CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS, PINS, AND RIVETS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Farmer, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Button. Shank Manufacturer, and Thomas Turner, also of
Birmingham aforesaid, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
NAILS, PINS, AND RIVETS."
Sealed the 19th September 1865, and dated the 21st March 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Farmer and
Thomas Turner at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 21st March 1865.
We, CHARLES FARMER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Button
Shank Manufacturer, and THOMAS TURNER, also of Birmingham aforesaid,
Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OP NAILS, PINS, AND RIVETS," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
-
Our improvements relate to machinery for the manufacture of nails,
escutcheon pins, shoe rivets, and rivets for general purposes, using either
drawn wire, round or slit rods of iron or other metal or compound metals,
according to the purpose for which they may be required, adapting our
machinery for large or small nails, pins, or rivets, according to their various
sizes, as may be required, and consist of a suitable stand with a driving shaft
for receiving fixed and loose pulleys, for steam or other convenient driving,

page_text: or a handle for hand work; upon which driving shaft the various cams are
fixed for actuating the feed motion, a compound grip lever for cording,
beading, or partially worming the said nails or rivets, as well as the header.
These motions will take effect on the top of the stand or frame, so that
the machine for convenience assumes a vertical position. The feed motion,
in some instances, we purpose working single or compound, that is, to grip
the metal of which the nail, pio, or rivet is to be formed on two or more
sides, as may be preferred or required.
In the working of this machine the wire or rods may be taken from a
coil, reel, or otherwise, according to its size, and brought under the feed
motion, which is capable of being adjusted to any desired length, more or
less, according to the general size of the machine and the description of
nail or rivet it may be required to make, after which it is seized by a com-
pound grip motion, and held during the time the header is performing its
work, and which head may be diversified according to the die fixed into
the header or the description of nail, pin, or rivet required to be made.
At this stage the nail or rivet may be considered formed, with the exception
of pointing or cutting off, and for this purpose the grip motion is relieved
and the feed motion brought into action, which advances the nail or rivet
partly formed according to the setting of the feed motion, when two or more
lateral dies advance to separate or cut off and then point the nail (when
nails are being made), which drops into a spout to be carried off into a
pan for receiving them. By this time the grip motion has again laid hold
of the wire, for the heading motion to follow up in succession, to continue
the manufacture, which we have found may be effected without any
injurious effect to the machine at the rate of about 200 per minute, more or
less, as may be preferred, a nail or rivet being formed at each revolution of
the driving shaft.
But for the manufacture of the larger description of nails, generally
designated "counter clout" nails, we purpose working the machine in
close proximity with a hot-air furnace or muffle or other equivalent means,
so that the metal may be drawn in a heated state from the muffle into the
machine to be worked into nails, in which case we employ cold water to flow
on the working dies to keep them cool.
This same mode of working up metal wire or rods into nails may be
employed for other nails than counter clout as here expressed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Farmer and Thomas Turner in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 21st September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
FARMER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Button Shank Manu-
facturer, and THOMAS TURNER, also of Birmingham aforesaid, Gun Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Charles Farmer and Thomas Turner, Her special license that we, the
said Charles Farmer and Thomas Turner, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles Farmer and Thomas Turner,
our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the terin
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 Mau, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
AND APPLIANCES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS, PINS, AND RIVETS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Charles Farmer and Thomas
Turner, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should parti-
cularly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Farmer and Thomas Turner,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say) :-
Our improvements relates to machinery for the manufacture of nails,
escutcheon pins, shoe rivets, and rivets for general purposes, using either
drawn wire, round or slit rods of iron or other metal or compound metal,
according to the purpose for which they may be required, adapting the size
and proportions of our machinery for large or small nails, pins, and rivets
according to their various sizes, and consist of a suitable stand with a driving
sh.ft for receiving fixed and loose pulleys, with steam or other convenient
driving power, or a handle for hand work, upon which driving shaft the

page_text: various cams are fixed or formed for actuating the feed motion, a compound
grip lever for cording, beading, grooving, or partially worming the said
nails or rivets, as well as actuating the header, which is held in check
by a more or less powerful helical or other spring. These motions will take
effect on the top of the stand or frame, so that the machine for convenience
assumes a vertical position. The feed motion we purpose, in some instances,
working single or compound, that is, to grip the metal of which the nail,
pin, or rivet is to be formed on one, two, or more sides, as may be preferred
or required.
In the working of this machine the wire or rods may be taken from a coil,
reel, or otherwise, according to its size, and brought under the feed motion,
which is capable of being adjusted to any desired length, more or less
according to the general size of the machine, and the description of nail or
rivet it may be required to make, after which it is seized by a compound
grip motion, which not only performs the operation of cording, beading,
grooving, or worming the shank of such nails, when required, but also
securely holds the wire or rod that is being used during the time the beader
is performing its work, and which head may be diversified according to the
die fixed or impressed in the header, or the description of nail, pin, or
rivet required to be made. At this stage the nail or rivet may be considered
formed, with the exception of cutting off and pointing, and for this purpose
the grip motion is relieved and the feed motion brought into action, which
advances the nail or rivet partly formed, according to the setting of the feed
motion, when two or more central dies advance to separate or cut off' and
then point the nail (when nails are being made), which drop into a spout to
be carried off into a pan for receiving them. By this time the grip motion
has again laid hold of the wire for the heading motion to follow up in
succession to continue the manufacture, which we have found may be
easily done (without any injurious effect to the machine, at the rate of
about two hundred revolutions per minute, more or less, as may be preferred,
a nail or rivet being formed at each revolution of the driving shaft. But for
the manufacture of the larger description of nails as well as the sort
designated counter clout nails, we purpose working the machine in close
proximity with a hot-air furnace, or muffle, or other equivalent means, so that
the metal may be drawn in a heated state from the muffle into the machine to
be worked into nails, in which case we employ cold water to flow on the
working dies to keep them cool. This same mode of working up metal
wire or rods into nails may be employed for other nails than those here
expressed.

page_text: But in order that we may be more clearly understood as to the general
arrangement of our machine, and the adaptability of its various motions and
means for the rapid production of the various nails herein-before named, we
will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
made to the various figures and letters marked thereon, observing that the
several parts as they appear in the top, side, and front view, as well as the
various details, are marked with the same letters of reference.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a top view, and Fig. 2 is a part elevation with the stand broken
away, as also part of the reel for holding the wire and other parts partly
removed for the convenience of space. The Drawings being made half size,
and arranged and proportioned for making rivets or nails, shown full size at
Fig. 3, that is of wire of about 17 gauge.
A, A, is the wood stand or support, but which may be a suitable bench or
otherwise, so set up as to take any number of such machines for conveniently
receiving the several bands by which they are worked from a conveniently
placed driving shaft, the said shaft receiving its motion from any prime mover,
such as steam, water, or other convenient power; B, B, B, B, are screws
that unite the top part C to the four standards or main supports D, two of
which are seen standing in front in Figure 2, and in the reverse direction at
Fig. 6, with projections terminatiug with feet for receiving holding-down pins
or screws for securing the machine or apparatus to the stand; E, Figure 2,
represents the front termination of the main shaft, and to which the driving
pulley F at the back is secured for receiving the band for giving motion to
the machine, and may consist of a simple pulley, or a fast-and-loose pulley as
here shown, marked F and F'; G is simply a fly wheel, which with all the
parts may be proportionately enlarged when a larger description of wire or rod
may be required to be worked into nails or rivets. The main shaft works on
carriages fixed on strong bars that connect the standards together, one of which
is seen at Figure 2, marked G¹, held down by glands in the usual way. On
this shaft or main axis four cams are formed, their several throws being
arranged for producing in one revolution the nails or rivets herein-after
referred to, as well as a crank placed on the front end, and the forms of which
cams in their relative positions are shown detached at Fig. 4. On the top a
strong support is fixed marked H, and held by a shank passing through the
top, which is screwed on its lower end, and secured by the nut a. This
support carries the axis I, on which the lever J works, the functions of which
we will hereafter describe, but will mention that its lower end is operated on

