IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADDERS FOR AGRICULTURAL, FOREST, AND GARDEN WORK, AND OTHER USES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADDERS FOR AGRICULTURAL,
FOREST, AND GARDEN WORK, AND OTHER USES." A communication froin
abroad by Félix Marie de la Rochemacé, of Château de la Roche (Loire
Inférieure). France.
Scaled the 21st February 1879, and dated the 31st August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1878.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
LADDERS FOR AGRICULTURAL, FOREST, AND GARDEN WORK, AND OTHER USES."
A communication from abroad by Félix Marie de la Rochemacé, of Château de la
Roche (Loire Inférieure), France.
The improved ladders of this Invention may be of wood or of iron; they have
only one piece to receive the rounds instead of the two side pieces of ordinary
ladders; they are moveable, vertical, cannot break beneath the weight of the
workınan, and will save life in agricultural, forest, and garden work.
A wooden ladder of this Invention is shown, Fig. 1 of the accompanying
Sheet of Drawing. The upright is of light wood, as free from knots as possible,
preference being given to white bamboo, the bars or rounds passing through its
greatest diameter, these bars being of wood or of iron, or tipped with iron. An
iron spike with iron ring or collar is fitted to the base of the upright, and another
ring is fitted on the top projecting above it at D. Three straps with buckles are
screwed to the ladder at suitable distances.

page_text: Fig. 2 shows a ladder made of hollow iron or other metal tubing superposed in
sections A, C, screwed to each other on the ground to give a vertical ladder of the
desired height; or these sections may be secured upon each other by a pin or
lengthening piece placed between the screw-threaded ends, separating them by a
projecting ring, as at B. The bars or rounds are T shaped at each end, and are
brazed or otherwise suitably fixed to the upright. Each section is provided with
two straps or bands fixed to the upright, and the end piece E may be introduced
head downwards into the top ring D of the wooden ladder. All are successively
fastened by the straps to the tree or other object to be ascended.
This kind of ladder will be found very useful in gathering fruit, in topping trees,
and in ascending poles of all kinds.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
February 1879.
**
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
LADDERS FOR AGRICULTURAL, FOREST, AND GARDEN WORK, AND OTHER USES."
A communication from abroad by Félix Marie de la Rochmacé, of Château de la
Roche (Loire Inférieure), France.
The improved ladders of this Invention may be of wood or of iron, or other
suitable metal or material, or combination of materials; they have only one piece
to receive the rounds instead of the two side pieces of ordinary ladders; they are
moveable, vertical, cannot break beneath the weight of the workman, and will save
life in agricultural, forest, and garden work.
A wooden ladder of this Invention is shown, Figure 1 of the accompanying
Sheet of Drawing. The upright of light wood, as free from knots as possible,
preference being given to white bamboo, the bars or rounds passing through its
greatest diameter, these bars being of wood or of iron, or tipped with iron.
iron spike with iron ring or collar is fitted to the base of the upright, and another
ring is fitted on the top projecting above it at D. Three straps with buckles are
screwed to the ladder at suitable distances.
An
Figure 2 shows a ladder made of hollow iron or other metal tubing superposed
in sections A, C, screwed to each other on the ground to give a vertical ladder of
the desired height; or these sections may be secured upon each other by a pin or
lengthening piece placed between the screw-threaded ends, separating them by a
projecting ring, as at B. The bars or rounds are T shaped at each end, and are
brazed or otherwise suitably fixed to the upright. Each section is provided with
two straps or bands fixed to the upright, and the end piece E may be introduced
head downwards into the top ring D of the wooden ladder. All are successively
fastened by the straps to the tree or other object to be ascended.
This very safe kind of ladder will be found very useful in wood and forest work,
in budding pines, in topping and lopping trees, in circling trees to be felled, for
ascending columns or pillars, for illuminations, Venetian masts, and poles of all
kinds, for gathering fruit, and other uses.
These improved apparatuses, or agricultural and forest ladders or ascenders, will
save a considerable amount of labor, and ensure the workman or labourer from the
danger of falling and being killed.
By the word wood it is intended to include thick white bamboo, and, as shown
on the Drawing, its use by sections superposed the one on the other.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention com-
municated to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed,
I claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent the use
of ladders for agricultural, forest, and garden work, and other uses, constructed,
combined, and arranged substantially as herein-before set forth, and shown on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)