IMPROVEMENTS IN CABINET FURNITURE
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Slater, of the Parish and Town of Kettering,
in the County of Northampton, Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CABINET FURNITURE."
Sealed the 8th May 1866, and dated the 11th November 1865.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Daniel Slater at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents,with his Petition and Declaration, on the
11th November 1865, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
. Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
SLATER, of the Parish and Town of Kettering, in the County of Northampton,
Cabinet Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CABINET FURNITURE," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor
thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Daniel Slater, do hereby declare that
the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully describes

page_text: CHAPTER 1.
My first improvement consists of what I term a revolving casing and
shelves adapted to the pedestals of wardrobes,sideboards, or sewing machine
cabinets, one of which is represented in Figures 1 and 2; A, A, A, the outside
framing of the pedestal forming the bottom and the two sides, the Figure
being drawn with the top taken off to shew the internal structure of the
revolving shelves. The top, bottom, and two sides, and also the back are
framed together in the ordinary way, but instead of placing shelves in these
cavities and closing them with a door as in ordinary pedestals, I insert a
circular revolving casing B, B, the diameter of which will be somewhat less
than the inner measurement of the pedestal framing. This revolving casing B
has pivots or centre pins C, C, top and bottom, on which the casing B radiates,
which form the centres of the revolving casing and are on a line with the
front edges of the framing of the pedestal, as marked D. A little more than
one half of the circumference of the revolving case is a plain surface veneered
in panel, or ornamented with a device, or having embedded thereon a mirror,
which when closed up forms the front of the pedestal, and is, in fact, a semi-
circular fronted pedestal with square sides. The bottom E and top, in which
the pivots or centres work, are stationary, so that when the partitions and
shelves F, F, F, are placed therein it makes a safe place of deposit for articles,
so that by turning the revolving casing either right or left one half of a revo-
lution the inside is turned outward, as in Figure 2, and exposes the various
things therein contained, and when turned back again closes up the pedestal,
when the ornamental circular front is again exposed. The outer casing may
also be of a circular form, which will depend on the general design of the
cabinets. If this arrangement be adapted to a sewing machine cabinet it will
be readily seen that by turning it a half or quarter revolution the shutter is
passed away and the machine brought in a working position. I also would
connect to this kind of pedestal a rotary top to the outer shutter and to the
inner rotary casing, which would revolve right or left.
Another method of making these revolving casings is that I make the
revolving casing B as before described stationary, and pass the framing D,
which is divided in the centre at D¹, one half to the right and the other half
to the left, either half radiating on pivots or provided with knee pieces at the
rectangular parts of the outer casing, which knee pieces will slide in a circular
groove (or on friction rollers) cut in the base or top of such casings, the

page_text: base and top of the pedestal in that case being fert square at the back (as wen
as front) to receive the rectangular doors when standing open. By this
arrangement the fronts of casings can be ornamented more readily and fully.
CHAPTER 2.
My next improvement in cabinet furniture consists in what I term an
improved mode of retiring sliding doors, as shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5.
Figure 3 is an isometrical projection shewing the general arrangement of the
casing with the door closed, the top being removed; G, G, the outside casing;
H, the inside casing; 1, the space in which the door J travels, sliding on
ledges in grooves K in the inner casing H, as shewn in Figure 4. When a
sliding door is required the area of which is much greater than the space from
front to back where it is to be passed in, it will be necessary to dispose of the
door somewhere; in this case I construct the cabinet with circular corners;
one portion of the sliding doors will be made of small narrow slats L, L, L,
which will pass around the corner, as in Figure 5. By reference to Figure 3
it will be seen that if a spring of any elastic material be attached to the back
of the casing and at the other end on the edge of the sliding door at M,that
when the door J is opened and in a line with the slide N, the spring O will
pull the door back again into the recess I, so that cabinet furniture can be
closed with retiring doors or slides in the most convenient manner without
their coming into contact with anything.
Another method similar to the last described would be to have a vertical
barrel spring at the back of the recess, when if cords were attached to the
roller and the sliding door it would pull the sliding door back with ease.
Sliding retiring frames for looking glasses in wardrobes or cabinets may be
made in the same manner.
Another mode of enclosing cabinets may be effected by doors to open as
usual, but hinged to the reeded work and passing with it around a shaped
end to expose the interior; or they may be made of a rectangular form with
narrow sliding doors, into which may be placed mirrors or panels of glass,
which are attached to the slatted or reeded work and retire as far as the
angle at the corner, giving abundance of room to take out or place in any
article or expose the wheel and treaddle of a sewing machine.

page_text: and Figure 7 a plan of a circular inner casing P with alternate openings and
spaces, the spaces between each opening being wider than the openings in the
outer revolving casing Q, so that when the glazed openings R of the outer
casing are brought over the spaces S in the stationary casing P the whole
thing is closed up, and the articles contained within secure. The partitions
in outer casing are attached top and bottom to a continuous rotating ring
encircling the inner casing B; but when the spaces R are brought opposite
the spaces
S in the inner casing the articles can be reached and taken out or
articles placed therein on the shelves inside. Some of these openings (say
one half) in the outer circular casing may be glazed with clear glass, and
the articles inside may be exposed to view, and when ornamental panels or
mirrors are placed in the spaces in the inner casing they would pass behind
the clear glass and shew through, producing a pleasing effect. I may also
make the inner casing to revolve and the outer casing stationary, or the outer
and inner casings may revolve separately, either by being attached to a
revolving base and top, or formed of a slatted band running in grooves cut
in a stationary base and top. Another way is by making a stationary semi-
circular back and a semicircular sliding front, somewhat larger in radius than
the stationary back which it overlaps, either formed of slatts or otherwise,
and run it in grooves also cut in base and top. This is particularly useful
for covering up the treadles of sewing machines.
Another method of closing up pedestals of cabinet furniture is shewn in
Figure 8, and consists of an annular space intervening between an outer
stationary casing T and an inner fillet U, or inner casing instead of the fillet.
In this annular space I slide a slatted shutter V from the point W to the
point X, or I provide a double compartment with a sliding slatted inside
annular casing to slide half open to the right and half open to the left.
This may be made of any shape, for the purpose of meeting the difficulty
where furniture has to be fitted in awkward places, or by dividing slatted
shutter V one half may travel right and the other half left of the opening,
exposing to view either the right or left of inside of casing, when provided
with the partition, as shewn in dotted lines V¹. This form of pedestal may
be either elliptical or circular, or any part of a circle, as the case may be; it
can also be used as a sewing machine pedestal, similar to the one patented
by me, dated 4th March 1864, No. 544.

page_text: Another method of inclosing pedestals of cabinet furniture is shewn in plan
Figure 9, and consists of an outer casing Y, square in form all but the
rounded corners Z. In the centre of this casing is a partition a, outside and
on the front edge of which is a pilaster b, on which may be placed any
ornamental device or a mirror. This pilaster may be stationary or made to
slide right or left at pleasure, or the pilaster may be attached to the exterior
of the slider by a pivot or hinge at the back of pilaster, as shewn in
Fig. , so that when the pilaster has passed the corner it falls flat to the
face of the slider. I may also provide an opening in the slider secreted
behind the fixed pilaster b, Fig. 9, and pass the slider right or left at any
desirable point, see dotted lines sectioned Fig. 9; Ialso apply slatted shutters
to close up openings, by making a continuous groove, either circular or of
any convenient shape, in which the slatted shutters slide either in two halves
or all in one, and which can be passed right or left, if in two halves retiring
behind the projections in front of cabinets, as shewn in Fig. 9b; if made
slightly larger than the opening can be passed in line with and close to the
back of such cabinets. Around this pedestal casing may be constructed a
groove c for the left-hand sliding slatted shutters d, and other grooves e for
the right-hand sliding slatted shutters f to slide in (top and bottom), so
that the right-hand shutter may pass the left-hand shutter at the back, as
shewn. Another method of sliding the pilaster 6 in connection with the
slatted shutters & and f is by fixing on to such pilasters top and bottom
pivots to radiate upon and run them in the grooves c and e, so they may
easily pass grooves either of a circular or elliptical form; or I may form
sliders for cabinets of a series of pilasters or wide mouldings provided with
pivots for the purpose of traversing grooves, as described.
CHAPTER 6.
Or I enclose the fronts of cabinets with slatt shutters, as in Figure 10, by
making a grooved space g in the plaucier or facia of the cornice of pedestal
cabinets, and also corresponding grooves in the base. In these grooves I
place a slatted endless belt travelling all around the top and bottom of the
pedestal, or I make the slatted belt in parts instead of endless. On to each
slatt on the belt I fasten a small piece of wood i, and on to each of these I
fasten slattsj top and bottom, which slatts form a shutter of any given size to
close the openings in front or sides of cabinetpedestals, when they may be slid
either right or left out of the way to open or close the pedestals either of
cabinets or of sewing machine cases.

