IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAIN SWIVELS AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Oscar M. Draper, of North Attleborough, County of
Bristol, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAIN SWIVELS AND IN
MACHINERY THEREFOR." Partly a communication from Virgil Draper, residing
at North Attleborough aforesaid.
ealed the 14th October 1876, and dated the 27th June 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Oscar M. Draper at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1876.
OSCAR M. DRAPER, of North Attleborough, County of Bristol, State of Massa-
chusetts, United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CHAIN SWIVELS AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." Partly a communication from
Virgil Draper, residing at North Attleborough aforesaid.
Figure 1 in the Drawing represents a clamping frame in which a number of
blanks are secured to be operated upon by a milling, planing, or shaping
machine.
Figure 2 represents a matrice arranged to support the blanks after one side of
the same is shaped, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view of the matrice provided with intermediate blocks, and
arranged to secure the blanks after the second process of shaping is completed.
Figure 4 is a view of the frame or matrice in which the blank is secured to be
operated upon by the finishing cutter.
Figure 5 represents a blank for a chain swivel after the first cutting or shaping
operation.
Figure 6 represents the blank after the second operation.
Figure 7 represents the blank after the third operation. And
Figure 8 represents the blank when the cutting and shaping operations are
completed and before the loop is formed.
Figure 9 is a view of the finished watch chain swivel.
One object of this Invention is to produce chain swivels of precious metal, of
plated metal, or of alloys or compositions of different metals made in one piece from
blank or piece of drawn or rolled metal formed and finished before the loop is.
bent, or when made of two pieces to secure the same so as to form a stronger and
better chain swivel than has heretofore been made.
[Price 6d.]

page_text: Another object of this Invention is to manufacture chain swivels or parts thereof
by successive operations and by especially arranged machinery, so that all parts will
be made alike and without the skilled and experienced labor heretofore required
in their manufacture.
The nature of this Invention consists in manufacturing a new chain swivel for
watch chains or other chaines used for personal ornaments out of a straight blank
of rolled or drawn metal by a process of milling, planing, or shaping successively
the different sides of the blank, thence bending the loop, and dividing by sawing
the latch from the loop, and in arranging clamps or holders by which the blanks
are held whilst the same are operated upon by the shaping cutters.
This Invention relates to that class of chain swivels used on watch or other
. chains, and usually made by jewellers either of precious metal or composition of
metals, and used for personal ornaments.
In the Drawing Figure 9 represents the finished swivel, of which a is the base
and 6 the loop, which when completed is cut open and provided with a spring as
shown. When such a swivel is made in one piece I tacke a blank cut from a wire
of proper cross section and of the desired length, and subject the same to the
successive operation of a series of milling or shaping cutters; and after the blank
is finished I bend the loop and separate the latch, and insert a spring in the usual
manner.
'
When the loop and the base are made separate I make and finish the loop
when straight, and than bend the same and secure it to the base by pins. Be
this arrangement the chain swivel may be made and finished by mechanical means,
and then bent into the loop form, cut open, and have the spring inserted.
When such chain swivels are cast, and have to be finished in this form, skilled
labour is required, and the loop must be made heavier than when made in my
improved manner.
The mode of construction is much superior and the appearance much better than
chain swivels made in the old manner. The cost of producing the same is much
reduced by the peculiar and novel process used in their manufacture; all swivels
of a given size will be alike in all parts stronger and more durable.
The process consists in first cutting from a proper wire the required length for a
blank; a boy or other person places these blanks into the frame shown in Figure 1,
arranged so that the blank projects sufficiently above the frame to allow the cutter
to remove the surplus metal, and produce the shape shown in Figure 5.
The blanks are now removed to the frame, shown in Figure 2, provided with a
bottom or matrice in which they accurately fit, and are again secured and subjected
to a cutter arranged to form the opposite side of the blank, and produce the shape
shown in Figure 6.
The blanks are now placed into the frame shown in Figure 3, in which they are
separated by blocks arranged to fit between the blanks, and are thus secured and
subjected to the operation of the third cutter, producing a blank, as shown in
Figure 7.
They are now placed into the frame, shown in Figure 4, also arranged with
division blocks, and subjected to a cutter producing the shape shown in Figure 8.
A special cutter is now used to cut out the portion at c, Figure 9, where the
end of the bow or loop is to be hinged and secured by a pin. The loop is now bent
as shown, a hole is drilled through the base and loop, and a pin inserted when the
loop is cut open and the spring secured, thus completing the chain swivel mostly
by mechanical means, and without the skilled labor heretofore required.
The loop and base a may be made separate, and if required of different
metals, each piece being made successively in the same manner as the whole chain
swivel is made. The slot cut into the base a and the loop b will also be cut at d
Figure 9, and the loop secured to the base by a pin, and also soldered, the swivel
being cut and firnished as before.

page_text: Having thus fully described my Invention, I claim as new and desire to secure
by Letters Patent-
First. A chain swivel made of a straight blank of metal cut and finished
successively, the loop being bent when finished and secured to the base, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
Second. A chain swivel consisting of the base a and loop b secured together by
pins, and constructed substantially as specified.
Third. The process substantially as described of forming chain swivels of straight
blanks of metal by milling, planing, or shaping cutters whilst the same are
secured in clamps, forms, or holders arranged substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Oscar M. Draper, have herunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of ouer Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witnesses,
JOSEPH A. MILLER.
WALTER V. HOOKS.
OSCAR M. DRAPER.
(L.S.)