IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FORKS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Nicholson, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FORKS."
aled the 12th January 1877, and dated the 14th July 1870
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Nicholson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1876.
HENRY NICHOLSON, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
THE MANUFACTURE OF FORKS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention consists in an improved method of making forks of steel or other
malleable metal, by which improved methods considerable saving of time, labour,
and cost is effected as compared with the methods ordinarily used and practised.
In the methods so ordinarily used and practised bars or rods of steel or other
malleable metal are taken and the forks are formed out of them by forging or
haimmering.
My improved method consists in taking a sheet or plate of steel or other
malleable metal rolled to a thickness suitable to the size of the particular fork
which is to be made out of it. I place this sheet of steel or other malleable metal
into a stamping press having stamps and dies of a size and shape corresponding
to the prongs and other parts of the fork which is to be made, and arranged so
that when brought together by a screw or lever, or other means in the usual way,
the metal sheet is cut out between them into the shape of the fork as desired.
The "blanks" so roughly formed and cut are then removed to another corres-
ponding stamp or press, in which the prongs and other parts of the fork are
further finished, and may be curved or bent as desired. The fork so made may
be again passed through one or more additional presses or stamps until it has
attained a shape and finish as complete and perfect as may be desired.
By my improved method of making forks out of sheets of metal by means of
stamps or presses, as described, the time and labour required for forging them in
the usual way from rods of steel or other malleable metal is saved and the cost or
making them is considerably reduced.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Nicholson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th January
1877.
HENRY NICHOLSON, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
THE MANUFACTURE OF FORKS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention consists in an improved method of making forks of steel or other
malleable metal, by which improvement considerable saving of time, labour, and
cost is effected as compared with the methods (such as forging) ordinarily used
and practised.
I take a sheet or plate of steel or other malleable metal rolled to a thickness
and sectional shape suitable to the particular forks which are to be made out of it.
place this sheet of steel or other malleable metal into a stamping or "fly" press
having stamps or punches of a size and shape corresponding to those of the fork
which is to be made, and arranged so that when the press is worked by a screw
or lever, or other means in the usual way, the metal plate has cut out from it a
piece of "blank" corresponding roughly to the shape of the fork which is to be
made. The blanks thus roughly formed and cut are then removed to another
corresponding stamping press provided with dies corresponding with the shape of
the finished fork, and each blank made, as above described, being placed in a proper
position between the dies, and the latter being then forcibly brought together, the
prongs are cut out and together with the tang and the other parts of the fork
are shaped and finished. The fork so made may be thus sufficiently completed at
one operation, or if desired it may again be passed through one or more additional
stamping presses until it has attained a shape and finish as complete and perfect
as may be desired.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of my improved method of manu-
facturing forks.
Figure 1 shews a strip of steel rolled to the proper shape for making a fork,
shewn finished in Figure 4. Figure 2 shews the edge of the same strip, and
Figure 2* shews a somewhat different section.
Figure 3 is the "blank" cut out of the strip (Figure 1) in a fly press, as described.
Figure 4 shews the blank (Figure 3) after having been pressed and finished
between the dies of the stamping press.
Figure 5 shews a "blank" formed with a round "tang" at a instead of a flat one,
as shewn in Figure 3.
By my improved method of making forks out of sheets of metal by means of
fly" presses and stamps and dies, as described, the time and labour required for
making them in the usual methods, such as forging from rods of steel or other
malleable metal, are greatly reduced, and the cost of making the forks is also
lessened.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner in which it is to be per-
formed, I claim the method of making forks from metal bars of suitable section
by means of "fly" presses and stamps and dies, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Nicholson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy seven
HENRY NICHOLSON. (L.S.)