IMPROVEMENTS IN COFFINS AND IN HEARSES, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN RECEPTACLES FOR COFFINS FOR THEIR TRANSMISSION
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Robert Abraham, of No. 11, Howard
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COFFINS AND IN HEARSES, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN
RECEPTACLES FOR COFFINS FOR THEIR TRANSMISSION."
Sealed the 23rd May 1854, and dated the 23rd November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Robert
Abraham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd November 1858.
J, HENRY ROBERT ABRAHAM, of No. 11, Howard Street, Strand, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COFFINS AND IN HEARSES, AND IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RECEPTACLES FOR COFFINS FOR THEIR TRANSMISSION," to be as
follows:-
The improvement in coffins consist in making them stronger, more
durable, more impervious to air and moisture, and more portable
than the ones now in ordinary use, and also cheaper. The most
simple mode of manufacture and form of the new coffin is that with a
foundation or core or basis of straw, reeds, lath work, or other open
worked framing, strengthened with metal hooping, which serves also to

page_text: secure the lid, incased or encrusted with a concrete of bituminous or
other cementitious mixture, which becomes perfectly hard, strong, and
impervious soon after its application, and this cement is worked to a
smooth face externally, and is capable of being lined with a felted or
soft material inside; the lid is made of similar materials, and is capable
of being cemented down as well as secured by metallic bands and
other means. On the lid of the coffin may be impressed or painted
or marked the name and other particulars of and concerning the
deceased. A more expensive and ornamental coffin is made on a
similar foundation or core, or on metalic wire or thin metalic hooping,
encased in a similar manner to the last mentioned in bituminous
or other cement, and lined with a soft substance. The external
finishing may be of an ornamental character, in colors or black and
white, in appropriate devices, either stincilled, painted, printed, inlaid,
or depressed. Another mode is to use felted substances, canvass, or
leather, properly prepared, for the external covering. The lid is
cemented on and secured with metallic bands of an ornamental
character. These coffins are to be of the rudimentary form of the
corpse, but not confined to this shape. A valve opening externally
and regulated by spring or weight is designed to be placed in coffins,
to prevent their bursting from the accumulation of gases evolved from
the body.
The receptacles are to be separate cases, which will form a temporary
depositary for the coffins when being transmitted for interment; these
will have locks or fastenings, the keys of which will be entrusted to the
relatives or others in charge of the deceased, and the keys and the
receptacles will be numbered or distinguished alike, and the key shall
fit only the receptacle so similarly marked, so that if many corpses
travel together no mistake may arise in selecting the right corpse for
the mourner, but on the arrival of the corpse by train or otherwise
the receptacle will be unlocked and the body delivered. It is proposed
that these receptacles shall run on friction rollers or small wheels, and
be of a size and form to fit into the cells of a hearse or carriage con-
structed to receive several of them.
The improved hearse is made to run either on two or four wheels, and
it is divided into several cells or compartments to receive coffins or their

page_text: receptacles; and to facilitate the labor of placing the coffins or recep-
tacles in the hearse, and in taking them out thereof, the shelves or
bearers are hung in a manner which permits their being lowered and
raised with facility by lever or other mechanical means, and the body
of the hearse is made moveable, so as to shift readily on to a railway
carriage, on which it can be fastened and conveyed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Robert Abraham in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
HENRY ROBERT ABRAHAM, of No. 11. Howard Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
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WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May in the
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Robert Abraham, Iler special
licence that I, the said Henry Robert Abraham, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Robert
Abraham, 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 COFFINS AND IN HEARSES, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN RE-
CEPTACLES FOR COFFINS FOR THEIR TRANSMISSION," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Robert Abraham, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and scal, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Robert Abraham, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, that is to say:
The improvements in coffins consist in making them strong or more
durable, more impervious to air and moisture, and more portable than
the ones now in ordinary use, and also cheaper. A simple mode of
manufacture of the new coffin is that of a cement mixed with saw-
lust or other granulated or light material with it, so as to give light-
ness without rendering the mixture friable. Plaster of Paris and the
calcareous cements generally may be so employed, as also mixtures of
bitumen and pitch, tar, resin, sulphur, gluc, or any other adhesive or
cementitious material which will set hard and dry. These cements
or admixtures may be laid or encrusted on or incorporated with a
basis or foundation or core of straw, reeds, wooden lathing, wicker,
or other open laced works, or on a strong canvass, or sacking, or
hempen structure, and, where necessary, strengthened with metal
hooping, which will serve also to secure the lid and for fixing the
handles. The cement or admixture may be run or cast on a mould
or worked by hand and finished ornamentally, and it may be painted,
or be covered and lined with cloth or other material or fabric
cemented on; a soft felted substance is preferable for the lining inside.
The lid is made of similar materials to the coffin, and is cemented
down with any strong adhesive cement which will adhere to the
material used in the body of the coffin. The metal bands would be
soldered together, pinned, rivetted, or otherwise secured. On the lid
of the coffin may be impressed or painted or marked the name and
particulars of and concerning the deceased. A more expressive and
more ornamental coffin is made on a similar foundation or core, or on
metallic wire or thin metallic hooping, with the materials already men-
tioned, or bees wax, or a mixture of bees wax; and this latter mode
would render the coffin practically imperishable, and therefore more
eligible than lead. The external finishing may be of an ornamental
character, gilt or painted in appropriate devices, or stencilled or inlaid;
the lid, which is of the same material, is cemented on and secured with

