matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NAVY, YACHTING, AND OTHER SEAMEN'S HATS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Lancaster at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th December
1865.
I, JAMES LANCASTEB, of Portsea, in the County of Hants, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF NAVY, YACHTING, AND OTHER SEAMEN'S HATS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of hats
suitable for the yachtsman or seaman, or for use in the navy, the object
being to produce a light and durable hat of a superior shape and perfectly
waterproof.
I propose to employ calico as the material from which the hat is to be
manufactured. The calico is to be stiffened by the application of size or other
ordinary stiffening substance, and blocked on to the shape required, leaving
the crown slightly convex. The rim or border of the hat is pressed or blocked
so as to turn up the edge or border all round, and thus produce a concave or
dished rim. The entire outer surface and under part of the rim is to be
painted and varnished, and thus will be rendered perfectly watertight. The
form of the rim will prevent rain or other moisture from pouring down on all
sides of the hat, since the water will be conveyed to the lowest elevation of the

page_text: rim, and will there run off. The weight of the hat will be about five
ounces and a half, whereas the ordinary hat weighs from half a pound
to three quarters of a pound, and is made of material which is at all times
scarce.
My improved hat being made on a block and cemented, painted black or
white, and varnished, is consequently a seamless hat.
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING PHOTOGRAPHS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Henry Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st March
1865.
I, JOHN HENRY SMITH, of Bexley Heath, in the County of Kent, Photo-
grapher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING PHOTOGRAPHS," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improved apparatus for mounting photographs bas
for its object to facilitate the mounting of photographic pictures upon card-
board. The apparatus consists of a fixed block, on which is mounted a glass
or other plate of the desired shape and dimensions, and the edges of which
project a little beyond the fixed block. On this plate is secured, by means of
an elastic band or otherwise, a piece of woven fabric or thin cloth or other
porous fabric, which is capable of being kept damp by means of a little water
applied thereto from time to time. The glass or other plate is of the shape
and dimensions of the pictures which are to be operated upon, and when the
photographs are placed face downwards upon the damped cloth, and are
pressed down a little so as to force out the air from beneath, the pressure of
the atmosphere on the back will keep them down flat, so that their backs may
be gummed or covered with some adhesive composition without difficulty.
The backs of the photographs having been gummed, the cardboard on which
they are to be mounted is placed upon them, and upon being slightly pressed
down the photograph will adhere thereto, and upon removing the cardboard
the picture will be found to be properly mounted thereon. As the cardboard
is generally somewhat larger than the picture it is important that the latter

page_text: should be mounted centrally thereon; to this end a set of horizontal
adjusting or set screws provided with plates at their ends are placed at one
side and also at one end of the glass plate, and are mounted in vertical
blocks so as to be capable of being screwed up and adjusted with nicety
according to the amount of margin that is required. When placing the
cardboard on the picture the edges of the cardboard should be brought up
against the adjusting plates, and thus with very little trouble the photographic
pictures can all be mounted with margins of exactly the same width.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN SUN SHADES OR CANOPIES FOR PERAMBULATORS AND OTHER WHEELED CARRIAGES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Lloyd at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th September
1865.
I, HENRY LLOYD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Carriage
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SUN SHADES OR CANOPIES FOR PERAMBULATORS AND OTHER WHEELED
CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
Sun shades or canopies, according to my Invention, have stretchers, frames,
and coverings the same as or similar to the like parts of ordinary umbrellas.
The centre piece from which the frames radiate in one of my sun shades or
canopies is, however, so arranged that it is made the runner and the centre
piece from which the stretchers radiate, or what is usually known as the
runner is made fast to the stem or handle.
The stem is secured or attached to the back of the body or other con-
venient part of the perambulator or wheeled carriage, and in most cases is
bent so as to bring the sun shade or canopy which it supports into position to
protect the seat part of the vehicle. A joint or binge is formed in the
said stem, or it is provided with a joint or hinge to allow it and the parts
thereto connected to be neatly folded back when not in use. In the said
stem and at about the top end thereof there is secured a spring catch, and
near thereto, preferably at the very top, a cord or chain is fastened, and is
from thence carried through the frame's centre piece outwards to the
outside.

