IMPROVEMENTS IN THE Manufacture oF WHEATEN FLOUR
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ramsay Hay, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Flour Miller, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE Manufacture oF WHEATEN FLOUR."
Sealed the 8th August 1873, and dated the 27th March 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ramsay
Hay at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 27th March 1873.
I, GEORGE RAMSAY HAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
5 North Britain, Flour Miller, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEATEN FLOUR,"
to be as follows:-
I have ascertained that there is contained in or attached to wheat
grains a quantity of dark coloured particles in a minute state of division.

page_text: These are, as I believe, located in and alongside the groove and near
and around the germ, and when they are mixed with the mass of the
flour made from the fleshy parts of wheat grains they greatly injure
its value, both as regards strength and colour.
My Invention consists of an improved process or system of manu-
facturing flour, whereby the said dark coloured particles are altogether or
nearly all separated at the right time, and when the wheat grains, each
broken or split into two halves as hereafter mentioned, present the least
possible surface for the adherence of the dark coloured particles.
In practice I proceed in manner following:-I clean, screen, and
"end" the wheat grains, by preference performing the latter operation
between grey horizontal stones. After separating the ends I break or
split the grains each into two halves or pieces longitudinally, or as
nearly into two halves or pieces as is possible between buhr stones
with faces acting in a horizontal plane, and preferably with a sickle
dress. Ordinary stones, rolls, or other appliances may be used. At
this stage of the process I remove by revolving wire screens, vibrating
sifters, or other mechanism aided by currents of wind, if necessary,
the black particles along with the germs from the fleshy parts of
the wheat. The latter thus obtained are ground into flour, and the
product afterwards dressed by any ordinary appliances, whilst the
former, namely, the black particles and germs, are in turn separated
from each other, the germs being ground into flour, and the black
particles used as offal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Ramsay Hay in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
RAMSAY HAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Flour Miller, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the

page_text: thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Ramsay Hay, Her special
licence that I, the said George Ramsay Hay, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Ramsay.
Hay, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEATEN FLOUR," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said, George Ramsay Hay, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 George Ramsay Hay, 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, that is to say :-
I have ascertained that there is contained in or attached to wheat
grains a quantity of dark coloured particles in a minute state of division.
These are, as I believe, located in and alongside the groove and near
and around the germ, and when they are mixed with the mass of the
flour made from the fleshy parts of wheat grains they greatly injure its
value, both as regards strength and colour.
Now my Invention consists of an improved process or system of
manufacturing flour, whereby the said dark coloured particles are
altogether or nearly all separated at the right time, and when the wheat
grains, each broken or split into two pieces, as hereafter mentioned,
present the least possible surface for the adherence of the dark coloured
particles.
In practice I proceed in manner following:-I clean, screen, and

page_text: between grey horizontal stones. After separating the ends I break or split
the grains each into two halves or pieces longitudinally, or as nearly into
two halves or pieces as is possible, between buhr stones with faces acting
in a horizontal plane, and preferably with a sickle dress. Ordinary
stones, rolls, or other appliances may be used. At this stage of the
process I remove by revolving wire screens, vibrating sifters, or other
mechanism, aided by currents of wind, if necessary, the black particles
along with the germs and any small portion of flour that may be made
from the fleshy parts of the wheat. The latter thus obtained are ground
into flour and the product afterwards dressed by any ordinary appliances,
whilst the former, namely, the black particles, germs, and flour incidental
to the breaking in two pieces, are in turn separated from each other,
the germs being ground into flour and the black particles and adhering
flour used as offal.
It will be evident that the essential features of my system is the
separation of the black particles immediately after the wheat grains
have been broken in two, and the grinding of the fleshy portions
freed from the black particles into flour by themselves. Although it
is decidedly beneficial to "end" the wheat grains previous to breaking
them, still such ending may be dispensed with and the beards removed
with the black particles after breaking. I prefer, however, for economical
reasons to "end" the wheat.
No limitation is made under my Invention as to the mechanism or
appliances used for cleaning the wheat, nor for separating the black
particles and germs from the fleshy portions of the wheat grains, nor
for separating the black particles from the germs, nor for grinding the
fleshy portions or germs into fine flour.
Millers may use such appliances as seem best to them, having regard
to the district and also the character of the wheat to be operated on.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particu-
larized the same in such manner that millers and others will be enabled
to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,—
First. The process herein described of cleaning, “ending,” breaking,
separating, and afterwards reducing the fleshy portions of wheat into
flour, substantially as set forth.

page_text: And, second. Separating the black particles immediately after break-
ing, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ramsay Hay, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
In the presence of
A. GORDON. Witness.
GEO. R. HAY. (L.S.)