IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS OR WALL BOXES FOR JOISTS, RAFTERS, AND OTHER TIMBERS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME FOR THE PREVENTION OF DRY ROT, AND OTHER EVILS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Beckett, of Hartford, in the County of Chester,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS OR WALL BOXES FOR
JOISTS, RAFTERS, AND OTHER TIMBERS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BUILDINGS, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME FOR THE PREVENTION
OF DRY ROT, AND OTHER EVILS."
Sealed the 23rd March 1880, and dated the 3rd October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Beckett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1879.
RICHARD BECKETT, of Hartford, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHAIRS OR WALL BOXES FOR JOISTS, RAFTERS, AND OTHER TIMBERS USED IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME FOR
THE PREVENTION OF DRY ROT, AND OTHER EVILS."
By universal consent of all practically acquainted with building construction,
decay in timbers is mainly the result of their being closely bedded in newly built
and consequently damp walls. This danger is much increased in wet seasons such
as the past, and where ever badly burnt bricks or other porous materials are used,
or the external walls are thin.
Now my chair is designed to obviate the possibility of such a result by securing
thorough open ventilation all around which cannot be stopped by any carelessness in
fixing; also to render the use of wall plates (always the first to decay) unnecessary,
for being six inches long it secures a thorough bed, not on the inner half brick only
but on two courses in width.
With the use of this chair American spruce, the cheapest of woods, would be
more lasting than the best and more costly redwood without it, for decay invariably
begins at the point of contact with the walls.
Another and no less advantage claimed for it is the additional security from fire
It is an
where timbers must of necessity be fixed near fire places and flues.
incontrovertible fact that more fires are originated from this than any other
cause. The closest supervision cannot easily prevent defects in flues.
The chairs can be made in sizes to suit any dimension of scantlings, allowance
always being made to admit of easy fitting in as well as a free circulation.

page_text: My chair for rafters and for joists in the outside walls consists of a box open in
front and preferably on top also, with a stout flange round the bottom for the purpose
of gaining a firm foothold on the wall. The inside is grooved on the bottom with
grooves sloping to the front so as to let any water, accidentally falling in, drain out.
The sides and end are also grooved with either parallel or oblique grooves so as to
give a free ventilation of air round the ends of the timbers. The chairs are made
of fire clay or other similar material, glazed so as to be impervious to damp and
its evil influences. On party walls I sometimes make the chairs double and
without a back or central diaphragm, so that the joists can project through both
ends. If now the joist fits the chair even with considerable laxity it will be found
in building that the workman will not surround the joist end with mortar as is
frequently now done, even when considerable care is exercised by the overlooker to
prevent it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Beckett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd April
1880.
RICHARD BECKETT, of Hartford, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHAIRS OR WALL BOXES FOR JOISTS, RAFTERS, AND OTHER TIMBERS USED IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME FOR
THE PREVENTION OF DRY ROT AND OTHER EVILS."
By universal consent of all practically acquainted with building construction,
decay in timbers is mainly the result of their being closely bedded in newly built
and consequently damp walls. This danger is much increased in wet seasons such
as the past, and wherever badly burnt bricks or other porous materials are used, or
the external walls are thin.
Now my chair is designed to obviate the possibility of such a result by securing
a thorough opon ventilation all round the timbers which cannot be stopped by any
carelessness in fixing, also to render the use of wall plates (always the first to
decay) unnecessary.
With the use of this chair American spruce, the cheapest of woods, would be
more lasting than the best and more costly redwood (pitch pine) without it, for
decay invariably begins at the point of contact with the walls. Another and no
less advantage claimed for it is the additional security from fire where timbers
must of necessity be fixed near fire places and flues. It is an incontrovertible fact
that more fires are originated from this than from any other cause. The closest
supervision cannot easily prevent defects in flues.
In the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the wall box; Fig. 2, same
containing a joist; Fig. 3, plan of box and joist; and Fig. 4, section of wall box
with joist in position.
The chairs can be made in sizes to suit any dimension of scantlings, allowance
always being made to admit of easy fitting in as well as a free circulation.
My chair for rafters and for joists in the outside walls consists of a box A, open
in front and preferably on top also, with a stout flange B at the bottom for the
purpose of gaining a firm foothold on the wall. The inside is grooved; the bottom
with grooves C sloping to the front so as to let any water, accidentally falling in,
drain out. The sides and end are also grooved with either parallel or oblique
grooves D so as to give a free ventilation of air round the ends of the timbers. The
chairs are made of fire clay or other similar material, glazed so as to be impervious
to damp and its evil influences. On party walls I sometimes make the chairs
without a back or central diaphragm, so that the joists can pass through both ends.
If now the joist fits the chair even with considerable laxity it will be found in
building that the workman will not surround the joist end with mortar as is
frequently now done even when considerable care is exercised by the overlooker to
prevent it.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The manufacture of chairs or wall boxes of earthenware, fire clay, or other
similar material for supporting the ends of rafters, joists, and other timbers in
buildings so as to admit of free ventilation round the said timbers, substantially as
and for the purposes described.

page_text: Second. The application in buildings of chairs or wall boxes, grooved, or otherwise
constructed so as to admit of free ventilation and thus lessen or prevent the danger
of decay or fire attacking the ends of the timbers supported on said chairs.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Beckett, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of April, in the year of our Lord One :
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
RICHARD BECKETT. (L.S.)