page_text: When it is desired to open the sun shade or canopy, the cord or chain is
held taut, and pressure applied to the centre piece of the frames to cause it to
run down the cord or chain on to the end of the stem and over the spring
catch so as to allow this latter to fix it in the expanded or open position. To
effect the closing it is only necessary to depress the spring catch and to
allow the frame's centre piece or runner to slide or run back from the stem
on the cord or chain. It is obvious that the stem may be made long enough
to project beyond the frame's centre piece or runner when the apparatus is
closed.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILLS FOR GRINDING AND PULVERIZING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Anthony Stevenson at the Office
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th January
1865.
I, ANTHONY STEVENSON, of the City and County of Chester, Engineer and
Millwright, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILLS FOR GRINDING AND PULVERIZING
GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the "ventilation" of those mills in which one
stone is made to rotate or rub over or in near contact with another and
stationary stone. In mills of this kind it is well known that the running
stone carries round with and after it within the millstone case a quantity of
air heated, more or less, and charged with steam or moisture and "stive." It
is of the greatest importance in grinding grain and other substances, such as
charcoal and cement, that the air as soon as it becomes heated and the steam
or moisture contained therein should be got rid of or expelled from the mill-
stone case, and that fresh atmospheric air should be allowed to enter to take
its place. To accomplish this I attach to the inside of the said millstone
case one or more pieces of metal or other material which project inwards
therefrom, preferably at an angle near to the surface of the running stone,
so as to intercept the heated air and steam or moisture, and by connecting
into the millstone case at the side of each of the projecting and intercepting
pieces a pipe or spout, carry the same to a chamber if it contains "stive" or
otherwise to the outside of the building. The millstone case, instead of

page_text: having projecting pieces attached thereto, may itself be made of angular or
other form to intercept the heated air. The eye of the stone may be either
closed or open, but I prefer the former, and to admit a sufficient quantity of
atmospheric air into the millstone case I make openings (where necessary)
in the said millstone case, and cover or protect the same by louvre boards or
other means.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Gibbs at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd May
1865.
J, HENRY GIBBS, of Hampstead Road, in the County of Middlesex,
5 Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the tearing open of sealed or
closed envelopes, which operation presents considerable difficulty to business
men who have occasion to open great numbers of envelopes, owing to the irre-
gular manner in which the seal lap tears, and in consequence of which recourse
has frequently to be had to a knife for the purpose of slitting open the envelope
to get at its contents. To remedy the inconveniences thus experienced I pro-
pose so to prepare the seal lap that it will tear in a given direction on inserting
the finger below the lap and pressing it towards the seal. The direction in
which it is desirable that the seal lap shall tear is in lines drawn from opposite
sides of the seal to a point immediately above the centre of the seal. For this
purpose therefore I form lines of punctures on the seal lap (after the manner
of piercing postage stamps or cheques) which lines incline upwards, and meet
at a point a suitable distance above the seal. By preference I give the lines a
curved form, the convexity being towards the seal, but other forms of lines
may, if desired, be adopted. Or instead of piercing the paper I
may reduce

page_text: the strength of the paper in the direction indicated, by imprinting upon it any
approved caustic or corrosive chemical preparation, so that the facile opening
of the sealed envelope in the manner above indicated will be ensured.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN 'CAP FRAMES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Reuben Worsnop at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 29th July 1865.
I, REUBEN WORSNOP, of Bradford, in the County of York, Overlooker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN 'CAP
FRAMES," to be as follows:-
It is well known to the users of "cap frames" for the spinning of worsted
and other yarns that each time a "cap frame" is set in motion, say after the
full bobbins have been removed and empty ones put in their places, or what-
ever other reason may render the stoppage of the frame necessary, that in
consequence of the shape of cap now used, and the large surface of friction to
which the threads are exposed, a great number of "ends" or threads are
broken and considerable waste ensues as well as loss of time. To obviate in
great measure this defect is the object of my Invention. For this
purpose I
introduce a ring of wrought malleable cast or brass metal or other suitable
substance upon the periphery of the cap so as to form a projection by preference
about the centre of the length of the same. This ring if of wrought iron may
be shrunk on and then turned to a small round edge, or it may form part of
the cap itself, or be affixed in any convenient manner. The result of it is

