IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORTICULTURAL AND OTHER SIMILAR BUILDINGS OR ERECTIONS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Foster, the younger, of Beeston, in the
County of Nottingham, Horticultural Builder, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORTICULTURAL AND OTHER SIMILAR
BUILDINGS OR ERECTIONS."
Sealed the 22nd August 1862, and dated the 22nd February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Foster at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd February
1862.
I, ROBERT FOSTER, the younger, of Beeston, in the County of Nottingham,
Horticultural Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORTICULTURAL AND OTHER SIMILAR
BUILDINGS OR ERECTIONS," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in so joining or.attaching the several parts which
compose buildings or erections to be used for horticultural or other purposes
that they may be taken readily to pieces when the owner or tenant of them
leaves the premises upon which they are erected, the several parts composing
such buildings or erections being readily connected together, and erected at or
on any other convenient place.
In erecting a green-house or other horticultural building, I proceed as
follows:-I divide such building in bays of any convenient length, and where
each bay joins the next one, I insert in the ground a cast metal or other
suitable support, the section of which is T or otherwise shaped in the stem,

page_text: and terminates in two arms of convenient length at the bottom thereof
standing at right angles to the stem. This bottom is inserted in the ground
at any convenient depth, and between every two such supports I place glazed
framework of the like width; such supports are set apart. There are slots
cast in one of the members of the T or otherwise shaped stem, so that the
ends of the framing may be screwed together with the slotted member between
them. The upper part of the supports terminate in a bracket standing at the
angle which the roof is intended to take, the brackets forming clips which
embrace the lower ends of the rafters, and the top of the supports also form
clips which embrace the ends of the pieces which form the wall plate, such
pieces being of such length that their ends will lap over each other, the wall
plate rafters and the ends of the framing being secured to the supports by
screws. The upper ends of the rafters are nailed to or are framed with a
piece which forms a ridge piece of half the thickness, two such thicknesses
forming the ridge, which is supported by a bracket at the junction of each
bay, the ends of the lengths of the ridge being bolted to it; and in buildings or
erections which are above one bay in length, these brackets are supported by
a rod or pipe made of metal which takes into a socket cast on the under side
of the ridge bracket, or a plug may be cast on the under side to fit in a pipe,
the lower end of the pipe or rod resting upon a metal base plate or other con-
venient support, but not attached to it. And in wide buildings or erections,
instead of using a central rod or pipe to support the ridge, I place a bracket
on each side of the ridge and between the ridge and wall plate, the end of
cach such bracket next the ridge being furnished with a chambered tab or
projection on the side or end next the ridge, into which a rod is screwed; the
other end of the rod is furnished with a head which lies in a chambered tab
or projection on one of the lower ends of a ridge bracket similar to that above
described, but not having any socket cast on it. The end of the rod liaving
the head on it passes beyond the ridge to the tab on the opposite end of the.
bracket; thus the rods cross each other in pairs, forming a tie from the
bracket lying between the ridge and wall plate to the opposite end of the
ridge bracket. The brackets lying between the ridge and plate are supported.
in the same manner as the ridge bracket first described. On the upper sido
of these brackets slips are cast which embrace the purlings; these purlings
form an intermediate support for the rafters. There is a strip cast on the,
supports which are intended for the ends of the building; such strip forms a
rebate for glazing to.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Foster in the Great Seal Patent Office. on the 22nd
August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
FOSTER, the younger, of Beeston, in the County of Nottingham, Horticultural
Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Foster, the younger, Her special licence that I, the said
Robert Foster, the younger, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Robert Foster, the younger, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with; and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise; and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OP HORTICULTURAL
AND OTHER SIMILAR BUILDINGS OR ERECTIONS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Foster, the younger, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Foster, the younger, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Draw-
ings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My improvements relate to the construction of horticultural and other
similar buildings or erections, and consist in so joining. or attaching the
several parts which compose them that they may be readily taken in pieces
when the owner or tenant of them leaves the premises upon which they are
erected, the said several parts so composing such buildings or erections being
also readily connected together and erected at or on any other convenient
place or places.

