IMPROVE- MENTS IN TABLE CUTLERY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes and Son,
Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TABLE CUTLERY." A communication from abroad by William
Eccleston, of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 22nd June 1877, and dated the 23rd December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the 'said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1876.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLE CUTLERY." A communication
from abroad by William Eccleston, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of that class of
table cutlery commonly termed "Scale handles" or "Scale tang handles," that is to
say, such as have a handle formed of a pair of scales or piece upon each side of a
central flat tang, the two pieces or scales secured together and to the tang by rivets
through the three.
In the manufacture of table cutlery various forms of handles are required to be
produced to satisfy the demands of the trade.
It has heretofore been necessary in making this class of cutlery to form the tang
the same shape as the outline of the handle, the edge of the tang appearing between
the scales on both edges of the handle. This necessitates as many dies for shaping
the blade and tang as there are varieties for shape of handle, hence it is necessary
for manufacturers to carry a large stock of blades in order to supply this varying
demand.
The object of this Invention is the construction of the blade and tang for a scale
handle which shall be applicable to all shapes of handle, so that the same blade may
be applied to any shaped handle as the order may demand.
The Invention consists in forming the tang narrower than the scales, and making
a corresponding cavity in the inner face of one or both scales to receive the tang,
as more fully hereinafter described.
In suitable dies, and substantially such as are commonly used, the blade is cut to

page_text: the required form with the tang less in width than the scales to be applied; one
or both of the scales is formed with a cavity on its inner face corresponding to the
said tang; the tang is punched or drilled with the usual rivet holes, and the scales
are placed together upon the tang, and the rivets introduced to secure the scales
together upon the tang in the usual manner; the handle may then be shaped in
the usual manner, and to conform to any desirable pattern, the edge of the tang not
interfering with such variation of shape.
If desirable the tang may be somewhat shorter than the scale, and the length of
the cavity in the scale made accordingly, so that the end of the tang will not appear
at the end of the handle.
The labor of forming the cavity in the handle is more than compensated by the
advantage which this construction offers in the subsequent shaping of the handle,
as the tang does not interfere with or hinder such finishing of the handle, so that
the cost of manufacture is not increased by this construction, but on the contrary, is
practically diminished because of the less number of dies required in the production
of blades, and the consequent less stock necessary to be carried.
The bolster may be cast or formed by any of the usual methods, the narrow tang
affording a convenient recess between the end of the handle and the heel of the
blade for the metal to flow into, this cavity formed by simply making the tang as
much longer as the width of the cavity.
•
Instead of forming the cavity directly in the scale, the scales may be applied to
each side of the tang, thus leaving a recess at each side the thickness of the tang;
these recesses may then be filled. This will form a cavity, corresponding to and
within which is the tang, therefore in describing the cavity as formed in one or
both scales, it will be understood as including any construction which will close
the scales around the tang.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
June 1877.
66
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLE CUTLERY." A communication
from abroad by William Eccleston, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.
"
This Invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of that class of
table cutlery commonly termed "Scale handles or "Scale tang handles," that is
to say, such as have a handle formed of a pair of scales or piece upon each side of a
central flat tang, the two pieces or scales secured together and to the tang by rivets
through the three.
In the manufacture of table cutlery various forms of handles are required to be
produced to satisfy the demands of the trade.
It has heretofore been necessary in making this class of cutlery to form the tang
the same shape as the outline of the handle, the edge of the tang appearing between
the scales on both edges of the handle. This necessitates as many dies for shaping
the blade and tang as there are varieties for shape of handle, hence it is necessary
for manufacturers to carry a large stock of blades in order to supply this varying
demand.
The object of this Invention is the construction of the blade and tang for a scale
handle, which shall be applicable to all shapes of handle, so that the same blade may
be applied to any shaped handle, as the order may demand.
The Invention consists in forming the tang narrower than the scales, and making
a corresponding cavity in the inner face of one or both scales to receive the tang, as
more fully herein-after described.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a view of the blade with improved narrow tang.
Fig. 2 represents grooved scale.
Fig. 3, section of handle constructed according to this Invention.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, handlos or scales variously shaped.
Fig. 7 represents the blade with tang applied in grooved scale previously to
attaching outer scale.
In suitable dies, and substantially such as are commonly used, the blade is cut
to the required form with the tang a, less in width than the scales 6 to be applied;
one or both of the scales b is formed with a cavity on its inner face, corresponding
to the said tang; the tang is punched or drilled with the usual rivet holes, and
the scales are placed together upon the tang, and the rivets introduced to secure the
scales together upon the tang in the usual manner; the handle may then be
shaped in the usual manner, as reprosented in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and to conform to
any desirable pattern, the edge of the tang not intorfering with such variation of
shape.
If desirable, the tang may be somehwat shorter than the scale, and the length of
the cavity in the scale made accordingly, so that the end of the tang will not appear
at the end of the handle.
The labour of forming the cavity in the handle is more than compensated by the
advantage which this construction offers in the subsequent shaping of the handle,
as the tang does not interfere with or hinder such finishing of the handle, so that
the cost of manufacture is not increased by this construction, but on the contrary,
is practically diminished because of the less number of dies required in the produc-
tion of blades, and the consequent loss stock necessary to be carried.
The bolster may be cast or forined by any of the usual methods, the narrow tang
affording a convenient recoss e between the end of the handle and the heel of the
blade for the metal to flow into this cavity, being formed by simply making the tang
as much longer as the width of the cavity.
Instead of forming the cavity directly in the scale, the scales may be applied to
cach side of the tang, thus leaving a recess at each side the thickness of the tang;
these recesses may then be filled. This will form a cavity corresponding to and
within which is the tang, therefore in describing the cavity as formed in one or
both scales it will be understood as including any construction which will close the
scales around the tang.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I claim
the herein described improvement in scale tang cutlery, consisting in constructing
the blade with the tang narrower than the scales, and with a cavity formed on the
inner surface of one or both the scales to correspond to the said tang, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of June, One thousand eight
E. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)