IMPROVED MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING OUT GROUND
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick William Byrne, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of" IMPROVED MODES OF AND
APPARATUS FOR MARKING OUT GROUND."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick William Byrne at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1876.
FREDERICK WILLIAM BYRNE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. " IMPROVED MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING OUT GROUND."
This Invention consists,―
1st. In a machine for marking out tennis courts on lawns. In this a rough
disc of stone or other suitable material revolves on or with an axle in
bearings, or on a fixed axle in the frame of the machine. From points close to
the bearings the handle or handles or shafts rise at an angle of, say, 30 to 60
degrees. Between the person or animal pushing or propelling the machine and the
stone disc, and as near the junction of the frame of the machine and handle as con-
venient, I place wheels or rollers, so that by depressing the bandles the whole
weight is brought to bear on the rollers, and the disc is lifted clear of the ground.
Attached to the handle or handles above the disc is a water tank with tap for
moistening disc. In a trough or slide bearing against the disc I place a lump of
pipe clay or other marking material or pigment, and a sliding piece, which by the
aid of a spring or springs forces the pipe clay against the disc, and thus as the disc
revolves supplies it with pigment, which in turn is transferred to the ground, and
thus makes the mark.
2nd. In marking on hard or rough surfaces brushes are used instead of stone
discs.
Among the uses to which this Invention could be applied would be marking out
the ground in other out-door games besides lawn tennis, such as prisoners' base, the
creases on cricket grounds, temporarily marking streets and open places when sur-
veying, or the course in steeple chases and athletic sports, also by gardners in
marking out flower beds.

page_text: :
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the Conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by
the said Frederick William Byrne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
February 1877.
FREDERICK WILLIAM BYRNE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVED MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING OUT GROUND."
This Invention consists,―
1st. In a machine for marking out tennis courts on lawns, shown in side and
corresponding front elevation at Figures 1 and 2 respectively. In this a rough
disc A of stone or other suitable material, preferably cast iron, revolves with an
axle B in bearings or on a fixed axle in the frame C of the machine. From points
close to the bearings the handle D or handles or shafts rise at an angle of, say, 30
to 60 degrees, preferably about 45. Between the person or animal pushing or pro-
pelling the machine and the disc, and as near the junction of the frame of the
machine and handle as convenient, I place wheels or rollers E, so that by depressing
the handles the whole weight is brought to bear on the rollers, and the disc is
lifted clear off the ground. Attached to the handle or handles above the disc is a
water tank F, with tap for moistening disc. In a trough or slide bearing against
the disc A. I place a lump of prepared chalk, pipe-clay, or other marking material or
pigment, and a sliding piece H, which by the aid of a spring or springs I (usually
india-rubber bands), shown in Drawings, or by its own weight, with or without an
additional weight, forces the pipe clay against the disc, and thus as the disc revolves
supplies it with pigment, which in turn is transferred to the ground, and thus
makes the mark.
In marking on hard or rough surfaces brushes are used instead of stone discs.
Among the uses to which this Invention could be applied would be marking out
the ground in other out-door gaines besides lawn tennis, such as prisoners' base, the
creases on cricket grounds, temporarily marking streets and open places when sur-
veying, or the course in steeple chases and athletic sports, also by gardeners in
marking out flower beds.
My, reasons for keeping the pigment pressing against the wheel and the water
entirely distinct therefrom are these:-A. I find that if a mixture of the two were
made and put into the can it almost immediately clogged up the tap. To prevent
this required incessant attention, even when the tap was arranged perpendicularly,
as shown in Drawing, an arrangement of parts, I believe, to be new for this special
purpose.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of car-
rying it out, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the use of a wheel or
brush for marking the ground, or yet the use of pipe-clay for that purpose, for these
· are old, nor yet any individual part taken separately by itself, or when used for
other purposes, but what I do claim as my Invention and desire to protect under
tho herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is the general arrangement of parts
substantially as described & shown, and more especially,-
1st. In a machine for marking out ground placing marking wheel or brush in
direct contact with the pigment or coloring matter employed, so that the wheel or
brush as it revolves can by rubbing against the coloring matter automatically supply
itself with color.
2nd. In a machine for marking out ground arranging the coloring matter so that
it shall press against the wheel.
3rd. In a machine for marking out ground the use of pipe clay or other pigment
in the solid or pulverulent form and of water in separate receptacles, instead of
using a liquid or semi-liquid mixture of the two previously prepared and distributed
from a single tank or cistern, as at present in vogue.
4th. Arranging a machine for marking out ground substantially as described, so
that by depressing the handle or handles the marking wheel or brush can be lifted

page_text: off the ground, and yet all the weight be on the marking wheel while marking with
the bearing wheels off the ground.
In witness thereof, I, the said Frederick William Byrne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord 1877.
Witness,
EDWARD G. COLTON,
Clerk to W. P. Thompson,
Patent Agent,
6, Lord St.,
L'pool.
. W. DINE.
(L.S.)