page_text: Further improvements in cabinet furniture are illustrated in Figures 11
and 12, and are especially adapted to the covering up of things placed on the
top of cabinets after they have been used. If for a sewing machine cabinet I
construct a stationary back piece k, Figures 11 and 12, in which I make a
hole for the radius pin 1 to work into. I then combine the two sides m and n,
the front o, and top p together, the pin passing through the hole in the top
piece p and down into the hole in the stationary back piece k. This forms a
cover to be turned away from or advanced over a sewing machine or any other
article to be so protected; or I cover articles on the top of sewing machine
or other cabinets by means of a covering radiating from a pin, as in Figures 13
and 14. Figure 13 is a side elevation of the top of a sewing machine or any
other cabinet in section, shewing the semicircular cover q open. The top r
has two grooves cut into it for the sides S to pass down through; 9 is a slatted
cover, fastened at the points t, t, and laying down over the two recesses
form in the sides, and passes down at the back of the cabinet. Figure 14
shews the top or cover when closed, the whole radiating on the pins n and n.
Another kind of cover may be formed by segments of a circle closing in the
Glass coverings may be used also in this way for the covering of
plants or articles of "vertu" by semicircular pieces passing under the tablet,
as in Figures 13 and 14; or I make small cabinets similar to that shewn in
Figure 13, representing the slatts passing down behind, but I hang a cover of
a half-circular form,similar to the one shewn. Inside this cover and concentric
with it I place a trough for the holding of envelopes, paper, or any similar
articles, so that by passing the cover one quarter of the circle the trough will
be exposed sufficiently to take out any article therefrom, or by passing it the
half circle the cover will pass under the trough and the whole will be exposed.
In making small cabinets of this kind a small drawer may be inserted under
the semicircular trough in space, and a neat cabinet made for the keeping
of small articles. The line of the trough is shewn by the dotted lines v in
Another and important improvement in cabinetfurniture is in the knobs or
handles (either flush or otherwise). Such knobs or handles are sometimes
made of porcelain, and if screwed or placed into plain holes with glue or
cement their shanks are liable to break off. My improved method of fastening
such knobs to the fronts of drawers or doors is shewn in Figures 15 and 16.

page_text: a band working against two friction rollers, so that when the top slatted door
is lifted up the action of the band attached thereto and at the same time
to the bottom slatted door, that the bottom half will be pulled open, and
vice versa; or I make the opening at and in the direction of the arrow, and
allow the sliding slatted doors to lap one over the other in the front, as
shown in the back of Fio Q
belt to circular or oval shaped wardrobes or pedestals of cabinets, which will
be readily understood by reference to the Drawing, Figure 18; g¹ and g¹, the
slatted belt, which is continuous, the top and bottom ends of which run in
grooves in the top and base of cabinet pedestals. The space cut out marked
h¹, which forms when slid right or left the opening through which the coutents
of the interior may be got at, and when closed exposes to view the mirror or
pannelling placed upon the stationary partition ¹. The opening h¹ may be
turned around to any position in the circumference of the pedestal.
Another mode of forming these wardrobes is, I divide the continuous casing
at the dotted line, making one portion fast. I then make the outer portion to
slide right and left in the space between the two edges of the fast portion;
this slider is made as much narrower than the said space as the width of the
opening or doorway I require, and this difference is filled up by the inner
pilaster i¹.
Another method is, I make the slider as described above, but instead of
pilaster being stationary, I attach it to the slider on the inner side, so noving
with it and the pilaster to pass easily within the other portion of outer casing
to allow the door to slide open. I then make the whole of the casing to
move. I also attach a mirror to the sliding casing, and this contrivance
allows the mirror to be moved to any point to gain the light, say at one point
for daylight, and another for night, moving the doorway as well, and without
moving the wardrobe itself or opening it, which in many situations will be of
great advantage; and are two columns to support the top and base.
CHAPTER 11.
I also form slatted sliding doors for closing up the fronts of harmoniums
or washstands, and using the flaps or covers of such articles of furniture to
secure the upper ends of the slatted doors. Figure 19 is an isometrical view
of a washstand with a flap cover ¹ and right-hand slatted door 1, which
is open; m, the base, having a groove in which the doors and n¹ slide; o¹, a

