A NEW OR IMPROVED BEDSTEAD WHICH MAY BE USED AS A VEHICLE.
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eliezer Edwards, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "A NEW
OR IMPROVED BEDSTEAD WHICH MAY BE USED AS A VEHICLE.".
Sealed the 30th July 1853, and dated the 1st February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eliezer Edwards
at the Office of the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st February 1853.
I, ELIEZER EDWARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED BEDSTEAD WHICH MAY BE USED AS A VEHICLE," to be
as follows: -
!
My Invention consists of a bedstead (constructed by preference of
metal), at or underneath one end of which a wheel or pair of wheels
is situated, so that, when the end opposite to that at which the said
wheel or pair of wheels is situated is raised, the said bedstead is
lifted from its legs and supported by the wheel or wheels at onc
end, and by the hands or other raising force at the other; it may
then be moved about like an ordinary wheelbarrow, and be used by
emigrants and others as a vehicle by day and a bedstead by night.
In order to facilitate the moving about of the said bedstead, the rail

page_text: at the end opposite to that at which the wheel or pair of wheels is
situated may be made moveable, so that, by removing the said end
rail, the ends of the two side rails are left projecting like the han-
dles of a wheelbarrow, and give facility in moving the said bedstead.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Eliezer Edwards in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 30th July 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ELIEZER EDWARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three,
in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Eliezer Edwards, Her
special licence that I, the said Eliezer Edwards, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Eliezer
Edwards, 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED BEDSTEAD WHICH MAY BE USED AS A
VEHICLE" upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Eliezer Edwards, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, 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 Eliezer Edwards, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained:
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawing and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say):
My Invention. consists of a bedstead: (constructed by preference
of metal), at or underneath. one end of which a wheel or pair of
wheels is situated. so that when the end opposite to that at which
the said wheel or pair of wheels is situated is raised the said bed-:
stead is lifted from its legs and supported by the wheel or wheels at
one end, and the hands or other lifting force at the other. It may
then be moved about like an ordinary wheel barrow, and be used
by emigrants and others as a vehicle by day, and a bedstead by
night. My Invention is illustrated by the accompaning Drawing, in
which Figure 1, represents my said Invention in plan; and Figures
2, and 3, represent the same in side elevation; Figure 2, representing
the same in use as a vehicle or wheel barrow, and Figure 3, represent-
ing the same in use as a bed, a, a¹, is the frame and b, b, the laths,
or sacking of the bed; c, d, are the legs of the bed; e, is a wheel or
wheels situated near one end and underneath the sacking b, b. The
end a', of the bed frame and sacking may be turned up and fastened
(in any convenient manner) in the position represented in Figure 2,"
when my Invention is used as a vehicle or wheel barrow; and the
said end a¹; may be turned down and fastened (in any convenient
manner) as shewn in Figure 3, when my said Invention is used as a
bed. When my said Invention is used as a vehicle, it is advisable to
turn up the leg or legs c, into the position represented in Figure 2,
and fasten the same in the said position, lest the said leg or legs, by
coming against obstacles, should impede the motion of the said
vehicle. When my said Invention is used as a bed, the end which
is used as the head of the bed may be furnished with arched rods
or supports ff, on which a fabric or covering may be supported so
as to form a canopy or covering for the head; the said supports may
be affixed in any convenient manner, and where thought desirable
may be extended so as to cover a greater part of the whole of the
sacking b. 9, 9, are the handles by which my said Invention is

page_text: moved when used as a vehicle; instead of the said handle shafts may
be added, when it is intended that the vehicle shall be drawn by a
horse or other animal.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I do not limit myself to the precise method of
carrying my said Invention into effect herein described, as tlie same
may be varied without departing from the nature of my said
Invention; but I claim as my Invention, the construction of a
bedstead furnished with a wheel or wheels, so that it may be used
as a vehicle as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eliezer Edwards, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of
July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
ELIEZER EDWARDS. (L.S.)