Improvements in and Connectod with Cartridge Belts.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in and Connectod with Cartridge Belts.
T. JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare, the nature of this invention, which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Anson Mills of the United States Army and
Thomas Corwin Orndorff both of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts United
States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to cartridge belts or bandolcers made of woven material
having the body of the belt and its thimbles or pockets woven in one piece,
In the belt constructed according to this Invention the pockets are closed at one
end: and the belt itself is generally a multiply, fabric and preferably a two-ply
fabric, the pockets being formed by omitting from that portion of the fabric which
forms the pockets, the binders by which the two plies, at those portions of the
belt which intervene between the pockets are bound together into a solid homogeneous
fabric.
The weft or filling passes transversely of the fabric from one edge of one ply across
to the other edge around the latter and thence back to the opposite edge of the second
ply thence back from this last edge around the other edge and thence back to the
edge of the first ply from which it started, and so on.
In this way a double ply fabric belt is produced, closed along one edge, and open
along the other edge except at those portions between the pockets, where the two plies
are united together from edge to edge by the binders. In this way a cheap, efficient
and readily manipulated belt is produced, protecting the ball, and its juncture with
the shell or case from sand, dirt, bruises and abrasion.
The pockets may be Woven of any desired size to fit the diameter of any
particular size cartridge, or a still larger pocket may be woven so as to contain
a number of cartridges in a case or magazine, for instance, such as the "Lee "
magazine case.

page_text: The size of the pockets depends upon the number of picks in the two sheds before
the binders are brought in play to close them.
The small pockets for individual cartridges and the larger pockets for magazines
may be combined and woven in the same belt by the use of a double chain, the
multiple bars for weaving a certain number of the small pockets, equalling the number
of bars required to weave the larger pockets.
In case bottle-shaped cartridges are to be used with the belt a suitable number
of binder picks can be thrown into and out of action before the others so as to contract
those portious of the pockets adjoining the closed ends in order to fit the contracted
necks of the cartridges.
The belt is woven flat but when the cartridges are inserted in the pockets the belt
when naturally extended, will take a shape having its greater length along its closed
edge. The result is that the belt, whether worn over the shoulder or around the waist,
will fit the person very much more easily and comfortably.
The belt may be woven with a selvage" at its closed edge, if desired.
The belt is preferably provided with a fastening constructed as follows:-
At each end of the belt is a bearing sleeve preferably made of sheet metal which
can be secured to the body of the belt by rivets or by eyelets or by any other suitable
means. In this sleeve is contained the stem or shank of a double hook which can bo
readily formed of a piece of wire, or small metallic rod, having its ends which
project beyond the sleeve, bent towards each other SO as to form hooks, the
extreme ends of these hooks being preferably bent or bevelled outwardly a little,
in order to facilitate their engagement with the belt.
The stem or shank swivels in its bearing sleeve so that the double hook can
readily turn to adapt itself to the position of the belt which it engages.
In applying the belt to the person, it is put around the waist for instance, with one
of the ends overlapping the other and each end is then secured in place by causing
the hooks to catch over the opposite edges of the belt at the point between the two
nearest contiguous thimbles or pockets, and in doing this it would be necessary to
bend together the edges of the belt which can readily be done if the cartridges in the
thimbles between which the double hook comes be first removed.
After the hook is engaged with the belt the cartridges can be replaced. Each end
of the belt is thus secured and this is preferred in practice, although if the belt be of
only sufficient length to go once around the person with a slight lapping of the ends,
it will be sufficient to provide but one end of the belt with a fastener such as described.
In this arrangement it will be noted that the completed fastener consists of two
members, the one member being the double hook, and the other member being a rib
or shoulder formed by the cartridge thimble or pocket against which the double hook
brings up when it engages the belt.
