IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSEHOLD FUR- NITURE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Taylor, of Birchington, in the Isle of Thanet, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSEHOLD FUR-
NITURE"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Taylor at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th March 1878.
JOHN TAYLOR, of Birchington, in the Isle of Thanet.
CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
The object of this Invention is to reduce house furniture to the fowest possible
simple elements, and to so arrange these elements that they shall be interchangeable,
so as to be capable of being utilized in the construction of almost any piece of fur-
niture that may be required in an ordinary house.
It has been found that chairs, stools, some boards or shelves, and a few carcases
or frames of more complicated furniture are all that is required to effect the object
in view, and it is from such materials that it is proposed to furnish a house.
In carrying out the Invention it is essential that the chairs and stools (which are
the most important elements) should be of such a construction that they may be
fitted together neatly and effectively with the minimum of trouble and the maximum
of strength and adaptability. To this end the lower part of the chairs, from the
ground up to and including the seat, should form the outline of a cube, the legs and
bottom frame being made preferably of wood, and of the dimensions of about 1+
inches or 2 inches square in the section. The legs should be securely held or stayed
by cross rails placed at a distance of about 3 to 4 inches from the ground. The back
frame should be slightly curved to the rear, and should consist of a continuation of
the back legs, a top rail, and an upper and lower middle rail. The seat may be
made of any suitable material, such as webbing, cane, or canvas. The legs, rails, and
framing are perforated in suitable places with bolt holes for the purpose of securing
two or more chairs together by means of bolts.

page_text: The stools are of similar construction to the chairs, except that they have no backs,
and that instead of forming a simple cube up to and including the seat, they should
form a double cube, or thereabouts.
In placing two or more chairs together to form any desired piece of furniture, it
is sometimes necessary that they should be capable of being pushed about from place
to place. To this end it is necessary that rolling castors should be placed on the
bottoms of the legs of the chairs or stools, but as in many instances it would be
very inconvenient to have castors permanently fixed to the chairs. they are fixed
instead to a framing that may be called a castor framing, and which is capable of
being removed at any moment. This framing is composed of two side pieces of
wood, with thickness pieces placed between them near their extremities. To the
under sides of the thickness pieces the castors are firmly screwed. Beyond the
thickness pieces the sides are slightly hollowed out, so as to form a socket, into
which the legs of the chair or stool may be dropped. The framing should then
be secured to the legs of the chair or stool by bolts or other suitable means. These
castor framings may be either made in such a way as to fit on the two legs of a
chair or stool that are placed on the same side, or may be made to fit into one
another so as to form a cross, and thereby receive the legs that are placed at opposite
corners of the chair or stool. For the convenience of reference hereafter these two
forms of castor framing may be called "simple castor framing" and "cross castor
framing."
In addition to the above described essential elements, all that is now required are
a few shelves and carcasses or framework of drawers and other complicated articles,
and sufficient materials for the manufacture of a variety of articles of household
furniture will have been provided.
In order to shew the applicability of the elementary materials to the construction
of composite articles of furniture, it is preferable to commence with the most simple
article, or that in which the fewest elements are employed, proceeding afterwards to
the more complicated furniture.
A child's cot or bassinette is made by placing two chairs together face to face, and
securing them by bolts passing through their two front legs. A light framing or
board is then attached to the backs by means of small sliding bolts, so as to form an
enclosure, and the bassinette or cot is complete.
If necessary, a simple castor framing may be attached to the back legs of the
chairs, so that the cot may be moved about with facility.
In order to form a wash-hand stand the sides of the bassinette or cot should be
removed, and a shelf placed on the bottom rails of the chairs; another board or
shelf is also placed on the seats of the chairs, and a third shelf having a hinged
back is supported on the upper back rail of the chair, the hinged back being raised
and retained in that position by that portion of the back of the chair that is above
the upper rail.
A bedstead for one may be constructed by bolting two chairs together side by side
for the head, and another two chairs together for the foot of the bedstead. Small
angle pieces or brackets are then bolted on to the fronts of the chairs, and a framing
(on which webbing or other suitable material is stretched) is bolted to the brackets,
and the bedstead is complete.
If desired, the chairs may be mounted on the simple castor frames, so as to admit
of the bedstead being moved about a room.
The width of the bedstead may be increased to any desired extent by connecting
additional chairs to those which form the head and foot of the bedstead.
In order to form a sofa or settee four or more chairs are employed, the two chairs
which constitute the ends being angle chairs, or having their back frames repeated
at one side thereof. The space between these chairs is filled by two or more ordinary
chairs, the whole being bolted together; but as the seat thus formed would not be
sufficiently wide to recline upon, a mattrass or stuffed frame of any desired width is
placed on the seats of the chairs, and the overhanging portion is supported by
brackets bolted to the front of the chairs.

