forced in through the pressure-pipe, until sufficient pressure is obtained to force the veneer into contact with every part of the surface to be veneered. This pressure is continued until the glue is set or dry; or a stop-cock in the pressure-pipe can be closed, and the apparatus laid by until the glue is dry; which drying operation will be hastened by the heat of the water introduced. It will be obvious, from the foregoing, that, instead of hot water, other fluid may be substituted, such as heated air or steam, of high pressure; but this latter would be inconvenient from the necessity of keeping the apparatus in connection with a boiler until the glue is dry; or making the box of metal, and keeping it at the required temperature to maintain the tension of the steam. If water or other fluid be used, iustead of a force-pump, the pressure of a column may be substituted; or, instead of forcing in the fluid, whether liquid or gaseous, after the vessel has been filled, the block to be veneered can be forced against the flexible cloth by means of screws, or their mechanical equivalents; and, finally, it will be obvious that, if desired, the fluid can be applied in the cold state, as the medium of pressure. The patentee claims the method of pressing veneers on to surfaces to which they are to be glued or cemented, by means of a fluid acting on an interposed flexible substance, such as an India-rubber cloth or its equivalent, which will adapt itself to the surfaces substantially as described. And also applying the fluid, in a heated state, to make pressure, as above described, on the veneers, in the process of glueing them on, in order to keep the glue warm when the pressure is first applied; so that it may run freely and spread evenly over the surface under the action of the pressure; and then hasten the drying thereof whilst the pressure is continued, as specified. TO FREDERICK RICHARDS ROBINSON, of Charlestown, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America, for an improvement in the gridiron or instrument for cooking steak or other articles by broiling-[Sealed 20th October, 1852.] THIS invention relates to an improved gridiron, for preventing steak from being burnt when broiling, and for catching the gravy which falls therefrom while cooking; and consists of a series or a frame of parallel troughs or spouts, having open ends, and running into a surrounding spout; each of the transverse or parallel spouts being placed directly under a space of two of the bars of a grating, for sustaining the meat to be cooked; which grating is placed immediately over the frame of the troughs or gravy-catcher. In Plate XI., fig. 1, is a plan view of the improved gridiron complete, and fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of the same. a, a, a, are a series of spouts, forming a metallic frame, and surrounded by a spout b. The several spouts a, a, are arranged parallel to each other, and at suitable distances asunder; and they are connected with an external or circumscribing spout b, and made to open at their two ends into the same. Between each of two of the transverse and parallel spouts there is a space c, whose width is made somewhat less than either of the two adjacent spouts. Directly over each of these openings there is a fluted or other proper shaped bar d, a little wider than the opening, and curved transversely and channelled lengthwise. These bars d, d, are placed parallel to one another, like bars of a common gridiron, having spaces e, e, between them; and are connected to a frame ff, supported by feet, which rest upon the gravy-catcher below it. The gravy-catcher is constructed with handles g, g, and supporting feet h, h, which are sufficient in number to sustain it in a stove, or any article or surface on which it may be placed. The gravy-catcher is provided with two projections or lips i, k, which extend above it; each of the lips being formed with a hole, to receive one of two pins or studs, l, m, projecting from the ends of the grating or gridiron. These two projections or studs l, m, are provided with shoulders n, o. The distance between the shoulders n, o, added to the length of the shortest stud projecting from one of the shoulders, is a little less than the distance between the two lips i, k; whereby the cook, after inserting the longer of these projections through its lip, is enabled to do the same with the shorter one. When the shoulder of the shorter projection is moved up against its lip, it determines the exact position of the gridiron with respect to the gravy-catcher, and ensures the setting of the bars of the gridiron, directly over a space between two of the spouts, immediately beneath it. The patentee remarks that a gridiron has been before constructed in a somewhat similar manner to the gravy-catcher in this invention, or composed of a frame of bars, connected with a spout to receive the gravy. In all such gridirons, the peculiar exposure of the meat to the heat radiating from the fire, and through the spaces between the bars of the gridiron, VOL. XLIII. 2 R renders that part of the meat which comes over such spaces very liable to be burned. Besides which, pieces, and the fat of the meat that exudes from those parts of it which are immediately over such spaces, fall into the fire, and are more or less wasted; and, falling upon the coals, often take fire and blaze up, so as to smoke or burn the meat. By the present invention, however, the meat is not only protected in a great degree from being burned, but all, or nearly all, the fat and pieces from those parts of it which are over the spaces between the bars, instead of dropping into the fire, fall into the transverse spouts of the gravy-catcher, and by them are conveyed into the circumscribing spout thereof. The pieces and fat from the remainder of the meat, or those parts which rest directly on the bars of the grating or gridiron, will run into and through the channels of the bars, and fall into the gravy-catcher. The patentee claims a gridiron or broiling apparatus, as made of the gravy-catcher, constructed essentially as specified (viz., of a collection of parallel spouts, and a circumscribing spout or their equivalents), and a grating or frame of bars, or their equivalent, placed directly over and above such gravycatcher, and having each of its bars wider than and arranged immediately over one of the spaces between the bars of the gravy-catcher, all substantially as herein before described and represented. TO MYER MYERS, MAURICE MYERS, and WILLIAM HILL, all of Birmingham, steel pen manufacturers, for certain improvements in pens and pen-holders.