AN IMPROVED METHOD OF LOADING ANY NUMBER, DESCRIPTION, OR SIZE OF CARTRIDGES USED IN BREECH-LOADING GUNS WITH SAFETY, RAPIDITY, AND PRECISION, AND WITH ANY CHARGE VARIABLE AT PLEASURE
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wyllie Riddell-Webster, residing at
Invereighty, in the Parish of Kinnettles, & County of Forfar, Esquire,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF LOADING ANY NUMBER,
DESCRIPTION, OR SIZE OF CARTRIDGES USED IN BREECH-LOADING GUNS WITH
SAFETY, RAPIDITY, AND PRECISION, AND WITH ANY CHARGE VARIABLE AT
PLEASURE."
Sealed the 3rd January 1868, and dated the 17th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wyllie Riddell-
Webster at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th July 1867.
I, THOMAS WYLLIE RIDDELL-WEBSTER, residing at Invereighty, in the
Parish of Kinnettles, & County of Forfar, Esquire, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF LOADING ANY
NUMBER, DESCRIPTION, OR SIZE OF CARTRIDGES USED IN BREECH-LOADING GUNS WITH
SAPETY, RAPIDITY, & PRECISION, & WITH ANY CHARGE VARIABLE AT PLEASURE,"
to be as follows:-
Two rectangular slides, one for powder, another for shot, each having a
hole through of a size to contain the maximum charge agreed upon work in
a closely fitting groove (whose upper and under surfaces are flat, and sides
flanged,) and are fed by and from two superincumbent magazines for powder
and shot through holes cut thereunder in the upper surface of the groove.
Between the magazines and in the centre of the upper surface of the groove

page_text: (longitudinally) another hole is cut (the rammer hole), immediately below
which and through the lower surface of the groove another hole is cut (the
wad hole), having its centre directly under the centre of the rammer hole.
A spring rammer is fixed between the magazines to act down straight through
the rammer and wad holes into the cartridge placed under the wad hole in a
recess for that purpose. The size of the machine is arbitrary, but the several
holes in the slides and groove must correspond & in line and centres. The
following dimensions in inches and parts of inches of slides and groove secure
the least amount of friction and action, and are practically workable:-
Slides, 2 long, wide, and 11 deep; centres of charge holes 21 from the
back of one end, and from the other. Width between flanges of
groove, and from under to upper surface 1. Centres of magazine holes
equidistant from centre of rammer hole; distance between their centres
(magazine holes) 22. Matters being so, the magazines charged, the charge
hole of the powder slide under its magazine hole becomes charged with powder.
Pushed forward till it comes in check against the front of the shot slide in its
position of charge, the powder drops through the wad hole into the cartridge
placed below, and the slide is then moved back to its former position for
recharging. A wad is put into the wad hole, which is forced into the cartridge
by the spring rammer, and the same process being repeated with the shot,
slide, wad, and rammer, the cartridge is completely loaded, each charge being
thereby carried 13 only. A back check is provided by fixed false ends
(removable at pleasure) resting on the back ends of the slides when in their
positions of charge. The upper surface of the shot slide is channelled out
backwards from its charge hole to overcome the friction and jostling of the shot
while the slide is in action. A safety spring elevator acts under the cartridge
to keep it in position, and to provide for inequalities in length of cartridges.
A conical boss is fixed in front of the machine to make circular the orifices
of flattened or bruised cartridges.
To diminish charges the slides are removed, a diminishing tube of requisite
size dropped into the charge hole, and the slides replaced.
The machine is adapted for cartridges of lesser size than the maximum by
inserting a pierced diminishing slide with a shield under the wad hole, and a
diminishing shield in the lower part of the recess behind the cartridge in
position.
The magazines are angled down to secure the proper descent of their
contents at their outlets, and provided with slides to make them removable.
For safety and to prevent tampering the accesses to the magazines and their
slides are lock-fast.