A manifest advantage of the arrangements is that the belt can be made of indefinite
length, that is to say it may be made to pass around the person more than once, thus
providing a convenient method of carrying a very large number of cartridges. In
case it is desired to apply the fastening to a band either wholly unprovided with
pockets or thimbles, or unprovided with such pockets at the point, where the double
hook is required to engage the body of the belt or band, the shoulder or rib against
which the double hook brings up when it embraces the opposite edges of the body of
the belt is formed conveniently of two metallic studs which are eyeleted to the body
of the band. Other means of course can be provided for this purpose, what is essential
being that there should be a rib or shoulder upon the body of the belt or band against
which the double hook can bring up.
Where the belts are designed to hold cartridge containing cases or receptacles
for use in connection with magazine guns, it is desirable that these cases or
receptacles should be on the person in a position where they can be conveniently
reached, and that they should be there held securely, but at the same time in such
manner that each one as needed may be readily detached and removed from
the belt.

page_text: To this end the belt is provided with pockets for the reception of the magazines,
and for each magazine there is provided a readily manipulated fastener composed of
two members, the one attached to the belt or its pocket, and the other attached to the
magazine itself.
In the preferred form of fastener for this purpose a ball or knob which is riveted
or otherwise fastened to one of the sides of the magazine and of a slightly expansible
sheet metal socket which is eyeletted or otherwise secured to the inside of the pocket
in a position to come opposite to the ball or the magazine when the latter is in place
in the pocket. In this way the magazine is securely.held in place in its pocket, and
yet can be detached and removed therefrom when occasion requires with the utmost
case and dispatch, or the ball and socket may be reversely placed.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Cartridge-belts.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has been communicatod
to me from abroad by Anson Mills of the United States Army and Thomas Corwin.
Orndorff both of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts United States of America
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
These improvements relate to cartridge belts or bands provided with thimbles or
pockets for the reception of individual cartridges or cartridge containing cases. They
have reference to the manner of making the belt itself; and to devices for securing
the belt in place on the person, and for fastening the cartridge cases in their pockets.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a view of the extended belt containing no cartridges.
Figure 2 is a view of the same extended belt when filled with cartridges.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the belt as it appears when worn around the
waist.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on a like scale.
Figure is a modification of the belt fastener hereinafter more particularly,
described.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 inclusive, represent details of the magazine fastener, hercin-
after more particularly described.
The belt is made of woven material, having the body of the belt and its thimbles or
pockets A woven in one piece. The pockets are closed at one end, and the belt
itself is a multiply fabric-in this instance, as illustrated in the drawing, a two ply
fabric. The manner of weaving the belt will be understood by reference to Figures 4
and 5. The warps of the upper ply are lettered a, b, and those of the lower ply c, d.
The two series of binders which hold together the two plies and make them into one
fabric between the pockets, are lettered e, f. The weft is lettered g. Those portions
of the fabric in which the binders do not extend through both plies form the pockets.
The weft is thrown by a shuttle in the usual way through the two sheds of warp
of the upper and lower plies, starting for instance in the upper shed from that edge
of the fabric on which the open ends or mouths of the fabric are to be, to the
opposite edge, thence back through the lower shed to the open edge of the fabric,
thence back through the lower shed to the closed edge of the fabric, thence back
through the upper shed to the open edge and so on.
In this way the belt is woven with pockets, formed by the two plies, open at one
end and closed at the other, with a solid double ply fabric between the pockets. These
pockets may be woven of any desired size to fit any particular sized individual cart-
ridge, or still larger pockets may be woven to contain magazine cases.

page_text: Both form of pockets may be combined and woven on the same belt, and a belt of
this kind is represented in the drawing. A are the pockets or thimbles for individual
cartridges, and A' are the larger pockets for magazines. The particular magazine, B,
are such as are now used with the Lee magazine gun.
In case bottle shaped cartridges are to be used with the belt, a suitable number of
binder picks can be thrown into and out of action before the others so as to contract
those portions of the pockets which receive the contracted necks of the cartridges.
