AN IMPROVED WASHING APPARATUS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Neville, of Great Dover Road, in the
County of Surrey, Builder, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED WASHING
APPARATUS."
Sealed the 11th June 1861, and dated the 13th December 1860..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Neville at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th December 1860.
I, CHARLES NEVILLE, of Great Dover Road, in the County of Surrey,
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
WASHING APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
I propose to construct a casing or trough with an inclined back; this
trough is to hold the water or suds; I propose to pass (between slides) on the
incline a slab with a series of curves or flutings worked thereon, and to place
a tap or cock in the front of the trough to draw off the liquid, a ladder-shaped
framing with sliding grooved pieces therein will hold the articles to be washed,
which articles will be kept in position by the grooved pieces. The clothes
thus sustained will be rubbed against the fluted or curved inclined plane, the
sliding pieces permitting each portion of the linen to shew face in turn, or the

page_text: framing may be turned over as both sides present the clothes to the rubber.
The apparatus may be made wholly of wood, or partly of wood and partly of
metal, or wholly of metal if found desirable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Neville in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
NEVILLE, of Great Dover Road, in the County of Surrey, Builder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Neville, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Neville,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Neville,-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 "AN IMPROVED WASHING
APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Neville, 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 Charles Neville, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and
forming part of this my Specification, and to the letters of reference marked
on the different Diagrams shewing similar parts at each of the Figures
respectively.
The object of my Invention is to thoroughly cleanse garments and other

page_text: articles from dirt or other impurities with as little wear as possible to the
articles during the operation. The Invention itself will be best understood by
reference to the accompanying Drawing, on which Figure 1 represents a side
elevation of my washing machine, shewing in dotted lines the direction of the
corrugated bed and handled rubber, the latter being technically called the
"dolly;" Figure 2 shews top plan view of Figure 1; Figure 3 represents the
"dolly" or rubber detached and in plan view; Figure 4, plan view of corru-
gated slide belonging to the rubber; Figure 5, being an end view of the
Figure 4, shews the shape and depth of the corrugations of the rubber.
Figure 6 represents a side view of washing board or bed laid in an oblique
direction, as shewn by the dotted lines (before referred to) in Figure 1, over
which the slab or rubber termed "dolly" travels.
66
The dolly" (Figure 3) is so constructed that the slides a, a, can be placed
at any suitable distance apart, and when required more slides can be inserted,
according to the nature of the articles to be operated upon. The rubber is
also provided with handles b, b.
The case or trough of my machine is to be filled with water, in such
quantity as may be found most convenient to the operator, who will allow for
the displacement caused by the "dolly" or rubber charged with the articles to
be washed. Soap is then added to the water in sufficient quantity to make
the lye, usually termed "suds." The articles to be washed are then inserted
between the slides of the rubber, which is then laid on the corrugated washing
board or slab, and drawn up and down (obliquely) by the operator as denoted
by the dotted lines, Figure 1. It is evident that by the continual motion of
the "dolly" over the washing board, the articles in the trough receive sufficient
pressure and friction as thoroughly to cleanse them without tearing or over
rubbing them, and with comparatively little labor from the operator. A
screw tap is shewn at Figure 3, its duty being to discharge the contents of
the trough when it is desirable to do so. A splashing board c is shewn at
Figure 2, the use of which is to prevent the suds flying or falling over the
sides of the machine while the operation of washing is going on. My machine
or apparatus may be made wholly of wood or metal, or partly of wood and
partly of metal.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the means by
which I carry it into practical effect, I would have it distinctly understood
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein given, as modifications
may be made in the construction of the parts of my machine without departing
from the principle of my improvement; but I claim as of my Invention the

page_text: combination of parts which, when combined essentially as herein directed
and used for the purpose herein set forth, form "An Improved Washing
Apparatus."
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Neville; have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our 'Lord One 5
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
'Witness,
H. J. GEDGE,
11, Wellington Street,
Strand.
CHARLES NEVILLE. (L.S.)