IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTATION OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE MANUFACTURE, AND IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hulse, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Whitesmith, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTATION OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER
ARTICLES OF LIKE MANUFACTURE, AND IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 11th April 1860, and dated the 14th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hulse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th December 1859.
I, WILLIAM HULSE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, White-
smith, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTATION OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER
ARTICLES OF LIKE MANUFACTURE, AND IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED
THEREIN," to be as follows:-
My improvements in the manufacture of metallic bedsteads and other
articles of like manufacture consist of the following method of manufacturing
the corner blocks and dovetail junctions which are ordinarily employed for
connecting the vertical pillars and horizontal rails of the said articles. The

page_text: stock in which the corner block is cast consists of a die having two vertical
sides, and perforated with a hole for the pillar on which the block is to be
cast. The said die has also two slots or depressions, in which the pattern
dovetails are inserted on which the block is cast. The die, after the insertion
of the pillar and the pattern dovetails, is covered with two blocks, joining
diagonally the said blocks with the vertical sides of the die forming the mould
in which the corner block is cast. The get is formed in the blocks forming
the cover of the mould. By this method of manufacture the get and the seam
at the junction of the mould are on the under side of the said corner block.
In casting the dovetail on the angle iron I use a stock, the surface of which is
inclined. Slots are made in the side of the stock for the angle iron to pass
through. The stock is covered by a plate containing the get. The said plate
is fastened down by a bow or strap jointed to the stock. When the bow has
been raised over the stock a wedge is inserted between it and the covering
plate, whereby the said covering plate is held in its place during the casting of
the dovetail.
My improvement in the ornamentation of metallic bedsteads and other
articles of like manufacture consists in ornamenting the pillars of the same by
means of a machine constructed and made to act upon the pillar in the
following manner:-The machine consists essentially of a roller or cylinder on
the surface of which lines or depressions are made in planes at right angles to
the axis of the roller. The raised portions between the said depressions are
sharp on their edges. The tube or pillar to be operated upon is placed under
the roller and at right angles thereto. As the roller is made to pass over and
press upon the pillar, it makes a series of lines on that part of the pillar on
which it acts. By rolling the pillar underneath the roller the said roller may
be made to act on all sides of the pillar in succession. Where it is wished to
leave blank or unruled parts on the pillar, those portions of the sharp edges
on the roller which would operate on the parts of the pillar to be left blank
are cut away.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Hulse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th June 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HULSE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Whitesmith, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Hulse, Her special licence that I, the said William Hulse, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Hulse, 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 MANU-
FACTURE AND ORNAMENTATION OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE
MANUFACTURE, AND IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Hulse, my execu-
tors 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 William Hulse, 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 state-
ment thereof, that is to say:
My improvements in the manufacture of metallic bedsteads and other
articles of like manufacture consist of the method or methods of and the appa-
ratus employed for manufacturing the corner blocks and dovetail joints or
junctions herein-after described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings,
the said corner blocks and dovetail junctions being employed for connecting
the vertical pillars and horizontal rails of the said articles.
I cast the said corner blocks in a stock or mould, represented in plan in
Figure 1, and vertical section in Figure 2; Figure 3 represents the stock,
Figure 1, in plan, and with its cover on; and Figure 4 is a plan of the under
side of one half of the cover of the stock. The same letters are employed to
indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
The said stock consists of a die or mould having two vertical sides a and b,
and perforated at c with a hole for the pillar d on which the corner block is to
be cast. The said stock or mould has two slots or depressions, one of which

