IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOT, AND IN APPARATUS Eй- PLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gerhard Lampen, of Wylam, in the County
of. Northumberland,. Shot Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOT, AND IN APPARATUS Eй-
PLOYED THEREIN.
"
Sealed the 12th July 1870, and dated the 15th January 1870:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gerhard' Lampen at the
Office of the Commissioners of' Patents, with his Petition; on the
15th January 1870.
I, GERHARD LAMPEN, of Wylam, in the County of Northumberland,
Shot Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOT, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," to be.
e as follows:
This Invention relates to improvements in the means and' apparatus
employed for casting shot, whereby the use of arsenic is avoided, and'the
shot so made are free from poisonous materials, are harder and can be
made from inferior and cheaper lead, a less fall also effecting the cooling
of the shot than heretofore.
1

page_text: The usual mode of making shot at present is to prepare lead with
arsenic and then pour it in a molten state through a perforated iron
plate on which is spread lead scum or dross to retard the passage of
the lead and to assist in giving a spheroidal form to the particles passing
through the holes. The particles fall through or down a tower or pit
of considerable height into water.
According to one part of my improvements I substitute pasteboard,
-cardboard, or strong common paper for the iron plate. A piece of this
pasteboard or paper of suitable size is neatly perforated with holes of the
-required size, being fitted into a wooden frame and secured thereto by
any convenient means, and prevented from bending downwards with the
weight of the lead by wire placed beneath it. The wooden frame is pro-
tected 'from the heat of the lead by thin plates of tinned iron, such frame
resting on a larger frame arranged over the pit or fall in such a way that a
rocking or shaking motion can be given to it by means of a wheel worked
by the foot of the operator, or other convenient mechanical means may
be employed for rocking or shaking the frame. A small quantity of pure
sal ammoniac is spread over the pasteboard, the molten lead being
poured upon it, and when the sal ammoniac gives off smoke or vapour it
acts to cool the lead as it passes through the pasteboard. The lead then
falls through or down the tower or pit into water as usually practised in
the manufacture of shot.
Shot made by the process above described does not require to fall
from such a height as when made in the usual way, but if it is required
still further to diminish the height from which the particles of lead 2
have to fall before entering the water a current of cold air is caused to
pass upwards in the pit or tower which assists the cooling of the lead in
its descent.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, 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 Gerhard Lampen, Her special licence that
I, the said Gerhard Lampen, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Gerhard Lampen, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SHOT, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others), that I, the said Gerhard Lampen, 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 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 Gerhard Lampen,, 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:
The object and purpose of my said Invention are casting shot in such
manner and by such means that the use of arsenic is avoided, and the
shots so made are free from poisonous materials, are harder and can be,
made from inferior and cheaper lead, whilst a less fall effects the cooling
of the shot than heretofore.
The said Invention thus differing from the usual mode of making shot
hitherto practised, that is by preparing lead with arsenic, and then,
pouring it in a molten state though a perforated iron plate on which.
is spread lead scum or dross to retard the passage of the lead, and to:
assist in giving a spheroidal form to the particles passing through the
holes, which particles fall through or down a tower or pit of considerable.
height into water.
.
I substitute pasteboard, cardboard, or strong common paper for the
iron plate above mentioned. A piece of this pasteboard or paper of

page_text: suitable size is neatly perforated with holes of the required size, and
fitted into a wooden frame and secured thereto by any convenient means
and prevented from bending downwards with the weight of the lead by
supporting wire beneath it. The wooden frame is protected from the
heat of the lead by thin plates of tinned iron, such frame resting on a
larger frame arranged over the pit or fall in such a way that a rocking
or shaking motion can be given to it which may be effected by means
of a wheel worked by the foot of the operator, but other convenient
mechanical means may be employed for rocking or shaking the frame.
A small quantity of pure sal ammoniac is spread over the pasteboard,
the molten lead being poured upon it, and when the sal ammoniac
gives off smoke or vapour it acts to cool the lead as it passes through
the pasteboard. The lead then falls through or down the tower or pit
into water as usually practised in the manufacture of shot.
Shot made by the process and apparatus above described does not
require to fall from such a height as when made in the usual way,
but if it is required still further to diminish the height from which
the particles of lead have to fall before entering the water a current of
cold air is caused to pass upwards in the pit or tower, which assists the
cooling of the lead in its descent.
As in practice I sometimes find that the piece of pasteboard upon
which the molten lead is poured gets occasionally affected from the heat of
the lead so that it only answers for passing a few ladles with lead through
it. In order to avoid any failure I try the condition of the molten lead
by sprinkling a small quantity of sal ammoniac in the boiler, and if the
sal ammoniac evaporates rather quickly the lead is over hot, but if it
gives off the smoke or vapours slowly the lead may be considered as in
the proper condition, so that the most perfect shot can be cast by my
process, so that the piece of pasteboard can be much longer used, and.
when the latter has served for several large ladles with lead I take it off
and cool it with a little water by means of a brush, after which it is
again fitted into the wooden frame, and this procedure can be renewed
as long as the paper proves strong enough.
The Drawing accompanying these Presents with the explanatory notes
inscribed on the same Sheet therewith illustrate the formation of the
apparatus and means of actuating same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, and in what manner the same may be

page_text: performed or carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim,
Improvements in the Manufacture of Shot, and in Apparatus Employed
therein," in which improvements the use of perforated pasteboard or
strong paper as herein stated is a novel and important feature, together
with the use of sal ammoniac.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gerhard Lampen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
strong paper as herein stated is a novel and important feature, together
with the use of sal ammoniac.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gerhard Lampen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
JAMES ROBERTS,
45, West Street,
Gateshead.
GERHARD LAMPEN. (L.S.)