page_text: that on starting a frame the thread, instead of resting as is now the case upon
nearly the whole length of the cap; and breaking in consequence of the friction
it is subjected to, rests upon the lower end of the cap for a short distance,
and upon the edge of the ring before named, and thus in a great measure
prevents breakages and saves yarn.
AN IMPROVED CIGAR CUTTER
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Charles Butcher at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th April
1865.
I, HENRY CHARLES BUTCHER, of Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Wine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED CIGAR CUTTER," to be as follows:-
I cut a piece of steel plate (or other metal) about three inches long by
about three-eighths of an inch wide, and the thickness of a fourpenny piece,
or thereabouts. I hollow out each end of this plate to a semicircle, leaving
points on each side of the semicircle; I grind the edges of the said semicircles
sharp in opposite direction and both in bevil. To prevent the ends when placed
in proper position from swerving from such position, which would render the
cutter comparatively useless, I either make four slits in the steel behind the
semicircles; or I make a pair of loops inside and behind the semicircle which
is to be undermost; or I make a lug on each side of the semicircle which is
to be uppermost; or I effect this object by other contrivance; I finally bend
the plate into form (which is that of an ordinary key hole) so that one end
overlaps the other, the two semicircles then forming circle. The cutter will
then have a sharp edge beviling downward and another beviling upward.

page_text: The cutter, now fully formed, is to be held between the end of the thumb
and side of the fore finger (of either hand, the end of a cigar is introduced
into the circle, on pressure the edges will meet and pass each other, and the
cigar end drops. It will be evident that this cutter may be used for snipping
other articles.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Benjamin Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th April
1865.
I, BENJAMIN JOHNSON, of Church Street, Camberwell Green, in the County
of Surrey, Pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon a former Patent
granted to me, the said Benjamin Johnson, and bearing date the 31st July
1863, numbered 1897, under the title of Improvements in Pianofortes, and the
present Invention consists, first, in combining a flute-sound accompaniment
with an harmonium or organ-sound accompaniment, or to combine a flute-
sound accompaniment in the treble with a pianoforte accompaniment in the
bass.
The following are examples of the means by which the above objects may
be accomplished:-To adapt the flute accompaniment to the pianoforte, the
bass half of the organ or harmonium action has to be shut off, which may be
effected by means of a lever and stop, worked by hand, the other half of the
organ or harmonium action being left open, then shut off the treble part of
the piano action and you will have the flute sound; or the treble of the piano.
forte action may be left on and played with a bass accompaniment of the
organ or harmonium; or the two instruments may be played separately,
id est, either entirely as an organ or harmonium, or as a pianoforte, by dis-

page_text: connecting the two actions from each other, which may be effected by means
of levers and stops as above mentioned; or the two instruments may be
played together.
AN IMPROVED ARRANGE- MENT OF AND ADDITION TO CERTAIN PARTS OF OMNIBUSES AND OTHER VEHICLES, TO INDICATE THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Kirkland at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd March
1865.
I, JOHN KIRKLAND, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ARRANGE-
MENT OF AND ADDITION TO CERTAIN PARTS OF OMNIBUSES AND OTHER VEHICLES, TO
INDICATE THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to enable the proprietor of an omnibus or
other vehicle to ascertain, by mechanical arrangements of the seats and parts
or apparatus thereto added and fitted to work therewith, the number of
passengers carried, or who may have sat down on the seats, and therefore the
moneys received and to be accounted for by the conductor or guard.
Each seat, that is, a certain space allotted or allowed for each passenger, is
so arranged or fitted on a hinge, or on pivots or centres, that when it is not
being sat upon a spring or balance weight causes it to assume a vertical or
inclined position. When a passenger moves or folds a seat from the vertical or
inclined into the horizontal position, a lever or rod bent or otherwise attached
on the under side of such seat and fitted to move therewith comes into contact
with a ratchet wheel and causes a registering apparatus to record the move-
In practice, however, it is simpler to have a shaft, securely closed up
in framework, of the length of the whole of the seats on one side of an
omnibus, and to have a ratchet wheel to meet the lever or rod from each
seat, so that the separate motions of the shaft will be indicated on one regis-
ment.

