IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION 86 AND MANUFACTURE OF PACKING CASES FOR METAL PLATES AND OTHER GOODS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Grey, of Maesteg, near Bridgend, in the County
of Glamorgan, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
86
AND MANUFACTURE OF PACKING CASES FOR METAL PLATES AND OTHER
GOODS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Grey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1881.
DAVID GREY, of Maesteg, near Bridgend, in the County of Glamorgan.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF PACKING CASES
FOR METAL PLATES AND OTHER GOODS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and manufacture of
cases for packing metal plates, such as tinned plates, terned plates, black plates, or
other sheet metal, or similar articles or goods, the objects of the improvements
being to preserve the plates from the various detrimental influences to which they
are subjected when packed in the ordinary wood cases, to require less space in
transit and stowage, to save freight, preventing loss by breakage, obviating repairs,
and the use of nails in fastening, and to attain various other advantages hereinafter
enumerated.
These packing cases have hitherto been made entirely of wood, or partly of
wood and partly of metal plates, the parts being fastened together by nails or
equivalent means.
My Invention consists in making the packing cases for the metal plates or
articles herein before referred to entirely of tinned plates, terned plates, black plates,
or of other sheet metal, and in such a manner as not to require the use of nails in
fastening the parts together.
1
I prefer to make the improved packing cases for ordinary use out of sheet iron of
the substance of about "29" Birmingham wire gauge, but I can make them of a
greater or less thickness when requisite. After getting the sheets of iron of the
proper size, and of the most suitable substance for the intended purpose, I pass
them between two or more rollers made of or surrounded with india rubber or any
equivalent yielding material, and the surfaces of which I keep regularly supplied

page_text: with petroleum or any other suitable oil. In passing between the rollers the sheets
get coated with a very thin film of oil, just sufficient to avoid or prevent their
oxidation or rusting. I then take them to a powerful drop stamp, and press
them
into the form of a tray (having raised sides with side extending flanges about one
inch broad) in a proper die made of the required size and depth in the same way
as ordinary "table trays" or "waiters" are made; or I otherwise make the trays by
pressing, folding, or otherwise equivalently forming the sheets of iron. The depth
of each tray is regulated according to the required depth of the case. I prefer
making each tray of about one-half the depth or thickness of the case, but I may
make them of any depth, and use different depths in the two trays which compose
the case; or I may use only one tray of the full depth of the case and one plain
sheet. The case is formed by placing two of these trays together one upon another
with their flanged edges in contact so as to enclose their required contents, and by
bending over the flanges of the top and bottom trays and seaming them together so
as to form a very strong joint.
When it is required that the contents of the case should be hermetically
sealed, I make the cases from tinned or terned sheets, and solder the seam all round
the case.
The "brands" and "shipping marks" with which such packing cases are generally
marked, I impress upon the most convenient part of the case by means of steel
stamps.
Among various advantages which accrue from the use of packing cases constructed
as herein before described may be mentioned the following:-
The contained plates are preserved much better than hitherto, being hermetically
sealed or nearly so. The top and bottom plates are not as hitherto affected by
moisture or the sap of the ordinary wood top and bottom. The cases do not require
drying or seasoning as the wood cases do; they require considerably less stocking-
room at the works, as 400 of the improved sheet metal cases can be stowed when
empty in the space required for but 20 of the wood cases, as the improved cases
can be packed away one within another, and thereby kept in good preservation.
They also require less room for stowage, as 100 of the improved cases when full
can be stowed in the space required for but 78 of the usual cases. A saving of
freight will also be effected, as the improved cases are much lighter than the usual
cases. There will be no loss by breakage or by the covers being burnt about the
works. There will be no cooperage or repairs required in transit, nor nails required
in the manufacture of the cases, and the case will be of much greater value as old
iron after use than if made of wood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Grey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th September
1881.
