AN. IMPROVED CHOPPING BLOCK FOR BUTCHERS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Powell, of No. 30, Prince's Terrace, Regent's
Park, London, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN.
IMPROVED CHOPPING BLOCK FOR BUTCHERS."
Sealed the 29th August 1868, and dated the 16th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Powell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
March 1868.
I, THOMAS POWELL, of No. 30, Prince's Terrace, Regent's Park, London, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED CHOPPING BLOCK FOR BUTCHERS," to be as follows:-
The improvement consists principally in forming such chopping blocks of a
combination of iron and wood, whereby they are rendered much more sightly
and portable than the solid wooden blocks hitherto employed. The lower part
or stem of the block is composed of a hollow cylinder or pedestal of cast iron
openwork, having projections in the interior towards the top so as to receive
and support a slab of wood about six inches thick, more or less. Castors
may be affixed to the lower part of the pedestal for convenience of removal.
The whole construction may be of a circular, oblong, rectangular, or other
convenient shape, and forms a light ornamental chopping block, much more
convenient than and answering all the purposes of the heavy unsightly solid
wooden block now in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Powell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
POWELL, of No. 30, Prince's Terrace, Regent's Park, London, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Thomas Powell, Her special license that I, the said
Thomas Powell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Powell, my executors, administrators, or 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
"AN IMPROVED CHOPPING BLOCK POR BUTCHERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Powell, 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 mouths next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Powell, 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 in writing, that is to say:
The improvement consists principally in forming such chopping blocks of a
combination of iron and wood, whereby they are rendered much more sightly.
and portable than the solid wooden blocks hitherto employed at the same time
that the material (ash) of which they are made is considerably economised.
In one modification of my Invention the lower part or stem of the block is
composed of a hollow cylinder or pedestal of cast-iron openwork, having pro-
jections in the interior towards the top so as to receive and support a slab of
wood about six inches thick, more or less. Castors may be affixed to the
lower part of the pedestal for convenience of removal.

page_text: I may here remark, that although ordinary cast iron may be used for the
stem or pedestal of my improved chopping blocks, yet I prefer the use of
malleable cast iron as more suitable and less liable to fracture from the blows
of the chopper.
The whole construction may be of a circular, oblong, rectangular, or other
convenient shape, and forms a light ornamental chopping block, much more
convenient and economical than and answering all the purposes of the heavy
unsightly solid wooden block now in use.
The block itself is made of the usual stump end of ash, but one of the
ordinary solid blocks will cut into slabs for two or three blocks of my improved
construction. If the wood is cut across the grain it should be about ten inches
thick, but it may be used thinner if it is encircled by an iron band to prevent
it from splitting. If the slab is cut lengthways of the grain about six or eight
inches will be thick enough. Instead of having a cylindrical stem for a round
block the stem or pedestal may be in the form of a tripod, with a ring at the
top to receive the block, or with top and bottom ring connected by three or
more uprights, and either with or without diagonal stays or struts to support
the centre of the block or slab. Whatever the form of the block or slab and
its stem or support may be the latter is furnished with a rim all round the top,
and three or more lugs or projections to screw the block or slab to. The
support for rectangular blocks may be made of four ornamental legs connected
by scrollwork, having a similar rim and projections. When the upper face of
the block or slab has become much worn it can be detached from the stem or
support and fixed in a reversed position, so as to present a fresh surface.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for "An
Improved Chopping Block for Butchers," together with the manner in which
the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would
remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention forming an improved
chopping block for butchers by combining a slab of wood with a malleable or
other cast-iron stem or support, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Powell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
THO. POWELL. (L.S.)