AN IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGE BOXES AND PERCUSSION CAP POUCHES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGE BOXES AND PERCUSSION CAP POUCHES."-A com-
munication from abroad by Robert Augustus Chesebrough, Merchant,
of New York City, United States of America.
Sealed the 23rd August 1864, and dated the 5th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
April 1864.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGE BOXES AND PERCUSSION CAP POUCHES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in providing a cartridge box or percussion cap
pouch with a rotating cylinder containing compartments or receptacles which
open in its periphery for the reception and delivery of the cartridges or caps,
and having in or on one side a series of holes or teeth corresponding with the
number of compartments or receptacles to enable it to be turned by a pawl
attached to a lever working upon a fulcrum pin on one side of the box or
pouch for the purpose of presenting the cartridges or caps one after another
opposite to a spout or opening in the bottom of the box or pouch, whence
they are dropped out one at a time as required for use.

page_text: This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1
is a front view of a cartridge box; Fig. 2 is an inside view of the same, with
the cover removed, and the rotating cylinder partly in section; Fig. 3 is a
section of the box at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2 directly through the centre;
Fig. 4 is a front view, partly in section, of a rotating cylinder, which being
placed in the box instead of the cylinder shown in Figs. 2 and 3, makes a cap
pouch; Fig. 5 is a side view of the cylinder shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sido
view, partly in section, of a modification of the cylinder shown in Figs. 4
and 5. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several
Figures.
A (Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) is the box of flat circular form, made of tin plate or
other metal having in front a cover B, connected by a hinge a at the top, and
having at the bottom a spout-formed opening b. To the centre of the interior
of the back d of this box there is firmly secured a tube c, which constitutes an
axle for the rotating cylinder C to turn upon. This box is intended to be
covered with leather, and furnished at the back with loops for the reception
of a waist belt, by which to attach it to the person in a convenient position
with its back d fitting snugly against the body, its proper position being near
the right hip. The cylinder C is of a size to fit snugly but easily within the
box A, when the cover B is closed. It is composed of a tube e of tin plate
or other sheet metal fitted loosely to the stationary tube c, two broad flat
annular pieces f. f, of similar metal attached to the ends of the said tube e,
and a number of radial partitions g, g, between the said pieces f, f, dividing
the space between them into a number of compartments h, h, each of a size
to contain a cartridge i. In the outer plate f of the said cylinder there are
provided at equal distances apart in a circle a number of holes j, j, corre-
sponding with the number of compartments h, h. D is the pawl lever for
turning the cylinder in the box to present the compartments h, h, one after
another opposite to the spout 6, to permit the cartridges to be dropped out
one at a time; this lever works on a fulcrum pin l, secured outside of the
box in the centre of the cover B. k is the pawl, of hooked form, attached to
the said lever for operating in the said holes as in the teeth of a ratchet to
turn the cylinder; the, hook of this pawl enters the box through a slot min
the cover B. n is a metal strap, attached to the outside of the cover for the
lever to work in to limit its movement to what is necessary to enable the
pawl to pass from one hole to another. The end of the hook of the pawl
is bevilled to allow it to slip out of the holes when the lever is moved upward,
the lever and pawl being sufficiently thin and elastic to allow the hook to pass
out of one hole and spring into the one above it. p is the spring stop pawl,

