IMPROVE- MENTS IN MINERS' AND OTHER PICKS AND PICKAXES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Fisher, Thomas Twigger, and Edward Ross, all of
the Clifton Colliery, Limited, Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MINERS' AND OTHER PICKS AND PICKAXES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Fisher, Thomas
Twigger, and Edward Ross at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 20th August 1878.
HENRY FISHER, THOMAS TWIGGER, and EDWARD Ross, all of the Clifton
Colliery, Limited, Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MINERS AND OTHER PICKS
AND PICKAXES."
One form of picks as now used consists of an iron or steel blade pointed at both
ends, and having an eye or hole in the middle, into which is permanently fastened
a wooden handle, helve, or shaft. For the purpose of making one handle serve for any
number of blades, and to make the picks more portable than the form of picks
above described, blades and handles have been so formed as to be fastened to and
unfastened from each other at pleasure, thus making the blades interchangeable.
This Invention has for its object an improved and novel method of fastening the
handle and blade together, and unfastening them at pleasure. According to this
Invention, we secure to one end of the handle a casting of iron, steel, or other
suitable metal, consisting of a socket to fit on to the handle. An eye-piece of a
suitable design to fit into the eye of the blade, and having shoulders on which that
part of the blade round the eye rests, when the blade and handle are fitted
together. The eye piece has a slot in the the middle in the direction of the handle
to receive a key or wedge of iron, steel, or other suitable metal. The upper part of
the said slot has a cross piece, having a saw cut through it.
When the said key or wedge is first inserted into the slot of the eye-piece, a pin
is permanently fastened through the lower end of the key or wedge at right angles
to the cross piece of the upper part of the slot which is to prevent the key or wedge

page_text: from being entirely withdrawn from the slot, so that it may not be lost and cause
inconvenience.
The blade consists of a piece of steel, iron, or other metal pointed at both ends
with an eye or hole in the middle, of a suitable design, corresponding to the eye-
piece secured to the wooden handle.
To fasten the blade and handle together ready for use, the eye-piece of the handle
is inserted into the eye of the blade, and the key or wedge is then driven down-
wards in the slot of the eye-piece, causing the eye-piece to expand against the sides
of the eye of the blade, by which means the blade and handle are held firmly
together. When it is desired to to remove a blade from the handle, a drift is driven
into the slot of the eye-piece between the lower end of the key or wedge, and the
bottom of the slot which forces out the key or wedge sufficient to loosen the eye-
piece in the eye of the blade. The blade can then be removed from the handle, and
be replaced by another.
The advantages to be gained by this method of fastening the blades and handles
together over other methods in use arc,-
First. That the eye and eye-piece are so designed and constructed that they
retain all the strength due to the form of pick first above described, in which the
handle and blade are permanently fastened together.
Second. That there is no extra protuberance on the eye of the blade, or pro-
jections on the eye-piece, as are to be found in other methods in use, whereby the
utility of the pick is lessened.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Fisher, Thomas Twigger, and Edward Ross in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th February 1879.
HENRY FISHER, THOMAS TWIGGER, and EDWARD Ross, all of the Clifton
Colliery, Limited, Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MINERS AND OTHER PICKS
AND PICKAXES."
One form of picks as now used consists of an iron or steel blade pointed at both
ends, and having an eye or hole in the middle, into which is permanently fastened
a wooden handle, helve, or shaft. For the purpose of making one handle serve for
any number of blades, and to make the picks more portable than the form of pick
above described, blades and handles have been so formed as to be fastened to and
unfastened from each other at pleasure, thus making the blades interchangeable.
This Invention has for its object an improved and novel method of fastening the
handle and blade together, and unfastening them at pleasure. According to this
Invention, we secure to one end of the handle a casting of iron, steel, or other
suitable metal, consisting of a socket to fit on to the handle. An eye-piece of a
suitable design to fit into the eye of the blade, and having shoulders on which that
part of the blade round the eye rests, when the blade and handle are fitted.
together. The eye-piece has a slot in the middle in the direction of the handle to
receive a key or wedge of iron, steel, or other suitable metal. The upper part of
the said slot has a cross piece, having a saw cut through it.
When the said key or wedge is first inserted into the slot of the eye-piece, a pin
is permanently fastened through the lower end of the key or wedge at right angles
to the cross piece of the upper part of the slot which is to prevent the key or wedge
from being entirely withdrawn from the slot, so that it may not be lost and cause
inconvenience.
The blade is formed with an eye or hole of a suitable design, corresponding to the
eye-piece secured to the wooden handle.
To fasten the blade and handle together ready for use, the eye-piece of the handle
is inserted into the eye of the blade, and the key or wedge is then driven down-
wards in the slot of the eye-piece, causing the eye-piece to expand against the sides
of the eye of the blade, by which means the blade and handle are held firmly
together. When it is desired to remove a blade from the handle, a drift is driven
into the slot of the eye-piece between the lower end of the key or wedge, and the
bottom of the slot which forces out the key or wedge sufficient to loosen the eye-
piece in the eye of the blade. The blade can then be removed from the handle and
be replaced by another.
The advantages to be gained by this method of fastening the blades and handles
together over other methods in use are,―
First. That the eye and eye-piece are so designed and constructed that they
retain all the strength due to the form of pick first above described, in which the
handle and blade are permanently fastened together.
Second. That there is no extra protuberance on the eye of the blade or projections
on the eye-piece, as are to be found in other methods in use, whereby the utility of
the pick is lessened.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, we have shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed examples of picks and
pickaxes constructed in the manner above described.
Figures 1 to 6 shew various views of a miner's pick.
Figure 1 shews the handle fastened to the metallic socket or eye-piece.
Figure 2 shews the blade detached from the handle.
Figure 3 shews the under side of the blade shewn in Figure 2.
Figure 4 shews the upper side of the blade shewn in Figure 2.
Figure 5 shews the blade and handle fastened together ready for use.

page_text: Figure 6 shews the handle and section of the metallic socket and eye-piece, and
the eye of the blade.
A, in Figures 1, 5, and 6, shews the handle or shaft; B, in Figures 1, 5, and 6,
shews the metallic socket and eye-piece; C, in Figures 1 and 6 shews the slot in
the eye-piece; D, in Figures 1, 5, and 6, shews the cross piece of the slot; E, in
Figures 1 and 4 shews the eye-piece; F, in Figures 1, 5, and 6, shews the key or
wedge; G, in Figure 3, shews the eye of the blade; H, in Figures 3 and 6 shew the
sides of the eye of the blade; I, in Figures 1 and 5 shews the shoulders of the eye-
piece; O, in Figures 1, 5, and 6, shews the pin through the key F.
Other forms of blades adapted to be secured to handles in the manner above
described, are shewn at Figures 7 to 10.
The form of blade shewn at Figures 7 and 8 is one commonly used by miners
and others.
Figures 9 and 10 shew a form of pickaxe.
Other forms of picks and pickaxes may be made in a similar manner. Their
shapes, sizes, and weights being adapted to the different kinds of work required to
be performed.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner of performing
the same, we would have it understood that we claim as our improvements in
'miners' and other picks and pickaxes,―
.
First. The combination of the socket secured to the end of the handle, and
formed with a shoulder for the blade to rest against, and with a slotted or divided
eye-piece to enter an eye in the blade, together with a tapering key or wedge to be
driven into the slot or division in the eye-piece to fix it in the eye of the blade
substantially as herein-before described.
Second. The combination of the socket, divided eye-piece, and key or wedge
piece, with retaining pin and cross slot or opening in socket to allow of the key or
wedge being driven back, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Fisher, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
T
HENRY FISHER.
(L.S.)