IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOSEPH WASHINGTON TYSON, of Burton Crescent, in the County of
Middlesex, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Tenth day of June, in the eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Washington Tyson, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Joseph Washington
Tyson, my exors, aditiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Joseph Washington Tyson, my exors, adññiors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
AND ORDNANCE," communicated to me by a certain foreigner residing
abroad, in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the
said Joseph Washington Tyson, shall cause a particular description

page_text: of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Joseph Washington Tyson, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
fully described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
"The Invention consists of percussion primers connected together in a
series, but having the fulminating or percussion matter of each primer
separated from the others in the series; and the Invention consists also
a method of applying the same to all kinds of fire-arms; and the follow-
ing is a full, clear, and exact description of the principle, manner of
making, and modes of using the same. The nature of the first part of
the Invention consists in so making primers of fulminating mixtures or
such compounds as ignite by percussion as to have a series of any num-
ber of primers in a continuous strip, and each separated from the others
to prevent the communication of fire from the one exploded to the others,
by means of which a magazine of such primers can be carried in con-
nection with the gun or other fire-arm, and each primer exploded with-
out any danger of communicating the fire to the rest in the series. And
the second part of the Invention consists in connecting with all kinds
of fire-arms, such as cannon, guns, pistols, &c., a magazine for cou-
taining primers made in accordance with the first part of the Invention,
from which the primers may or can be fed forward to the place where
they are to be cut off preparatory to being exploded, or directly to the
place of explosion, this magazine being so connected with the hammer
or other moving part of the lock as to push forward the primer by the
movement of the lock.
Having thus described the chief characteristics, I will (to enable any
one skilled in the art to make and use the Invention) minutely describe
its various parts, essential modifications, and manner of using the same,

page_text: making reference to the accompanying Drawings that make part of this
Specification; in which Figure 1, is a plan of the series of primers;
Figure 2, a longitudinal section of the same, showing one manner of
making them with the separation between each primer; Figure 3, an
outside representation of the percussion lock altered to receive my
improved magazine and primers; Figure 4, the same, with the maga-
zine opened to shew the position of the series of primers, and the manner
of feeding by means of the cock or hamme; Figure 5, a transverse
section of the same, taken at the line A, B, of Figure 4; Figure 6,
plan and section of the wheel of cogs which moves forward the primers
and a spring washer placed under it; Figure 7, a modification of the
magazine in which the primers are moved forward without the wheel;
And Figures 8, 9, and 10, outside, inside, and top views of a back action
lock, in which the magazine is let into the lock plate and the primers
moved out by means of the tumbler. In all these Figures the same
letters indicate corresponding parts.
The mode of making the series of primers under the first part of the
Invention which I prefer, is that represented in the accompanying
Drawings, and is as follows, viz. :-A strip of paper, either in a moist or
dry state, is, by means of appropriate instruments, and by the applica-
tion of pressure, forced out into cup forms, as at c, c c; the spaces
between each cup being sufficient to prevent the communication of
fire from one to the other. These cups are filled with the percus-
sion or fulminating mixture even with the original surface of the
strip, it is then coated with a varnish of gum lac, dissolved in alco-
hol and covered with a thin strip of paper, and the whole is then
varnished over, which renders it impermeable to moisture. It is im-
portant that the two strips of paper be made to adhere in the spaces
between the several cups containing the fulminating compound, and that.
none of the mixture be deposited or left on the spaces or divisions.
The method which I have pursued in making these primers is to form
the cups c in the paper by forcing in the mixture, the one operation.
being sufficient instead of two. And it will be evident that this can.
done by placing the strip of paper on a bed having a counter sink of.
the form intended to be given to the cap, and laying the paper thereon,