page_text: attached to the inside of the box, and operating against the partitions g, g, to
limit the movement of the cylinder and to stop it from being turned back by
the friction of the pawl k, while the lever is being moved upward.
To fill the box with cartridges the cover B is opened, and the cylinder C
taken out; a cartridge is then placed in every one of the compartments h of
the cylinder, the said cylinder replaced in the box, and secured therein by
closing the lid B, which may be kept closed by a spring catch or by its own
elasticity. To take out the cartridges, the lever D is first moved upward, and
afterward, while holding the fingers or the hollow of the right hand under the
spout b, the lever is pulled down with the thumb, and the cylinder thus
turned in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 far enough to bring one
of the compartments h opposite to the spout 6, through which the cartridge in
that compartment is caused to drop out into the hand.
To adapt this Invention to percussion cap pouches the pouch is constructed
in all respects like the cartridge box A, but need not generally be so large, and
the cylinder C is constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, with an additional
ring between the plates f, f, to reduce the depth of the compartments h, h,
and an annular partition 9 is provided midway between and parallel with the
plates f, f, to form two circular series of compartments h, h, side by side, each
large enough to contain one cap s. The transverse partitions g, g, which are
placed between the plates f. f, are midway between the said plate q and the
other plate f, so that the compartments h, h, of the two series alternate with
each other, as shown in Fig. 5, and the number of holes j, j, in the cylinder C
is equal to the whole number of compartments h, h, and so arranged that the
pawl k operating in one hole after another in regular succession will bring first
one of the compartments of one series, and next one of those of the other
series opposite to the spout b, which is long enough to embrace the two series
of compartments in a direction parallel with the axis of the cylinder, but of a
width in a circumferential direction only equal to one compartment. The
delivery of caps from the pouch is effected by a movement of the lever D,
substantially like that described with reference to the cartridge box.
it
Instead of the cylinder of the percussion cap pouch being constructed with
compartments, as represented in Figs. 4 and 5, and herein-before described,
may, when intended for flanged caps like those s, 5, represented, be constructed
with a perforated periphery u, as shown in Fig. 6, the perforations t, t, which
form receptacles for the caps, being arranged in two series, those of one series
alternating with those of the other like the compartments h, h, represented in
Figs. 4 and 5. These perforations are just large enough to receive the bodies
of the caps, which will be prevented from dropping through the said per-

page_text: forations by the flanges s¹, s', which will come against the periphery u. Instead
of the holes j, j, in the cylinder C of the cartridge box or percussion cap pouch
these may be provided upon the extreme face of the outer plate f, a series of
ratchet teeth upon which the pawl k will operate as in the holes j, j, but the
said holes are preferable as they avoid any projection from the face of the
cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Clark, 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
CARTRIDGE BOXES AND PERCUSSION CAP POUCHES," a communication to me from
abroad by Robert Augustus Chesebrough, Merchant, of New York City, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Clark, 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 William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists in providing in a cartridge box or percussion cap
pouch a rotating cylinder containing compartments or receptacles which open
in its periphery for the reception and delivery of the cartridges or caps, and
having in or on one side a series of holes or teeth corresponding with the
number of compartments or receptacles, to enable it to be turned by a pawl
attached to a lever working upon a fulcrum pin on one side of the box or
pouch for the purpose of presenting the cartridges or caps one after another
opposite to a spout or opening in the bottom of the box or pouch, whence
they are dropped out one at a time as required for use.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1
is a front view of a cartridge box; Fig. 2 is an inside view of the same, with
the cover removed, and the rotating cylinder partly in section; Fig. 3 is a
section of the box, at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2, directly through the
centre; Fig. 4 is a front view, partly in section, of a rotating cylinder, which
being placed in the box instead of the cylinder shown in Figs. 2 and 3, makes
a cap pouch; Fig. 5 is a side view of the cylinder shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a
side view, partly in section, of a modification of the cylinder shown in Figs. 4
and 5. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several
Figures.
A, Figs. (1, 2, and 3,) is the box, of flat circular form, made of tin plate or
other metal, baving in front a cover B, connected by a hinge a at the top, and
having at the bottom a spout-formed opening b. To the centre of the interior
of the back d of this box there is firmly secured a tube C, which constitutes an
axle for the rotating cylinder C to turn upon. The box is intended to be
covered with leather, and furnished at back with loops for the reception of
a waist belt, by which to attach it to the person in a convenient position with
its back & fitting snugly against the boly, its proper position being near the
right hip. The cylinder C is of a size to fit snugly, but easily, within the
box A when the cover B is closed. It is composed of a tube e of tin plate or
other sheet metal fitted loosely to the stationary tube c, two broad flat annular
pieces f, f, of similar metal attached to the ends of the said tube e, and a
number of radial partitions g, g, between the said pieces f, f, dividing the space
between them into a number of compartments h, h, each of a size to contain a
cartridge i. In the outer plate f of the said cylinder there are provided at
equal distances apart in a circle a number of holes j, j, corresponding with the
number of compartments h, h. D is the pawl lever for turning the cylinder
in the box to present the compartments h, h, one after another opposite to the

