IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, AND OTHER ARTICLES TO SIT OR RECLINE ON
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Duncan Morrison, of Bordesley Works, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, AND OTHER ARTICLES TO SIT OR
RECLINE ON."
Sealed the 31st July 1855, and dated the 9th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Duncan Morrison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th May 1855.
I, DUNCAN MORRISON, of Bordesley Works, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, SOPAS, AND OTHER ARTICLES TO SIT
OR RECLINE ON," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object several improvements in the manufacture of
metallic bedsteads, sofas, and other articles to sit or recline upon. One improve-
ment is applicable to the metal laths employed, and consists in affixing at one or
both ends of such laths a notched catch, the lower part of which is to be made
in the shape of an inclined plane, which will admit of its being forced through
a hole in the side or end rail of a bedstead or other article after such side or
end shall have been put into its place; but by reason of the notch in the catch

page_text: the laths of a bedstead so put together into their places cannot be again
removed without first lifting the side or end rail, and separating the dovetail
or other fastening thereof. If a notched catch with inclined plane be applied to
only one end of a lath, then the other end thereof is to be attached to the side
or end rail in any other manner.
Another improvement consists in uniting iron castings, whether malleable or
otherwise, with wrought iron or with other castings, or in uniting iron castings
with wrought iron and other iron castings, by casting metal thereon when
forming head and foot rails, or other parts of bedsteads, sofas, or other articles
to sit and recline upon.
Another improvement consists in affixing the joint called dovetail joints,
whether of malleable iron, cast iron, or wrought iron, to the rails and pillars of
bedsteads, sofas, and other articles by metal castings, such joints being in the
first instance made separately from such rails and pillars.
Another improvement consists in applying malleable cast iron in the
manufacture of dovetail joints of metal bedsteads, sofas, and other articles
to sit and recline on.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Duncan Morrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DUNCAN
MORRISON, of Bordesley Works, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,'the said
Duncan Morrison. Her special licence that I, the said Duncan Morrison, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others us I, the said Duncan.
Morrison, 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 THE MANU-

page_text: FACTURE OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, AND OTHER ARTICLES TO SIT OR RECLINE
ON,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Duncan Morrison,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Duncan Morrison, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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 thereof (that is to say):
Part of my Invention consists in fixing at one or both ends of the laths of
metal bedsteads a notched catch, as shewn in the accompanying Drawing, in
which Figure 1 shows a side or edge view of part of a metal lath of a bedstead
with a notched incline a on its under side; Figure 2 shows a section and plan
of part of one of the rails of a bedstead with holes or slots 6 to secure the pro-
jecting notched piece. Only part of a lath is shewn in the Drawing, the other
end having a similar incline; or it may be attached to the side rail with a fixed
stud or other fastening, in which case that end is to be first fixed to its mail or
end before forcing the catch a through the slot 6 in the rail or end which is to
receive it. Each rail or end has as many slots or openings through it as there
are to be laths attached thereto.
In fitting a bedstead together when constructed as abovo shewn, the side,
head, and foot rails are to be fixed in their places to the uprights or posts of the
bedstead. The catch a at one end of each of the laths is to be introduced
through the slot 6; or if a fixed or other stud be used, the same is to be made
fast, and then, by pressing the catch a at the other end of the lath through the
slot b, it will by its inclined surface draw the two rails or ends towards each
other sufficiently to admit of the passage of the catch a through the slot b, and
the rails or ends will by their elasticity spring back as soon as the barb or notch
of the catch has passed through the rails or ends.
I would remark that I do not confine myself to the precise form of the catch
a or of the slot b, so long as the catch is formed that it will by its inclined
surface act as above described. I would also remark that I am aware that
it has before been proposed to make laths with buttons, studs, or hooks with
heads suitable for passing through holes or slots in the rails or ends, but in
such cases the parts were not suitable for forcing the laths into their places in
the manner above described.

page_text: Another part of my Invention consists in combining castings with castings,
or with wrought iron, in making parts of metallic bedsteads or other articles to
sit or recline upon. For this purpose, castings, whether of ordinary cast iron
annealed or otherwise, or of malleable cast iron rendered malleable, as is well
understood, are to be first made by casting such iron in the ordinary manner of
making castings for other purposes. These castings may be of a plain or
ornamental character, cast solid (or hollow, with recesses to receive the ends of
other parts of the cast or wrought iron rods or bars, constituting a bedstead
or other articles to sit or recline upon). These castings, together with the cast
or wrought iron parts of a bedstead, are to be put together, and where a joint.
is to be made, a mould is to be formed, and fluid cast iron run in, by means
of which the parts will be joined together, and also joined to the iron laid
into the moulds, the solid parts being encircled by the cast iron run into the:
moulds, or the hollow parts being filled by the parts of the cast or wrought iron
introduced, and the cast iron run into the moulds.
of my
Another part Invention consists in making the joints commonly called
dovetail joints, by casting them in moulds suitable for producing such joints
in common cast iron, and annealing or not the said castings; or in casting
them in moulds suitable for producing such joints in malleable cast iron,.
and rendering the same malleable, as is well understood; or in forming the
joints commonly called dovetail joints with wrought iron, by forging or
shaping the said wrought iron into the joints called dovetail joints; such
joints are to be connected to the sides or ends or other parts of metallic
bedsteads or other articles to sit or recline upon, by forming moulds in or
around such places as are to be made into joints, and pouring therein or
thereon fluid cast iron.
Another part of my Invention consists in the casting the joints comnionly
called dovetail joints in moulds, suitable for producing the same in malleable
cast iron rendered malleable, as is well understood, in making metallic bed-
steads or other articles to sit or recline upon, however the same may be attached
to the pillars, sides, or ends of such metallic bedsteads or other articles to sit
or recline upon.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I claim as of my
Invention, the improvements for which Letters Patent are granted,-
First, the improvement in metallic bedsteads, by making them with laths,
having inclined and notched projections inserted in slots or holes, as above
described.

page_text: Secondly, the making the joints of metallic bedsteads by uniting the ends by
casting, as above described.
Thirdly, the making and fixing the dovetail joints, as above described.
Fourthly, the making the dovetail joints of cast malleable iron, as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Duncan Morrison, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE.
DN MORRISON. (L.B.)