IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES FOR USE AT SEA to be as follows:
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 27th Apr., 1889
I, HENRY BURRELL, of Gravesend, in the County of Kent, Retired Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES FOR USE
AT SEA to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates to a mechanical contrivance adapted to or forming part of,
dining and other tables for use on board Ship in rough weather.
The apparatus at present generally in use and known as "fiddles" is, in most cases,
detachable from the tables, and is only put on when the woather becomes rough, and
as the detached fiddles are often some of them broken, defective, or missing, and the
stewards at such times, viz.: when the weather is becoming rough, have more
demands for their services than they can attend to, there is often delay and incon-
venience in getting the fiddles fixed.
Now according to my invention I make the said fiddles or their equivalents, parts
of, or permanently attached to the table, in such manner that they may, when
required, be rendered available for the protection of the articles on the table, or be
rendered unnoticeable.
In one form of my invention 1 make the said fiddles of bars forming a frame which
I fix to the table in such manner that the same may lie in grooves or recesses in the
table, so that the tops of the fiddles are flush, or nearly so, with the top of the table,
and from which they may be raised above the level of the table for use when
necessary.
1 fix the said frame on two or more, preferably metal supports on each side,
according to the length of the frame, and make the lower part of such supports slide
or turn in or on their attachments to the frame of the table.
I balance the said frame and fittings by an appropriate counterpoise, or counter-
poises, which may conveniently be made to work within the legs of the table and I
prefer that such counterweights should be so adjusted that they will, when otherwise
uncontrolled, raise the fiddles above the surface of the table. When, therefore, it is
desired to lower them, it is only necessary to press them with the hand and secure
them, when down, with the appropriate fastener.

page_text: Thus when it is desired to bring the fiddles into use, it is only necessary to with-
draw the bolt, or fastener, and the fiddles will, by the action of the countorpoises at
once rise into position.
I arrange the supports by which the said fiddles are attached to the frame of the
table, so that room is left between them and the table top for the table cloth.
In a modified form of my invention I make the fiddle part of the fixed frame of the
table and cause the pannel or pannels forming the centro portion or portions of the
table to sink, when required, within the frame, leaving the frame raised to perform
the office of the ordinary fiddle.
In another modification of my invention I make the surface of the table in a series
of panels, each pannel being pivoted or otherwise made reversible, one side of such
reversible pannel being fitted with fixed fiddles, the other side presenting the plano
surface of an ordinary table.
Catches, or appropriate fastenings, are provided to prevent the pannels turning on
their pivots or otherwise moving other than when required.
It will be obvious that my invention admits of being ombodied in other modified,
or equivalent, or nearly equivalent arrangements and I do not confine myself to the
exact arrangements above described, but these are those which appear to me best
adapted for developing the full advantage and utility of my invention.
It will be readily understood that my invention will be of great advantage both to
the travelling public and the Stewards inasmuch as when the sea is freshening the
Stowards are very busy and it is in the midst of the attendant confusion, and theo
rolling of the Ship, that the fiddles are required, and the great inconvenience of
getting them fixed, as heretofore, is entirely removed by my system by which they
can be brought into action in a few moments.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HENRY BURRELL, of Gravesend, in the County of Kent, Retired Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES
TO BE USED AT SEA" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertai el in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to tables intended to be used as dining-tables and for similar
purposes at sea or wherever tables are subject to motion and more particularly to the
means for preventing the undue motion of plates, dishos and other articlos placed
thereon.
The apparatus at present generally in use for this purpose and known as "fiddles,"
consists of separate laths detachable from the tables, and is only put on when the
weather becomes rough, and as the detached fiddles are often some of them broken,
defective or missing, and the Officers and Stewards at such times viz.: when the
weather is becoming rough, have more demands for their services than they can
attend to, there is often delay and inconvenience in getting the fiddles fixed.
Now my Invention consists in making the fiddles an integral part of the table, but
so arranged in relation to the top of the table that by the relative or joint motion of
one or both, the fiddles may either be caused to lie flush with the surface of the
table so as to present a plain even surface, or nearly so, or may be caused to project
above the surface of the table top so as to afford the necessary support or control to
the plates, dishes &c.
