inches deep, would enclose a series of receptacles capa ble of holding fifty matches; and when these matches are all used, the paper case of receptacles may be withdrawn; and on removing the binding threads so as to allow the flaps to open, as at fig. 3, a set of fresh matches might be introduced, and the flaps bound up again as before, when the apparatus would be ready for use,

A small box, as fig. 4, might be adapted to receive a quantity of the primed matches; a, being the receptacle for a store of matches to be set upright, the priming downwards; b, a socket for a wax candle; c, a recess, in which is mounted a pair of plates with roughed internal surfaces d, d, pressed together by a spring. Between these roughed plates d, d, a series of the matches are to be placed, the primed ends downwards; they may be readily introduced by pressing back the stud e, of the spring, which will open the plates, and when released, the spring will cause the plates to hold the matches firmly. When any one of the matches is drawn out, the priming in passing between the rough surfaces will, by the friction, become exploded and the match ignited,

Fig. 5, shows another box or receptacle for matches, the back and front fall down on hinges, for the purpose of introducing the matches into the receptacles a, a; and b, b, are the friction surfaces..When the back and front are closed up, they are held fast by pins, pressed down and passed into sockets, which confine them; and the matches on being severally drawn out, explode by the friction in passing between the surfaces.

Fig. 6, exhibits another construction of box, in an octagon form, the sides of which a, fall down on hinges, for the purpose of introducing the matches into the receptacles b; the friction surfaces are at c, c, and the sides, when closed up, are confined by an octagonal

164 I o Recent Patents.x) hão aozóa I

casing. The interior of the box may contain a spirito lamp, and a drawer below for a store of fresh matches. 3 These, however, are only shown as examples, as it will be obvious that the receptacles may be made in an great variety of tasteful forms, embodying the same principles of construction, viz. the cells, sockets, or i receptacles for the matches, with the friction surfaces above.

Lastly, I would have it understood that I do note confine myself to any particular forms, or to any materials of which the receptacle shall be made; and as to the friction surfaces, I make them of sand paper, or of card or leather, or of any other suitable material coated with sand, or any other fine grit, attached to the sur faces by glue or other means.-[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, February, 1837.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Berry.

1

To DANIEL LEDSON, manufacturer, and WILLIAM JONES, screw manufacturer, both of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, for their invention of certain improvements in machinery for making pins, rivets, wood screws, and nails.-[Sealed 22d December, 1831.]

THIS is a tremendously long specification, without possessing any features of novelty that we can dis cover. The invention may be considered to consist in the construction of two machines: the one for cutting off lengths of wire or rods for forming the shafts of pins, screws, or nails, and afterwards heading them by means of dies, which compress the metal to form the end of each shaft into a boss or knob; the other maFuding a lo ponogs adi

chine is for pointing the pins by means of a rotary fileedged cutting wheel.

These are the essential features of the pin-making machine, invented by Mr. L. W. Wright, and for which he obtained a patent, dated 15th May, 1824 (see vol. ix. of our First Series, p. 281). The only difference that presents itself in the present invention (if such it can be called) is, that the operations of cutting and heading are now proposed to be done in a distinct machine from that which is employed for pointing the pins, whereas, in the former instance, the whole operation of making the pin completely was effected in one machine.

The original invention being now well known, and perfectly explained in the specification above referred to, we shall only describe the present in a general way, not considering the subject in its recent form deserving of a very minute explanation, with drawings of its details, as they appear to be but slight variations only of the positions of the parts, corresponding in principle with the original plan.

The wire for forming the shaft of the pins, is passed into the machine horizontally between the tension or retaining pins, and is drawn forward a certain distance at each operation by sliding pincers, which distance is adjusted according to the required length of the pin. When the wire has been thus brought forward, a moving chap of a pair of cutters comes down and severs the length of wire. The piece of wire thus separated, constituting the shaft of the pin, is then held firmly by the pincers, and its forward end is acted upon by an advancing punch, which, operating as a die, compresses the end of the metal into the required form of head.

The operations of the machine are performed through the agency of a rotary shaft, upon which is a wheel

and an adjustable crank pin, connected to arms for the purpose of sliding the pincers to and fro as the shaft goes round. Cams acting upon levers open and shut the pincers, for the purpose of taking hold of and releasing the pin at the proper times; and a contrivance connected with the moving parts works a sharp-threaded screw in a box which actuates the moving cutter.

The punch is brought forward by an excentric or cam on the rotary shaft, by the force of which the end of the wire is compressed into the shape of the pin head; this, of course, being regulated by the form of the end of the punch and its counter die.

For pointing the pins, the headed shafts thus prepared are placed round the periphery of a wheel in notches, much in the way described as "the feeding wheel" in Wright's machines for making screws (see Patents, dated 17th March, 1827, vol. xiv. p. 205, and 18th September, 1828, vol. v. of our Second Series, p. 313).

The pins thus placed in the periphery of the carrying wheel, are severally and successively brought against a rapidly revolving file-edged cutter, and the pins are turned round in that situation by a travelling strap, which embraces the carrying wheel for the purposes of causing the ends of the shafts to be cut away into the form of points.

The mode of preparing screw blanks or unthreaded shafts for screws, is precisely the same as described in the first instance, viz. the wire is brought forward by pincers, cut into lengths by a moving chap, and headed by dies. Nails are to be formed from rods, and headed in the same way, but they are afterwards to be pointed by a hand hammer.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, June, 1832.]

To JOSEPH SAXTON, of Sussex-street, in the county of Middlesex, mechanician, for his invention of improvements in printing-presses, and in presses for certain other purposes.-[Sealed 25th September, 1834.]

THE principal feature of this invention is a mode of obtaining power for printing by means of hydraulic pressure. The platen of the press is made hollow for the purpose of receiving a volume of water; and its under side or face is formed by a flexible plate of thin metal, which, when the press is in operation, is forced down upon the surface of the types by the pressure obtained within the platen from a high column of water.

The Patentee states that his improvements consist, first, in the use of a flexible platen, instead of a rigid plate of metal; second, in the application of pressure to this flexible platen by means of a liquid or aeriformed fluid; third, in the arrangement of machinery constituting a printing press, copying press, and lithographic or zincographic press, in which the elastic platen is employed. It is also stated that the pressure may be applied upwards, downwards, or sideways.

The construction of this press (for we find but one construction set out), appears to be considerably more complicated than ordinary printing-presses, and its description, though lengthy, is far from being clear as to its minor details. However, as it does not appear probable that a press upon such principles will ever come into use, we shall only give such a general description of it as may enable our readers to form a tolerable conception of the Patentee's intentions.

Plate VIII., fig. 7, is a side elevation of the press; a, is the table with the form of types upon it, which is made to run to and fro, that is in and out, on parallel