NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF SHAPING AND ORNAMENTING METALS AND ALLOYS OF METAL
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Walter Crees, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Designer and Embosser, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED
MEANS OF SHAPING AND ORNAMENTING METALS AND ALLOYS OF METAL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Walter Crees at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st March 1878.
THOMAS WALTER CREES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Designer
and Embosser. "NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF SHAPING AND ORNAMENTING METALS
AND ALLOYS OF METAL"
.
This Invention relates to improved means of shaping and ornamenting metals,
such as gold, silver, German silver, brass, copper, Britannia metal, or other metals
or alloys thereof, the same being especially applicable for use in the manufacture or
shaping and ornamenting of tea and coffee urns and pots, sugar basins, cream, water;
claret, and other jugs, whip, walking-stick, and umbrella mounts and collars, the
shells of balance weights and other ornaments of chandeliers, knobs for metal bed-
steads, and articles of jewellery, such as eardrops and lockets, and any other articles
of utility or ornament which are manufactured or formed of thin sheet metal, and to
which it is desirable to give a variety of shapes or forms, and of patterns of surface
ornamentation.
According to my Invention I give the desired outline or shape to the article, and
also form it with any desired device, pattern, or ornamental surface by one operation
as follows:-I form a mould of two or more parts accurately mitred or fitted
together, and its interior I make of the shape desired to be given to the article to
be operated upon; and I also ornament it with the pattern or device which it is
desired to transfer to the article. Such a form of mould I mount in a screw or
other suitable kind of press, or other suitable mechanical contrivance by which a
steady pressure can be given, and I insert the metal blank intended to form the
article into the mould, but before thus inserting the blank I fill or charge it with
water or any suitable pliable composition, which when the blank is placed in the

page_text: mould I seal by a leather or thin metal washer with a flange turned downwards,
and which forms a water-tight bearing for a plunger attached to the screw or other
power employed to give the pressure; and by these means, as the screw or other
mechanical contrivance is actuated, the water or pliable composition being sealed by
the said leather or metal washer, and thus prevented from escaping, is compressed
or displaced, and forces the thin metal of the blank to take the formation of the
mould around it, and also to have impressed upon or indented into its outer
surface the pattern, device, or ornament which was made upon the mould's interior
surface.
The advantages of this method of pressing such and other similar articles as
above referred to will be at once apparent to those acquainted with the present
systems of forming or shaping and ornamenting such articles, the most material
advantages being the increased rapidity of production and the economizing of the
cost of manufacture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Walter Crees in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
September 1878.
THOMAS WALTER CREES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Designer
and Embosser. "NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF SHAPING AND ORNAMENTING METALS
AND ALLOYS OF METAL."
This Invention relates to an improved method of and means for shaping and
ornamenting metals, such as gold, silver, German silver, brass, copper, Britannia
metal, or other metals or alloys thereof, the same being especially applicable for use
in the manufacture or shaping and ornamenting of tea and coffee urns and pots,
sugar basins, cream, water, claret, and other jugs, whip, walking-stick, and umbrella
mounts and collars, the shells of balance weights and other ornaments of chandeliers,
knobs for metal bedsteads, and articles of jewellery, such as eardrops and lockets,
and other articles of utility or ornament which are manufactured or formed of thin
sheet metal, and to which it is desirable to impart a variety of shapes or forms, and
either plain or various ornamental patterns of surface ornamentation, either depressed
or in relief.
According to my Invention I give the desired outline or shape to any article, and
also form the same with any desired device, pattern, or ornamental surface by one
operation as follows:-I form a mould of two or more parts accurately mitred or
fitted together, and its interior I make of the shape desired to be given to the article
to be operated upon. I also produce on it the pattern or device which it is desired
to transfer to the article being manufactured. I mount this mould in a screw or
other press, or other suitable mechanical contrivance by which a steady pressure
can be imparted or communicated thereto, and I insert the metal blank intended to
form the article into the mould, but before thus inserting the blank I fill or charge

page_text: it with water or other liquid, or any suitable pliable substance or composition,
which when the blank is placed in the mould I seal by a washer of leather, thin
metal, or other suitable material, with a flange turned downwards, and which forms
a water-tight bearing for a plunger attached to the screw or other power employed
to produce the pressure; and by these means, as the screw or other mechanical
contrivance is actuated, the liquid, or pliable substance, or composition being sealed
by the said leather or metal washer, and thus kept from escaping, is compressed or
displaced, and forces the thin metal of the blank to take the formation or configu-
ration of the mould around it, and simultaneously to have impressed upon or
depressed into its outer surface the pattern, device, or ornament which was made
upon the mould's interior surface.
The advantages of this method of operation will be at once apparent to those
acquainted with existing systems or methods of forming or shaping and ornamenting
such articles, the main advantage of my improved method being the increased
rapidity of production, which economises the cost of production.
On the annexed Sheet of Drawings is represented an ordinary press capable of
operating as required for the purposes of my Invention.
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views, and Figures 3 and 4 are longitudinal
sectional views.
a represents a circular block mounted in a frame A. In Figure 1, one end of the
said block is shewn as having entered the upright piece b; c is a lever or cramp which
arrests the sudden fall of the block, as shewn in Figure 2, when opened to allow the
insertion of the moulds or the introduction into the moulds of the metal to be
operated upon to form an article. When the said block is closed sliding motion is
imparted to it by means of a screw d, the end of which presses against the block
until it is flush with the face of the upright piece b.
In Figure 2 the block, which is formed of two halves or pieces, is shewn open,
with the parts or pieces of metal or other suitable material which constitute the
moulde for the reception of the metal to be operated upon to form an article; this
mould may be fitted in any convenient manner, and so that it can be readily
removed and replaced. The metal is fed into the mould at the mouth e² when the
block a is closed, and when opened for the removal of the article which has been
subjected to the operation one part of the said block lies in the cramp c, as
shewn.
The sectional view, Figure 3, shews the position of the article to be operated
upon in the mould at f. Connected with the screw g is a plunger g¹ above the
opening in the block and mould. When the screw is actuated by downward
pressure the end of the plunger enters the metal blank f, and advances gradually
until the shape and ornamentation of the article are perfect or complete. The com-
pletion of this operation may be easily ascertained by the operator.
In Figure 4 the plunger g¹ has partly entered the article in process of shaping
and ornamenting, the diameter of which article is equal to that of the mould from
which it receives its shape and ornamentation. is the washer for preventing the
escape of the liquid.
The plunger is withdrawn from the newly formed article by means of the vertical
screw, and the block is withdrawn by means of the longitudinal screw. The block
is opened, one part falling into the lever or cramp to permit the release of the
article which has been shaped and ornamented, and then another piece is placed in
the mould to be similarly shaped and ornamented.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,―
First. The improved method of shaping and ornamenting or finishing the above-
named and similar articles in moulds by subjecting such articles in the moulds to
pressure by the aid of a liquid, pliable or yielding substance, substantially as above
set forth.

page_text: And, Secondly. The combination of the block a, mould e, upright b, horizontal
screw d, vertical screw g, and the plunger g¹ fitted in any suitable press, and
operating substantially as set forth, and for the purpose herein-before specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Walter Crees, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.