AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF SCYTHE BACKS, CHAFF-KNIVES BACKS, AND HAY-KNIFE BACKS
Year: 1828

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GRIFFIN, of Wythymoor Works, near Dudley, in the County of Worcester,
Scythe Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth
did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and twenty-eight, in the ninth year of His reign, give and grant unto
me, the said James Griffin, His especial licence that I, the said James
Griffin, my exors, adñññors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said James
Griffin, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF SCYTHE BACKS, CHAFF-KNIVES
BACKS, AND HAY-KNIFE BACKS;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso that I, the said James Griffin, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Griffin, do declare that my Invention is fully described and ascertained
by the following description thereof, that is to say:-

page_text: My Invention consists in forming scythe backs, chaff-knife backs, and hay-
knife backs with raised studs or pegs, for the purpose of riviting the cast-steel
blades thereto, and which studs or pegs form part of and are solid with the
said backs.
In order that my Invention may the better be understood I will first
describe the manner at present in use for making backs, and then proceed to
describe my improvement, whereby my Invention will be readily understood,
and so that a person conversant with the manufacturing of scythe backs, chaff-
knife backs, and hay-knife backs, may be able from this my Specification to
make and execute my Invention. The usual manner for forming the backs
for cast-steel blades is by welding or making a piece of iron into the shape
required, and then, by drilling or by some other means, forming holes at
proper distances, which holes are for the purpose of receiving the studs or
pegs by which the blades are rivitted to the backs. Now it is evident
that the backs thus perforated must be considerably weakened, as in each
place where a hole is formed there is nearly a third of the width of the metal
removed. The object of my improvement is to construct the backs with
raised studs or pegs, which are solid with the backs, consequently backs
so formed will be found much stronger than those which are perforated for
passing the studs or pegs through for the purpose of rivitting on the blades.
Fig. 1 represents a back of a scythe formed according to my improvement.
Fig. 2 shows a view of it edgeways. a, a, a, are the raised studs or pegs by
which the blade is to be rivitted to the back. The blade is shown by dotted
lines (see Drawing annexed). The manner I have found to answer best for
making backs according to my improvement is by passing a rod of iron or
other proper metal, heated to a welding or proper beat, through a pair
of rollers, prepared in the following manner :-I cut a groove around the
circumference of one of the rollers to the size and shape required, and sink
small holes at proper distances, so that when the heated iron or other proper
metal has passed between this grooved roller and a plain roller it will come
out with raised or projecting studs or pegs on one of its surfaces, which studs
or pegs are formed by the metal being pressed into the sunk holes. The end
of the back at 6 is then to be formed by forging it to its proper shape, and the
back is to be cleaned by rough filing, and will then be ready for having the
blade rivitted thereto, which is done by beating down the studs or pegs a, and
making them spread over the holes formed in the blade.
I have here only described, and in the Drawing have only shown, my
improvement as applicable to a scythe back, and have to add, the same
description will apply to chaff-knife backs and hay-knife backs, they differing

page_text: only in shape. I have also advised the making of the backs by means of
rollers, considering that to be the best and most perfect manner of forming
them. But I would have it known, that I do not confine myself to that
method of working, but would have it understood that I consider my Invention
to be, and limit my claims to the forming or manufacturing the backs of
scythes, chaff knives, and hay knives with raised studs or pegs, which form
part of and are solid with such backs.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Griffin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.
JAMES (L.S.) GRIFFIN.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1828, the aforesaid James Griffin came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statuto made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.