IMPROVE- MENTS IN SHOVELS OR SCOOPS FOR LIFTING, CASTING,' AND TURNING, OR SPREADING GRAIN AND MALT
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Finlayson, of Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SHOVELS OR SCOOPS FOR LIFTING, CASTING,' AND TURNING, OR
SPREADING GRAIN AND MALT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Finlayson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th March 1874.
I, DANIEL FINLAYSON, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOVELS OR SCOOPS FOR LIFTING, 'CASTING,' AND Turning, or
SPREADING GRAIN AND MALT," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of
shovels or scoops employed in lifting, "casting," and turning, or spreading
grain and malt, consists in forming the blade of the shovel or scoop
separate from the head by which it is attached to the shank or handle,

page_text: in lieu of cutting or shaping the blade and head from one block or piece
of wood as hitherto practised.
The head which is preferably made of hard wood is bent to the
required shape, and is recessed at the under side, so as to allow the
blade to be fixed flush with the under surface thereof. The blade which
is also preferably composed of hard wood and which may be of a size
corresponding to the purpose for which it is to be employed, is secured
in position at the under side of the head by screws or bolts passed
through the head and blade, and also through a strap of metal situate
underneath the blade, and which is bent or curved to correspond with the
bend or curve of the head. By this means of securing the blade to the
head it is caused to assume a bend or curve corresponding to that of the
head and of the metal strap, which latter also protects the blade from
the warping or "casting," incidental to the blades of grain and malt
shovels or scoops as hitherto constructed. It is preferred to dovetail the
edges of the blade and of the recess in the head in contact with cach
other.
By constructing malt and grain shovels or scoops, as herein-before
described, the blade when it becomes worn or damaged can be with
facility removed from the head and a new blade substituted therefor, by
which means the cost of such shovels or scoops is reduced both as
regards the manufacture and employment thereof.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Daniel Finlayson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
FINLAYSON, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, send greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year 30
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
37th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Daniel Finlayson, Her special
license that I, the said Daniel Finlayson, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Daniel Finlayson, my
executors, administrators, or 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 "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN SHOVELS OR SCOOPS FOR LIFTING, 'CASTING,' AND TURNING, OR
SPREADING GRAIN AND MALT," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Daniel Finlayson, by an instrument in writing under my
hand or seal, 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 Daniel Finlayson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
-
My said Invention which relates to improvements in the construction
of shovels or scoops employed in lifting, casting, and turning, or
spreading grain and malt, consists in forming the blade of the shovel
or scoop separate from the head by which it is attached to the shank or
handle, in lieu of cutting or shaping the blade and head from one block
or piece of wood, as hitherto practised.
The head which is preferably made of hard wood is bent to the
required shape and is recessed at the under side, so as to allow the blade
to be fixed flush with the under surface thereof. The blade which is
also preferably composed of hard wood, and which may be of various
sizes, according to the purpose for which it is to be employed, is secured
in position at the under side of the head by screws or bolts passed
through the head and blade, and also through a strap of metal situate
underneath the blade, and which is bent or curved to correspond with
the bend or curve of the head.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I.
now. proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner

page_text: in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
Figure 1, on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, represents a side
view of my improved shovel or scoop, and Figures 2 and 3 are respec-
tively a plan and an end view of the same.
The blade A which is bent to any desired degree of curvature abuts
on a dovetail check cut on the under side of the head B, which is also
curved correspondingly with the blade, and whose upper part is so
extended as to overlap the blade A, which is secured to the overlapping
portion by bolts b, b. These bolts pass first through a metal strap c
placed at the under side of the blade A, and bent or curved correspond-
ingly therewith, and by this means the warping or "casting," common
in such shovels or scoops as hitherto made, is obviated. When it is
desired to change the blade by reason of its having become worn, broken,
or otherwise rendered useless, it is not necessary also to change or
discard the head B as obtains with the system hitherto adopted under
which the head and blade are formed of one piece of wood; for to effect
the fitting of a new blade it is only necessary to remove the bolts b, b,
and replace them with the new blade. The head may thus be made
to serve for many blades.
At Figure 3 is shewn a side view of a modification of my Invention
in which the head B lies wholly underneath the blade A, and is fastened
thereto by bolts, substantially as herein-before described with reference
to Figures 1, 2, and 3, with the addition that the foremost of the bolts
d, d, which secure the head to the handle D is passed also through the
metal strap c and the blade A, as shewn. A smooth upper surface
throughout is thus presented to the grain or malt being lifted, turned, or
spread.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which
the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and.
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
: First. The arrangements or constructions of shovels or scoops (for
lifting, "casting," and turning or spreading grain and malt), shewn

page_text: on the appended Sheet of. Drawings, or any mere modification thereof,
wherein the blade A and head B are made separate from each other
and held together by screws or bolts, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second The employment of the metal strap c to prevent warping or
casting of the blade, substantially as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Finlayson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.