page_text: by cam No. 1, and its working part held against the face of that cam, as seen
at Figure 4, partly represented in dotted lines, behind the front carriage and
gland for supporting the main shaft, Figure 6. The lower end of the lever J is
held against the face of the cam by the helical spring b, b, the stationary end of
such spring being either fastened to the standard D¹ or to the lever that carries
the header marked K, and which lever works on an axis indicated by the
clotted circle behind the lever D' marked c. This lever K is formed with an
arm, as here shown, marked f, f, and carries a friction roller g, principally
shown in dotted lines, which friction roller works over the surface of the cam
here shown, and marked No. 2 in the detached view of the same at Figure 4;
but in order to keep the friction roller in close contact with the face of the
cam we apply a strong helical spring or other equivalent means attached
conveniently to the frame and to the end of the arm f, f, and which spring
we have exhibited here marked h, h, h.
The next cam in rotation, and defined as No. 3, in the separate view,
Figure 4, operates on the feed motion lever L, partly shown in dotted lines,
which works on an axis secured between the front and back standards on the
left-hand side of Figure 2, and defined by the dotted circle i, and extends up,
but principally obscured by the lever J, for which reason we have exhibited
this part in a detached side view, with its details, at Fig. 5, and it will be
seen that like lever K it has a projecting arm with a delicate adjustment at
its end marked k, for bearing on the surface of the cam, at the same time it is
provided with an additional strap extending to the right, wholly represented
in dotted lines, and principally omitted in Figure 5, for the purpose of con-
necting the helical spring marked 1, 1, which keeps the adjusting surface k
always in close contact with the cam. This adjustment is important, and will
be hereafter referred to, as by its means we partly define and regulate the
exact quantity of wire to feed into the machine for the purpose of forming the
rivets or nails we may desire to make. At the top of this lever a part
marked n is attached to the axis m, principally obscured in this view, but
seen well at Figure 5; this part n carries the feed lever O, which works on the
fulcrum P, and is held up by the spring q, a set screw q¹ being at the front end
for holding the wire as it is periodically advanced by the revolving action
of the cam No. 3; but for a still further delicate adjustment for regulating
the feed, we apply a set screw in the top C, the head of which comes in
contact with the inside of the feed lever L, which set screw is not seen in
Figure 2 or 6, and is principally obscured in Figure 1, but the lever for actuating
it is seen in that view marked ", and having advanced the wire underneath
the part shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, marked M, which works on a strong

page_text: fulcrum at N, Figure 1, the wire being held down between dies, one of which
is secured on the under side of this part M, while the other rests on the bed
below, as shown in Fig. 6, marked d¹ and e¹. These dies are formed for
positively and firmly holding or gripping the wire or part under operation
during the process of heading as well as the retirement of the feed motion,
that it may advance in due course with a fresh piece of wire, which will be
hereafter referred to. The working faces of these dies may indent the wire so
gripped with indentations or serrations longitudinally with the wire transversely
or obliquely, so as to impart or form a thread or screw-like appearance to that
portion or shank of the nail that is being formed. This operation is completely
effected by the compound grip imparted to the part M by the operation of
No. 1 cam forcing out the lower part of the lever J, which may be fitted with
a friction roller or fashioned as here shown, which from its length from the
fulcrum i causes the upper part of the lever J marked O, with its set or
adjustment pin r, to intensely press on the extreme end of the lever M, thus
obtaining the desired grip on the advanced wire during the time its end is being
struck by the header, but which grip may be rendered more or less intense by
placing the cam No. 1 nearer the front of the machine, which may be arranged
that the lever may also be brought forward, while the part M
may be extended
on its front end, to be brought under the operation of the said lever J, the
throw of the cam being regulated according to its position. On the top of the
lever K a steel bolt marked s is secured on the axis t, which axis is essentially
placed a little above the centre line of the header bolt, as here shown, and is
held up in position by the spring u, secured to the lever K. The heading bolt
lies in a groove niarked v, as shown in Figure 1, formed in a bed secured to the
top of the stand marked w by the nuts and pins h¹, ¹, and by the axis t of the
heading bolt being slightly above its central line of action, it will be seen that
when performing its work there is no possibility of its rising or laterally moving
so as to strike the end of the wire out of a direct line, thereby making an
Irregular or one-sided head. We have before observed that C, Figure 2, forms
the axis on which the heading lever K works, but this axis consists of two
pointed set pins screwed into the snugs shown in Figure 6 marked A¹, A¹, and
in Figure 1 marked with the same letter with the set pins, principally shown
in dotted lines. We name this as it is not only a convenient way of setting up
this important lever, but it diminishes the friction of its fulcrum action. The
heading process being completed by the revolving action of the fly wheel G in
the direction of the arrows (which also indicate the direction in which the cams
move), the greatest extremity or throw of cam No. 2, marked ³, will have passed
under the friction roller secured to the arm of the lever K marked f.f, when,

