IMPROVEMENTS IN WRITING DESKS OR TABLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Smith and James Smith, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, and of No. 60, Berners Stecct, London,
Cabinet Manufacturers and Upholsterers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WRITING DESKS OR TABLES." A communication from abroad by William
Stubbs Wooton, of Indianopolis, Indiana, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 21st July 1876, and dated the 27th May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Smith and James
Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1876.
FRANCIS SMITH and JAMES SMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, and of No. 60, Berners Street, London, Cabinet Manufacturers and
Upholsterers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WRITING DESKS OR TABLES." A communication
froin abroad by William Stubbs Wooton, of Indianopolis, Indiana, in the United
States of America.
This Invention has reference to improvements in pier writing desks or tables,
whether with double or single piers, and open or closed backs, or closed in com-
partment, or drawers between the piers, with flat or angled tops, or with spring or
folding writing flaps, with or without raised backs or ends, or with cylindrical or
other escritoir tops, being a further development or application of the advantages of
the Invention for which Royal Letters Patent were granted to William Robert
Lake on the 1st day of May 1875, No. 1613, to this said class of writing desks
or tables.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist in fitting within each pier
a swivelling frame or chamber, divided into or fitted with pigeon holes or com-
partments for containing books or other documents, opening to one face, and which
when swivelled out has this open face preferably in a line with the front of the
desk, so that the sitter or writer can without rising reach the compartments and
take out or insert any papers desired; and when swivelled back a quarter of a
revolution or so would close in all these compartments and their contents, and
have the back and one end of this chamber forming the outer side and front of the
pier, the inner side preferably being curved to admit of the rotary motion of this
box part of the pier, which would each be preferably formed with a spring lock
for instantaneous closing.
Although these improvements have been described as applicable to single writing
desks or tables, it is to be understood that they are equally applicable to double
desks or consulting tables of this pier class, in which case there would be two of
these new or improved swivelling or rotary chamber, divided off as before
[Price 6d.]

page_text: explained, and opening outwards to the opposite front sides of this double class of
desks or tables; or one pier might be fitted in this manner, and the other pier
fitted with the usual sets of drawers ranged above each other; and the tops of these
tables, whether single or double, might be fitted with the ordinary drawers. And
instead of these box piers rotating or swivelling, as explained, on pivots above and 5
below them, they might also be made to open on hinges, somewhat in the manner
of the end compartments or wings of the well-known "Wooton Writing Desk or
Table," protected by the before-mentioned Letters Patent, although the rotary
arrangement is preferred.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 1
the said Francis Sinith and James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th November 1876.
FRANCIS SMITH and JAMES SMITH, both of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, and of No. 60, Berners Street, London, Cabinet Manufac-
turers and Upholsterers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WRITING DESKS OR TABLES." A 1
communication from abroad by William Stubbs Wooton, of Indianopolis, Indiana,
in the United States of America.
Our said Invention has reference to improvements in pier writing desks or tables,
whether with double or single piers (B, B',) and open or closed backs, or closed in
compartments or drawers there between the piers, and having flat or angled
tops A with or without spring folding or drawing-out writing flaps E, and either
with or without raised backs or ends g, g¹, or with cylindrical or other ordinary
forms of escritoir tops e, e, f, f. This Invention is a further development or
application to the said class of low set writing oflice or table desks, of the improve-
ments and advantages of the Invention for which Royal Letters Patent were
granted to William Robert Lake on the 1st day of May, 1875, No. 1613, being a
communication from abroad and now known as the "Wooton Desk."
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing our said Invention
may be properly understood, we will now proceed to describe the several Figures
on the Sheet of Drawings which we have hereunto appended for the purpose of
showing the best inodes and means we are at present aware of for putting the
Invention into effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating the same or
equivalent parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front elevation and a plan partly in section
on the line 11 in Figure 1, both with the swivelling or retaining escritoir
chambers or cases C, C', open as well as the angled writing flap E; while Figure 3
is a corresponding elevation to Figure 1 with these parts shown closed, all inuch
of a usual form of writing table or desk with side pedestals B, B1, and a space
left quite through between them for the free admission of the writer's limbs,
all as commonly used in offices, but fitted with the new or improved rotating or
swivelling closing-in side chambers or cases C, C¹, divided off into compartments D,
and mounted below the table A, so as to open or close in the whole as a secretaire
on their swivel joints or hinges c, c', ell, all constructed in accordance with and
illustrative of one modification of our said Invention.
Figure shows a front perspective elevation of a somewhat different arrangement
or modification of our said Invention or improvements with only a pedestal B, B¹,
and closing-in swivelling secretaire case C on one side below the writing table A
and flap E, which may slide or fold out, fitted with an ordinary escritoir e, f, above
of the circular or closing-in class, supported on feet J, J. at the open side below.
And Figures 5 and 6 are a front elevation and plan of a modification of the
present improvements and the original Wooton desk, showing the new or improved
swivelling side cases C, C, as jointed or hinged at the back edges or sides below
the table part A, and closing and locking against each other in the centre at 1-1,

