AN IMPROVED SECRETARY WRITING TABLE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Clegg, of Barnsbury, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SECRETARY WRITING TABLE."
110170 and luted the 21st Nov 1878
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Clegg at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1878.
JOSEPH CLEGG, of Barnsbury, in the County of Middlesex.
SECRETARY WRITING TABLE."
"AN IMPROVED
This Invention consists in the construction of an improved secretary writing
table, the object of the improvements being, that when the table is closed it shall
have the appearance of an ordinary pedestal writing table, and when required for
use, by merely unlocking and drawing out the centre drawer, the pedestals will be
opened and the slope raised into the required position for writing.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a pedestal table of the ordinary form,
but I provide each pedestal with an inner case fitted as a secretary, formed in two
parts and hinged together so as to fold and fit inside the pedestal, proper spring
catches being provided to secure the same when closed, also grooved rollers and
runners to allow of the easy motion of the hinged cases. To the back of the centre
drawer is fixed a bar, the ends of which are secured to the inner case, so that when
the drawer is opened the hinged cases are drawn out, and may then be opened by
pressing the herein-before described spring catches. To the back of the desk slope
is fixed on a centre one end of a lever, the other end of the lever working on a
centre fixed to the upper frame of the table part, so that when the centre drawer is
opened the slope will be raised. In the right-hand side of the drawer is an opening
in which is pivotted a semicircular pen tray with inkstand, which tray when
required for use is turned outwards on its pivot.
By this arrangement it will be understood that if the centre drawer be drawn
out, the said inner cases will also be drawn out from their pedestal, and may then

page_text: be opened, as herein-before described, by pressing their spring catches; at the same
time the opening of the drawer will, by means of the action of the said lever, raise
the slope into the position for writing.
It will also be understood that no part of the tablo can be opened without first
unlocking the centre drawer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Clegg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st November
1878.
JOSEPH CLEGG, of Barnsbury, in the County of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED
SECRETARY WRITING TABLE."
This Invention consists in the construction of an improved secretary writing
table, the object of the improvements being that when the table is closed it shall
have the appearance of an ordinary pedestal writing table, and when required for
use, by merely unlocking and drawing out the centre drawer, the inner cases will
be also drawn out, and may be opened by merely pressing the spring catches with
-which they are provided, and the slope is raised into the required position for
writing.
But to make my Invention better understood, I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying Drawing in which,
Figure 1 is a front elevation shewing the table closed.
Figure 2, end elevation shewing position of desk and cases drawn out.
Figure 3, plan when fully opened out for use, shewing the cases for papers.
Figure 4, plan of the upper frame, the top of the table being removed, showing
the bar for drawing out the inner cases, and lever for moving the same, so as to
allow any part to open separately.
Figure 5, front elevation shewing the sliding trays and ledger case.
Figures 6 and 7, front elevations of paper cases.
Figure 8, section through the centre drawer.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a pedestal table of the ordinary form,
but I provide each pedestal a with an inner case fitted as a sectretary, formed in
two parts B, B¹, hinged together at c, so as to fold and fit inside the pedestal a,
proper spring catches being provided to secure the same when closed, also grooved
rollers D and runners E, Figures 9 and 10, to allow of the easy motion of the hinged
cases B, B. To the back of the centre drawer f is fixed a bar g (shewn in partly
dotted lines) the ends h, k, of which are secured to the inner cases B, B', by pins g¹
and slotted plates g so that when the drawerf is opened the hinged cases B, B¹,
are drawn out, as shewn in Figure 2, and may then be opened (by pressing the
herein-before described spring catches) into the position shewn in Figures 3 and 5.
To the back of the desk slope i is fixed (on a centre j) one end of a lever 1, the
other end of the lever working on a centre m, fixed to the upper frame n of the

page_text: table, so that when the centre drawer is opened the slope i will be raised, as shewn
in Figure 2. 8, Figures 4 and 8, is a lever bar in the drawer f; the back of this
lever is fixed at u to the bar g, the said bar s moving on a centre at t. The front
of the bar a is turned up and is formed with a flange v, which passes over the lock
of the drawer, the bolt of the lock passing through the flange, and locking into the
upper rail of the frame of the table.
8
2
By this arrangement it will be understood that if the centre drawer be drawn out
the said inner cases B, B', will also be drawn out from their pedestals a, a, by
means of the bar g, and may then be opened on their hinges c, as herein-before
described, by pressing their spring catches; at the same time the opening of the
drawer will, by means of the action of the said lever raise the slope i into the
position for writing.
But should it be desired to raise the desk slope i into position for writing
without drawing out the cases B, B¹, the lever bar 8, Figures 4 and 8, is by means
of its projecting handle x moved on its centre t, thereby moving the bar g so as to
bring the pins g¹ out of the slots g, and thus disconnect the bar g froin
the cases B, B', as the pins g¹ can now slide in the slots y (shown in dotted
lines, Figure 4) made in the pelestals a of the table.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner of performing the same,
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
laid down and shown in the Drawing, as the same may be varied without depart-
ing from the peculiar character of my Invention, but what I claim is,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of the improved secretary
writing table, substantially as herein-before described, and represented in the
accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The construction and application to the pedestals of secretary writing
tables of the hinged sliding cases, arranged and operating substantially as herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The construction and employment of the mechanism whereby the hinged
cases are drawn out when the centre drawer of the table is opened, as herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly. The lever arrangement whereby the desk slope is raised into position
when the centre drawer is opened, as herein-before described.
Fifthly. The combination with the mechanism for operating the hinged cases of
the lever arrangement for allowing the desk slope to be raised without drawing out
the hinged sliding cases, as horein-before described, and represented in the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Clegg, have hereto set my hand and
seul, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South St., Finsbury.
JOSEPH CLEGG. (L.S.)