An Improved Golf Ball Press.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Golf Ball Press. .
I CHARLES ASHFORD of 12, Lower Essex Street Birmingham, Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
a
I construct a metal mould of the size of the finished ball which mould I form
in two halves the lower half being provided with a foot or stand and having
projecting handle. The upper half of the mould I hinge by a pin and slot near
the rim of the lower half the said pin and slot hinge permitting a short vertical
movement of the upper half in addition to the ordinary angular action of a hinge.
From opposite sides of the lower half of the mould I carry a metal arch or bridge
of suitable height to bridge over the upper mould and I pass a handled screw
through the crown of this bridge the point of the screw being directly over the
upper mould when the latter is placed in position upon the lower half. I pivot the
ends of the metal, bridge, above described, to the lower mould so that the bridge
may either be placed vertically over the upper mould or lowered to a horizontal
position.
Dated this the 17th day of July 1895.
CHARLES ASHFORD.
An Improved Golf Ball Press.
1, CHARLES ASHFORD of No. 12 Lower Essex Street Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Manufacturer 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, reference being had to the
drawings accompanying this Specification and to the figures and letters indicated.
thereon:-
Figure 1. represents in side elevation my improved press complete. Figure 2
represents a plan of same with the upper half of the mould removed and the
screw handle lying in a horizontal position.
Figure 3 represents a top view of the upper half of the mould. Figure 4.
represents an interior view of same.
Figure 5. represents a side elevation of the upper half of the mould.
Figure 6. represents a front sectional elevation of an alternative method.
For my purpose I construct the metal mould of the size of the finished ball,
which mould I form in two halves A. A', the lower half A. being provided with a
foot or stand, or a foot B on each side to form a stand and having a projecting
handle C. with a foot D. thereon so as to bring the same in a horizontal plane with
the mould A.
The upper half of the mould I may hinge by a pin and slot near the rim of the
lower half the said pin and slot forming a hinge and permitting of a short vertical

page_text: movement of the upper half in addition to the ordinary angular action of a hinge.
Or the upper half A' of the mould may be disconnected from the lower half A.
as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.
From opposite sides of the lower half A. of the mould I carry a metal arch or
bridge E of suitable height to bridge over the upper mould A¹ and I pass a screw
threaded handle F through the crown of this bridge the point of the screw being
directly over the centre of the upper mould vertically when the latter is placed in
position upon or within the lower half as shewn in Figure 1.
pivot the ends of the metal bridge above described to the lower mould at G. G.
so that the bridge may either be placed vertically over the upper mould as stated
or lowered to a horizontal position as shewn in Figure 2.
.
The action is thus. In order to remould a worn ball unscrew the handle F. to a
sufficient height and turn back the semi-circular arch or bridge E. and open the
press by lifting up or removing the upper half A¹, remove the paint from the
worn ball and soak it in boiling water until quite soft, knead well the softened ball
with the hands, then roll it approximately round and place it in the lower mould A
cover it with the upper half of the mould A' and bring the screw handle F. into
a vertical position and screw down tightly upon the crown of the mould A', place
the press with the ball in it to cool in cold water, when by unscrewing the handle F.
and laying it back to a horizontal position the upper half of the mould can be
turned back or taken out and the ball removed and placed in cold water to set.
The fringe or web of gutta left on the ball is then pared off.
A projection and aperture therein H may be formed upon the upper half A¹
fitting into a corresponding recess H' in the lower half for the insertion of a suitable
implement to lift same.
The alternative method as represented in Figure 6. consists in attaching the
upper half A' of the mould to the lower extremity of the screw F. by means of a
washer or dise of metal I. riveted or otherwise secured to the crown of the
mould A¹as at J. J. the end of the screw is of a smaller diameter 1' where it
passes through the said washer I. and is provided with a second washer or nut K.
to retain the same in place. The effect of this arrangement is that the mould A'
permanently attached to the screw and handle F. which in manner before
described passes through the bridge E. which is pivoted to the lower mould A.
When required to place a ball in the lower mould A. the upper mould A' is
raised to the top of the bridge E. by reversing the action of the screw handle F.
and the whole of this part can be laid back to a horizontal position but in this
case to the front of the lower mould A. so as to avoid the handle C. and allow the
bridge and
upper mould to lie well back with the screw handle F. by now bringing
the bridge, upper mould, and screw to a vertical position as in Figure 6 and
screwing down, the mould A¹ is lowered over the ball which is then moulded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
.claim is-
1. In golf ball presses the construction and arrangement for moulding and
remaking worn golf balls, consisting of an upper and lower mould in two halves
in combination with a metal bridge such as E pivoted to the lower mould and
having a screw threaded handle working through same such as F. operating in
manner and, for the purpose as described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5
of the accompanying drawings.
2. In golf ball presses the construction and arrangement for moulding and
remaking golf balls consisting of an upper and lower mould, said upper mould
being attached to a screw handle such as F passing through and working in
connection with a pivoted metal bridge such as E. all in combination and operating
in manner as described and illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings.
3. I claim in golf ball presses the use of a pivoted metal bridge and screw
handle, in combination with the upper and lower moulds either when said moulds

page_text: are separate from each other, or hinged together or attached to the said screw-
handle as set forth and described.
Dated this the 17th day of April 1896.
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
104 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Patent Agents for the Applicant.