page_text: The machine may be of any hard material, but iron or steel is objectionable
(spring of the rammer excepted). Where greater durability, perfect safety,
least amount of friction, avoidance of trituration of powder is desired, the
best material for slides and grooves is brass, ground air tight; magazines
of brass, copper, or zinc. A drawer is fixed under the whole machine, par-
titioned for convenient holding of wads and other things.
The features of novelty in the Invention consist in bringing the various
materials used to produce a completely loaded cartridge into the closest
practical working proximity, so that the loading of any cartridge, whatever its
description or size, at or below a pre-arranged maximum may be completed in
the same machine with the least amount of friction and action, smoothly,
safely, rapidly, and with precision, and any, charge variable at pleasure without
removing the cartridge from position until completely loaded.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Wyllie Riddell-Webster in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WYLLIE RIDDELL-WEBSTER, of Invereighty, in the Parish of Kinnettles, and
County of Forfar, North Britain, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Wyllie Riddell-Webster, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Wyllie Riddell-Webster, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Thomas Wyllie Riddell-Webster, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF LOADING ANY NUMBER, DESCRIPTION, OR SIZE OF
CARTRIDGES USED IN BREECH-LOADING GUNS WITH SAFETY, RAPIDITY, AND PRECISION,
AND WITH ANY CHARGE VARIABLE AT PLEASURE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Wyllie Riddell-Webster, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the

page_text: said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Wyllie Riddell-Webster, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, in which reference is made to the Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and the letters and figures marked thereon respectively:-
I provide and use two slides rectangular in form, one intended for powder and
the other intended for shot. Each such slide is perforated through and through
vertically, so as to form a perforation therein, herein-after called the charge
hole, capable of containing when closed at the lower end thereof the maximum
of powder or shot, as the case may be, which it is intended shall be used in
loading a cartridge, say 31 drachms of powder and 11 oz. of shot, or more or
less if desired. The slides may be of any dimensions, provided that the length,
breadth, and thickness of both slides be the same, that the centre of their
respective charge holes be in the same position in each, that the length of each
slide and the position of its charge hole when in position of discharge, as
herein-after described, be such as to keep closed the corresponding feeding hole
berein-after described, and to make the slide in that position rest with the end
thereof nearest to the other slide upon the nearest end of such other slide when
in position of charge, as herein-after described, and that each of the slides be
somewhat broader, say one-eighth part of an inch than the interior diameter
of the maximum sized cartridge for the loading of which the particular machine
is intended. The charge holes must be slightly and gradually diminished in
size downwards, so as to retain in position the diminishing tubes herein-after
described, and the charge holes should be of such breadth or diameter as to
permit of the quick and free discharge of their contents into the cartridge.
Fig. No. 1 represents and shews the form of a powder slide of the proper
size for practical and convenient working. The dimensions thereof are as
follows: Length, two inches and seven-eighth parts of an inch; breadth, seven-
eighth parts of an inch; depth, one inch and one-fourth part of an inch;
centre of charge hole, two inches and three-sixteenth parts of an inch from
one end and eleven-sixteenth parts of an inch from the other end, the
centre of the charge bole being equidistant from the outer edge of the
slide at each side thereof. The above dimensions are given with reference
to a machine for loading cartridges of the size known as No. 12 bore
and under. When a machine is required to load cartridges of a larger
bore the dimensions of the slides must be proportionately increased.

