IBBETSON S GEOMETRIC CHUCK

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Chapter 1 IBBETSON S GEOMETRIC CHUCK Part 2 Introduction This book A Brief Account of Ibbetson s Geometric Chuck was printed for the author, John Holt Ibbetson, in 1833, published by A.

1 Chapter 1 IBBETSON S GEOMETRIC CHUCK Part 2 Introduction This book A Brief Account of Ibbetson s Geometric Chuck was printed for the author, John Holt Ibbetson, in 1833, published by A. Hancock of Middle Row Place, Holborn, and sold by Holtzapffel & Co, for five shillings. A limited facsimile edition was produced by the Society of Ornamental Turners in 1950; at that time it was thought that there were only three copies of the original book still in existence. This reproduction was taken from the copy that belonged to Norman Tweddle, founder member and first President of the Society. The printed book was accompanied by a manuscript believed to have been written by Charles Holtzapffel which has many emendations, some written by Henry Perigal Jnr. However, both the typescript and the manuscript were insufficiently legible to be printed so, to assist the reader, the original printed text has been re-typed and a typed version of the manuscript has been added. There is a scanned version of the book available on the Internet but it has several pages missing and it does not include Charles Holtzapffel s manuscript and Perigal s notes reproduced here

Chapter 2 PLANT S GEOMETRIC CHUCK Introduction: When George Plant of Alsager, Cheshire, brought out his Geometric Chuck, there was a great controversy as to whether it was of his own design or not;

2 Chapter 2 PLANT S GEOMETRIC CHUCK Introduction: When George Plant of Alsager, Cheshire, brought out his Geometric Chuck, there was a great controversy as to whether it was of his own design or not; he was accused of copying the design from William Hartley, from whom he had bought a Chuck. A long correspondence ensued, published in English Mechanic magazine. Although quite amusing for the sometimes vitriolic language, it is not included here, but it may be seen on the compact disc of English Mechanic Ornamental Turning References available from This section comprises:- Several articles from English Mechanic magazine describing the Chuck and how it was made, and showing specimens of patterns cut with it. Various Tables of Settings for the Chuck are given in Part 4, Appendix. To fill the superfluous spaces between the magazine articles a selection of Pictures of Geometric Chuck patterns by well-known ornamental turners have been inserted. There follows a series of articles from Amateur Mechanics magazine entitled Plant s Geometric Chuck with detailed drawings; the publication commenced in March This chapter concludes with two pictures of William Hartley s Geometric Chuck. Plant s Geometric Chucks - 5 Stages - too many to be mounted horizontally? photograph courtesy of the owners

3 Chapter 3 PERIGAL S PAPERS Introduction Henry Perigal Jnr was a friend of John Holt Ibbetson, the inventor of the Geometric Chuck and with the aid of that instrument Perigal investigated and illustrated the system of curvilinear motion. There is no bibliographical record of his writings but here are some of his published papers which are reproduced by courtesy of The Society of Ornamental Turners. They were found among the collection of the late John Leggatt, co-author of the Bibliography of the Art of Turning and Lathe and Machine Tool History. They comprise: Contributions to Kinematics The classification of Bi-circloids, defined as curves of two curvatures in the same plane; the resultant of two circular movements by H Perigal Jnr. August Bi-circloids Classification of the first 200 curves resulting from two circular movements with analytical demonstrations of the Moon s orbital revolution and axial rotation; by H Perigal Jnr. August Ellipses An explanation of Ellipses including the settings for 32 ellipses of different ratios and eccentricities; by H Perigal Jnr. October Easy rule for forming all Epicyclical Curves by S.M.Drach, September 1848 and November 1849, taken from the London, Edinburgh & Dublin Philosophical Magazine & Journal of Science, January Formulizing all Epicyclic Curves no date General Equations of Bi-circloids no date Geometric Maps Exhibiting the methods of delineating curves through the intersection of trigonometric lines; by Henry Perigal Jnr Kinematic Bi-circloids by Henry Perigal Jnr. February Kinematic Curves The resultant of a combination of curved movements; by Henry Perigal Jnr. April Enumeration of Bi-circloids classified according to the number of their loops; by Henry Perigal Jnr. August General Equations of Bi-circloids by Henry Perigal Jnr. February The Magic Square of the Knight s March by William Beverley; from the London, Edinburgh & Dublin Philosophical Magazine & Journal of Science, August The Misuse of Technical Terms Ambiguity of the terms Rotation and Revolution by Henry Perigal Jnr. November Transformation of Kinematic Bi-circloids Curves of two curvatures (in the same plane) the resultants of two circular movements. 152 figures generated mechanically with the necessary settings for reproducing them on a Geometric Chuck

Chapter 4 ALABONE S GEOMETRIC PATTERNS Introduction Edwin W. Alabone published two books of fine geometric chuck patterns: Multo- Epicycloidal and Other Geometric Curves (c.

In 2007 a third book, amateur-made, containing original patterns, probably bound by Alabone himself was acquired by Steve Uphill, a member of the Society of Ornamental Turners.