page_text: and the mixture forced into it by a piston working in a hole in a plate
placed above the paper to keep it in place, and to hold the mixture and
form a guide for the piston. The fulminating mixture which I employ
is composed of one hundred parts of fulminating mercury, and sixty of
gunpowder, but any of the fulminating or percussion mixtures may be
substituted, as it makes no part of the Invention. I have above stated
that strips of paper are used to form the shell of the series of primers,
but other substances may be substituted, such as cloth, parchment, and
many other substances not necessary to enumerate, as I deem good
paper the best and cheapest. And although I have described what I
deem to be the best mode of making these primers, I by no means con-
fine myself to it, but may vary it, as for instance, the fulminating mix-
ture may be put on the strip of paper without the cups, and the cover-
ing be made to conform thereto; or the mixture may be made into a
paste, the primers modelled, and then secured at proper distances apart
on a strip of paper or other substance by glue or other mastic, and the
whole coated with varnish; or the primers may be separated from each
other by some incombustible substance; or the mixture may be put in
a soft metal tube, and the separation be formed by flattening the tube
at proper intervals to interpose between each two primers the contact
of the inner surface of the tube. In short, the principle of making
primers in a connected strip, and each separated from the others, may
be applied in a variety of ways, and yet retain this essential character
which renders it more safe and convenient than any other mode of
making primers with which I am acquainted. And although I deem
it important that the separation between the primers be a depression as
affording facilities in feeding or moving them out preparatory to ex-
plosion, as will be fully explained hereafter, yet the great end of safety
against communicating fire from one to another of the series, and pro-
tection against moisture, may be otherwise attained.
Under the second part of the Invention as indicated above, the
primers are coiled and put in a magazine i, and pushed through an
aperture, to be cut off by a cutter on the hammer preparatory to
explosion. In Figures 3, 4, and 5, this magazine is represented as
applied to the common percussion lock, which when thus altered I

page_text: .
denominate the magazine percussion lock. The magazine is represented
as attached to the lock plate by two screws g, and h, in manner fully
represented in the Figures. The cavity i, for the reception of the coil
of primers j, has a channel k, leading therefrom for the delivery of the
primers, and an enlargement 1, in which turns a feeding wheel m, with
cogs in its periphery so formed and at such distances apart as to fit in
the spaces between the primers in the series, which are thus held
between this feeding wheel and the under part of the channel . This
feeding wheel turns on a cylindrical pin projecting from the under
plate of the magazine, and rests on a spring washer n, (represented in
plan and profile at Figure 6,) which is bent to give it the requisite
elasticity to press the wheel up against the head of a screw o, that fits
accurately in a hole in the cylindrical pin and tapped into the lower
plate. The object of this spring washer is to prevent the return of the
wheel by the return action of the mechanism which operates it, and
which consists of a hoop spring p, that fits accurately and without
much binding in the case or magazine i. This spring hoop is repre-
sented in section at Figures 11, and 12. The end 2, which acts against
the teeth of the feeding wheel, is for a short distance tangential to the
circle; and that part of the periphery of the magazine corresponding
thereto is of the same forin; as it will be seen, on inspection of the
Drawing, that if these two parts were in the direction of the circle the
end 2, in pushing around the feeding wheel, would escape from the
cog, which is effectually prevented by giving them the direction of a
tangent; this is not, however, indispensably necessary. The mortice in
the end q. shown in Figure 12, is to receive the tooth of the feeding
wheel next to the one acted upon by the end of the hoop spring, for
the reason given in describing the necessity of making this end tan-
gential. The spring hoop receives the movement which it transmits
to the feeding wheel from the cock or hammer by a projection r, that
lies in a mortice s, in the body of the cock or hammer as fully shown
at Figure 4, in which a part of the cock is represented as cut off to
exhibit this connection. The mortice s, in the cock is of such length
as not to act on the projection r, in bringing it to the half cock; and
then from the half to the full cock the spring hoop is carried around

