A NEW METHOD OR METHODS OF APPLYING SPRINGS TO SADDLES, STIRRUPS IRONS, MARTINGAL RINGS, WHIPS, HUNTING CAPS, BELT BUCKLES, BRIDLE BITTS, TERRETTS FOR COACH, PHAETON, OR OTHER KIND OF HARNESS, SQUARES FOR STABLE COLLAR REINS, TRUSSES OR BANDAGES FOR RUPTURES, AND MILKING PAILS
Year: 1786

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SMITH, of Farnham, in the County of Surrey, Sadler, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the twenty-sixth year of His reign,
did give unto me, the said Thomas Smith, His special licence that I, the
said Thomas Smith, during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully night make, use and exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A NEW METHOD
OR METHODS OF APPLYING SPRINGS TO SADDLES, STIRRUPS IRONS, MARTINGAL
RINGS, WHIPS, HUNTING CAPS, BELT BUCKLES, BRIDLE BITTS, TERRETTS FOR COACH,
PHAETON, OR OTHER KIND OF HARNESS, SQUARES FOR STABLE COLLAR REINS,
TRUSSES OR BANDAGES FOR RUPTURES, AND MILKING PAILS;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Thomas Smith,
under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature
of my said Invention, and how the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in His Majestie's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month next
after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Smith, do hereby declare that my said Invention of A New
Method or Methods of Applying Springs to Saddles, Stirrup Irons, Martingal

page_text: Rings, Whips, Hunting Caps, Belt Buckles, Bridle Bitts, Terretts for Coach,
Phaeton, or other Kind of Harness, Squares for Stable Collar Reins, Trusses
or Bandages for Ruptures, and Milking Pails, is and are described in the
manner following, that is to say :-
To Saddles for the Ease of the Rider, and also for the Fitting of different
Horses. These springs, which are to fix the webbs to, are let into the hind
part of the tree; under the plate a mortise is cut through the cantle, through
which the webbs are drawn and sewed to the eyes of the springs, which are
made double, with a bow at the acting part of the springs, and the webbs
are nailed before as usual. The fore points of these trees, for the better
fitting of horses, are steel springs covered with leather, which are set in
narrow enough for the smallest horse, and will, if required, give out to the
size of a wide horse. The gullet plate of this tree is fitted when the tree is
at the widest extream, after which a groove is cut to let the plate in, which
is held in its place by two screws on each side, which by screwing in the tree
is drawn narrower, and by turning the screws back the tree is made wider,
as the horse may require; there is also a spring fixt on the hind points,
which goes into a case on the pannel, in order to fix the pannel to the
saddle without nailing; there is likewise, after the tree is strained, several
worm or corkcrew springs, made of brass, or any other kind of metal wire,
fixt across the twist of the saddle, that is, just behind the stirrup-bar, which
are fixt on each side to the strap webs, by which means the straps are
elastic, so that the girths are always drawn tight. There is also to the hind
plate of this tree, in the middle, an iron case, which is let into the tree, to
which a spring with a crauper-loop is applied. By pressing the spring down,
which has a nick to it, which catches to a notch cut in the plate, and is easy
taken off if required, for giving more ease to a ladies' saddle. To the long
head, instead of all wood, is applied a steel spring covered with stiff leather,
under which is an iron plate which catches to a stud fixed to the lower part
of the head to prevent it from yielding further than is necessary.
Stirrup Irons. To stirrup irons for releasing the foot in case of hanging,
they may be applied in two different ways: first, the stirrup irons are made
in form and shape as other two-barred stirrups; the hinder barr of the stirrup,
when fixed, being an objection to the foot coming out, these are made to
slide in a groove when pressed by the heel to the fore barrs; this hind barr
is fixed with a spring fixed on the under side, or in the groove when not
required to move. Second, this stirrup in shape is the same as other
stirrups. The eye or top of this stirrup has two tenets, with a nick cut in
'

