Improvements in Picture Brackets or Rests.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Picture Brackets or Rests.
PETER JOHNSON 91 Inkerman Street off Collyhurst Road Manchester do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the providing means whereby pictures may be supported
on walls is entirely independent of the methods adopted in hanging same, and to
facilitate fixing, and consists in making strips or plates of metal of suitable shape
to be nailed to the walls; with projections to form ledges on which the pictures
may rest relieving the strain on the cords and preventing wall paper being dis-
figured by the bottom edges of the pictures. These plates or strips may be made
in one or more pieces either by stamping long shaped blanks and bending them to.
the required angles or the projecting ledges may be made separate and fastened to
the back plate. A convenient way of making is to cut a blank of metal (preferably
sheet brass) similar to a capital letter M the legs of which bent outwards form the
ledges on which the picture may rest whilst the top part being left solid may be
pierced with holes for the necessary nails, or the ledges inay be left the full width
of the metal instead of being cut as above or strong brass wires may be used to
form the ledges of the holder or bracket firmly secured to the back plate. A small
hook may be formed on the underside of the brackets to suspend smaller pictures
whilst not interfering with its ordinary use. For very heavy pictures these
brackets may be made in cast brass or cut from steel plates and covered with orna-
mental brass sheet or the steel plates may be polished and covered with a coating
of brass or nickel silver by electro deposition.
I do not confine myself to any particular form or shape as it may be modified in
various ways, as for instance they may be cut from circular oblong or other shaped
pieces and may be ornamented in any of the usual methods of ornamenting brass-
work, such as by stamping floral or other patterns or by the addition of china roses
in any convenient position.
Dated this 19th 2
ST1005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Picture Brackets or Rests.
I, PETER JOHNSON 36 Anslou Street latę 91 Inkerman Street Rochdale Road
Manchester Ironmongers Assistant do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its objects (1) the construction of supports or rests in such
a manner as to prevent the wall being disfigured by the bottom edge of picture
(2) for relieving the strain on the cords (3) for making provision to hang a smaller
picture in combination without interfering with its use as a bracket or support
(4) and to provide means also for exhibiting title tickets or numbers in combination
with the picture support.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
methods of carrying out my invention and the various modifications of the same.
Figs. (1 & 2) represent one pattern of picture support with protection plate for
preventing the bottom edge of picture from coming into contact with the wall,
having two ledges on which the picture may rest, and hook for hanging smaller
picture formed out of one piece of metal.
Figs. 3 and 4 another pattern of support with two ledges as above, and button

page_text: like projection instead of hook for hanging smaller picture formed from one piece
of metal.
Figs. 5 and 6 represent another pattern of combination support with means to
hang smaller picture.
Figs. 7 and
represent a picture support with protection plate, one ledge only,
and projection for hanging smaller picture formed from one piece of metal.
Figs. 9 and 10 represent the support with protection plate, one ledge, and button
like projection for hanging smaller picture formed from a square shaped blank.
Figs. 11 and 12 and 13 represent the same as 9 and 10 but are shewn cut from a
circular blank.
Figs. 14 and 15 represent a support with protection plate and ledge of bracket
shape, the bottom portion being turned up to form the hook or projection on which
to hang the smaller picture, made from one piece of metal.
Figs. 16 and 17 represent a support similar to 14 and 15 but with the addition of
a clip or ticket holder formed underneath made from one piece of metal.
Figs. 18 and 19 represent a support similar to Figs. 14 and 15 but with the
addition of ticket holder between the ledge and hook.
Figs. 20 and 21 represent a support provided with ledge and hook of wire firmly
secured to the hackplate.
Figs. 22 and 23 another pattern as 20 and 21.
Figs. 24 and 25 represent a support with ledge and hook of wire attached to two
separate back-plates.
Figs. 26 and 27 represent a support with ledge and hook cut out of backplate,
and provided with a china, wood, or metal rose.
Figs. 28 and 29 represent a support with ledge and protection plate formed by
turning the top part of a longitudinal piece of metal downwards and the hanger
formed by bending the bottom part upwards, thus forming a support for the
ledge.
Figs. 30 and 31 represent a support with ledge and protection plate only, the
ledge being the full width of the metal bent to a suitable angle.
In the following details the same letters refer to the same portions on each set of
drawings, but are distinguished from each other by the small numbers a 1, a 2,
etcetera.
In Figs. 1 and 2. a. represents the wall protection plate, so named because it is
the portion of support which prevents contact of the picture with the wall, b, b, the
projecting ledges on which the picture may rest; the projection for the reception
of the cord of smaller picture; d portion of back plate.
Holes are provided in all the different patterns to receive suitable nails for
fixing, in the case of Figs. 1 and 2 such holes would be pierced in portions
marked a. and d, and in the other patterns in any convenient position.
In using the modification as shewn at Fig. 3 and 4, instead of protection plate a 1
being the full width of the support, I turn the sides downwards and outwards,
forming the ledges 1, 1; the portion a forming the protection plate, the button
like projection e 1 being cut out of the backplate and turned to a suitable angle or
curve.
In hanging a picture the cord would pass over shank e. on projection cl.
In making and using the modification represented at Figs. 5 and 6 I cut or stamp
the ledges 62 from the centre of protection plate, and bend downwards to suitable
angle or curve.
I cut 2 pieces of metal from the sides, of the shape shewn at Fig. 54; and turn
up the remainder forming a shank e. thereby; between the backplate, d 1., and
projection c 2, over which the picture cord passes.
b
In using the modification represented at Fig. 7 and 8 I cut or stamp the ledge 3
and hanger c 3 from centre of protection plate, and bend them outwards in suitable
positions.
In using the modification shewn at Figs. 9 and 10 I cut or stamp the ledge 64
and hanger c4 at opposite angles of a square shaped blank,

