AN IMPROVED PLANTOFORME OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE HOOFS OF HORSES, FOR THE PURPOSES OF FORMING THEIR SHOES
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Julien Combe at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th May
1859.
I, JULIEN COMBE, of No. 23, Rue du Champ de Mars, in the City of
Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, formerly a Colonel in the French
Army, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PLANTOFORME OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE HOOFS OF HORSES, FOR THE
PURPOSES OF FORMING THEIR SHOES," to be as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to give a means of accurately and simul-
taneously taking all the dimensions of a horse's hoof requisite for forming the
shoe, and by a single application of the instrument to the right or left foot,
obtaining the requisite dimensions of that foot and the other. It consists of
two blades of metal, with handles fixed together by a central pin, on which
they work like forceps or scissors; the blades are curved outwards; on each
side of each blade, and near to its outer edge, flanges of metal are fixed, ex-
tending from the central pin a sufficient distance along the blades to clip the
hoof. Beyond the flanges the blades are graduated on both sides. The flanges
are so curved, that one is adapted to the outer side of the hoof, and the corre-
sponding one on the other blade to the inner side. Those for the outer sides of
the hoofs being on the same blade, and those for the inner sides on the other
blade. One side of the instrument is adapted for the right foot, and the opposite
side for the left. A graduated quadrant is fixed to one of the handles, and
passes through a slot in the other. A binding screw in the last-mentioned

page_text: handle acting on the quadrant retains the blades and handles in any position
required. In order to take the dimensions of the hoof the blades are opened,
and the instrument applied to the hoof, so that the central pin is opposite the
centre of the fore part of the hoof, and the blades placed flat against the
bottom of the hoof. The blades are then closed by the handles till the flanges
just clip the hoof. The points to which the back of the hoof extends on the
graduated parts of the blades is observed for the length of the shoe (the blades
being made sufficiently long to project beyond the hoof). The binding screw
is then screwed tight, the shoe is then forged to the size and form shewn by
the position of the flanges and the graduation observed on the blades. Which-
ever foot, whether right or left, is selected for measurement, the flange adapted
for the outside is placed to the outside of the hoof. If the right has been
measured, it is only necessary to turn the instrument the other way upwards,
and the form and dimensions of the left hoof are shewn, and vice versa. If it
is desired to form the shoes as is usually the practice in France, a little bit
larger than, and to project a little all round the hoof, the quadrant may be
graduated, and after the instrument has been fitted exactly to the hoof, it may
be opened to the extent of the projection required, such opening being
measured by the graduations on the quadrant.