| |
In 1895, John Anderson of Portland, Connecticut, devised
a method of joining lead pipes that used a special fitting
to expand the pipe using a tapered piece inserted into
the bore. Then a mechanical coupler was used to make the
joint. This method allowed for straight runs of pipe to
be assembled in sections longer than the existing manufactured
pipe sections. His invention was patented (#535,236) on
March 5, 1895. (See the diagrams below.)
|
 |
One year later, Mr. Anderson filed for another patent
(#559,763) for a "tool for expanding ends of lead
pipes". This patent refers to the tool shown on the previous page.
The description specifically mentions that this tool was
to be used in conjunction with the previous earlier patent.
Of particular note is the mechanical method of expanding
the conical jaws in an even and controlled manner; this
ensured the resulting expanded part retained some concentricity.
It is also assumed that this tool was used in opening
up an inlet in risers for joining dissimilar-sized pipes.
The pipe expander has a unique mechanical advantage in
that as the jaws are opened, they remain parallel; all
that is required to create or enlarge a smaller opening
in the lead medium is the insertion and full rotation.
This method works due to lead's extreme malleability.
Allegedly, Stanley Tools produced this tool; however,
some examples have only the patent date imprinted on the
tool, with no clear manufacturer's name to be found. This
particular tool is conspicuously marked with the patent date and
the brand "Wm Johnson Newark, N.J.", which was
a large, heavy-hardware retailer, circa 1905 to 1910.
D.S. Orr
|
 Go
to Page: 1 2 
|
|
|
