IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHAPING SOAP OR OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS
Year: 1861

page_text: Sealed the 15th August 1861, and dated the 20th February 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
February 1861.
I, CHARLES SMITH, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Salesman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHAPING SOAP OR OTHER
SIMILAR MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
The block or bars of soap or other similar materials are held between two
end frames fixed upon a suitable bed-plate, and between fixed or moveable
supports at the sides. On the outside of the end frames there are two levers
joined together at centres of motion and also near the handles by cross bars,
which bars are provided with any required number of screwed pins or holders

page_text: with eccentric heads having holes in them, into which wires, knives, or strings
are held and adjusted to any required distance apart, according to the width
or thickness of the soap or other similar material to be cut or shaped, the
different widths being adjusted by turning the eccentric heads in connection
with moveable pins. The levers are either pressed downwards or upwards for
cutting or shaping; if the latter, the framework at the top is arranged to suit
the upward motion. The cutters can be placed so as to cut longitudinally as
well as transversely.
SPECIFICATION, in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
August 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
SMITH, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Salesman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Smith, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Smith,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Charles Smith, 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
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHAPING SOAP OR OTHER SIMILAR
MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Smith, 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 Charles Smith, do hereby declare.
the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: fórmed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
The blocks or bars of soap or other similar materials are held between two
end frames fixed upon a suitable bed plate, and between fixed or moveable
supports at the sides. On the outsides of the end frames there are two levers,
jointed together at their centres of motion and near their opposite ends by
cross bars, having connected to them a number of knives, wires, or strings at
any required distance apart, according to the different width or thickness of
the soap or other similar material to be cut or shaped, the different widths
being adjusted in any desired manner.
These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the figures
and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2
are side and end elevations, and Fig. 3 a plan, of my improved machinery or
apparatus for cutting or shaping soap or other similar materials.
The block of soap or other material is placed upon a false bottom of wood
or other suitable substance on the bed plate a, between the end frames 6 and
the standards or supports c. The two levers outside the end frames are shewn
at d; they are connected together by the cross bar e at the centre of motion,
and the cross bar f near the handle end of the levers. To the said cross
bars a number of knives g are attached by pins or screws to holders h, which
pass over the bars, and are held fast by screws, the knives being adjusted to
such widths apart as the block of soap or material is required to be cut; and
in order to allow the said block to be entered to its place the levers and knives
are lifted up or thrown back, and when the block is placed in position they are
then brought down with force, and thereby cut the block into as many pieces
as there are knives. If the levers are now raised, and the pieces turned at
right angles, when the knives are brought down the pieces will again be cut,
thus performing a large amount of work in a short time. Wires or strings
may be substituted for the knives when the nature of the material renders
their use advisable, and in any case the said knives, wires, or strings may
be adjusted and fastened in any suitable manner. The framework of the
machine, and also the parts connected with it, are made of a shape, size, and
strength to suit the material to be operated upon, and as many knives, wires,
or strings are employed as may be found necessary.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be
understood that I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my know-
ledge and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the employ-

page_text: ment of several knives, wires, or strings connected to levers, so as to cut or
shape blocks of soap or other materials into a large number of pieces as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Charles Smith, in the
presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
CHARLES SMITH. (L.8.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.