CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING METALLIC SURFACES, AND IN MA-
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Fearn, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Electro Metallurgist, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING METALLIC SURFACES, AND IN MA-
"
Sealed the 22nd December 1852, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Fearn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st October 1852.
I, THOMAS FEARN, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING METALLIC SURFACES, AND IN
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows,
that is to say-
The Invention consists in a method of engraving or pressing designs
upon the surfaces of metal tubes or other forms by means of machinery.
The machine for effecting this consisting of a cylindrical box or drum,
having an aperture completely through the centre (as will be seen on
reference to the annexed Drawing, Fig. 1.) Inside which box is fixed

page_text: by means of screw pins (A,) passing through the whole a circular plate
of brass or other metal, (B, Fig. 2), the thickness of which is equal to
the inside depth of the box or drum; this also has an aperture in the
centre, and on its upper side any desired number of grooves (C, Fig. 2,)
are cut to about a depth of two-thirds of its thickness, radiating from
the circumference of the box or drum to the aperture in the centre.
Into these grooves are fitted short bars of steel (Fig. 3,) whose ends
nearest the centre of the drum are slit to admit small wheels which
are secured by and revolve upon small pins or rivets passing through
both; and on the peripheries of these wheels are cut in relief or engraved
patterns or designs, according to the impression required on the surface
of the metal. These bars of steel, with the wheels attached, are then
placed in the grooves (C), the wheels towards the centre of the
machine, and the lid is screwed down by means of the screw pins (A,)
(Fig. 1); and if it be a tube to be operated on, a rod of steel tapered at
one end is inserted into the tube, and acts as a mandril. One end of
the tube being also slightly tapered is then inserted into the aperture
in the centre of the machine, and is received between the wheels, which
are then driven home to the tube by means of the screws (D,) passing
through the rim of the box, and opposite to the ends of the bars carry-
ing the wheels. By these screws the pressure is regulated, and any
required depth of impression obtained; after which the pins (E,) are
screwed down upon the bars to keep them steady. The machine is
then taken to a common drawbench, and the tube is drawn through
the wheels, which are by its passage caused to revolve, and thus they
impress on the surfaces of the tube the pattern engraved or cut on their
peripheries. The tube on leaving this machine presents a wrinkled
appearance, to remove which it is passed through an ordinary draw-
plate, which smooths the surface and at the same time sharpens the
impression. If a spirally running pattern be desired, it is produced by
slitting the bars of steel at such an angle that the wheels are caused to
revolve in a slanting direction (Fig. 4), and thus carry the pattern
spirally round the tube. This inclination of the wheels gives a rotary
motion to the machine, and, therefore, whilst thus operating, it is
necessary to fix it on a metal disc, which is fitted on to a second disc

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Fearn in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 30th March 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
THOMAS FEARN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Electro
Metallurgist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Thomas Fearn, Her special license that I,
the said Thomas Fearn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Fearn, 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 ORNAMENTING
METALLIC SURFACES, AND IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Fearn, 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 Thomas Fearn, 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

page_text: n and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
s to say:
.
My Invention consists in a method of producing pressed; engraved,
or embossed designs on metallic surfaces, such as those of tubes, rods,
or strips of metal, by means of machinery.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, is a plan of the upper side..
29
2, an elevation of the machine..
3, a horizontal section.
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33
4, a vertical
ditto.
"
33
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5, plan of the under side of the drum or box.
6, section of 'same.
7, a plan of the plate, carrying the bearings for the rollers.
8, elevation of same.
Figures 9, & 10, views of the rollers and their bearing blocks, as
25
arranged to produce spiral patterns.
11, the same when intended to produce patterns running in a
direct line.
I will now proceed to the description: The outer casing of this
machine which is intended to apply to metal tubes and rods consists of
cylindrical box or drum, as shewn at (Figures 1, and 2), having an
perture (F.) through the centre. Inside this box is fixed by means
of screw pins (A, Figures 1, and 2,) passing through the whole a plate
of brass or other metal of the form shewn at (Figures 7, and 8), and at
B, Figures 3, and 4), the thickness of this plate being equal to the
nside depth of the casing; this plate also has an aperture through
he centre corresponding exactly with that in the outer casing, and on
ts upper side any desired number of grooves (C, Figures 7, and 8,) are
cut to a depth of about two thirds of its thickness, radiating from the
entre to the circumference. Into these grooves are fitted the short
teel bars or bearing blocks shewn at (Figure 11), in which are hung
mall wheels (H) secured by and revolving upon pins bearing in the sides
of the blocks. On the peripheries of these wheels suitable patterns

page_text: +
are either cut in relief or engraved, according to the design required to
be produced on the tube or rod: These bars or bearing blocks, with
the wheels hung in them, are then laid in the grooves (C, Figure 7),
the wheels towards the centre of the machine, and the cover of the outer
casing screwed on by the screw pins (A, Figure 1). If it be a tube to
be operated on, a rod of steel tapered at one end is inserted into the
tube, and acts as a mandril. One end of the tube is then also slightly
tapered, and placed in the aperture in the centre of the machine (F,
Figure 1), when it is received between the converging rollers, which
are then driven home to the tube by means of the screws (D,) passing
through the rim of the box, and bearing on the opposite ends of the
blocks to which the rollers are attached. By these screws the pressure
is regulated, and, consequently, the depth of the impression required on
the tube. The pins (E,) are now screwed down on the bars to keep
them steady. The machine is afterwards taken to a common draw-
bench, and the tube drawn through, by which the rollers are caused to
rotate, impressing on the surface of the tube the design that may be
cut or engraved on their peripheries. The tube on leaving this machine
presents a wrinkled appearance, to remove which it is passed through
an ordinary draw-plate, which smooths the surface, and at the same
time sharpens the impression. When it is required to produce a
pattern running spirally round the tube I slit the bars of steel which
bear the engraving rollers at such an angle that the wheels must rotate
in a slanting direction, as shewn at (Figures 9, and 10). Thus the
design is carried spirally round the tube. This inclination of the wheels
gives a rotary motion to the machine, and, therefore, whilst thus
operating it is necessary to fix it on a inetal disc, which is fitted into
a second disc having a projecting collar, round which it rotates while
the tube is being drawn through.
These are the operations requisite for engraving, pressing, or embos-
sing designs on any kind of metal tubes. It is evident that the same
process will answer equally well for metal rods. The mandril in that
case being, of course, inapplicable.
For the purpose of producing the same ornamentation on strips of
metal I employ a somewhat differently constructed machine, though

page_text: acting on the same principle. Between two standards or holsters is
hung a long plain roller, parallel to which a series of the bars or blocks,
with their rollers attached, are hung in a trough or hollow. The
distance of these engraving rollers from the plain roller is regulated by
screw pins at the heads of the blocks, as in the machine shewn in Draw-
ings, and their relative distances governed by regulating screws acting
on their sides, so that, having impressed one series of designs by drawing
a strip between the plain roller and the engraving rollers, the strip being
kept in position by small grooved wheels at the sides, I can alter the
position of the engraving rollers, and, passing the strip through again,
produce another series of designs between those already engraved;
this may be repeated as often as may be desired.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise form or details herein
specified; but what I claim as my Invention is,-
The general arrangement and application of the various parts herein
set forth and described, constituting apparatus or machinery for the
purpose of rolling or pressing engraved or embossed designs on the
surfaces of metal tubes, rods, or strips, as before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Fearn, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
THOMAS (L.S.) FEARN.