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William Newman & Sons Patent Invincible

7/28/2016

On a few occasions now I have discussed/shown the Invincible but on this quick blog post I will show you the handed, single action, pneumatic version.

As can be seen from the few shots it appears very similar inside to the James Adams single action 'slave' and not too dissimilar to other Invincible's (the main piston at least).

I will report more as the work on the Invincible's at the 1721 Grade 2* Listed Chowbent Unitarian Chapel, Atherton progresses.

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RMS Titanic Door Springs

7/24/2016

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A year or so ago a friend of mine mentioned floor springs and door control in ships. We were chatting about the floor springs used on arguably the most famous ship of them all, the Titanic.

Today after a year of thought and search I believe I may have the answer to the question "what make of floor springs were used on the Titanic." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic

Readers may or not may not know that the Titanic had a sister ship, the Olympus that did not sink and was decommissioned in 1935. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Olympic

The interior, almost identical to the Titanic's, was auctioned off in November 1935. Some of this interior was used to build the Olympic room inside the White Swan Hotel, Alnwick and can be still seen to this day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Swan_Hotel,_Alnwick

It is from the 1935 auction catalogue that I have been able to trace the manufacturer of the floor springs sold at the auction, which were used on the Olympus and logically therefore the Titanic. Details of the lots can be found below (Especially doors and their control gear).
http://www.northatlanticrun.com/olympicauctions.html

The answer therefore to what make of floor springs were used on the Titanic? Probably Yale and quite possibly supplied by Comyns, Ching, and Co but that's another story for another time.

Please comment if you have enjoyed this blog post.

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Robert Adams Crown Victor

7/17/2016

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Over the last week or so I have had the privilege to again work on a Robert Adams designed floor spring in a very prestigious setting, that being the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square London.

"The Wallace Collection is a national museum in an historic London town house. In 25 galleries are unsurpassed displays of French 18th-century painting, furniture and porcelain with superb Old Master paintings and a world class armoury."

http://www.wallacecollection.org/

This Robert Adams is his double action Crown Victor model the winner of many awards. I believe it can be found in many Royal Households and had the patronage of Queen Victoria.

The name Crown Victor is possibly an amalgamation of the patronage (Crown) and the fact it was a winner of many awards (Victor) or Queen Victoria's patronage combined with part of her name. This will need more research to be absolutely sure.

The top centre was not one I had come across before and will require me to make a tool for use in the future.

After the repairs I am happy to report the Adams Crown Victor is now working as it should.

As always feel free to leave comments.

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Smiths Patent

7/17/2016

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In the previous blog post I mention a customers Smiths, in this post I would like to share that site visit and the houses fascinating history.

I was contacted by Henk and Nel, with regard to their Smiths, who live in Haslemere, in a Grade 2 listed property known as Keffolds, with fantastic views of the South Downs to the rear.

Interestingly the land neighbouring the house was owned originally by Lord William James Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie, KP, PC (Ire) (31 May 1847 - 7 June 1924) who was the Chairman of Harland and Wolff between 1896 and 1924, the builders of the Titanic.

The actual land on which Keffolds was built was acquired from The Right Honourable Frederick Arthur Earl of Derby, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and others for £6.745 by a lady called Elena Marion Montgomerie, wife of Wilfred Henderson, Commander in the Royal Navy, who eventually retired as Rear Admiral. It was this couple who had Keffolds built in 1905.

Keffolds was then bought by Arthur Herbert Crow for £16,500 in 1920.

Mr Crow then sold the property in 1932 for £8850 to Florence Hutchinson. The Heirs to Florence Hutchinson sold the house in 1940 for £5,950 and in 1943 it was conveyed to Dr Bernados, the children's charity.

In 1959 the house was rented by Ockenden Venture to house some of the Vietnamese boat people. Ockenden Venture eventually bought the property in 1964.

http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/themes/subjects/refugees/ockenden_international_from_vision_to_venture/

In or around 1993 - 1994 the house was sold to developers who tastefully split Keffolds into 3 beautiful homes. The middle one now being owned by Henk and Nel.

Keffolds was therefore a childrens' home from 1943 until 1993.

As can be seen above one of the Smiths had the back completely smashed out, it was missing the claws and the shoe was both slightly twisted and stuck fast to the pin.

The other had two broken springs and the box was cracked. fortunately MFS had some Smiths that were exactly the same size supplied by N. F. Ramsey and Brother.

They did however take some preparing.

It was an absolute pleasure to meet Henk and Nel, to be shown around their beautiful home and for them to share the houses history, thank you to you both for your hospitality.

As always please feel free to leave any comments.

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The original Smiths?

7/11/2016

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Whilst being forced off work to allow my finger time to heal I have had time on my hands to further explore (if not for readers then for my own satisfaction) the origins of the Smiths door spring, which is in fact deemed to be the original of the two I know of associated with the name Smith, who patented what and when.

The timing of my fracture has also coincided with a customers request from quite a while ago to repair his Smiths using the bespoke sets of springs I had made up (see previous blog posts regarding these spring sets).

