IMPROVE- MENTS IN HANDLES FOR HAMMERS, MALLETS, PICKS, MATTOCKS, AND SIMILAR TOOLS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Burley, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Hammer Handle Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HANDLES FOR HAMMERS, MALLETS, PICKS, MATTOCKS, AND SIMILAR
TOOLS."
Sealed the 4th August 1863, and dated the 10th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Burley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th February 1863.
I, ROBERT BURLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Hammer Handle Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDLES FOR HAMMERS, MALLETS, PICKS, MATTOCKS, AND
SIMILAR TOOLS," to be as follows, that is to say: -
This Invention has for object to impart increased strength to handles for
hammers, mallets, picks, mattocks, and similar tools, and at the same time to
permit of the use of wood of smaller sizes than is required for handles of the
ordinary kind, and the Invention consists in forming such handles of two or
more longitudinal pieces of wood of the same or of different kinds, glued or
otherwise cemented together. In one modification a middle piece of tough
elastic wood is used, with two side pieces of softer wood to fill up the size
required for the hand. In other modifications the reverse arrangement may be

page_text: adopted, and in some cases increased strength may be imparted by embedding
a central metal rod between or within two or more longitudinal layers of wood.
An external covering or sheathing may be applied to the built-up handle to
give a suitable surface, or for protection.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Burley, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
BURLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Hammer Handle
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Burley, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Burley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Robert Burley, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDLES FOR HAMMERS, MALLETS, PICKS, MATTOCKS,
AND SIMILAR TOOLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Robert Burley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said 'Inventien, 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 Robert Burley, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for object to impart increased strength to handles for
hammers, mallets, picks, mattocks, and similar tools, and at the same time to

page_text: permit of the use of wood of smaller sizes than is required for handles of the
ordinary kind.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing three
modifications of my improved handles suitable for forge hammers.
My said Invention consists according to one modification in making the
handle of two or more longitudinal pieces of wood of the same or of different
kinds, glued or otherwise cemented together. A handle made of three pieces
in this way is represented in edge view in Figure 1, and in cross section in
Figure 4. All the three pieces are by preference of the full length of the
handle, and they are arranged so that the junction lines in the cross section
are parallel to the longest diameter, they may however be arranged with the
junction lines at right angles to those shown, or in other directions. The
middle piece is by preference of a tough elastic wood, such as lancewood,
hickory, or oak, whilst the side pieces may be of ash, larch, or other con-
paratively soft wood. I find common glue of good quality to be a very suitable
cement, but other cements may be used. When common glue is used, and
when the handle is to be used under circumstances exposing it to moisture, a
small groove is run along the surface at each joint line, and this groove is
filled in with marine glue or other suitable matter which is impervious to
moisture. The joints may also be protected, and at the same time a little
additional strength may be imparted to the handle by cementing leather, or
thin cane, or other like material over the joints, or more or less entirely round
the handle. In some cases the main part of the handle may consist of one
piece of wood, additional pieces being cemented on at the head only as shown in
side view in Figure 2, and in cross section in Figure 5. In other cases in-
creased strength may be imparted by embedding a central metal rod between
or within two or more longitudinal layers of wood as shown in Figures 3 and 6.
This rod may occupy only part of the length of the handle as shown, or it
may be of the entire length, and be availed of for holding on the hammer head
by means of a screw, nut, and plate. The pieces of wood to form each handle
are by preference cemented together before turning or shaping the handles.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner
in which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not
restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but that
what I believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the constructing
of handles for hammers, mallets, picks, mattocks, and similar tools, with

page_text: two or more longitudinal pieces of wood, and in some cases with central metal
rods, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Burley have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square,
Glasgow.
ROBERT BURLEY. (L.s.)