page_text: all as in the Wooton desk herein-before referred to, so as only to leave room when
opened up for the limbs of the writer, one of these cases C only being shown as
open in the Figures, but not specially claimed by us.
Referring to the modification of our present Invention or improvements, shown
in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the nature, novelty, and mode and means of carrying it into
effect or practice consist in fitting within each pier B, B¹, or sido space under the
flat table A a swivelling frame or chamber C or C¹ divided into or fitted with
pigeon holes D for the reception and orderly keeping of letters and papers, or
horizontal or vertical compartments D¹, D", for containing books or other docu-
inents open at one side , which when swivelled a quarter of a turn round or
outwards on its joints or pivots c, c¹, c¹¹, has this open face d nearly in a line with
the front of the desk or table A, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. These new or improved
swivelling box piers or wings C, C¹, are each made nearly the whole depth or width
, of the piers B, B1, (from front to back, as shown in the section Figure 2), so as
to give greater width across the open front face d for the compartments D, D', D",
for the storing of papers and books, as scen in Figure 1. Each case C is inounted
by bushes a secured in its under and upper close sides near the centre of the back
or close side d', d, erected on a pivot fixed on the base B' of cach pier near the
centre of their outer ends, and on a corresponding loose or portable pivot cll in the
centre of the outer end of the table part A, inserted from the inside when
the locked drawer a¹ is out, so that each new secretaire case C, C¹, swivels on these
pivots c, c, to the open position shown in Figures 1 and 2, or the close position
shown in Figure 3, or any intermediate angled position between these two, as
shown dotted in at ex in Figure 2, so that the sitter or writer can without rising
reach the compartments and take out or insert any papers desired, and when
swivelled back again or shut it would completely close in all the compartments
D, D, D¹¹, and their contents, while its close back and one end would form
the ornamental door-like panelling of the outer ends or sides and front face of the
piers B, B¹. The inner side of cach pier B, B¹, is preferably curved, as at ¹, to
admit of the rotary notion of the inner end d² of the moving chest or case C or C¹³,
and to impart elegance to the design, cach pier B, B1, being fitted at h with a keeper
for the reception of the bolt of the spring or other lock H secured in the front
edge of each case C or C¹ for the instantaneous closing and securing of these, all as
herein-before described.
Referring to Figure 4, the top or table part A is supported on the left side by
feet J, and on the right side by the hollow pedestal B, B', fitted with the new or
improved oscillating case C, with small pigeon holes D, and horizontal or vertical
divisions and compartments D', D", for containing folded and arranged letters,
documents, and other papers or books, all substantially as described in reference
to and shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, but having fitted above the table part A a
folding over or drawing out writing flap or leaf E, and ordinary construction of
escritoir composed of drawers and small pigeon holes and compartments e, e', all
enclosed by the long quadrantal cover f sliding at its ends in segmental grooves
in the inner faces of the ends at f, which support a narrow shelf G and ornamental
back and end edging g, g, to carry lights and loose ornamental or other articles,
as a chiffonier, under which and behind the escritoir part e, e¹, the cover frecedes
when opened up, while the flat parts G, A, when made deep enough may be fitted
with drawers at a as the table parts A are in the Drawings.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the flat top or table part A with central drawer a¹,
either with or without a writing flap E fitted and hinged to the top of the table, or
to the drawer for use when drawn out are much the same as in Figures 1 to 3; but
secured to and carried by the framed or boxed part B behind, with back and ends
B1, B2, projecting up from the basement B¹, and with horizontal or vertical divisions
or boards b, b, which besides strengthening this part B, B1, B2, and the table or
desk part A, form long spaces ₁ for receiving rolls of paper or other long articles;
or this part B¹, B, B, might be formed with a plain or flat framed or boarded back
B to carry the table part A at the back, and with a metal, wood, or other bracket

page_text: or stay as b¹ to support it in the centre; and in either case this supporting part B, B",
would, irrespective of its width from back to front, be equal in length to that of the
two swivelling secretaire front end cases C, C³, so that when jointed or hinged, as in
the said new or improved Wooton desk, at their outer back vertical edges (instead of
at their middle, as in the former modifications) to those of the back B² or B¹¹ at
c, cl, they would meet in the centre 1, 1, and be both secured in the act of closing
through a spring sneck E hinged to the back part B, b, and a simple keeper and
lock and key at h, H, all in accordance with the improvements of the said former
Patented Invention herein-before referred to; but opening and closing on each side
of and below the table or desk A, and preferably above a basement B¹, to either or
both of which the act of closing the cases C, C', (or the turning of the key) might be
made to lock them instead of by the catch fand spring lock H, as before described.
Although these improvements have only been described and shown as applied to
single writing desks or office tables, it is to be understood that they are equally applic-
able to the double desks or consulting tables of this pier class; in which case there
would be four of these new or improved swivelling or rotary cases or chambers C, C¹,
(divided off as before explained into compartiments as D, D¹, D") opening outwards
on each opposite front sido of this double class of desks or tables; or one pier B, B¹,
might be fitted in this manner with the new or improved swivelling cases C or C¹,
and have the other pier fitted with the ordinary set of drawers ranged above cach
other, each locked in a usual manner, or otherwise only one of these rotary cases C
might be fitted on the right side of each front, as shown in Figure 4.
The tops A
of these desks or tables (whether single or double) may be made flat or angled on
the top, and be fitted with the ordinary drawers a, a, or not as desired; and they
may also be fitted with ornamental backs and odges as g, y', seen dotted in in Figures
3 and 4, and with shelves or book racks if desired. Instead of the box piers C, C¹,
rotating or swivelling on pivots cl, cl, above and below them as described and shown,
they may be fitted to open on ordinary hinges.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming or carrying it into effect or practice, we have to state that we do not
restrict ourselves to the precise details herein described or delineated, but what we
consider novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is-
First. The general construction of office or other desks having tables or tops (as
A) with divided off secretaires or box chainbers C, C1, rotating under them or within
their supporting piers B, B1, for the instantaneous closing in or opening up of these
and their contents, all substantially as heroin described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The construction and use of divided off' cases or chambers C, C³, rotating
or swivelling within the wings or piers, and below the writing or table part of
office or such like table desks, substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said Francis Smith and James Smith, have hereunto
set our hand and seals, this Twenty-third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
JOHN BROWN,
Patent Office,
96, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
FRANCIS SMITH. (L.S.)
JAMES SMITH.
(L.S.)