IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Newton Wilson, of 144, Cheapside, in the
City of London, and 144, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Sewing Machine Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SEWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 8th October 1867, and dated the 9th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Newton Wilson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th April 1867.
I, WILLIAM NEWTON WILSON, of 144, Cheapside, in the City of London,
and 144, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Sewing Machine
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in certain new applications of the
principle of driving hand sewing machines, described in my Patent for
improvements in sewing machines, dated Feb 14th 1866. The improve-
ments consist in substituting for the internal ring of teeth there described
a turned smooth surface, driving from this smooth internal periphery the
upper and lower shafts, both being operated by blank wheels covered with
a ring of india-rubber or other similar substance. The speed obtained is the
same as by the former method, viz., from 3 to 5 stitches per revolution, but
absolute freedom from noise is thus obtained. The two shafts are suitably
coupled together to ensure perfect time being maintained. When the high rate
of speed is not desired the effect of quietness may be obtained by driving from

page_text: a blank wheel on the centre stud a friction wheel on the upper shaft, and a
friction carrier wheel linked together, the carrier wheel then driving the lower
shaft either by friction or the ordinary toothed gear.
The second part of my Invention consists in improvements in the adaptation
of portable machines to tables for driving by the foot. The ordinary mode is
to screw or clamp the iron bed to the table; I dispense with either by covering
the table with cloth or leather cemented to it, and either covering the base of
the machine in a similar manner, or introducing into it small india-rubber
pillars, both arrangements having the effect of non-conducting the sound, and
at the same time fixing the machine perfectly, without in any way detracting
from its instant portability.
The third part of my Invention consists in a new arrangement of machine
for boot work particularly. The machine works with a top feed and a semi-
circular shuttle working in a circular race, and the peculiarity consists in
fixing this race at the top of a vertical pillar or cylinder immediately below
the needle. The object of this arrangement is to dispense with all the
machinery for changing feed motions, and with all the necessity for changing
the direction of the feed, and this object the arrangement described effectually
secures.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Newton Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NEWTON WILSON, of 144, Cheapside, in the City of London, and 144, High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Sewing Machine Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the
day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Newton Wilson, Her special licence that I, the said William Newton
Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Newton Wilson, 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

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Newton Wilson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 William Newton Wilson, 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 and accompanying Drawing, that is to say:-
The first part of my Invention consists in certain new adaptations of the
principle of driving hand sewing machines described in the Specification of my
Patent for improvements in sewing machines, dated 14th February 1866.
These improvements consist in substituting, for the internal ring of teeth of the
driving and fly wheel therein described, a smooth surface, and driving from
this smooth internal periphery the upper and lower shafts, both being operated
by blank wheels covered with rings of india-rubber or other similar substance.
The speed obtained is the same as by the former method, viz., from 3 to 5
stitches per revolution, but absolute freedom from noise as regards the wheels.
is thus obtained. The two shafts are suitably coupled together to ensure
perfect time being maintained in the rotations of both the wheels; but these
wheels being suitably coupled may one of them rotate, and the other simply
oscillate. Where the high rate of speed is not desired the effect of quietness
may be obtained by driving from a blank wheel (on the centre stud) a friction
wheel on the upper shaft and a friction carrier wheel linked to the other wheel,
then driving the lower shaft either by friction or by the ordinary toothed gear.
The second part of my Invention consists in improvements in the adaptation
of portable machines to tables for driving by the foot. The ordinary mode is
to screw or clamp the iron bed to the table; I dispense with either of these
modes by introducing into the feet of the machine, which are made as sockets
for the purpose, a thick ring of smooth india-rubber or other similar substance,
forced into such sockets; or the table on which the machine is to stand may
be covered with rubber, cloth, or equivalent substance cemented to the same,
and the under surface of the base of the machine be covered in a similar
manner; these arrangements having the effect of non-conducting the sound,
and at the same time perfectly fixing the machine without in any way detracting
from its instant portability.