page_text: recess in the flap k¹, which receives the top of the slatted doors when it is shut
down and closed up; p', a casing similar to the one shewn in Figure 17, and
described in Chapter 9, to receive the slatted doors when passed back, or a
sliding band may be inserted in the groove and attached to the right and left
hand slatted doors.
Another arrangement in the construction or slatted doors in caomet
furniture is represented in Figures 20 and 21, and consists of cabinets with
recesses with shelves or drawers between the partitions or shelves; q¹are the
partitions, between which are drawers or recesses for a bookcase or any other
use.
and
The slat doors 1 are so constructed that they slide between t¹ and w¹,
pass back out of the way; there are grooves in the partition ¹ by which
the two ends of the sliding slatted doors and r² are attached, so that the
weight of the descending slatt door willcounterbalancetheascendingslatted
door 2; or I attach a narrow sliding slatted shutter for each opening between
the shelves, as shewn in Figure 20; at the back w₁ are the narrow slatted
shutters, which are attached to the movingpilaster a¹, on to which is a knob y¹;
by taking hold of this knob or handle, and after pushing it up, each of the
series of slatted shutters w¹ slide in out of the way under or over the shelves g¹,
thus exposing each shelf or drawer, and by pulling down the said knob y¹
closes them again at pleasure.
Another modification of this method of ascending and descending slatted
doors is shewn in Figures 22 and 23, and consist in attaching a glass to
the said slatted doors, which glass ascends and descends with the slatted
shutters. z, the case of the wardrobe or cabinet; a², a groove for the
slatted shutter 62 to slide in, which passes up and under the top c² and down in
the space d² between the back and the inner casing z¹; the mirror e passing
up
in a perpendicular direction clearing the cornice f; the novelty in this
arrangement being the suspending of the mirror e³ to the slatted shutter b²,
as fully shewn in the Diagrams referred to; or I fix the looking glass to base
and top of wardrobe, one way within or behind theslider; herethesliderforms a
protecting shutter to prevent injury to the looking glass, and may be adapted
with advantage to protect pannels of glass or china, or paintings, or any
ornamental work requiring protection in cabinet furniture; the other way out-
side the slider, and then I have the novelty of two compartments, viz., (one
on either side the glass or pilaster), closed by one and the same shutter, while
the shutter works clear between such outer pilaster and any inner fittings,
and in either way the glass or pilaster is made of a proper width to allow of

page_text: a useful opening on either side. Or I make the glass or pilaster to cover the
whole space and balance it in the usual way by weights and pulleys, but still
retain the novelty of the glass passing upwards out of the way above the
wardrobe to allow of the things within being reached.
Another novel form of cabinet pedestal is shewn in Figure 24, wherein
the one half of the circular pedestal can be thrown open by running on
castors at the bottom end, exposing articles of clothing hung on pegs, or
any articles on shelves or in drawers constructed on the inside of one or both
halves of the circle.
Having now described the nature of my Invention in the construction of
cabinet furniture, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I
desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
details herein described, as such may be varied and modified without
departing from the principles thereof; what I claim as new and of my
Invention is,
Firstly, the general arrangement of revolving casings adapted to wardrobes
and cabinets, the hanging of mirrors on such revolving casings, and the
passing of the rectangular doors right and left, meeting at the back, as
described in Chapter 1, and shewn in the accompanying Drawing, Figures
1 and 2.
Secondly, the improved methods of retiring sliding doors as set forth in
Chapter 2, and shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5.
Thirdly, the construction of cabinet pedestals and casings, as fully described
in Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6, and shewn on accompanying Drawings, Figures 6,
7, 8, 9, 9, 9, and 10.
Fourthly, the construction of cabinets with the top, front, and sides radiating
on a pin fixed into a stationary back, and also the application of an horizontal
radiating slatted cabinet cover, as described in Chapter 7, and shewn in
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14.
Fifthly, the peculiar form of shanks or knobs or handles, and in the manner
of fastening such knobs or handles, as fully described in Chapter 8, and shewn
in Figures 15, 16, and 16*.
Sixthly, the arrangement of sewing machine and other cabinets, as described
in Chapter 9, and shewn in Figure 18.
Seventhly, the adaptation of a slatted belt and arrangement of sliders, as
described in Chapter 6, to wardrobes or pedestals of cabinets, as set forth in
Chapter 10, and shewn in Figures 17 and 18.
Eighthly, the arrangement of slatted sliding doors in combination with a
flap or cover, as described in Chapter 11, and shewn in Figure 19.

page_text: Ninthly, the arrangement of slatted doors and protecting shutters for
cabinet furniture, as fully described in Chapter 12, and shewn in Figures 20,
21, 22, and 23.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Slater, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JOSEPH RAINS.
DANIEL SLATER. (L.S.)