page_text: 2
sufficiently to turn the feeding wheel the distance of one cog, and thus
feed out one primer. There is an opening made in the side of the
magazine of sufficient length for the play of the projection r. The
outer face t, of the magazine is a segment of a circle of which the
axis of the hammer is the centre; and the under and lower faces of the
channel k, should be such that the upper part of the strip of primers,
in being forced out by the feeding wheel, will strike the upper face, and
by its elasticity cause the under side to bear on the lower face k',
which is made sharp to form a bed-cutter, in conjunction with which
the knife edge of the hammer acts to constitute shears by which the
primer is severed from the strip and carried down by the motion of the
hammer to be exploded on the nipple or conc v, made in the usual form;
and which is therefore in a condition to receive the common percussion
cap should it be desired to make use of this as a percussion cap lock.
That portion of the lower face k', of the channel on which the strip
of primers lies preparatory to being cut off, should be so inclined as to
deliver the primers in the direction of the dotted line x x of Figure 3,
or nearly so, to insure the carrying of the primer after it is severed
from the strip to the cone or nipple. The screw h, which aids in
fastening the magazine to the lock plate is tapped into a cylindrical
projection within the magazine around which the strip of primers is
coiled. The magazine is closed by a cap w, hinged at a, and pierced
at y, to shut over the head of the screw o, and is latched down by a
turning latch plates, rivetted to the cap; the circle of the latch plate
and that of the screw head intersecting each other, the former being cut
out as shewn at a, to pass the head of the screw so that it may be
turned into a notch cut into the head of the screw to latch and secure
the сар, the latch being provided with a thumb or nail piece by which
to turn it. Should it be desirable to have the lock so constructed as
to admit of a primer being drawn back into the magazine after it has
been projected by cocking the gun, it may be accomplished by cutting
away the magazine so that its outline over the wheel would be repre-
sented by the dotted line & &. By letting the hammer down to
"half cock," the wheel may be turned by the thumb or otherwise, so
as to return the primer and save it. In all the various modifications

page_text: of this lock, I deem it important for safety as well as convenience to
have the primer begin to move out of the magazine after the half cock
is passed and the cutting edge of the hammer has passed above the
opening in the magazine where the primers are projected.
At Figure 7, will be seen a modification of this magazine separate
from the lock to shew the mode of feeding without the feeding wheel.
By extending the end 7, of the hoop spring p, some distance into the
channel k, (which is altered in form as represented in the Drawing,)
and so curved as to fit into the recesses between the primers to feed
them forward, instead of acting on the teeth of the feeding wheel as in
the first example, and to prevent the back movement of the feeding
hoop spring from drawing back the primers, they are retained by a
spring 6', placed above them and attached to the upper face of the
channel k; and as the screw o in this modification is not employed, a
projection e' is substituted to receive the edge of the rotating latch for
securing the cap.
Another modification is represented in Figures 8, 9, and 10, in
which the magazine is let into the lock plate, and the projection r, of
the hoop spring is embraced and operated by the tumbler, the same
amount of play being given to admit of bringing the hammer to the
half cock without moving the hoop spring and primer as in the other
example. The position of the magazine, hoop spring, feeding wheel,
&c., are all indicated in Figure 9, by dotted lines.
.
From the foregoing the manner of applying the first and second
parts of the Invention to cannon and pistols and other fire-arms, and
various modifications of locks, will be obvious to all persons versed in
the art of making fire-arins. And it will also be evident that the
first part of the Invention may be applied without the second, and that
the second part or magazine may be applied without connnecting it
with the lock, and that I have only given the above as examples of
what I deem to be the most efficient modes of application, but these
may be variously changed without affecting the principle or character
of the Invention as fully expressed above.
And having thus fully explained the character of the Invention, the
essential modes of application, and the manner of making and using

page_text: the same, what I claim as the Invention, and as distinguished from
all other things before known, is,-
First, making primers of fulminating mixtures, or such compounds
as ignite by percussion, in a continuous series, each primer or any two
or greater number being separated from the others by a substance
which is non or less combustible than the fulminating mixture, by
which one or more may be exploded without communicating fire to
the others.
Secondly, the mode herein described of moving and, measuring out
the primers by the movement of the lock substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Washington Tyson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and