AN IMPROVED SAMPLE Box
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Felix Chevallier, Oil Manufacturer, at Cette, in
the Département of Herault, and the Republic of France, for the
Invention of " AN IMPROVED SAMPLE Box."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Felix Chevallier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th April 1875.
I, FELIX CHEVALLIER, Oil Manufacturer, at Cette, in the Département
of Herault, and the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for " AN IMPROVED SAMPLE Box," to be as follows:-
My improved sample box is composed of a block of wood in which
holes are cut or bored in number, shape, and dimensions suited to
requirements. Each of these holes contains a bottle or phial having a
blank label upon which to specify its contents. In one of them is
placed the screws, nails, or other fastening by which the lid is to be
secured, and they are safely packed in their respective holes with cork

page_text: dust, sawdust, husks, or other suitable material. The lid is attached to
the block of wood by a screw, pin, or hinge, upon which it may pivot to
open or close the box, and an address label is placed on the outside of
the lid or block. The advantages of this arrangement will be evident.
The trader, supplied with a number of these sample boxes of shape
and sizes suited to his particular trade, finds everything ready for immc-
diately dispatching his samples, with the certainty that the bottles
cannot be broken in transit, the box being a solid block and not a
number of thin pieces of wood hurriedly nailed together, and the bottles
securely packed in their compartments, inasmuch as a calculated
quantity of packing material is always provided. This sample box is
also very cheap, as the cutting or turning of the block, whether square,
oblong, or cylindrical, as well as the boring of the holes (which will in
most cases be cylindrical) can be effected with great rapidity and
facility.
In lieu of closing the box with a simple lid two blocks may be hinged,
so that when brought on to each other the solid part of the one coming
on to the opening of the other will prevent the bottles or phials leaving
their compartments, the whole being secured by screwing down a hasp
or otherwisc.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Felix Chevallier in the Great Seal Patent Office on 2
the 14th September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FELIX
CHEVALLIER, Oil Manufacturer, at Cette, in the Département of Herault,
and the Republic of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Horself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Felix Chevallier, Her

page_text: A indicates the block of wood in which are cut or bored the holes,
recesses, or chambers B, B, B; C, the lid or cover held to the block at c
by tack, screw, or otherwise; D, D, the bottles; E, packing of cork dust
or other suitable material.
In lieu of closing the box with a simple lid, as shown, two blocks 5
may be hinged, so that when brought on to cach other the solid part of
the one coming on to the opening of the other will prevent the bottles
or phials leaving their compartments, the whole being secured by
screwing down, by a hasp, or otherwise.
The block of wood might be covered with or encased in leather or 1
other material, and the holes be lined with leather or other packing, and
this kind of box be used for travellers' sample cases, for the pocket, or
otherwise.
For transmission by post or to secure any volatile liquid the bottles
may be stopped with glass stoppers, screw stoppers, or any secure 1
fastening.
I have found a cylindrical form of hole or chamber the most practi-
cable and cheapest in manufacture, but the holes might be made squaro
or of any suitable shape.
I have not deemed it necessary to describe any particular method of 20
manufacture, as the blocks may be obtained and holes cut or bored by
various well known mechanical means which will readily suggest them-
selves to any manufacturer.
The trader, supplied with a number of these boxes of shapes and sizes
suited to his particular trade, finds everything ready for immediately 2
dispatching his samples, with the certainty that the bottles cannot be
broken in transit, the box being a solid block and not a number of thin
pieces of wood hurriedly nailed together, and the bottles sccurely packed
in their compartments, inasmuch as a calculated quantity of packing
material is always provided. This sample box is also very cheap, as 3
the cutting or turning of the block, whether square, oblong, or cylin-
drical, as well as the boring of the holes (which will in most cases be
cylindrical) can be effected with great rapidity and facility.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is or may be performed, what I claim as 3
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the

page_text: use of boxes composed of a solid block of wood, in which one or more
holes or recesses are made to hold bottles of corresponding dimensions,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Felix Chevallier, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five
Witness,
C. L. M. RETTMEYER,
Consulate
Seal,
H.B.M. Vice-Consul,
Cette.
F. CHEVALLIER. (L.S.)