Figure 27. — Hammer 

 HATCHET patented 

 by Joel Howe on 

 July 8, 1834 (re- 

 stored patent 

 82()iX). 



Figure 25. — Moulding plane in\-ented by 

 Charles Fleming. Patent 29962, September 



Figure 26. — Concave drawing knife patented 

 by Edmund Richards on June 28, 1836 

 (restored patent 9796X). 



The nature of this invention consists in the manufacture of 

 screw-driver blanks (or blades) and other like tools by a 

 new mode or process which greatly reduces the cost of 

 manufacture, and at the same time secures greater strength, 

 symmetr)-, and perfection of the article when made. 



To enable others skilled in the art to manufacture the said 

 articles according to my improvement, I will describe my 

 mode or process of manufacture. 



In the first place I roll the metal from w^hich the tool is 

 to be made into plates or sheets by the application and use 

 of mechanical devices common in rolling-mills. These 

 plates are rolled three feet (more or less) in length, and of a 

 width which just equals the length of the blank tool to be 

 punched or cut therefrom, and a transverse section of which 

 shall be the e.xact thickness and taper of the blank. These 



Figure 28. — ''~>i'i 



lied bv Ira L. Beckwith. 



Patent 184, .\pril 29, 1837. 



prepared metal sheets or plates are then taken to a punching- 

 machine for punching or cutting the blank tool therefrom. 



The punching-machine (w'hich may be of common con- 

 struction) is provided with suitable punches or dies for 

 punching or cutting the blanks from the sheets or plates of 

 metal, and are so accurately made that the blanks produced 

 thereby, are nearly perfect in form, symmetry, strength, and 

 finish. They are then put into the handle in a common 

 manner. 



The sheets or plates of metal are rolled thickest in the 

 middle with a gradual taper each way from the middle 

 to the edge. This is done in order to properly distribute the 

 metal and proportionate it in such parts of the blade as 

 will insure the requisite strength in all its parts without 

 detriment to the form and symmetry of the article. Hence, 



P.\PER 48: UNITED STATES PATENTS NEW USES FOR OLD IDEAS 



131 