page_text: each of them, which goes through two mortices cut through the ring of
the stirrup. iron. A bow is rivetted towards the middle of the sides of the
stirrup, which bow, when turned up, fixes itself into the nicks of the
tenets of the eye, which goes through the mortices of the top of the main
ring, which is held in its place with a spring fixed on each side the stirrup
irons. A bar is also fixed across the bow, so that when the foot is hung in
the iron, the spring will let the bow give way, and the eye is immediately
drawn from the lower part of the stirrup.
Martingal Rings.-These rings are made with a notch cut through the
bottom part of the ring. At a little distance from the notch is a rise or
shoulder; at the same distance of the other side of the notch is a spring,
which stands up to answer the shoulder; between the spring and the shoulder
the martingal is sewed on. By pressing the spring down, you slide the
martingal over it; when this is done, you discover the notch for to put in
the rein. When the rein is in, you draw the martingal over the spring,
which plays up and keeps it over the notch, which prevents the rein from
coming out.
Another kind of Ring which is used for a Martingal and Rein Runner.-
These rings have a notch at the bottom or sides. A spring is fixed at the
top or side, which crosses the ring, and cover the notch. By drawing the
spring aside of the notch you put in the rein; the spring being let go, it fixes
itself over the notch, and prevents the rein from coming out.
Whips. These whips are made convenient for the pocket, by the top of
the whip sliding into the handle, which is made hollow, and is formed of wood,
or any kind of mettle. A small ring is fixed near the top of it, and a spring
is fixed to the lower part of the top of the whip, which, when drawn out, it
catches to the ring, which prevents its coming out of the handle; at the
end of the handle is fixed a turnscrew and hammer; as they are mostly
designed for shooting, are commonly called dog whips.
Hunting Caps. These caps are designed for hunting, or any other use.
The crown of these caps are made the same as other caps, except it be that
of cutting out the lower part of the crown behind, as far up as shall be
thought necessary, instead of which is substituted a piece of cloth, or any-
thing else of a yielding nature, to the bottom of which is placed round a
spring of the worm or corkscrew kind, made of brass or any other kind of
metal wire, which causes it to sit perfectly easy and close to the head.
Belt Buckles. These buckles are made to answer the following purpose:-
To the bottom bar of the buckle is fixed an anchor, which being placed to a
loop cut in the belt, it forms a proper girth. To the middle bar is fixed a

page_text: tongue, that in case a stirrup leather should break, if a slit is cut in each
part which is broke, by fixing the anchor to one and the tongue to the other,
it will repair it for the present. At the top of the buckle, which is made
round, is fixed a pecker; down the side of the buckle is fixed a spring, so that
the pecker opens and shuts the same as a knife.
Bridle Bit. These bits are made in form and shape the same as all other
bits are, except that part of the cheek which is below the mouthpiece. This
part of the cheek has a dovetail groove cut in it; the lower part of the
cheek, to which is fixed an eye or ring for the rein to be sewed to it, is made
to fit the other dovetail groove; several barrs are fixed across the groove. A
string being fixed to the lower part of the cheek, which slides into the
groove, catches to the bars, by which means you make the bit longer or
shorter in purchase, as the horse may require.
Terrets for Coach, Phaeton, or any kinds of Harness.-They are made
the same in form and shape as other terrets, except that part which goes
into the socket, which, instead of being round to screw in, they are made
three or four square, to which a spring is fixed which has a nick to it, which
catches to a notch cut in the socket, which prevents its
by pressing the spring with the finger it is easily taken out.
coming out, and
Squares for Stable Collar Reins.-These squares are fixed to the manger
for the collar rein to go through, and designed to release the horse in case
of hanging his leg or foot in the rein; they are made square, though wider at
one end than the other. A spring is fixed along the bottom of the square,
and the wide part of it is made with a joint, that when the horse shall
hang his leg, by pressing the rein down, the spring gives way and lets the
rein out.
Trusses or Bandages for Ruptures.-The bolster of this truss is made
with two brass or other metal plates, between which are fixed two springs
which causes the bolster to expand. Under the plate a piece of cork is
fixed, and the whole together is covered with leather. On the top plate is
fixed an eye, to which a strap is fixed, made as follows:-A piece of narrow
linnen girth web, which is covered with soft leather, which goes round the hips,
and is fixed to a stud on the upper plate; also another strap is sewed
to this strap, which goes between the legs, and is fixed to another stud on the
same plate.
Milking Pails. These pails are made of wood or tin, and the same as
other pails, unless it be that of having a cover, which is made shelving
towards the middle, where there is another part let in deeper, which falls off
to a small point, to which is added a small tube or pipe where the milk runs

page_text: n; this cover being shut down, the hasp, being fixed to a spring which goes
ver a catch, is screwed from coming off.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-six.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-first day of October,
in the year of our Lord 1786, the aforesaid Thomas Smith 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 stampt according
to the tenor of the Statutes made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord One