IMPROVE- MENTS APPERTAINING TO REFLECTORS PROVISIONALATION
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Southwood Stocker, of Wolverhampton,
in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS APPERTAINING TO
REFLECTORS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Southwood
Stocker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd February 1865.
I, ALEXANDER SOUTHWOOD STOCKER, of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS APPERTAINING TO REFLECTORS," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to the manufacture, construction, and combination
of reflecting mirrors to be used in place of ordinary looking-glasses. I join
and affix together in such manner the various articles and limbs which I
employ, so that, when united, I procure novel movements and configurations
in the apparatus which I intend to build, affording thereby many advantages,
amongst which are those enabling several persons to be using it at the same
time, and the capability of adjustment "momentary," so as to render a steady,
fixed, all-over sight of those parts of the person so desirable to be seen when
dressing.
The following is the course I pursue for the purpose of carrying out my
Invention I first make a glass much after the ordinary manner as now

page_text: generally used, the silvered plate being about 18 x 24, fixed in a frame
which is hung or supported by and between pillars. This glass has the usual
fastenings affixed thereto for holding and giving it its usual movement; I
then affix to each of the pillars another glass about 10 × 14; these two
glasses I term auxilary wings, which are hung on separate centres, con-
structed so that they may be moved or adjusted to desirable inclinations
suitable to the requirements of the person using them. These three glasses
may be placed so that one, two, or three persons may be using them at once
without incommoding each other, or they may be adjusted in a manner
enabling a person to be dressing before the large glass in the usual way,
when by turning the head either right or left reflections are produced, so that
front, side, and back views are obtained in the most convenient manner at a
single glance. I affix in some instances two glasses to a single pillar, but
this mode of procedure is not so convenient as when three glasses are used,
and in some instances I make the frames of the glasses in metal instead of
wood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Southwood Stocker in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
SOUTHWOOD STOCKER, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker, Her special licence that I, the
said Alexander Southwood Stocker, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker, 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 APPERTAINING TO REFLECTORS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Southwood
Stocker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under

page_text: 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 Alexander Southwood Stocker, 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 and accompanying Drawings, that is to
say:-
This Invention has reference to the construction and combination of reflect-
ing mirrors to be used in place of ordinary toilet looking glasses. I join or
unite together in such a manner the various parts and liuibs which I employ
that when united I obtain novel movements and configurations in the apparatus
which intend to construct, affording thereby many advantages, amongst
which are the enabling of several persons to be using the peculiar toilet glass
at the same time, and the capability of momentary adjustment, so as to render
a steady, fixed, and comprehensive view of those parts of the person so
desirable to be seen when dressing or performing other operations of the
toilet.
In carrying out my Invention in practice I first make a glass much after
the ordinary manner as now generally used, the plate or mirror being about
say eighteen inches wide by twenty-four inches in height, and fixed in a frame
which is hung or supported by and between pillars. This glass has the usual
fastenings affixed thereto for holding it and permitting it to receive the usual
movements or adjustments; I then attach to each of the pillars another glass
of about say ten inches in width by fourteen inches in height; these two
glasses I term "auxiliary wings;" they are hung on separate centres cor-
structed so that they may be moved or adjusted to desirable inclinations
suitable to the requirements of the person using them. These three glasses
may be placed so that one, two, or three persons may be using them at one
time without incommoding each other, or they may be so adjusted as to enable
a person to be dressing before the large glass in the usual way, when by
turning the head either to the right or to the left such reflections are produced
as will allow front, side, and back views to be obtained in the most convenient
manner at a single glance. In some cases I propose to connect two glasses
to a single pillar, and to make the frames of looking-glasses in metal instead
of wood.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a front
pillar is made to
Fig. 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents a complete front or
face elevation of one arrangement of toilet glass, as constructed in accordance
with part of my said Invention. Figs. 2 and 3 represent respectively an
enlarged detail sectional elevation and plan of the means employed for sup-
porting and fixing the "auxiliary wings." Fig. 4 represents a front elevation
of a portion of an ordinary toilet glass provided with my "auxiliary wings,"
one of such wings only being shewn in the Drawing.
elevation of a double extending toilet glass, wherein one
support two glasses, which are capable of being adjusted to any desired angle
or position as regards each other, and of being separated or extended more
or less as found convenient. Fig. 6 is a sectional diagram plan of the sup-
porting arms or brackets of the two glasses shewn in Fig. 5, the dotted lines
indicating some of the adjustments of which the brackets or arms and glasses
are susceptible; and Fig. 7 is a full-size side elevation of the adjustable support-
ing brackets or arms employed in the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6.
In all these Figures like parts are indicated by the same letters of reference.
In Fig. 1, A is the usual stand or pedestal of a swing toilet glass B,
which is hung in the ordinary manner between the two pillars C, C, so as
to be capable of adjustment to any desired vertical angle upon its axis or
centres. To the front, back, or outer side of each of the pillars is fixed in
any convenient and secure manner (as for example by wood screws) a bracket
or fixed arm D, D, which may be more or less curved as shewn in the detail
plan Fig. 3, or made perfectly straight according to taste. The outer end of
each bracket carries a vertical pin or fulcrum E, upon which is fitted, so as to
turn freely the tubular socket F, formed on or attached to one end of a hori
zontal adjustable arm or rod G. These arms or rods carry the "auxiliary wing"
glasses H, H', which are free to turn thereon to any desired vertical angle.
The arm or rods G may with their respective wings H and El' be readily adjusted
to any desired horizontal angle, whereby the "auxiliary wing" glasses may be
made to assume any required angle, In Fig. 11 have represented the wing glass
H' brought forward to a position at right angles to the face of the main glass,
or in the position about in which they would both be placed when a back view
of the head is required. The wing H is represented in the position in which

