IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MINCING MEAT, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES REQUIRING TO BE MINUTELY DIVIDED
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Topham, of Coleman Street, Bunhill
Row, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MINCING MEAT, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER
SIMILAR SUBSTANCES REQUIRING TO BE MINUTELY DIVIDED."
Sealed the 2nd November 1869, and dated the 4th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Topham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th May 1869.
I, CHARLES TOPHAM, of Coleman Street, Bunhill Row, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MINCING MEAT, VEGETABLES,
OTHER SUBSTANCES REQUIRING TO BE MINUTELY DIVIDED," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in the construction and use of a
peculiar knife box or box for securely holding the cutting or dividing

page_text: If preferred
The knife box
blades in such manner that the upper plate of the box has a number
of slots into which are passed the tangs of the knife blades. These
tangs are so formed that at their lower ends they have at one side a
projection which fits into a recess in one of the side plates of box, such
side plate being a fixed plate, so that when the opposite or moveable side
plate is sccured in its place by screws or other means of fastening the
knives are fixed in such a manner as to be ready for use.
the moveable side plate may be made with the recesses.
so formed, and which I prefer to make of incorrodible metal, such as
that commonly known as white metal, is so made as to fit exactly into a
recess of corresponding size in the body of the machine, and therefore
does not require to be bolted by screw bolts, or otherwise fastened
therein in the manner as heretofore, but can be secured by means of
having slots in the. side plates, and a key passing therethrough from
under side of body of machine. By preference I cast the knife box in
two or more picces in moulds, and I cast them with the slots and screw
holes cast out.
Secondly. In constructing the body of the machine of or casting it
in incorrodible metal or alloy, such as that known as white metal, or
any similar incorrodible alloy or incorrodible metal that will run easily
in moulds.
Thirdly. In an improved mode of securing upper half of body of
machine to the lower half of the same. The bodies of the machines
are made in two halves, and are hinged together at one side, and have
had hitherto lugs having holes therein for the reception of pins, by the
passing of which through the holes in lugs the two halves have been
secured together. By this improved Invention a lug is provided at each
end of machine, and slotted, and a bolt passes therethrough from end to
end of the machine. This bolt has at its centre a screwed pin which
projects through a longitudinal slotted piece attached to or cast on upper
half of body of machine, so that the bolt can travel horizontally back-
wards and forwards to the distance of the length of the slot, and where
the pin protrudes through the said longitudinal slot a thumb or pinch
screw is provided, by means of which the bolt can be secured in the
position desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Topham in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 4th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
TOPHAM, of Coleman Street, Bunhill Row, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Exocllent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her'
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine,, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Topham, Her special
licence that I, the said Charles Topham, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Topham, my
executors, administrators, 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 MACHINES FOR MINCING MEAT, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
REQUIRING TO BE MINUTELY DIVIDED," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Charles Topham, 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 Charles Topham, 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 :-
This Invention consists, firstly, in the construction and use of a
peculiar knife box or box for securely holding the cutting or dividing
blades in such manner that the upper plate of the box has a number of
slots into which are passed the tangs of the knife blades. These tangs
are so formed that at their lower ends they have at one side a projection
which fits into a recess in one of the side plates of box, such side plate

page_text: being a fixed.plate, so that when the opposite or moveable side plate is.
secured in its place by screws or other means of fastening the knives
are fixed in such a manner as to be ready for use. If preferred the
inoveable side plate may be made with the recesses. The knife box so
formed, and which I prefer to make of incorrodible metal,, such as that
commonly known as white metal, is so made as to fit exactly into a
recess of corresponding size in the body of the machine, and therefore
does not require to be bolted by screw bolts, or otherwise fastened
therein in the manner as heretofore, but can be secured by means of
having slots in the side plates, and a key passing therethrough from
under side of body of machine. By preference I cast the knife box in
two or more picces in moulds, and I cast. them with the slots and screw:
holes cast out..
In order that the nature of the improvements and the manner in
which they are effected may be particularly described and ascertained,
this Specification is accompanied by a Sheet of Drawings having Figures
and letters of reference marked thereupon, the like letter being used to
denote a similar or corresponding part in cach Figure.
In the Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2. an end view,
and Figure 3 a plan of the machine with the top part thrown open.
The construction of the knife box will be readily understood by
reference to A, Figures 1, 2, and 3; the knives are marked B; the key
which secures the knife box in position is marked C.
The Invention consists, secondly, in constructing the body of the
machine of or casting it in incorrodible metal or alloy, such as. that
known as white metal, or any similar incorrodible alloy or incorrodible
metal that will run easily in moulds.
The Invention consists, thirdly, in an improved mode of securing
upper half of body of machine to the lower half of the same. The
bodies of the machines are made in two halves, and are hinged together
at one side, and have had hitherto lugs having holes therein for the
reception of pins, by the passing of which through the holes in lugs
the two halves have been secured together. By this improved Invention
a lug D is provided at each end of machine, and slotted, and a bolt E,
shewn separately in Figures 4 and 5, passes therethrough from end to
end of the machine. This bolt has at its centre a longitudinal slot F,
and the upper half of body of machine has a lug or piece cast on it
or attached to it carrying a screwed pin. This will be seen clearly in

page_text: Figure 1, in which the lug is marked G, and the pin H. The bolt
therefore can be travelled longitudinally backwards and forwards, and
a thumb or pinch screw is provided to screw on the pin H, and thereby
secure the bolt. The ends of the bolt enter the slots in lugs D. This
arrangement may be varied, as, for example, the bolt may carry the
pin H, and the lug or piece G may be slotted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is effected, I wish
it to be clearly understood that what I claim is,-
Firstly. The construction of a box with slotted upper plate for securely
holding the knife blades by means of projections on lower parts of these
blades fitting in recesses in one side of box, and preventing them
moving therein by the fitting of the opposite side in position, a key from
the bottom part of machine passing through two slots provided for the
purpose, and holding all together, and the formation of the box by
means of casting the same (in two or more picees with the slots and
screw holes cast out) in moulds.
Secondly. The casting by means of moulds, or constructing the body
of the machines in incorrodible metal or alloy of the description known
as white metal, or any similar incorrodible metal that will run easily
in moulds.
Thirdly. A new means of securing upper half to lower half of body
of machine by means of a long bolt on upper half of body of machine
passing through slots in lugs at each end of lower half of body of
machine, and a screwed pin and set screw for fixing the said bolt in
position desired.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Topham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
CHARLES TOPHAM. (L.S.)