page_text: Fig. No. 2, represents and shews the form of the shot slide, which differs
from the powder slide by having its upper surface channelled out to the depth
of one-eighth of an inch or thereabouts from its charge hole backwards, such
channel being in depth, breadth, and length as shewn in the said Figs. No. 2,
and No. 3, and in Fig. No. 4, and the edges of such channel being bevelled off
at and near the charge hole as shewn in the said Fig. No. 3. The charge
holes, as regards facility of construction and practical working, are best made
of a circular form as shewn in the Figures before referred to. The slides
being constructed as aforesaid I further provide and use two grooves, each
having a smooth flat inner surface or bed with raised rectangular flanges as
shewn in section in Fig. No. 5. The breadth or distance between these flanges
is determined by the breadth of the powder and shot slides intended to be
used therewith, and with which breadth such breadth or distance must
correspond; for example, if the breadth of the slides be, say, seven-eighth parts
of an inch, the distance between the inner sides of the flanges of the grooves
intended for such slides must also be seven-eighth parts of an inch. The
grooves may be of any length, provided that their length be at least equal to
the joint length of the two slides plus the distance between such slides when
both are in position of charge as berein-after described. The grooves may be
of any thickness, provided that they are of sufficient strength that the thickness
of the bed of the lower groove at and about the circular wad hole herein-after
described be sufficient to allow of the wad being easily placed therein, say,
five-sixteenth parts of an inch for a machine for No. 12 bore cartridges, and
that the parts in and about the rammer hole, and the slide-feeding holes
herein-after respectively described, be of sufficient thickness either of the same
substance or material as the groove itself, or when in combination with some
other material, say, wood to allow of the magazines and rammer herein-after
also described being placed, affixed, or screwed into proper position therein or
in connection therewith. If such grooves are made of brass, one-eighth
part of an inch in thickness throughout is amply sufficient, except where
herein-before stated the grooves are required to be of greater thickness. The
lower groove is perforated in the centre thereof with a circular hole, herein
called the wad hole, the centre whereof is equidistant from the inner side of
each of the flanges of such groove. The wad hole at the lower orifice
thereof is of the same diameter as the interior of the maximum sized cartridge
which the particular machine is intended to load, and increases gradually
towards the upper surface or bed of the groove so as to be larger thereat by
one-sixteenth of an inch or thereabouts, in order to permit of the easier
reception of the wad therein.
For the support of and keeping in a vertical

page_text: position the cartridge case when placed in position, a semicircular shield of say
one-half of an inch in depth is affixed round the half of the lower orifice of
the wad hole, forming the back part thereof, of a width equal to the diameter
of the outer part of the maximum sized cartridge case for the loading whereof
the particular machine is intended. The upper groove is perforated in the
centre thereof with a circular hole herein called the rammer hole, the centre
whereof is equidistant from the inner side of each of the flanges of such
groove, and the diameter whereof must be such as to permit the piston or rod
of the spring rammer herein-after described to act freely through the rammer
On each side of such rammer hole a
bole into the cartridge placed below.
circular hole is perforated, which holes are herein-after called the feeding holes,
one such feeding hole being intended to act in connection with the powder
slide, and the other in connection with the shot slide when in position of
charge respectively, as herein-after described. The centres of the feeding
holes must be in the same line with the centre of the rammer hole,
and at the same distance from such centre, the distance from the centre
of each feeding hole to the centre of the rammer hole being equal to
twice the distance between the centre of the charge hole in each slide,
and the upper end of such slide nearest to the rammer hole when the
slide is in position; for example, if, as is herein-before given, by way of
illustration, such last-mentioned distance measured eleven-sixteenth parts
of an inch the distance from the centre of such feeding hole to the
centre of the rammer hole would have to be one inch and three-eighths of
an inch.
Fig. No. 6 represents and shews the lower groove and the position of the
wad hole therein, and Fig. No. 7 represents and shews the upper groove and
the respective positions of the rammer hole and feeding holes. The grooves
being so provided as aforesaid, I provide and use a block of wood or other
support, which must be of a depth equal to the length of the maximum
cartridge for which the particular machine is intended, plus, say, one-tenth
part of an inch or thereabouts, to permit of the play of the spring elevator,
herein-after described, and of a breadth sufficient to support, hold, or retain
I further
thereon the grooves and the magaziues herein-after described.
provide and use a base of wood of sufficient thickness, say three-quarters of an
inch, and of sufficient length and breadth to hold or retain or permit to be
affixed thereon the aforesaid block or support, allowing a space in front of two
inches and three-quarters of an inch or thereabouts, on which to place and let
If the block or support
in the safety spring elevator, herein-after described.