page_text: A sideboard is composed of three ordinary chairs bolted together side by side, and
flanked by two stools, which form pedestal cupboards. The spaces between the
bottom rails of the stools and the underneath of the seats are filled up with panels,
which are secured on the inside by sliding bolts; in the front a panel is placed to
serve as a door, but as it would be inconvenient to have a screw on the hinges, a
round dowel and a round sliding bolt are employed as pivots for the door to swing
on. The dowel is placed in its hole or socket under the seat of the stool, and the
sliding bolt is slidden down into its corresponding bolt hole in the bottom rail of
the stool, and the door is secure, and will open and shut with facility. The stools
being thus transformed into cupboards, movable square dowels are placed in recesses
made in the tops of the legs of the stools, and secured therein by brass-headed pins
on to the dowels; a square drawer carcase or framing is dropped; a long wide board
or shelf is then placed on the tops of the drawer carcase, and buttoned down to them
by buttons fitted to the under side of the board or shelf; a shelf is then placed on
the bottom rails of the chairs and another on the seats, and the drawers are placed
in their respective slides. Thus a very quaint and elegant article of furniture is
formed.
To make a table a stool is mounted on a cross castor fraine, and a top of an
ordinary Peinbroke or other table is placed on the top of the stool, which will fit
into a square frame on the under side of the table top. Two tables thus constructed
may be fastened together to form one large table.
A duchess dressing table is composed of stools fitted similarly to those which form
the pedestal cupboard of the sideboard. The legs of the stools are dropped into
sockets made in a framing on castors, which extends the whole length of the dressing
table, and serves to connect the stools together. On to the drawer frames, which
are fitted to the tops of the stools, are placed jewel boxes or drawers, which may be
attached if desired to the frames. Standing up from the inner sides of the pedestals
are supports for a cheval glass. The whole construction may be rendered perfectly
rigid by a back stay bolted to the two pedestals.
A dwarf wardrobe may be made by securing a carcase of a small chest of drawers
between two stools, and placing a shelf or board on the top thereof.
A cottage sideboard may be made by securing a board or shelf to the top of two
stools set at any required distance apart; and by attaching to this board or shelf
some pigeon holes or dispatch boxes, an office table or bureau is formed.
It is evident from the above description that the number of changes that may
be made in the arrangement and disposition of the chairs and stools are almost
endless.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th September
1878.
JOHN TAYLOR, of Birchington, in the Isle of Thanet. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE."
The object of this Invention is to reduce house furniture to the fewest possible
simple elements, and to so arrange these elements that they shall be interchangeable,
so.as to be capable of being utilized in the construction of almost any piece of fur-
niture that may be required in an ordinary house.
It has been found that chairs, stools, some boards or shelves, and a few carcases
or frames of more complicated furniture are all that is required to effect the object
in view, and it is from such materials that it is proposed to furnish a house.
In carrying out the Invention it is essential that the chairs and stools (which are
the most important elements) should be of such a construction that they may be
fitted together neatly and effectively with the minimum of trouble and the maximum
of strength and adaptability. To this end the lower part of the chairs, from the
ground up to and including the seat, should form the outline of a cube, the legs and
bottom frame being made preferably of wood, and of the dimensions of about 1'/
inches or 2 inches square in the section. The legs should be securely held or
stayed by cross rails placed at a distance of about 3 to 4 inches from the ground.
The back frame should be slightly curved to the rear, and should consist of a con-
tinuation of the back legs, a top rail, and an upper and lower middle rail. The seat
may be made of any suitable material, such as webbing, cane, or canvas.
The legs,
rails, and framing are perforated in suitable places with bolt holes for the purpose of
securing two or more chairs together by means of bolts.
The stools are of similar construction to the chairs, except that they have no backs,
and that instead of forming a simple cube up to and including the seat, they should
form a double cube, or thereabouts.
In placing two or more chairs together to form any desired piece of furniture, it
is sometimes necessary that they should be capable of being pushed about from place
to place. To this end it is necessary that rolling castors should be placed on the
bottoms of the legs of the chairs or stools, but as in many instances it would be
very inconvenient to have castors permanently fixed to the chairs, they are fixed
instead to a framing that may be called a castor framing, and which is capable of
being removed at any moment. This framing is composed of two side pieces of
wood, with thickness pieces placed between them near their extremities. To the
under sides of the thickness pieces the castors are firmly scrowed. Beyond the
thickness pieces the sides are slightly hollowed out, so as to form a socket, into
which the legs of the chair or stool may be dropped. The framing should then
be secured to the legs of the chair or stool by bolts or other suitable means. These
custor framings may be either made in such a way as to fit on the two legs of a
chair or stool that are placed on the same side, or be made to fit into one
another so as to form a cross, and thereby receive the legs that are placed at opposite
corners of the chairs or stool. For the convenience of reference hereafter these two
forms of castor framing may be called "simple castor framing" and "
framing."
cross castor
In addition to the above described essential elements, all that is now required are
a few shelves and carcases or framework of drawers and other complicated articles,
and sufficient materials for the manufacture of a variety of articles of household
furniture will have been provided.
