A REIN HANDLE AND HOLDER, APPLICABLE POR RIDING OR DRIVING EITHER FOR SINGLE, DOUBLE, OR TEAM REINS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Pacey, Coach Builder and Harness Manu-
facturer, of No. 2, Waterloo Street, and Upper Priory, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "A REIN HANDLE AND
HOLDER, APPLICABLE POR RIDING OR DRIVING EITHER FOR SINGLE, DOUBLE,
OR TEAM REINS."
Sealed the 4th May 1860, and dated the 7th November 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Pacey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
November 1859.
I, GEORGE PACEY, Coach Builder and Harness Manufacturer, of No. 2,
Waterloo Street, and Upper Priory, Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature
of my said Invention for "A REIN HANDLE AND HOLDER, APPLICABLE FOR
RIDING OR DRIVING, EITHER FOR SINGLE, DOUBLE, OR TEAM REINS," to be as
follows (that is to say) :-
My Invention consists of a handle made of ivory, bone, or other suitable
material or materials, so constructed that the means is afforded (at each end)
of gripping or holding the leather or other materials of the reins or bridle, and
yet be capable of being easily moved or adjusted as required. The object of
the handle is not only to keep the reins or bridle asunder, and to enable the
rider or driver (by mere motion of the hand) to guide or direct the horse or
horses, as may be desired, but also from the natural position of the handle
greater controuling power of holding in, or pulling up is afforded; and for
military or such like purposes, where it may be desired, such as in cavalry
evolutions, I purpose so constructing the rein handles that the rein or bridle
shall be capable of being brought back and held in any suitable way to the
pummel or front of the saddle, preferring that the connection shall be made

page_text: with any suitable elastic material or springs, so that the desired amount of
elasticity may be afforded to relieve or prevent over due pressure on the mouth
of the horse. This means will leave a soldier (when in action) the free use of
his hands and arms for the more effecient use of his sword and carbine; and
in the case of driving, I purpose holding the reins or rein handle to the front
(when out of hand) by an elastic clip, placed in front of the driver, so that the
reins may always be in pisition ready for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Pacey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th May 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
PACEY, Coach Builder and Harness Manufacturer, of No. 2, Waterloo Street,
and Upper Priory, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Pacey, Her special license that I, the said George
Pacey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Pacey, my executors, administrators, or 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 "A REIN HANDLE AND HOLDER APPLICABLE FOR RIDING OR DRIVING, EITHER
FOR SINGLE, DOUBLE, OR TEAM REINS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Pacey, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 tlie said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Pacey, 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):-
My Invention consists of a handle made of ivory, bone, or enamelled leather,
metal, china, glass, or other suitable material or materials, so constructed that

page_text: means are provided at each end for gripping or holding the leather or other
material of the reins or bridle, and yet be capable of being readily applied,
moved, or adjusted, or removed altogether at pleasure. The use and object of
this handle is not only to keep the reins or bridle asunder, and to enable the
rider or driver by a mere motion of the hand to guide or direct the horse or
horses he may have under controul, but the position of the handle also affords
greater controuling power without the assistance of the whip hand, for holding
in, pulling up, or otherwise managing horses during the time of their being
ridden or driven. For double harness, tandum, or four-horse teams, I prefer
constructing the handle of a semicircular form, one part being attached to the
reius of the fore horse or horses, and the other part to the reins of the shaft or
wheel horse or horses. And this compound handle I purpose to be used sepa-
rate or combined, as circumstances may require, either from the metal or
temper of the horse or horses, or the intricacy or other difficulties of the road.
The reins thus connected I purpose holding (when out of use or during the
time the horse or horses are standing), by passing them over or between
friction rolls, fastened to the dash or foot board or seat of the carriage on which
the driver sits, or in any other suitable position, so as to readily attach the
reins to an elastic holder capable of sufficient expansion and contraction to
allow the horse or horses a sufficient amount of freedom for tossing the head or
straining the neck without injuring the mouth, or, in fact, to hold them with
an easy hand-like restraint. And for private or cavalry riding I purpose so
constructing the rein handle that the rein or bridle shall be capable of being
brought back and held in any suitable way to the pummel, or front, or other
convenient part of the saddle, preferring that the connection shall be made with
any suitable elastic material or spring, so that the desired amount of elasticity
may be afforded, to prevent any undue pressure on the mouth of the horse.
This means will be found of importance in cavalry evolutions and charges, as it
will leave a soldier (when in action or otherwise) free use of his hands and
arms for the more efficient use of his sword or carbine, or other requirements.
In carrying this portion of my Invention into effect, an elastic web fitted with
a suitable loop may be passed over a friction roller or between à mouth-piece
in the front or other convenient part of the saddle, and carried back under-
neath or between the padding of the saddle seat, and attached (by the back
loop) to the staple usually applied to saddles for attaching the cruppér; and
the front end of the elastic web may be fitted with a loop, eye, or hook;-in
order that the rein handle may be readily attached to it; and in-some cases,
instead of applying elasticity to the saddle, a suitable length of india-rubber or
other elastic material may be attached by suitable means to the bridle, which

