IMPROVEMENTS IN DESKS, DESPATCH CASES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Watson, of Grange Road, Finsbury Park,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DESKS, DESPATCH CASES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Watson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
" 1st June 1874.
I, ALFRED WATSON, of Grange Road, Finsbury Park, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DESKS, DESPATCH CASES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to
be as follows:-
•
The Invention has for its object improvements in desks, despatch
cases, and other similar articles, whereby greater facility is afforded for
obtaining access to the contents of such desks, despatch cases, or other
articles.
I foun the dockl dosnatch case. or other similar

page_text: T
despatch case when turned down serving the purpose of a writing slope
as heretofore.
In such case however I sink the inner flap of the desk, and I corre-
spondingly recess the outer flap, so that in the space thus formed
between, a blotting book or paper may be placed, which when the desk
or despatch case is opened out lies within the recesses in the two flaps.
According to my Invention I also form the desk or despatch case with
a sliding drawer to move out with the back thereof, such drawer also
having fixed thereto a stationery rack and "ink range," or cither of
them as desired; but if desired such stationery rack and "ink range"
may be fixed to the body of the desk or despatch case as heretofore.
The drawer may be caused to spring inwards or outwards, as may be
desired, by the aid of springs acting thereon.
It is evident that the case and drawer may be fitted up to contain
either stationery or other articles according to the purpose to which the
desk, despatch case, or other article is to be applied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Alfred Watson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
WATSON, of Grange Road, Finsbury Park, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
°
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Watson, Her special
license, that I, the said Alfred Watson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Watson, my exe-
cutors, 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

page_text: 。
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DESKS, DESPATCH CASES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Watson, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 Alfred Watson, 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, that is to say :-
The Invention has for its object improvements in desks, despatch
cases, and other similar articlés, whereby greater facility is afforded for
obtaining access to the contents of such desks, despatch cases, or other
articles.
For this purpose I form the desk, despatch case, or other similar
article to open in the usual manner, the top or flap of the desk or
despatch case when turned down serving the purpose of a writing slope
as heretofore.
In such case however I sink the inner flap of the desk, and I corre-
spondingly recess the outer flap, so that in the space thus formed
between them a blotting book or paper may be placed, which when the
desk or despatch case is opened out lies within the recesses in the two
flaps.
According to my Invention I also form the desk or despatch case with
a sliding drawer to move out with the back thereof, such drawer also
having fixed thereto a stationery rack and "ink range," or either of
them as desired; but if desired such stationery rack and "ink range
may be fixed to the body of the desk or despatch case as heretofore.
The drawer may be caused to spring inwards or outwards, as may be
desired, by the aid of springs acting thereon.
It is evident that the case and drawer may be fitted up to contain
either stationery or other articles according to the purpose to which the
desk, despatch case, or other article is to be applied.

page_text: .
'
my said may
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying
.Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
•
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure 1 is a cross section, and Figure 2 is a plan of a desk having
my improvements applied thereto, and Figure 3 is a cross section of parts
drawn to a larger scale.
It will be seen by reference to the Drawings that the desk is formed
to open in the usual manner, and that the top or flap a when turned
down serves the purpose of a writing slope as heretofore.
In such case however I sink the inner flap b, and I correspondingly
recess the outer flap a, as shown, so that in the space thus formed
between them a blotting book or paper may be placed, which when the
desk is opened out lies within the recesses in the two flaps a, b.
.:
☐ According to my Invention I also form the desk with a sliding drawer
c to move out with the back d, such drawer also having fixed thereto a
stationary rack e, the ink range f being fixed to the body of the
desk, but if desired either or both the stationery rack e and ink range f
may be carried by the back d or by the body of the desk.
The drawer c, as shown, is caused to spring outwards by the aid of
springs acting thereon, and it is retained in its inward position by a
spring catch acting in connection with the plate c', a sliding pin i being
employed to act on the spring catch when it is desired to release the
drawer c therefrom.
If desired however the action of the parts may be reversed and the 2
drawer c may be caused to spring inwards to its closed position.
It is evident that these improvements are equally adapted to despatch
cases and other similar articles, and that the drawer and case can be
fitted up to contain either stationery or other articles, according to the
purpose to which the desk, despatch case, or other article is to be 3
applied.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode
in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
First. Recessing the two flaps. a, b, of desks, despatch cases, and other, 3

page_text: similar articles in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shown and described.
And, Secondly. I claim forming the desk, despatch case, or other
similar article with a drawer c to move out with the back d, in manner
substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Watson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
ALFRED WATSON. (L.s.)