AN IMPROVED MODE OF REPAIRING WORN-OUT FILES, AND RENDERING THEM AGAIN FIT FOR USE
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF REPAIRING WORN-OUT FILES, AND
RENDERING THEM AGAIN FIT FOR USE."-A communication from abroad by
Charles Adolphe Clavel, of 45, Rue St. Sebastien, Paris, in the Empire
of France.
Sealed the 18th September 1863, and dated the 23rd April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd April 1863.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF REPAIRING WORN-OUT FILES, AND
RENDERING THEM AGAIN FIT FOR USE," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, first, in cleaning the file, and removing from the
surface all organic, mineral, or other matters in any convenient manner, and
then placing the file in a bath of diluted sulphuric, nitric, or other corrosive
acid, and allowing it to remain therein until the acid has bitten down into the
metal and sharpened the teeth. When the teeth have been reformed and

page_text: brought to a point, the file must be taken out of the acid bath, washed in
clean water, and then well brushed with pulverized charcoal or ashes, after
brought to a point, the file must be taken out of the acid bath, washed in
clean water, and then well brushed with pulverized charcoal or ashes, after
which the nie may be greased over in order to protect it from rust.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 "AN IMPROVED MODE OF REPAIRING WORN-OUT FILES, AND RENDERING THEM
AGAIN PIT FOR USE," being a communication from abroad, upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said William Edward Newton, 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 William. Edward Newton, do hereby
icelare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):
This Invention consists, first, in cleaning the file, and removing from the
surface in any convenient manner all organic, mineral, or other matters that
may adhere thereto, and then placing the file in a bath of diluted sulphuric,
nitric, or other corrosive acid, and allowing it to remain therein until the acid

page_text: has bitten down into the metal and sharpened the teeth. When the teeth
have been reformed and brought to a point, the file must be taken out of the
acid bath, washed in clean water, and then well brushed with pulverized char-
coal or ashes, after which the file may be greased over in order to protect it
from rust.
In carrying out this Invention the Inventor states that he proceeds as
follows: The files are first cleansed by immersing them for some moments in
boiling soap suds, and brushing them well with powdered sandstone or
pumice stone. The files are then immersed for a space of time, varying from
twenty seconds to four minutes, in an acid solution composed of one part of nitric
acid, four parts of sulphuric acid, and five parts of water. Rapidity is a con-
dition of the success of the operation, and therefore it is advisable to expedite
the chemical action by beating the files and the solution to a temperature
of 100° centigrade (212° Fahrenheit). As the solution loses its strength by
acting on the metal, fresh doses of acid must be added to it in the proportions
above mentioned. When the solution has become too viscous for use, it is
submitted to distillation, which leaves a salt of iron as a residuum, and sepa-
rates the sulphuric and nitric acids, which may be used over again. It may
be important to protect against the acids certain parts of the file which are
more worn away or lower than the rest. This is effected by applying to the
parts to be protected, at a temperature of 30° centigrade, any varnish which
will adhere most tenaciously to steel, or simply sealing wax or shell lac dis-
solved in alcohol. When the varnish is perfectly dry, the file is to be immersed
in a solution of one-half the strength in acid of that above described, and at a
temperaturo not higher than 40° centigrade. When on the contrary it is
desired to bite away and level certain parts of the file which project after
the sharpening process, the strong mixture of acid and water is to be applied
to those parts by means of brushes of spun glass, or of asbestos set in a glass
tube. During this operation the file must be raised at one end, and inclined
to one side, in order to allow the acids to run into the grooves and deepen
them without blunting the edges of the teeth. The same operation may be
performed upon a file which is not cut deep enough, the teeth having been
first coated with varnish. By means of these combined operations the same
file may be sharpened many times. On being taken from the acids the file
is to be well washed in water, and passed through lime water, brushed with
powdered coke, and then soaked in a mixture of linseed oil and turpentine.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent

page_text: as aforesaid, the mode herein set forth of sharpening or repairing worn-out files
so as to render them again fit for use.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, havo hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)