US48055A - Sheep-label - Google Patents

Description

Y ing closed down.`

UNITED V' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAS. H. DANA, OF WEST LEBANON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SH EEP-LABEL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,055, dated June 6, 1865.

To` a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, GEAELEs H. DANE, of West Lebanon, in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improved Sheep-Label, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, in which- Figure l represents the head of a sheep having my improved labels attached to its ear. Fig. 2 is a view of a sheeps ear detached, showing the various positions in which the labels may be placed thereon. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of alabel ready to beinserted through the ear, where it is to be closed down upon it. Figs. 4 and 5 are views of the label after be- Various methods of marking sheep have been adopted by wool-growers to enable them to identify their respective flocks. It has been the practice with manyto paint or mark the sheep with tar; but the mark so made was not permanent, andthe tar on the wool has materially increased the labor of asserting it. These objections have been partially removed by the use of a metallic ring with a metal tag (bearing a name or number) attached thereto, the ring being passed through a hole or slit in the sheeps ear. This ring is liable to be caught in the bushes, and the ji-ngling of the tag annoyed the sheep, so that in trying to rid itself of the noise, or when scratching its head, the feet were frequently caught by the ring or tag, .which was thus torn out of the ear.

My invention has for its object to overcome the difficulties above enumerated; and it consists in marking sheep by means of a metal strip (bearing a name and number) attached by passing both of its ends through holes or slits in the ear, or by passing one end through a slit and the other end around the edge of the ear and closing them down` thereon. so as to leave no open space between the strip and the ear, into which the brush can enter, thus preventing the possibility of the sheep being entangled, and making a distinct and permanent mark for life.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to 'as set forth.

about one inch from the edge of the ear, and

a fiat metal label, a, either plated with tin or 'galvanized to prevent corrosion, is attached thereto in the following manner: The metal label is made in a suitable machine, (for whichl I have made application for Letters Patent of the United `States simultaneously with this,) and is of the form represented in Fig. 3, and' has stamped upon it the name, number, or other device required. One of the ends b or c, Fig. 3,1 is inserted within the hole or slit immediately on being cut or after the ear has had time to heal, and the other end is passed around the edge of the ear, and the label being arranged in the desired position it is closed down upon the ear by hand or by means of a pairofpinchers'. Thelabels d, e, and f, Fig. 2, are secured to the ear in any desired direction by making two holes for each label, through which the ends of it are passed and closed down, as before described. By placing the metal label in different directions upon the ear, a shepherd may at a distance recognize,

his sheep from those of his neighbor; or he may readily ascertain the various grades of sheep in the same flock.

The numbers on the labels may be recorded in a register, in order that the owner of the sheep may keep an exact history of the age and pedigree of each sheep, with the weight and quality of the wool which it bears.

The label herein described may be furnished at a small cost, and, being made anti-corrosive, can be used without injury to the sheeps ear, and when once in place serves as apermanent mark for life. l

W`h at I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The within-described linkshaped label'for marking sheep, both ends being fastened closely to the ear in the manner substantially CHARLES H. DANA. Witnesses: y.

JOHN TYLER,

GEORGE BLo'oD.

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