page_text: tering apparatus acting for a row or number of seats. For the obtainment of
correct registration and convenience of passengers, it is advisable to number
each seat and to provide a spring bolt, which shall shoot out and lock the seat
in a vertical or inclined position as soon as a passenger rises therefrom. When
a passenger enters the conductor or guard will pull a handle under his control
at the back of the vehicle, having a number corresponding to that of the seat,
and allow the seat to be moved or folded into the horizontal position. A wire
from the handle to the spring bolt will convey the necessary movement for
withdrawal of the latter. Instead of the whole of each seat being arranged to
move or fold, part thereof only may do so, or a framework of a form such as
would prevent a passenger from sitting down thereon would answer the purpose.
AN IMPROVED PLAIN OR GRADUATED GOPHERING OR PUFFING AND PRESSING MACHINE
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Cotton, Francis Anderson,
and Daniel Booker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 26th May 1865.
We, CHARLES COTTON, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Machine Builder, FRANCIS ANDERSON, of the said Town and County of the
Town of Nottingham, Lace Dresser, and DANIEL BOOKER, also of the same
Place, Lace Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED PLAIN OR GRADUATED GOPHERING OR PUFFING AND PRESSING
MACHINE," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of a machine in which a framing supports a flanged
cylinder turned on the outside at the upper edge to receive a flanged ring
having a toothed wheel on the under side which gears into a wheel on a
shaft supported by the framing. The upper side of this flanged ring has slots
cut in .it which radiate towards the centre, in these slots slide metal strips or
plates, upon the upper or lower edge of which are one or more nebs which
take into or are operated upon by an incline or inclines upon the upper or
lower edge of the plates; the plates have at the ends nearest the centre a small
plate on each side, between which the lower end of a wire is held by a pin;
the wire is retained in a vertical position by a spring until depressed by an
incline or inclines when they fall out. In the flanged
In the flanged ring near the inner
edge other wires are secured in a vertical position, so that one such wire and

page_text: one of the wires at the end of the metal plates stand alternately in a ring or
rings. The wires attached to the plates are moved in between the fixed wires
to any extent required by the incline or inclines which are adjustable as
required. As the flanged ring revolves, blonde net or other fabric is fed to
the machine, and will be gauffered or puffed as required, it is then pressed by
a pressing machine placed at one side of the gauffering or puffing machine
and worked by cams on the main shaft or by geared wheels. From the
inside of the flanged cylinder first mentioned the metal projects upwards,
forming a hollow cylinder standing inside the ring or rings of wires, such
cylinder and also the whole machine and press may be heated by gas or
steam. Instead of the fixed vertical wires in the flanged ring we sometimes
use metal plates, the ends nearest the centre thereof having fixed wires, such
plates are adjustable by means of a plate or plates moved by set screws; and
sometimes instead of part or all the above wires we sometimes use wires
thinner than the size of the gauffer or puff required; upon these thin wires
we place tubes of a required thickness, and instead of the vertical wire first
mentioned we sometimes use wires of various shapes. Our machines may be
worked either horizontally or vertically.
IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Isaac Watts at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th February
1865.
I, JOHN ISAAC WATTS, of Pinckney Farm, Keevil, near Trowbridge, in the
County of Wilts, Farmer and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
machinery or apparatus to be worked by compressed air for the obtainment
of motive power, and consists in the employment of two cylinders of equal
length and area, the one serving as the working cylinder, and the other as an
air compresser, each cylinder being provided with a piston working air-tight
therein. Between these two cylinders are situate two compressed air receivers,
which are made to communicate by means of pipes with the top and bottom
respectively of the compressing cylinder, and also communicate by means of a
slide valve or other convenient or well-known arrangement of valves with the
two ends of the working cylinder. The working piston rod slides freely
during a portion of its stroke through a reciprocating guide block, which is
connected by a connecting rod to a crank on the main driving shaft, the throw
of such crank being about three times greater than the stroke of the piston.

page_text: A second crank of the same throw as the first, and at right angles thereto, is
also formed upon the main shaft, which crank gives motion by means of a
connecting rod to the longer end of a horizontal lever, the shorter end of
which lever is connected to the compressing piston. The slide or other valves
employed for regulating the inlet and outlet of the compressed air into and
from the working cylinder may be actuated by an eccentric and the usual
valve gear.
In starting this engine an air pump is employed for charging the receivers
with air at a sufficient pressure to start the piston of the working cylinder;
but so soon as this piston begins to move it transmits motion through the
main shaft and horizontal lever to the piston of the air compressing cylinder,
which thenceforth keeps up the supply of compressed air requisite to work the
engine.
The crank in connection with the working piston is acted upon directly
by such piston at the commencement of each stroke, only the remainder of
the throw of the crank being effected by means of a large fly wheel fast on
the main shaft, and such extra amount of throw over and above the actual
stroke of the working piston is allowed for by permitting the slide block to
slide freely along the piston rod between two fixed stops, such stops serving
to move the slide block and impart direct motion to the crank at the com-
mencement of each stroke of the working piston.
The compressing cylinder is provided with inlet valves at the top and
bottom for the admission of atmospheric air therein, and the pipes leading to
the compressed air receivers are also provided with valves, to prevent the
escape backwards of the- compressed air after it has been forced into the
receivers.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LIME
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Peter Armand Le Comte de
Fontaine Moreau at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 29th May 1865.-A communication from Monsieur
Louis Poulet, residing at Gonesse, in the Empire of France.
J, PETER ARMAND LE COMTE DE FONTAINE MOREAU, of the General Patent
Offices, 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4, South
Street, Finsbury, London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LIME,"
to be as follows, that is to say:-
The Invention communicated to me relates to certain improvements in the
manufacture of lime by which kilns are dispensed with, the baking taking.
place on the spot where the calcareous materials are found, and the Invention.
consists in preparing on the ground, first, a bed or layer of wood, coke, coal,
or any other suitable fuel, on this layer the calcareous substances are laid ;.
on these another layer of combustible material is placed, and on this latter is
placed a second layer of calcareous substances, and so on alternately; the
whole being arranged in suitable proportions of layers, so as to insure the
quantity of caloric necessary for a perfect combustion or baking. In the
interior of these layers a place or places is or are provided for the setting of
the shaft or chimney for obtaining the required draught and an equal degree
of temperature in all parts of the layers.

