saddle, that is to say, a saddle which can be made
to fit the same horse whether in good or poor condition. Horses on entering
a campaign are usually fat and in good condition, but after a short time they
become poor and thin, and the saddle with which they entered the campaign
fails to fit them, comes upon their shoulders and back, and creates sores.
Now, in order to remedy this evil, I connect two side trees, of whatever
material formed, both at front and back by iron or other suitable metal bow
pieces which are drilled at intervals, say of half an inch, to correspond with
similar holes formed in each side tree or pad; screws or other suitable
fastenings secure the bows to the pad or side trees at the requisite points.

page_text: By moving the side trees or pads and fixing them higher up or lower down
upon the bows the same saddle will fit the same horse whether in high or low
condition.
Another part of my Invention consists in forming the side trees or pads,
of skeleton or open-work frames of wood, metal, or other strong material, 5
lined or not as may be required, with any softer material such as leather,
gutta percha, or other suitable substance; then, should a sore occur under
the frames, the bars thereof could be shifted so as to bring an open part of
the frame over the sore, and thus relieve it from pressure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Drumgoole Brady in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DRUMGOOLE BRADY, of Calais, in the Empire of France, Esquire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Drumgoole Brady, Her special licence that I, the said John
Drumgoole Brady, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Drumgoole Brady, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Drumgoole Brady, my executors or administrators, 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 John Drumgoole Brady, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention is intended to apply chiefly to cavalry saddles or wooden
saddle trees used as such, and its object is to produce an adjustable saddle,
that is to say, a saddle which can be made to fit the same horse whether in
good or poor condition. Horses on entering a campaign are usually in good-
condition, but after a short time they become poor and thin, and the saddle
with which they entered the campaign fails to fit them, comes upon their
shoulders and back, and creates sores. Now, in order to remedy this evil,
without inconvenience or delay, I connect two side trees or bars of saddle
trees, of whatever material formed, both at front and back by iron or other
suitable metal, or wooden bow or pommel and back pieces, which are drilled at*
intervals, say of half an inch, to correspond with similar holes formed in each
side tree or bar; screws or other suitable fastenings secure the bow or
pommel and back piece to the bars or side trees at the requisite points. By
moving the side trees or bars, to which the pads of the saddle are attached,
and fixing them higher up or lower down upon the bow or pommel and
back piece the same saddle will fit the same horse whether in high or low
condition.
Another part of my Invention consists in forming the said trees or bars of
skeleton or open-work frames of wood, metal, or other strong material, lined
or not, as may be required, with any softer material, such as leather, gutta
percha, or other suitable substance; then, should a sore occur under the
frames, portions of the bars thereof with the parts of the panels attached
thereto could be shifted or removed so as to bring an open part of the frame
over the sore, and thus relieve it from pressure and friction.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a saddle tree, shewing the manner in
which I carry the first part of my Invention into effect. A, A, are the side
frames or bars; B, the bow, or pommel, or front connecting piece, formed in
one piece, in metal, or in three parts, as shewn in the detached view of the
bow or pommel at Figure 2. The bow or pommel is held to the side frames
or bars by the ends being passed through metal straps C, C, screwed to the
side frames, and it is secured in any desired position by screws a passing
through holes in a metal plate b on the frames and through a hole made in
the sides of the bow or pommel. D, is the back connecting piece, up and
down which the side frames or bars are capable of being raised or lowered
simultaneously with the front of the frames, up and down the bow or
pommel B. d is an angle plate on each frame, with apertures therein which
correspond with other apertures formed in the metal plate e on each side of the

page_text: back connecting piece D; a screw or screws being driven into these apertures
secure the frame at the position desired; or, the angle plate may be dispensed
with, and drilled metal plates may be fitted on the bottom of the piece D to
correspond with similar plates affixed to the under side of the frames or
bars; or the connection of the parts may be otherwise effected. In Figure 2
the bow or pommel is shewn composed of three parts, two side plates and a
connecting piece at top, the object being to allow of the bow being raised
and lowered as well as the side frames or bars upon the bow or pommel.
Apertures in the side plates correspond to others in the connecting piece, and
the parts are secured in the position desired by screws.
My improvements in saddles before described are applicable both to riding
and to harness saddles.
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,―
First, the constructing of saddle-trees in such manner as to allow of the
side frames being brought closer together or being separated to a greater
distance from each other, or being raised or lowered, whereby a saddle can.
be adjusted to fit a horse of any ordinary shape and condition, as herein-before
described.
Second, the forming of the side frames, or bars of saddles or saddle-trees,
of open work, lined or not, as may be required, in order that should a sore
occur under the frames, portions of the bars thereof, with the parts of the
linings or panels attached thereto, may be shifted or removed as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Drumgoole Brady, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
JOHN D. BRADY. (L.S.)