AN IMPROVED ASH CLOSET
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Willett, of 38, South St., Worthing,
in Sussex, Robert James Harris, of High Street, Worthing, afore-
said, and James Lund, of Fife Villa, Hertford Road, Worthing, for
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Willett, Robert
James Harris, and James Lund at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 24th June 1874.
We, GEORGE WILLETT, of 38, South St., Worthing, in Sussex,
ROBERT JAMES HARRIS, of High Street, Worthing, aforesaid, and JAMES
LUND, of Fife Villa, Hertford Road, Worthing, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ASH CLOSET," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention consists of an earthenware cistern fitted with a
galvanized iron soil pail. A cast-iron pipe at a quick angle connecting
it with the outside. On the top of this pipe and nailed against the wall

page_text: is fitted a cast-iron hopper and sifter, into which the ashes are thrown.
On shaking the sifter the smaller particles fall down the pipe on to the
soil in the pail. The sifter is then lifted out and emptied of the cinders,
which can be reburned.
The hopper is covered to prevent rain getting in. We also propose to
fit it with a lever and valve to allow of a certain portion of ashes being
delivered every time it is used. It can be easily fitted to any existing
closet; it is impervious. Well polution is impossible; it is easily
emptied, very durable, and it can be sent in pieces to any part of the
country.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Willett, Robert James Harris, and
James Lund in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd December
1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE.
WILLETT, of 38, South Street, Worthing, in Sussex, ROBERT JAMES
HARRIS, of High Street, Worthing, aforesaid, and JAMES LUND, of Fife
Villa, Hertford Road, Worthing, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said George Willett, Robert James Harris, and James
Lund, Her special licence that we, the said George Willett, Robert James
Harris, and James Lund, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said George Willett, Robert James Harris, and James
Lund, our 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
"AN IMPROVED ASH CLOSET," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said George Willett, Robert James Harris, and James Lund, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or

page_text: 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Willett, Robert James
Harris, and James Lund, do hereby declare the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
Our Invention consists of an earthenware receptacle fitted with a
galvanized iron pail. A cast-iron pipe at a quick angle connecting it
with the outside of the wall. On the top of this pipe and nailed against
the wall is a galvanized iron box and sifter, into which the ashes, burned
wood, or earth are thrown. On shaking the handle the smaller particles
fall down the pipe for use in the closet. The sifter is then lifted out
and emptied of the cinders, which are ready for the fire.
The box is covered to prevent rain getting in or the dust rising. We
also fit the pipe with a valve to allow of a certain portion of ashes being
delivered every time the closet is used. This Invention can be easily
fitted to any existing closet, and is impervious. Well pollution is
impossible; it is casily emptied, very durable, and it can be sent in
nieces to any part of the country.

page_text: Fig. 3 shews end view of sieve; Fig. 4 shews side view of sieve;
Fig. 5 shews end view of sieve carrier; Fig. 6, side view of sieve
carrier.
Fig. 7 shews same closet made self-acting by the introduction of a
lever and weight under seat l, and also shews in dotted lines the
earthenware drain pipe to carry off the moisture.
Fig. 8 shews a self-acting closet for upstairs use fitted with a flap
valve with circular recess filled with india-rubber, which presses against
the sharp edge of the pan, thus making an air-tight joint. In this a
galvanized iron box m on wheels is substituted for the pail and earthen- 1
ware receptacle. A door n at the back provides for the removal of the
soil or residuum.
Fig. 9 is a plan view of this Invention.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, we would
observe in conclusion that we do not confine ourselves to the precise 1
details herein given, so long as the general principle of our said Inven-
tion is adhered to, but what we claim and desire to be secured to us by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction and
manufacture of an improved ash closet, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated on the Drawings, or any mere modification 2
thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Willett, Robert James
Harris, and James Lund, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
2
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