page_text: The lime being thus burnt it can be used directly if it is for agricultural
purposes; but if it is to be employed for building it must be first sifted or
culled.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Smith at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th September 1865.
I, JOHN SMITH, of High Crompton, near Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows: -
My Invention consists in an improved combination of machinery for shedding
or working the healds in the required manner to form the shed. In perform-
ing my Invention I make use of a series of segmental tappet plates which are
made to vibrate by a crank or other equivalent; on each side of the tappet
plates are mounted bell-cranked levers, one arm of each of which forms an
elevator or a depresser according to the position in which it is held by means
of levers acted upon by a chain of lugs with pegs or other equivalents. By
this arrangement any convenient number of healds may be operated upon to
form the shed, and the same set of tappet plates may be used for weaving
all the patterns capable of being woven by the healds employed.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ASCERTAINING THE PRESENCE OF 'FIXING' AGENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCTIONS, IN REMOVING THE SAID FIXING AGENTS THEREFROM, AND IN APPARATUS CON- NECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Theodor Reissig at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th March.
1865. A communication from abroad by Wilhelm Reissig, residing at
Vienna, in the Empire of Austria.
I, THEODOR REISSIG, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ASCERTAINING THE PRESENCE OF 'FIXING' AGENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCTIONS,
IN REMOVING THE SAID FIXING AGENTS THEREFROM, AND IN APPARATUS CON-
NECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a test whereby the operator is enabled to
determine whether hypo-sulphite of soda or other such fixing agent has been
removed by washing or other process employed in the practice of photography.
With this view he places the prints after they have been washed or otherwise
similarly treated, or the fluid in which they have been washed, in communi-
cation with the poles of a galvanic battery, by which means the fixing agent
becomes decomposed, and sulphur (if the fixing agent above mentioned has
been used) appears at the negative pole. If silver be employed for this pole
the effect is more apparent. As this part of the Invention depends upon the
elimination of the injurious part of the fixing agent, it is evident that it may
be used for the removal of the last traces or of larger quantities.
Secondly, the Invention relates to a mechanical method of removing the
said fixing agents. For this purpose the photographs are caused to rotate at
a considerable velocity, so as to throw off the liquid they contain by centrifugal

