CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VANS OR CARRIAGES EMPLOYED FOR REMOVING FURNITURE, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Mousell, of Gloucester, in the County of Gloucester,
Furniture Remover, and Oliver Lythgoe, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancashire, Cabinet Maker, for an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
VANS OR CARRIAGES EMPLOYED FOR REMOVING FURNITURE, AND OTHER
ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Mousell & Oliver
Lythgoe at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October
1881.
HENRY MOUSELL, of Gloucester, in the County of Gloucester, Furniture
Remover, and OLIVER LYTHGOE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancashire,
Cabinet Maker. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VANS OR CARRIAGES EMPLOYED
FOR REMOVING FURNITURE, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
The improvements forming the subject of this our said Invention consist
principally in the construction, combination, or arrangement of parts herein after
described. We will describe our Invention thus :-
The van or carriage proper is constructed of four distinct sections.
Firstly. It forms a trolley with lock up well or locker underneath for conveying
pictures, plate, or large pier glasses, and built upon the best improved principle,
with strong heavy springs, and with either crank or straight Drabbles axles, with
round beds throughout by preference, but we do not limit ourselves. This trolley
can be used either with shafts or pole (for single or pair of horses), and can be
used as an ordinary railway trolley for the removal of furniture or general goods.
Secondly. A large furniture van body only is constructed, so as to fit upon the
said trolley, and it can be easily lifted off by means of a crane of the ordinary kind,
and placed in or upon a railway truck when loaded, holding a greater bulk of
furniture than the vans hitherto employed. This said body or lift van is
constructed of a size suitable to our requirement.
Thirdly. A smaller trolley body only is used for the conveyance of loose goods,

page_text: and is covered over with a tarpaulin top, and can be also removed from the first
and larger trolley by means of a crane in the same manner as the lift body.
The fourth section is constructed of parts and keyed together, so as to be easily
attached or detached to the first named section (being as described similar to a
railway trolley), by means of hooks, eyes, hinges, and staples, and when put
together it forms a complete furniture van, and it will travel on any railway on its
wheels throughout the kingdom.
The object of this our said Invention is to reduce the scale of rates and charges
for the removal of furniture to all parts of the kingdom, and dispense with the
mode of packing now employed. The whole of these sections, as before described,
are so constructed as to be easily packed up together and sent to any address in or
as one complete furniture van by rail to any part of the United Kingdom, and
bringing back nearly four good ordinary loads of furniture as compared to an
ordinary furniture van.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Mousell & Oliver Lythgoe in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd April 1882.
HENRY MOUSELL, of Gloucester, in the County of Gloucester, Furniture
Remover, and OLIVER LYTHGOE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Cabinet Maker "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VANS OR CARRIAGES EMPLOYED
FOR REMOVING FURNITURE, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
The improvements forming the subject of this our said Invention consist
principally in the construction, combination, or arrangement of parts herein after
described. We will describe our Invention thus:-
The van or carriage proper is constructed of four distinct sections. Firstly, it
forms a trolley with lock up well or locker underneath for conveying pictures, plate,
or large pier glasses, and built upon the best improved principle, with strong heavy
springs, and with either crank or straight "Drabbles"" patent axles, with round beds
throughout by preference, but we do not limit ourselves to these axles in particular.
This trolley can be used either with shafts or pole (for single or pair of horses),
and can be used as an ordinary railway trolley for the removal of furniture or
general goods.
Secondly. A large furniture van body only is constructed, so as to fit upon the
said trolley, and it can be easily lifted off by means of a crane of the ordinary
kind, and placed in or upon a railway truck when loaded, holding a greater bulk
of furniture than the vans hitherto employed; this said body or lift van is
⚫ constructed of a size suitable to our requirement.
Thirdly. A small trolley body or flat only is used for the conveyance of loose

page_text: goods, and is covered over with a tarpaulin top, and can be also removed from
the first and larger trolley by means of a crane in the same manner as the lift
body.
The fourth section is constructed of parts and keyed together so as to be easily.
attached to or detached from the first named section (being as described similar to
a railway trolley) by means of hooks, eyes, hinges, and staples, and when put
together it forms a complete furniture van, and it will travel on any railway on
its wheels throughout the kingdom.
The object of this our said Invention is to reduce the scale of rates and charges
for the removal of furniture to all parts of the kingdom, and dispense with the
mode of packing now employed.
The whole of these sections, as before described, are so constructed as to be
easily packed up together and sent to any address in or as one complete furniture
van by rail to any part of the United Kingdom, and bringing back nearly four
good ordinary loads of furniture as compared to an ordinary furniture van.
And in order that this our said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by a reference to the accompanying
Drawings, to more fully describe the same.

page_text: constructed with the longitudinal and cross bars i and rings j, j, for receiving f, f,
and g, also for slinging or craining, as Fig. 8; k, the second body constructed of
the sides and ends, and affixed together by pins and eyes, as illustrated by k¹ or
other suitable means; l, roof ribs provided with plates m, m, at each end (as
Figs. 20, 21), which enter staples n, m, n, upon both sides of the body, as illustrated
by Fig. 16, or they may be affixed by the dovetail o, o, as shewn at Figs. 22, 23,
or in any other suitable manner.
Having thus described the nature and object of this our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be performed, we would have it understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details of construction and arrange-
ment herein shewn, neither do we claim any part of this Invention, separately
considered, but what we claim as our Invention for "Certain Improvements in
Vans or Carriages Employed for Removing Furniture, and other analogous
Purposes," and consider new is,
-
The general construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially
as and for the purposes herein before set forth and described, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Mousell, on behalf of myself and the
said Oliver Lythgoe, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth
day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
Witness to the signature of
Henry Mousell,
EDWARD BROOKES,
Ladybelle Gate St.,
Gloucester.
HENRY MOUSELL. (LS)