Improvements in and connected with Fiddles for the Tables of Ships.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 28th Apr., 1892-4ccepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Fiddles for the Tables
of Ships.
ROBERT BOYNs Joiner 4 Nelson Road New Brompton Kent & WILLIAM
AUGUSTUS MARSHALLSAY Joiner 32 Waterloo Street New Brompton Kent do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
We construct our fiddles so that the connecting rails that make plate space
complete on ends shall fold round and stow away with side fiddles which are worked
by spring rollers fixed between pedestals attached to fiddles by leather straps
and stowed away in the rail space under top of table and kept there by a spring on
rail. When drawn there is a hook on rail that catches into an iron band on strap
and keeps the fiddle on the table. The connecting rails at ends have the glass
rack attached to them so that they stow away in main fiddles.
Fig. 1 is showing the table cut through the middle.
A is the pedestal.
B table top in. thick.
C thicknessing piece for working the moulding on edge.
D stretcher under top 9 x 24 dovetailed into E rails and stands above rails in.
so that it fills up the space between E rails and B top.
E side rails are 5 x 2 the end rails 5 x 14 dovetailed into a frame moulding
worked on rails as shewn Fig. 3 E cut back at corners 4 in. each way in. deep
put in. blocks in so that they will stand out in. beyond rails as shewn Fig. 3.
Fis a block fixed to stretcher D which stand on pedestal A.
G sockets of iron or brass fixed to F block
as shown Fig. 4 to keep iron bar from rotating.
H bar with spiral spring attached at one end.
I spring space in barrel.
in. thick which are morticed out
J the barrel with the other end of spring attached with keyhole shape slote as
shewn Fig. 5 to take the stud that is rivited to strap as shewn Fig. 6. Fig. 5
shows shows flanges soldered on ends of roller to answer as guides for straps.
K is showing the position of straps when the fiddle is drawn out and laid on
the table.
L is showing hook that is fixed to rail and catches into iron band on strap which
keep spring roller from drawing fiddle off table.
M is showing other side fiddle stowed.
N is shewing spring that hold fiddle close up to D stretcher on the front, the
strain of spiral spring keep it up at the back.
O is showing why the end rails of table are 1 thick while the sides are 2 in.
so that the mouldings shall follow round the table and fiddles and show the same
margin.
Fig. 2 shows the sides A & B fiddles laid on the table C is one end complete
D shows the workings of connecting rail hinged on A fiddle and bolts on B fiddle.
E partition is hinged on B fiddle and bolts on to A.
As the fiddles are seen when complete the outside rail round the table are
The intermediate
2 in. high 1 thick with O. G. moulding round the outside edge.
rails & partitions 2 in. high thick rounded top edge.
The corners are strengthened by brass angles to resist the strain when drawing
out from under table.
The spaces are about 2 ft. and each space is provided with glass rack made of
brass so that they can be electro plated if so required with ring cut out of centre and

page_text: a scrolls spring from ring each end to take wine glasses or any glass of that
description. The ring is for tumblers.
The glass racks on ends are stowed with the connecting rails as shown on D rail
it passes through a slote cut in back rail of A fiddle and stowes its self in that
space the end is turned over so that when D rail is opened the glass rack is a fixture
when it is in the same position as C.
The bolts on the ends of D & E rails to connect them when out are used for the
purpose of keeping them in place when stowed.
The same arrangements with regard to fiddles, apply to all kinds of tables.
The improvements and advantages claimed by us, for this our invention are these
that the fiddles are always at hand stowed under top of table by means of spring
rollers and that the end fiddles are stowed in side ones with glass rack complete.
If at any time the ship is caught in a squall they simply have to draw them ont
and place them on the table if the table is laid for dinner-or as the case might be
without removing anything.
Dated 21st day of December 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Fiddles for the Tables
of Ships.
ROBERT BOYNS Joiner 4 Nelson Road New Brompton Kent & WILLIAM
AUGUSTUS MARSHALLSAY 32 Waterloo Street New Brompton Kent Joiner 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:—
Our invention relates to fiddles which are placed on the tables of ships to
protect anything that is on the tables from been thrown off when the ship is
rolling.
The fiddles in use at present are plain frames seperate from the tables, when
wanted they are placed on the table and held in position by hooks & straped
together, when not in use they are generally laid on straps hanging loosely under
table, to the inconvenience of passengers sitting at the table.
Now our invention is to have a complete set of fiddles stowed in what is known
as the rail space of tables.
To carry out our invention we construct a box or frame and fit it up with a
complete set of fiddles, the end fiddles are stowed with the sides in the shape of
connecting rails, the glass racks that supply ends are hinged to connecting rails and
stow in main fiddles, and the fiddles are attached to spring rollers by means of
leather straps or webbing.
Figs. 1. 2. 3 represents a table 6 ft. x 4 ft.
Fig. 1 A is pedestal. B table top. C. C. are sides of frame or box 5 in. deep x
2 in. thick the ends are 5 in. deep x 1 in. thick dovetailed together, the moulding
as shown at C2 Fig. 2 on rails is cut back from corners 4 in. x in. deep for
blocks in. thick to be let in, the blocks will then stand out in. beyond face
of moulding. D stretcher is dovetailed into. C, C sides for B table top to be
buttoned onto, also for the fixing of E brackets with square holes for F rod to
fit in, on which is attached a spirial spring one end, G is spring space, H is barrel
with other end of spring attached, on which the strap I coils, J are guides to
guide the straps on roller. K are drop catches that turn up under frame as the
straps are pressing on them till the fiddle is drawn far enough to allow the catch
to drop through a slote cut in strap, and the tention of spring hold the strap firm
against the catch K. L showing the position of fiddle with moulding on table top
when the catch K have dropped through slote in strap. M is one side fiddle

