IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF LADDERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Patent Agent; for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF LADDERS."-A communication from abroad by Joseph
Bomblin. of Paris, France. Ladder Maker.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th August 1862:
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11,
Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF LADDERS," (a communication to me from abroad by Joseph
Bomblin, of Paris, France, Ladder Maker,) to be as follows:-
These improvements consist, firstly, in a sliding ladder formed of two straight
ladders, one of which is fixed and has grooved uprights or standards, the
other moveable with its uprights sliding in the grooves of the fixed ladder.
The moveable ladder is raised by a cord attached to its lowest round and
passing through a pulley in the topmost round of the fixed ladder; strong
hooks terminate the uprights of the moveable ladder

page_text: Secondly, in a sliding ladder resembling the one just described, but larger,
and the hooks replaced by an iron 8, by resting which on one of the rounds
of the fixed ladder the moveable ladder may be arrested at any desired point;
a strap or band unites the two ladders.
1
Thirdly, in a single ladder composed of two sliding ladders with iron 8, but
having a graduated piece or prolongation moving in two rings or guides, with
press screws fixed on one of the uprights; by lowering or raising this piece
the ladder may be brought to a horizontal position on a staircase or any
uneven surface. This ladder is also provided with a strap or band, and on
the top of the uprights are two wooden props against which another ladder
may rest, and so form a pair. -
--
Fourthly, in adapting the preceding to one side of an ordinary double
ladder by compasses and press screws...
Fifthly, in a ladder composed of two ordinary straight ladders, so arranged
that they may form one single ladder of twice the length, their combination
being secured by bolts passing through the uprights of both, and fixed by
winged nuts, the uprights-being strengthened by iron plates at the bolt
. holes.
Sixthly, in a ladder differing from the preceding only in being stronger and
consolidated by setting bolts and nuts:
Seventhly, in a double ladder, similar to that in ordinary use, excepting
that the wooden key is replaced by two compasses with press screws, which
arrangement permits one workman to fix the ladder with ease.
Eighthly, in a ladder differing from the preceding only in having at each
side two pieces united by press screws, which serve to give a different
-length to each side.
Ninthly, in a ladder composed of two sliding ladders (similar to that herein
secondly described) united at top by compasses with press screws, and the
feet resting on two carriages. mounted on rollers. The feet pivot on the
bolt by which they are fixed to a hinge on the carriages, which are kept
apart by a rack, and cach single ladder may have a strengthening piccc.on
each side of its uprights, and be bolted by these pieces to the hinges on
the carriages. This ladder may be rapidly dismounted and taken to pieces,
leaving only two ordinary sliding ladders.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th February 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the said
William Edward Gedge, iny executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as 1, the said William Edward Gedge, 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
lawfully might nake, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADDERS," a communication
to me from abroad by Joseph Bomblin, of Paris, France, Ladder Maker, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 per-
formed, 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 William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and
Diagrams placed thereon, Figure 1 shewing a sliding ladder specially adapted
for lighting gas lamps. It is formed of two ordinary straight ladders, one
being fixed and with grooved uprights, the other moveable with uprights, so
made as to slide in the grooves of the ladder first mentioned. The movement
of the ladders is effected by means of a cord attached to the lowest round
of the moveable ladder, and passing through a pulley on the topmost round
of the fixed ladder; the strong hooks on the top of the uprights of the

page_text: moveable ladder permit its being attached to the spot which it is desired
to attain. This ladder offers the advantage of reaching any desired height
without being embarassing, and will be found useful for many purposes other
than lamp lighting.
Figure 2 shews another description of sliding ladder for the use of painters
This ladder is, similar to the preceding, but of greater dimensions, and the
hooks being replaced by au iron S-shaped piece, which permits the move-
able ladder being arrested at any desired point by placing the S so that it has
a fulcrum on one of the rounds of the fixed ladder. The two ladders are
united by a band or strap attached to the last round of the fixed ladder to
give complete security. This ladder presents the same advantages as the
preceding.
Figure 3 shews a single-staircase ladder for the use of painters and others,
composed of two sliding ladders, with an iron S-shaped piece, but possessing,
in addition, a graduated lengthoning piece, moving or sliding in two rings or
guides furnished with press screws, and fixed on one of the uprights. This
modification permits the ladder being placed securely upright, and resting
horizontally on uneven ground; such as the steps of a staircase, as shewn. The
strap or band here renders the same service as in the preceding arrangement,
and wooden props or wedges on the top of the uprights permit the application
of a ladder on the other side, thus forming a double ladder, more commonly
termed a pair of steps.
Figure 4 shews a double ladder for staircases or pair of steps for the use of
painters. This pair of steps is formed by the adaptation to the preceding
ladder of one side of an ordinary pair of steps by means of the compass with
press screw, as shown, and presents the same advantages as to security, more
especially on staircases.
Figure 5 shews a single grafted ladder for. the use of painters. This ladder
is composed of two ordinary straight ladders, but so arranged that they may
form but one of double length. The strength of this combination is assured
by bolts with winged or finger nuts, the bolts passing through the. uprights
of both ladders, strengthened by iron plates where the bolts pass.
Figure 6 shews a single grafted ladder for the use of masons, differing from
the preceding only in its stronger make and larger size, setting bolts or bars
secured by nuts being placed at intervals to render it more solid.
Figure 7 shews a double grafted ladder for the use of painters, differing
from that shewn, Figure 8, in having on each side two parts of different
length joined by press screws, in order to obtain different lengths with, but
ittle and convenient apparatus.

page_text: Figure S shews an ordinary double ladder or pair of steps provided with a
compass or hinge with press screw. This arrangement is the same as in
ordinary use, excepting that the wooden key, which rendered its use difficult
and dangerous,is advantageously replaced by two compasses with press screws,
which permit this ladder to be handled with ease, and its two ends to be
properly fixed by a single workman. These compasses are placed inside the
ladder for convenience and to avoid friction (see the Figures where they are
shewn detached).
Figure 9 double sliding ladder or steps, having a carriage running on
castors. This ladder is composed, firstly, of two single sliding ladders similar
to those shewn, Figure 2, with pullies and S as well as straps. To form a
double ladder these are united at top by two compasses with press screws, and
to manoeuver this ladder more readily its feet rest on two carriages mounted
on rollers or castors, and each fixed thereto by a bolt and nut, around which
each single ladder may pivot, and be more or less inclined. The carriages are
kept apart by a rack, one of the two collars of which is furnished with a press
screw, which in entering the holes of a graduated plate screwed on to one of
the wooden blades or bars sets them the desired width apart. Further, one
of the single ladders has on either side its uprights a strengthening piece or
jamb with cross bar keeping them apart; these jambs rest on the carriage, and
are attached to hinged clamps or pivots by means of bolts and nuts. Each
jamb is secured at the top by a bolt and nut passing through the upright, and
at each cross piece securing the ladder at the proper width; there is also a
bolt passing through the upright, and fixed by a nut; consequently the two
strengthening jambs may be readily removed, as also the carriage, and by
then removing the two branches of the compasses there remains but two
simple sliding ladders. All the bolt holes are furnished with iron plates to
save the wood. The one of the carriages which is smaller adds to tho
convenience of this arrangement by permitting a nearer approach to any
desired point.
Figures 10 and 11 shew the union of four sliding ladders tied together and
strengthened by uprights and cross pieces, the top of the ladders supporting
a platform surrounded by a balcony, and forming scaffolding. The ladders
lengthen and consequently the scaffolding rises by the means already indicated,
namely, pullies and ropes, and they are upheld at the desired height by
S-shaped pieces of iron. Figure 10 indicates one of the two large sides of the
rectangle formed by the scaffolding, and Figure 11 one of the two smaller
sides. It will be understood that, with the exception of the platform and

page_text: railing, the parts shewn, Figure 11, are double, because they must be raised at
will, there is therefore a fixed part and a moveable one sliding in the first.
Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 shew details of the compasses with press
screws, and Figure 16 a guide or clamp with press screw.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have here-
uuto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.