page_text: only is represented and marked e in Figure 2, but both are indicated by dotted
lines at e, f, respectively in Figure 1. The said slots e, f, are for the purpose
of receiving projections 9 on the under side of the pattern dovetails h, i. The
tube d and pattern dovetails h, i, being placed in the stock or mould in the
manner represented in Figures 1 and 2, the cover k, l, is placed thereon. The
said cover consists of two pieces, one of which is represented in plan in
Figure 4. On the under side of the cover are blocks m, which join diagonally,
when the cover is put upon the stock or mould, the said blocks m forming,
with the vertical sides a, b, the four sides of the mould in which the corner
block is cast. The get n is formed in the cover k, l, of the mould. One of
the pattern dovetails h, i, is represented in plan and elevation in Figure 5.
By this method of manufacturing the said corner blocks great uniformity is
obtained in the size of those parts which receive the dovetails. The get and
seam are underneath the corner block, and do not disfigure it, as in the case
of corner blocks manufactured in the ordinary way.
The mould in which I cast the model dovetails, Figure 5, is represented in
Figures 6, 7, and 8; Figure 6 representing the mould in plan without its
cover; Figure 7 a vertical section with its cover; and Figure 8 a plan of the
under side of the cover. The slot in the cover in which the projections g are
formed is marked o in Figures 7 and 8. The get is marked p in Figures 6,
7, and 8.
In casting the dovetails on the angle iron of metallic bedsteads and other
articles of like manufacture, I use a stock or mould of the kind represented in
Figures 9, 10, and 11 of the accompanying Drawings; Figure 9 represents the
stock or mould with its cover in elevation; Figure 10 represents the same
without its cover; and Figure 11 represents the stock or mould, with its cover
in vertical section. The stock or mould, Figures 9, 10, and 11, is situated in
an inclined position when being used, as represented. The body q is cast
in the box q² by placing one of the model dovetails, Figure 5, in the said
box q². The said box is then covered with a cover fitting on the pegs 23, the
said cover having a get of the form indicated in dotted lines g. The melted
cast iron being poured through the get q', forms the block or body q. The
model dovetail which I use for this purpose is without the projection g,
Figure 5. Slots are made in the box q² of the stock or mould for the angle
iron r to pass through. The gets is made partly in the box q2 of the mould
and partly in the cover t. The cover t may be fastened down by a bow or
When the said bow or strap has been raised over
the stock or mould a wedge is inserted between the said bow or strap and the
strap jointed to the stock.

page_text: cover t, and the said cover is thereby held in its place during the casting of
the dovetail on the end of the rail. The stocks or moulds are supported in the
position represented upon the rails u.
Figure 12 represents a dovetail cast in the stock, Figures 9, 10, and 11,
upon a bar of angle iron. As the pattern dovetail upon which the block qis
cast is made in the same mould as the blocks h and i, Figure 1, great
uniformity is obtained in the size of the dovetails and the recesses in the
corner blocks in which the said dovetails fit.
By the method described of casting dovetails on angle iron the get is formed
at the side of the dovetail, and the lump and seam which are formed on the
top of dovetails manufactured in the ordinary manner are avoided.
My improvement in the ornamentation of metallic bedsteads and other,
articles of like manufacture consists in ornamenting the brass pillars or tubes
used in the construction of the same by the method and with the machinery
herein-after particularly described and illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, and 20 of the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 13 represents an end elevation; Figure 14, a side elevation;
Figure 15 a vertical longitudinal section; Figure 16, a transverse vertical
section taken through the line a, Figure 14; Figure 17, a plan; and Figure 18,
a vertical transverse section taken through the line b, Figure 15; Figures 19.
and 20 represent portions of the same, as herein-after explained. The same
letters and figures of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, and 19.
The said machine consists essentially of a roller or cylinder c, made of steel
or iron case-hardened, on the surface of which lines or depressions are cut or
turned, the said lines or depressions being in planes at right angles to the axis
of the said roller or cylinder. Or the surface of the said roller or cylinder is
covered with lines crossing each other, or is matted, chequered, or otherwise.
roughened. The pillar or tube d to be ornamented is placed under the roller.
c, and at right angles thereto. As the roller c is made to roll over and press.
upon the pillar or tube d, it makes a series of lines or marks on that part of
the pillar or tube on which it acts. After the roller c has passed from end to
end of the pillar or tube d, the said roller c is raised, and the pillar or tube d.
is rolled a short distance across the bed e of the machine; another portion of
the said pillar or tube d is thereby presented to a different portion of the
roller c, and the said roller c being brought down upon the pillar or tube d is.
made to roll over and ornament another portion of the said pillar or tube d.
These actions are repeated until all sides of the pillar or tube d have been