page_text: metallic bands of an ornamental character. These coffins are to be of
the rudimentary form of the corpse, but not confined to that shape.
As gases are rapidly generated from the dead body an escape must
be provided, and a small spring valve, opening externally, will be
necessary for each coffin, to prevent its bursting.
The receptacle is an outer air tight case, which will form a tem-
porary depository for the coffin, either in the chamber or when
being transmitted for interment. When in the chamber an elastic
or other tube may be attached by an union joint, to communicate
with the external air by window or chimney, so that the apartment
may be kept wholesome for the living. The receptacle may be
numbered or otherwise distinguished, and a lock will be fixed to it,
the key of which will have a corresponding number or distinguish-
ment, and it shall fit only the lock of the receptacle so distinguished,
and be entrusted to a responsible person, so that if several corpses
travel together no mistake shall occur in selecting the right corpse for
the mourners, but on its arrival by railway train or other conveyance
the key will be produced, the receptacle unlocked, and the coffin be
delivered for interment. The receptacle will be provided with friction
wheels, and have eyes or clasps to receive poles or bearers, so that it
can be carried as a bier by two persons. The receptacle is made
suitable to the form of the coffin.
The improved hearse is made in a similar way to a coach body, and
to run on two or four wheels, and to be drawn by one or more horses,
having cranked axles and springs, after the well-known manner of con-
structing cranked axled spring carriages. The interior is to be divided
by moveable partitioning and shelving, so as to permit it, carrying one
or more coffins and attendants inside thereof, instead of on the roof,
as they now are carried. When the hearse is intended only to carry
coffins, the divisions may be fixed instead of being made moveable, but
otherwise the form of the hearse will remain the same. The Drawings
annexed have reference to and exhibit the novelty of the hearse.
I claim as new the mode of manufacture of the coffin, and the
application of the several materials in the manner described.
I claim as new the use of a receptacle described in the Specification
for temporary use for the dead.

page_text: I claim as new the arrangement and form of the hearse divided into
compartments, and having low or cranked axles, as described in the
Specification and further explained by the Drawings.
No 1, is a plan, shewing O, O, the compartment for the coffin; P, a
compartment with moveable seats for attendants when the hearse is
not to be filled with coffins, but which may also be fitted up with
shelves for coffins; R, moveable partition; S, S, windows, with shutters
to be closed when the hearse is filled with coffins, having glazed sashes
to be used when attendants are carried; T, T, cranked axle and
springs.
No 2, longitudinal section. O, O, compartment for coffins; S, S,
windows, which may be closed with shutters; U, door.
No 3, an elevation of the carriage.
No 4, transverse section. 0, 0, compartments for coflin; V, V,
dotted lines, shewing the moveable shelves; P, P, compartment, with
moveable seat; R, R, moveable partitions; S, S, window, with shut-
ters; T, T, cranked axle and spring; U, door.
N.B. I do not confine myself to the exact form of the carriage shewn
in the Drawing, which may be made more ornamental, and be placed on
a body with four wheels, and be drawn by two or more horses.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Robert Abraham, have
heretofore sent my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of
May, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
HENRY ROBERT ABRAHAM. (L.S.)
ROBERT JOHN ABRAHAM,
23 day of May 1854.