A NEW OR IMPROVED NEWSPAPER READING STAND
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wright, of 58 and 580, London Wall, in the City:
of London, Restaurant Keeper, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
NEWSPAPER READING STAND."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wright at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1878.
THOMAS WRIGHT, of 58 and 58", London Wall, in the City of London, Restaurant
Keeper. "A NEW OR IMPROVED NEWSPAPER READING STAND."
This Invention relates to portable stands or frames in which newspapers or
periodicals may be held for the purpose of reading whilst the reader is cating or
otherwise engaged.
It consists of a triangular or tripod stand with an upright column or pillar fitted
with a moveable slide, ratchet, and spring, with a swivel top to said slide. This
slide piece carries a cross arm and frame, and is fitted with a spring clip or clips
for holding the paper, and is moveable and capable of being fixed to any angle by
pressure, according to position required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th October
1878.
THOMAS WRIGHT, of 58 and 58a, London Wall, in the City of London, Restaurant
Keeper. "A NEW OR IMPROVED NEWSPAPER KEADING STAND."
This Invention relates to portable stands or frames in which newspapers or
periodicals, and so forth, may be held for the purpose of reading whilst the reader is
eating or otherwise engaged.
The apparatus consists of a triangular or tripod stand with an upright column or
pillar fitted with a spring catch piece working into a moveable rack slide, and this
latter with a swivel top. This slide picce carries by means of a spring clip or
socket a cross arm, on which is formed or constructed a frame, which will be fitted
with clips or rests, or may be provided with a spring clip or clips for holding the
paper or reading matter."
In order that the said Invention may be well understood reference is had in the
following description to the annexed Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective
view of reading stand, the foot whereof is partially in section; Fig. 2, a back view
of reading stand, showing modification of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is view of frame of modified construction for purpose of illustration.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the swivel cap and frame holding clip; and Fig. 5 is
a section at a, b, of. Fig. 2, illustrating construction of expanding frame for holding
music and broad sheets.
a is a metal triangular or tripod base loaded for stability; a², Fig. 1, representing
a convenient mode of applying the weight; b is a column or pillar formed hollow
and fitted at c, with a spring tooth or catch-piece c¹ for purpose herein-after des-
cribed is a slide made with a rack, into which the spring catch c¹ takes so as to
hold the slide d, and with it the frame, at desired height; and d' is head of slide d,
and is provided with a groove, into which a pin e¹ of the swivel cap c takes in such
manner that the cap e will be free to swivel or turn upon the head of slide d,
but at the same time it is held in juxtaposition therewith. The pin e' is
formed with a shoulder part, so that the inner end of the pin may not bind upon
the bottom of the groove in the head d. is a spring clip; and f¹, a clamping
screw is the cross bar, carried by the clip f, and capable of being turned therein
when the clamping screw f¹ is not tightened up.
Upon the bar is carried the whole frame h, which may be made of wire or flat
band metal, and bent and shaped, substantially as shown, the parts being riveted
or soldered together as desired or convenient.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent the frame made from band metal; and Fig. 3 represents
it constructed of wire.
•
The clip pieces h¹ might be bent over, so that their outer ends would approach
the side bar of the frame h and serve as a spring clip for holding the paper.
In Fig. 2 the cross bars 2 of the frame. I are made hollow, and open on the
back side, and there is introduced therein the slides h³, the inner ends whereof are
provided with stop studs i, so as to allow of the frame being expanded and reduced
in size for reception of larger or smaller sheets.
The dotted lines represent the position of the expanding parts of the frame
when out of use, and this arrangement of the Invention is particularly applicable for
use as a music rest.
In using the apparatus the height will be adjusted by means of the rack slide d
and spring catch c', the inclination of the frame to any angle by means of the
turning of the cross bar g, in the spring clip f, and the position around the central
column of the stand to the right or left, as desired, is capable of adjustment by
means of the swivelling cap piece e upon head & of the slide d.

page_text: Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, I claim
the improved reading stand having a combined adjusting capability effected by the
construction of parts, substantially as herein set forth and shown by the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wright, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight
In presence of
WALTER A. BARLOW,
Patent Agent & Engineer,
G, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London, E.C.
THOMAS WRIGHT. (L.S.)