Furniture and other Furniture.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th Mar., 1887.
Furniture and other Furniture.
We BENJAMIN MADDOCK BREW of 54 Finsbury Pavement in the County of
Middlesex, Wholesale Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer and WILLIAM ALEXANDER
BONELLA of 59 Rivington Street E.C. do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN SECRETAIRES OR COMBINATION WRITING TABLE FURNITURE AND
OTHER FURNITURE to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a compact, bandy and useful secretaire
or combination writing table or similar article of furniture to occupy little room when
closed but opening out to give ample room and table surface for convenient support
for writing or other material, numerous and handy receptacles for papers and
other articles easy of access and the whole capable of being secured by one means of
fastening.
The improvements consist mainly in a set of pigeon holes, or receptacles stationery
holders and other like division formed in a back support and two hinged wings, to the
lower part of which is hinged a flap adapted to let down and be supported on the
upper side of the under frame. This under frame again serves as the support and
guide for other two winged portions fitted with drawers or like receptacles and hinged
to this under frame so as to swing within the same and be locked by a spring lock
operated by the closing of the upper wings.
The hinged flap hinged to the lower front of the upper portion of the secretaire and
to the front of the closing wings as they stand open is capable of being lowered in
one piece or plane surface to form the table but for closing it is first turned up on its
lower hinged edge and then again folded inwards on the line of the hinges of the
side wings and these portions outside of the line of the fixed back close in with those
wings, the winged portions and the fixed part being recessed accordingly to admit of
the whole folding in.

page_text: The upper fixed portion has a hinged lid or flap provided with a mirror on its
inner side and adjustable by adjustable supports so that the angle of support may be
varied to present the desired angle of reflection.
A lock and spring catches serve to secure the whole when closed into a small space
and the article may present a very ornamental appearance.
These improvements are applicable to cabinets, students cabinets, secretaires,
writing tables, and other articles of cabinet work desired to be made capable of
extension and contraction.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the said Benjamin Maddock Brew
and William Alexander Bonella.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Secretaires or Combination Writing Table
Furniture and other Furniture.
We BENJAMIN MADDOCK BREW of 54 Finsbury Pavement in the County of
Middlesex Wholesale Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer and WILLIAM ALEXANDER
BONELLA of 59 Rivington Street E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the closing into a compact form of the
table portions provided to such articles of furniture as secretaires or folding writing
table furniture and other furniture into a small compact space when out of use so as
to stow away whilst still admitting of the writing surface being opened out again
readily and quickly to a good and useful expanse of table surface and convenient
support so as to give ample room for writing or other materials to rest securely and
firmly thereon whilst further enabling the provision in the case of secretaires or
combination writing office or bureau furniture of numerous and handy receptacles for
papers and other articles easy of access when the article of furniture is open and
readily protected by the closing when required.
The whole of the combination or improved piece of furniture being capable of being
closed up compactly when so required and when so required of being securely fastened
by one means of fastening.

page_text: TESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure indicates the invention applied to a secretaire or combination writing
table which is shown in an open condition with the folding table A (which it is a
principal object of the invention to conveniently provide capable of compact
stowage) let down unfolded and expanded flat ready for use of a writer or reader or
other user.
Figure 2 shews the same article of furniture with the folding table A with its
three hinged leaves a a² a² turned up against the folding cupboards or wings of the
secretaire B. C. and in course of being folded a gain on itself in the closing in of those
wings B. C. on to the main back piece D and when so closed together these wings
are capable of locking together by spring locks or otherwise of being locked
together. E is a lid or cover hinged to the back of D which falls down onto and
may be raised, lowered and set at any desired angle to the wing parts B. C.
When the wings B. C have been closed and locked by spring locking device into
each other a key turned in the lock J throws a bolt as is well understood and locks
the upper and lower sets of swing cases or wings B. C and G. H.
Fis a ledge or platform which forms a support for the middle portion a¹ of the
folding table A when that table is let down thereon as in Figure 1. or if that
table A is not let down forms in itself a shelf or table as shewn in Figure 2; also it
forms the roof or cover and support for locking means to the lower swing
wings G and H when those wings are folded in as shewn in Figure 3 which figure
also shews how the whole is closed up. ee are studs on which the table flaps a a
rest supported on the tops of the wings G. H.
In these Figures little description of the details is requisite beyond the drawings as
these arrangements such as the racks bbb, pigeon holes e c¹², drawers d d' d² are
capable of such numerous and variable arrangements to suit the requirements and
tastes of customers as to be capable of indefinite variation in contrivance.
Figure shows an internal view open and Figures 5. 6. 7 and 8 various
configurations of design externally, closed of a similar article wherein the sides and
mouldings el e serve as the supports for the flaps a a² instead of the pins ee of the
previous figure.
Figure shows another external configuration of the folding table containing
parts B. C. D. E. F with the omission of the lower cupboard wings G. H. of the
previous figures, and the substitution of a winged flap table F. FF2 being additional
or auxiliary flaps to be used in conjunction with or without the let down table A
hereinbefore described and here not shewn the same being folded in and hidden
within the wings B. C. I is a drawer to the supporting table F.
The set of pigeon holes c. c. c², receptacles d. d. d, stationery holders bbband
other divisions form a back support D and the two hinged wings B. C., to the lower
part of which is hinged the flap A. The under frame F again serves as the support
and guide for two winged portions fitted with drawers or like receptacles and hinged
to this under frame so as to swing within the same and be locked by a spring lock
operated by the closing of the upper wings as will be understood by any competent
cabinet maker and need not be described in detail.
The hinged flap A hinged to the lower front of the portion D of the secretaire and
to the front of the closing wings B. C when open can be lowered in one piece or
plane surface to form the table, but for closing it is first turned up on its lower
hinged edge 3 and then again folded inwards on the line of the hinges 4. 5 of the side
wings B. C and these portions outside of the line of the fixed back D close in with
those wings B. C. the winged portions B. C and the fixed part D being recessed
accordingly to admit of the whole folding in.
The upper fixed portion D has a hinged lid or flap E provided with a mirror on its
inner side and adjustable by adjustable supports so that the angle of support may be
varied to present the desired angle of reflection.

page_text: A lock J and spring catches serve to secure the whole when closed into a small
space and the article may present a very ornamental appearance as shewn by the
Figures.
These improvements are applicable to cabinets; students cabinets; secretaires, card
and writing tables; and other articles of cabinet work desired to be made capable of
extension and contraction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the pature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we dee.. that what we claim is
1. The combination with a secretaire or combination writing table or similar
combinable article of the folding table or support A substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. The construction or arrangement and use of tables A capable of themselves
folding and stowing or fitting with articles of furniture as herein indicated,
substantially as set forth.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicants.