IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF LADIES' WORK-BOXES AND TABLES, WRITING DESKS OR CASES, GLOVE BOXES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Tween and Eugene
Renaudin, the Elder, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
9th October 1883.
"
WILLIAM TWEEN of Old Street and EUGENE RENAUDIN the Elder of Stoke
Newington, both in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF LADIES' WORK-BOXES AND TABLES, WRITING DESKS OR CASES, GLOVE
BOXES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES"
This invention relates more particularly to the manufacture of ladies' work-
boxes or companions and tables, but it is also applicable to the manufacture of
writing desks or cases, glove boxes, handkerchief boxes, and similar articles, which
are usually sold and known technically as fancy goods.
The object of the invention is to produce a fancy box of a light and portable
character, which is not only capable of being produced in a variety of forms, but
will retain such form, and will be more substantial, and have a more ornamental
appearance, than boxes or articles of the kind as at present constructed.
Work boxes have been made entirely of wood, but such boxes are, heavy,
comparatively expensive to make, can be made practically of one shape only,
viz rectangular, and are quite unsuitable for what are known as ladies'
companions. Work boxes have also been made in wicker work, but these
goods are of a non-substantial character, and their appearance is but slightly
ornamental, though their comparative lightness and cheapness are advantages
which commend their use to many persons.
The same goods have been made in pasteboard, which is covered with plush,
leather, or other suitable material, and provided with a framing of cane, which is
intended both to give a certain amount of stability, and for ornament, but it has
been found in this case that practically only one shape can be given to the boxes,
viz rectangular, as other forms of boxes made in this way do not retain their
shape; that the stability is more seeming than real, and that the ornamental
character is but slight.
Now according to our invention we form a framing of wood, preferably of an
ornamental wood, of square, rectangular, oblong with rounded ends, polygonal,
round, oval, semicircular or other suitable form, which we prepare in the manner
hereinafter described, and to this framing, after a moulding has been run along its
TD01

page_text: external edge, and it has been polished, we attach in any convenient manner the
pasteboard sides and bottom, which have been previously covered with plush,
leather, cloth, or other suitable material.
The lid or cover of the box we form in a similar manner, employing a frame of
wood, to which we attach in any convenient manner a slab or sheet of pasteboard,
which may be flat or convex or of other form. In the centre of this lid we secure
a slab of the wood, to which an ornamental handle is attached.
the of an
In preparing the framing for the box, consisting of top and bottom rails, and
for the lid or cover, we take three slabs of wood of, say, from 1 to 3/8th
inch thick, and of any convenient length and width, and after they have been
worked up, and, may be, polished, we securely clamp them together. We then,
by means of a fret saw,
cut out from the associated slabs a frame of the desired
shape, and about 1/2 inch wide, and we continue to cut similar frames until the
wood becomes too small. Thus supposing it is desired to make round boxes, we
cut from the associated slabs a number of rings until the uncut portion of the slab
becomes too small to make a serviceable box. These uncut pieces may be secured
in the centre of the lid to attach the handle to.
The box, when formed, will be lined in the usual manner, and according to taste,
and an ornamental metal or other fastening will give a finish to the box, which
altogether will be of a highly ornamental character.
By forming the top and bottom rails of the framing of the box, and the frame
for the lid, in one piece, we are enabled to give practically any shape to the box;
we avoid the difficulties and expense inherent in joining up a frame made of
several pieces; and we obtain a substantial box of a light, portable, and highly
ornamental character, which will always retain its shape.
In making a work table, we make a box of larger size than the ordinary work
box, and mount it upon ornamental legs.
Although we have hitherto referred more particularly to work boxes, it will be
evident that fancy boxes of every description may be made in a similar manner.
It will also be evident that the frames may be cut out from single slabs of wood,
if desired, but when cut from two, three, or more associated slabs, the size of each
set of frames will be exactly the same.