IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF SHOVELS OR LIKE IMPLEMENTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel Dauney Griffin, of Harborne, in the County of
[4
Stafford, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF SHOVELS OR LIKE IMPLEMENTS."
Sealed the 23rd September 1876, and dated the 29th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel Dauncy Griflin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1876.
NATHANIEL DAUNCY GRIFFIN, of Harborne, in the County of Stafford. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF SHOVELS OR LIKE
IMPLEMENTS."
My improvements apply to the manufacture of the description of shovels known
as miners' shovels, Bristol rib shovels, and draining shovels or tools, as also the
construction of a shovel that will combine in its use a spade and fork, and these
several and similar implements I purpose producing in the following way-I make
the blade of the miners' shovel from a steel blank of suitable guage, and hammer it
into the desired concave form, coffering it inversely, and on the front over the
coffered sunken part apply a separate coffer united to the blade by rivetting, at
the same time allowing the front coffer to be of sufficient length for receiving the
handle.
The description of shovels known as Bristol rib I also produce from a blank of
steel of proper guage and suitable size, which blade or plate of steel I hammer and
work so as to raise a side and top rib, which leaves the shovel depressed or deepened
to impart to it the requisite strength, forming and raising down the centre a coffered
ridge, which (by preference) I effect by suitable stamps and dies, and into this
raised coffered ridge I apply a solid rib and socket by rivetting the said solid rib
to the rib or coffering of the shovel, and the top end of the solid rib a suitable
socket is formed for receiving the handle, and this same description comprehends
the solid rib applied to the top of the blade of the shovel or beneath it, leaving the
operation of inverse coffering to be applied or not, which in some cases would be
necessary when greater strength in the implement is desired. Notwithstanding I
purpose inanufacturing this same description of shovel without the addition of a
solid rib and socket, in which case I allow the sheet steel of which the shovel is
composed to stand up from the middle of the top end with which to form a socket
for receiving the handle, and imparting the necessary strength by applying a strap
[Price Gd.]

page_text: and double loop rivet to the back of the shovel near the end of the tree or
handle.
In applying any improvements to the production of draining spades I cut the
blade out of sheet steel, and deflect the said blade gradually from the point to the
top, as also in cross section to obtain strength, and I also deflect a coffered ridge
which rises on the back, and into this coffered deflected ridge I apply a solid shank
with combined divided langets, the shank for receiving the blade by rivetting, and
the langets for receiving the common spade handle.
I combining a spade with a fork I proceed in the following manner:-I form
the two side prongs and a centre prong which extends up and forms langets for
receiving the handle, notwithstanding the handle may be applied to a socket or
otherwise, and (by preference) I fatten the points of the prongs, taking care to
preserve sufficient strength for holes to be made through the same for carrying
rivets, which rivets pass through a short blade of steel, thus converting an ordinary
agricultural three-pronged fork into an open-blade spade, the cutting edge of which
will be found highly useful in cutting weeds or breaking up heavy soil.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nathaniel Dauncy Griffin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
September 1876.
NATHANIEL DAUNCY GRIFFIN, of Harborne, in the County of Stafford. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF SHOVELS OR LIKE
IMPLEMENTS."
My improvements apply to the manufacture of the description of shovels known
as miners' shovels, Bristol rib shovels, and draining shovels or tools, as also the
construction of a shovel that will combine in its use a spade and fork, and these
several and similar impliments I purpose producing in the following way I make
the blade of the miners' shovels from a steel blank of suitable gauge, and hammer
it into the desired concave form, coffering it inversely, and on the front over the
coffered sunken part apply a separate coffered rib united to the blade by rivetting,
at the same time allowing the front coffer to be of suflicient length for receiving the
handle.
The description of shovels known as Bristol rib I also produce from a blank of
steel of proper gauge and suitable size, which blade or plate of steel I hammer and
work so as to raise a side and top rib, which leaves the shovel depressed or deepened
to impart to it the requisite strength, forming and raising down the centre a coffered
ridge, which (by preference) I effect by suitable stamps and dies, and into this
raised coffered ridge I apply a solid rib and socket by rivetting the said solid rib to
the rib or coffering of the shovel, and at the top end of the solid rib a suitable
socket is formed for receiving the handle, and this same description comprehends
the solid rib applied to the top of the blade of the shovel or beneath it, leaving the
operation of inverse coffering to be applied or not, which in some cases would be
necessary when greater strength in the impliment is desired. Notwithstanding I
purpose manufacturing this same description of shovel without the addition of a
solid rib and socket, in which case I allow the sheet steel of which the shovel is
composed to stand up from the middle of the top end with which to form a socket
for receiving the handle, and imparting the necessary strength by applying a strap
and double loop rivetted to the top of the shovel near the end of the tree or
handle.
In applying my improvements to the production of draining tools I cut the
blade out of sheet steel, and deflect the said blade gradually from the point to the
top, as also in cross section to obtain strength, and I also deflect a coffered ridge
which rises on the back, and into this coffered deflected ridge I apply a solid shauk