is of wood I hollow out a recess in the exact centre of the front thereof, of a

page_text: shape sufficient to contain the maximum sized cartridge the particular machine
is intended to load. The extreme breadth of such recess must be equal to
the outer diameter or breadth across of such cartridge, and such recess must
at or about the centre thereof be widened, so as to permit the insertion
therein of the points of the forefinger and thumb when placing the cartridge
in position. The lowest part of such recess where it rests upon the base is
cut out to the depth of one-eighth part of an inch or thereabouts, the width of
the excision made being equal to the breadth of the spring elevator, herein-
after described, so as to allow of the action thereof for one-eighth part of an
inch in an upper direction and to receive the rim of the capped end of the
cartridge.
When instead of a block, as herein-before described, any other form of
support is used, say a slab of wood with pillars or supports affixed to the base,
a like recess most be provided and placed to act therewith; I then fix firmly
the lower groove with the flanges uppermost on the upper part of such block
or slab so that the wad hole may be directly over the upper part of such
recess, and the shield before referred to may rest on and be let into the back
of such recess, and may be flush therewith. The upper groove with the
flanges downwards is then bound to the lower groove by means of bands in
front and at the back thereof, so that the centre of the rammer hole may be
directly over and correspond with the centre of the wad hole, and so that the
inner sides of the flanges may correspond and be in line with the inner sides
of the flanges of the lower groove. The distance between the inner surfaces.
of the grooves so bound together must be equal to the depth of the slides
intended to be used for the particular machine, so that such slides may freely
yet closely be worked backwards and forwards between the grooves, and for
such free and close working it is requisite that the upper and lower surfaces
of the slides and their sides, so far as they act on the flanges, and the inner
surfaces or beds of the grooves and the inner sides of their flanges should be
finely ground and fitted, so as to be air-tight, or as nearly as possible air-tight
when the slides are acting in the grooves.
Instead of binding the grooves together by means of hands, they may be
conveniently bound by means of screws, as shewn in Fig. No. 8, the worm of
the screw being at the lower end only of such screw supports or binders.
This mode of connecting the grooves facilitates their adjustment upon the
slides, so as to regulate the action thereof, but if screws are used as binders
there must be a back support so constructed and fastened to the lower groove
or block, and catching or supporting the upper groove, as to prevent the
grooves when both are removed at the same time, which should be avoided,

page_text: from collapsing when the slides are withdrawn therefrom, the grooves being
constructed open at the ends thereof, so as to admit of the slides being with-
drawn or replaced as may be required. In order that the slides may be
worked backwards and forwards in the grooves as required, a handle is
provided for each slide removeable at pleasure, and one such handle is screwed
into each of the slides in the front thereof in the position marked A and A
in Figs. No. 1 and No. 2, before referred to. In order to provide a back
check in working the slides I place and fix the two bands or screws intended
to be placed and fixed in front furthest from the wad hole and rammer hole in a
position, which I ascertain thus :-I place the slides in the grooves, inserting
one at each end thereof, with that end of each slide foremost which is nearest
to its charge hole; I then screw in the handle of each slide, and place, say,
the powder slide iu position of charge, or, in other words, so that the centre
of its charge hole be directly under and correspond with the centre of the
nearest feeding hole in the upper groove; I then place in front the band
or screw intended to be affixed at the end at which such slide is inserted, so
as to make such band or screw rest upon one side of the handle of the slide
when in position as aforesaid, namely, the side of the handle nearest to the
end at which the slide was inserted. I do the same with the shot slide and
the corresponding band or screw, which with the handle is intended to form
its back check. Both slides being thus placed in position of charge, I move,
say, the powder slide by means of its handle until the inner end of the slide
rests upon the inner end of the shot slide then in position of charge, the shot
slide being retained in that position by means of its handle, and the cor-
responding band or screw so placed as aforesaid. By such means the powder
slide is brought into its position of discharge, or, in other words, the centre of
its charge hole is placed exactly over and in line with the centre of the wad
hole and cannot go beyond. If I now draw back the powder slide until its
handle rests on the corresponding band or screw before-mentioned, the slide
forthwith reverts to its position of charge. The same process being repeated
with the shot slide, it is first thereby brought into its position of discharge and
then reverts to its position of charge. Another check producing the same results
