IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL DESKS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Mence Hammer, of 108, St. Martin's
Lane, Charing Cross, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL DESKS."
Sealed the 3rd October 1873, and dated the 9th April 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Mence Hammer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th April 1873.
I, GEORGE MENCE HAMMER, of 108, St. Martin's Lane, Charing
Cross, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL DESKS," to be as follows:-
The construction of a combined desk and seat, or table and seat, in
which the top of the desk shall be capable of being thrown over to form
a back to the seat.
For this purpose I make the top of the desk standard of semicircular
elevation with knotches or holes in the edge of it; working upon it is
attached to
a head upon which is screwed the wood top of the desk;
the head is a metal latch upon which are one or more projections, which

page_text: fit into the holes or knotches of the standard and are kept there by a
spring, screw, or other contrivance. When is is required to shift the
desk to make a table or back to seat, the latch. is fitted out of its
knotches or holes, and the head with desk top attached is free to
revolve.
A modification of the Invention consists in fixing the latch to the
standard instead of to the loose head and making the holes or knotches
in the latter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Mence Hammer in the Great Seal Patent ]
Office on the 8th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
MENCE HAMMER, of 108, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C., send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 1
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Mence Hammer, Her special
licence that I, the said George Mence Hammer, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Mence
Hammer, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL DESKS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said George Mence Hammer, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under 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 George Mence Hammer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :—
The object of this Invention is the construction of a combined desk
and seat or table and seat, in which the top of the desk shall be
capable of being thrown over to form a back to the scat, and yet the
said top of the desk shall be effectually fastened in its position, as desk
top, table top, or seat back.
For this purpose I make the top of the desk standard of semicircular
elevations with one or more notches, holes, or projections on the edge of
it; working upon it is a moveable head upon which is screwed the wood
top of the desk; attached to the head is a metal latch upon which
are one or more projections or holes, which fit into the notches, holes,
or projections on the standard and are kept there by a spring, screw, or
other contrivance. When it is required to shift the desk top to make a
table or back to seat the latch is lifted out of its notches or holes, or
holes, and the moveable head with desk top attached is free to revolve.
A modification of the Invention consists in fixing the latch to the
standard instead of to the moveable head and making the moveable head
of semicircular elevation with the notches, holes, or projections on its edges.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn
the desk top in two positions. In these Figures a, a, are the top of the
standard; b, b, the moveable head; c, c, the latch; d, d, the wood desk
top.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
the holding of the top of the desk in its position as a desk top, table
top, or seat back, by means of a latch having projections, notches, or holes
fitting the corresponding notches, holes, or projections upon the standard.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Mence Hammer, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-three.
Witness to the signing hereof
JAMES A. CADNEY.
GEORGE MENCE HAMMER. (L.S.)