IMPROVEMENTS IN TRELLIS SUITABLE FOR TRAINING VINES. OR OTHER TREES OF SIMILAR GROWTH
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Firth West, of Lynmouth Lodge, Reigate,
Surrey, Hop Factor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRELLIS
SUITABLE FOR TRAINING VINES. OR OTHER TREES OF SIMILAR GROWTH, IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Firth West at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th December 1873.
I, JAMES-FIRTH WEST, of Lynmouth Lodge, Reigate, Surrey, Hop
Factor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN. TRELLIS SUITABLE FOR TRAINING VINES OR OTHER TREES OF
SIMILAR GROWTH IN VINERIES, ORCHARD HOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, AND ELSE-
WHERE," to be as follows: -
This Invention has for its object the constructing of a trellis suitable
for training vines or other trees of similar growth in vineries, orchard
houses, conservatories, and elsewhere, in such a manner that such
portions of the tree or plant and its produce as are inconveniently

page_text: situated are rendered movable so as to be brought within easy reach
for the various purposes of inspecting and retarding its growth,
cleansing it from insects and chives, gathering the produce, or any
other object wherein facility of access thereto, is desirable. For this
.purpose I construct a trellis of iron or any other suitable metal, or of
wood (but preferably of metal, as possessing greater durability, elasticity,
and strength, and being less liable to derangement) in the following
manner, and in this description I shall confine myself to metal alone, it
being sufficiently obvious that its details are equally applicable to wood
whenever it may be thought preferable to construct it of that material.
I first form the frame of the trellis in the following manner :—I take
one or more bars of T iron or other metal of suitable dimensions, say
10
feet in length, either square or tubular, to form the central vertical
column thereof, such bar being preferably hollow throughout for the
purpose of securing lightness; and at each end thereof I screw on an
horizontal bar of similar thickness and about 2 feet in length; and in
order to enable the length of the trellis to be reduced at pleasure I
furnish such central vertical column at its lower end with a screw.thread
and two or more holes wherein to insert a pin, and by screwing up the
bottom horizontal bar on such screw thread to the desired height and
inserting the pin into the requisite hole I decrease the length of the
trellis and maintain it in a fixed position. Both the vertical and hori-
zontal bars are provided with equidistant holes or orifices in addition
to those above mentioned, and through these additional holes or orifices
in the central vertical bar I insert light iron rods (say about four in
number to every 10 feet in length), such rods having holes drilled therein
about 4 inches apart from each other for the purpose of receiving suitable
metallic wires which are passed through them longitudinally, the ends
of such wires being secured in any ordinary manner to the main hori-
zontal bar at the top of the frame, while through the holes in the bottom
horizontal bar I insert screw, bolts each furnished with a revolving eyelet
head wherein I make fast the other ends of the wires, and by the use of
an ordinary wrench applied to these revolving eyelet heads I am enabled
to tighten or slacken the wires as may be desired; a right to left motion
producing an elongating, and the reverse motion a slackening effect.
Having thus formed a trellis over which the vine, or other plant.can
be trained in the usual way I proceed to fix it in the following manner:
-I fix two or more iron stanchions into the wood sash bar at the bottom

