IMPROVEMENTS IN A ALBER PROAL
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert McNair, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
A
ALBER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert McNair at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
November 1861.
I, ROBERT MONAIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN CASINGS FOR STITCHING MACHINES, AND IN ADAPTING THE SAME FOR
WRITING," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the external casings of stitching machines, that is,
to the parts forming the sides of the table or stand, and the top cover for
enclosing the machine when out of use, and consists in contriving such parts
so as not only to serve as an enclosed casing to preserve the mechanism from
dust and to present an ornamental exterior, but also to answer as a desk or
table for writing. It is preferred to fashion such external casing like what is
commonly known as a "Davenport," or lady's writing table.
In one modification the top desk-shaped portion is made to lift off to
disclose the stitching machine, and the front legs are attached to the doors

page_text: beneath, which are opened to give access to the treadle of the machine.
In the desk portion suitable drawers or receptacles are provided for writing
materials.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert McNair in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
MONAIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Machinist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert M°Nair, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
McNair, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert McNair, 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, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CASINGS FOR STITCHING MACHINES, AND IN ADAPTING THE SAME FOR
WRITING," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Robert
MoNair, my executors or administrators, 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 M.Nair, o hereby declare
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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the external casings of stitching or sewing
machines, that is, to the parts forming the sides of the table or stand, and the
top cover for enclosing the machine when out of use, and consists in con-

page_text: triving such parts so as not only to serve as an enclosed casing to preserve the
mechanism and to present an ornamental exterior, but also to answer as a
desk or table for writing.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood and
carried into effect, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of explanatory Drawings
representing one modification of my improved mode of encasing stitching
machines.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the upper part of the stitching
machine A uncovered for use, Figure 2 being a corresponding back elevation,
shown with the door open, so as to exhibit the treadle B and driving details C.
It is preferred to fashion the external casing like what is commonly known as
a "Davenport," or lady's writing table; and in the modification shown in the
Figures the desk portion D is contrived either to lift completely away from
the stand E, or to slide forward into the position in which it is represented in
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged section, and Figure 4 is a plan, showing the
appliance for guiding and holding down the desk upon the stand. There is
fixed at each side of the stand top E, near the front edge, a headed staple f,
which enters a recessed groove g formed in the under side of the desk D.
Metal strips h, screwed to the edges of the groove g, catch under the head of
the staple f, being cut away at one part to allow the desk to be entirely
removed or replaced. A door I is fitted to the back of the stand E, which
gives convenient access to the treadle B. In the desk D ample accom-
modation is secured for writing materials, there being an otherwise unoccupied
space for papers immediately beneath the inclined lid d, whilst further back
there are two sets of small drawers, one set at each side. The space J
between these two sets of drawers serves to cover and enclose the stitching
details A, and is inaccessible from the inside of the desk, but when the desk D
is moved back, a door K at the back closes the opening, and the stitching
details are by it entirely enclosed.
According to another modification, the desk D being arranged to lift off,
double doors are formed at the front of the stand E, and the front ornamental
legs e are attached to them so as to swing round with them.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I have to state that
I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated,
but that what I consider to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
constructing of the casing of a stitching machine so as to form a convenient

page_text: and ornamental enclosure, and at the same time answer as a "Davenport," or
writing desk, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert McNair, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ROBERT MONAIR. (L.S.)