Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 21st Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1887
I ROBERT RITSON ROWNTREE, of 34 Bellevue Park, Sunderland, in the County
of Durham, Tea Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a peculiar and novel form and construction of boxes or
chests for containing tea in quantities suitable for tea dealers for retail sale to private
families.
It consists of a box or chest made in various sizes to contain from one to-say-
twenty pounds of tea the dimensions of which in any of its various sizes as to length
breadth and height are in relative proportions to each other according to their intended
contents of each chest.
"
"
and is bound
It is made of cedar wood put together with "sprigs" or "flaws
at the ends by bands of split "withes" or twigs of willow or other wood (preferably
"
or flaws" and
with the bark stripped off) which are fixed around it with "sprigs
secure the lid and may also have a band of cane around the centre of the body for
further security.
The interior is lined with lead and the exterior preferably left with the wood bare
or it may be covered with paper having devices or inscriptions thereon or such
devices or inscriptions may be stencilled, painted, or otherwise formed on the surface
of the wood, the object being to make the box or chest resemble a miniature tea chest
convenient for household storing.

page_text: New or Improved Boxes or Chests for Containing Tea for Trade
Purposes.
I, ROBERT RITSON ROWNTREE, of 34 Belle Vue Park, Sunderland, in the County
of Durham, Tea Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a peculiar and novel form and construction of boxes or
chests for containing Indian tea in quantities suitable for tea dealers for retail sale to
private families.
It consists of a box or chest made in various sizes, to contain from one to-say-
twenty pounds of tea, the dimension of which in any of its various sizes as to length
breadth and height are in relative proportions to each other according to the intended 1
contents of each chest.
It is made of cedar wood put together with small nails of suitable kind and is
bound at the ends by bands of split cane which are fixed around it with such nails
and secure the lid and may also have a band formed of a slip of dressed cane tied
round the centre of the body for further security. The interior is lined with lead and
the exterior preferably left with the wood bare or it may be covered with paper
having devices or inscriptions thereon or such devices or inscriptions may be stencilled,
painted or branded on the surface of the wood, the; object being to make the box or
chest resemble a miniature Indian tea chest convenient for household storing and to
supply a want long felt in the trade by which the invention has been cordially received
and adopted for selling Indian tea.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
The accompanying sheet of drawings shows two perspective views of the Indian tea
chest according to my invention Fig. 1 being shown with the sliding lid L closed
and partially secured by the split cane bands B B the loose ends of which are yet to
be overlapped and secured by suitable nails. Fig. 2 shows the sliding lid L partially
open the split cane bands B B having been entirely detached and laid back at each side
of the chest. The open portion of the chest shows the lead casing C with which the
chest is lined on bottom, sides and ends. S is a strip of dressed cane around the
chest by which it may be very conveniently carried. After the tea is packed in
the chest it is covered by lead in the form of a capsule the sides and ends of which
make with upper edges of the lining a hermetically sealed joint without the use of
solder or similar composition so objectionable with teas of fine flavour.
This lead cover or capsule hermetically sealed to the lining of the chest-by a
process which is unique-constitutes an important adjunct or supplement to chests for
containing Indian tea made according to my invention and increases their adaptability

page_text: and value for their purpose as the tea is contained in a perfectly air tight and damp
proof envelope made so without injury to the flavour of the tea by the use of
solder.
The sides, ends and top of the chest are intended to bear devices and lettering as
shown which will be preferably branded, stencilled or painted on the naked surface
of the wood-which is intended to be cedar-so as to preserve the grained surface but
adhesive printed devices or labels containing inscriptions plain or in colour may be
used.
The devices and lettering shown are intended to identify the chest with Indian tea
in contradistinction to that of China for the sale of which in small quantities it is
exclusively intended.
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 :-
The use of miniature tea chests constructed of cedar wood, bound with strips of
split cane with a sliding lid secured when closed by said strips with devices and
lettering on the outer surfaces, or some of them, indicating that it contains Indian
tea the chests being of various sizes to contain small quantities of tea from dealers to
families and each chest containing the tea in a hermetically sealed leaden envelope the
whole forming a complete and unique facsimile package of Indian tea in a convenient
form for the trade.