page_text: both wings would be placed when the toilet glass is required to be used by
two or more persons at the same time without incommoding each other. In
making toilet glasses of this description the "auxiliary wings" should be so
fixed that when attached to the pillars, and placed in a vertical position, the
tops of their frames will be about five feet two inches from the ground. In
some cases therefore, as, for example, when they are to be attached to an old
glass with short pillars, I propose to considerably increase the length of the
pin or fulcrum E of each of the brackets D, and also the length of the tubular
socket F, as shown in Fig. 4, or in lieu of increasing the length of the tubular
socket it may remain the same length as the sockets for tall pillar glasses
(see Fig. 1), and be fitted on to the upper end of a long fulcrum pin E which
may have an adjustable shoulder or collar fitted thereon in order to vary the
beight of the wings; or one, two, or more hooks or fulcrum pins may be per-
manently fixed to or formed on the rods; or other means employed for varying
the height of the wings suitable to the stature of the person using them. By
this simple arrangement additional height is given to the "auxiliary wings"
without in any way altering the original construction of the toilet glass to which
they are applied.
In the double extending toilet glass (Fig. 5) two looking-glasses B', B',
are connected to and supported by the opposite sides of a single vertical
pillar C, situate between the glasses, and fixed to the centre of a pedestal A'.
Although I have represented at Fig. 5 these two glasses as being placed in
the position for enabling two persons to be using them at the same time, their
special and most important feature is their capability of being extended or
separated, and brought either face to face or at any desired horizontal and
vertical angle with each other, as shown by the dotted lines G, G, in Fig. 6,
whereby the special object of reflecting the back of the head, and enabling a
ready view of such reflection to be obtained is accomplished. This facility of
adjustment is obtained by hinging at I to the fixed brackets D the moveable
or adjustable brackets D', D', as shown at Figs. 6 and 7, and by connecting
the rods or arms G, G, which carry the glasses to the free ends of the
moveable brackets D', in the manner shown and described with reference
to the previous arrangements, namely, by means of a tubular socket F
fitting on to a fulcrum pin E. A double joint is thus obtained by the com-
bination of the joints I and F, and the glasses may consequently be placed
in the positions most convenient for use. In all these arrangements of toilet
glasses I employ a simple contrivance for fixing and releasing or tightening
and slackening the several joints at F and I and the glasses H, H₁, B, B',