page_text: force. The apparatus proposed to be employed is a folding frame, covered
with latticework, and within which the photographs are placed and then
confined. This framework or cage is mounted upon a spindle which is caused
to revolve rapidly by a winch handle or other ordinary means.
The two parts of the Invention may be combined, the test of the former
being applied between successive washings and operations of the centrifugal
apparatus.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING OR PRINTING UPON THE FABRIC KNOWN AS 'SAIL CLOTH
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Isherwood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th April
1865.
JAMES ISHERWOOD, of Haslingdon, in the County of Lancaster, Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN DYEING OR PRINTING UPON THE FABRIC KNOWN AS 'SAIL CLOTH,'" to be as
follows:-
The Invention relates to a method of treating and preparing a material
called "sail cloth," which is a fabric made of thick warp and weft and closely
woven so as to render it available for use as druggeting or oilcloth by
submitting it to certain subsequent processes or treatment.
The Invention consists in first submitting the said fabric to a solution of
caustic alkali until the greasy matter is removed, after which it is to be
washed and freed from the alkali, and then it is to be submitted to the action
of chlorine gas or other similar agent, which renders the surface in a fit state
to receive a mordant, such as sumach, with which it is to be saturated by
steeping in a suitable vessel. When in this state it is to be printed upon in
designs by means of blocks or cylinders, and afterwards dried, and if required,
pressed between hot rollers which produces a glazed and polished surface,
and the fabric so treated may be used as carpetting or druggeting, or pre-
viously to mordanting the surfaces may be covered with a composition of oil
and body color, which is to be smoothed by rollers and then printed upon in
oil colors by means of blocks or cylinders.
IMPROVEMENTS IN CROQUET MALLETS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Stephen Bateson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
June 1865.
I, SAMUEL STEPHEN BATESON, of Bolton Street, Mayfair, in the County of
Middlesex, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CROQUET MALLETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of the heads
of croquet mallets, whereby they are prevented from splitting under a heavy
blow whilst the player is enabled to strike the ball with greater exactitude..
According to my Invention I propose to apply a stout cap of leather,
gutta percha, india-rubber, felt, or other suitable material over one or both
ends or faces of the striking part of the mallet, so that the jar or concussion
of wood against wood is obviated, and hence the liability to split the mallet
head or the croquet ball is avoided. The leather facing answers the same
purpose as the "tip" to a billiard cue, and may be secured to the mallet head
in various ways; but I prefer to fix it thereon by means of a circular screw
clip or clamp, the leather or other soft material being cup-shaped and fitted
over the slightly, reduced diameter of the end of the mallet head, so as to be
grasped or held firmly by the clip, which may be tightened or released by a
screw for that purpose, or by any other suitable arrangement. Facility is
thus afforded for readily removing and replacing the caps when requisite.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Worthington Biggs at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th July 1865.
I, WILLIAM WORTHINGTON BIGGS, of 21, Rue d'Hauteville, Paris, in the
Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of iron.
The Invention is applicable when hæmatite ores are employed in the manu-
facture of iron, and consists in pulverizing or grinding where necessary such
ores, and washing the ores when in the state of powder in order to remove
the impurities, such as silica, sand, and clay therefrom, then forming such
ores into suitable masses or lumps and reducing them in a blast furnace, in
place of employing such ores as heretofore in the manufacture of iron therefrom.
For these purposes the hæmatite ores having been pulverized by any suitable
machinery, the products are then well washed, preferring those means of
washing in water wherein the matters subjected to such process are separated
from each other, as far as may be, by their differences of specific gravity in
water. The pulverized hæmatite ores so cleansed are then made into masses
or lumps of suitable sizes by the aid of lime or other cement, or by pressure,.

page_text: or by both. The lumps or masses, either in the form in which they are made.
or broken into small lumps, are then introduced with fuel and the necessary
fluxing matters into a blast furnace; or in making up the lumps or masses
the fluxing materials, and even the fuel or some parts thereof, may be
combined with the washed pulverized hæmatite ores.
A NEW OR IMPROVED BOTTLE FOUNTAIN FOR POCKET AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jean Nadal at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th November
1865.
I, JEAN NADAL, of 18, Newman Street, Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
NEW OR IMPROVED BOTTLE FOUNTAIN FOR POCKET AND OTHER PURPOSES," to
be as follows:-
This fountain consists of a box for the pocket, and for convenience it is
made in the shape of a watch. This box is made of two shells, one of which
is made in one piece of metal, the other of india-rubber or any other flexible
material; these two shells are connected one with the other, so as to be water-
tight, and thus form the shape of a watch. On the side of the metal shell I
fix a knob, pierced to form a jet; on this knob is a ring like a bow of a watch,
which passes through the knob and forms a tap to the jet. By this arrange-
ment when the ring is perpendicular with the box the jet is shut up; when
the ring is down to touch the side of the metal shell the jet is open. On the
middle of the flexible shell are fixed two metal plates, one on each side; these
two plates and the flexible shell have a hole in the centre to let pass a screw
or rivet for fastening them together. The metal plate fixed on the outside of
the india-rubber receives the pressure of the thumb, which pressure pushes the
flexible part down to the bottom of the inside of the metal shell, and forces the