page_text: In erecting a green-house, or other similar building or structure, I proceed
as follows: I divide such buildings into bays of any convenient length, and
where each bay joins the next one I insert in the ground a cast metal or other
suitable support, the section of which is T-shaped or otherwise, shaped. The
stem terminates in two arms of convenient length at the bottom thereof
standing at right angles to the stem. This bottom is inserted in the ground
at any convenient depth, and between every two such supports I place glazed
framework of the same width as the width such supports are set apart.
There are slots cast in one of the members of the T or otherwise shaped stem,
so that the ends of the framework may be screwed together with the slotted
member between them. The upper part of the supports terminates in a
bracket standing at the angle which the roof is intended to take; the
brackets forming clips which embrace the lower ends of the rafters, and the
top of the supports also forms clips which embrace the ends of the pieces
which form the wall plate, such pieces being of such length that their ends
will lap over each other. The wall plate, the rafters, and the ends of the
framework are secured to the supports by screws; the upper ends of the
rafters are nailed to or are framed with a piece which forms a ridge piece of
half the thickness of the intended ridge, two such thicknesses forming the
ridge, which is supported by a bracket at the junction of each bay; the ends
of the lengths of the ridge are bolted to it; and in buildings or crections
which exceed one bay in length these brackets are supported by a metal rod
or pipe, which takes into a socket cast on the under side of the ridge bracket,
or a plug may be cast on the under side to fit in a pipe; the lower end of this
pipe or rod rests upon a metal base plate or other convenient support, but is
not attached to it. And in wide buildings or erections, instead of using a
central rod or pipe to support the ridge I place a bracket on each side of the
ridge and between the ridge and wall plate, the end of each such bracket next
the ridge being furnished with a chambered tab or projection on the side or
end next the ridge, into which a rod is screwed. The other end of the rod is
furnished with a head which lies in a chambered tab or projection on one of
the lower ends of a ridge bracket similar to that above described, but not
having any socket cast on it. The end of the rod having the head on it passes
beyond the ridge to the tab on the opposite end of the bracket; thus the rods
cross each other in pairs forming a tie from the bracket lying between the
ridge and wall plate to the opposite end of the ridge bracket. The brackets
lying between the ridge and plate are supported in the same manner as the
ridge bracket first described. On the upper side of these brackets clips are
cast which embrace the purlings; these purlings form an intermediate support

page_text: for the rafters. There is a strip cast on the supports intended for the ends
of the building, such strip forming a rebate for glazing to.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I now proceed more
particularly to describe the manner of performing the same with reference to
the accompanying Drawings.
!
Figure 1 is a sectional view of one, side of a building constructed according
to my Invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the bays thereof;
and Figures 3 to 11 inclusive represent detached parts or details of the
building.
I divide the building into bays of any convenient length, and where each
bay adjoins the next, I insert into the ground a support A, preferably of cast
metal, shewn in side view, Figure 1. This support is of T or other con-
venient shape, and terminates at bottom in two legs B standing at right
angles to the stem. The bottom of the stem I place in the ground at any
convenient depth, and between every two such supports A I place a glazed
framework (one bay of which is shown at C, C, Figure 2); the width of this
framework is equal to that of the distance the supports are placed apart.
D are slots shewn in side view, Figure 10, cast in one of the members of the
support A to allow of the ends of the framework being screwed together with
the slotted member between them.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively side and end view of an intermediate
bracket cast in one piece, with a standard for connecting the ends of two bays
together; the upper part E stands at the angle which the roof is intended to
take. The lower ends of the rafters are screwed to or are framed into a piece
forming the wall plate; the wall plate rafters and ends of the framework are
secured to the brackets by screws. The brackets and standard are of the
length required to correspond to the height of the side of the building.
When I require a support for a corner of the erection, I use such a support
as is represented in side view, Figure 3, and in plan, Figure 4, the lower
portion A of the stem forming a socket to receive the corner post, and which
also forms part of the end framework. The framework for the side of the
building is screwed to the side of the support. The upper ends of the
rafters E' are nailed to or are framed with a piece F, which forms a ridge
piece of half the thickness of the intended ridge so that two such thicknesses
form the ridge which is supported by a bracket G at the junction of each bay.
In buildings of more than one bay in length those brackets are supported by
a rod or pipe H, which takes into a socket I cast on the under side of the
ridge bracket, or a plug may be cast on the lower side of the bracket to take
into the end of the pipe; this bracket, with the socket for the pipe, in shewn

page_text: in side view at Figure 5, and in end view in Figure 6. The lower end of the
pipe or rod H rests upon a metal base plate, or other convenient support, but
is not attached to it. There is a hole cast in each ridge bracket, through
which I pass a pipe or rod K, which acts as a further strengthener of the
ridge; the pipe or rod is held in the bosses by set screws.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively side and end view of a ridge bracket,
having clips at the lower end, which embrace the rafters. In wide
buildings, instead of using a central rod or pipe H to support the ridge, I
place a bracket L, Figure 1, on each side of the ridge and between it and the
wall plate. The brackets are supported by a rod M, and are furnished with
a chambered tab or projection on the side or end next the ridge, into which a
rod N is screwed, or through which a rod is passed; the other end of the rod
is passed through or screwed into a chambered tab or clip O screwed to the
rafter on the side of the ridge opposite the bracket, so that the rods cross each
other, and form a tie from the bracket lying between the ridge and wall plate
to the opposite side of the ridge. The ridge and wall plate are supported in
the same manner as first described. On the upper side of the brackets clips
aro cast which embrace the purlings P, which said purlings form an inter-
mediate support for the rafters. For erections where a purling bracket is not
used, I use rods O, as above described, but screw them into the side brackets
E, as shewn at Figure 9.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim arranging and
combining the parts of horticultural and other similar buildings or erections,
substantially in manner herein-before described, whereby the said buildings or
erections may be readily taken to pieces and erected again, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Foster, the younger, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
ROBERT FOSTER, JUN". (L.S.)