IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FISHING BAITS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Burt, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF ARTIFICIAL FISHING BAITS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Burt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th September 1881.
GEORGE BURT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FISHING BAITS."
This Invention consists in constructing artificial spinning or trolling baits with
books governed by springs so arranged that the hooks concealed within the body
of the bait are only protruded when the fish is struck. I form the hooks with
cranked heads, and arrange the springs to bear either on the cranks or upon the
under part of the bow of each hook, so that when the fish is struck the hooks are
thrown out and are returned within the bait when the fish is off or missed; and,
further, to prevent the bait catching in weeds I form and attach to the line a cover
which is of a shape and size to cover the nose of the bait.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Burt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th March
1882.
GEORGE BURT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FISHING BAITS."
This Invention consists in constructing artificial spinning or trolling baits with
hooks governed by springs so arranged that the hooks concealed within the body
of the bait are only protruded when the fish is struck. I form the hooks with
cranked heads, and arrango the springs to bear either on the cranks or upon the
under part of the bow of each book, so that when the fish is struck tho hooks are
thrown out, and are returned within the bait when the fish is off or missed; and,
further, to prevent the bait catching in weeds I form and attach to the line a
cover which is of a shape and size to cover the nose of the bait.
The Drawings annexed represent various modes of carrying out my Invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an artificial bait, in which a is the case-or
shell formed of thin-stamped-metal or other material; (b) is a wire passing through.
the nose of the bait, and to which tho line is-attached; (c) is a spring coiled round
the wire (b); (d) is a sliding plate secured to the wire (b), and working up and
down by slots (6) working on studs (f), fixed on the inside of the shell (a); g are
the hooks with loops (h) passing over the studs (f), and with cranked pieces (2)
at the head, which are held under loops (K) on the plate (d). The action is as
follows: When the fish is struck the line draws the plate up, the shell (a) by
this action throws out the hooks (g) through slots (1) in the sides of the shell, and
the fish is secured. When the pull is off the sliding plate (d) is by the action of
the spring (c) returned to its normal position, and the hooks are withdrawn
within the bait; Fig. 2 represents a modification of the form shewn in Fig. 1, the
difference being in the form of the cranked heads of the hooks and their connection
to the sliding plate. (a) is a bent wire shown in details, Figs. 6 and 7; this is
secured to the sliding plate, and is bent to pass over the studs (6), and again at (c)
to pass through second loops formed of the same wire as the hooks. This forin
of hook has two loops, one passing over the stud (b) and the second over the bent
In both
wire at (c), the action being the same as in the figure last described.
these forms the hooks are arranged on one side only of the sliding plate; they
may be made to work on both, but in Fig. 3 they are arranged to work from
both sides. (a) is a cranked and double looped hook, one loop passing over the
stud (b) and the other attached to a wire (c) connected to the wire, to which the
line is attached; this arrangement is repeated on both sides the sliding plate, so
that the books are when in action projected upon different planes; Fig. 4 shews
another modification, the difference being in the form of the crank of the hook
and in the spring, the latter being a curled spring (a) loosely round the hook at (b),
and acting as a pull back, being secured to the shell at (c), the stud (d) acting as a
fulcrum;
the pull is in this case direct from the line by the wire (c); Fig. 5
shews an outside view of the bait. Any number of hooks may be used in either of
the forms shewn, and two slides may be used instead of one if preferred.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the in which the
same is to be performed, I do not limit myself to the precise details herein
described, but that which
I claim is the several improvements in the manufacture of artificial fishing baits,
in which the hooks are so arranged and operated that they are projected only

page_text: when the fish is struck, and are returned when the fish is off or missed, substantially
as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Burt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty third day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
GEORGE BURT. (L.S.)