page_text: liquid contained between the two shells through the knob forming the jet.
Between the metal shell and the plate attached to the inside flexible shell or
diaphragm is a spiral cone spring, which spring keeps the two parts separate;
this action forms a suction of the liquid, into which the jet is held for the
purpose of refilling the fountain. By this arrangement the spring and the
thumb act in different ways and forms different actions; the spring forms a
suction and fills the space between the flexible shell and the metal shell;
the thumb throws the liquid out by closing the flexible shell to the metal
The inside india-rubber part which receives the pressure is covered with
a separate piece of metal corresponding with the box, the shape of which is
now resembling a watch, but can and will be made in various forms for
pocket and other purposes; the tap can be made of common key valves or
other means. The diaphragm and flexible shell can be made of india-rubber,
waterproof silk, membrans, and other flexible materials if waterproof; the
spring cau be made of steel, brass, india-rubber, or other elastic materials. I
adopt the spiral cone spring because when pressed down it takes up only the
space of the metal of which it is formed. The pressure forming the action
of the fountain can be done by the thumb and other means. The filling of
the fountain can be done through a hole water-tight beside the jet.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING SIGNALS ON BOARD SHIPS, AND WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Newton Gisborne at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th July 1865.
I, FREDERICK NEWTON GISBORNE, of No. 445, West Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING SIGNALS ON BOARD
SHIPS, AND WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
Upon the bridge of a steamer is placed the case containing the apparatus
for making the desired communication, and which I denominate the captain's
communicator. Behind the dial face of it are fixed three corrugated metal
air chambers, two having pointers working like the needles of aneroid
barometers, the one moving to the right the other to the left only, and a third
air chamber to cause a pointer cylinder or other index to move round step by
step in one direction only. The base or standard of this communicator contains
an india-rubber ball or other suitable air chamber, upon which pressure is
made by a lever or other convenient arrangement. A tube, with a branch
pipe therefrom, proceeds from the ball or other air chamber, the branch pipe
going to and into the corrugated. metal chamber of the step-by-step index,
and the main pipe to a similar though larger step-by-step index, placed within
view of the helmsman or engineer, and named the indicator, the effect being
that the indexes of both communicator and indicator will advance in unison at
at each and every pressure of the lever upon the ball or other air chamber,
and the effect will be the same upon every corrugated metal chamber and
index in connection with the main pipe, so that one or more communicators

page_text: can be used when required. A pipe leads out of each corrugated chamber
appertaining to the right and left moving indexes to balls or air chambers
placed near the rudder head or shaft, and the movements of the helm by
causing a gradual pressure upon one or other of such balls or chambers
indicates upon the captain's communicator the position of the rudder to port
or starboard. When applied to an engine the balls or chambers are acted
upon on each revolution of the shaft by small levers jointed to act contrary
ways, thus indicating the directive movement of the engine while the rapidity
of the index movements indicate its speed.
In order to regulate the air pressure I sometimes introduce resistance
tubes containing oil or other fluids, and also sometimes valves or openings
in the pressure balls or chambers. Instead of the balls or other chambers I
use pistons connected with the rudder by chains and pulleys or other conve-
nient arrangement, so that such pistons are raised or depressed in their
cylinders by the motion of the rudder.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND IN APPARATUSES CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by. François Thierry Hubert at the
-Office of the Commissioners of Patents; with -his-Petition, on the 10th
October 1865.
I, FRANÇOIS THIERRY HUBERT, of Amersham Vale, Deptford; in the County
of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SUBMARINE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND IN APPARATUSES CONNECTED
THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
1st, I multiply the strength of submarine electric telegraph cables by
embedding two or any greater number of conductors in only one covering ;
these conductors being isolated the one from the other and the one pro-
tecting the other.
2dly, for regulating ad libitum the specific gravity I use apparatuses described
as follows:-The first is a pressing roller, the surface of which being shaped
to give the form required for moulding the gutta percha. The thickness and
width of the gutta percha is regulated by cutting knives applied at each end
of the roller; the knives being changed to suit the thickness required for
embedding two or any number of conductors. The second one is a common
punching press for perforating the gutta percha after being rolled to a proper
thickness; the perforation to be applied as well as to the size as to the number