page_text: with combined divided langets, the shank for receiving the blade by rivetting, and
the langets for receiving the common spade handle.
Since commencing my Patent I have discovered that a combined spade and fork
is not new, and that my improvements do not profitably apply in their production,
therefore will not refer further to them, but as my general improvements in the
manufacture of spades and shovels will be best understood aided by the Drawings
hereunto annexed I will proceed to discribe the same, reference being had to the
figures and letters marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a miner's shovel made from a blank of sheet steel, dished and
thinned towards the lower part by hammering, having a coffered rib produced by
stamping or otherwise up the centre, as at a; the dotted lines b, b, are cars that
are bent round and welded for forming the socket for receiving the handle,
marked c, the said socket and coffering being set in a proper angle for receiving and
setting the handle with the shovel in a handy manner for work. Between the
coffering and the socket, or on the neck part, I place a stiffening or strengthening
plate secured by three rivets, as here shown, or more if necessary. The said
strengthening plate is marked d, and is curved lengthway and laterally to fit
exactly over the coffering and neck of the socket. This shaping process I purpose
effecting. by suitable dies striking the plate into shape while at a bright heat, the
said plate being afterward clipped of all superfluous metal, so as to define its
shape and rivet holes; but I sometimes purpose making miners' shovels as exhibited
at Figure 2, that is to say, by shaping and coffering, as here shown, as also in au
edge section at Fig. 3 taken through the dotted lines e, e, of Figure 2.
When constructing miners' shovels I apply a socket coffered in its lower part to
correspond with the coffering of the shovel, and lapping over on the shovel blade, as
shown by the dotted lines f, ff, and secured to the shovel by rivetting. A shovel
thus constructed with the coffer and socket I have represented in section at Fig. 4,
with the handle not in section but broken off for convenience of space.
Fig. 5 represents a Bristol rib shovel (the name by which they are designated in
the market), and instead of proceeding as heretofore with a thick piece of iron, or
iron and steel suitably combined, or composed wholly of steel, technically called
a shovel mould, and reducing the same by the process technically known as plating,
a work of labour, care, and skill, I take a piece of sheet steel of suitable gauge, and
cut the blank square or nearly so at the bottom, and work it down into the curved
shape here shown by hammering, so as to thin the blade from the coffering down-
ward, which coffering and dishing of the general body of the blade I effect by
preference by means of dies and stamps, appliances well known to many workers in
iron and other metals, and I perform this operation of stamping while the steel is in
an heated condition. The raised coffering and angular ridge on the sides and top of
the shovel blade impart great strength and stiffness to the same. A section of this
finished shovel blade I have exhibited through the dotted line g, g, at Fig. 6. The
manner in which I apply the handle to this description of shovel is by forming a
socket with a solid tang, which in shape must be the counterpart of the central
coffering of the shovel, to which it is secured by rivetting, performing this operation
(by preference) while the tang or strap is in a heated state, which socket and tang I
have shown in front and edge view at Fig. 7; but in some instances, as at Figure 1,
I cut out my sheet of steel sufficiently long as to form a socket, as at Fig. 8. The
dotted lines, h, represent the form of the ears before being bent and welded
together to form the socket, and again in this Figure I have represented a
strengthening plate made and fashioned as described at d in that Figure.
Fig. 9 also represents a rib shovel made as before described, but in this case I
form the socket partly by forging, and partly by stamping and swadging, not only
with a central strap for rivetting over the coffering, but with lateral straps, also for
rivetting to the top angular shoulders of the shovel, and as in the former case I

page_text: prefer rivetting this tripple strapped socket to the shovels blade while in a heated
condition. And as another modification of the use of sheet steel for shovel blades I
have exhibited a spade in a front view at Fig. 10, which may be technically called
a thick topped spade, thus technically explaining that the blade is drawn down
from the top in a gradual taper, as shown in the section marked with the same
letter at Figure 11, which is a side view of Figure 10. The part marked is coffered
into this shape to form a recess for the back strap below the neck of the langets
marked m to lie in, whilst the strap n comes down in front, so that by means of
the five rivets the shovel blade is firmly secured to and between the straps forged
with and forming part of the langets, which langets are marked p, p, and between
which the handle is secured in the ordinary way, adopting cither a crutch, as here
shown, or an eye handle, which formes no part of my Invention.
Fig. 12 simply represents a plain shovel cut out from sheet steel, and dished by
hammering, simply raising or coffering it at the top marked 2, and to this kind of
shovel blade I apply a socket and strap, as at Fig. 13, preferring to forge the strap
into an angular shape, as shown in a transverse section at Fig. 14. This socket
and strap or rib is secured to the front of the blade by rivetting, as shown at
Figure 12.
Fig. 15 represents a front view of a draining tool or spade, and as in the former
examples the blade is formed from sheet steel, gradually hammered or reduced from
the shoulders downward, curved and coffered as at s for receiving the shank of the
socket or langets (as may be preferred), but have here represented a socket, also
shown in side view at Fig. 16, the straps being marked t.
Fig. 17 represents a sectional view of the blade, coffer s, and strap tas taken
through the dotted line u, u.
In some instances I may so form the solid neck of the socket as to form a front
strap to come down on the face of the coffering, as at n, Figure 10, or adopt the
strengthening mode, as at Figures 1 and 8, and which plate would lie on the front
of the coffer, as in the section marked in dotted lines at Fig. 17.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner in which the same may be
carried into effect by workmen accustomed to the manufacture of shovels, I desire
it to be understood that I do not purpose binding myself to the exact shape and
proportions herein described and exhibited, as the same may be varied without
departing from the primary object and element of my Invention, which consist in
making shovel blades of various sizes and descriptions from sheet steel, and
strengthening them as herein described and exhibited in contradistinction to
forming them of moulds composed of lumps of iron or steel, or of iron and steel
combined, which require reducing by the expensive and laborious process of plating,
and this I claim as of my Invention and desire to protect by these my in part
recited Letter Patent.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel Dauncy Griffin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of Semptember, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
GEORGE F. A. GRIFFIN,
NATHANIEL DAUNCY GRIFFIN. (L.S.)
Clerk to Mr. J. S. Cockings,
17, Ann St.,
Birmingham.