page_text: as before stated, the contracting force of the spring h will bring the heading
punch sufficiently forcibly in contact with the projecting end of the wire
represented by the red line as coming off the reel T, and protruding in front of
the dies d' and e¹, Figure 6, as to form it into a head, but we prefer using an
adjustable stop to regulate the amount of head, which we effect by a steel
headed screw marked B₁ tapped into the top part of the machine marked C,
shown in front view, Figure 6, and partly in dotted lines at Figure 2. And
we will suppose that the header has performed its work, and is now retiring
by the gradual increasing circumference of its cam, when cam No. 3 will have
again commenced its work by lifting the arm j of the lever L connected with
the feed motion, to advance the headed part of the wire, the grip being taken
off the part M by the diminished excentric portion of cam No. 1 being in
contact with the lower end of the lever J; the wire being sufficiently advanced
the cutting off and pointing operation has now to be performed, and this is
effected by dies, shown separate at Fig. 7, marked P and Q; the projecting
angular part defined as f¹ and g¹ measures the proportion of wire that is
permitted to protrude in front of the dies d'and e¹, as seen at Figure 6, which
Figure is mainly shown here for the purpose of exhibiting the action of the
cutting off and pointing dies, which is effected with the cam No. 4 and crank
v, the heading lever K, with the grip and feed lever J and L, with their
attendant arms and springs, being removed to avoid confusion, for which
purpose the dies P and Q are also removed from this Figure as well as from
Figures 1 and 2, notwithstanding x and y, Figure 1, represent the pins, marked
with the same letters, on Figure 6, and correspond, with the circles marked with
the same letters at Figure 7 as indicating the position of the said dies, which are
further set by pins, also exhibited at Figures 1 and 6, marked m' and n', which
pins fit in the semicircular part of the dies marked with the same letter; thus it
will be seen that the dies which are varied according to the size of the nail or rivet
desired to be made with a longer or shorter point, as may be desired, are secured
on the levers R and S, which levers work on axes or fulcrums a' and 6¹, and are
represented here as in the relative position of the cams, as in Figures 1 and 2,
for the purpose of being out of the way for the header to advance and form the
head, and for the headed portion of the wire to advance for the cutting off
and pointing process; before describing which we will remark, that as we
cut off the nail to be pointed before pointing, we require a holder to hold the
nail while pointing, which we obtain by a bit of steel wire fastened con-
veniently on the top of the lever S, and shown separately at Fig. 8, which
holder passes down the hole shown in Figure marked u, which part is
defined in Figure 6 by the two vertical dotted lines marked with the same

page_text: letter, and which holder is retained in position by the set screw v₁; and
further, as the pointing operation is effected by pressure between the surfaces
of the dies marked x, Figure 7, there is a tendency for the nail to stick on
the die P by the delicate frays formed on the top and bottom edges of the nail
from the meeting of the said dies, and to avoid this we apply what we
call a "knocker-off," which is exhibited separate at Fig. 9, the pin marked w¹
fitting into the hole marked with the same letter at Figure 1, and held by
the set screw marked a¹, both in this Figure and Figure 6. The part of this
"knocker-off" marked y¹ is secured by an axis at its top end to the strong
part marked 1, which has a spring underneath the set screw all, the end of
which pressing on the top angle of the part y prevents it from coming out
in that direction, while sufficient action is afforded in the direction of the
arrow. The manner in which the holder and "knocker-off" perform their work
will be further seen as the operations of the levers R and S are described,
for which purpose we will suppose that cam No. 4 is elevating the bolt X
held by the gland 6", until the angle at its upper end coming in contact with
the corresponding lateral angle of the lever S, which advances it in position,
carrying with it the holder, until its broad end c¹ stands in front of the
advancing head of the nail to be cut off and pointed, and from its being made
of steel, it affords that amount of delicate pressure necessary for the purpose,
and by the time cam No. 4 has finished its work that part of the bolt X
marked d will be elevated, and parallel against the lateral side of the lever S
marked e, the helical spring f" always tending to keep this part of the
lever S and the upper and lower face of the bolt in contact, and thus the
lever S is held in position by the continuous extreme throw of cam No. 4, as
seen at Figure 4, while the lever R is now brought into action by means of
the crank and connecting rod g' elevating the arm, carrying with it the
spring Z, seen in Figures 1, 2, and 6, secured at its fixed end to the top C by
the set screw, which being slightly in advance of the angle g" of the die Q
advances and holds the wire against the corresponding part f' and g¹ of the
die P while the angle g" follows up and smoothly divides the wire at exact
right angles with its length, and here it is held between that portion of the
die P, over which the angle g" of the die Q is passed, and there it is held by
the elastic force of the holder, as before described, pressing on the head of the
nail, and by the further pressure of the lever R by the extreme throw of the
crank r lifting the arm Y; the nail so held is pointed by the meeting of the
dies, which have angular inclined grooves on their faces, which gives the form
of the point as that of four inclined sides terminating in a point, as represented.
in an enlarged specimen at Fig. 10.