page_text: being brought back and attached to a hook or loop to the front or other con-
venient part of the saddle, will be found to possess all the same useful require-
ments that would be derived from the application of elastic web or other
material to the saddle. This simple arrangement will be found of the greatest
advantage to equestrians generally, for on temporary dismounting or otherwise,
the bridle thus held back will always be in a proper position for restraining
the borse and preventing the reins falling loosely about its head or feet, which
frequently alarms and irritates young horses, independently of its liability to
throw them down and break the reins.
But in order that I may be well understood as to the nature, object, and
extent of my Invention, I will refer to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon, observing that in all cases where the
same part or parts are represented in different Figures, they will be found
marked with the same letters of reference.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a rein holder made according to my Invention, and may
be used either for riding or driving. The part A is a hollow tube, which may
be cased with an outer tube of ivory, bone, wood, or other suitable material,
or covered with silk, velvet, leather, or other suitable fabric that would conduce
to its appearance, or be soft and agreeable to the hand. The parts B, B, are
clips for clipping the rein or bridle, to be held in the desired position by the
pins C, C, which may be drawn in or extended at pleasure for adjusting and
holding the rein or bridle; and Fig. 2 is a part section of Figure One, showing
the manner of relieving or disengaging the pins C, C, from the rein; the nut a
is secured to the pin C, and through this nut a pin is passed at right angles
not only through the nut, but through a slot in the inner tube b, b, and through
the outer tube, as shown at c; Figure One, and in the centre of the inner end
of the tube b; b, the pin C is secured, over which an helical spring is placed and
held in by the nut f; when the reins require to be applied or removed or
shifted, the thumb may be pressed against the part B', which will press it out
to the extent of the slot in the inner tube, thereby elongating the handle part,
and extending the clips free of the pins C and C¹, and by removing the thumb
from the clip B¹ the handle will immediately collapse, as here shown, allowing
the pins to enter corresponding holes in the rein or bridle for receiving
them.
From this description it will be seen that the clip B¹ is soldered or united
to the inner tube b, b, and the tube of the handle is tapped, soldered, or other-
wise united to the clip B. Fig. 3 is simply an end view of the clip part of

