between the rollers; and thirdly, the method of forming bars to particular figures for various purposes, by rolling them upon a fixed mould or mandrel.—[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, August, 1836.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Berry.

To WILLIAM BURCH, of the Borough-road, in the county of Surrey, calico and silk-printer, for his invention of certain improvements in machinery for printing silk and cotton, net, or lace.-[Sealed 23rd January, 1836.]

A MODE of ornamenting' lace by means of thick opaque paint, has been for some time practised; the paint being deposited by a pencil in thick drops, so as to fill up certain of the holes or meshes of the net, and thereby produce coloured spots set in regular order, forming patterns or devices. The object of the present patent appears to be, to effect the same by machinery which has heretofore been done solely by hand, consequently, to do it with greater expedition.

From the descriptive part of the specification, we can merely understand what the Patentee intends to do; but as to the construction of a machine capable of effecting the object, that appears to be utterly impracticable from the information furnished.

The lace net is to be distended in a frame by attaching its edges to tenter-hooks set all round the frame; it is then to be slidden into the printing machine upon a horizontal railway, and stopped at a certain point to receive the impression. A series of small loose pegs having blunt points are suspended in a frame, their po

sitions being arranged, as we suppose, according to the intended pattern. The frame of these pegs or pins is mounted upon a lever, and works up and down by means of a treadle. The ends of the pins are to be in some way dipped into a sieve of colour, and then the frame is to be brought down upon the surface of the distended net, by means of the treadle lever. As the ends of the pins descends, many of them will pass through the holes or meshes of the distended net, but some will rest upon the cross threads of the net. In order, therefore, that every pin may pass into a mesh or hole, the frame is to be slightly struck at the side by a hammer, which will shake the loose pins off their bearing, and cause them all to drop into meshes or holes in the net. The bed of the press is then to be raised in some way, but for what purpose we do not erceive; and afterwards the pins being drawn up from the net, will leave the paint, ink, or colour which they carried, adhering to and filling up the several holes or meshes of the net through which they passed. The frame with the net is then withdrawn, and placed in a situation to dry, and another piece of net introduced in a similar manner, and operated upon in the same way.

An equally unintelligible arrangement of apparatus is proposed for printing narrow strips of lace, which is to be placed upon a polygonal drum as its carrying frame.

The Patentee says in conclusion, that he does not intend to confine himself to any particular construction of machinery for performing the above operation, but that he claims the use of any machinery which will deposit the opaque paint in the interstices of the net.[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, July, 1836.]

TO HENRY HOPE WERNINCK, of North-terrace, Camberwell, in the county of Surrey, gentleman, in consequence of a communication made to him by a foreigner residing abroad, for an invention of improvements in apparatus or methods of preserving lives of persons and property when in danger by shipwreck, by speedily converting boats or small vessels of ordinary descriptions into lifeboats, and other apparatus or means applicable to the same objects.-[Sealed 24th September, 1831.]

THE subjects of this invention are described under eight heads. First, a floating balloon, which being thrown out of the ship is intended to float to the shore, and conduct a rope by which persons on land may be enabled to communicate with those in the ship, and afford them assistance. This balloon is to be constructed by combining a number of bladders prepared in the usual way, and filled with air, within a hoop of light wood..

Second, an apparatus called a Scaphander, formed by enveloping Dutch reeds in cases of cartridge paper, which are to be coated or painted with wax and oil, and covered with an external oilskin or waterproof cloth. These are to be attached to the body of the person by strings to assist him in floating, much in the same way as cork floats are used.

Third, a safety vest or jacket without sleeves lined with Dutch reeds, and covered with a waterproof material as the preceding; which jacket being buttoned or strapped to the person, will allow of his floating safely.

Fourth, impetus fluctuans, or floating power, as it is denominated by the Patentee, which is formed by bundles of Dutch reeds, confined together in cylindrical

or square shapes, which are to be coated with waterproof cloth, and affixed to the sides and other parts of a boat to prevent it sinking.

Fifth, an escape buoy, a ring formed by reeds bound round a hoop, and covered with a waterproof cloth; to which several ropes are attached, in order that when thrown in the water, persons may then take hold of the ropes, and thereby save themselves from sinking.

Sixth, a drop intended to be suspended at the stern of the vessel, ready to be let down in case of need. This is formed by a hoop bound round with reeds, within which a person may support himself in the water; and it is kept in its position by a transverse elliptical frame, the lower part of which is weighted to preserve its perpendicularity, the upper part carrying a small red pendant as a signal.

Seventh, an intelligence bladder. This is a bladder of the largest size, which is to be filled with wind; and into its mouth is to be partially inserted and secured a waterproof cylindrical box or tube, in which a letter or other matter of communication is to be enclosed, in order that when the bladder floats to shore, the situation of the persons on board may be made known.

Eighth, attaching the apparatus called the scaphander to the harness of a horse, in order that he may swim safely to shore, carrying a person upon his back. -[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, March, 1832.]

VOL. XI.

X

To JOSHUA BATES, of Bishopsgate-street, in the city of London, merchant, for an invention communicated to him by a foreigner residing abroad, of improved apparatus or machinery for making metal hinges.-[Sealed 15th September, 1836.]

THIS invention of improved apparatus of machinery for making metal hinges, consists in a peculiar novel or improved construction of apparatus or tool for turning over or shaping the projecting parts or tongues of the pieces of metal which form the knuckles of the two sides, butts, or wings of the hinge; the knuckles of the two parts, when placed together as in a complete hinge, taking into the spaces between each other, and forming the hinge joint: such improved construction of tool or mechanism being only applicable to the making or manufacturing of such hinges as are formed out of rolled sheet iron, or other ductile sheet metal.

The sheet iron, or other ductile plate metal, after being prepared by rolling or otherwise to the required thickness, is first cut into strips or narrow lengths of the required breadth to form the two parts of the hinge, and then operated on by proper shaped punches and dies or cutters, so as to cut or sever the plate metal into two pieces, having tongues or parts to form the knuckles projecting from their edges; and which pieces may either, before or after this operation, be severed by shears into the necessary lengths for the required size of the hinge, as are represented in figs. A, or B, of the accompanying drawing. (See Plate VII.)

The pieces of metal, being thus prepared by any of the well-known modes of cutting out or shaping metal, they are to be brought under the operation of the tool or mechanism hereinafter particularly described, for the