page_text: We will now suppose the pointing completed, and the cam No. 4 having.
performed its work is now retiring to its lowest throw, when the helical spring
upon the bolt X abutting against the under side of the part C, and a projection
secured in the said bolt, forces it down so as to keep the lower end of the said
bolt against the surface of the cam by which it is actuated, which in its
downward motion brings the lower part of the blade y' of the knocker-off
against the nail until its angle h" comes down and knocks the nail from the die
P, which falls into a spout conveniently placed underneath, by which they may
be carried away as they are made into a convenient receiver. Thus it will
be seen that we manufacture a nail at each revolution of the main shaft of
the machine, which may be worked at the rate of 200 revolutions per minute,
more or less, according to convenience or the size or description of nail that
is being made. The wire being wound around a reel, as here exhibited
partly broken off for convenience of space, simply formed of rectangular
supports marked T, T, T, having holes at their ends for receiving the angle
pieces marked U, two of which are seen in the top view Figure 1, the
angle being necessary for holding on the wire. This reel is fitted to an
axis formed on the lever V, which is secured by the nut W to the
standard D, but of course may be otherwise formed or conveniently placed.
Having now given a general description of our Invention with the several
actions of heading, feeding, cutting off, holding, pointing, knocking off, and
delivery, we will observe that these several operations we purpose modifying
to suit the various descriptions of nails we may desire to make, increasing the
power, strength, and proportions as may be required, and removing the
knocker-off and other parts, as well as altering the dies when simple rivets
are being made; and should such nails and rivets be of a size as to require
their being made or formed with the metal in a hot state, we purpose
conveniently placing on the feed side of the machine a hot-air muffle, furnace,
or other convenient means for heating the wire or rods as it is gradually
and progressively fed into the machine, in which case we purpose conducting
a suitable stream of cold water on to the gripping dies, as well as the cutting-
off and pointing dies, to prevent their getting soft from overheating; and again
the form of head may be flat, convexed on the top, flat on the top and convexed
below, or possessing the form known as counter heads, or they may be of the
class known as rose heads, or other technical forms; nor do we purpose
confining ourselves to round wire or rods, as triangular, square, or other form
may be used, as by our machinery copper boat nails may be made with great
uniformity and facility; nor is it essential that the machine as shown in the
Drawings herein referred to, or any required modification of the same, should

page_text: be set up on a stand as here shown, as such machines may be otherwise
arranged, or they may even be suspended from above without altering their
general mechanism and construction.
With these general remarks, we wish it understood that we do not claim
the manufacturing by mechanical appliances of wire nails and rivets, as
machine-made wire nails and rivets are well known and extensively sold;
but what we claim as new and of our Invention, and wish to protect by these
our in part recited Letters Patent is, the mechanical combination herein fully
described and exhibited for heading, feeding, holding, cutting off, pointing
and removing nails or rivets, or their equivalents, provided the spirit and
object of our Invention is preserved.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Farmer and Thomas Turner,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twentieth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
CHARLES FARMER. (L.S.)
THOMAS TURNER.
(L.S.)