page_text: of the sash of the orchard house (or in any other convenient position),
the heads of such stanchions being hollow and of a sufficient size to
permit a stout metal bar of about 3 feet in length to be passed through
them to turn easily like a hinge. To these stanchions I attach two or
more stout iron rings, linked together, so that if required the bottom of
the trellis may be easily lowered by slipping out the bar from the heads
of the stanchions and inserting it again in such of the suspended rings
as may be convenient. In the centre of this bar is formed a projecting
screw sufficiently long to allow of a metal washer being passed over it
previous to its being screwed into the bottom of the trellis at the centre
thereof, and in the same manner to allow of the trellis being raised or
lowered at will. I secure a similar bar to the top of the trellis, such top
bar being furnished with a ring in its centre. I then fix in the centre
or other convenient part of the roof of the building a pulley and rope
or chain, one end of such rope or chain being attached to the ring, and
the other secured to a staple conveniently fixed in the wall. By this
means I am enabled to raise and lower the trellis to that elevation which
is most advantageous for the growth of the tree or plant, and in order
to maintain it in such position I suspend. to the ring fastened in the
roof an iron bar having equidistant holes formed therein, or hooks may
be formed thereon to which to attach the ring fixed at the top of the
frame of the trellis; I pass such bar through the ring affixed to the
trellis frame and then pass an iron pin through any one of the before
mentioned holes in the bar to retain the trellis at the desired elevation;
and should it for security require still further support I introduce one or
more archemedian screws through apertures formed in the central
vertical bar thereof into the roof of the building, such screws unwinding
when it is desired to lower the trellis bodily.
In order to secure rigidity in the desired position I insert two pins in
the horizontal bars at each end of the trellis frame through apertures
provided to receive them.
When desired to connect two or more of these trellis together I pass
a metal cap over the outer ends of the upper and lower horizontal bars
to which the trellis is attached, such cap being of sufficient length to
receive the end of another bar of corresponding construction to support
another similar trellis, and I secure this cap by inserting therein two or
more screws, such screws passing through the respective ends of the two
bars enclosed thereby. Or instead of such metal cap the ends if the

page_text: horizontal bars may be made to fit into each other and be secured by a
bolt or pin being inseted through them; and either operation may be
repeated ad infinitum.
A great advantage in this arrangement of trellis is that it can be
moved gently by gradation to any suitable position in order to subject any
portion of the produce of the tree to the sun's influence; and by this
means the process of coloring the fruit as it ripens may be retarded or
advanced, thus avoiding the liability of scorching.
L
It also affords great facilities for pruning and thinning the vine or
tree, an operation which by the ordinary method is attended with great.
difficulty..
It is also particularly applicable to pot culture on hot water pipes,
and is either put up or taken down with great facility.
It
may also be used with great advantage in connection with Voice's.
Patent Frames" for ground vineries..
In ground vineries more particularly the advantages of my Invention
are very great; as from the position of the trellis two vines may be
readily trained thereon at the same time, the principle of oscillation
combined therewith being of the greatest benefit, the progress and con-
dition of the plant and fruit underneath being easily ascertainable by
turning the trellis on one side by means of the revolving screws before
described.
When my improved trellis is applied to ground vineries I provide
suitable holdfasts, conveniently placed to hold the main horizontal bars
to which the frame of the trellis is attached in proper position.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her :
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and graut unto me, the said James Firth West, Her special license
that I, the said James Firth West, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Firth West, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRELLIS SUITABLE FOR TRAINING VINES OR OTHER TREES OF SIMILAR GROWTH
IN VINERIES, ORCHARD HOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, AND ELSEWHERE,"
upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Firth West, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Firth West, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the constructing of a trellis suitable
for training vines or other trees of similar growth in vineries, orchard
houses, conservatories, and elsewhere, in such a manner that such
portions of the tree or plant and its produce as are inconveniently
situated are rendered movable, so as to be brought within easy reach
for the various purposes of inspecting and retarding its growth, cleansing
it from insects and chives, gathering the produce, or any other object
wherein facility of access thereto is desirable. For this purpose I con- :
struct a trellis of iron or any other suitable metal, or of wood (but
preferably of metal as possessing greater durability, elasticity, and
strength, and being less liable to derangement) in the following manner,

page_text: and in this description I shall confine myself to metal alone, it being
sufficiently obvious that its details are equally applicable to wood when-
ever it may be thought preferable to construct it of that material.
I first form the frame of the trellis in the following manner :—
I take one or more bars of iron or other metal of suitable dimensions,
say, 10 feet in length, either T square or tubular to form the central
vertical column thereof, such bar being preferably hollow throughout
for the purpose of securing lightness, and at each end thereof I screw
on an horizontal bar of similar thickness and about 2 feet in length,
and in order to enable the length of the trellis to be reduced at pleasure
I furnish such central vertical column at its lower end with a screw
thread and two or more holes wherein to insert a pin, and by screwing
up the bottom horizontal bar on such screw thread to the desired height
and inserting the pin into the requisite hole, I decrease the length of
the trellis and maintain it in a fixed position. Both the vertical and
horizontal bars are provided with equidistant holes or orifices in addition.
to those above mentioned, and through these additional holes or orifices
in the central vertical bar I insert light iron rods (say, about four in
number to every 10 feet in length), such rods having holes drilled
therein about 4 inches apart from each other for the purpose of receiving
suitable metallic wires which are passed through them longitudinally,
the ends of such wires being secured in any ordinary manner to the
main horizontal bar at the top of the frame, while through the holes
in the bottom horizontal bar I insert screw bolts each furnished with a
revolving eyelet head wherein I make fast the other ends of the wires,
and by the use of an ordinary wrench applied to these revolving eyelet
heads I am enabled to tighten or slacken the wires as may be desired;
a right to left motion producing an elongating, and the reverse motion