In 1866 the publication English Mechanic volume 2 has an advert for "Smith's Patent Door Spring" and on the same page has a further advert for "The Original Smith's Patent Door Spring." One business claims to be "established upwards of a century" and the other "established 50 years." English Mechanic - Volume 2, Issues 1-52 - Page 81

On the surface the advert claiming "The Original Smiths Patent Door Spring" would therefore lead readers to believe this is the older door spring, however within the advert it clearly states "established 50 years" taking its patent to around 1814.

The advert that does not use the word "original" but claims to be "established upwards of a century" I believe is therefore the company that should be considered as the maker/manufacturer of the original "Smiths" as it came first by around fifty years and leads to a date of around 1770.

We now have two approximate dates to work with, 1814 and 1770.

Dealing with the date of 1814 first:-

In the Patents For inventions Abridgments of Specifications relating to Hinges, Hinge Joints, and Door springs A.D. 1775 - 1866 printed in 1873 page 9 you will find this entry:

A.D. 1814, July 16.— N° 3822. SMITH, Joseph. —" Spring hinges for doors and gates." A brass shoe, fixed on the bottom of the door, has a centre pin or pivot which passes through a fixed brass plate and is stepped into a socket. A lever, carried by the pivot (the pivot lever) and fixed to it, is furnished with a collar (or brass roller) which is between two levers on two different but concentric fulcra. The upper lever is fixed to a spindle connected with the interior of a spiral spring ; the under lever has its fulcrum on a collar con- nected with the spring box of the said spring. A fixed angular piece, in which is inserted a screw, regulates the distance of the upper and under levers when they are at rest. This invention is adapted for doors that open either one or both ways; when the door opens to the right, the upper lever is forced back by the pivot lever, and " when opened to its extent, becomes light and easy in consequence of the spring having lost a great portion of its power, by means of the brass roller " <( having passed nearly to " the end " of the upper lever, thus, by the door opening, the pivot lever " obtains great power over the spring, and as the door *' closes, the spring regains its former strength." When the door is opened to the left, the pivot lever forces back the under lever, and the operation has the same effect as before described. A couple of toothed wheels, eccentrically pivoted, may be used instead of the upper and under levers. In fixing the door, an upper centre pin or pivot is fitted to the top of the door vertically over the pivot connected with the said brass shoe. [Printed, 6d. Drawing.]

From the 1814 description of the Joseph Smith patent and the fact it utilities a "spiral spring" I then use the address of 50 Bartholomew Close to take me to 1829.

In the London Metropolitan Archives Collections Index, Index to the Diocese of London Consistory Court Wills - Wills with surname beginning ‘S’ you will find reference to - Smith, Joseph
(Patent door spring maker) Dec 1829 Address: 50 Little Bartholomew Close
Place of Origin: Saint Bartholomew the Great, London
X019/034

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/the-collections/Documents/diocese-of-london-consistory-court-wills-index-s.pdf

From 1829 to 1837-

In the Accounts and Papers volume 10 of the Railway Subscription Contracts we find, John Smith, 50 Bartholomew Close, Smith.

From 1837 - 1851-

Within the pages of The 1851 Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the works of All Nations housed in the Crystal Palace you will find Smith. J (John?) 50 Bartholomew Close Prop, - Patent Spring Door hinge and a second entry mentioning a Swing Door hinge as can be seen below.

"970 Smith, J. 50 Bartholomew Close, Prop.--Patent swing spring door-hinge."
"970 Smith, J. 50 Bartholomew Close, Prop.--Patent swing spring hinge."

In the same catalogue you will also find reference to T. Turner

"T. Turner 33 East Street Marylebone Door Spring and centre for a door to swing both ways."

Was this the beginning of Smith & Turner, a meeting at the 1851 Great Exhibition?

From 1851 we then go to 1860.

In Blower's Architect's, Surveyor's, Engineer's and Builder's Directory we find the name of Henry Smith associated with 50 Bartholomew close (along with Smith, A 69 Princes Street, Soho, W.) advertising as Door Spring Makers.

And finally from 1860 to 1866 and the two 1866 advertisements on the same page that this blog entry began with.

"SMITH’S PATENT DOOR SPRING, PATENT WEATHER TIGHT FASTENING, WATER BAR FOR FRENCH CASEMENTS. 69, PRINCES STREET, LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON. N.B. None guaranteed unless stamped with name and address. Established upwards of a century."

"THE ORIGINAL SMITH'S PATENT DOOR SPRING. Pronounced by Government Inspectors and the late J. K. Brunel, Esq" C.E., to be the best and most complete. SMITH & TURNER, 50, BARTHOLOMEW Close, London, EC. ESTABLISHED FIFTY YEARS."

As this has been a particularly long entry I will deal with the 1770 date at a later time.

I hope readers have enjoyed this entry and feel free to post any comments.

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William Newman & Sons Patent Invincible

RMS Titanic Door Springs

Robert Adams Crown Victor

Smiths Patent

The original Smiths?

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