IMPROVEMENTS IN OMNI- BUSES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Frederick Miller, of Hammersmith, near
London, Coach Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OMNI-
BUSES."
Sealed the 20th August 1858, and dated the 24th February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Frederick Miller
at the. Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th February 1858.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK MILLER, of Hammersmith, near London, do hereby
declare the nature of, the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OMNIBUSSES,"
to, be as follows::
My improvements consists of giving much more room and greater comfort
to the passengers by allowing them to sit in a circle, one passenger sitting in
a recess in the front; greater width being attained by carrying out the sides of
the omnibus with circular bent timber, doing away with the front pillars and
scroll end, thus giving more, room for the passengers to sit round, and allowing
eighteen inches extra width for the legs of the passengers; and in the con-
struction of the front "rockers," these being cut away, and the front made of
circular iron plate, or other metal, the windows being made of bent glass.
carried over the side rails and wheels. The bottom sides are carried over the

page_text: front carriage, to take the bearings of the beds, &c., instead of at the the bottom,
as in other omnibuses. The cant rails and side rails, panels, &c. are carried
with bent and other timber from the middle of the omnibus, or thereabouts, to
the front boot pillars, or continued round the front of the omnibus, that is,
from the middle pillar or pillars on one side of the omnibus to the middle
pillars on the reverse or opposite side, thus continuing them all round the
front of the omnibus. The carriage of this omnibus is constructed on an
improved principle, the dumb springs being made with branches, so as to give
better lock in turning the omnibus; the ends of the futshells are done away
with, and the perch bolt made to work at the back of the beds, the wheel
plate being made to pass through the front circular plate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Frederick Miller in the Great. Seal Patent Office on
the 24th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
FREDERICK MILLER, of Hammersmith, near London, Coach Builder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of.
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Frederick Miller, Her special licence that I, the said
Robert Frederick Miller, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Robert Frederick Miller, 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 In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OMNIBUSSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Frederick Miller 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 Inven-
tion, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Frederick Miller, do 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:―
My improvements in omnibusses consist of so constructing that vehicle.
that, while a more elegant and ornamental exterior is obtained, the interior
is made more roomy, airy, and convenient for passengers, the noise heard in
the old style of omnibuses is prevented, the springs give an easier and more
pleasant motion, and there is room inside for the passengers to stretch their
legs in.
The primary part of my Invention consists in the form of the vehicle,.
which is attained by constructing the sides of bent timber, and thus dispensing
with the front pillar and scroll. The curved form I adopt for the purpose is
shown by the annexed Drawing. The interior of the omnibus is thus made
nearly circular, a seat or recess for one passenger being formed at the front.
The windows are made also of bent glass, and may be secured to prevent
rattling, which is the cause of so much unpleasantness in the ordinary vehicle;
these windows it will be seen are larger than the ordinary sort, and are carried
over the hind wheels.
The Patent consists in alterations and improvements in the form of the
omnibusses from the ones now in use, combining elegance with utility, and
giving much greater room and comfort to the passengers by sitting in a circle,
or otherwise, and also one passenger sitting in a recess in the front, combined
with greater width, attained by carrying out the sides of the omnibuses with
circular bent timber, and doing away with the front pillar and scroll, thus
enabling the passengers to sit round with more room, giving extra room for
the legs of the passengers. Also, the windows made of bent glass, carried
over the hind wheels. And my Invention consists of improvements in the
construction of front rockers made of circular bent iron or other metal; also,
the cant rails and side rails carried round with bent or other timber to the
front boot pillars, or continued round the front of the omnibus (videlicet, from
one side of the omnibus round to the other or opposite side of the omnibus,
thus continuing all round the front of the omnibus. And I construct the
carriage on a different principle, the dumb springs being made with branches
at the back end, and so constructed as to give much better lock to the omnibus
in turning. I also supersede the back ends of futchells, and the perch bolt
made to work at the back of the bed. The wheel plate made to work
out of centre and of different construction in front, and the front steps are
larger & more convenient:

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and how the same
is to be performed, I claim the improvements in omnibusses herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Frederick Miller, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-eight.
ROBT FRED MILLER. (L.S.)