IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE HOUSED AND BUILDINGS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dray, of Swan Lane, in the City of
London, Agricultural Implement Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE HOUSED AND
BUILDINGS."
Scaled the 30th May 1854, and dated the 3rd December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dray
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd December 1853.
I, WILLIAM DRAY, of Swan Lane, in the City of London, Agricul-
tural Implement Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE HOUSES
AND BUILDINGS" to be as follows:-
I first construct a frame of twelve pieces of iron, preferring for the
purpose angle iron. In some cases, according to the size of the
intended building, I make use of more pieces of iron than twelve. I
tic these iron framings temporarily, and to form the sides of the house
I take planks of wood of from two to three inches in thickness, more
or less. The sides of these planks have a groove or slot in them, in

page_text: which is inserted along their whole length, and at one side a strip of
hoop iron or other suitable thin strip of metal. I slide in one of such
planks (vertically) against the iron corner and between the top and
bottom iron frame, leaving that side of the plank having the strip of
iron hoop on it on the outside. I next slide in another plank with the
side having the slot or opening into which the strip of metal in the side
of the first plank fits, and I proceed in like manner until the wholo
side is filled up, and then, both at top, bottom, and, if necessary
(when angle iron is not used), also at the sides, I fasten over the ends
of the planks a strip of iron, whereby the whole will be held firmly
together. Where the windows and doors are intended to be, the
planks do not extend from top to bottom. Where the house is intended
to have an upper story I bolt or otherwise fix all round the inside of the
sides and ends, a joist or beam on which the flooring is to be laid, and in
like manner I lay the basement floor on a beam or joist holted round the
inside. In order to provide fires and fire-places I run up two par-
titions of metal across the whole apartment, leaving a space between
them for the reception of a flue. These double metal walls will also
serve to convey heated air to the upper parts of the house, and may
also be employed to ventilate it. Whero preferred, I substitute for the
planks to form the sides, as before described, panels composed of a
frame of wood, with corrugated iron let in and held in the wooden
frame. Each side of the frame is provided with a tongue and groove,
as explained for the planks. The object of the tongue is to ensure a
weather-tight joint in the event of the shrinking of any wood that may
be employed in the building. Any suitable roof may be applied to
buildings constructed according to my Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Dray in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM DRAY, of Swan Laue, in the City of London, Agricultural
Implement Maker, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Dray, Her special licence
that I, the said William Dray, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Dray, 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, tho
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE HOUSES AND BUILDINGS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Dray, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Dray, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say) :-
I first construct a frame of twelve pieces of iron, preferring for the
purpose angle iron. In some cases, according to the size of the
intended building, I make use of more pieces of iron than twelve. I
tio these iron framings temporarily, and to form the sides of the house
I take planks of wood of from two to three inches in thickness, more
or less. The sides of these planks have a groove or slot in them, in
which is inserted along their whole length and at one side a strip of
hoop iron or other suitable thin strip of metal. I slide in one of such
between the top and
planks (vertically) against the iron corner and
bottom iron frames, leaving that side of the plank having the strip of
iron hoop in it on the outside. I next slide in another plank with the
side having the slot or opening into which the strip of metal in the

page_text: side of the first plank fits, and I proceed in like manner until the
whole sido is filled up, and then, both at top, bottom, and, if necessary,
(when angle iron is not used) also at the sides, I fasten over the ends
of the planks a strip of iron, whereby the whole will be held firmly
together. Where the windows and doors are intended to be the planks
do not extend from top to bottom. Where the house is intended to
have an upper storcy I bolt or otherwise fix all round the inside of the
sides and ends, a joist or beam on which the flooring is to be laid, and
in-like manner I lay the basement floor on a beam or joist bolted round
the inside. In order to provide fires and fire-places I run up two par-
titions of metal. across the whole apartment, leaving a space between
them for the reception of a flue. These double metal walls will also
upper parts of the house, and may
serve to convey heated air to the
also be employed to ventilate it. Where preferred, I substitute for the
planks to form the sides, as before described,. panels composed of a
frame of wood, with corrugated iron let in and held in the wooden
frame. Each side of the frame is provided with a tongue and groove,
as explained, for the planks. The object of the tongue is to ensure a
weather-tight joint in the event of tlie shrinking of any wood that may
bo employed in the building. Any suitable roof may be applied to
buildings constructed according to my Invention.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
The construction of portable buildings of framings of angle iron
combined with panels of the description herein-before referred to.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Dray, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.
WILLIAM DRAI.
(L.B.)