IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street, in.
the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS."-A com-
munication from Frederick Seiler.
Sealed the 23rd June 1857, and dated the 30th December 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th December 1856.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS,"
(communicated to me by Frederick Seiler, a foreigner residing abroad,) to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists in the method of constructing houses, cottages,
châlets, and other buildings in wood, in such manner that they may be readily
erected, taken to pieces, and as readily re-erected.
Posts are first driven into the earth to support just above the level of the
ground, frame joists, each of which projects at the corners beyond the sides of
the intended building. Upon the frame joists uprights are fitted, and upon
them cross beams, parallel with the first-named joists, are employed to support

page_text: the other storey or the roof, according to whether there are to be one or two
stories. Flooring is laid down upon the frame joists, and the building may be
separated into compartments or chambers, as required, by upright panelling.
The slides are formed by sliding or adjustable deals or other boards. The
roofs are supported by the upper cross beams, and are made to overhang the
structure on all sides, so as to keep the rain therefrom.
For summer houses and others which are to be frequently moved, the
uprights are borne by metal shafts or blocks, the lower ends of which rest in
or upon extended metal cups or plates. These metal shafts are capable of
being raised or lowered by screw adjustments, to allow of the floor of the house
being placed level, notwithstanding any slight irregularities in the surface of
the ground. Spaces for door and window frames are left on the outside plank-
ing or walls and partitions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th June 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of No. 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE HOUSES AND OTHER BUILD-
INGS," (a communication from Frederick Seiler, a foreigner residing abroad,)
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Archibald
Brooman, 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

page_text: same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed
(that is to say)
This Invention consists in the method of constructing houses, cottages,
chalets, and other buildings in wood, in such manner that they may be readily
erected, taken to pieces, and as readily re-erected. Posts are first driven into
the earth to support, just above the level of the ground, frame joists, each of
which projects at the corners beyond the sides of the intended building. Upon
the frame joists uprights are fitted, and upon them cross beams, paréllel with
the first-named joists, are employed to support the upper storey or the roof,
according to whether there are to be one or two stories. Flooring is laid
down upon the frame joists, and the building may be separated into compart-
inents or chambers, as required, by upright panelling. The sides are formed by
sliding or adjustable deals or other boards. The roofs are supported by the
upper cross beams, and are made to overhang the structure on all sides, so as
to keep the rain therefrom.
:
For summer houses and others which are to be frequently moved, the
uprights are borne by metal shafts or blocks, the lower ends of which rest in
or upon extended metal cups or plates. These metal shafts are capable of
being raised or lowered by screw adjustments, to allow of the floor of the
house being placed level, notwithstanding any slight irregularities in the surface
of the ground. Spaces for door and window frames are left in the outside
planking or walls and partitions.
In carrying the Invention into effect, the parts of the improved buildings
are so arranged that the play which is sure to take place between them shall
be unattended by injury to the structure, and that carved and other ornaments
may be tastefully applied to the structures without diminishing their solidity.
To prevent injury resulting from the play of the parts, nearly all the main
pieces that compose the buildings are laid across and scored into each other, as
shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the Drawings hereunto annexed. The posts
of the doors and windows and at the angle of the buildings are tenoned into
the horizontal pieces in such manner as to play easily one within the other,
as shown at A in the cross section, Figure 4, and the elevation, Figure 5, in
order that as the building settles gradually under the weight of the roof, &c.,

page_text: the parts will remain always close.] The combination of parts shown on Fig. 3
and in section in Figure 4 affords facility for obtaining projections on which
ornaments may be applied at will. The perspective view, Figure 2, and the
section, Figure 4, show at B dowels or pins which connect the adjacent
horizontal boards or planks D, and prevent them from twisting or separating,
and at C, the tongue pieces and grooves used to make the joints weather-
tight. The roofs project to any required extent, and are supported by brackets
or supports placed one upon the other, and connected as shewn at Figure 2.
Figure 6 shews a portion of the interior wainscotting, with its moulding.
This wainscotting slides behind the cornice applied to the ceiling.
Figure 7 is a specimen of a portable house, constructed as before described.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the construction
of portable houses and other buildings, as herein-before described and re-
presented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)