may be obtained in the following way:-The slides being respectively placed
in position of charge false ends, say of wood, and capable of being inserted
between the grooves, are so placed as to make the false ends rest upon the
outer ends of the slides respectively, in which position such false ends may be
temporarily fixed so as to be removeable at pleasure; in either case the bands
or screws binding the grooves must be so placed as to permit of the free
action of the slide handles when moving the slides from their position of

page_text: charge to their position of discharge and back. I then provide what I call a
safety spring elevator consisting of two plates, the one hinged to the other, the
hinge end thereof being equal in length to the thickness of the base herein-
before referred to, and the other or spring end thereof being of such length as
will be sufficient to give a proper elevating power; for this purpose I find
that three inches and one-half of an inch or thereabouts is sufficient. The
spring end is provided with slightly raised flanges, the distance between which
is regulated by and ought not to be less than the breadth across of the capped
end of the maximum sized cartridge for the loading of which the particular
machine is intended. The space between these flanges is slightly channelled
out or depressed in the centre all along longitudinaliy for a breadth of five-
sixteenth parts of an inch more or less according to the size of the outer or
exposed surface of the cap of any central-fire cartridge for the loading whereof
the particular machine may be used. The elevator being, say, three inches
and one-half of an inch long is circularly perforated, the hole so made
being slightly larger than the outer or exposed surface of the cap of any
central-fire cartridge for the loading whereof the particular machine may be
used, and being in the line of the centre longitudinally in the end furthest
from the hinged end, and at such a distance from such end as will permit the
whole end of the cartridge to rest thereon when its centre is exactly over
and corresponds with the centre of the hole so perforated as last aforesaid.
A spring having a flat surface is affixed to the lower surface of the elevator
at the hinge end thereof, having sufficient power to elevate and keep steady
the cartridge when placed on the elevator, as herein-after mentioned. The
elevator is let in or bedded to within, say, reth of an inch of the upper
surface of the said base in the centre thereof longitudinally, the hinge end
being affixed to that part thereof which is herein-before described as being
three-fourth parts of an inch in thickness or thereabouts. Figures No. 9 and
No. 10 represent and shew such spring elevator. The block or support for the
grooves, having the said grooves fixed thereon as aforesaid, is then placed and
fixed upon the said base in such a position that the centres of the rammer
hole and wad hole may be directly over and in line with the centre of the hole
in the spring elevator, the base directly under such hole being perforated with
a corresponding hole of similar or somewhat larger size. Having so pro-
vided, fixed, and placed in position the several parts before described I make
use of a spring rammer having a piston or rod of sufficient length of stroke
(regard being had to the size of the magazines herein-after described) as to
be capable, when placed in position, of passing through the rammer hole and
the space between the grooves s down through the wad hole and into the cartridge

page_text: for at least 5th parts of the interior length thereof, when the cartridge is
in position in the recess before described. The diameter of the lower end or
button of such piston or rod must not be greater than the interior diameter of
the minimum cartridge for which the particular machine is intended. The
spring rammer rests or is fixed upon or screwed into the rammer hole of the
upper groove, so that the centre of the piston or rod and button or end thereof
may be in line or correspond with the centres of the rammer hole and wad
hole, and so also that no 'part of such button or end can come in contact with
either of the slides when the piston or rod is in a state of rest; I then provide
two magazines, one for powder and another for shot, each of the magazines
being bevilled at and narrowed down to the lower orifice or discharging neck
thereof of the form shewn in Figures No. 11 and No. 12. The magazines
are provided with slides at their lower orifices or discharging necks for closing
or opening the same; one of these magazines is fixed or placed with the lower
orifice or discharging neck thereof resting in one of the feeding holes, and
immediately over the slide in connection with which it is intended to act, but so
that the lower part of such orifice or discharging neck may not touch or come
in contact with the upper surface of its slide, for securing which object the
lower orifices or discharging necks of the magazines should be of less depth
than the thickness of the upper groove at and about the feeding holes ;
the other magazine is similarly fixed or placed. The magazines should be
removable, but while in position are so kept either by being attached to the
block and to the spring rammer, or by the machinery being encased in wood
or zinc, which is the preferable plan.
