A NEW OR IMPROVED CUCUMBER BOX
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Pottle, of Little Bealings, in the County of
Suffolk, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CUCUMBER BOX."
Sealed the 6th March 1868, and dated the 10th September 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Pottle at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on the
10th September 1867.
I, JOHN POTTLE, of Little Bealings, in the County of Suffolk, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED CUCUMBER
Box," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of a new or improved cucumber
box for use by horticulturists and others, and which is intended to supersede the
ordinary glass tube in which cucumbers are grown. I propose to form the box
of glass, or wood and glass combined; the box should be about two feet long
and two and a half inches wide, and the same in depth, interior measurement;.
the wooden sides and bottom of the box to be made of deal about three-eighths
of an inch thick, and feet may be attached to the base of the box to let it
rest clear of the ground. The sides and floor of the box are to be secured
together by zinc or other metal bands about half an inch wide. Grooves are
cut on the interior of the sides close to the top for a glass lid to slide within ;
this lid should be formed in two parts, so as to be drawn out from each end of

page_text: the box and meeting in the middle. By these means it will be easy to obtain
access to any part of the cucumber while growing, so as to adjust its position
or apply a bearing, such as a cork to press on the cucumber, which cannot
well be done when the glass tubes are used. The bottom of the box may be
concave or hollowed out instead of flat, if desired, and the sides or bottom may
be of glass instead of wood, and if entirely of glass it may be made in one
piece with a groove within each side for the lids to slide.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
•
by the said John Pottle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
POTTLE, of Little Bealings, in the County of Suffolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent. Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Pottle, Her special licence that I, the said John Pottle,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Pottle, 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED
CUCUMBER Box," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Pottle, 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 John Pottle, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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:-
This Invention relates to the construction of a new or improved cucumber
box for use by horticulturists and others, and which is intended to supersede

page_text: the ordinary glass tube in which cucumbers are grown.
I form the box of
glass, or wood and glass combined, or of glass, wood, and métal combined;
the box should be about two feet long and two and a half, inches wide, and
the same in depth, interior measurement; the wooden sides and bottom of the
box to be made of deal about three-eighths of an inch thick, and feet may be
attached to the base of the box to let it rest clear of the ground, or the box
may be suspended by suitable supports, such as arches or standards, and
pendants of wire or cord for the same purpose. The sides and floor or base
of the box are to be secured or braced together by zinc or other metal bands
about half an inch wide. Grooves are cut on the interior of the sides of the
box close to the top for a glass lid to slide within; this lid should be formed
in two parts, so as to be drawn out from each end of the box and meeting in
the middle. By these means it will be easy to obtain access to any part of
the cucumber while growing to adjust its position or apply a bearing, such
as a cork to press on the cucumber, which cannot well be done when the
glass tubes are used. The bottom of the box may be concave or hollowed
out instead of flat, if desired, and the sides or bottom may be of glass instead
of wood, and if entirely of glass it may be in one piece, with a groove within
each side for the lids to slide. If the sides, or bottom, or both are made of
metal a thin sheet metal will answer the purpose.
In order that my said Invention may be more fully understood, I annex the
accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of one
form of box; Fig. 2 an elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a section, shewing feet
or standards, which may be applied if considered advantageous; Fig. 4 is a
plan view, and Fig. 5 an end view. Similar letters denote corresponding parts
in each Figure.
a, a, shew the sides of the box, and 6 the bottom; c shews the glass top,
which may be divided into two parts at d, or other position; e, e, shew the
metal bands or braces to fasten the box together; and f, f, are feet for
supporting the box above the ground, as a substitute for which the box may
be suspended as before mentioned.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed or carried into effect, I would remark, in
conclusion, that I do not limit myself to the precise form or dimensions of box,
nor to the materials of which it may be composed, as the form may be varied
to suit the taste or experience of the horticulturist, and the size of the box may
of course be made suitable to the requirements of the grower; but what I
claim as my Invention, and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part
recited Letters Patent is, the improved construction of a cucumber box to

page_text: take the place of the ordinary glass tube, substantially as herein specified and
shewn by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Pottle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 7th day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
GEORGE WILLIAM COOK,
Little Bealings,
Woodbridge, Suffolk.
JOHN POTTLE. (L.S.)