page_text: b
spout to permit the cartridges to be dropped out one at a time; this lever
works on a fulcrum pin l, secured outside of the box in the centre of the
cover B. is the pawl, of hooked form, attached to the said lever for
operating in the said holes as in the teeth of a ratchet to turn the cylinder;
the hook of this pawl enters the box through a slit m in the cover B. n is
a metal strap, attached to the outside of the cover for the lever to work in to
limit its movement to what is necessary to enable the pawl k to pass from one
hole to another. The end of the hook of the pawl is bevilled to allow it to
slip out of the holes when the lever is moved upward, the lever and pawl
being sufficiently thin and elastic to allow the hook to pass out of one hole
and spring into the one above it. p is a spring stop pawl, attached to the
inside of the box, and operating against the partitions g, g, to limit the move-
ment of the cylinder, and to stop it from being turned back by the friction of
the pawl k while the lever is being moved upwards.
To fill the box with cartridges the cover B is opened, and the cylinder C
taken out, a cartridge is then placed in every one of the compartments h of
the cylinder, and the said cylinder replaced in the box, and secured therein by
closing the lid B, which may be kept closed by a spring catch or by its own
elasticity. To take out the cartridges the lever D is first moved upward,
and afterwards, while holding the fingers on the hollow of the right hand under
the spout b, the lever is pulled down with the thumb, and the cylinder thus
turned in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 far enough to bring one
of the compartments hopposite to the spout b, through which the cartridge
in that compartment is caused to drop out into the hand.
To adapt the Invention to percussion cap pouches, the pouch is constructed
in all respects like the cartridge box A, but need not generally be so large,
and the cylinder C is constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, with an additional
ring between the plates f, f, to reduce the depth of the compartments h, h,
and an annular partition q is provided midway between and parallel with the
plates f, f, to form two circular series of compartments h, h, side by side, each
large enough to contain one cap s. The transverse partitions 9, 9, which are
placed between the plates f, f, are midway between the said plate q and the
other plate f, so that the compartments h, h, of the two series alternate with
each other, as shown in Fig. 5, and the number of holes j, j, in the
cylinder C is equal to the whole number of compartments h, h, and so
arranged that the pawl k operating in one hole after another in regular
succession will bring first one of the compartments of one series and next one
of those of the other series opposite to the spout b, which is long enough to
embrace the two series of compartments in a direction parallel with the axis

page_text: of the cylinder, but of a width in a circumferential direction only equal to ono
compartment. The delivery of caps from the pouch is effected by a move-
ment of the lever D, substantially like that described with reference to the
cartridge box.
Instead of the cylinder of the percussion cap pouch being constructed with
compartments as represented in Figs. 4 and 5, and herein-before described, it
may, when intended for flanged caps like those 8, 8, represented, be constructed
with a perforated periphery u, as shown in Fig. 6, the perforations t, t, which
form receptacles for the caps being arranged in two series, those of one series
alternating with those of the other like the compartments h, h, represented in
Figs. 4 and 5; these perforations are just large enough to receive the bodies
of the caps, which will be prevented from dropping through the said per-
forations by the flanges s', s', which will come against the periphery u.
Instead of the holes j, j, in the cylinder C of the cartridge box or percussion
cap pouch there may be provided upon the extreme face of the outer plate fa
series of ratchet teeth, upon which the pawl k will operate as in the holes j, j,
but the said holes are preferable, as they avoid any projections from the face
of the cylinder.
I
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the rotating
cylinder C made with compartments or receptacles h, h, or t, t, for cartridges
or percussion caps, which open into its periphery, applied within a cartridge
box or percussion cap pouch, and operated by a pawl lever D, or its equivalent,
substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord One
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)