In order to show the applicability of the elementary materials to the construction
of composite articles of furniture, it is preferable to commence with the most simple
article, or that in which the fewest elements are employed, proceeding afterwards to
the more complicated furniture.

page_text: A child's cot or bassinette is made by placing two chairs together face to face, and
securing them by bolts passing through their two front legs. A light framing or
board is then attached to the backs by means of small sliding bolts, so as to form an
enclosure, and the bassinette or cot is complete.
If necessary, a simple castor framing may be attached to the back legs of the
chairs, so that the cot may be moved about with facility.
In order to form a wash-hand stand the sides of the bassinette or cot should be
removed, and a shelf placed on the bottom rails of the chairs; another board or
shelf is also placed on the seats of the chairs, and a third shelf having a hinged
back is supported on the upper back rail of the chair, the hinged back being raised
and retained in that position by that portion of the back of the chair that is above
the upper rail.
A bedstead for one may be constructed by bolting two chairs together side by side
for the head, and another two chairs together for the foot of the bedstead. Small
angle pieces or brackets are then bolted on to the fronts of the chairs, and a framing
(on which webbing or other suitable material is stretched) is bolted to the brackets,
and the bedstead is complete...
If desired, the chairs may be mounted on the simple castor frames, so as to admit
of the bedstead being moved about a room.
The width of the bedstead may be increased to any desired extent by connecting
additional chairs to those which form the head and foot of the bedstead.
In order to form a sofa or settee four or more chairs are employed, the two chairs
which constitute the ends being angle chairs, or having their back frames repeated
at one side thereof. The space between these chairs is filled by two or more ordinary
chairs, the whole being bolted together; but as the seat thus formed would not be
sufficiently wide to recline upon, a mattrass or stuffed frame of any desired width is
placed on the seats of the chairs, and the overhanging portion is supported by
brackets bolted to the front of the chairs.
A sideboard is composed of three ordinary chairs bolted together side by side, and
flanked by two stools, which form pedestal cupboards. The spaces between the
bottom rails of the stools and the underneath of the seats are filled up with pannels
which are secured on the inside by sliding bolts; in the front a pannel is placed to
serve as a door, but as it would be inconvenient to have to screw on the hinges, a
round dowel and a round sliding bolt are employed as pivots for the door to swing
on.
The dowel is placed in its hole or socket under the seat of the stool, and the
sliding bolt is slid down into its corresponding bolt hole in the bottom rail of
the stool, and the door is secure, and will open and shut with facility. The stools
being thus transformed into cupboards, moveable square dowels are placed in recesses
nade in the tops of the legs of the stools, and secured therein by brass-headed pins
on to the dowels; a square draw carcase or framing is dropped; a long wide board
or shelf is then placed on the tops of the drawer carcase, and buttoned down to them
by buttons fitted to the under side of the board or shelf; a shelf is then placed on
the bottom rails of the chairs and another on the seats, and the drawers are placed
in their respective slides. Thus a very quaint and elegant article of furniture is
formed.
To make a table a stool is mounted on a cross castor fraine, and a top of an
ordinary Pembroke or other table is placed on the top of the stool, which will fit
into a square fraine on the under side of the table top. Two tables thus constructed
may be fastened together to form one large table.
A duchess dressing table is composed of stools fitted similarly to those which form
the pedestal cupboard of the sideboard. The legs of the stools are dropped into
sockets made in a framing on castors, which extends the whole length of the dressing
table, and serves to connect the stools together. On to the drawer frames, which
are fitted to the tops of the stools, are placed jewel boxes or drawers, which may be
attached if desired to the frames. Standing up from the inner sides of the pedestals
are supports for a cheval glass. The whole construction may be rendered perfectly
rigid by a back stay bolted to the two pedestals.

page_text: A dwarf wardrobe may be made by securing a carcase of a small chest of drawers
between two stools, and placing a shelf or board on the top thereof.
A cottage sideboard may be made by securing a board or shelf to the top of two
stools set at any required distance apart; and by attaching to this board or shelf
some pigeon holes or dispatch boxes, an office table or bureau is formed.
It is evident from the above description that the number of changes that may
be made in the arrangement and disposition of the chairs and stools are almost
endless.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed more fully to
describe the manner of performing the saine.
Figure 1 shews a front of one of the chairs; Figure 2 shews a side view of the
like; Figure 3 shows a back view of the like; and Figure 4 shows a section of the
like. a, a, are the holes to receive the bolts and dowels by which the several picces
are secured together, as herein-after described.
Figure 5 shews a section of one of the stools; Figure 6 shows a front of the like.
b, b, are the holes to receive the bolts and dowels, herein-after described.