Figure No. 13 is the longitudinal section of a machine through the centre
of the grooves, and shews the position of the several parts before described,
A, A, being the base, upon which rests the block C, C. The recess is
marked D; upon the block rests the grooves and slides E, E; the spring
rammer is marked F, F; and G, G, are the magazinės, Figure No. 13,
being drawn to a scale cf balf the full size of a machine suitable for loading
cartridges of No. 12 bore or of a less bore. The machine may be enclosed in
a case of wood or zinc or some other like material, as shown in Figure No. 14,
which is drawn to the same scale as Figure No. 13, and which Figure No. 14
represents the exterior parts of the machine when so enclosed, A, A, being
the base; B, the safety spring elevator; C, the recess; D, the opening or arch
for access to the wad hole; E, E, the block; F, F, the space for the grooves
and slides; G, G, the magazine space, and H the boss, herein-after described;
I is the plug (at each end) giving when removed access to the grooves for
placing or removing the slides, and K, K, are the lids giving access to the

page_text: magazine holders for placing therein or removing therefrom the magazines; there
is also a door either at the back or end of the case intended to give access to the
magazine slides for the purpose of working them when required. For opening out,
the orifices of cartridge cases when indented I provide and use a conically-shaped
convex boss gradually increasing in diameter from the apex to the base thereof,
the diameter at the apex being equal to that of the smallest cartridge for which
the particular machine can by diminishing shields be used, and the diameter at
the base thereof being equal to the diameter of the interior of the maximum cart-
ridge intended to be used. This boss is fixed in a circular-formed tube of, say, th
of an inch in length and of a diameter equal to the diameter of the boss at its
base, plus twice the thickness of the cartridge paper walls or sides of the
cartridge, so as to permit of the cartridge passing freely from the apex down
to the base or end of such boss. This boss I affix to some convenient part of
the front of the machine, say, on the block, or when the machine is enclosed in
a case of wood or zinc or any other material, then to such case in the front
part thereof, say, over the recess or arch where the wads are inserted. If it
be desired to diminish the charge of powder or shot which the respective
charge holes are constructed to contain I unscrew the handle of the particular
slide whereof the charge is to be diminished, withdraw or remove such slide
drop into its charge hole a conical-shaped diminishing tube of such length and
thickness as to make the body or superficies thereof when placed in position
diminish the capacity of the charge hole to the extent to which the charge
is intended to be diminished, and then replace the slide and handle thereof.
The exterior of such tube must correspond with the form of the charge
hole, and the interior must be sufficiently large to admit of the contents of
the charge hole in which the tube is placed being freely discharged. If
it is desired to use a machine constructed for loading cartridges of one
bore for the purpose of loading cartridges of a less bore, say, to use a
machine for No. 12 bore cartridges to load a No. 16 bore cartridge, I make
and insert a diminishing shield perforated with a circular hole of the diameter
of the interior of the cartridge of smaller size, and of a thickness equal to the
difference in length between the maximum cartridge, say, the No. 12 bore,
and the smaller cartridge, say, the No. 16 bore, and which shield will in form
be similar to the lower part or orifice of the wad hole with the shield thereto
affixed, and may be, say, one thirty-second part of an inch in thickness, and
should be of a size to fit in and upon and close to the wad hole shield by
means of a pin or screw, which pin or screw passes into and through the wad
hole shield, so as to fix and keep the diminishing shield firmly in position.
