US174511A

US174511A - Improvement in the manufacture of base-balls

Info

Publication number: US174511A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1876-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1893-03-07

Description

l W. RECHTER.

v MANUFACTURE oF BASE-BALLS. l l No.174,511, Patented March 7,1876;

fag. 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WOLF FLECHTER, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT'TO PHILIPP GOLDSMITH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE'OF BASE-BALLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,51 l, dated March 7, 1876; application filed Y February 4, 1876.

u the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beingA had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. y Figure l represents a side elevation of 4my machine; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 an end view of the same.

rIhe object ot' my invention is to produce certain improvements in the art of manufacturing base-balls; and consists in the combination of devices described below, and their employment in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter setforth.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the lower portionof the machine, which consists of a solid rectangular' block, usually of wood, though metal may be employed, if preferred, having in its `upper surface hemispherical depressions or cups a, approximating in their diameter at the mouth to the diameter of the'ball to be produced. To this lower portion is attached, by a strong hinge, B, the upper portion C of the machine, which is also provided on its lower or interior surface with hemisphericul depressions c, corresponding rin form and size with the lower cups a, and so located that when the machine is closed these antagonizing upper and lower cups form together in each a spherical cavity or die. The -upper portion C ofthe machine is provided with a haft or handle, D, and weighted, as shown at E. To the sides of the lower block Aare bolted bars F, which serve, when the machine is in use, as guides for insuring a vertical movement of the upper block C. G Gare stanchions, by'which the machine is firmly fixed to a supporting bench or table. y f

Base-balls are usually composed of strips of leather combined with a cord or thread of twine, the two wound together to form a sphere, and so entwined with each other that as the ball increases in size by the accumulation of material, each portion of the leather strip is confined in its place by the overtwining and interlacing of thevthread or cord.

Heretofore a mallet has been employed for compacting the mass of material.

In order "to preserve the continuity of the work, only carefullyprepared leathern strips of considerable length could be conveniently used, and by the primitive method of compacting with the mallet the mass was with difficulty retained in an approximately spherical form. The operation was necessarily a slow and tedious one, resulting in the production of an article comparatively expensive, and. of inferior compactness and durability.

When my machine is employed, after the mass of material has attained to a portion of the desired size, it is placed lwithin the cup a, and the upper block C, operated by the haft D, is brought down upon it in a series of sharp and heavy strokes, the ball being frequently turned about in the cup that each portion may receive the effect of the blows.

By this method the impact of the mass is rendered much more effective than with the mallet alone, so that scraps orbits of otherwise useless and waste material may be utilized, resulting in the production of an article at once cheaper and more durable than that produced in the old way without the use of the machine.

I claim Vas my inventionl. The described improvement in the art of manufacturing base-balls, consisting, essentially, in forming and impacting simultaneously the material composing the ball, by means of molds constructed and arranged to operate substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the mold-bed A and impacting-block C, hinged together, and provided with lremispherical depressions, arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth;

3. The combination ofthe forming'blocks A C, hinge B, handle D, weight E, and guides F, all constructed and arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose shown and described. Y

In .testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: WOLF FLECHTER.

H. L. OssIE, l eD. A. KENNEDY.