—[Sealed 26th October, 1852.] THIS invention consists, firstly, in so combining a pen and pen-holder that the pen may be more readily connected to and disconnected from the holder, and the elasticity increased or diminished at pleasure, so as to suit the requirements of the writer. Secondly, in so forming a pen and pen-holder that the pen may either be held straight or in an oblique direction; which latter position is much desired by many writers. Thirdly, in making a metallic pen with the point or nib cut from the top or body of the pen, and then turned over, so as to give a greater amount of elasticity at or near the shoulders of the pen. Fourthly, in making and adapting metallic nibs or pens to quills, by means of different peculiar forms of piercing the pens and shaping the quills; and in converting and adapting quills for pen-holders, by a peculiar method of cutting such quills. Fifthly, in certain modes of making pen-holders for holding any size or shape of pen in general use; which pen-holders are so contrived that, to whatever extent the pen and its holder may be corroded, the pen can be easily removed. Sixthly, in a certain form of pen, having a series of cuts of a curvilinear or pointed form, which will admit of pointed pieces of metal being bent downwards, and lapping one over the other, whereby that graduation of elasticity which is required by some writers will be obtained. Seventhly, in a peculiar form of pen, which is flattened transversely between the nibs, and is pierced, so as to increase the elasticity near the point. And, Lastly, in the application to steel pens and holders of the well-known processes of coating iron or steel by a deposit of copper; by which means pens and holders are colored and protected from oxidation, to which they are often liable when exported to foreign countries. In Plate XI., fig. 1, represents a front view, and fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the improvements in pens and penholders, under the first head of this invention. A tube of metal (partly shewn at a, fig. 1,) is fixed to a stem of wood or other suitable material. This tube is slotted or pierced at b; over which is placed the outer tube C, which may be moved up or down, but is prevented from turning round by the hooked part d, which, being cut around in the form shewn, is bent inwards and works in the slot b, of the tube a. The pen e, is placed in the position shewn, and is secured by the sliding tube c, being drawn down over it; and, according to the extent that this outer tube covers the pen, so is the elasticity increased or diminished. Fig. 3, represents the improvements under the second part of this invention; in which f, is a tube, to which the pen g, is attached by means of the pin h, working in the slot i; or the pen may be made in the form shewn at e, fig. 1, whereby the necessity of using the pin h, will be avoided. An outer tube j, is shewn in section, which must fit the inner one moderately tight: the tube j, has a small hooked part at k, so that it may come in contact with a corresponding part in the pen. It will therefore be obvious, that when the outer tube is pushed down, and the corresponding parts of the pen and tube come in contact with each other, the pen will be thrown into an oblique position, which may be varied to any required degree. The third part of the invention is shewn at figs. 4, and 5; fig. 4, shewing the pen in flat cut, ready for bending into form; and fig. 5, the finished pen, shewing that the point at 1, fig. 4, has been bent down to form the nibs,-thus placing the elasticity of the pen on the shoulders at m, m. The fourth part of the invention relates to the manufacture of pens or nibs, to be applied to quill-holders; and also to the cutting and forming of the quills at their ends in such a manner that they will more readily hold such steel pens as are in general use. Figs. 6, and 7, shew a front and edge view of one of the nibs or pens applied to a quill-holder, which is shewn in dots at fig. 7. Another form of nib or pen is shewn at fig. 9, and as applied to a holder at fig. 8. It will be observed in this case that the point of the pen has been taken out of the body, as at fig. 5. At figs. 10, and 11, a quill-holder is shewn, in longitudinal and end views, as applicable to pens in general use. Fig. 12, represents a holder composed of two tubes,-the inner tube being in front view, and the outer one in section; and fig. 13, is a side view of the same, partly in section. The part n, readily yields when the pen is inserted or withdrawn. Fig. 14, is another holder, in which the required spring, for holding the pen, is obtained by bending a piece of metal in the form shewn at p, p, which is secured by a small pin q, passing through it and the tube o; but, before the spring is fixed in, a small piece of India-rubber is inserted, as shewn at r. Fig. 15, represents a modification of the spring p, as applied to a quill instead of a metal tube. In place of being held by a pin, a slip of metal is passed round the quill, and the ends are secured by being passed through the hole t, in the quill, and through a corresponding hole in the spring, and then bent in opposite directions. Fig. 16, shews another improvement in pen-holders, in which the tube u, is shewn in section, and is pierced or cut in a longitudinal direction. In this tube is placed a spring, in the form shewn at w, w: it will be seen that the spring is held in position by its being brought through the tube at z, and bent over. Fig. 17, shews the barrel of a holder in section,-the spring w, in this instance, being of a different form, and secured from the back, as shewn at z. Figs. 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, represent other forms of pen-holders, wherein the spring, in each, is obtained by the peculiar form in which the tubes are cut or pierced for receiving the pen, and which will be readily understood by inspecting the figures; and fig. 23, is the shape of the blank from which fig. 24, is formed. In the sixth part of the invention, fig. 25, represents a pen in the flat, the lines shewing the form in which it is pierced or cut; and fig. 26, is an edge view of the pen bent into -- |