page_text: The third part of my Invention consists in a new arrangement of machine
particularly adapted for boot work. The machine works with a top feed and
a curved shuttle working in a circular race, and the peculiarity consists in
fixing this race at the top of a hollow vertical pillar or cylinder and immediately
below the needle. The object of this arrangement is to dispense with all the
machinery for changing the feed motions and with all the necessity for changing
the direction of the feed, and this object the arrangement described effectually
secures. Instead of the curved shuttle and circular race a circular needle may
be employed if it be desired to produce a more elastic stitch.
Having thus particulary described the nature of the said Invention, I will
now proceed to particularly describe and ascertain in what manner the same
is to be performed or nut in practice. which I shall do by reference to the
accompanying Drawings, by the words, figures, and letters placed thereon and
herein referred to, that is, to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Drawing No. 1: Fig. I shews a side elevation of part of a sewing machine,
to which the improvements herein-before described with reference to the first
part of my Invention are adapted; Fig. 2 is a front view thereof as it appears
when the external driving and fly wheel is removed, and shews how this
wheel drives the wheels on the upper and lower shafts, the driving and fly
wheel being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 3, vertical section of the above-
arrangement; Figs. 4 and 5, detailed views of the blank wheels on the upper
and lower shafts aforesaid, Fig. 4 shewing the wheel and Fig. 5 the india-
rubber surrounding the periphery thereof; Fig. 6, outside and inside views
of the driving wheel; Fig. 7, side view of part of a sewing machine provided
as mentioned with regard to the second part of my Invention, with the india-
rubber feet above referred to, such machine being also provided with a
peculiar arrangement for securing and detaching the spool case; Fig. 8, part
end view of this machine; Fig. 9, views of the spool case; Fig. 10, section ;
Fig. 11, plan of the base of the machine shewing its under surface; Figs. 12
and 13, details which will be readily understood by referring to the following
descriptions. For the sake of economizing space these two last-mentioned
Figures are drawn within the lines of the plan view Fig. 11. In all these
Figures A denotes the base of the machine, and B, frame for supporting the
upper shaft. Those parts, as well as other parts of the machine not referred
to, being of any ordinary or suitable character, and not being comprised within
the scope of my now specifying Patent, except as regards the india-rubber
feet herein described, it will be unnecessary to enter into any further descrip-

page_text: tion thereof, or of any other parts of the machine which are not shewn and
described, and which may be of the ordinary or any suitable character. C, the
driving and fly wheel, which is a disc with a circular rim provided with a
handle D by which motion is communicated thereto; E is the axle, which is
supported in a disc or frame F forming part of the frame of the machine at
the back of the driving and fly wheel, and rendering the same in effect a
circular box, the fly or driving wheel being free to move; G, the lower
working shaft of the machine; G¹, upper working shaft; H, the blank wheel
covered with india-rubber on the shaft G; H¹, the blank wheel on the
shaft G; I, denotes the coupling for the wheels H and H¹ securing them
together so as to ensure their motions being performed simultaneously, but if
desired one of these blank wheels might make complete rotation, and the other
simply oscillate on its axis; K, K, are the improved feet in the base A, the same
being made hollow as sockets for thick rings of india-rubber K*, which are
round flat pieces having an orifice in the centre thereof; L is the spool case
fixer or bolder which is made with a spring, hereafter referred to; M, guide
pins working through holes in the base A of frame for guiding spool case
holder when in movement; on the lower guide pin M is a coiled spring N; O is
a stud for adjusting the spool case so that it shall not be brought home too
close; this spring holder for the spool case should be applied to a machine
provided as aforesaid with the means of fixing effected by the use of the
india-rubber feet, as before described, as a screw could not be manipulated
with the same certainty of not disturbing the position of the machine on the
table.
Drawing No. 2 illustrates the third part of my said Invention. Fig. 1, a
partial side view; Fig. 2, a partial end or cross section through machine;
Fig. 3, view shewing support for bottom of the spindle (I), hereafter
described; Fig. 4, plan of top parts of machine; Fig. 5, plan at lower
level of certain other parts; Fig. 6, section of the hollow pillar and lower
frame to same carrying shuttle and the rack and pinion motion for driving
same; Fig. 7, plan view of rack and pinion motion aforesaid; Fig. 8 is the
plan view of top of shuttle and race; Fig. 9, section at Z, Z; Fig. 10, side
view of shuttle. In several of the Figures various parts are omitted for the
purpose of more clearly exhibiting other parts.
The arrangements shewn in this Drawing (No. 2) are particularly appli-
cable to machines used for boot and shoe makers work, or work of such like
nature, which machines are worked by treddle action, although the same
arrangements might be applied to machines worked by any other action.
A, framing; B, top plate of same; C (dotted lines), needle-carrying

page_text: portion of frame; D, back standard, which with C support the shaft E,
on which are mounted the driving rigger F, cam G, and fly H; I is the
vertical spindle made with an upper arm K and lower arm L; the extremity
of the upper arm K has a pin taking into the cam wheel (G) which thus
gives motion to I and L, the latter imparting motion to the rack M, thus
driving the pinion N mounted on the spindle O, which spindle drives the
shuttle carrier P; Q is the shuttle working in the circular race; R is the
hollow pillar enclosing the spindle O, and frame S supporting same; the
upper portion of frame S forms a box, frame, or guide for the rack N.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in
Sewing Machines," set forth, as the first, second, and third parts of my
Invention in the outset of this Specification by the words preceding the words
"Having thus described the nature of my said Invention," and as illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings, it being understood that I do not claim the
constituent parts herein described per se and apart from the purposes of my
said Invention as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newton Wilson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. N. WILSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
J. W. M°GAULEY,
Managing Director of the Inventors'
Patent Right Association.
Patentees' Agents.