A NEW MATCH OR PILL BOx
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abraham Martin, of 13, Store Street, Bedford Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW MATCH
OR PILL BOx."
Sealed the 4th July 1879, and dated the 9th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abraham Martin at te
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th January 1879.
ABRAHAM MARTIN, of 13, Store Street, Bedford Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer. "A NEW MATCH OR PILL BOX."
The box may be of any shape, and of wood, metal, pasteboard, or other
material, and is applicable to matches, pills, sweetmeats, or any other small
articles. The object of the Invention is the simple and easy service out of the
contents singly. I construct it as follows:-In or about the centre of one end of
the box I make a hole (round or oval by preference) of a quarter of an inch or
thereabouts in diameter, the box being otherwise entirely closed. Under the hole
(i.c., in the interior of the box) I fit in grooves or between a double thickness of the
side, a small metal slide which, by a very slight projecting pinhead or spur at the
edge nearest the hole, can be easily pushed backwards and forwards with the finger
nail so as to cover or uncover the hole. If the box be for matches or similar
articles and be rectangular, I fill in the two angles adjacent to the hole by a small
block or strip of wood, pasteboard, or metal, so as to divert the matches, etc., from
the corners to the hole. To prevent the slide slipping involuntarily, I make it of thin
metal doubled so as to act with a slight spring.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Abraham Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th July
1879.
ABRAHAM MARTIN, of 13, Store Street, Bedford Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer. "A NEW MATCH OR PILL BOX."
The box may be of any shape and of wood, metal, pasteboard, or other material,
and is applicable to matches, pills, sweetmeats, or any other small article. The
object of the Invention is the simple and casy service-out of the contents singly.
I construct it as follows:-In or about the centre of one end of the box I make a
hole (round or oval by preference) of a quarter of an inch or thereabouts in diameter,
the box being otherwise entirely closed. Under the hole (i.e., in the interior of the
box) I fit in grooves or between a double thickness of the side, a small metal slide
which, by a very slight projecting pin-head or spur at the edge nearest the hole, can
be easily pushed backwards and forwards with the finger-nail so as to cover or
uncover the hole. If the box be for matches or similar articles and be rectangular,
I fill in the two angles adjacent to the hole by a small block or strip of wood,
pasteboard, or metal, so as to divert the matches, &c., from the corners to the hole.
To prevent the slide slipping involuntarily, I make it of thin metal doubled so as to
act with a slight spring. I claim as new the mode of introducing and withdrawing
the matches, &c., by means of the hole in the box closable by the slide as explained,
and also the insertion in the box when rectangular, of the blocks filling up the two
corners adjacent to the hole for the purpose of diverting the matches, &c., from the
corners to the hole.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abraham Martin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
said Abraham Martin in the
presence of
W. F. NOKES,
Sol.,
21, Queen Victoria Street,
E.C.
A. MARTIN. (L.S.)