IMPROVEMENTS IN CARVING AND OTHER TABLE FORKS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles John Sims, of Tavistock, Devon, Mine Owner,
.for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARVING AND OTHER TABLE FORKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles John Sims at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1878.
CHARLES JOHN SIMS, of Tavistock, Devon, Mine Owner.
CARVING AND OTHER TABLE FORKS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention has for object to provide a combined "steel" or knife sharpener
and carving or other fork.
In carrying the Invention into practice, according to one arrangement, the stem of
the fork, that is, the part between the prongs and the handle, is made shorter than
ordinarily, and the prongs longer, and the said prongs on both the prongs and stem
are roughened, or corrugated, or prepared as is an ordinary sharpening "steel."
According to another arrangement the "stem" is made longer and the prongs
shorter, and in this case the stem is roughened, corrugated, or "steeled," or both the
prongs and stem are so made.
According to a further modification the stem or part of the fork between the
handle and the prongs will be left plain as is an ordinary carving fork, and also the
outsides of the prongs, but the insides and the top and bottom surfaces of the prongs
will be roughened, "steeled," or corrugated; by these means the carver will be able
to pass the knife up and down between the prongs and so sharpen the knife, the
shoulder of the fork acting as a guard or stop for the hand; again, in some cases
the fork will be roughened, "steeled," or corrugated on the outside of the prongs
and on the stem in addition to the inside of the prongs, as herein-before stated, thus
providing an extra amount of the roughened or "steeled" surface.
According to another arrangement the lower portion of the prongs will be made
in shape similar to the letter "V," and tapering together and downwards to a fine
point, the lower or "V" end being roughened by longitudinal "steel" lines or cor-
rugations similar to those on a "butcher's steel," whereby the carver holding the
Price di

page_text: fork in one hand by the handle may pass the knife to and fro in the fork, the edge
of the knife being downwards or towards the "V," thus enabling persons who cannot
use an ordinary "steel" to sharpen the knife without dropping the fork.
"
According to another arrangement the inside of the prongs at the lower end of
the fork (or "V" end) is made with one or more projections, so that two or more
V" places are provided for sharpening the knife; the advantage of this is that
more sharpening space is provided, the surface being roughened by longitudinal
"steel" lines or corrugations; or the prongs of the fork, made as above stated, will
be "steeled or roughened diagonally, as is an ordinary hand-saw file, or instead
of the inside surfaces being roughened they will be made of hard steel, and left
plain.
"
In order to further facilitate the sharpening, and particularly for persons unable
to use an ordinary steel, the fork will be of the ordinary shape, but a little longer in
the stem or part between the prongs and the haft or handle, and somewhere on the
upper part of the stem will be mounted small circular plates, so that the line of their
peripheries will meet. These plates will be provided, or not, with roughened edges,
and the knife may be readily sharpened by the edge being drawn to and fro between
the edges of the plates.. These said plates are mounted so as to revolve and to take
out of the socket or holder, so that as the roughened surfaces wear off fresh plates
can be put in.
By another arrangement the stem of the fork is made with an oblong hole or
recess therein, and in this hole or recess the small plates will be mounted, similarly
to the last-described arrangement.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles John Sims in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
October 1878.
CHARLES JOHN SIMS, of Tavistock, Devon, Mine Owner.
CARVING AND OTHER TABLE FORKS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention has for object to provide a combined "steel" or knife sharpener
and carving fork.
•
In carrying the Invention into practice, according to one arrangement the stem
of the fork (ie., the part between the prongs and the handle), is made shorter than
ordinarily, and the prongs longer, and the said prongs, or both the prongs and the
stem are roughened, corrugated, or prepared with diagonal or crosswise "steel"
lines similar to a crosscut or saw file.
According to another arrangement the "stern" is made longer and the prongs
shorter, and in this case the stem roughened, corrugated, or "steeled," or both the
prongs and "stem" are so made.
In order that the precise nature of my said Invention may be fully ascertained
and well understood, I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, wherein,―
Figs. 1 and 1 are side and frout views respectively of fork, showing lengthened
stem and shortened prongs, the said stem being corrugated or steeled " similarly
to a "butcher's steel."
و"
Fig. 2 represents a fork made according to this Invention with a short stem and
long prongs, and showing the corrugated " steel or sharpening surface on the outer
sides only of the elongated prongs, the said corrugations being shown in a crosswise
direction. It will be obvious that the inner edges, and the upper and under sides
of the prongs may be roughened, "steeled," or corrugated if desired.
Fig. 3 represents a similar fork to that shown in Fig 2, with "steeling" or
roughing cut diagonally on the outer side of the lengthened prongs.
The "steeling," as described and shown, may be applied to the outside of the
prongs of ordinary steel table forks.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, I claim,--
First. The " Improvements in Carving and other Table Forks" for the purpose
of producing a combined "steel" or kuife sharpener and carving fork, substantially
as herein specified, and shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the Drawings.
"
Secondly. The special construction of fork with the lengthened stem " and
shortened prongs, with the "steeling" or roughing on the stem thereof, as shown
in Fig. 1 of the Drawings, and as described.
Thirdly. The improved fork with shortened stem and lengthened prongs, said
prongs being "steeled" or roughened in a crosswise direction, as and for the purpose
described, and as shown in Fig. 2 of the Drawings.
"
And, Fourthly. The improved fork with shortened "stem and lengthened
prongs, with diagonally-cut "steeling" on the outside of the prongs, as and for
the purpose set forth, and as shown in Fig. 3 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles John Sims, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.