DAVID GREY, of Maesteg, near Bridgend, in the County of Glamorgan.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF PACKING CASES
FOR METAL PLATES AND OTHER GOODS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and manufacture of
cases for packing metal plates, such as tinned plates, terned plates, black plates, or
other sheet metal or similar articles or goods, the objects of the improvements being
to preserve the plates from the various detrimental influences to which they are
subjected when packed in the ordinary wood cases, to require less space in transit
and stowage, to save freight, prevent loss by breakage, obviating repairs, and the
use of nails in fastening, and to attain various other advantages hereinafter
enumerated.
These packing cases have hitherto been made entirely of wood, or partly of
wood and partly of metal plates, the parts being fastened together by nails or
equivalent means.
My Invention consists in making the packing cases for the metal plates or articles
herein before referred to entirely of tinned plates, terned plates, black-plates,
galvanized plates, or of other sheet metal, and in such a manner as not to require
the use of nails in fastening the parts together.
I prefer to make the improved packing cases for ordinary use out of sheet iron
of the substance of about "29" Birmingham wire gauge, but I can make them of
a greater or less thickness when requisite. After getting the sheets of iron of the
proper size, and of the most suitable substance for the intended purpose, pass
them between two or more rollers made of or surrounded with india-rubber or any
equivalent yielding material, and the surfaces of which I keep regularly supplied
with petroleum or any other suitable oil. In passing between the rollers the sheets
get coated with a very thin film of oil, just sufficient to avoid or prevent their
oxidation or rusting. I then take them to a powerful drop-stamp, and press them
into the form of a tray (having raised sides with side extending flanges of any
suitable width) in a proper die made of the required size and depth in the same
way as ordinary" table trays or "waiters" are made; or I otherwise make the
trays by pressing, folding, or otherwise equivalently forming the sheets of iron.
The depth of each tray is regulated according to the required depth of the case.
prefer making each tray of about one-half the depth or thickness of the case, but I
may make them of any depth, and use different depths in the two trays which
compose the case; or I may use only one tray of the full depth of the case and one
plain sheet. The case is formed by placing two of these trays together, one upon
another, with their flanged edges in contact so as to enclose their required contents,
and by bending over the flanges of the top and bottom trays, and seaming them
together so as to form a very strong joint.
"1
I
When it is required that the contents of the case should be hermetically sealed
I make the cases from tinned or terned sheets, and solder the seam all round the
case.
""
The " brands" and " shipping marks with which such packing cases are
generally marked I impress upon the most convenient part of the case by means of
steel stamps, or they may be painted or stencilled thereon.
Among various advantages which accrue from the use of packing cases con-
structed as hereinbefore described, as compared with the usual packing cases or
boxes may be mentioned the following:-
The contained plates are preserved much better than hitherto, being hermetically
closed or nearly so. The top and bottom plates are not as hitherto affected by

page_text: moisture or the sap of the ordinary wood top and bottom. The cases do not
require drying or seasoning as the wood cases do; they require considerably less
storking or warehouse-room at the works, as about 300 of the improved sheet
metal cases can be stowed when empty in the space required for about 20 of the
wood cases, as the improved cases can be packed away one within another, and
thereby kept in good preservation. They also require less room for stowage when
full, as 100 of the improved cases can then be stowed in the space required for but
58 of the usual cases. A saving of freight will also be effected, as the improved
cases are only about one half the weight of the usual wood cases. There will be
no loss by breakage or by the covers being burnt about the works. There will be
no cooperage or repairs required in transit, nor nails required in the manufacture
of the cases, and the case will be of much greater value as old iron after use than if
made of wood; and as compared with the usual wood boxes or cases bound with
hoop iron, the improved metallic case will be much stronger, and will effect a
saving of from threepence to fourpence per box.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The improved manufacture of cases for packing tinned plates, terned plates,
black plates, or other sheet metal or similar articles or goods entirely of or from
tinned plates, terned plates, black plates, galvanized plates, or plates of other sheet
metal, and in such a manner substantially as herein before described, as not to
require the use of nails in fastening the parts together to form the complete case
(in lieu of making such cases entirely of wood, or partly of wood and partly of
metal plates, with the parts fastened together by nails, as has been hitherto done),
with the objects and to obtain the important advantages hereinbefore specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Grey, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
ATR TATT
DAVI
ID GREY.
L.D.)