Year: 1888

page_text: A communication from abroad by HOWARD PARSONS ELWELL, a Citizen of the United
States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, U.S.A..
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
In the packing of cartridges of large size, it is desirable to store the greatest
possible number in the smallest space, consistent with their ready removal.
Heretofore it has been found impracticable to reduce the size of ammunition boxes
for the packing of such large sized cartridges, because the plain wooden transoms in
use, required apertures of a larger size than the diameter of the cartridges, in order to
obviate the difficulty always found, of the warping of the wood which binds the
cartridges and prevents their easy withdrawal.
By reason of the allowance for the warping of the wooden transom, the cartridge
shakes around in the aperture and is not held firmly in place.
It is the object of this invention to remove these objections, and to provide a
compact, light, and strong transom, capable of containing the cartridge apertures
disposed to the greatest advantage as regards space, not liable to bind the cartridges
but holding them firmly, so as to prevent their wobbling, and at the same time allowing
them to be easily withdrawn.
To this end the composite transom is constructed of two thin wooden sections with
an interposed layer of any flexible or elastic material, the whole being firmly secured
together in any well known way. The apertures in the wood sections are made
somewhat larger than the diameter of the cartridge, while the concentric aperture in
the interposed flexible material is made of the same diameter as that of the cartridge;
in this way, the cartridge when inserted is firmly held by the flexible material, which

page_text: projects slightly beyond the walls of the wooden apertures and thus forms a packing
between it and the walls; while at the same time the cartridge can be readily
withdrawn.
In constructing the transom the grain of the wooden sections is preferably crossed,
thus adding greatly to its strength and preventing its warping. For the inter-
mediate layer, felt is preferably used, but any elastic or flexible material, such as
canvas, leather, or cloth will do.
In the composite transom just made, however rough the usage to which the box is
exposed, the cartridges are firmly held in place, not bound by warping of the transom
and readily withdrawn when required.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention:
Figure 1 is a view of an ammunition box partly broken away provided with the
composite transom and showing a cartridge in place, and
Figure 2 is a view in perspective partly in section of the composite transom.
A is the transom, B, C are the two outer wooden sections, having their grain
crossed, D is the interposed layer of flexible or elastic material, E E are the concentric
apertures of equal diameter in the wooden sections B and C respectively, F is the
concentric aperture in the flexible material D, of lesser diameter than those of the
wooden sections, but of the same diameter as that of the cartridge to be inserted,
thus presenting a projecting rim f within each aperture to serve as a packing.
The use of the composite transom is not limited to the packing of cartridges alone,
as it is evident that the same may be used for the packing of bottles and other fragile
articles requiring to be firmly held in place. Neither are the outer sections of the
transom limited to any particular material, as the same may be of metal or any
suitable rigid material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In ammunition boxes, packing boxes, cases and the like, the composite transom
consisting of two rigid sections and an interposed section of flexible material, and
having the concentric apertures and the projecting rim of the flexible material for
the purpose of forming a packing, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a cartridge box of a composite transom, having the
external rigid sections, an interposed section of flexible material and concentric
apertures, and the projecting rim of the flexible material for the purpose of forming
a packing for the cartridges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1000.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.