IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE. OF TACKS AND NAILS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting En-
gineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE. OF
TACKS AND NAILS."- A communication from abroad by Howell
Woodbridge Wright, of Taunton, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
Sealed the 14th October 1870, and dated the 27th August 1870.
DIEVITICATION med by the said wiшam Rovert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 27th August 1870, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
5 TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 27th August 1870, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TACKS AND NAILS," and have petitioned Her Majesty

page_text: to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it
has been communicated to me from abroad by Howell Woodbridge
Wright, of Taunton, Massachusetts, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:—
Large quantities of tacks-and-small-nails-made entirely of copper are
employed for various purposes where it is desired to avoid the rust which
forms upon tacks or nails composed wholly of iron, and also where they
are to be clinched after being driven. The cost of these copper tacks
and nails however greatly exceeds that of those made of iron, and this
difference of cost amounts to a considerable sum where great numbers
are used.
'
My Invention has for its purpose to enable me to produce a tack or
nail equally as good as and possessing all the advantages belonging to
one made entirely of copper, and at about one-half its cost, and consists
in a tack or nail formed of iron, and afterward coated with a sufficient
thickness of copper by the process of electro-plating, a superior article
being thus produced which will not be subject to rust, and can be
afforded at a low cost.
In practising my Invention ordinary tacks or nails made of iron are
first annealed, so that they may be bent or clinched if desired. They
are then placed within a revolving drum or "tumbler," in which they
are cleaned and polished by friction one with another. After being
removed from the "tumbler" the tacks or nails are electro-plated with
copper, the operation being continued until a sufficient thickness of this
metal has been deposited upon them. It has been found by experiment
that the desired result is obtained by depositing upon the tacks or nails
a quantity of copper equal to from one to ten per cent. of their weight,
but the quantity may be varied according to circumstances.
Tacks or nails made as above described are stiffer and stronger, and on
that account superior to those made entirely of copper. They can be
clinched or bent, and are entirely free from any liability to rust, no acid
being employed in the process of manufacture, while they can be

page_text: furnished at less than one-half the cost of those made entirely of
copper, which have been used in many cases heretofore in preference to
those made of iron only, on account of their not being subject to rust.
The operation of electro-plating is performed in the following
manner: From 25 to 250 lbs. of the tacks or nails are taken from the
"tumbler" and placed upon a metallic plate, and the whole placed
within the tank containing the plating solution; the electric current is
then applied in the usual manner, and the mass of tacks or nails stirred
in order that they may be evenly coated with the copper, or the tacks
or nails may be placed within a perforated metallic cylinder which is
arranged to revolve within the tank containing the plating solution.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it understood that I am aware
of nails having been coated with a thin film of copper applied by dipping
the nail in a solution of sulphate of copper, but the acid contained therein
tends to rust the iron and eat through or remove the coating. I
therefore lay no claim to a tack or nail so coated; but I claim, a tack
or nail formed of iron, and afterwards electro-plated with copper,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)