page_text: In using the modification shewn at Figs. 11, 12 and 13, of which Fig. 11 is plan
of Fig. 12, and Fig. 13 section of Fig. 12 in elevation, I cut or stamp the ledge 5
and hanger c5 from a circular blank, Fig. 11 shewing the plan of the projections of
the ledge 5 with hanger c5 underneath.
In the modification represented at Figs. 14 and 15, ledge 66 is made the entire
width of the metal and is made of a bracket shape, the hanger being shewn by c6.
The modification represented at Figs. 16 and 17 is similar to 14 and 15, but with
the addition of a clip or ticket holder, f. formed below the hanger e 7; in Figs. 18
and 19 the clip or ticket holder, 1. is made between the ledge 67 and hanger 8.
This ticket holder is intended to provide means for exhibiting a nameplate or
catalogue number, or for other similar purpose, and may be made by cutting strips
from the front of support as at f1, or in other suitable manner.
Figs. 20 and 21 refer to the pattern in which the ledge 8 and hook. c 9. is made
of wire and secured to the wall plate a; and Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25, shew two
other methods of using the wires to form the ledges 69 and 610 and hook, c 10
and c 11. I do not confine myself to these patterns of wires as various shapes
equally well suitable suggest themselves. As will be seen at Figs. 20 and 24 the
wire or wires are secured to the back or wall plate a; such fastening may be done
in any of the usual methods, either by brazing, soldering, rivetting or otherwise.
In Figs. 22 and 23 the wire is secured to back plate by passing it through loops
stamped in the back plate, the ends of wire being turned downwards and brought
past the top loops.
In Figs. 24 and 25 the wires are secured by the sides of the protection plate
being coiled over them, (the ledge of which is indicated by 10 and the hook
by c11) in the manner shewn by sectional drawing Fig. 244.
In using the modification represented by Figs. 26 and 27, addition is made of
rose H, of china, wood, or metal, attached to the hook c by means of a slot J in the
back of the rose H, in Fig. 264; through which part of the hook is passed and
bent over. The cord hangs behind the rose I resting on the hook c.
Figs. 28 and 29 is a modification which is made from a longitudinal strip of
metal, the top of which is bent as shewn and provides a protection plate a 7 and
ledge 11, the reverse end of the strip being bent upwards to meet the ledge,
forming stay K to the ledge. The ledge 11 being bent downwards slightly,
covers the end of stay K. The stay may be left so that it may be pressed back-
ward to allow the picture cord to pass over and hang from the bottom of stay K.
Figs. 30 and 31 represent a simple bracket only, with ledge 12 and protection
plate, a 8, without provision for hanging smaller pictures.
This pattern may be used simply as shewn on drawing or may be made in pairs
the ledges of which are cut at opposite angles, in which case one of the plates
would be tacked to the back of bottom edge of picture, the projecting portion
resting on the similar portion on its counterpart which is nailed to the wall.
In the foregoing description the different portions described as "hangers" "hook"
and "button shaped projections" are all intended to describe the portion which is
provided to hang smaller pictures beneath the ordinary support. In every case
where the words "ledge" or "ledges" are used they are intended to describe that
part of the support on which the picture must rest, and where the words "back
plate" or "wall plate" appear they mean that portion of support which receives
the nail holes and which is nailed to the wall, the portion above the "ledges"
being described as protection plate."
I do not confine myself to any particular shape or pattern as it will be readily
seen from Figs. 9 and 10, and 12 and 13, that the same projections can be cut from
differently shaped metal blanks.
In some cases prefer to make the ledges and hooks separately and fasten them
to the back plate; or for very heavy pictures I prefer to make the bracket or
supports in cast brass or cut them from steel plates, and cover them with ornamental
brass sheet; or the steel plates may be polished and covered over with a coating of
brass, or nickel silver by electro deposition; also they may be ornamented in any

page_text: of the usual methods of ornamenting brass or other metal work, such as by stamping
floral or other patterns; or the addition of china, wood or metal roses or rosettes, in
any convenient position.
Size is of very little importance in this invention as they may be varied to suit
any class or weight of picture.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The making of picture supports in the manner illustrated and described.
2nd. In making a picture support having a ledge or ledges on which the picture
may rest.
3rd. In a picture support having a plate to prevent the bottom edge of picture
coming into contact with the wall and disfiguring or abrading the wall. paper
or wall.
4th. In a picture support or rest having in combination a hook whereby a smaller
picture may be hung.
5th. In a picture support or rest having in combination a button like or other
suitable projection to receive cord of smaller picture.
6th. In a picture support or rest having in combination a china, wood or metal
rose attached to the hanger by a loop.
7th. In a picture support or rest having in combination a china, wood or metal
rose attached to the backplate in any suitable position.
8th. In a picture support in combination having suitable clips to hold tickets or
numbers.
Dated this Tenth day of September 1892.
TETER JOHNSON