IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL NAILS, BUTTONS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1882

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of the firm of W. P. Thompson
& Boult, Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in the
county of Middlesex and 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster
Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ORNAMENTAL NAILS, BUTTONS AND THE LIKE" A communication to him from
abroad by Charles E. Bailey and William R. Talbot both of Providence, Rhode
Island, United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th November 1882.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of the firm of WP Thompson & Boult, Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, and
6 Lord Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Engineer IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL NAILS BUTTONS AND THE LIKE Com-
municated to me from abroad by Charles E Bailey and William R. Talbot, both of
Providence Rhode Island, United States of America
"}
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the manu-
facture of ornamental nails, medallions, and buttons for upholstering and decorative-
purposes, and it consists essentially in forming the heads of said nails, medallions,
or buttons of sole leather, scrap leather, or other suitable material, dyed, stained, or
japanned in suitable colors to resemble various kinds of natural woods, or to match
upholstery; hangings, furniture; carpets, &c., said heads being compressed around or
upon the head of a metallic nail, tack, staple, or shank during the process of.
manufacture, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an
ornamental nail. Figure 2, represents a vertical section of the same. Figure 3,
represents a side elevation of a button and shank. Figure 4, a vertical section of
the same. Figure 5, represents a vertical section of a nail and ornamental head.

page_text: Figure 6, represents a button formed from the same, by bending the metallic nail
around in the form of a loop or eye, and figure 7 represents a plan view of an
ornamental medallion.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the medallion, button, or nail head which
is composed of sole leather, scrap leather, or other suitable material formed in
suitable ornamental shapes, and dyed, stained, or japanned in suitable colors to
match different articles of furniture, upholstery, natural woods, or such other articles
to which the invention may be found applicable.
In carrying out the invention, the leather heads are cut and stamped, by means of
suitable dies or tools, into various ornamental shapes, during the process of forming
which, the heads of the metallic nails, or prongs of the button shanks are forced up
into the under surface of the leather, which is then closely compacted around and
upon the same by the heavy pressure of the dies used in the construction of the
complete device, thereby firmly uniting the two parts together.
In figures 3, and 4 of the drawings, the button has the shank B affixed thereto
by forcing the prongs of the same up through the head and then clinching the
protruding ends of said prongs down upon or back into the upper surface of the
head, as shown, the complete device being formed at a single operation by a novel
form of die or series of dies. The metallic shank of the button, as shown in Fig. 6,
is formed by bending or curving the metallic tack or pin a, shown in Fig. 5, around
upon itself or back into the material forming the button head, as shown, thereby
secureing a strong, durable, and efficient fastening:
In the construction of the complete devices, coats of different colored enamel,
dyes, or varnish is applied either to the material before the heads are cut out, or
after the complete device is formed, or during any stage or part of the process.as
may be deemed most advantageous, or desirable.
A metallic screw or staple may however be used in combination with the
ornamental heads, in place of the nail or shank, for the purposes above described
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
By means of the above described improvements, the ornamental heads for
buttons and nails are capable of taking a high polish not liable to injury by blows
or abrasion, while the complete article possesses a high degree of strength and
durability, which has not been attained by any other process heretofore known.
The devices thus formed are admirably adapted for all purposes to which ordinary
ornamental leaded nails and buttons are used, and possesses the advantages of greater
The medallions,
strength, utility, and beauty of finish over those heretofore in use.
or other like ornaments, may be used for finishing off fine furniture, decorating
interior wood work of all kinds, and for all other purposes to which they may be
found applicable.
Having now described the said invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it to be understood that what I claim and desire to protect is
The herein described process of making ornamental heads for medallions, nails,
and buttons, consisting in coloring the leather in suitable shades, cutting the same
into suitable ornamental shapes, and compressing the same around and upon the
metallic nails, staples or shanks substantially as specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twentieth day of November in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
AT DET T ROLLT (ra)