AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN KINDS OF VEHICLES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Bird, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT
OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN KINDS OF
VEHICLES."
Sealed the 9th August 1853, and dated the 28th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Bird at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th April 1853.
I, EDWARD BIRD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN
KINDS OF VEHICLES" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a vehicle to be used in place of the ordinary
car or cab, and constructed as follows:-The said vehicle may be made
to run on two or four wheels, but I prefer two. The seat for the driver
is fixed at the back of the vehicle, and on the right-hand side thereof;
and the door of the said vehicle is situated at the back thereof, and on
the left-hand side of the driver's seat; so that the driver can open and
close the door of the said vehicle without descending from his seat.

page_text: The seats in the said vehicle are on the side thereof, as in the
ordinary omnibus; but I do not limit myself to this mode of construc-
tion; the essence of my Invention consisting in placing the door and
seat of the driver near each other, and at the back of the vehicle; so
that the driver can open and close the door of the said vehicle without
moving from his seat. My Invention applies also to mail carts and
vehicles used for the delivery of parcels and goods, as the position of
the opening (namely near the seat of the driver, behind the said cart or
vehicle) gives great facility in the delivery of mail bags, parcels, and
goods, and affords security, from being constantly under the eye of the
driver.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Bird in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 27th October 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
EDWARD BIRD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Edward Bird, Her special licence that I, the
said Edward Bird, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Edward Bird, 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN KINDS OF VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward Bird, 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

page_text: 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 Edward Bird, 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 theroof, reference being had to the ac-
companying Drawing, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):
.
Figure 1, represents, in side view, a car or cab, constructed according
to my Invention; and Figure 2, represents a back view of the same.
The said car, cab, or vehicle is constructed as follows: The said vehicle
may be made to run on two or four wheels. The seat a, for the
driver, is fixed at the back of the vehicle, and on the right-hand side
thereof; and the door b, of the said vehicle, is situated at the back
thereof, and on the left-hand side of the driving scat; so that the driver
can conveniently and almost without bending or stooping from his
driving position, open and close the door of the said vehicle by means
of the handle c, without descending from his seat, or losing the com-
mand of his horse. The seats in the interior of the said vehicle, if
on two wheels, are on the sides thereof, as in the ordinary omnibus,
but constructed for two persons; yet I do not limit myself to this
position of the seats; the essence of my Invention consisting in
placing the door and seat of the driver near cach other at the back of the
vehicle, so that the driver can conveniently open and close the said door
without moving from his seat, or losing the command of his horse.
Figure 3, represents in side view a parcels delivery cart, or tradesman's
cart, constructed according to my Invention; and Figure 4, represents
a back view of the sane, which said cart may also be used as a mail
cart. In this vehicle doors or openings dare situated at the back
or on the top of the vehicle, or both at the back and on the top, and
the driver's seat is placed behind the body of the vehicle, so as to
give him the command of the said doors. The interior of the
vehicle may be divided into compartments or otherwise to suit the
convenience of the trade or business for which it may be used.

page_text: be
The top of the vehicle separates from the body at e,-or-at-any-other
_suitable-place and on removing the said top, the said vehicle may
used as an open cart or vehicle. When used as a mail cart, the larger bags
or parcels may be placed in the inside through the door at the back, and
the smaller bags hung upon hooks fixed on the inside of the top of the
said cart, and the said smaller bags may be introduced into the said cart
-and hung on the said hooks, by means of the doors or openings on the
top of the said cart. \
Figure 5, represents, in side, front, and back view, a four-wheeled cab
or vehicle constructed according to my Invention; the space between
.the body of the vehicle and the splash board may be used for pas-
sengers' luggage..
I claim, as my Invention, constructing cabs, cars, mail carts, trades-
inan's carts, and other vehicles, with the driver's seat situated at the
back, and on the right-hand side thereof, and in such close proximity
to the doors of the said vehicles as to give the driver command over the
said doors without moving from his seat, or losing command over his
horse.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Bird, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
EDWARD BIRD. (L.S.)
Witness, GEORGE SHAW.