US244A - Edward flint - Google Patents

Description

NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD FLINT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INSTRUMENT FOR EXTRACTING HAIR FROM SKINS.

specification of Letters rat-ent No. 244, dated June so, 1837.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD FLINT, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and. useful Instrument for Extracting Hairs from Fur-Skins, lwhich Instrument I call the Clamp Fur-Knife, and that the following is an exact and acc-urate description thereof The name of the instrument in a measurel indicates its form, it being a clamp, the two jaws of which are oblong and fastened centrally with the broad side crosswise to the two ends of a flat bow spring resembling in form and size the common sugar tongs, and when not compressed keeping the jaws open or apart about one inch. The jaws (made of wood or other material) may be about four inches long by one inch wide and onehalf inch thick. One of these is designed to supply the place` and office of the thumb as used in extracting hairs with the common knife, and is therefore covered or cushioned on the inside with leather, india rubber, or other suitable material. To the upper (or more properly as this instrument is used) to the lower side or edge of the other jaw is fastened with screws or otherwise a thin steel plate as long as the jaw and of sufficient width forming a blade with a keen edge extending over the side of this about -linch toward the cushioned jaw, upon which ust above but very near its lower side or edge the blade is designed to act. On the backside of the cushioned jaw near its ends are fixed two loops of leather into which the operator inserts his thumbs for the purpose of conveniently holding and using the knife. If found necessary or convenient loops may likewise be fixed for the fingers upon the blade jaw.

I next describe the manner of using the instrument. The pelt is confined upon a form or beam with a cord or strap pressed by the foot in the ordinary way, although it will be found much better if a beam be used as broad or broader than the pelt andV only slightly rounded, that the pelt may lie upon it nearly level and that it be cushioned also and covered with india rubber. The beam thus arranged and the pelt confined upon it as usual, the operator inserts his thumbs into the loops aforesaid and extending his fingers over the blade jaw grasps and extracts the hairs in a manner too obvious to need description, unless it be observed that in finishing or removing the shorter hairs the lower corner of the cushioned jaw should press constantly upon the pelt and the instrument at every clip should turn upon -that corner toward the operator. This motion leaves the surface of the fur smooth and level.

Instead of a spring I shall make some knives with a hinge or hinges, some also with a pivot and handles like a tailors shears, and in some, too, I shall extend the jaws into handles at each end, but the arrangement of the cushion and blade is the

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