IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPUR BOXES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Latchford, of Upper Saint Martin's
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Bit and Spur Maker, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPUR BOXES."
Sealed the 29th March 1870, and dated the 1st February 1970.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Latchford
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st February 1870.
I, BENJAMIN LATONFORD, of Upper Saint Martin's Lanc, in the County
of Middlesex, Bit and Spur Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPUR BOXES," to
be as follows:-
Ordinary spur boxes are made with a door opening inwards and
upwards, and the space occupied at the top on the inside of the box
by the spring which closes the door as well as by the thickness of this
latter when opened by the spur plug necessitates the placing of the box
so high up in the heel of the boot as often to seriously incommode the

page_text: wearer; these boxes have two springs in their interior, one at top and
ouc at the bottom, and have flanges at the bottom, on the outside,
by which they are secured in the heel.
I propose by my Invention, firstly, to permit the spur to be carried
well up on the heel of the boot while leaving a sufficient thickness of
packing between the box and the heel of the wearer; secondly, to
simplify the mechanism; thirdly, to facilitate the fitting of the spur
box in the heel of the boot; lastly, to cheapen the manufacture of the
spur box.
To attain my first object I make the door of the box to open inwards,
but downwards, fixing the spring by which it is closed, and that also
holds the spur plug when inserted at the bottom of the box, and I
thus economize at the top all the space hitherto occupied by the door
spring and by the door itself when opened. I simplify the mechanism
by substituting for the two springs hitherto used a single spring fixed
to the bottom of the box, and serving both to hold the spur plug and
to close the door when the plug is pulled out. I facilitate the fitting
of the spur box in the heel of the boot by adopting the use of four or
more flanges on the top plate of the box, in lieu of two at the bottom
as hitherto. In building the licel packing will be placed between the
flanges of each side and no screws or pins will be needed. I obtain
economy not only by simplifying the mechanism as above set forth,
but also in the construction of the box, which will be understood by
reference to the annexed Sheet of Drawing, which I will now proceed
to describe.
Fig. 1 represents an end elevation of an ordinary spur box Y and
of one of my improved boxes X showing the relative position of doors
and flanges.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and elevation of a box of my improved 30
construction with door closed drawn to an enlarged scale.
Fig. 3 is also a section through same box, but with the door pushed
down or opened and fitted with spur, also enlarged.
Fig. 4 represents the various parts of one of my improved boxes in
the course of manufacture, tlie letters of reference placed thercon denoting 35
corresponding parts in all the Figures.

page_text: a is the top plate
b, back or end plate >as struck from the dies;
c, the box
d, the box with sides raised and ready to receive the top plate a;
e, box with top and end plates fitted;
f, elevation and end view of door ;
9, hinge pin for door;
h, plan and elevation of spring;
i, rivet for spring.
:
At Fig. 2 the spring his shown closing the doorf, and in Fig. 3 the
other end of said spring is shown holding the spur plug in the box.
, side of spur.
I am aware that the door of a spur box has already been made to open
inwards and downwards, but by arrangements necessitating an alteration
of the spur plug, with the construction of which my arrangements in no
way interfere.
I propose to make my improved spur boxes of iron or of brass, but
any suitable metal or material may be used in their manufacture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Latchford in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th July 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
LATCHFORD, of Upper Saint Martin's Lanc, in the County of Middlesex,.
Bit and Spur Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her ·
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Latchford, Her special licence
that I, the said Benjamin Latchford, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin Latchford, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the

page_text: 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF SPUR BOXES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Benjamin Latchford, 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
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said 1
Letters Patent,
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Latchford, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawing, and to the figures and letters of reference placed
thercon.
Ordinary spur boxes are made with a door opening inwards and
upwards, and the space occupied at the top on the inside of the box
by the spring which closes the door as well as by the thickness of this 2
latter when opened by the spur plug necessitates the placing of the box
so high up in the heel of the boot as often to seriously incommode the
wearer, or the spur is thrown too near the ground; these boxes have
two springs in their interior, one at top and one at the bottom, and
have flanges at the bottom on the outside by which they are secured 5
in the hecl.
I propose by my Invention, firstly, to permit the spur to be carried
well up on the heel of the boot while leaving a sufficient thickness of
packing between the box and the heel of the wearer; secondly, to
simplify the mechanism; thirdly, to facilitate the fitting of the spur
box in the heel of the boot; lastly, to cheapen the manufacture of the
spur box.
To attain my first object I make the door of the box to open inwards
but downwards, fixing the spring by which it is closed and that also
holds the spur plug when inserted at the bottom of the box, and I thus
economise at the top all the space hitherto occupied by the door spring
and by the door itself when opened. I simplify the mechanism by sub-
stituting for the two springs hitherto used a single spring fixed to the
E

page_text: bottom of the box and serving both to hold the spur plug and to close
the door when the plug is pulled out. I facilitate the fitting of the
spur box in the heel of the boot by adopting the use of two, or four,
or more flanges on the top plate of the box in lieu of two at the bottom
as hitherto. In building the heel packing will be placed between the
flanges of each side, and no screws or pins will be needed. I obtain
economy not only by simplifying the mechanism as above set forth,
but also in the construction of the box, which will be understood by
reference to the annexed Sheet of Drawing, which I will now proceed
to decomita

page_text: At Figures 2 and 2A the spring his shewn closing the door ƒ, and in
Figures 3 and 3A the other end of spring is shown holding the spur
plug in the box. 2, side of spur.
I am aware that the door of a spur box has already been made to
open inwards and downwards, but by arrangements necessitating an 5
alteration of the spur plug, with the construction of which my ar-
rangements in no way interfere.
I make my improved spur boxes of iron or of brass, but any suitable
metal or material may be used in their manufacture, which is greatly
simplified by striking the bottom plate and sides out of a single piece 1
as at c, d, Figure 4. The top and back plates may be brazed to the
box and to each other or be joined in any suitable manner, and be made
by stamping or otherwise.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that 1
I do not confine myself to the exact details hercin given, nor to any
precise dimensions or mode of manufacture of the several parts, as such
may be varied and modified without departure from my Invention, and
that I claim,
Firstly. The use of a single spring for holding a spur plug and 2
closing the door of a spur box, substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly. The use of flanges on the top plate of a spur box, substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Latchford, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the 2
1 year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
BENJ“. LATCHFORD. (L.S