page_text: drawn and placed on the table, N showing how connecting rails are stowed with
the side fiddles. O' the other side fiddle stowed. P connecting rail stowed.
Qis spring to hold the fiddle up to table top when stowed.
Fig. 2 is lengthways of table with part of frame removed, showing end C
1 in. thick x 5 in. deep, O' part of side fiddle stowed. H is showing part of
barrel with keyhole slote for strap to be keyed on.
Fig. 3 top or surface of table with fiddles all drawn and placed on the table,
when the connecting rails are opened out and bolted up, the sides and ends are
2 in. high x 1 in. thick, with O. G. moulding round outside edge, the intermediate
rails are 2 in. high x in. thick slightly rounded top edge, M & O' are the two
main fiddles, N. N is showing one end plate space complete, P & P showing how
rails are arranged to make the plate space, P connecting rail is hinged on Offiddle
and bolts on to M fiddle, P' connecting rail is hinged on M fiddle and bolts on
O' fiddle. As will be seen there is a slote cut in back rails of main fiddles for
the glass racks to pass through for stowage as shown on P rail hinged passing
through a slote in O fiddle and fastened there, the glass racks can be made out
of wood or metal, if metal they can be electroplated. I I I I are the straps
which are fixed to front edge of fiddles on the one end, and attached to spring
rollers the other end.
Fig. 4. The arrangements are the same as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, except the position of
rollers, as it represents a narrow table, we use a series of spring rollers in a straight
line through centre.
Fig. 5 fiddles laid on table
Figs. 5 & 6 represents a table with legs at corners.
they are made in three parts as shown, the two end frames are made each of
whole length, the centre frame whole length, and hinged at a. a. and fold over
for stowing as shown by dotted lines. Fig. 6 showing the fiddles stowed under
table. The arrangements other then the joints at a. a. for stowing are the same as
described in Figs. 1, 2 & 3.
The drawings show tables 6 ft. long but we do not confine ourselves to that length
as our arrangements are applicable to tables of various lengths, as the fiddles would
be divided off in the most convenient lengths for working.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is;
1st. Improvements in and connected with fiddles for the tables of ships, is the
connecting rails, that make plate space complete on ends of table substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown Fig. 3 N. N' and P. P¹ of the drawings.
2nd. Improvements in &c. is the glass rack hinged to connecting rails, so
arranged that they pass through slote in main fiddle for stowing as hereinbefore
described and shown Fig. 3 on O fiddle of the drawings.
3rd. Connected with fiddles is a box or frame dovetailed together with 2 in. sides
& 1 in. ends for the fiddles to be 2 in. longer, then they would be in the ordinary
construction of a frame by so doing we bring our fiddles out to the edge of
moulding as described and shown Fig. 1 C. C. & Fig. 2 C1 & C2 of the drawings.
4th. Improvements in &c. is the introduction of spring rollers in the box or frame,
and attaching a complete set of fiddles by means of leather straps or webbing or
equivalent, substantially as herein before described and shown in Figs. 1, 4, 6 of the
drawings.
5th. Improvements in &c. is the drop catch for when the fiddles are placed on
the table, the catch K Fig. 1 retain the fiddle to edge of moulding as shown L Fig. 1
of the drawings.
6th. Improvements in &c. is in making the side fiddles in seperate frames for
tables with legs at the corners, so that they fold over for stowing substantially as
hereinbefore described Fig. 5. a. a. of the drawings.
7th. Improvements in &c. with the combination of Claims No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 we
attain the sole invention of making a complete set of fiddles and of working the

page_text: said fiddles in and out from under table top by attaching them to spring rollers by
leather straps or webbing or equivalent, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of April 1892.
ROBERT BOYNS.
WILLIAM AUGUSTUS MARSHALLSAY.