IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DESKS FOR ART SCHOOLS & OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: I FREDERICK WILLIAM MARTIN of 106, Colmore Row, Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Architect do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DESKS FOR ART SCHOOLS & OTHER
PURPOSES to be as follows, that is to say :-
The object of my Invention is to produce Desks for Art Schools and other
purposes which shall meet the requirements of the pupil, and be capable of adjust-
ment to any given position the work may require. To give the necessary slope or
inclination to the top of the desk which for convenience is hung with hinges on
the front side. I provide and fix a swing toothed rack or a rack and pinion (as the
case may be and according to the weight of the work to be carried upon the top)
in such a positiou that when the back part of the desk top is lifted, or when the
spindle upon which the pinion is fixed is caused to revolve the desk top is inclined.
tooth by tooth until the desired slope or angle is obtained, The rack and pinion
are provided with swivel guide rollers working upon the spindle on which the
pinion is keyed or fixed, for the purpose of keeping the rack and pinion in gear
during its travel upwards or downwards. By this arrangement the finest
adjustment can be obtained with ease and comfort to the pupil and the requisite
inclination given to the work without removing it from its position on the desk,
On the front edge of the desk top I construct and fix a moveable or adjustible
ledge consisting of a bar of metal in which are slots of an L shape through which
pins or screws are made to pass and by means of which it is fixed to the top. This
ledge so constructed and fixed, forms a ledge or rest for the canvass or drawing
board, which where not required for that purpose, can by means of the vertical
and longitudinal slots be depressed below the level of the top of the desk leaving
the same perfectly free from the projection. I also provide a moveable rail for
holding the drawing board, the copy, object or cast. This rail is fixed and is in
connection with the adjustible top; the rails or rests proper, may be made of
wood or metal. The construction of the rail is such that it can be regulated or
adjusted to the inclination angle or slope of the desk top. This result is obtained
by means of a slot, pin, axle and quadrant rack. The sides of the rail are flat or
otherwise, and perforated at their lower ends with a slot of sufficient length to
allow of the pin at the bottom of the side bar being lifted out of gear, Through
this slot and rivetted, or fixed upon, or attached to the toothed quadrant, is a pin
forming the axis upon which the rail moves upwards and downwards, backwards

page_text: and forwards, The lower part of the sides of the rails and immediately under-
neath the slot, a pin is formed corresponding in size to the spaces between the
teeth of the quadrant rack. This pin is made to fall into such spaces of which
there is a number. By lifting the whole rail the length of the slot the pupil is
enabled to place the board, the copy or the cast in the best position for work, or at
any desired angle in relation to the slope of the top of the desk. For convenienco
in stowing away when copies are not required, this rail is so constructed that it
will fold flat upon the top of the desk or it will fall down behind the desk. The
action is obtained by means of the slot and axis which allows the rail to be
raised clear of the teeth in the quadrant, when it is free to pass forwards or
backwards. I also construct in the sides of this copy rail, a rack composed of
oblique slots, by this means the copy bar or rail may be raised or lowered to any
desired position. The ends of the copy bars being furnished with knobs or other
suitable appliances for raising or lowering the same, and also for preventing the
removal from the rail or fraine. I also form on the right or left hand or at the
back of the desk as the case may be, a division for the reception of the drawing
boards when not in use by the pupil, and also a receptacle for pencils and
instruments. The desk thus constructed forming one of the most useful and
convenient for Art work and other purposes.
Having thus explained the nature of my Invention, and in order that it may be
fully understood and readily carried out. I will proceed to describe the drawings
hereunto annexed.
;
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the desk shewing the copy rail and rack folded
flat upon the top of the desk, and the moveable ledge on the front edge of the desk.
Figure 2; shews in section the toothed rack and the copy rail rack raised to an
almost vertical position, also the adjustible ledge depressed level with the desk top.
Figures 3 & 4 represent the desk with the top and copy rail at different angles.
Figure 5; is a front elevation, Figure 6; is a back elevation shewing wrought iron
braces. Figure 7; is a section looking at underside of desk top when inclined at
an angle of 45°. Figure 8; is a plan of the desk top shewing the copy rail and
rack thrown behind the desk. Figure 9; is a full sized sectional elevation of copy
rail side, shewing rack for holding copy rail and cast rest. Figure 10; is a section
of copy bar at A A. Figure 11; is a section of the copy rail. Figure 12 is a
section of the axis quadrant rack and side of rail shewing slot and pin. Figure 13;
is a full sized section of the swing toothed rack shewing pin upon which the teeth
rest; and joint for attachment to the top of the desk, Figure 14, is an elevation
of the rack and pinion movement shewing the guide roller at the back of rack.
The same letters on each drawing refer to the same parts. A is a swing toothed
rack for adjusting the angle or slope of the desk top. B; bar connecting the same.
C; joint and plate for screwing the same to the desk top. D; rack with pinion
to be used in place of rack when weight is heavier than the rack would take.
E, pinion. F, pulley and guard working on pinion shaft for keeping rack and
pinion in gear G; square for handle, H. copy rail rack, I moveable copy rail
J-knob or handle for raising or lowering copy rail and for preventing it being
removed from rack. K. sides of copy rail rack shewing construction and oblique
notches or slots for carrying the copy bar or rail. L; slot in side of rack. Maxis
upon which rack H moves. N, pin underneath slot at the extremity of the side of
rack. O. quadrant rack. P. P. teeth in quadrant rack. Q; moveable or adjustible
ledge. R. space for drawing boards when not in use.
Dated this 30th day of January 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I FREDERICK WILLIAM MARTIN of 106 Colmore Row Birmingham in the
county. of Warwick Architect do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DESKS FOR ART SCHOOLS AND OTHER
PURPOSES and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The object of my invention is to produce Desks for Art Schools and other
purposes which shall meet the requirements of the pupil and be capable of
adjustment to any given position the work may require To give the necessary
slope or inclination to the top of the desk which for convenience is hung with
hinges on the front side I provide and fix a swing toothed rack or a rack and
pinion (as the case may be and according to the weight of the work to be carried
upon the top) in such a position that when the back part of the desk top is lifted
or when the spindle upon which the pinion is fixed is caused to revolve the desk
top is inclined tooth by tooth until the desired slope or angle is obtained The
rack and pinion are provided with swivel guide rollers working upon the spindle
upon which the pinion is keyed or fixed for the purpose of keeping the rack and
pinion in gear during its travel upwards or downwards By this arrangement the
pivot adjustment can be obtained with ease and comfort to the pupil and the
requisite inclination given to the work without removing it from its position on
the desk On the front edge of the desk top I construct and fix a moveable or
adjustable ledge consisting of a bar of metal in which are slots of an L shape
through which pins or screws are made to pass and by means of which it is fixed
to the top This ledge so constructed and fixed forms a ledge or rest for the canvas
or drawing board which when not required for that purpose can by means of the
vertical and longitudinal slots be depressed below the level of the top of the desk
leaving the same perfectly free from the projection I also provide a moveable rail
for holding the drawing board the copy object or cast This rail is fixed and is in
connection with the adjustable top the rails or rests proper may be made of wood or
metal The construction of the rail is such that it can be regulated or adjusted to
the inclination angle or slope of the desk top This result is obtained by means of
a slot pin axle and quadrant rack The sides of the rail are flat or otherwise and
perforated at their lower ends with a slot of sufficient length to allow of the pin at
the bottom of the side bar being lifted out of gear Through this slot and rivetted
or fixed upon or attached to the toothed quadrant is a pin forming the axis upon
which the rail moves upwards and downwards backwards and forwards The
lower part of the sides of the rail and immediately underneath the slot a pin is
formed corresponding in size to the spaces between the teeth of the quadrant rack
This pin is made to fall into such spaces of which there is a number By lifting
the whole rail the length of the slot the pupil is enabled to place the board the
copy or the cast in the best position for work or at any desired angle in relation to
the slope of the top of the desk For convenience in storing away when copies are
not required this rail is so constructed that it will fold flat upon the top of the
desk or it will fall down behind the desk The action is obtained by means of the
slot and axis which allows the rail to be raised clear of the teeth in the quadrant
when it is free to pass forwards or backwards I also construct in the sides of the
copy rail a rack composed of oblique slots by this means the copy bar or rail may
be raised or lowered to any desired position The ends of the copy bars being

page_text: furnished with knobs or other suitable appliances for raising or lowering the same
and also for preventing their removal from the rail or frame I also form on the
right or left hand or at the back of the desk as the case may be for the reception
of the drawing boards when not in use by the pupil and also a receptule for pencils
and instruments The desk thus constructed forming one of the most useful and
convenient for Art work and other purposes.
Having thus expressed the nature of my invention and in order that it may be
fully understood and readily carried out I will proceed to describe the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of desk showing the copy rail and rack folded flat
upon the top of the desk and the moveable ledge on the front edge of the desk
Figure 2 shows in section the toothed rack and the copy rail rack raised to an
almost vertical position also the adjustable ledge depressed level with the desk top
Figures 3 & 4 represent the desk with the top and copy rail at different angles
Figure 5 is a front elevation Figure 6 is a back elevation showing wrought iron
'braces Figure 7 is a section looking at under side of desk top when inclined at an
angle of 45° Figure 8 is a plan of the desk top showing the copy rail and rack
thrown behind the desk Figure 9 is a full sized sectional elevation of copy rail
side showing rack for holding copy rail and cast rest Figure 10 is a section of
copy bar at A. A. Figure 11 is a section of the copy rail Figure 12 is a section of
the axis quadrant rack and side of rail showing slot and pin Figure 13 is a full
sized section of the swing toothed rack showing pin upon which the teeth rest and
joint for attachment to the top of the desk Figure 14 is an elevation of the rack
and pinion movement showing the guide roller at the back of rack The same
letters on each drawing refer to the same parts A. is a swing toothed rack for
adjusting the angle or sloping the desk top B bar connecting the same
C joint
and plate for screwing the same to the desk top D rack with pinion.to be used
in place of rack when weight is heavier than the rack would take E pinion
F pulley and guard working on pinion shaft for keeping rack and pinion in gear
G square for handle H copy rail rack I moveable copy rail J knob or handle for
raising or lowering copy rail and for preventing it, being removed from rack
K sides of copy rail rack showing construction and oblique notches or slots for
carrying the copy bar or rail L slot in side of rack M axis upon which rack H
moves N pin underneath slot at the extremity of the side of the rack O quadrant.
rack P. P teeth in quadrant rack Qmoveable or adjustable ledge R space for
drawing boards when not in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The slot pin axle and quadrant rack by the combined action of which the side
bar is lifted out of gear moved upwards or downwards backwards or forwards and
fixed again by placing it into one of the spaces in the quadrant rack.
2. The swing toothed rack or rack and pinion.
3. The combined adjustment of desk top and rail obtained by means of the said
action of the slot pin axle and quadrant rack and of the said swing toothed rack
or rack and pinion.
4. The rack in the sides of the copy rail composed of oblique slots.