An Original Machine for Opening Oysters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Original Machine for Opening Oysters.
WILLIAM CHARLES ESSEX 29 Mayfield Street, Spring Bank, Hull Commission
Agent and ALBERT REAME 6 Alexandra Avenue Mayfield Street Hull, Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To be manufactured in any metal the machine having a base 10 inches by
6 inches the said base having a recess at the left hand end at each side of the recess
there is a pillar 14 inches high the back of which forms a bearing for a shaft in a
horizontal position into which is fixed a grip capable of holding an oyster of any
size the said grip being manipulated by a hand lever working in a vertical direction
from left to right.
At the right hand end of the base stands a pillar 6 inches high placed at a left
angle of 244 degrees in the pillar there is a sliding bearing capable of being raised
or lowered by a screw and hand wheel attached according to the size of the oyster
from one side of the bearing projects an arm 2 inches in length from the right hand
side of the pillar which in its turn supports at right angles a pillar three inches
long into which is fixed a quadrant through the centre of the bearing works a shaft
at an angle of 24 degrees at one end of which is fixed a knife the upper end of the
shaft is coupled 3 inches from the end of a hand iever the end of the lever being
slotted to work on the aforesaid quadrant and can be turned from a horizontal to a
vertical position the shaft whilst in a horizontal position can be forced from right
to left and the knife situated at the end penetrates the oyster the lever is then
turned in a vertical direction the knife thereby being turned on its edge opens the
oyster the lever is then drawn from left to right and by so doing drawing the shaft
with knife completely away from the oyster.
Dated this 11th day of October 1895.
We, WILLIAM CHARLES ESSEX of No. 29, Mayfield Street, Hull, in the
County of York, Commission Agent and ALBERT REAME of No. 6 Alexandra
Avenue, Mayfield Street Hull, in the County aforesaid, Electrical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an original machine for opening oysters and other
bivalvular molluscs without handling the oysters during the operation of opening
and so ovoid danger of wounding and cutting the operator.
Our machine euables oysters to be safely and expeditiously opened including all
those which would not be safe or profitable to open with an ordinary oyster knife.
Now the object of our invention is to construct a machine by which an oyster or
other similar molluscs may be easily and safely gripped by working a lever with

page_text: one hand whilst the other hand of the operator works a suitable spear bended knife
which opens the oyster also by means of a lever.
In carrying our invention into practice we construct a machine of Any suitable
metal with a base of suitable shape. At one end of the base a recess is formed
suitable for the oyster to rest in, and be held in a horizontal position by means of a
ring also pivoted horizontally the necessary pressure required for holding the oyster
being applied by means of a hand lever. This lever can also be made to work by
foot power, and be controlled by a spring. At the other end of the base is an
inclined pillar or column fixed at a suitable angle. This pillar or column carries a
spear headed knife attached to a spindle capable of being raised or lowered, and to
which can be imparted a combined stabbing and rotary action by means of a hand
lever.
To open an oyster, the oyster is held or gripped by a hand lever in the recess of
the machine. The spear headed knife is then made to enter the mouth of the
oyster and when entered the knife and spindle is given a half turn, causing the two
shells to open, the pressure of the grip being gently released at the same time.
The machine can also be constructed so as to open the oyster whilst held in a
vertical position. This method however causes the oyster liquor to be lost, and is
not recommended.
We will describe our invention by reference to the accompanying drawings the
same letters of reference indicating similar parts throughout."
Figure 1 represents an end elevation and Figure 2 represents a side elevation of
a machine constructed according to our invention.
A is a base plate of any suitable shape but preferably tertangular and arranged
to be screwed down or otherwise secured to a counter or table. In Figure 2 at the
lefthand end of the base A is a recess which lies between two pillars B, the back of
these pillars form bearings C. for a shaft D which is fixed in a horizontal position
across the end of the base. The shaft D carries two curved arms E supporting a
grip ring which is pivoted on the arms E. The grip F is manipulated by means
of a lever G which on being moved from left to right causes the grip ring F to
descend on to the top shell of the oyster holding it firmly in the recess in the
base A. At the right hand end of the base A is fixed a column or pillar 11.
inclined at about 24 degrees from the vertical. This pillar is made in two
parts 11 and 11*, forming a guide for the bearing and arm L shown in Figure 1.
is a bearing for the spindle O to which is fixed a spear headed knife P which
opens the oysters. Spindle O can be raised or lowered in the pillar H by means
of a hand wheel and screw Kwhich works through the top of the pillar H. To
the right of the bearing I (Fig. 1) projects an arm L which carries a pillar M,
which in turn supports a quadrant N. To the upper end of the spindle
connected a hand fever Q the fulerum of which is the quadrant arm N along which
the end of the lever can slide it being slotted for that purpose. On the top of the
bearing is fixed a spring and plunger R which passes through the bearing and
rests on spindle (). When the spindle is drawn to the right the plunger R talls
into a groove in the spindle at that end nearest the knife thereby preventing the
spindle from slipping when not in use.
is
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The original machine for opening oysters and other bivalvular molluses
substantially as and for the purpose set forth and illustrated.
2. The improved machine for opening any description of oyster and other similar
molluses by means of a fixed knife P, operated by the spindle O and the hand
lever Qwhich is adjusted by means of the hand wheel and the screw K substan
tially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and for the purpose
Bet forth.
3. The arrangement for holding or gripping an oyster or other mollusc during

page_text: the process of opening consisting of a shaft D carrying two curved arms E
supporting a grip ring F which is manipulated by means of a lever G arranged
and constructed substantially as herein described and illustrated in the drawings.
4. The combination of the parts herein before described for opening oysters and
the like arranged, constructed, and operated substantially as herein-described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings aud for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 5th day of February 1896.
WILLIAM HENRY BARACLOUGH,
36 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicants.