IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTISTS' COMBINED EASEL AND SEAT
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Herbert Francis Hayes Newington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1883.
HERBERT FRANCIS HAYES NEWINGTON of Ticehurst in the County of Sussex
" IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTISTS' COMBINED EASEL AND SEAT"
My Invention has for its objects increased strength and rigidity combined with
compactness, lightness and simplicity of construction together with increased
facility for taking apart for packing or repairs.
In carrying out my Invention I construct the seat of the easel of wood in the
form of an open frame consisting of slats or strips kept in position and apart by
studs so as to leave a space between the slats of say about 11 inches. To the
underside of each slat or strip of wood and at a short distance from each end
thereof are metal rings through which are passed two metal rods provided with
shoulders or heads at one end and at the opposite end with a screw thread to
receive a nut by which the seat and supports are held securely together.
Two hind legs and two fore legs are respectively centred to the two metal rods
so as to be capable of being turned thereon for the purpose of folding the
apparatus for transport the legs of each pair being connected rigidly together by
light iron tie rods.
The lower ends of the hind legs are connected to the rod under the front part
of the seat when in use, by two light bars of wood one end of each is carried'
beyond the above mentioned pin and is provided with holes to receive a stud or
pin for the purpose of supporting the easel at convenient angles as hereinafter
described. The hind legs of the seat are arranged in a vertical or nearly vertical
position when the apparatus is in use so as to take the principal weight and to
afford a firm support to the artist or person using it whilst the front legs are
arranged to extend outwards at the bottom so as to afford a good support to the
easel and the drawing board or canvas placed thereon.
The front legs are kept in position by light metal rods connected to the front
legs and to the light wooden connecting bars hereinbefore referred to whereby
increased rigidity to the seat is obtained.
The easel consists of two upright pieces of wood connected together by two
transverse pieces let into and screwed to the back thereof. A central sliding piece is
provided having a slot through which is passed a binding screw for the purpose of

page_text: securing the sliding piece to one of the said transverse pieces at any desired
elevation to support the work which work is further supported on pins or studs
inserted in holes provided for the purpose in the side strips or upright pieces.
The easel is fitted to turn on the front metal rod hereinbefore described which
connects the frame of the seat together and may be fixed at convenient angles by
a stud or pin inserted in the holes in the light wooden tie rods herein beforo
referred to which connect the lower ends of the hind legs to the front part of the
seat when in use.
The parts of the apparatus are so connected together as to be capable of being
folded into a very small space, the parts when folded lying side by side in one and
the same plane; whilst, for the purpose of packing away or for repairs it can be
easily taken apart and be packed in a very small compass.