Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
EPHRAIM PHILLIPS, of 54, Bissell Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference more particularly to small shanked knobs such as screw
knobs for securing the rails or tubes of metallic bedsteads and screw knobs forming
parts of swing handles for coffins and drawers but it is also applicable to knobs for
other purposes such for instance as the larger terminal knobs of metallic bedsicals
and the like.
I will first describe my invention in connection with a spherical screw knob for
metallic bedstead rails. Such knobs are commonly made by casting a brass knob on
an iron shank which knob is then finished by turning and polishing. The object of
my invention is to make such knobs that they will appear to be of brass or other
similar metal and will bo as solid as those which are cast but will be of more uniform
size and cheaper to manufacture.
I forge by means of swaging tools on an oliver or by other means (and preferably
from wrought iron) a spherical knob of the required size having a shank which is
screw threaded in the ordinary way. I then take a shell of thin sheet brass or other
ductile metal or alloy having partly the figure of half the knob, the other part of the
shell being cylindrical. I place the shell on the knob and by means of spinning in a
lathe I roll or spin down the cylindrical part of the shell so as to fit on to the other half
of the knob. I then by means of swaging tools (preferably worked in a press) swage
down the brass shell on to and around the knob so as to fit tightly thercon and thus
form a solid knob.
These operations may be varied as the operation of spinning may be dispensed with
the shell being fixed by swaging only, and knobs of other shapes can be covered by a
shell similarly as above described with reference to a spherical knob and when used for
the swing handles of coffins and drawers I drill or otherwise form the hole in the

page_text: knob for the end of the handle before fixing the shell and when the shell is fixed
thereon press it into the said handle hole which will then be covered similarly to the
other part of the knob.
When making knobs which are of an ornamental character I sometimes find it
necessary to make the shell in two or more sections, instead of employing a single
shell as above described. For instance in making a knob which has an upper bulbous
part and a long ornamental neck I form an inner core or knob from wrought iron and
by spinning and swaging I cover the upper bulbous part by a shell which night reach
to the neck of the knob. I then similarly cover the neck part by a tubular shell or
shells. Where the shells meet I prefer to provide a concentric groove running round
the knob into which the shell is worked which groove may then be filled by a ductile
metal ring which is swaged or otherwise worked tightly on to the shells thereby
holding them together and to the knob and giving an ornamental appearance thereto.
When making large knobs I prefer to make the knob proper or inner core of cast
iron with which a shank if required may be cast.
M 1007
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, EPHRAIM PHILLIPS, of 54, Bissell Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention has reference more particularly to small shanked knobs such as scrow
knobs for securing the rails or tubes of metallic bedsteads and screw knobs forming
parts of swing handles for coffins and drawers but it is also applicable to knobs for
other purposes such for instance as the larger terminal knobs of metallic bedsteads
and the like.
I will first describe my invention in connection with a spherical screw knob for
metallic bedstead rails. Such knobs are commonly made by casting a brass knob on
an iron shank which knob is then finished by turning and polishing. The object of
my invention is to make such knobs that they will appear to be of brass or other
similar metal and will be as solid as those which are cast but will be of more uniform
size and cheaper to manufacture.
I forge by means of swaging tools on an oliver or by other means (and preferably
from wrought iron) a spherical knob of the required size having a shank which is
screw threaded in the ordinary way. I then take a shell of thin sheet brass or other
ductile metal or alloy having partly the figure of half the knob, the other part of the
shell being cylindrical. I place the shell on the knob and by means of spinning in a
lathe I roll or spin down the cylindrical part of the shell so as to fit on to the other
half of the knob. I then by means of swaging tools (preferably worked in a press)
swage down the brass shell on to and around the knob so as to fit tightly thereon and
thus form a solid knob.
This portion of my invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing by Figs. I
to 7, both inclusive, of which Fig. 1 shews the swaged knob a provided with a
shank a and Fig. 2 represents in sectional elevation and in inverted plan the dome-
shaped thin sheet metal shell formed to fit on one half of the knob a. This shell is
placed on the knob a (see Fig. 3) and is then spun down to cover the other half of the
knob (see Figs. 4 and 5). By means of ordinary top and bottom swaging tools such
for instance as represented by Fig. 6 and marked C, C and by Fig. 7 and inarked D¹, Ꭰ?
worked in a press or an oliver the shell bis swaged down on to and around knob a
so as to fit tightly thereon which latter will then have the appearance of and be as
sound as a solid brass or other metal knob according to the particular metal or alloy
of which the shell b is composed.
These operations may be varied, as the operation of spinning may be dispensed

page_text: with the shell being fixed by swairing only, and knobs of other shapes can be covered
by a shell similarly as above described with reference to a spherical knob and when
used for the swing handles of coffins and drawers I drill or otherwise form the hole in
the knob for the end of the handle before fixing the shell and when the shell is fixed
thereon press it into the said handle hole which will then be covered similarly to
the other part of the knob.