page_text: stanchions I attach two or more stout iron rings linked together, so
that if required the bottom of the trellis may be easily lowered by
slipping out the bar from the heads of the stanchions and inserting
it again in such of the suspended rings as may be convenient. In
the centre of this bar is formed a projecting screw sufficiently long
to allow of a metal washer being passed over it previous to its being
screwed into the bottom of the trellis at the centre thereof, and in
the same manner to allow of the trellis being raised or lowered at
will. I secure a similar bar to the top of the trellis, such top bar
being furnished with a ring in its centre. I then fix in the centre,
or other convenient part of the roof of the building, a pulley and rope
or chain, one end of such rope or chain being attached to the ring,
and the other secured to a staple conveniently fixed in the wall. ` By
this means I am enabled to raise and lower the trellis to that elevation
which is most advantageous for the growth of the tree or plant, and
in order to maintain it in such position I suspend to the ring fastened
in the roof an iron bar having equidistant holes formed therein, or
hooks may be formed thereon to which to attach the ring fixed at
the top of the frame of the trellis; I pass such bar through the ring
affixed to the trellis frame, and then pass an iron pin through any one
of the before-mentioned holes in the bar to retain the trellis at the
desired elevation, and should it for security require still further support -
I introduce one or more archimedian screws through apertures formed
in the central vertical bar thereof into the roof of the building, such
screws unwinding when it is desired to lower the trellis bodily.
In order to secure rigidity in the desired position I insert two pins in
the horizontal bars at each end of the trellis frame through apertures
provided to receive them.

page_text: For a lean-to house, instead of the before-mentioned stanchions to
receive the ends of the lower cross bar, I have 2 uprights or legs of
sufficient length, and in the top of them I drill 2 or more holes or,
orifices to receive the ends of the cross bar; the lower end works in a
slot in the ground, placed about a foot or more away from the side of
the wall.
Instead of the ring and nut I use only the nut working in a pivot
fixed at any convenient position to the side of the horizontal bar. I now
fix the long screw through the nut into the socket, as before mentioned.
On lowering the trellis the 2 supports or legs lean backwards to allow
the further end of trellis to drop to the desired angle.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed Figure 1 is an elevation of the
double or long trellis; the blue line indicates the wire bars of the trellis.
The dotted lines in this Figure shew the position assumed by the trellis
when lowered by means of the long continuous screw and handle, as
herein-before described, such screw and handle being also shewn in the
Drawing.
Figure 2 shews an elevation of the trellis as adapted to a lean-to
house. The dotted parts in this Drawing also indicate the position
assumed by the trellis when lowered by means of the screw and handle
before mentioned; also the mode in which the iron upright falls back,
in order to ensure sufficient space being allowed for the trellis to drop
down to the desired height whenever it is required to be lowered.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the trellis, and in this form it may be
adapted for a ground vinery, the two ends working in a socket so as to
oscillate to and fro when required, as herein-before described.
Figure 4 is a view of the long continuous screw with socket for knob
or ball.
Figures 5 and 5* are views of the ring and worm for double trellis.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would
have it understood that what I claim is, the improvements in trellis,
suitable for training vines or other trees of similar growth in vineries,
orchard houses, conservatories, and elsewhere, substantially as herein-
before described and specified.

page_text: My Invention of an oscillating and lowering trellis may also be
applied to shop and other ceilings where easy access is desirable to the
goods suspended thereon.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Firth West, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 28th day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,.
RICHARD EDWARD WEST.
JAS. F. WEST. (L.S.)