IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRAINING, WERS OF SADDLES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Bird, of Crewkerne, in the County of,
Somerset, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRAINING,
WERS OF SADDLES."
Sealed the 12th January 1858, and dated the 19th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Bird at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th October 1852.
I, ROBERT BIRD, of Crewkerne, in the County of Somerset, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE STRAINING WEBS OF SADDLES " to be as follows:-
Heretofore the straining webs of saddles have been simply composed
of yarn of flax or hemp, which webs are prepared by the saddle maker
so as to be as little liable to stretch as may be. Now this Invention
consists of manufacturing webs suitable for and applying the same in.
making saddles, such webs being composed of yarn or thread of flax,
hemp, or other suitable fibre, together with wire.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Bird in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ROBERT BIRD, of Crewkerne, in the County of Somerset, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of ITer reign, did, for Herself, 1er heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Burd, 1er special
licence that 1, the said Robert Bird, my executors, administrators. and
assigns, or such others as 1, the said Robert Bird, 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
THE STRAINING WEBS OF SADDLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Bird. by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 Robert Bird, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
Heretofore the straining webs of saddles have been simply composed
of flax or hemp, which webs are prepared by the saddle maker so as to
be as little liable to stretch as may be. Now this Invention consists of
inanufacturing webs suitable for and applying the same in making
saddles, such webs being composed of yarn or thread of flax, hemp, or
other suitable fibre, together with wire. And in order that my said

page_text: Invention may be more fully understood, and readily carried into effect,
I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me. A warp of yarns is
placed in a loom in like manner to that heretofore practised when about
to weave straining webs for saddles, and in addition thereto I apply a
warp of several fine copper wires, so that the wires will alternately appear
on the two surfaces of the straining web, and I have usually introduced
such wires at a distance apart of about the eighth of an inch, and I
cause such warp of wire to be alternately up and down during two
picks of weft; but these details may be varied. And in using such
straining webs in saddles it will only be necessary to cut off the exact
length required, and to affix the same to a saddle tree, the trouble and
inconvenient process of firing being avoided.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim
is, the manufacture and application of straining webs of saddles.
employing wire in combination with yarns, as herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said-Robert Bird, have hereunto set niy
hand and seal, this Fifteenth lay of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
ALFRED GEORGE HARRIS,
Crewkerne.
ROBERT BIRD). (L.S.)