CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED FUNERAL OR COMPOSITE CARRIAGES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Edward Ridges, of Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, Coach Builder, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Edward Ridges
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 4th August 1870.
I, JOHN EDWARD RIDGES, of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Coach Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my said In-
vention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED FUNERAL OR COMPOSITE
CARRIAGES," to be as follows (that is to say):
My Invention relates to composite carriages, and is an improvement on
a composite carriage patented by me in connection with James Barker,
in 1861, No. 2209, described as applicable to a hearse and mourning
coach, and consists in making or connecting the driving seat, footboard,
and intermediate platform with the rear portion of the carriage, the
centre bolt being placed vertically over the axis of the front wheels, as
in the former case, but the wheel plates or annular surfaces on which
the carriage turns I am enabled to extend to the whole width of the

page_text: carriage, thereby giving great steadiness of action to the fore part in
connection with the front wheels, which when used as a hearse can be
turned at right or any suitable angle, with the rear compartment of the
carriage for receiving the coffin; this rear compartment is designed
and intended for the use of mourners or grave attendants. The increased
diameter of the annular or wheel plates is an important feature of my
Invention, and permits the hearse or fore compartment in whatever
position it may be placed to move in perfect unison with the rear
compartment, any undue deflection from the placing in or drawing out
of a coffin being entirely prevented, a defect which was found highly
objectionable in my former Patent. The intermediate space between
the driving seat and the coach or rear compartment may be variously
fitted and arranged, either for receiving plumes, or an open or covered
compartment for bearers, or for plumes and bearers combined.
Although I have described this composite carriage as arranged for
hearse and mourning coach, nevertheless the same improvements are
applicable to like carriages for other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Edward Ridges in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd February 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
EDWARD RIDGES, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Coach
Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of August, in the year of
our Lord, One thousand cight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Edward Ridges, Her special
license that I, the said John Edward Ridges, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Edward Ridges,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter.
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,.
use, exercise; and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED FUNERAL OR COMPOSITE CARRIAGES,"

page_text: upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Edward
Ridges, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Edward Ridges, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say):
My Invention relates to composite carriages (and is an improvement
on a composite carriage patented by me in connection with James
Barker, in 1861, No. 2209, described as applicable to a hearse and
mourning coach), and consists in making or connecting the driving seat,
footboard, and intermediate platform with the rear portion of the
carriage, the centre bolt being placed vertically over the axis of the
front wheels, as in the former case, but the wheel plates or annular
surfaces forming the centre action on which the carriage turns I am
enabled to extend to the whole width of the carriage body, thereby
giving great steadiness of action to the fore part in connection with the
front wheels, which fore part when used as a hearse can be turned at
right or any suitable angle with the rear compartment of the carriage,
and suitably used for receiving the corpse and coffin; the rear compart-
ment is designed and intended for the use of mourners and grave
attendants. The increased diameter of the annular or wheel plates is
an important feature of my Invention, and permits the hearse or fore
compartment (in whatever position it may be placed) to move in perfect
unison with the rear compartment, any undue deflection from the
placing in or drawing out of a coffin, whether lead or otherwise, being
entirely prevented, a defect which was found highly objectionable in
my former Patent. The intermediate space between the driving seat
and the coach or rear compartment being formed into a substantial
floor, may be variously fitted, and arranged, either for receiving plumes,.
or an open or covered compartment for bearers, or for plumes and. bearers.
combined.
Although I have described this composite carriage as arranged for

page_text: But as my improvements will be more fully comprehended and seen
by referring to the Drawings hereunto annexed I will proceed to refer to
the same.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent a top and side view of a composite carriage
embodying my improvements as arranged for a combined hearse and
mourning coach, in which it will be seen that the driving box A. and
upper seat B is connected to and built with the back or coach part C,
and that the hearse rests on the front springs D, D, D, D, which are
connected in the ordinary way to the front axle, and from the top of
such hearse a strong pin projects concentric with two circular metal
plates, represented in Figure 2, marked a and b; these plates extend
to the full width of the hearse, and form the bearing for the lock motion,
the central or perch pin c forming the centre of such locking or centre
`action, which pin passes through the floor of the front part, the said
floor being marked E, E, and secured by a nut and washer above; by
this means great extent of bearing is given to the centre or lock motion,
which even may be larger than the proportions here given, if necessary.
F is simply the carriage pole broken off for convenience of space, but
which may be substituted by shafts when one horse is used. I have
represented the seat marked B filling up the intermediate space between
the driving box and the back carriage for the reception of four or six
bearers, a transverse section of which part I have represented at Fig. 3,
together with the centre pin and lock motion; and it will be quite
competent for any ordinary skilled carriage builder to see that this part
may be variously arranged, as for instance, the seat may be removed
and plumes introduced, or arranged for a set of plumes and seat com-
bined, and if necessary a temporary or fixed roof may be put to this
part extending from the driving box A to the roof of the back or
coach C, thus making my improved composite carriage adapted for
the three purposes, viz., hearse for the corpse, a separate compartment
for the mourners, and accomodation for the bearers, if necessary;
while in my former Patent accomodation was afforded only for the
corpse and mourners.
Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal section of the floor E and footboard G,
the driving box being removed, as also the seat for bearers; d, d, d, are
transverse strengthening clamps crossing the floor, as also the parts f,f,
and g, g, with their corresponding parts h, h, and k, k, which are attached

page_text: to the roof or top of the hearse, here partly shown marked m, and to
these transverse clamps f.f, and h, h, and g, g, and k, k, the circular
plates a and b are secured, which said plates a and b are represented in
detached edge and flat views at Figs. 5 and 6, showing screw or bolt
holes, by which the said circular plates are secured to the clamps before
referred to.
Fig. 7 is a top view of my improved composite hearse and carriage, as
exhibited at Figures 1 and 2, but with the rear end of the hearse laterally
exposed, and the doors H, H, shown open for receiving the corpse, the
coach part being in a line parallel with the pavement or straight line of
draught; the front wheels, springs, and lock motion are principally
shown in dotted lines in this view to represent their position when
the front part is so placed, either for receiving or the withdrawal of the
corpse.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it understood that
I do not purpose confining myself to the character and details of my
improvements as herein represented, as the same may be greatly
diversified, whether adapted for burial or for other purposes where the
use of such combination of back, top, and front action may be requisite ;
nor do I purpose limiting myself to the proportions of the circular
bearing surfaces, as the same may be greatly extended without affecting
the principle of construction; but what I claim and wish to protect
by these my in part recited Letters Patent is, the general construction
of funeral and other composite carriages, as herein described and
exhibited.
In. witness whereof, I, the said John Edward Ridges, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-onc.
30
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
JOHN EDWARD RIDGES. (L.S.)