IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SHELVES, STANDS, AND RACKS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ebenezer Stevens, of No. 15, Hunter Street,
Brunswick Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SHELVES, STANDS, AND RACKS."
Sealed the 21st April 1863, and dated the 1st November 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ebenezer Stevens at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
November 1862.
I, EBENEZER STEVENS, of No. 15, Hunter Street, Brunswick Square, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN IRON SHELVES, STANDS, AND RACKS," to be as follows:-
In constructing iron stands composed of a series of shelves one above the
other, each shelf is supported by ornamental cast-iron brackets at suitable
distances apart from each other, which are either to be fixed to a wall, or they
may be carried by cast-iron pillars or standards; these brackets stand out
from the column or wall, and their outer ends are connected at the front of
the stand to light iron columns by screws or otherwise. At the foot of each
column is a screw thread, on to which a hollow globe or other suitable foot is
screwed; this foot serves to regulate the height of the column, and also

page_text: facilitates the fastening the stand to the floor. Across the top of each bracket
grooves are formed at a suitable distance apart to receive T-iron, the strips of
T-iron being by preference made to run the whole length of the shelves;
the T-iron is received into the grooves, so that the top of the T-iron is level
with the top of the brackets, and the strips of T-iron are held in their places
by pieces of wrought-iron plate screwed on to the top of the bracket. Iron
stands or racks constructed in the above manner may be either painted,
galvanized, or enamelled, or japanned, as may be desired. A stand composed
of one shelf only, so as to form a sort of table, may also be constructed in the
manner above described. The columns in front of the stand are, by preference,
made hollow, so that if desired a gas pipe may be passed up them to supply
gas to any suitable burners on the stand; or a pipe for supplying water to
:small ornamental fountains or to glass globes for fish, may be passed up the
columns. In some cases where shelves of narrow width only are required the
front columns may be dispensed with, the shelves being then constructed of
strips of T-iron received in grooves in cast-iron brackets, as before, the brackets
being connected to a wall. Various designs may, if it be desired to make the
stand ornamental, be made at the front of each bracket, and at the tops of the
columns, such, for instance, as a wheatsheaf, if the stand is for a baker, or
birds of various kinds if the stand is for a poulterer, or the stand may be
otherwise ornamented.
Shelving constructed in the manner above described is also very applicable
for ornamental flower stands for green-houses and hot-houses, also for dairies,
Jarders, and for many other purposes. If it be desired to make the stands fire-
proof, they may be arranged so that they can be enclosed by revolving iron
shutters, or the stands may be otherwise enclosed by iron plates..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ebenezer Stevens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st May 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EBENEZER
STEVENS, of No. 15, Hunter Street, Brunswick Square, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her

page_text: reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said, Ebenezer, Stevens, Her special licence that I, the said Ebenezer Stevens,
my exécutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ebenezer
Stevens, 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
IRON SHELVES, STANDS, AND RACKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the, said Ebenezer Stevens, my executors or administrators, by an instru;
ment 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 Ebenezer Stevens, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say.:
In constructing iron stands composed, of a series of shelves, one above the
other, each shelf is supported by ornamental cast-iron brackets at suitable
distances apart from each other, which are either to be fixed to a wall, or they.
may be carried. by, cast-iron pillars or standards; these brackets stand out from
the column or, wall, and their outer ends are connected at the front of the
stand to light iron .columns by screws, or otherwise. ; At the foot of each
column.is a screw thread, on to which a hollow globe or other suitable foot is
screwed; this foot serves, to regulate the height of the column, and also
facilitates the fastening the stand to the floor. Across the top of each bracket
grooves are formed at a suitable distance apart to receive T-iron, the strips
of T-iron being by preference made to run the whole length of the shelves;
the T-iron is received into the grooves, so that the top of the T-iron is level
with the top of the brackets, and the strips of T-iron are held in their, places
by pieces of wrought-iron plate screwed on to the top of the bracket. 'T'
"
In the annexed Drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of a set of
iron shelves, stands, or racks constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2
is a side view of one of the brackets of the same, together, with its pillars or
standards; Figure 3 is a plan of one of the brackets with parts in connection
therewith.

page_text: a, a, are the pillars or standards which support the brackets in front, they
are, by preference, of cast iron, and have screw threads cut upon them at their
lowest ends; b, b, are similar pillars or standards supporting the brackets at
'the back; c, c, are globes or feet bored and screwed to receive the lower ends
of the pillars or standards; the globes or feet c are formed with a bottom
plate c', or it may be with lugs having holes through them to receive screws
to attach them to the floor, or sleepers on which the shelves, stands, or racks
are to be erected. By causing the pillars or standards a and b to enter the
globes or feet c a greater or less distance, their height can be to some extent
adjusted, so as to bring their upper ends all truly to the proper level; d, d, are
ornamental brackets (one only is seen in the Drawing), they are bolted to the
standards a and b, and at the front the same bolt is made to secure an
ornament d, which conceals the joint; e, e, are T-irons rolled in wrought iron,
and cut to the lengths required, they are dropped into recesses formed. to fit
them in the upper surfaces of the brackets, and are there secured by metal
covering strips attached by screws, or otherwise to the brackets.
Figure 4 is a front view, and Figure 5 a side view of another similar
arrangement, in which, however, the back pillars or standards are dispensed
with, the brackets c being fixed to a wall or upright partition in place of the
T-irons; also wrought-iron bars of circular section are substituted. Iron
stands or racks constructed in the above manner may be either painted,
galvanized, or enamelled, or japanned, as may be desired. A stand composed
of one shelf only, so as to form a sort of table, may also be constructed in the
manner above described. The columns in front of the stand are, by preference,
made hollow, so that if desired, a gas pipe may be passed up them to supply
gas to any suitable burners on the stand; or a pipe for supplying water to
small ornamental fountains, or to glass globes for fish may be passed up the
columns. In some cases where shelves of narrow width only are required
the front columns may be dispensed with, the shelves being then constructed
of strips of T-iron received in grooves in cast-iron brackets as before, the
brackets being connected to a wall. A side view of this arrangement is
shewn at Figure 6. Various designs may, if it be desired to make the stand
ornamental, be made at the front of each bracket, and at the top of the
columns, such, for instance, as a wheatsheaf, if the stand is for a baker, or
birds of various kinds if the stand is for a poulterer, or the stand may be
otherwise ornamented.
:. Shelving constructed in the manner above described is also very applicable
for ornamental flower stands for greenhouses and hothouses, also for dairies,

page_text: larders, and for many other purposes. If it be desired to make the stands fire-
proof, they may be arranged so that they can be enclosed by revolving iron
shutters, or the stands may be otherwise enclosed by iron plates.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ebenezer Stevens, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.