IMPROVEMENTS IN CARS, CARRIAGES, OR OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Kirk, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent,
Contractor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARS, CARRIAGES,
OR OTHER VEHICLES."
Sealed the 8th June 1869, and dated the 12th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kirk at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
April 1869.
I, JOHN KIRK, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, Contractor, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CABS, CARRIAGES, OR OTHER VEHICLES," to be as follows:-
.This Invention relates to the novel and peculiar application and use of
a movable hood or covering to be attached to cabs or other vehicles, in
order to protect the passengers from rain or other inclement weather,
and to give increased internal accommodation by enclosing the footboard
with side doors and front rails to receive the side and front of the hood
which shuts down upon them.

page_text: The moveable hood is constructed with a circular sliding sash front
with side spandrels attached thereto, all constructed of wood or metal,
and glazed and hung from the points of the spandrels with metal centres
and counterpoise weights working inside the cab, and fitted with lever
handles, and grooved quadrants, and studs, or with fly nuts for the
adjustment of the hood, which, when the cab or other vehicle is open,
is immediately under the roof, and when the cab or other vehicle is
closed, shuts down upon the front rail and the tops of the side doors in
weather or water-tight grooves. The front rail is attached to the back
of the shafts, and is connected with the sides of the shafts by iron stays
and the spandrels and front filled in with a leather covering. The ends
of the front rails are likewise supported by the hanging "styles," to
which the doors (which are fastened with a spring slide bolt) are
hung so as to open inwards and close against metal stops fixed to the
sides of the cab or vehicle.
The cabman' or driver's seat is constructed with a sliding adjustment
made so as to counterbalance the overplus weight of luggage (for
example) in the fore part of a cab, or in descending hills or other decli-
vities. The sliding adjustment is composed of two slotted iron plates
and studs working in the slots, so as to guide and regulate the seat as
may be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Kirk in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
KIRK, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, Contractor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Kirk, Her special licence that I, the
said John Kirk, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Kirk, 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

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN CABS, CARRIAGES, OR OTHER VEHICLES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Kirk, 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 Kirk, 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, and on reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say:
This Invention relates to the novel and peculiar application and use
of a movable hood or covering to be attached to cabs or other vehicles,
in order to protect the passengers from rain or other inclement weather,
and to give increased internal accommodation by enclosing the footboard
with side doors and front rails to receive the sides and front of the hood
which shuts down upon them.
The movable hood is constructed with a circular sliding sash front
with side spandrels attached thereto, all constructed of wood or metal,
and glazed and hung from the points of the spandrels with metal
centres and counterpoise balance weights or springs working inside the
cab, and fitted with lever handles, and grooved quadrants, and studs, or
with fly nuts for the adjustment of the hood, which, when the cab or
other vehicle is open, is immediately under the roof, and when the cab
or other vehicle is closed, shuts down upon the front rail and the tops of
the side doors in weather or water-tight grooves. The front rail is
attached to the back of the shafts, and is connected with the sides of the
shafts by iron stays, and the spandrels and front filled in with a leather
covering. The ends of the front rails are likewise supported by the
hanging "styles," to which the doors (which are fastened with
5 spring slide bolts) are hung so as to open inwards and close against
metal stops fixed to the sides of the cab or vehicle.
The cabman' or driver's seat is constructed with a sliding adjustment
made so as to counterbalance the overplus weight of luggage (for example)

page_text: in the fore part of a cab, or in descending hills or other declivities. The
sliding adjustment is composed of two slotted iron plates and studs
working in the slots, so as to guide and regulate the seat as may be
required.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improve-
ments in Cabs, Carriages, or other Vehicles," I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may
be distinctly understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with Figures and letters
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof, that is to say :-
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 represents a
central longitudinal section of a "Hansom" cab constructed according
to and fitted with my improvements; Figure 2 is a transverse vertical
section of the same through the line A, B, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan
view of part of the improvements; Figure 4 is a front elevation of a
"Hansom" cab provided with my improvements. The above-named
Figures are all drawn to a scale of one-eighth the full size.
Figure 5 is an enlarged section of the quadrant or rack f, herein-after
described.
a' is the movable hood constructed with the circular sliding sash
front a and glazed spandrels 6 which are hung from the points of the
spandrels with metal centres c, and are provided with counterpoise
balance weights d (or with springs), working in the interior of the
vehicle, and fitted with lever handles e, and grooved quadrants f
(see Figure 5) and studs, or with fly nuts for the proper adjustment of
the hood. The hood a¹ when the cab (or other vehicle to which it is
attached) is open is immediately under the roof, (see dotted lines
Figure 1,) and when the vehicle is required to be closed it shuts down
upon the front rail 9 (see Figures 1, 2, and 4) and the tops of the side
doors (Figure 1) in weather or water-tight grooves. The rail g, is
attached to the back of the shafts and connected to the sides of the same
by iron stays i, j, (Figure 1) the spandrels and front being filled in with
a leather covering k, the ends of the front rails are likewise supported by
the hanging "styles" (Figure 1) to which the doors h are hung
(Figure 2), these open inwards and close against metal stops m fixed to
the sides of the cab or other vehicle. The doors h fasten with a spring

page_text: slide bolt n. is the driver's scat which is made and fitted so as to
counterbalance the overplus weight of luggage (for example) in the fore
part of the vehicle, or in descending hills or other declivities. The sliding
adjustment (which may be fitted thereto or not as desired) is composed
of two slotted iron plates o, and studs p, which work in the slots so as to
guide and regulate the seat as may be required.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
'Improvements in Cabs, Carriages, or other Vehicles," 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 the general construction, adaptation, and application to a
"Hansom " cab, carriage, or other vehicle of the improvements hercin-
before described and shewn on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
particularly the movable hood and parts appertaining thereto, and the
sliding adjustment fitted to the driver's seat, all for the purposes above
set forth, or any mere modification thereof acting in the same or a similar
manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Kirk, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
1, Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.
JOHN KIRK. (L.S.)