The belt is woven flat and straight as seen in Figure 1. When however the cart-
ridges are inserted in the pockets, the belt when naturally extended will take the
shape shown in Figure 2, having its greater length along its closed edge. The result
is that the filled belt, whether worn over the shoulder or around the waste will fit
the person very easily and comfortably.
The belt at its ends is provided with a fastener which has been devised with more
particular reference to the needs of cartridge belts provided with cartridge holding
Thimbles or pockets.
In Figure 1 the bearing sleeve of one of the fasteners is broken away sufficiently
to expose the shank or stem of the fastener.
At each end of the belt is a bearing sleeve C, preferably of sheet metal, secured to
the body of the belt by rivets, eyelets, or other suitable means. In this sleeve swivels
the shank or stem of a double hook D, which can be formed of a piece of wire or
small metallic rod, having its ends which project beyond the sleeve bent towards each
other so as to form hooks-the extreme ends of these hooks being preferably bent or
bevelled outwardly a little, in order to facilitate their engagement with the belt.
In applying the belt to the person, it is put around the waist (for instance,) with
one of the ends overlapping the other; and each end is then secured in place by
causing the hooks to catch over the opposite edges of the belt at the point between the
two nearest contiguous pockets: in doing this it will be necessary to bend together
the edges of the belt, which can readily be done. if the cartridges in the thimbles
between which the double hook comes are first removed. Each end of the belt is in
this way secured, as seen in Figure 3. The complete fastener thus consists of two
members-one member being the double hook, and the other member being a rib or
shoulder, in this instance formed by the cartridge thimble or pocket, against which the
double hook brings up when it is engaged with the belt.
A manifest advantage of the arrangement is that the belt can be of any convenient.
or desired length. In Figure 3 it is represented as passing around the waist about
once and one-third.
In case the belt or band has no pockets, or is unprovided with pockets at the
point where it is to be engaged by the double hook, an arrangement, such as shown
in Figure 6 can be employed. In this instance the shoulder or rib against which the
double hook brings up is formed conveniently of metallic studs h, which are eyeletted
to the body of the band. Other means can be provided for the purpose, what is
essential being that there should be a rib or shoulder upon the body of the belt or
band against which the double hook can bring up.
In order to secure the magazines B in place in their pockets, there is provided
for each a fastener, composed of two readily separable members, the one attached to
the belt or pocket, the other attached to the magazine itself.
The preferred form of fastener is similar to a well known form of glove fastener
of which one part consists of a head or ball, and the other of a slightly expansible
socket. The ball or knob is rivetted. or otherwise fastened to one of the sides of
the magazine B, and the slightly expansible sheet metal socket is cycletted or
otherwise secured to the inside of the pocket in a position to come opposite to the
ball on the magazine when the latter is in place in the pocket.
transverse vertical section through one of the pockets and the magazine contained
Figure 7 is a
therein; Figure 8 is a view of one of the magazines detached: Figure 9 is a view
of that portion of the inner face of the pocket which contains the socket part of the
fastener.

page_text: In this way the magazine is securely held in its pocket, and yet can be readily
detached and removed therefrom when occasion requires.
In lieu of employing magazines of the particular kind represented, other cartridge
receptacles can be used such for example as wrappers or woven bags containing a
number of cartridges, and provided each with a ball or knob fastened by suitable
means to it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A cartridge belt composed of multiply fabric, provided with cartridge pockets
integral therewith, formed by the piles and closed along one edge of the fabric,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2. A belt or band having at one or both ends à double hook adapted to catch over
and embrace the opposite edges of the belt and to bring up against a rib or shoulder
provided for that purpose on the body of the belt, substantially as hereinbefore set
forth.
at one
3. A belt having thimbles or pockets for the reception of cartridges and provided
or both ends with a double hook adapted to catch over and embrace the
opposite edges of the body of the belt and to enter the space which separates contiguous
pockets, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
4. The combination of the pocketted belt, the magazine, and the magazine fastener,
composed of two members of which one is carried by the belt, and the other by the
magazine itself, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
1
1 1000.