page_text: the last Figures; Fig. 4 is a larger handle, showing the clips in an edge view;
and Fig. 5.represents the same handle in the position to represent the clips in
a flat view. The internal mechanism of this handle differs from that of Figure
Two, as will be seen by the longitudinal section, Fig. 6; the nut g is connected
with the outer tube by a pin, as shown at h, Figure Five, and a flat view of
this part is exhibited detached at Fig. 7; to this nut the pin D¹ is applied,
which works through the nut j, which is tapped into that part of the clip E¹
that fits within the outer tube F, and to this inner tube k, k, the pin D is
attached by means of two screws tapped through the part 1, and through
openings in the nut g, as shown at Figure Seven, and into the inner tube k, k,
the nuts near the ends of the pins D and D¹ not only hold the pins centrally,
but one of them forms the stop on D¹ for the helical spring to abut against;
this handle may be operated on as before described, as the mere pressure of
the thumb will extend it, as exhibited at Fig. 8, and thereby freeing the loops
E and E' from the pins, exhibited and described at Figures Five and Six,
marked D and D'; the outer clips may be made continuous, for entirely
encompassing the rein, in which case, to remove or apply the handle to the
rein or bridle, the latter would have to be unbuckled and drawn through the
loops. In some instances the rein may be connected as exhibited at Fig. 9.
G is a metal clip for clipping the rein, and which clip is held in its place by a
pin connected with the screw head H, and which clip, pin, and screw are
exhibited in section at G and H¹. On these metal clips eyes are formed as
at J and J, for receiving an elastic or non-elastic strap, as bere shown
marked I ; this strap, by means of the pins and pin heads H and H', may be
shifted and fixed to the reins in the desired position, the strap I being used
either as a rein handle or for conveniently hooking on to an elastic or non-
elastic hook connector suitably placed on the dash or foot board or seat of the
driver, as most convenient, according to the character of the carriage to which
it may be required, thus leaving the hand portion of the reins to be used in
the ordinary way, if preferred; and Fig. 10 represents an edge view of the
.metal clip last described, and if thought desirable, the clips and loop for
attaching the reins to the holder may be wholly of metal, as exhibited in a flat
view, partly sectioned at Fig. 11. K, K, are the loops for clipping the reins,
on the inner sides of which shanks are formed for attaching them by soldering
or otherwise to a tubular connecting piece, marked L, which is partly repre-
sented in section; M is a metallic loop, bent up, and shaped of steel wire,
.which may be finished by electro-plating, gilding, or covered with leather or
otherwise en suite with the harness with which it may be used; the extreme
ends of this metallic loop are bent outward to form the pins for entering or

page_text: holding the reins, but which pins are capable of being drawn in by the pressure
of the thumb and finger on the sides of the loop, a slot being formed in the
tube L to admit of its being compressed. Fig. 12 is simply a section of
Figure Eleven, taken through the dotted lines m, m; and Fig. 13 is an end
view of Figure Eleven, exhibiting the loop M. projecting in front, and and edge
view of the clips K, K.
And the manner I purpose holding carriage reins when out of use is to let
them rest on a friction roller fitted to a suitable frame, and finished by plating,
gilding, or otherwise, and fastened to the top of the dash-board in any suitable
way, portable or otherwise; such friction roller and frame I have represented
at Fig. 14, and to the part N, if desired, a strap may be formed, as exhibited
by the dotted lines n, n, extending down, terminating with a hook, in order
that when the reins are laying upon the friction roller O the handle, as at
Figure One, Four, or Five, may pass under the hook, and be there held, but
at all times the ears P, P, being nearer together than the length of the handle,
the rein handle cannot pass between them; therefore the reins would not neces-
sarily require further holding than merely resting in the manner here described,
but if the rein handle or holder be formed as exhibited at Figures Nine and
Eleven, a hook would be necessary and beneficial for holding the reins when
out of use, and supposing the part marked I, Figure Nine, to be of india-
rubber or other clastic material, the rein may be effectually held down on
the friction roller, by the part I being pulled over the hook before referred
to, thereby affording sufficient restraint to the horse or horses attached
to the carriage to keep them still, and in position; Fig. 15 represents a
part of the right-hand side of a dash-board, marked R, R, R, as framed of
iron, and covered with leather, stitched on in the usual way. Q, Q, are two
vertical friction rollers working on vertical pins, marked p, p, which pass down
through forged bosses formed of the iron framework of the dash-board, and
at the bottom into a broad, stout, circular-edged base, which may be screwed on
or otherwise fastened to the dash-board, forming an easy seat for the lower edge
of the reins to work over; and S is a hook for receiving the rein handle, and
if the rein handle, as exhibited at Figure Nine, be used with the part I of
india-rubber or other suitable elastic material, this hook may be formed, as
described at Figure Fourteen, but if rein handles are used of the description,
as exhibited at Figures One, Four, Five, or Eleven, I prefer the hook S to be
attached to a metallic strap, fitted in a metallic flat tube partly exhibited at
9, 9, which metallic tube may be stitched and secured between the leather of
the dash-board. This internal tube I purpose to be of a sufficient size to allow
the strap t attached to the hook to work freely through a helical spring, as