page_text: of chambers required to obtain the following result:-Fifty grains of air
are to maintain a part of cable (conductors, isolators, and coverings)
weighting about nine pounds near the surface of the sea. According to this
approximative calculation and for maintaining the cables in suspension at
any definited depth with anchors from place to place, I diminish the thickness
of the covering as well as the diameter or the number of the perforated
chambers, or 'I augment the weight of the said covering, or I modify it by
adding a sufficient number of grains of the following substances, according to
the specific gravity required. These substances are part of feathers, or pith
of elder tree, or rush, or bark of oak, or ground bark, or granulated cork,
mixed altogether or separately after a preservative immersion in a strong lime
water, and dried well and cemented with a solution of caoutchoux.
3dly, the external protective covering is also of gutta percha boiled twice in
water and prepared by the pressing roller before named, which regulates the
required thickness. The said protective covering is powdered with the follow-
ing preparation:-I dissolve phosphorus in hot water untill the globules
produced disappear; I add gradually a sufficient quantity of prussiate or azotate
of potassium, or deutoxide of lead, and a solution of starch. This preparation,
after having been carefully triturated in hot water and immersed in lime water,
to be dried and reduced to a powder, and powdered externally on the covering
of gutta percha when warm.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF YARNS, STRING, AND PAPER, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF DYES, AND IN DYEING FABRICS BY THE APPLICATION OF VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES NOT HITHERTO USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Alexander Cooper at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
December 1865.
I, JOHN ALEXANDER COOPER, of Trowbridge, in the County of Wilts, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF YARNS, STRING, AND PAPER, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF DYES,
AND IN DYEING FABRICS BY THE APPLICATION OF VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES NOT
HITHERTO USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
purposes.
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of yarns,
string, and paper, and in the preparation of dyes and in dyeing fabrics by the
application of vegetable substances not hitherto used for such
For
these purposes the stalks and leaves of the French willow (epilobium) are
employed, the stalks being used for manufacturing yarns, string, and paper
where fibres are required, and the extracts from the leaves and stalks are
employed in the preparation of dyes, and in dyeing and fixing dyes on fabrics.
The stalks of these plants are peculiar in their structure; the layers of which
each stalk is for the most part composed are capable of being freely stripped
one from the other, and the strippings can then be readily separated into fibres
by the ordinary mechanical processes of hackling, by which the long fibres are
obtained as when treating hemp and flax, and the tow or short fibres may be
further prepared by carding and like machines. The long and short fibres

page_text: thus obtained may be spun as when using the fibres of hemp or flax of like
lengths. When used for making paper the fibrous parts of the stalks are
to be reduced into pulp in ordinary paper engines as when reducing other
vegetable fibres in the preparation of pulp. In preparing the leaves of these
plants for dyes, extracts are obtained therefrom as when preparing other
vegetable dyes, and they are used either alone or in combination with other
matters according to the description and classes of colors desired to be
imparted to the fabrics, and it is found that the extracts from the stalks of
these plants have peculiar powers in fixing the colors of dyed fabrics.
IMPROVED COM- BINATIONS OF DIRECT-ACTING STEAM ENGINES WITH SINGLE OR DOUBLE-ACTING PUMPS FOR PUMPING WATER, AIR, OR GASES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jacob Goodfellow at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th March
1865.
I, JACOB GOODFELLOW, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED COM-
BINATIONS OF DIRECT-ACTING STEAM ENGINES WITH SINGLE OR DOUBLE-ACTING
PUMPS FOR PUMPING WATER, AIR, OR GASES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the employment of direct-acting steam engines,
working horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and connecting them direct to
single or double-acting pumps, thereby dispensing with the ordinary crank
shafts, cranks, connecting rods, and eccentrics; and these improved arrange-
ments are applicable to pumps for fire engines, for feeding boilers, bilge
pumps, blowers, and all other purposes where pumps are required.
In one arrangement I bolt at one end of a foundation or bed plate the
cylinder of the steam engine, and at the other end the cylinder or barrel of
the pump, and connect the two cylinders together by a strong stay or frame
of cast or wrought iron, for the purpose of maintaining the two cylinders
parallel with each other, and preventing any shake or unsteadiness, and the
piston of the engine and the bucket or plunger of the pump are connected
together by one piston rod in one piece, or two pieces coupled together, and
therefore the piston works the pump direct.
For working the cock or valve for opening and shutting the steam ports of
the steam engine I employ a tumbler lever, working in connection with a

page_text: second lever, jointed to a rod connected at its other end by an arm or bracket
to the piston rod, so that as the arm moves to and fro with the piston rod it
gives vibrating motion to the aforesaid second lever for enabling it to act by
means of adjustable studs upon the tumbler lever, and cause it to fall first on
one side and then on the other, for giving alternate to-and-fro motions to the
cock or valve; or instead of employing a second lever the tumbler lever can
be worked direct by the rod and bracket from the piston rod. When the
engine and pump are to be placed in a vertical or diagonal position the form
of the bed plate is altered to suit the requirements, but the stay or frame
between the two cylinders and mode of working the valve are the same.
I also, when required, place two or more steam engines, and a corresponding
number of pumps, on one foundation; or I make one engine work two
pumps, ram pumps, or otherwise, one at each end.