4 Chapter 4 ALABONE S GEOMETRIC PATTERNS Introduction Edwin W. Alabone published two books of fine geometric chuck patterns: Multo- Epicycloidal and Other Geometric Curves (c.1910) and Poly-Cyclo-Epicycloidal and Other Geometric Curves (1912). In 2007 a third book, amateur-made, containing original patterns, probably bound by Alabone himself was acquired by Steve Uphill, a member of the Society of Ornamental Turners. According to the family it was a gift by Alabone to his wife as a memento of his work. The Compiler is indebted to Steve for scanning all the patterns to provide digital images which he cleaned and repaired, removing foxing and other marks where possible; so they are, in fact, clearer than they can be seen in the original book. There is considerable duplication of patterns among the three books, but what is most interesting about this amateur production is that, unlike those in his published works, some of the patterns are annotated with the settings Alabone used to make them. His annotation is somewhat cryptic so may not be completely sufficient to enable the reader to replicate the patterns. Not all the patterns turned out perfectly, but it should be remembered that Alabone was working with liquid inks in reservoirs and to complete some of the patterns took more than four hours of steady winding of a handle. The book is now in the library of the Society of Ornamental Turners. Some of the patterns in the book are almost invisible because the paper has oxidised and some of the coloured inks have faded badly. This selection of the best patterns is reproduced here by courtesy of the Society. A selection of patterns from the amateur-made book by Edwin W. Alabone Page 1 Plate 1 Page 1 Plate 2 See the last page in this chapter for Alabone s settings.

MISCELLANEOUS GEOMETRIC Chapter 5 CHUCK PAPERS Introduction The first part of this chapter comprises: Scans of original Geometric Chuck patterns made personally by H. S. Savory and George Plant.

5 MISCELLANEOUS GEOMETRIC Chapter 5 CHUCK PAPERS Introduction The first part of this chapter comprises: Scans of original Geometric Chuck patterns made personally by H. S. Savory and George Plant. Savory wrote the book Geometric Turning a descript-ion of Plant s Chuck with prints of and directions for making a great number of patterns. More patterns from this collection may be seen in chapter 6, The Epicycloidal Cutting Frame. Next is: The Geometric Chuck Adapter an article written for Wood magazine in August 1951 by S G Askey, a former Vice-President of the Society of Ornamental Turners. Then follows 11 Plates of drawings of Suardi s Geometric Pen and patterns made with it, taken from the book A New Instrument for the Description of Diverse Curves, Antique and Modern by Giambatista Suardi, of Brescia (1752). Also an incomplete copy of the text from Of the Geometric Pen a reference from Brewster s Cyclopaedia describing the Geometric Pen of Suardi and with an illustration of a similar pen made by George Adams ( ). Then there is a short article on Wilcox s Circloidal Chuck, probably written in 1816 but published in 1842 by the inventor, James Wilcox, for the Magazine of Science. This article is said to have inspired William Hartley to make his Geometric Chuck. Finally, there is the first known drawing of the Epicycloidal Chuck from Bergeron s Manuel Du Tourneur, first published in A fine 4-stage Geometric Chuck formerly the property of E. W. Alabone photograph by Alabone restored by Steve Uphill, the Chuck is now in the Science Museum, London.

Chapter 6 THE EPICYCLOIDAL CUTTING FRAME Introduction The first part of this section comprises: Manuscript Notes supplied by Holtzapffel & Co to buyers of the Epicycloidal Cutting Frame.

6 Chapter 6 THE EPICYCLOIDAL CUTTING FRAME Introduction The first part of this section comprises: Manuscript Notes supplied by Holtzapffel & Co to buyers of the Epicycloidal Cutting Frame. They were handwritten by a copyist and several different versions of the notes were produced as the master copy was altered to improve its clarity or to cater for the special requirements of the client. For example, the version shown here includes a table of settings for Plant s Geometric Chuck whereas it is probable that most customers would have bought the Ibbetson s Geometric Chuck which was the type made and supplied by Holtzapffel & Co. The second part comprises: Epicycloidal Cutting Frame Patterns from original woodcuts with their settings; believed to be by H. S. Savory, the author of Geometric Turning (1883), as they were part of a collection of Geometric Chuck patterns by him with writing in the same hand. Finally, there is a description of the gear-train that Holtzapffel & Co produced for a select few customers at the end of the era; Bazley was one such. The accessory is a geartrain for connecting the Epicycloidal Cutting Frame to the Spiral Apparatus. This addition, shown at the end of this chapter, allows the Epicycloidal Cutting Frame to perform the function of a single stage Geometric Chuck. This fine Epicycloidal Cutting Frame belongs with Holtzapffel lathe No This lathe and all its accessories are in virtually new condition; many parts being completely un-used.

For Sale. Ornamental Turning Lathe No made in 1873 by Holtzapffel & Co.

For Sale. Ornamental Turning Lathe No made in 1873 by Holtzapffel & Co. For Sale Ornamental Turning Lathe No. 2283 made in 1873 by Holtzapffel & Co. Provenance: Listed in H & Co s Register on 20th February 1873 as sold for 200 to Lord Lindsay of 47 Brook Street, London, W.