Razors, and the like.
Year: 1886

page_text: Razors, and the like.
Í, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN, of 24 Great Charles Street, Birmingham, in
the county of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tion for AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING OR SHARPENING KNIVES,
RAZORS AND THE LIKE, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the construction of an apparatus for cleaning, or
sharpening knives, razors, and other similar articles, and has for its object, an easy
and effectual means of operation. I construct my invention in the following
manner (by preference) in the form of a case, or oblong box, one end of which
I leave open; over a portion of the open end I affix a piece of sheet metal.(by
preference brass), bent to form two sides projecting outwards, paralell with the
sides of the box. I form (opposite each other) a hole through each of these two
sides, and I spring into, or pass through the two holes (which I use as bearings),
a cylinder, or hollow roller in the interior of which I secure the handle of a knife,
or lower part of a razor blade to be sharpened or cleaned. I keep the roller in the
desired position by flanges, or other suitable means, and I secure the knife or razor
in the desired position; (by preference) with a suitable thumb screw passing
through the wall of the cylinder and lodging upon a tongue hinged in the interior.
Into the remaining opening at the end of the case I slide two thin flat strips (by
preference of wood or sheet metal), the upper one the width of the knife or razor
blade required to be sharpened, or cleaned, the lower strip I form the width of the
case, and with a handle formation at its outer end, I connect these two strips
together by springs (by preference strip sheet steel, and formed eliptical in shape)
and I secure these springs between and near the ends of the two strips. To the
inner end of the lower strip I secure a strip of leather, gut, (or other suitable
material). I pass this strip through the opening at the end of the case, under
a runner or guide wheel, then over, or wrapped around the cylinder or roller, and
attach its end to an arm affixed to the outer end of the lower strip.
To further illustrate my invention I will now refer to the annexed sheet of
drawings.
Figs. 1. 2. and 3. show a plan, side, and end view, of a razor stropp complete.
The parts marked, a. show the case, or box, in which slide the thin flat strips

page_text: marked, b. The parts marked, c, show the eliptical shaped springs which connect
the two strips together and keep pressure upon the razor blade which is marked d.
The parts marked e. show the sheet metal formation of bearings in which rotates
the cylinder or hollow roller marked f. around which is wrapped a cord marked g.
which is attached to the inner-end of the lower strip which is marked, b. then
passed under a guide wheel marked, h. around the cylinder marked, f. and attached
to a tension thumb screw which is marked i. The thumb screw increases or decreases
the friction on the cylinder by being turned to the right or left in the projecting
arm which is marked j. and which is secured to the outer end of the lower strip
marked, b. The thumb screw which is marked, k. is screwed though the wall of
the cylinder marked, f. and lodges upon the gripping tongue which is marked, l.
and which is hinged within the cylinder marked, f. for the purpose of firmly
securing the razor marked, d. Thus when the strips marked, b, are reciprocated in
the case, marked, a, by the handle formation marked, m. the upper surface of the
upper strip (which I cover with leather or other suitable sharpening matter) is
forced by the eliptical springs, marked, c. against the flat side of the razor blade,
marked, d, which is held (transverseley) across the upper strip by being secured
within the roller, marked f. at the same time the piece of cord marked, g. which is
carried too and fro by the lower strip marked, b. is tensioned tightly on the roller
marked f. by the thumb screw marked i. which keeps sufficient friction on the
roller to reverse the side of the knife or razor whenever the direction of the strips
are reversed, and also keep the edge in the direction that the strips are moving.
Figs. 4 and 5. partly illustrate the first portion of my claim by showing that the
cylinder can be operated and the friction obtained by cords or strips direct, or by
the medium of cogs or plain wheels from a plain surface. Figs. 6, and 7, partly
illustrate the second portion of my claim by showing flat eleptical, or wire spiral
springs secured between the two strips.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. The reverseing of the sides of the knife or razor blade by friction, for the
purpose of cleaning or sharpening, as herein specified and described.
2nd. The use and application of eliptical, spiral, or other shaped springs, for the
purpose as herein specified and described.
Did thin dan sal
1000
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN.