IMPROVEMENTS IN TOILET TABLES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Gardner, of Poppins Court, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOILET
TABLES"
Sealed the 30th March 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Gardner
at the office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his petition, on
the 1st October 1852.
I, JOHN HENRY GARDNER, of Poppins Court, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TOILET TABLES" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of so constructing or combining parts of a
table that the upper surface will fold or open in parts, the under surface
of which parts being fitted for receiving instruments. Below the upper
surface of the table is a looking-glass on a stem which descends into
and can be raised in the leg or standard of the table. Below the
glass the table is fitted to receive brushes, combs, razors, or other
instruments.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Gardner, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 30th March 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, T.
JOHN HENRY GARDNER, of Poppins Court, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Henry Gardner, Her special licence that
I. the said John Henry Gardner, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Gardner, 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
TOILET TABLES, 1pon the condition (amongst others), that I, the said
John Henry Gardner, 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 Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said John Henry Gardner, 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 consists of so constructing or combining parts of a
table that the upper surface will fold or open in parts, the under
surfaces of which parts being fitted for receiving instruments. Below
the upper surface of the table is a looking-glass on a stem which
descends into and can be raised in the leg or standard of the table.

page_text: Below the glass the table is fitted to receive brushes, razors, and other
instruments. And in order that my said Invention may be most fully
understood, and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe
the means pursued by me.
The pillar of the table is hollow, and at its exterior and foot may be
of any desired form or device. At the upper part of the pillar the
table is fixed, and it may be square, or of other form, and hollow to
such a depth as will admit of its containing the various instruments,
brushes, scent and other bottles, and other articles proper for furnishing
a toilet case. The upper surface of the table is composed of two parts
or flaps, which are respectively hinged to the upper parts of the table,
and the interior surfaces of these folding covers are fitted up with
suitable and ordinary well known means for receiving boot hooks,
scissors, knives, and other instruments and articles, so that when the
table is open the two parts, as it were, form wings or additions, each
containing useful articles. In the pillar of the table a stem slides,
which at its upper end carries a looking-glass, the frame of which is
of a size and form to enter into the hollow part of the table, and cover
the articles therein, such as brushes, combs, scent and other bottles,
and also other articles suitable for furnishing a toilet table. The stem
which carries the looking-glass slides freely in the pillar, and it is
preferred that such stem should be cylindrical in order that it may
be turned round, so that the looking-glass may be caused to face in
any desired direction. In order that the looking-glass may be raised
and turned to any required position and retained there a set screw
passes through the pillar of the table, or the stem of the looking-glass
may be retained in any position it may be raised to by means of a
spring or other catch or stop. The looking-glass is hinged to the
upper part of the stem, and is to move sufficiently tight on the hinge
(which is fixed to the back of the looking-glass) that the looking-glass
may remain at any angle to which it may be set. The interior space
in the table (under the looking-glass when it is down) is fitted up in
like manner to other dressing tables and cases, that is, with brushes,
combs, scent and other bottles, and other articles, which when the
looking-glass is in a horizontal and at its lowest position are covered by

page_text: the looking-glass, and the looking-glass will be covered when the two
parts of the top of the table are shut.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no
claim to the several parts respectively; but what I claim is, the mode
herein described of combining the parts of a toilet table.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Gardner, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of March in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOHN HENRY GARDNER. (L.S.)
Witness, V. CARPMAEL.