A Machine for Stropping Razors
Year: 1897

page_text: I, GEORGE BESTON, of No. 97, Old George's Street, in the City of Cork, Ireland,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
---
No. 1. My invention relates to improvements in "A Machine for Stropping
Razors," and has for its object the construction of a simple machine, which will
effect this purpose effectually with expedition and safety.
No. 2. My said invention of machine may be constructed of any materials; in
any shape or size (suitable for convenient use or removal from place to place,
should such be requisite.)
No. 3. Amongst the merits and advantages claimed for my said invention, I
select the following as illustrative of its general utility.
Viz:
A. Simplicity in construction.
B. Economy in construction
C. Economy in working.
D. Durability.
E. Cheapness of said invention.
F. Convenience in use, & carriage, placing, fixing, or removal.
G. Variety of materials, of which the various portions of the said machine may
be composed.
No. 4. The machine is capable of construction with rollers or bars, B in
drawing conveniently removable, (should a change of strop be requisite.)
No. 5. Part of my said invention, (which I describe as "Clamps," C in drawing
is intended for holding a razor during stropping.-It may be fixed in the centre of
the frame, underneath,-
,-or in any other place:-and is moveable from side to
side; at pleasure, by means of a connecting-bar, A in drawing fixed to a roller
D in drawing, at its back.--The said connecting-bar is fixed or mounted in such a
manner, that by a reciprocal motion of the strop S in drawing the razor places
its edge alternately against the sides of the strop, as the latter is moved to and fro'.
The said "Clamps" may be opened & closed with spring; screw; &c.-may also
be kept pliable towards the centre, so that no apprehension of damaging the strop
may be entertained. This is regulated by further springs of various descriptions
(marked "X," in drawing,) fixed in various portions of machine. All the springs
&c. can be removed and replaced, when damaged.
Dated 218
UY
100%
E. Cheapness of said invention.
F. Convenience in use, & carriage, placing, fixing, or removal,
G. Variety of materials, of which the various portions of the said machine may
be composed.
No. 4. The machine is capable of construction with rollers or bars, B in
drawing conveniently removable, (should a change of strop be requisite.)
66
No. 5. Part of my said invention, (which I describe as Clamps," C in drawing
is intended for holding a razor during stropping.-It may be fixed in the centre of
the frame, underneath, or in any other place:-and is moveable from side to
side, at pleasure, by means of a connecting-bar, A in drawing fixed to a roller
D in drawing, at its back.--The said connecting-bar is fixed or mounted in such a
manner, that by a reciprocal motion of the strop S in drawing the razor places
its edge alternately against the sides of the strop, as the latter is moved to and fro'.
The said "Clamps" may be opened & closed with spring; screw; &c.-may also
be kept pliable towards the centre, so that no apprehension of damaging the strop
may be entertained. This is regulated by further springs of various descriptions
(marked "X," in drawing,) fixed in various portions of machine. All the springs
&c. can be removed and replaced, when damaged.
100%

page_text: I, GEORGE BESTON, of 97, Old George's Street, in the City of Cork, Ireland,
Hairdresser, 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:
_
My invention relates to a machine for stropping razors and has for its object
the construction of a device which will automatically effect the necessary functions
of the operation when the device is operated by hand or other source of
power.
My invention consists in a machine having a flexible band or strap of leather or
other equivalent material capable of sharpening, which is adapted to be recipro-
cated in combination with a razor holder arranged to automatically and alternately
press the edges of the razor against the strop band by means of the reciprocating
movement of the said strop band, so that all the operator has to do, is to reciprocate
the strop band, the rest of the operation being automatically carried out by the
mechanism.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed
to describe the same in relation to the accompanying drawings hereunto annexed,
reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer
to like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, the strop being broken away to show
the mechanism. .
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same when stationary.
Fig. 3 is a plan showing the position of the razor and holding mechanism when
the strop is travelling in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan.
Fig. 5, is a detail view of the holder, the jaws being shown separated.
To carry my invention into effect I arrange a framework A, provided with a
clamping screw B, or other equivalent fastening device, wherewith the machine
can be fixed to a table or other support.
Within this frame A, I arrange 4 pins or axles C, C, upon which are threaded
the sleeves or rollers D, D respectively. The sleeves D serve as guides for a
strop E which passes between them, and passes round a roller F, arranged as a
pulley or axle and adapted to rotate in the frame A. The upper end of the
roller F carries a disc G, upon which is a crank-pin H.
In the frame A is also pivotted the razor holder J, which consists of two
wings K, K, hinged to one another and spring pressed by a flat bow-spring L,
which is attached to the arms M, M, one of the said arms being jointed to one of
the wings K, and the other arm to the other wing.
This spring L puts a pressure on the wings K, K, so that they hold the razor
between them. This spring L when pressed opens the wings & releases the
razor. I may use a screw tightening device in substitution of the spring if
desirable. At the upper part of the holder J, I arrange a slotted arm N, which is
adapted to engage with the crank pin H, so as to oscillate the arm N, by the
alternate circular motion of the crank pin H.
The arm N also carries two lateral extensions O, which are adapted to co-act
with a flat steel spring P, carried on the frame A, so that immediately the strop E,
ceases to move, the spring P acting on one or other of the extensions O, brings
the holder J with the razor away from the strop E into the mid-position and thus
prevents the edge of the razor from cutting the strop on the return stroke.
When the return stroke is made the motion of the strop reverses the position

page_text: of the holder J, and the other edge of the razor is sharpened. This alternate
action continues as long as the strop is pulled backward and forward.
The holder J is opened by pinching the two arms M, M, together against the
spring pressure of the spring L, when the razor can be inserted into the holder,
and the arms being released the razor is held by the spring pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. A machine for stropping razors consisting of a reciprocating flexible strop
led around a pulley or the like a razor holder pivotted and adapted to be rocked
from side to side about its pivot by means of the said strop so as to present the
edges of the razor alternately to the strop during the reciprocating motion of the
said strop substantially as described.
2nd. A machine for stropping razors a flexible strop adapted to be recipro-
cated, a pulley roller or the like around which the strop is led, in combination
with a pivotted razor holder adapted to detachably hold the razor, & means for
rocking the said pivotted razor holder operated from the said pulley roller or the
like substantially as described.
3rd. A machine for stropping razors a flexible strop adapted to be reciprocated
round a pulley or the like a razor holder pivotted & adapted to be rocked from side
to side about its pivot by means of the said strop in combination with means for
moving the razor holder so as to retire the razor from the said strop at the end
of the movement of the said strop, and before the return movement takes place,
in order to prevent the cutting of the said strop, substantially as described.
4th. In a machine for stropping razors, a flexible strop adapted to be recipro-
cated round a pulley or the like, a razor holder pivotted & adapted to be rocked
from side to side about its pivot by means of the strop, in combination with
guiding rollers, or their equivalent adapted to guide the strop in its path adjacent
to the razor edge substantially as described.
5th. The construction and arrangement of a razor-stropping machine sub-
stantially as described, in reference to and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 28th dor of Tannery 1898
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.