IMPROVEMENTS IN DIAMOND CUTTING MACHINES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DIAMOND CUTTING MACHINES."
"-A communication
from abroad by Isaac Hermann, of the City, County, and State of
New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 27th January 1874, and dated the 9th September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 9th September 1873.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIAMOND CUTTING MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to furnish for the use of diamond
cutters an improved machine, by which the fatiguing and difficult
process of cutting diamonds, which has hitherto been done exclusively
by hand, may be greatly facilitated and accelerated. The thick coatings

page_text: or gloves for the protection of the hands of the workman may be
dispensed with, and the diamonds quickly placed in position for cutting.
The Invention consists in the application of steam power to the
spindle with the cutting diamond, which is connected to the shank of
the same by an end or base piece having a wedge-shaped dovetail joint.
The cutting diamond operates on the diamond to be cut, which is set
into a detached spindle and guided by a sleeve piece sliding on a pro-
jecting handle support.
The machine consists of an oblong box to receive the tray of the
workman, which takes up the diamond dust produced in cutting. A
spindle is mounted near the front part of the box at the right-hand side
on a fixed pillar, to which it is pivoted.
The cutting diamond is secured in the usual manner in a knob of
cement placed on the detachable end piece of the said spindle. This end
or base piece projects towards the centre of the box, and is attached to
the shank of the spindle by a wedge-shaped dovetail joint, and may be
taken off and put on during the progress of the work as required. By
means of a set screw the connection of the base piece and spindle shank
may be still further secured.
Reciprocating motion is transmitted to said spindle by means of a rod
connected thereto by a universal joint and operated by an eccentric on
a cross shaft at the rear of the box, to which shaft the motive power is
applied. At the left-hand side of the box is applied a similar pillar,
which stands however not directly opposite the right-hand pillar but
some distance to the rear. It carries at the height of the box a guide
sleeve for the left-hand spindle. This guide sleeve consists of two parts
hinged together, the lower part being pivoted to the pillar, while the
upper part may be thrown open to admit the spindle, and is secured on
the lower part by means of an adjustable spring. In this sleeve is
mounted the spindle carrying the diamond to be cut, said spindle being
fitted in the sleeve by means of a ball and socket, so that the spindle
may be readily turned therein and directed by the workman, the diamond
to be worked upon being fastened to the spindle in the manner already
described. The lower fore part of this sleeve rests on a projecting
support, and slides thereon as necessitated by the work. This support
is cast or rigidly attached to the side of the box opposite the right-hand
pillar, and is rounded off at the lower side, forming a handle piece for

page_text: steadying the spindle carrying the diamond to be cut on exposing the
latter to the abrading action of the cutting diamond of the right-hand
spindle. As soon as the stone is finished the diamond used for cutting
is taken off and transferred to the left-hand spindle to be then acted
upon by a third diamond, which in its turn is cut by a fourth, and so on.
The left-hand spindle and its stone is fully within the control of the
workman, and manipulated as the cutting of the gem requires, it being
easily carried to and off the cutting diamond by the sliding motion of
the sleeve, and readily applied by the play of the spindle in the sleeve.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DIAMOND CUTTING MACHINES," a communication to me
from abroad by Isaac Hermann, of the City, County, and State of New
York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be.

page_text: 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 Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
--
The object of this Invention is to furnish for the use of diamond
cutters an improved machine, by which the fatiguing and difficult
process of cutting diamonds, which has hitherto been done exclusively
by hand, may be greatly facilitated and accelerated. The thick coatings
or gloves for the protection of the hands of the workman may be
dispensed with, and the diamonds quickly placed in position for cutting.
The Invention consists in the application of steam power to the
spindle with the cutting diamond, which is connected to the shank of
the same by an end or base piece having a wedge-shaped dovetail joint.
The cutting diamond operates on the diamond to be cut, which is set
into a detached spindle and guided by a sleeve picce sliding on a pro-
iecting handle support.

page_text: The cutting diamond is secured in the usual manner in a knob of
cement placed on the detachable end piece D of spindle B. This end or
base piece D projects towards the centre of box A, and is attached to
the shank of spindle B by a wedge-shaped dovetail joint e, and may be
taken off and put on during the progress of the work as required. By
means of a set screw the connection.of base piece D and spindle shank
may be still further reduced. At the left-hand side of box A is applied
a similar pillar C, which stands however not directly opposite the right-
hand pillar C but some distance to the rear. It carries at the height of
the box A the guide sleeve E for the left-hand spindle B². The guide
sleeve E consists of two parts, which are hinged together in front, the
lower part being pivoted to pillar C, while the upper part may be
thrown open towards the front for admitting the spindle, and secured on
the lower part by means of a strong band spring F, which spring is
pivoted to the top rear part of box A. Sleeve E is constructed of
suitable strength and material to resist the strain exerted upon it, and
widens near its hinged part for the shank of the spindle B³, having an
annular groove g for the knob g¹ of spindle B³, so that the latter may be
readily turned therein and directed by the workman. The diamond to.
be worked upon is fastened to the spindle B2 in the manner already
described. The lower fore part of sleeve E rests on a sideways projecting
support G, and slides on the flat smooth surface of the same as
necessitated by the work. The support G is cast or rigidly attached to
the side of box A opposite the right-hand pillar C, and is rounded off at
the lower side, forming a handle piece for steadying the spindle B² on
exposing the diamond of the same to the abrading action of the cutting
diamond of the right-hand spindle. As soon as the stone is finished the
diamond used for cutting is taken off and transferred to the left-hand
spindle, to be then acted upon by a third diamond, which in its turn is
cut by No. 4, and so on. The left-hand spindle and its stone is fully
within the control of the workman, and manipulated as the cutting of
the gem requires, it being easily carried to and off the cutting diamond
by the sliding motion of the sleeve, and readily applied by the play of
the spindle in the sleeve.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The machine for cutting diamonds, consisting of box A, pivoted

page_text: spindle B, operated by shaft a, guide sleeve E, spring F, handle
support G, and detachable spindle B², constructed and operated sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
2ndly. The box A being open at rear end and having pillar C and
handle support G, as described.
3rdly. The pivoted spindle B having sleeve B¹ and end or base piece D
jointed thereto in the manner described.
4thly. The pivoted guide sleeve E constructed as described.
5thly. The combination of guide sleeve E retained by band spring F,
support G, and spindle B² to guide and steady the same against the 1
cutting diamond of spindle B, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
HENRY W. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)