AN IMPROVED DESK FOR USE IN SCHOOLS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: We GEORGE MENCE HAMMER and EDWARD JOHN HAMMER trading as Geo.
M. Hamner & Co of 370 Strand London in the County of Middlesex School
Furnishers do hereby declare the nature of our Invention for AN IMPROVED DESK
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES to be as follows:-
Whereas in an ordinary School Desk the Writing slope is fastened to the Flat
piece which holds the Inkwells etc. we make them quite seperate and fasten the
writing slope to Brackets, which, working on Centres, Hinges or pins, can be pushed
from the Scholar to allow room for standing or pulled towards him to write upon.
When pushed away the writing slope becomes a flat table, passing either over or
under the flat piece which holds the Inkwells.
GEORGE MENCE HAMMER.
EDWARD JOHN HAMMER.
We GEORGE MENCE HAMMER and EDWARD JOHN HAMMER trading as Geo.
M. Hammer & Co. of 370 Strand in the City of Westmin-ter School Furnishers do
hereby declare the nature of our Invention for AN IMPROVED DESK FOR USE IN
SCHOOLS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of our invention is to make a desk which shall possess the following

page_text: The desk board or writing slope to be an unbroken surface, without joint, placed
at a proper angle, and its edge brought nearly perpendicular to the edge of the
seat, to prevent stooping on the part of the scholar when writing.
Sufficient room between desk and seat for the scholar to stand up.
A flat table for drawing and kindergarten exercises.
Inkwells covered when not in use.
For these purposes we make the desk board separate from the rail that holds the
inkwells, and fix it to brackets or loose parts of the standards, which working on a
pivot, pin, or hinge, placed more than 12 inches below the desk board, allows the
latter to be pushed backward or brought forward as may be required.
These particulars are further explained and set forth in the accompanying
drawing in which A. represents the seat.
B. the bracket.
S. the standard.
C. the pivot, pin, or hinge on which the bracket works.
D. the desk board fixed to the bracket B.
E. shelf to hold books etc.
F. Footrail.
I. the rail in which the inkwells are sunk.
Fig. 1. shows the desk board (D) pushed back to allow room between it and the
seat (A) for scholars to enter and stand. In this position it covers the inkwells
and forms a flat table for Drawing and kindergarten exercises.
Fig. 2. shows the desk board (D) brought forward for writing, its edge being
nearly perpendicular to the seat (A) and the inkwells uncovered for use.
A small catch at G holds the desk board in either position.
Two modifications of these arrangements may be made, viz, the desk board may
be made to pass under, instead of over the inkwell rail, or the desk board aud
inkwell rail may be fastened together or made in one piece to move backwards and
forwards together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
The fixing of the desk board to brackets or loose portions of the standards,
working on pivots, pins or hinges, in such a manner that it may be brought towards
the scholar when used for writing, or pushed back to allow room for standing
between it and the seat.