IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CUTTING BOARDS, TABLES, AND MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR STAMPING OUT LEATHER IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS & SHOES, &c
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Horatio Hodges, of the City & County of
Bristol, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
CUTTING BOARDS, TABLES, AND MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR STAMPING OUT
LEATHER IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS & SHOES, &c."
Sealed the 11th November 1879, and dated the 4th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Horatio Hodges at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th June 1879.
“IMPROVEMENTS
SAMUEL HORATIO HODGES, of the City & County of Bristol.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CUTTING BOARDS, TABLES, AND MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
OR STAMPING OUT LEATHER IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS & SHOES, &c."
The object of said Invention is to produce such a table and board, and machinery
for cutting or stamping out leather, as, with the material upon it, shall be readily
and easily under the command of the workman either operating a press for stamping
out leather with cutting dies, or for the older method of following a pattern with
a knife held in the hand.
The Drawings herewith represent my Invention as attatched to a press for cutting
or stamping out leather as foresaid.
The table has a strong central column and four outer supports, to which is
attatched a top, all which are to be of sufficient strength to resist the pressure
brought to bear upon it when in operation. In the legs or supports of this table I
insert balls and sockets resting upon spiral or other springs; the periphries of the
balls when the board is not under pressure to protrude themselves above the surface
of the table top, through which holes are to be made sufficiently large to allow of this
protrusion, but small enough to prevent the balls from being pressed too far up by
the springs. Upon these balls will rest a flat circular cutting board of such
substance and diameter as may be found most convenient; the said board will have
attatched to its center or other pivotal point a shaft, which shaft shall rest in a
bearing bored through the table top, and into the central column.
A skin of leather or other material spread upon a table and board so constructed
and attatched to a press as shown in Drawings hereto attatched may be entirely cut
to the patterns required, without once moving said skin or material, the board being
turned upon its pivot, until the particular part required to be cut is brought under
the head of the press.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Horatio Hodges in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd December 1879.
"IMPROVEMENTS
SAMUEL HORATIO HODGES, of the City and County of Bristol.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CUTTING BOARDS, TABLES, AND MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
OR STAMPING OUT LEATHER IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS & SHOES, &c."
My said Invention consists in improvements in the construction of cutting boards,
tables, and machinery for cutting or stamping out leather or other material in the
manufacture of boots and shoes, &c.
The object of my said Invention is to produce such a table and board or other
material suitable for cutting purposes, as with the material upon it shall be readily
and easily under the command of the workman operating a press for stamping out
leather with cutting dies, or for the older method of following a pattern with a
knife held in the hand.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure I. is a side view of the table, board, and
press; A is the cutting board revolving on its pivotal shaft B, resting upon balls
and springs as seen in Figure IV.; C is the press head which is elevated and pressod
by means of eccentric at D, which in its turn is moved by pinion at E, or shaft F
turned by a driving pulley G or handle H.
The table has a strong central column K and outer supports L, to which is
attached a bed A', all of which are to be of sufficient strength to resist the pressure
likely to be brought to bear upon it when in operation. In the legs L of this table I
insert balls and socket resting upon spiral or other springs, the periphries of the balls
when the board is not under pressure to protrude themselves themselves above the sur-
face of the table-top or bed A', through which holes are to be made sufficiently large
to allow of this protrusion, but small enough to prevent the balls from being pressed
too far up by the springs. Upon these balls will rest a flat circular board or other
suitable material of such substance and diameter as may be found most convenient
in practice. The said board will have attached to its centre or other pivotal point
a shaft which shall rest in a bearing bored through the table bed into the central
column.
The springs upon which the balls will rest will be sufficiently strong to carry the
board from the table bed A, so that it may revolve with ease, but will, when the
pressure is upon the board, yield to its pressure.
More definitely it may be said the objects of this revolving the board upon its
pivotal point are,-
First. That the leather upon said board may be readily brought under the
inspection of the operator without the necessity of removing the skin. The board
and the material together being revolved until the particular part requiring
inspection is brought to such a position as admits of examination.
Second. This inspection being accomplished, and the cutting die placed upon the
leather, the board and leather and die so adjusted may be easily revolved until
brought under the head of the head of the press which is in motion, for the purpose
of stamping out the pieces to required pattern.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent, I claim,-
First. A board or other material suitable for cutting purposes, revolving on its
pivot for purposes of feeding adjustment or examination prior to cutting.
Second. A cutting board or other suitable material elevated from its support by
spring or springs, for the purpose of avoiding function while in motion.

page_text: Third. The combination of cutting board or other suitable material revolving on
a pivot for purposes of feeding, or adjustment, or examination prior to cutting, and a
press for stamping out leather or other material as aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
SAMUEL HORATIO HODGES. (L.S.)