When the operation of spinning is dispensed with and the shell is fixed to the knob
by swaging only, a series of top and bottom swaging tools are used which by successive
operations shape the shell down to the configuration of the knob and firmly fix it
thereto. For instance in the case of the knob represented by Figs. 4 and 5 the
shell can be fixed to the knob by first swaging down the shell and diminishing its
open end by the tools E, E as represented by Fig. 8 and then finishing the knob by
the swaging tools D', D, C, C as above described.
9
Fig. 13 represents in sectional elevation a knob for a coffin handle or drawer
handle covered with a sheet metal shell according to this invention and Fig. 9 shews
the swaged wrought iron or other metal inner knob of the same separately.
Figs. 10, and 12 represent successive stages in the process of covering the knob f
by the shell. This knob has the usual hole for the handle and after the shell >> has
been fixed thereto by spinning and swaging as above described with reference to the
knob a the shell is pressed into the handle hole g (either at both sides of the knob as
shown by Fig. 18 or only at one side as shewn by Fig. 14) which can be performed
by a punch (see Fig. 14) somewhat rounded at the end, thus covering the inside of
the hole similarly to the other part of the knob.
When making knobs which are of an ornamental character I sometimes find it
necessary to make the shell in two or more sections, instead of employing a single
shell as above described. For instance in making a knob which has an upper bulbous
part and a long ornamental neck I form an inner core or knob from wrought
iron and by spinning and swaging 1 cover the upper bulbous part by a shell which
might reach to the neck of the knob. I then similarly cover the neck part by a
tubular shell or shells. Where the shells meet I prefer to provide a concentric groove
running round the knob into which the shells are worked which groove may then be
filled by a ductile metal ring which is swaged or otherwise worked tightly on to the
shells thereby holding them together and to the knob and giving an ornamental
appearance thereto.
An ornamental knob of this kind is represented by Fig. 15 covered by two shells h, i
partly secured together by a ductile metal ring j. The inner wrought knob or core
of this knob is shewn separately by Fig. 16, the head of it has ornamental grooves k
corresponding with the grooves i in the finished knob and its neck has also a concentric
groove m where the two shells join. The shells and i and the ductile metal ring jare
shewn separately by Fig. 17. "In covering this knob one of the shells say the shell
is first spun and swaged on to the knob (see Fig. 18) the swaging tools having
internally the configuration of the exterior of the finished knob and pressing the shell
well into the grooves k, m. The lower sheli is then threaded up the shank a' and
similarly fixed on to the lower part of the knob which will then have the appearance
represented by Fig. 19. The ductile metal ring is then opened out and placed in
the groove m and swaged or otherwise worked tightly on to the shells so as to fill
the groove and hold the shells together and add to the appearance of the knob.
Fig. 21 represents another form of knob consisting of the inner wrought knob a
(see Fig. 22) having a groove a³ running round its largest diameter, and two hemi-
spherical shells n', which are swaged on the knob and firmly secured thereto by
the ductile metal ring o being swaged and pressed into the groove a³ as above
described.
Knobs which are of such a shape as to require the shell to be made in three or
more pieces can be covered similarly to the knobs represented by Figs. 15 and 21 as
above described.
When making large knobs I prefer to make the knob proper er inner core of cast
iron with which a shank if required may be cast.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. The improvements in the manufacture of solid metallic knobs hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing which consist in covering
swaged or other solid metal knobs with a ductile metal shell or by two or more ductile
metal shells in the manner hereinbefore described, that is to say, by first spinning the
said shell or shells on to and around the knob and afterwards more closely and firmly
securing the said shell or shells thereto by swaging in top and bottom swaging tools
having internally the configuration of the finished knob or part of the finished knob
substantially as set forth.
2nd The improvements in the manufacture of solid metallic knobs herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing which consist in covering
swaged or other solid metal knobs with a ductile metal shell or by two or more ductile
metal shells in the manner hereinbefore described, that is to say, by first drawing
down and shaping the shell or shells on to and around the knob and finally closoly
and firmly securing the said shell or shells thereto by successive swaging operations
performed in a series of top and bottom swaging tools the final pair of which have
internally the configuration of the finished knob or part of the finished knob sub-
stantially as set forth.
3rd. A knob for a coffin handle or the like consisting of a shanked solid swaged
or other metal core or knob f covered with a ductile metal shell & fixed thereon as
described by spinning and swaging or by swaging only the metal shell being pressed
or worked into the handle hole or holes substantially as set forth and illustrated by
Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, 18 and 14 of the accompanying drawing.
4th. A solid swaged or other metallic knob covered by two or more ductile metal
shells as described by spinning and swaging or by swaging only, the joints or edges
of the said shells being worked into a groove or grooves, as described, and there
covered and secured by a ductile metal ring or rings swaged or pressed into the said
groove or grooves substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and by Figs. 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the accompanying drawing.