IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MECHANICAL HORSES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Birkbeck, of the Firm of Tongue &
Birkbeck, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agents & Engineers, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MECHANICAL HORSES." - A com-
munication from abroad by Mr. de Hamel, Equerry to His Majesty
the King of Wurtemberg, of Stuttgard, in the Kingdom of Wur-
temberg.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Birkbeck,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd July 1862.
I, GEORGE HENRY BIRKBECK, of the Firm of Tongue & Birkbeck, of
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agents & Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MECHANICAL' HORSES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object the combination of various parts into a
mechanical horse, which serves to enable equestrians to acquire a secure and
solid seat, which at the same time is supple and elegant, together with a firm
hand. The mechanical horse, which represents as faithfully as possible the
outline and form of a full-sized race horse, can be made up of different

page_text: materials such as caoutchouc, gutta percha, leather, or papier máché. His
chest may possess the flexibility of that of a horse, and his movements may
have the suppleness of one accommodating itself to all the exercises of horse-
manship. The horse is mounted on a support, to which any desired inclination
can be given by the assistance of a simple fly wheel, upon which are painted
nunibers corresponding to the inclination required to be given thereto. The
different parts of which the mechanical horse is composed, are indicated upon
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal elevation of the support upon which the
horse is mounted; Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 3 shows a transverse section;
and Figure 4 shows the governing mechanism of the different parts of the
support in the Figures. A shows the support of the horse, which is suspended
upon an. axis, which rests on two bearings o; it can oscillate freely between
the two stays B of the frame. At the upper part of the support is placed an
octagonal plate g, upon which the body of the horse rests, and which serves as
a central point for it to turn upon. At the upper part of the pendulous rod
there is a moveable crown piece h, which prevents the horse disengaging
himself, when he simulates the action of falling down under the rider. The
pullies and 6 are attached to the lower parts by the straps p in such a
manner, that they are always kept stretched by means of the ratchet wheels i.
The small pullies r¹, 61, which are placed outside the frame B are placed in
communication by means of a large pulley C, which is put in motion by the
fly wheel E. The pendulous rod can in this manner move itself to such an
extent, that the horse lays down upon the ground. The centre of the spindle
of the fly wheel D is fixed in the support q which carries a numbered circle,
which serves to guide the person who works the mechanism, and which shows
the degree of inclination of the horse, which inclination is given to him by
word; of command. The even numbers are marked with distinguishing colours,
by preference white upon black, while the other numbers are marked black
upon white. The letters S shew that at the word of command the wheel
must be placed in unison with the letter S. The counterweight K is
composed of several pieces which can be removed, and which can be.
augmented in number, according to the weight of the rider who mounts the
horse. The four supports m are suspended to the frame B, and between each
two supports is placed a roller, which maintains the straps stretched when the
horse is very much inclined, so that the return movement may take place
instantaneously. The body of the mechanical horse shown in detail at

page_text: Figure 5, can be made in different materials, such as caoutchouc, gutta
percha, leather, papier mâché, or other suitable materials.
In the interior of the horse there are three cross pieces of wood, A, B, and C,
which serve to maintain the body, and are fastened together by screws. At
the upper part of the cross piece B there is a cylinder D (Figure 6), and the
pieces which form the vertibræ of the neck, to which is fixed an elastic pipe,
retained from within from the front of the horse. Under the cylinder D
there is a strap which is fixed to a small plate A (Figure 7). The lower
mechanism and the moving power is put in communication with the horse-by
the circular hole d, miade in the plate or frame A. In the other square holes
straps are passed. On each side of the central hole there is a check, and in
the tail there is a spiral E, with articulations seen at Figure 8. Under the
mane two pipes, are arranged, which pass under the withers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Henry Birkbeck in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HENRY BIRKBECK, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, of 34, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents and
Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our. Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Henry Birkbeck, Her special licence that I, the said George Henry
Birkbeck, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said George Henry Birkbeck, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION. OF MECHANICAL HORSES," a communication
to me from abroad' by Colonel de Hamel, Equerry to His Majesty the King
of Wurtemberg, of Stuttgard, in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Henry Birkbeck, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or

page_text: 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 George Henry Birkbeck, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object the combination of various parts into a
mechanical horse, which serves to enable equestrians to acquire a secure and
solid seat which at the same time is supple and elegant, together with a firm
hand. The mechanical horse, which represents as faithfully as possible the
outline and form of a full-sized race horse, can be made up of different materials
such as caoutchouc, gutta percha, leather, or papier mâché. His chest may
possess the flexibility of that of a horse, and his movements may have the
suppleness of one accommodating itself to all the exercises of horsemanship.
The horse is mounted on a support to which any desired inclination can be
given by the assistance of a simple wheel, upon which are painted numbers
corresponding to the inclination required to be given thereto. The different
parts of which the mechanical horse is composed are indicated upon the

page_text: can in this manner move to such an extent that the horse lays down upon the
ground. The centre of the spindle D of the wheel E is fixed in the support q,
which carries a numbered circle, which serves to guide the person who works
the mechanism and which shews the degree of inclination of the horse, which
inclination is given to him by word of command. The even numbers are
marked with distinguishing colors, by preference white upon black, while the
other numbers are marked black upon white. The letters S shew that at the
word of command the wheel must be placed in unison with the letter S. The
supplementary cords E' attached to the stays B, and which pass through the
eyes of the guide rollers G, are used to prevent one of the straps being over
strained when the other extremity is stretched, the respective roller then acting
by its proper weight upon the longest part of the aforesaid strap or belt. The
plates of lead C serve as counterweights, and the plates G are bolted upon the
flat bars I. The body of the mechanical horse shewn in detail at Figure 5,
can be made in different materials such as caoutchouc, gutta percha, leather,
papier mâche, or other suitable material. In the interior of the horse there
are three cross pieces of wood A, B, and C, which serve to maintain the body
and are fastened together by screws. At the upper part of the cross piece B,
there is a cylinder D, Figure 6, and the pieces which form the vertebræ of the
neck, to which is fixed an elastic pipe retained from within from the front of
the horse. Under the cylinder D there is a strap, which is fixed to a small
plate A (Figure 7). The lower mechanism and the moving power is put in
communication with the horse by the circular hole a, made in the plate or
frame A. In the other square holes straps are passed. On each side of the
central hole there is a cheek, and in the tail there is a spiral E with articu-
lations seen at Figure 8. Under the mane two pipes are arranged which pass
under the withers z.
In witness whereof I, the said George Henry Birkbeck, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this second day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
G. H. BIRKBECK. (L.B.)-