An Improved Portable Bench for Wood or Metal Workers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Bench for Wood or Metal Workers.
ALFRED CHARLES CHURCHMAN of 58 Hartismere Road Fulham S.W.
Middlesex Engineer and WALTER EBERT DEGERDON of 17 Ospringe Road
St. Johns College Park N.W. Middlesex Teacher of Cabinet Making Joinery &c.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The construction of a very portable and compact but full size bench, fitted with
racks, drawers and cupboard to hold all the tools &c. necessary for a pupil of a
mechanical school or skilled artisan whether in wood or metal such as a cabinet
maker, joiner, engineer or scientific instrument maker &c. also the clothes of the
worker and the small parts of work in hand. The whole when closed forms a
cabinet or cupboard 6 ft. long 17" wide 3 ft. high (but can be made 12" wide if space
is very important by packing the large planes &c. with handles to the side instead of
the front) can also be made double for two workers one each side.
The bench consists of a strong frame morticed and tenented together, of birch or
any kind of wood. (If preferred can be made of mallable cast iron.)
At each end in front of frame is a piece projecting into which is fixed a metal
plate with a hole to receive the centres which are fixed to the top of bench. Thus
allowing it to be moved up and down' similar to a table flap.
The flap or top of the bench is clamped to prevent it from warping.
Attached to the large frame also by the means of centres are two small frames to
carry or support the top of bench which is made of mallable cast iron or wood.
The large frame is divided into two parts one of which is fitted up with shelves &c.
having slide doors thus forming a large cupboard for clothes & work. The other
part is fitted with two or three drawers at the base and above with rack fittings for
holding the tools. It is made to rise and fall by the means of a rack and pinion or
cog wheels having a pawl to prevent it from running down. It is worked by the
means of a winder similar to those used for a dining table.
The bench when open for work is 6 ft. long 3 ft. wide and is fitted with a grip
vice and clamp.
The clamp is fixed at the tail end of the bench.
The bench having a number of square holes near the front edge 2" apart from
tail to head to receive an iron dog. Thus in conjunction with the iron cramp
(which also has a dog) forms a complete cramping apparatus for glueing up frames
&c. Also enables the workmen to hold his wood while planeing. At the head of
the bench is fixed an iron grip vice, thus forming a complete bench with tool chest
cupboard &c combined for all kinds of wood or metal work.
For engineers and metal workers a special vice is fitted in place of the grip and
clamp vices above mentioned.
ALFRED CHARLES CHURCHMAN.
WALTER EBERT DEGERDON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Bench for Wood or Metal Workers.
ALFRED CHARLES CHURCHMAN of 3 The Avenue, Castle Hill, Ealing
Middlesex Engineer and WALTER EBERT DEGERDON of 17 Ospringe Road
St. Johns' College Park Middlesex, Teacher of Woodwork, 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 :-
A strong frame morticed and tenented together of hard wood and fixed by the

page_text: means of metal bolts and nuts (if preferred can be made of malleable cast iron).
The top ends of frame project in front, into which is fixed metal centres to hold top
of bench like a flap of a table, when not in use can hang down close to the frame
thus forming a kind of closed cabinet.
When open, the top is supported by two frames, likewise fixed to the frame by
centres or hinges; at the bottom of each is fixed a metal bolt which shoots into the
floor of the workshop to keep it firmly in its place for filing heavy work etc.
. The frame is made with a partition which divides it into two parts, one
part of which is made into a closed cupboard with a slide door for holding
the worker's clothes or extra tools, work, etc., and the other having an opened
cupboard or frame fitted with drawers, racks, etc. for holding the tools and is made
to slide up and down by a metal rack and pinion, which is worked by a handle
similar to a dining-room table; to prevent it running down a pawl is fixed to the
frame which works on the pinion and is easily thrown out of use by the means of a
small arm or chain. When opened, it forms a full size bench with all the tools
displayed in front of the workers in racks, easily taken down and replaced as
required.
For woodwork it is made with a special iron clamp with a continuous screw which
will open about 10° (can be made to open more if required) and is fitted on the left-
hand or head of bench for holding any piece of work firmly. On the right-hand or
tail end of bench is fitted another iron continuous screw clamp, the front of which
is fitted with an arrangement to hold a square piece of iron or dog to slide up and
down as required; in connection with it is a number of square holes made along
the front of the bench about 4" apart and in a line with the clamp and dog of the
tail end.
The holes along the front of the bench are the same to hold a second dog piece
which can be placed any distance so as to form a complete apparatus for clamping
doors, sashes, also to hold the wood firmly while planeing, sawing, etc.
For engineers and metal workers a special vice is fitted in place of the grip and
clamp vices above mentioned.

page_text: In Fig. 1. C. D. is the jaws of clamp, E is the nut attached to the back jaw
for carrying the screw, and is held to the slide by a pin H. to work the front jaw
backwards and forwards for clamping the work.
F. is the dog holder and is fixed to the front jaw of clamp to enable the worker
to raise or lower the iron peice or dog, as shall be most suitable for clamping the
work.
Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we
claim is :
First. The construction and portability for a full sized bench.
Secondly. The means of opening and closing by rack and pinion.
Thirdly. Its adaptation to wood or metal work.
Fourthly. The clamping arrangement to a portable bench which include racks
ALFRED CHARLES CHURCHMAN,
WALTER EBERT DEGERDON,
Patentees.