In the middle of the recess in the block I then affix a semicircular piece of

page_text: metal, say, of brass of thickness sufficient to support and keep the smaller
cartridge in a vertical position when its centre at the capped end rests upon
the centre of the hole in the elevator.
grooves
The following parts of the machine, and all the fastenings thereof and parts
used in connection therewith, should for safety and durability and the least
amount of friction be of brass, that is to say, the slides, grooves, and spring
rammer (except the spring thereof which is encased), the safety elevator
(except the spring thereof which may be of steel instead of brass), the
diminishing tubes and shields, the binders, screws, and supports of the
when a wooden block is not used and the slides of the magazines. The
magazines should (for safety's sake) be of brass, copper, or zinc, the lower
orifices or discharging necks of brass. The magazines may also be made of
any flexible fabric or substance in the shape of a bag diminishing towards the
discharging necks and capable of being closed at the mouth thereof, but bags
are not so safe as magazines of brass, copper, or zinc, though when the upper
part of the machine is not encased their use diminishes the bulk of the
machine, as they and the spring rammer can be removed.
Having now thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the apparatus by which the same is to be performed, I now
proceed to shew in what way the process of loading a cartridge by such
apparatus is performed:-The powder slide and shot slide being each placed
in position of charge, and the handles affixed thereto respectively, I fill the
magazine placed in position and immediately over the powder slide with
powder and the other magazine also in position with shot, thus the magazine
slides being open the charge holes respectively become charged, the one with
powder and the other with shot; I then place an empty cartridge of the bore
for which the machine is intended into the recess, so as to make its capped end
rest with its centre on the spring elevator over the centre of the hole in such
elevator; I then by means of its handle move the powder slide forward from its
position of charge until its end nearest the wad hole rests upon the end of the
other slide, by which motion the exact contents of and in its charge hole are
cut off and separated from the contents of the superincumbent magazine neck
and corresponding feeding hole, and accordingly drop through the wad bole
into the orifice of the cartridge placed as aforesaid; I then by the same handle
move back the powder slide until checked by its back check, and by which
motion the powder slide reverts to its position of charge, and is again filled
with the quantity of powder for the reception whereof the charge hole is
constructed ; I then insert a wad into the wad hole by and through the upper
surface or bed of the lower groove, force down the piston or rod of the spring

page_text: rammer with force sufficient to drive the wad home, which piston or rod
when the pressure is withdrawn recovers its former position. I repeat the
like process with the shot slide, wad, and piston, and withdraw the cartridge
loaded, which I replace by another empty cartridge, and repeat such process
till the desired quantity of cartridges is loaded.
Having particularly described my Invention, and the manner in which it is
to be performed, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine or
limit myself to the precise details herein set forth, as the same may be variously
modified and adapted without departing from the distinguishing features of
my Invention, with reference to which I claim,―
First, the general combination and arrangement of parts constituting my
improved method of loading any number, description, or size of cartridges
used in breech-loading guns with safety, rapidity, and precision, and with
charges variable at pleasure.
Secondly, the use of a slide as described in combination with the grooves
and magazines, for the purpose of cutting off the exact charge of powder or
shot as the case may require, and carrying the same to its destination in the
safest and most expeditious manner and with the least amount of friction.
Thirdly, the perforation of the slides so as to adapt then to the maximum
charge required, and to the reception of diminishing tubes, and the channelling
out of the shot slide in order to counteract the clogging of the shot while
being cut off by the slide and the friction and jostling of the shot whilst the
slide is in motion.
Fourthly, the formation, use, and adaptation of the safety spring elevator and
of the diminishing tubes and diminishing shields as described, and their
operation when combined.
Fifthly, the use and adaptation of the boss for the purpose of opening out
indented cartridge cases.
And, lastly, the apparatus or machine as described, and all combinations and
modifications thereof, for facilitating and accelerating the loading of cartridges
according to my improved method.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wyllie Riddell-Webster, have
bereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
THOMAS WILLIE RIDDELL-WEBSTER. (L.S.)