A NEW OR IM- PROVED FUNEREAL CARRIAGE OR HEARSE." PROVED FUNEReal Carriage OR HEARSE
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Dottridge, the younger, of City Road,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IM-
PROVED FUNEREAL CARRIAGE OR HEARSE."
PROVED FUNEReal Carriage OR HEARSE.”
Scaled the 28th September 1875, and dated the 1st April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Dottridge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st April 1875
I, SAMUEL DOTTRIDGE, the younger, of City Road, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"A NEW OR IMProved Funereal Carriage or HeaRSE," to be as follows .-
-
The Invention is designed for the purpose of constructing a vehicle
for the conveyance of the dead in a manner which will combine with
solemn grandeur elegance and lightness of structure, thorough ventila-
tion and sanitary advantages.
The carriage of the hearse is bound on its sides with narrow stained
oak surfaces dotted equidistantly with dark buttons or rosc picces, above

page_text: and below which are beadings, the upper one of which is surmounted
with a chaste device of ornamental metal railings
The corners of the said carriage terminate in staves or pinnacles,
between which, in front, an ornamental square-shaped box for the
driver is supported in character and design to that of the carriage
On the flooring of this carriage four twisted ornamental uprights or
posts are placed, which enclose an arca sufficient to embrace the coffin
for the conveyance of which the carriage is designed. These posts
terminate in gilt "fleur de lis," and sustain a canopy, the entablature-
of which bears on its front surfaces suitable scriptural quotations, and is
surmounted with an ornamental railing similar to that of the carriage
before described.
From the entablature of the canopy ornamental black velvet curtams
provided with knotted cords and tassels depend, within which again
other velvet curtains are suspended on rods which can be drawn back
and looped up in fine weather, so as to fall in festoons and exposo the
coffin covered with a suitable pall, and in wet weather to fall and com-
pletely enclose and protect the interior from damp and wind, thereby
combining with ornamentation perfect ventilation and protection from
the inclemency of the weather. The whole structure thus complete
not only forms a solemn and graceful equipage for the conveyance
of the dead but also combining therewith peculiar sanitary advantages
not hitherto obtained in the ordinary construction of hcarsc

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Dottridge, the younger, Ier
special licence that I, the said Samuel Dottridge, the younger, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Samuel Dottridge, the younger, my executors, administrators, 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, usc, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED FUNEREal Carriage
OR HEARSE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuol
Dottridge, the younger, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 Samuel Dottridge, the younger, do
hereby dclare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, that is to say.
The Invention is designed for the purpose of constructing a vehicle
for the conveyance of the dead in a manner which will combine with
solemn grandeur elegance and lightness of structure, thorough ventila-
tion, and sanitary advantages.
The carriage of the hearse is bounded on its sides with narrow stained
oak surfaces dotted equidistantly with dark buttons or rose pieces, above
and below which are beadings, the upper one of which is surmounted
with a chaste device of ornamental metal railings
The corners of the said carriage terminate in staves or pinnacles
between which, in front, an ornamental square-shaped box for the driver
is supported similar in character and design to that of the carriage.
On the flooring of this carriage four twisted ornamental uprights or
posts are placed which enclose an arca sufficient to embrace the coffin
for the conveyance of which the carriage is designed. These posts
terminate in gilt crosses, "fleur de lis," or other device, and sustain a
canopy, the entablature of which bears on its front surfaces suitable

page_text: scriptural quotations and is surmounted with an ornamental railing
similar to that of the carriage before described.
From the entablature of the canopy ornamental black velvet curtains
are suspended on rods, which can be drawn back and looped up in fine
weather, so as to fall in festoons and expose the coffin covered with a
suitable pall, and in wet weather to fall and completely enclose and
protect the interior from damp and wind, thereby combining with orna-
mentation perfect ventilation and protection from the inclemency of the
weather. The whole structure thus complete not only forms a solemn
and graceful equipage for the conveyance of the dead, but also com-
bining therewith peculiar sanitary advantages not hitherto obtained in
the ordinary construction of hearse.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into practical effect, I would
remark that I do not restrict myself to the precise details and configu-
rations of parts which I have expressed, as the same may readily be
varied or modified without in any degree departing from the object to
be effected, but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the hercin
in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction of a new or improved
furnercal carriage or licarse, substantially as herein described and
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Dottridge, the younger,
have hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-second day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-five.