It will be obvious that the construction of dining tables for use at sea or otherwise
where subjection to motion with the fiddles forming an integral and essential part of
the table above the top of which they may be made to project or not at pleasure,
adinits of considerable variety in the arrangements of the details, for instance the
fiddles may be made to lie in grooves in or through the table top and be raised so as
to project above it when required, or the fiddles may be made part of the fixed
frame of the table and the panel or panels forming the centre portion or portions
of the table-top may be arranged to sink when required within the frame, leaving
the frame unmoved, and therefore projecting above the panels, to perform the office of
the ordinary fiddles.
Another arrangement or modification by which my said invention may conveniently
be carried into effect is by making the surface of the table, if small, in one panel, or
if larger, in a series of panels, each panel being pivoted or otherwise made reversible,
one side of such reversible pauel being fitted with fixed fiddles, the other side
presenting a plain surface like an ordinary dining-table. In the accompanying
drawings the same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures in
which they appear. The form of table which I consider the best for the purpose and
to 5, in
the most perfect embodiment of my Invention is represented in Figs.
which Fig. 1, is a side elevation, the fiddles being shown in their lowest position and
part of the table being shown in section Fig. 2, is a similar elevation also partly in

page_text: section showing the fiddles raised as when in use. Fig. 3, is a plan view of the table,
part of the table-top being removed to show the construction of the parts beneath.
Fig. 4, is a transverse section of the same table with the fiddles down, taken one half
of it on the dotted line shown in Fig. 1, marked 1, 2, and the other half on the
line 1, 3. Fig. 5, is a similar soction showing the fiddlos up. A, indicates the face
or surface of the top of the table; B, the frame; C, the legs or standards thereof;
D, the deck or floor to which the table may preferably be fixed by screws d; and F,
the fiddles which consist of a frame dividing the table-top into, say three, spaces or
panels, and are made to lie when not wanted in recessos, or grooves, in or through the
table-top so as to lie flush with the surface of the table. e, e', are metal brackets
attached at their upper ends to the fiddles, and with their lower ends working in
guide-pieces attached to the frame of the table, so that they may slide up and down as
the fiddles are raised and lowered. Within each log or standard of the table is
suspended a counterpoise c, the weight of which I prefer should be just sufficient to
raise the fiddles when they are otherwise uncontrolled.
n
a is a chain or cord passing over the pulley band thence to the ring or link a¹, to
which two branch chains or cords are attached, one diverging to the right and the
other to the left over the pulleys b,, respectively and thence each chain or cord
passing over another pulley 6, is attached to an eye hear the lower end of each of the
brackets 2, the brackets supporting the fiddles at one end of the table being thus
connected to, and operated by, the weight in the leg or standard nearest that end of the
table. It will be obvious that such tables may be constructed with more or less than
two legs or standards and the arrangement varied accordingly, also that the weights
may be placed other than within the legs of the table.
el, e, are brackets similar to those marked e, working in similar slides but not
connected with the chains or cords or otherwi e with the counterpoises, and sorving
to support midway in their length, the fiddles at the sides of the table, and also to
secure the fiddles in position, either when raised or lowered, by means of a bolt e³
taking into either one or other of two recessus in the said bracket. The recesses or
grooves into which the fiddles may be lowered are made with their bottoms inclining
towards openings cut quite through.
I prefer that the counterpoises should be of such weight as just to raise the fiddles
without assistance when the slide bolts e, are withdrawn, and the fiddles may, con-
veniently, be arranged to rise a little higher than the position they are intended to
occupy in order that the cloth may be easily spread; they may then be pressed down
on the cloth and socnred there by means of the bolt e." When they are no longer
required the bolte, is withdrawn, the cloth removed, the fiddles pressed down with
the hand and the bolt e, again pushed forward to retain them.
Instead of the fiddles being raised by the action of counterpoises they may be made
to be raised by hand as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, in which instead of the chains or
cords by which the movements of the fiddles are governed being attached to weights,
they are attached to a spindle or spindles, the revolution of which winds up or un-
winds the same, and preferably, for that portion of the cord or chain which would
have to be wound on the spindle, a leather strap may be substituted, one end of
which is attached to the chain or cord and the other to the spindle round which the
strap becomes wound when the spindle is rotated.
In the drawings Fig. 6, is a plan view, part of the table top being removed to show
the mechanism beneath. Fig. 7, is a transverse section of tho sume taken on the
dotted line shown in Fig. 6, and marked 1, 2. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the same.