page_text: upon their supporting arms or rods G. This consists of a thumb nut or
screw K and washer L, the nut or screw screwing on to or into (as the case
may be) the end of the fulcrum pin E or the end of the rod G, and forcing
the washer L tight against the end of the tubular socket F, or against the
side or edge of the glass, as the case may be. In order to prevent the
tightening nut or screw K from turning, and so getting loose by the
accidental working round of the washer, I make a square hole in the
washer, and fit it on to the correspondingly squared end of the fulerum pin
or rod, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When using metal frames
for my auxiliary wings and double extending toilet glasses, I connect
such glasses to their rods or arms G by passing the latter through lugs
formed on the side of the metal frame, but if wooden frames be used,
then I find it convenient to screw two metal eyes to the back of the frames
and to pass the rod G through them, the glass in all cases swinging freely
(being nearly balanced on the rod G as its axis, and secured at any desired
angle thereon by simply tightening the set nut or screw K, which forces the
washer L in contact with the glass frame or metal eye piece, and so grips
the glass securely or with any regulated degree of friction. It is obvious
that the modes of attaching the glasses to the supports, and of allowing for their
adjustment, may be modified in various ways. For example, in Fig. 1 iu lieu
of attaching the auxiliary wings H direct to the pillars C, they may be each
carried by an independent pillar or other support of their own, attached to the
tray or pedestal A; or the wings may be attached in any convenient manner
to that portion of the pillar above the ball fastening for the main glass B
such portion of the pillar C being made to turn or rotate on its axis, and to
admit of the wing H being brought round to the angle desired without the
necessity for the joint E and bracket D. In lieu of allowing the wings H to
be adjustable round the rod G as an axis, they may be fixed to any given angle
by having a socket piece screwed to the frame of the wing at such an angle
that when it is placed on the pin of the bracket D the wing will always
remain at the same angle vertically, but will be capable of adjustment on its pin
or working centre in the bracket D. In some cases, for the sake of economy, the
centre glass B (Fig. 1) might be dispensed with, and the auxiliary wings H, H',
could then be turned into positions giving all the advantages derivable from
the double extending glass shown at Fig. 5, as well as those of the arrange-
ments shown at Figs. 1 and 4, so far as regards the facility afforded for
obtaining reflections of the back of the head. Fig. 8 represents a full-sized
sectional elevation of a modified form of double joint, applicable to the

page_text: fixing or attaching of the auxiliary wings to their supports, or for fixing or
attaching the two glasses to their extending brackets, whereby the wear of
the working parts is compensated for, and the joints always maintained tight.
G is a tapered stud or pin secured by a small bracket a to the frame of the
glass, and serving as the axis upon which the glasses turn to any desired ver-
tical angle, and is a substitute for the rod G. In Figs. 1, 4, and 5 this tapered
pin fits into a correspondingly shaped socket 6 within a chamber, in which
socket there is fitted a helical spring c, such spring being kept compressed by
the action of the flat-headed screw d screwed into the end of the tapered
pin G, (or the spring may be confined in its chamber by a washer, having a
hole through it through which the end of the tapered pin G will be inserted,
leaving its end to protrude sufficiently through the washer to be rivetted over
it; the flat-headed screw d in this case will be dispensed with;) the action
of this spring by pressing against the shoulder provided at the bottom of its
chamber is to force the socket 6 upon the tapered pin G, and so keep the joint
tight; e is a vertical tapered pin formed on the socket b, and fitting into a
corresponding tapered socket f on the end of the fixed bracket D, which is
secured to the pillar of the glass; the weight of the glass itself, whether it be
one of the auxiliary wings or one of the double-extending glasses, will always
tend to keep the joint pin e tight and true in its socket f. By removing or
dispensing with the pin e and providing a flanch or plate (shewn by the dotted
lines) with two countersunk holes therein upon the socket b it may be fixed
into the pillar of a looking-glass, and the pin G being attached as already
described to the frame of the glass itself, an efficient and convenient fastening
is obtained as a substitute for the defective fastenings hitherto used for securing
swing looking-glasses to their pillars. In some instances I substitute in this
fastening, in lieu of the helical spring c, a vulcanised india-rubber washer which
may rest upon the shoulder of the socket a in the same manner as the helical
spring rests thereon; or a piece of vulcanised tubing may be placed on to the
pin G, after which both are inserted, and either screwed or rivetted into the
socket.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "Improvements
appertaining to Reflectors," and the best modes I am aware of for carrying the
same into effect I claim as novel and original,-
1st, the combination of what I call "auxiliary wing" glasses with a third
glass for the purposes herein-before specified.
2nd, the combination of two glasses capable of the varied adjustments
herein-before described, for the purpose specified.

page_text: 3rd, the peculiar constructions and combinations of the various articles and
limbs or joints, and fittings and fastenings, and their application to toilet glasses
snbstantially as and for the purposes herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker, have here-
unto set their hands and seals, this Second day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
ALX. S. STOCKER. (L.S.)