IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF RECEPTACLES FOR PRESERVES AND OTHER PROVISIONS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 68, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF RECEPTACLES FOR PRESERVES AND
OTHER PROVISIONS."-A communication from abroad by Emile Peltier
and Albert Paillard, both of Paris, France, Manufacturers of
Preserved Provision Boxes.
Sealed the 22nd December 1868, and dated the 3rd July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the..
3rd July 1868.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,...
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF RECEPTACLES FOR
PRESERVES AND OTHER PROVISIONS," communicated to me from abroad by
Emile Peltier and Albert Paillard, both of Paris, France, Manufacturers,
of Preserved Provision Boxes, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the manufacture of boxes, vessels, or,
receptacles for containing jams, preserves, and other provisions to be.

page_text: preserved from atmospheric influences. The receptacle is made of tin,
tin plate, or other metal, on which a varnish or coating is directly
applied and fixed by heat or otherwise, thereby preserving the metal
from oxidation and the contents from discoloration and injury. Various
varnishes or coatings may be used, but the one preferred consists of
gum copal, linseed oil, and essence of turpentine. In the bottom of
the receptacle is one or more orifices through which the jam or other
provision is inserted, and when filled the hole is closed by a cap, which
may be provided beforehand with solder or cement so as to fasten it
instantly by a soldering iron. The cover overlaps the rim and its
flange or lip drops over a neck or recessed part of the receptacle, and
a ring or guard is placed round it of sufficient length to facilitate its
removal when the box is to be opened. The bottom is first convex
on the outside, and when the contents of the receptacle are poured in
hot they shrink as they cool, producing a vacuum inside the receptacle,
and the bottom is pressed inward by the atmospheric pressure against
the contents, which it packs tightly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL.
HENRY, of 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Michael Henry, Her special licence
that I, the said Michael Henry, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael Henry, 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 Invention for "IMPROVE-

page_text: MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF RECEPTACLES FOR PRESERVES
AND OTHER PROVISIONS," communicated to me from abroad by Emile Peltier
and Albert Paillard, both of Paris, France, Manufacturers of Preserved
Provision Boxes," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Michael Henry, 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 Invention,
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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry, do hereby declare.
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say:-
The object of this Invention is the manufacture of boxes, vessels, or
receptacles for containing jams, preserves, and other provisions to be
preserved from atmospheric influences. The receptacle is made of tin,
tin plate, or other like metal, on which a varnish or coating is applied
and fixed by heat or otherwise, thereby preserving the metal from
oxidation and the contents from discoloration and injury. (I call these
varnishes preservative or safety varnishes.) Various varnishes or coatings
may be used, but the one preferred is the varnish which consists of gum
copal, linseed oil, and essence or spirit of turpentine. In the bottom of
the box or receptacle is an orifice or hole through which the jam or
other provision is inserted, and when the receptacle is filled the hole is.
closed by a cap or stopper, which may be provided beforehand with
solder or cement so as to fasten it instantly by heating it over a soldering
iron. The cover overlaps the rim, and its flange or lip drops over a neck
or recessed part of the receptacle, and a ring or guard is placed round it
of sufficient length to facilitate its removal when the box is to be opened.
The bottom of the box or receptacle is made convex towards the outside
or under side. When the contents of the receptacle are poured in in
a hot state they shrink as they cool, producing a vacuum or partial
vacuum inside the receptacle, so that the bottom yields under the
external pressure or assumes a flat or a concave form, being pressed

page_text: inward by the atmospheric pressure against the contents, which it packs
tightly.
The accompanying Drawing represents in vertical section a box or
receptacle constructed according to this Invention.
X is the box, the bottom B of which has a hole formed in the centre
thereof, through which the intended contents of the box, say preserves
for instance, are introduced in a molten or boiling condition. As soon
as the box is filled the hole is closed by a cap or stopper D. It is
preferred to apply solder to this cap or stopper beforehand, so that it can
be readily fixed on the hole by heating the solder over a soldering iron.
The bottom B is of convex shape, or curves outward or towards the outer
or under side, as shewn by the full line in the Figure. But when the
preserves or contents of the box become cool, and consequently contract
or shrink, a partial vacuum is produced within the box at the lower part
thereof, and the bottom B is pressed inward or upward by the external
atmospheric pressure and assumes a concave or flat shape, that is to say,
it curves or draws inward or upward towards the interior of the box, as
shown by the dotted line B, thus closing up tightly upon the preserve, so
that the preserve is tightly packed in the box, and thus cannot be shaken
about or disturbed, even when the box is moved from placo to place.
A is the cover or lid of the box, which drops over and bears against a
neck or recessed part c formed at the top of the box, so that the flange
or lip of the cover does not project externally beyond the sides of
the box. d is a ring or annular band of metal soldered at its top part
only to the edge of the cover and forming a sort of guard, so as to
produce an air-tight joint between the lid A and the box X. It is of
such depth as to project a sufficient space from the recess c to facilitate
the soldering. The ring or guard d surrounds the lid entirely, but below
the part at which it is soldered to the lid it is so deep as to leave a spare
(or not soldered) part at its lower portion, by which it can be readily
torn off when the box is to be opened without injuring the cover.
cover thus constructed forms a very air-tight lid, and it can be taken off
easily by removing the ring or guard d, without destroying the cover A
itself, so that this cover may be used again and again by soldering or
cementing thereon fresh rings or guards d.
The
When the varnish, consisting of gum copal, linseed oil, and spirit of
turpentine, is used, the quantity of gum employed of course will

page_text: be varied according to the degree of fluidity to be imparted to the
varnish.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The employment of a cover or lid combined with a ring or
annular band or guard, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Secondly. The application of a preservative or safety varnish or
coating to boxes or receptacles, in the manner and for the purpose
described.
Thirdly. Constructing the bottom of the box or receptacle with an
orifice or hole for admitting the preserves or other provisions, such
orifice or hole being closed by a cap or stopper, substantially as
described.
Fourthly. Constructing the box or receptacle with a convex bottom,
which yields or is pressed inward under the external atmospheric pressure
as the contents of the box or receptacle cool and shrink, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose described.
Fifthly. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing
the improved box or receptacle herein-before described.
In witness, whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of January, in the
year One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
E. DE PASS.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)