Figure 8 shews a plan of a simple castor framing, and Figure 9 shews the front
thereof. It is composed of the two side pieces o, o, having thickness pieces 1, 2, placed
between thein near the extremities. To these thickness pieces the castors q, q, are
firmly secured. Beyond these thickness pieces the sides are slightly hollowed out
so as to form a socket, into which the legs of the chairs or stool may be dropped.
This framing can be secured to the legs of the chairs or stools by bolts or other
suitable means.
Figure 7 shews a plan of a cross castor framing, and Figures 7 A and 7B shew
sides of same formed by two upper and two under rails placed diagonally. The
upper rails have notches r, r, in their under sides, and the lower rails have like
notches in their upper sides, which allow of the rails being level when joined
together. 8, 8, are the thickness pieces, having hollows and castors, as described in
Figure 8, and the rails are bolted together, as before described.
Figure 16 shews the front of a child's cot and bassinette, which is made by
placing 2 chairs together face to face, and securing them by the bolts at c. d is the
light framing or board forming a front enclosure, which is attached to the back of
the chairs by dowels c¹, and there are hinges e, c, which allow the framing to fall
down, and it is secured when closed by two small sliding bolts at g,g. There is a
similar enclosure at the back, but without the hinges. h is the simple castor
framing, as before described, attached to the back legs of the chairs by the bolts, so
that the cot may be moved about with facility.
Fig. 17 shews the front of a wash stand, which is made by placing two chairs
together face to face, as in the child's cot or bassinette, and secured in like manner
by bolts. A shelf k is a board placed on the bottom rails of the chairs ; & is another
board placed on the seats of the chairs; m is a third shelf having a hinged back
which is supported on the upper back rails of the chairs, the hinged back being
raised and retained in that position by that portion of the back of the chairs that is
above the upper rail. n is the simple castor framing, before described.
Figure 10 shews the front of a bedstead, which is made by two chairs placed side
by side bolted together forming the head, and other two chairs placed in like manner
and bolted together forming the foot. Small angle pieces or brackets t, t, are then
bolted on to the fronts of the chairs, and a framing u (on which webbing or other
suitable material is stretched) is bolted to the brackets. The chairs may be mounted
on the simple castor frames described in Figures 8 and 9.
If desired, the width of the bedstead may be increased to any extent by connecting
additional chairs to those which form the head and foot of the bedstead.
If it is desired to lower the framing so as to admit of placing thereon a spring.

page_text: mattress that shall have its upper side level with the seat of the chairs, the small
angle pieces or brackets may be dispensed with, in which case the frame of the
spring mattress will be bolted to the legs of the chairs.
Figure 11 shews the front of a sofa or settee, and Figure 12 shews a plan thereof.
The two chairs v, v, which constitute the ends, are angle chairs, having their back
frames repeated at one side thereof. w, w, shews two chairs filling up the space
between the angle chairs, the whole being bolted together, as before described.
shews the frame, which gives additional width to the seat, and is supported by
the brackets 2,2,3,2, which are bolted to the front of the chairs. z,a, is the simple
castor framing before described.
Figure 15 shews the front of a sideboard formed by three chairs A, A, A, bolted
together side by side. B, B, are two stools which form pedestal cupboards. The spaces
between the bottom rails and the seats of these stools are filled up with pannels secured
on the inside by sliding bolts. C, C, are doors, but as it would be inconvenient to screw
on the hinges, a round dowel and a round sliding bolt are employed as pivots for
the door to swing on. D, D, are the square drawer carcases or framing. E is a long
board or shelf, which is buttoned down to the drawer carcases by buttons fitted to
the under side thereof. F is a shelf placed on the bottom rails of the chairs. G is
another shelf placed on the seats.
Figure 13 shews one end of a table formed with a stool H mounted upon a cross
castor frame. I is the top of an ordinary Pembroke or other table having a square
frame on its under side, into which the top of the stool is fitted and secured.
Figure 1 shews a duchess dressing table composed of two stools K, K, fitted
similarly to those which form the pedestal cupboards of the sideboard. L is a
framing having castors. M, M, are sockets into which the legs of the stools are
dropped. N, N, are drawer frames fitted to the tops of the stools. O, O, are jewel
boxes or drawers secured to the drawer frames. P, P, are supports for the cheval
glass.
Figure 18 shows the front of a dwarf wardrobe formed with two stools Q, Q, fitted
as described in Figure 15, and having drawers, as also described in Figure 15. R is
a chest of drawers fitted and secured to the two stools. S is a shelf or board forming
the top, and is secured as described in Figure 15.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Taylor, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named John Taylor
in the presence of
Jo, B. W. T. LOBB,
Clerk to A. G. Harston,
Law Stationer,
7, High Holborn.
JOHN TAYLOR. (LS.)