page_text: here partly exhibited, marked r, r; by this means the same amount of elasticity
may be obtained, and of an enduring character, as if the connection had been
made with an india-rubber strap, as before referred to; or suppose the part I,
in Figure Nine, to be of leather, in that case the hook, as here represented,
will be of the same use as would be the case if the rein handles as at Figure
One, Five, or Eleven had been used, as my object is to hold the reins in position,
and yet afford a yielding or contracting restraint on the bit or mouth of the
horse or horses so restrained, while the reins are out of the hand of the driver.
And if it should be found inconvenient to hold the reins to the dash-board,
the same means may be applied to the seat or other convenient part of the
carriage for the same purpose. Fig. 16 represents as much of a longitudinal
section of a saddle necessary for illustrating the application of my improve-
ments for the use of equestrians. The part T, T, T, represents the edge of a
piece of strong elastic web, india-rubber, or other elastic material, repre-
sented in a detached flat view, at Fig. 17, fitted with a metallic loop, marked
u, for attaching it to the staple at the back of the saddle to which the crupper
strap is applied. The front end of this elastic strap passes over a friction roller,
marked v, which friction roller is secured by metal plates to the front part of
the saddle tree by screws, as at w, or otherwise, as may be convenient; the
front end of this elastic strap has secured to it the hook U, formed in such a
way that a projection abuts against the front of the saddle to prevent its being
drawn back by the contracting force of the elastic material used, and for illus-
tration we will suppose that the bridle is connected, as at Figure Nine, if
the rider may desire the free use of the bridle-hand, the strap or holder I may
be brought back over the hook, when the horse will feel as much restrained as
if the rider was holding the bridle in his hand. For the use of cavalry, I think
this arrangement will be found of the highest importance, as it would leave
the soldier free for a charge, or other severe military duty; as, for instance, he
would be better able to use or take aim with his carbine, with his hand or
arm free of the rein than he would be able to do by having the rein on the
arm, as they now generally place them, and thereby subject the rider to the
motion of the horse from his natural habit of tossing and shaking the head to
distort or spoil the aim; and again, the one hand may be occupied with a
revolver, and the other his sabre or lance, and yet the horse be under perfect
and easy constraint or controul. And for civilian equestrians, I believe it will
also be found highly beneficial, more especially during the standing of the
horse before mounting, or from temporary dismounting, the rein being brought
back and connected with the hook will prevent the horse, however he may
lower or shake his head, from getting the rein about his ears or under his feet,

page_text: thereby rendering the horse fractious or nervous, or from soiling or breaking
the reins; in addition to which it will be found convenient to have the reins
always in place, and ready for the hand when mounting or mounted; the
dotted lines a, a, represent the elastic web T, T, drawn out by the action of
the horse over the friction roller. It is not essential that the elastic web
should be placed in the position, as here shown, as it may be worked up or
applied between the padding of the seat of the saddle, nor is it essential that
a hook should be applied to its front end as an eye may be substituted, as at
V, Fig. 17, and which hook or eye may be fixed in the front of the saddle
without an elastic strap by adopting the same means as described and repre-
sented at Figure Nine or Figure 11, as the handle or strap I, in the one case
being of an elastic material, will effect the same object (as obtained by the use
of the web or strap T), and to which a suitable hook may be applied for
passing in to the eye (if so preferred) in front of the saddle, as before stated,
whilst in the other case the reins will be held in place without the interven-
tion of any elastic material. Fig. 18 represents as much of the front or
pummel of a saddle necessary for exhibiting the friction roller v, the web T
being represented in section, resting on it and retiring back under the saddle
seat to the connection behind.
Having now described the nature and object of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it understood that
I do not purpose confining myself to the general details, as herein described
and exhibited (as the whole are capable of considerable modification), as long
as the spirit of my Invention is maintained; but what I claim and wish to
protect by these my in part recited Letters Patent is, the application to reins
or bridles for riding or driving of a handle or holder for the better guiding and
restraining horses; and also the means, as herein described and exhibited, of
connecting or holding reins or bridles when out of hand to the carriage or
saddle with which they are being used.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Pacey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this. Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
GEORGE PACEY. (L.S.)
Witness,
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER.