AN IMPROVED WASHING BOARD to be as follows:-―
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ARTHUR EYRES, of 44 Lower Ashley Road, in the City and County of
Bristol, Washing board Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for "AN IMPROVED WASHING BOARD to be as follows:-―
"
This invention, which relates to washing boards having metal fronts, consists in
providing such boards with a backing of wooden staves arranged horizontally
immediately behind the metal plate which forms the rubbing surface on which the
clothes or other materials are rubbed or chafed in the process of washing.
The backing is curved to correspond with the curvature of the said front plate
which is thereby stiffened against the pressure exerted upon it.
Placed vertically behind the backing are battens such as are usually employed
in washing boards.
The metal front plate is prevented from working loose by the backing which at
the sides is let into the grooves in the frame in which the plate is fitted.

page_text: I, ARTHUR EYRES, of 44, Lower Ashley Road, in the City and County of
Bristol, washing board manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention which relates to washing boards having metal fronts, consists in
providing such boards with a backing of wood placed immediately behind the
metal plate which forms the rubbing surface on which the clothes or other
materials are rubbed or chafed in the process of washing.
The backing, which may be in one piece or made up of staves arranged
horizontally, is curved to conform to the curvature of the front metal plate which
is thereby assisted to resist the pressure to which it is subjected.
Placed vertically behind the backing are battens such as are usual in washing
boards. The metal plate is prevented from working loose by the backing which is
at the sides let into the same grooves in which the plate is inserted.
board;
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 represents
in elevation the back of a metallic fronted washing-board constructed in accordance
with this invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section through the centre of the
and Fig. 3 shews a transverse section on the line A. A Figs. 1 and 2.
Immediately behind the serrated metal plate a, upon which the materials to be
washed are rubbed or chafed in process of washing, is placed a backing of wood
which, in the board illustrated, is composed of two staves b and b₁ arranged
horizontally, but which may be made in one piece or composed of more than two
staves, if desired.
The staves b and b¹ are made to conform to the curvature of the plate a, and
they are at the sides let into the same grooves of the side members of the frame c
which receive the sides of the plate.
The backing bb¹ serves to stiffen the plate a and to prevent it from buckling or
fracture under the pressure to which it is subjected in the process of washing.
It serves also to hold the plate firmly in the grooves of the frame.
Behind the backing are placed vertical battens & such as are usually employed
in metal fronted washing boards.
By the introduction of the backing bb the rigidity and durability of the
washing board are greatly increased. It is to be noted that in lieu of the battens d
and the backing
a solid piece shaped at the front to correspond with the
curvature of the plate a may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a metallic fronted washing board providing a backing of wood or other
suitable substance placed immediately behind the plate which forms the rubbing
or chafing surface and curved to conform to the curvature thereof whereby the
said plate is assisted to resist the pressure to which in the process of washing it is

page_text: subjected and is prevented from working loose in the grooves of the frame in
which the plate is at the sides inserted, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In a metallic fronted washing board the combination of a backing of wood or
other suitable substance to assist in resisting the pressure received by the front
plate, battens such as d for strengthening the board and preserving the curvature
of the front plate or the equivalent of such backing and battens, and frame c for
carrying the said plate and battens or their equivalent substantially as described
and shewn.