page_text: operated upon by the roller or cylinder c. The pattern to be left blank or
plain upon the pillar or tube d is cut away on the surface of the roller c, so
that when the cut-away portions of the roller are brought over the pillar or
tube d, there being no sharp edges or points on the said cut-away parts, no
marks are made by those parts on the tube or pillar d.
The motions of the several parts of the machine are effected as follows:-
The roller c is supported in journals or bearings, which may be raised or
lowered vertically by the arm or lever f, the said arm or lever f being jointed
at g to the frame h, and at i to the journals of the roller c. The frame h slides
in grooves on the bed and top framing of the machine, as will be understood
by reference to Figure 16. On the bed e of the machine are two racks k, l,
in which said racks the toothed wheels m, n, on the ends of the roller c
respectively engage. As the frame h carrying the roller c is moved backwards
or forwards by the handle o on the end of the lever f, a rotatory motion is given
to the said roller c. The pillar or tube d to be ornamented is made to rotate
and travel from one side of the bed e to the other in the following manner :-
The said pillar or tube d is fixed upon a square rod p by means of the conical
plugs q, q, the said plugs sliding on the rod p, and being pressed into the tube
or pillar d by means of a tube r fixed by a screw s. The pillar or tube d may
be of any length not exceeding double the length of the machine. When the
said pillar or tube d is of less length than the machine, the tube » is made
longer or shorter, so as to cover that portion of the rod p not occupied by the
pillar or tube d. When the pillar or tube to be ornamented is longer than the
machine, a portion of the said pillar or tube is first ornamented, and the said
pillar or tube being taken off, the rod p is replaced in an inverted position, so
as to bring the plain portion under the operation of the roll c. The rod p may
be of a length double that of the machine, and fixed at one end by the screw s
and at the other end by a pin passing through one of the holes made in the
said rod. A pinion t, through which the rod p passes, engages with a fixed
rack u. Connected with the said pinion t is a large toothed wheel v (see
Figure 13), by communicating a slow rotation to which the pinion t is made to
traverse the rack u, and to carry the pillar or tube d across the bed e of the
machine. The requisite slow motion is given to the wheel in the following
manner-Above the said wheel v is a lever w, which oscillates upon the
centre x. The lever w carries at its ends teeth y, y², of the form represented,
and when an oscillating motion is communicated to the said lever w, the
teeth
y, y², alternately engage with the teeth of the wheel v, and communicate
a rotatory motion to it. The action of the lever w and wheel v very much

page_text: resembles that of the ordinary clock escapement. Motion is given to the
lever win the following manner:-Underneath the lever wis a short vertical
arm, (see Figure 19, which represents this part of the machine in plan),
the lower end 2 of the said arm being bent into a horizontal plane. In the
part 2 is an oblique slot 3, and in the said slot 3 a pin 4 on the end of a
sliding rod 5 engages (see Figure 15). By making the rod 5 slide back-
wards and forwards, the pin 4 working from end to end of the slot 3 gives
the required oscillating motion to the lever w. The sliding rod 5 is operated
upon in the following manner :-A bar 6 fixed over the roller c strikes against
the pin or peg 7 on the bar. 5 when the roller c has arrived at the end of the
machine where the said pin or peg 7 is situated; the said bar 6 also strikes
against the pin or peg 8, on the other end of the sliding bar 5, when the
roller c is at that end of the machine where the said pin or peg 8 is situated;
there is thus given the required alternating sliding motions to the bar 5. The
wheel v and lever w, and the standard or support 11 carrying the same, traverse
the bed of the machine from side to side with the bar p, and the support 10
at the other end of the machine, through which the end r² of the tube r passes,
and by which the bar 5 is in part supported, is made to move parallel with the
support 11 in the following manner :-On the end of the rod p, or on the pillar
or tube d, when the said pillar or tube is longer than the machine, I fix a cam
of the shape represented in Figure 20, which cam during its rotation bearing
against a fixed stop on the side of the machine, causes the collar 12 and rod p
to retire from the said fixed stop, that is, to traverse the bed of the machine
at the same rate as the other end of the said rod p. Or the same effect may
be produced by a pinion on the tube 2, and near the
fixed rack similar to the rack u, Figure 18. The workman, as he passes the
roller cover the pillar or tube d, raises the handle o just before the said roller
arrives at either end of the machine, so as to lift the roller from the pillar
or tube d before striking either of the pins or pegs 7, 8, and thereby giving
the partial rotation to the pillar or tube d. Any desired pattern or design may
be cut upon the grooved or chequered roller c.
collar 12, engaging in a
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may
be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention; but I claim as
my Invention,-
Firstly, the method of and apparatus employed in manufacturing the corner
blocks of metallic bedsteads and other articles of like manufacture, herein-

page_text: before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the method of and apparatus employed in manufacturing the
dovetail joints of metallic bedsteads and other articles of like manufacture,
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly, the method of and machinery for ornamenting the brass pillars or
tubes used in the construction of metallic bedsteads and other articles of like
manufacture, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, and 20 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hulse, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
WILLIAM HULSE. (L.S.)