G indicates the handle by which the apparatus is operated and which fits into or on
to and engages with the spindle g, on which is keyed the spur wheel f. which drives
the wheels h, and the spindles hand to which they are rospectively koyed.
Leather straps, chains or cords or a combination thereof (the portion which becomes
coiled round the spindle being preferably of leather and the remainder of one of the
other materials as indicated in the drawings by the letters i, i) are attashed to the
spindles and are coiled around them when they are causod to rotate, these pass undor
the pullies ¹ (Fig. 7) and over the pullies and are attached to the brackets e. The

page_text: DOIT e by which the natuies are fixed ercher up or down HRY, CONCI
to engage with the spindle g.
It will be obvious that springs may be substituted for weights as the lifting power
and they may, conveniently, he placed, in the arrangement represented in Figs. 1 to 5
near the corners of the table and be connected to the lower part of the brackets e
and to the fixed parts of the frame; and in the reversed arrangement hereinafter
described and represented in Figs. 9 to 12 they may be placed under the cross
pieces H.
The above described arrangements may be varied by dispensing entirely with the
counterpoising mechanism and with the brackets e and e¹ thus making the fiddles
entirely detachable from the table top, but otherwise the same as above described and
shown in the drawings, and lying in grooves in the table top so as to form an integral
part thereof. Such a table is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7" and 8" in
which Fig. 1 is a plan view, with part of the table top removed to show the
mechanism beneath; Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the lifting mechanism
and Fig. 3, is a similar section showing the hooks by which the fiddles are held
when in use; Figs. 4ª, 5%, 6*, 7* and 8* represent details of the same and are drawn
to a larger scale.
A, indicates the face or surface of the top of the table; B, the frame; C, the legs;
D, the floor or deck; and F. the fiddles which in this drawing are shown dividing the
table top into seven panels, but the number and arrangement of the divisions forms
no essential part of the contrivance and may be varied according to the requirements
to be fulfilled. p is a bar having a rack on its upper edge and sliding horizontally in
bearings fixed to the frame of the table; is a knob or handle by which the said
bar is moved in order to raise or lower the fiddles; ", r, are pinions gearing with the
said rack and thus caused to revolve when the bar is moved to the right or left.
Keyed on to the same axle with each pinion r is an excentrics, shown more plainly
in Figs. 4, 5 and 6ª, in which Fig. 4" represents the position of the excentric when
the fiddles are lowered; that is to say when the tops of them are flush with the
surface of the table; Fig. 6, represents one of the excentrics in the position it assumes
when the fiddles are raised. t, t, are metal plates let into the lower surface of the
fiddles for the excentrics to work against; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of part
of the table frame showing the same parts; e, are hooks shown more plainly in
Figs. 7 and 8, the former figure showing the hook turned under the table when the
fiddles are not in use, and held there by the turn-button v', which passes through a
slot made for the purpose in the hook ; u is a hinge by which the book is attached
to the frame B. Fig. S shows the same parts with the fiddie raised and hook engaged
with the fiddle and supporting and holding it in place, the end of the hook being
made to pass into a slot in the fiddle.
In actual use, when the cloth is about to be spread, the steward or attendant will
seize the knob q and slide the bar p, horizontally in its hearings, thus raising the
fiddles to the position shown in Fig. 6. The fiddles may then be lifted entirely out
of their grooves and off the table, the cloth is then spread and the fiddles replaced
but on the cloth, the thickness of the cloth preventing the fiddles sinking back into
their grooves; the hooks are then released from the position shown in Fig. 7 by
turning their respective turn-buttons v parallel with the slot in the hook as shown in
Fig. 8, and the hook is turned on its hinge into the position shown in the same
figure and secured there by turning the turn-button v2. The bottom edges of the
fiddles may conveniently be rounded so as to prevent their damaging the table
cloth and the hooks may be arranged to hold the fiddles either tightly down on the
cloth, or, preferably, slightly raised from it.
It will be obvious that the lifting mechanism may be altogether dispensed with and
the fiddles be made to be lifted out of their grooves by means of sunk rings or flush
handles attached to them for the purpose.
Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, show how the arrangement first described may be reversed
by making the fiddles the fixed part, and causing the surface of the table to rise or
fall between them. For this purpose the table top is divided into say three panels as

page_text: shown in the drawings in which Fig. 9, is a plan view, part of the top being shown as
remove to enable the construction of the parts below to be sean. Fig. 10, is a
longitudinal section of the same one half being shown with the surface of the table
raised flush with the tops of the fiddles, the other half being shown with the surface
of the table lowered leaving the fiddles projecting above it. Fig. 11, is a transverse
section of the same with the surface of the table up, and Fig. 12, is a like section
with the surface of the table down. The panels are connected together by and firmly
attached to the brackets or supports H, each of which carries on its under surface a
downward projecting arm k, to which is attached a chain or cord or the like which
passes over two pullies and is attached to the weight which prefer should be
nearly, but not quite, heavy enough to raise the panels when they are otherwise free
to move.
1 provide flush handles l, one at each end of the middle panel, by means of which
the panels forming the table top can easily be raised or lowered. In this as in the
previously described arrangements, the cloth may be spread under the fiddles so as to
fie evenly over the sunken panols. The fiddles are supported on fixed brackets e.
A modification of my invention is shown in Figs. 13 and 14, in which the fiddles
form frames round each of the, say three panels, into which the table top is divided;
each panel is pivoted to the frame so that they may be turned completely over on their
longitudinal axes. Fig. 13, is a plan view, the side panels being shown with their
plain surfaces upwards, and the centre panel with the fiddle side upwards.
Fig. 14 is a section of the same taken on the dotted line 1, 2, Fig. 13.
m, m, are
the pivots working in suitable bearings. n, n are bolts for fixing the panels so that
they may not turn over when it is not desired. It will be seen in Fig. 14, that one
side of each panel is plain and when these sides are uppermost the table presents a
plain unbroken surface and that on the other side of the said panels the fiddles project
so that when this side is uppermost each panel is surrounded by its fiddle F.
The tops of the fiddles may be covered with strips of metal which may be nickle-
plated or otherwise plated or finished.
It will he readily understood that my invention will be of great advantage both to
the travelling public and the Officers and Stewards inasmuch as when the sea is
freshening the Officers und Stewards are very busy and it is in the midst of the atten-
dant confusion and the rolling of the ship that the fiddles are required, and the great
inconvenience of getting then fixed as heretofore is entirely removed by my system by
which they can be brought into action in a few moments and as they are therefore
likely to bo used much more frequently than the old fiddles a considerable saving will
be effected in the breakages of the table service.
It will be obvious that my Invontion admits of being embodied in modified, or
equivalent, or nearly equivalent, arrangements, and I do not confine myself to the
exact arrangements above described, but these are those which appear to me best
adapted for developing the full advantage and utility of my invention.
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:
1. In Tables for use at sen the combined fiddles and tablo such that by the relative,
or joint, motion of one or both, the fiddle may project above the table-top, or may lie
flush with it, so as to present a plain surface substantially as set forth.
2. Constructing Tables for use at sea with fiddles forming an integral part of the
table and capable of being raised for use or sunk into the table substantially as sot
forth.
3. Constructing tables for use at sea with fiddles F made to fit into grooves or recesses
provided for them in, or through, the table top A, and so that when not in use they
may be flush or nearly so with the top of the table and form part thereof, and when
required for use they ulanit of being raised, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of tho
Drawings.

page_text: 4. In tables for use at sen the combination of fiddles F attached to the table and
forming an integral part thereof and which lie in grooves or recessos in or through
the table-top A, with balance weights c preferably within the legs or standards of the
table by which the raising and lowering of the fiddles is facilitated substantially as
described and shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
5. Constructing tables for use at sea in which fiddles attached to the table and
forming an integral part of the table lio in grooves or recesses in or through the table-
top combined with nieans by which the fiddles may be raised or lowered by means of
a rotary motion communicated to a spindle or spindles h2, h3, by means of a winch G,
or equivalent substantially as described and shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
6. Constructing tables for use at sea in which the surface of the table is formed into
a panel or panels and arranged either with counterpoises, or without, in such manner
that the panel may, by any suitable arrangement be lowered, so as to leave the fixed
parts or frame projecting above and forming guards or fiddles to prevent plates and
the like slipping unduly, or may he raised so as to be flush with the top of the fixed
parts and form a plain table substantially as described and shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11
and 12.
7. Constructing tables for use at sea with the tops thereof formed with a panel or
panels pivoted in such manner that each panel may be completely turned over, each
panel being surrounded by a frame flush on one side with the surface of the panel and
projecting on the other sido so as to form fiddles substantially as described and shown
in Figs. 13 and 14.