IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR FIRE FCCADRO AND RHYDDS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Vagg, of Manor House, Lefebvre Street, in
the Island of Guernsey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
APPLICABLE FOR FIRE FCCADRO AND RHYDDS' CA
Sealed the 1st June 1866, and dated the 5th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Vagg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
December 1865.
I, EDWARD VAGG, of Manor House, Lefebvre Street, in the Island of Guern-
sey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR FIRE ESCAPES AND BUILDERS'. SCAFFOLDS," to be as
follows:-
The base of the said apparatus consists of a stand mounted on wheels like
a common cart, but made to run very near the ground. The stand is mounted
on the wheels in such a manner that by means of a screw, ratchet, or other
apparatus the stand may be maintained at or nearly on a level when passing
up or down hill. In the centre of the said stand a pole or mast is erected of
such a height as may be deemed requisite, whether the apparatus be used for
a fire-escape or a builder's scaffold, and the said mast or pole may be fixed in
its socket in the stand by a hinge, to enable it to be lowered when not in use.
When raised perpendicularly means are provided for maintaining its
position by a bolt running through it and the socket, or by any other means.

page_text: On this mast is a platform made to slide up and down upon it rather easily,
and also turn upon it, which is done by reason of the frame on the top part
of the mast carrying the pulleys being made to revolve on the top of the mast.
It is raised and lowered to the requisite height by means of ropes, cords, or
chains running in pulleys at the top and bottom of the pole or mast. This
platform is made strong and rather wide in order to carry supplementary plat-
forms, ladders, ropes, and other useful articles to assist in rescuing persons or
property from fire, or to carry such materials and apparatus as builders may
require. The apparatus being moved as near to the burning house as is
proper, the operators lower the stage or platform by the ropes cords already
referred to, and the firemen enter the platform, which is then raised to oppo-
site the window or place where the persons are who are to be rescued. The
supplementary platforms and ladders are then pushed out and the persons
walk on to the platform, which is then lowered, or the platform may be turned
round on the mast, and the persons may then enter the opposite houses. In
the same manner, if the apparatus be used for a builder's scaffold, the. brick-
layers, masons, plasterers, and others would have a much safer and more
commodious stage for carrying on their operations.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Vagg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
VAGG, of Manor House, Lefebvre Street, in the Island. of Guernsey, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Edward Vagg, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Vagg, my executors, administrators, and assigns; or such others as I, the
said Edward Vagg, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE_FOR FIRE ESCAPES AND BUILDERS' SCAFFOLDS,"

page_text: upon the condition (amongst others) that 1, the said Edward Vagg, 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 per-
formed, 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 Edward Vagg, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The base of the said apparatus consists of a stand mounted on wheels like
a common cart, but made to run very near the ground. The stand is mounted
on the wheels in such a manner that by means of a screw, ratchet, or other
apparatus the stand may be maintained at or nearly on a level when passing up
or down hill. In the centre of the said stand a pole or mast is erected of such
a height as may be deemed requisite, whether the apparatus is used for a fire-
escape or a builder's scaffold, and the said mast or pole may be fixed in its
socket in the stand by a hinge to enable it to be lowered when not in use.
When raised perpendicularly means are provided for maintaining its position.
by a bolt running through it and the socket, or by any other means. On this
mast is a platform made to slide up and down upon it rather easily and also
turn upon it, which is done by reason of the frame on the top part of the mast
carrying the pulleys being made to revolve on the top of the mast.. It is
raised and lowered to the required height by means of ropes, cords, or chains
running in pulleys at the top and bottom of the pole or mast. This platform
is made strong and rather wide in order to carry supplementary platforms,
ladders, ropes, and other useful articles to assist in rescuing persons or pro-
perty from fire, or to carry such materials and apparatus as builders may
require. The apparatus being moved as near to the burning house as is.
proper the operators lower the stage or platform by the ropes cords already
referred to, and the firemen enter the platform, which is then raised to-opposite
the window or place where the persons are who are to be rescued. The
suplementary platforms and ladders are then pushed out and the persons
walk on to the platform, which is then lowered, or the platform may be turned
round on the mast, and the persons may then enter the opposite houses. In
the same manner if the apparatus be used for a builder's scaffold, the brick-
layers, masons, plasterers, and others would have a much safer and more
commodious stage for carrying on their operations.

page_text: Having thus far explained the nature and object of my said Invention
I shall now proceed to describe the same more minutely, and in order thereto
I shall refer to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters of
reference marked thereon respectively, as follows:-
A, A, is a pole or mast of any required height and dimensions, and may be
made of iron as a column or tube, or of wood. It is fixed in the base of the
apparatus, marked I, which is made very heavy, and also to run very near the
ground. It is mounted on wheels K, K, to facilitate its being moved from
place to place. These wheels are so mounted on their axles that they may be
raised or lowered by the screws L, L, by turning the handles M, M. This
arrangement preserves the verticality of the mast A and prevents it toppling
over when moved along inclined ground. This may be accomplished in many
other ways, but those I prefer using I have here illustrated and described. ..:
The mechanical operation is too well known and understood to constitute a
new Invention, or to require any particular or minute description. On the
mast, as already described, is placed a cage or stage B made to glide or slide
easily up and down upon it in the hole C. This cage may be constructed in
any suitable manner there being nothing new connected with it. It is raised
and lowered to the height required, whether as a fire-escape or builder's
scaffold, by the ropes D, D, which pass through pulleys E, E, at the top of
the mast, as shown. The position required is maintained by affixing the ropes
D, D, to the holdfasts H, H, at the base of the apparatus, the other ends of
the said ropes D, D, being attached to the stage, as shown at F, F. Attached
to the stage B, B, by the joints N, N, are two ladders or projecting stages,
marked O, O. These can be let down, as shown on the right-hand of the
Figure, or drawn up into position, as seen on the left hand of the Drawing, by.
the ropes or chains P, P. Their position is maintained by attaching the cords
to the holdfasts R, R, and passing the bolts or bars S, S, through the frame,
as shown. When it is required to turn the stage or frame B round this is
accomplished by making the top and bottom plates X and V moveable, as
shown. T, the top of the mast may be either ornamental or used as a lamp
at night. There is no difference in the features of the Invention whether
used as a fire-escape or builder's scaffold. The apparatus is wheeled into
position, the stage B is raised to the required height, and the supplementary
stages O, O, are drawn up by the ropes P, P. If the opposite houses of a
street take fire the inmates may thus be rescued, or if contiguous houses, then
by wheeling round the stage the supplementary stages O, O, will offer the
means of escape. In the case of a builder's scaffold the same facilities for
reaching any portion of a house are obtained.

page_text: Having now fully described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not consider my Invention
as confined to the forms, dimensions, and proportions of construction herein
illustrated. My Invention is capable of being greatly varied in many of
such points without it being departed from. What I claim as my Invention
to be secured by Her Majesty's Letters Patent is, the general mechanical
arrangement herein-before described or illustrated for the purposes therein
mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Vagg, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
HENRY J. CUMBER,
Chemist,
8, Pollet St.,
Guernsey.
EDWARD VAGG. (LS.)