AN IMPROVED SHOW AND STOCK CASE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jaines Henry Smith, of Brooklyn, New York, United
States of America, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SHOW AND STOCK
CASE."
Sealed the 18th March 1879, and dated the 23rd September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henry Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd September 1878.
"AN
JAMES HENRY SMITH, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
IMPROVED SHOW AND STOCK CASE."
The said Invention relates to a combined show and stock case or cabinet, and
consists in the novel construction and arrangement or combination of the parts
of the case or cabinet whereby a very convenient and compact piece of shop
furniture is secured which will perfectly protect gloves and other articles from dust,
air, and moisture. The Invention is more especially designed for kid gloves, but
may by a slight modification be adapted for the display and storage of cigars and
other goods.
In carrying my said Invention into practice the show or sample portion of the
said case is divided into cells or compartments of the requisite size to adapt them to
various classes of goods by partitions. Cross partitions are provided, and are made
movable in order that two or more of the cells or compartments may readily be
thrown into one when desired. The sides, bottoms, and ends of the compartments
are covered with prepared or waxed paper when the case is used for the display of
kid gloves in order that the gloves may not come in contact with the wood, of which
material the case is constructed, which contact is detrimental to this class of goods.
The paper is prepared by passing it through melted wax: A moist atmosphere
will spot gloves, delicate shades are injured by dust, and all kid gloves grow hard if
kept too dry. The lid of the case is therefore made to form an air-tight space by
placing an india-rubber flange around the sides of the case or around the sides of
the lid, so that when the lid is closed an air-tight joint is formed, and this portion

page_text: being otherwise tight, the samples are perfectly protected from dust, air, and moisture.
The lid of the case opens at the rear, and is therefore easily accessible to the sales-
man, but it is designed to keep the sample portion of the case locked, so that these
goods may be seen but not handled by customers, and to open the door of the case
only when necessary to change the samples. The said lid is locked in the ordinary
manner.
Stock drawers are provided, and are made of any desired size and with or without
cross partitions. They are all provided with waxed paper linings the same as the
sample compartments of the show case, and around the portion of the front of the
drawers, which, where the drawers are closed, comes in contact with the partitions,
is placed a flange of india-rubber or felt, for the purpose of forming a tight joint.
The flange may be fixed to or inserted in the partition if this method is found
preferable. This flange is desirable to exclude dust and moisture when a door which
is provided, and is made to close air-tight, is opened. An india-rubber flange may
be secured to the upper edges of the drawers if found desirable, but as the pre-
viously herein-described flange will prevent the air entering around the drawers, and
the stock portion of the case is otherwise tight, such a precaution will hardly be
necessary.
The said door is made to turn downward, and is provided with an ordinary lock,
by which means the stock of gloves or other articles are readily locked up when
the proprietor leaves the shop for the night and at other times. This door is made
to close against an india-rubber flange, which extends around the door, or this flange
may be secured to or in the portion of the case against which the door strikes when
closed. This construction makes an air-tight joint and protects the goods in the
drawers.
The drawers when prepared for kid gloves are by preference divided into three
or more sections, each containing sufficient drawers that a drawer may be used for
such sized glove. A cross partition divides the drawer for the purpose of keeping
separate the gloves of one or more buttons. These drawers are provided with
knobs, upon which is placed the size of the glove contained in the drawer, or other
marks to distinguish the character of the contained goods. The colour of the
gloves or the class of other goods or merchandize may be indicated by words above
each section of drawers. The cells or compartments in the same portion of the
case may have corresponding figures and words for the same purpose.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan of the case with the lid partially broken away.
Figure 2, a rear elevation of the same with the door open, and
Figure 3, a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1, with the lid and door
closed.
A represents the combined case or cabinet; B, the slow or sample compartment;
C, the cells for different samples of goods or merchandise; D, the glass lid of the
sample compartment; E, the stock compartment; F, the stock drawers, and G the
door of this compartment, which encloses the drawers.
The show or sample compartment B is divided into cells of the required size to
contain the articles to be exhibited by the partitions a, b. The cross partitions b
are made movable in order that two or more of the cells may be readily thrown
into one when desired. These cells are made shallow, as they are designed only for
samples. The side, bottom, and ends of the cells are preferably covered or lined with
waxed paper, especially when the compartment is used for the display of kid gloves,
in order that the gloves may not come in contact with the wood of which the case
is preferably constructed, which contact is detrimental to this class of goods.
The effect of a moist atmosphere is to spot gloves of delicate shades, while they
are injured by dust, and all kid gloves grow hard and deteriorate in an unduly dry
atmosphere. It is desirable therefore that samples should be kept in a dust and
air tight compartment. The glass lid D is made to close dust and air tight by
placing a rubber flange c around the side of the case or frame of the lid, so as to
form a tight joint when the lid is closed. This compartment being otherwise tight,
the samples are perfectly protected from the external air, moisture, and dirt. The
lid 1, which should be provided with a lock, opens at the rear, and is therefore
easily accessible to the salesman. It is intended to keep this compartment locked,
so that the samples may be seen but not handled, and to open the lid only when
necessary to change the samples.
.
The stock compartment E is provided with drawers F of any desired dimensions,
and with or without cross partitions d. These drawers are preferably lined with
waxed paper the same as the cells of the sample compartment of the case. Around
the portion of the front of the drawers which would come in contact with the
partition e is placed a flange f of rubber or felt for the purpose of forming a tight
joint. The flange may be fixed to or inserted in the partition if found desirable.
The object of this flange is to exclude the dirt and moisture while the door G of the
case is open.

page_text: A rubber flange may be secured to the upper edges of the drawers if found
advantageous, but as the flange f will prevent the entrance of air around the
drawers, and the stock compartment of the case is otherwise tight, such a precaution
will hardly be requisite.
The door G is made by preference to open downward, and should be provided
with a lock, by which means the stock of gloves or other articles may be readily
secured when the proprietor leaves the shop at night or at other times. The door
is made to close against a rubber flange g, which extends around the door, or this
flange may be secured to or in the portion of the case against which the door would
strike when closed. This construction makes a tight joint, and when closed may
be a sufficient protection to the gloves or goods in the drawers.
The drawers F designed for kid gloves are by preference divided into two or more
sections, each containing sufficient drawers, so that a drawer may be used for each
size. The cross partitions d are provided to divide the drawers for the purpose of
keeping separate the gloves with a different number of buttons. The drawers may
be provided with knobs, upon the ends of which are placed the sizes of the gloves
contained in the drawers or other marks to designate the character of the contents
of the drawers. The color of the gloves or the class of the goods may be indicated
by words above each section of the drawers or on the front of each drawer. The
cells in the sample compartment of the case are provided with corresponding figures
and words for the same purpose. The goods in the sample compartment may be so
arranged that they will correspond with the goods in the drawers underneath in
size, style, and color.
Having thus fully described my improved show and stock caso designed for the
exhibition and preservation of kid gloves and other goods, I claim as my
Invention,―
A show and stock case with a compartment for samples and a compartment for
stock, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henry Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witnesses,
OLIVER W. PAYNE,
GEORGE HASELTINE,
Councellor-at-Law,
New York City,
United States.
J. HENRY SMITH. (L.S.)