IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF METAL TO PURPOSES FOR WHICH WOOD IS GENERALLY EMPLOYED IN JOINERY, CABINET, AND OTHER WORK
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE APPLICATION OF METAL TO PURPOSES FOR WHICH WOOD IS GENERALLY
EMPLOYED IN JOINERY, CABINET, AND OTHER WORK." A communication
from abroad by David de Pénȧnrun and Georges Masson, both of Paris,
France.
Sealed the 18th April 1879, and dated the 8th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF METAL TO PURPOSES FOR
WHICH WOOD IS GENERALLY EMPLOYED IN JOINERY, CABINET, AND OTHER WORK."
[A communication from abroad by David de Pénanrun and Georges Masson, both
of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to the substitution of metal for wood in the construction
of doors, door frames, and linings, wainscotting, panelling, window frames and
shashes, shutters, Venetian shutters, furniture, and in joinery and cabinet work
generally, which may either retain the ordinary appearance of wood if desired, or
present the appearance of iron without having any of its objections; the Inven-
tion having particularly in view the avoidance of the ordinary disadvantages of
metal, viz., weight and cost, and those of wood, viz., combustibility, sonority, want
of durability, and rigidity, whilst retaining on the one hand the advantages of
metal, viz., durability, rigidity, and incombustibility, and on the other hand those
pertaining to wood, viz., lightness and economy.
This Invention is based mainly on the following features of improvement :-
1st. The application and employment, in lieu of the uprights, crossbars, and
mouldings of solid metal generally employed, of hollow sheet metal uprights and
crossbars, and particularly of metallic mouldings in sheets, which are adapted to
the construction of doors and linings, wainscotting, panelling, window frames and
sashes, shutters, and for other similar purposes. 2nd. The employment of all sheet
metals of a kind suited to these methods of construction, whether simple elements,

page_text: such as iron, zinc, and copper, or compounds resulting from combinations or alloys
or applied in the form of one metal coated with another, such as tin or terne plates,
or more especially galvanised sheet metal, which has never been applied to similar
uses, nor in any case in a similar way. The thickness of the sheet metal may vary
according to the purpose and dimensions of the construction and the strength it is
required to possess.
The sheet iron employed may either be galvanised over its whole surface or only
at the edges to the extent actually required for the soldered joints and seams
hereafter referred to.
3rd. The uniting the different sheets by means of soldered joints or seams, which
is a very rapid mode of effecting the object desired, affording an economy in labor,
great facilities in putting together the parts, great strength, complete exemption
from rust. The solder penetrates all the joints, and renders them perfectly
tight, and as the sheet iron may be galvanised on both its exterior and interior
surfaces, the construction is rendered absolutely proof against humidity and rust
and its durability is increased to an indefinite extent beyond that of wood. The
joints may also be rivetted with iron or copper rivets to strengthen and prevent
them giving way in case of fire.
Lastly. In certain cases it is proposed to employ uprights, frames, and angle
brackets of sheet metal folded into various forms, rolled iron of commerce, or of
special form or section, cast or malleable, cast iron, or even where economy is the
main object, of wood placed interiorly and united with sheet metal by screws or
rivets. It is also proposed to employ wood mouldings applied to frames and panels
of metal.
4th. The joinery and cabinet work constructed according to this Invention being
hollow enables the locks, bolts, and other fastenings to be located within the hollow
space, the knob handles only being external. The unsightly iron work is thus
entirely concealed from view, and the cost of rendering it ornamental merely in
order that it may not detract from the appearance of the room is avoided. The
cost of mortising wood to receive the locks, bolts, and other fastenings is avoided
as well as the other objections accompanying this mode of fitting them.
This hollow construction for doors enables a movable plinth to be fitted in the
bottom of the door made of sheet iron or wood, and capable of being raised or
lowered and fixed at the proper height by screws or other means of fastening. By
means of this arrangement the necessary amount of adjustment or allowance may
be made to enable the door to pass over a carpet or other obstruction, and when
the same is from any cause no longer required to alter the door without
repainting it.
5th. The standing framework, such as door and window frames, are also made of
metal as above mentioned, and each door, window, or other article is therefore a
complete whole with its frame, lining, and fastenings, and can be transported where
required in readiness to be mounted on any framework, door post, or pillar of
masonry or brickwork.
The frames may be jointed at the angles in such a way as to enable any settle-
ments to be allowed for, and to admit of the door or window being taken down and
rehung after having set the frame square, the door or windows squaring itself
without requiring alteration.
6th. The employment of angle sheet metal for the uprights of the frames of sash
windows, thereby forming the slides for the sashes, and enabling the counterweights
to be contained within the hollow uprights.
This Invention applies also in all cases where wood can be replaced by sheet or
angle metal, the hollow construction and mode of jointing above described being
adopted. Amongst the many applications may be mentioned furniture and certain
parts of carriages and the interior fittings of ships.
The metal may either remain visible or be painted, veneered, or panelled with
wood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
May 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF METAL TO PURPOSES FOR
WHICH WOOD IS GENERALLY EMPLOYED IN JOINERY, CABINET, AND OTHER WORK."
A communication from abroad by David de Pénanrun and Georges Masson, both
of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to the substitution of metal for wood in the construction
of doors, door frames, and linings, wainscotting, panelling, window frames and
sashes, shutters, Venetian shutters, furniture, and in joinery and cabinet work.
generally, which may either retain the ordinary appearance of wood if desired or
present the appearance of iron without having any of its objections ; the Invention
having particularly in view the avoidance of the ordinary disadvantages of metal,
viz., weight and cost, and those of wood, viz., combustibility, sonority, want of
durability and rigidity, whilst retaining on the one hand the advantages of metal,
viz., durability, rigidity, and incombustibility, and on the other hand those per-
taining to wood, viz., lightness and economy. Iron and other metals have already
been applied in joiners' work for the manufacture of doors, window frames, and
shutters, but in such a form as to restrict its use to a very few cases on account of
the objectionable appearance, weight, and cost.
This Invention is based mainly on the following features of improvement."
First. The application and employment in lieu of solid metal as now used of hollow
sheet metal stiles, mullions, cross rails, and panels, and particularly of sheet metal
mouldings, all of which are adapted to the construction of doors and linings, wains-
cotting, panelling, window frames and sashes, shutters, and for other similar
purposes. By the use of sheet metal bent and moulded to the desired form the
work has the appearance and lightness of wood whilst retaining the strength and
durability of iron. Second. The employment of all sheet metals of a kind suited
to these methods of construction, whether simple substances, such as iron, zinc, and
copper, or coinpounds or alloys, or whether applied in the form of one metal coated
with another, such as tin or terne plates, and more especially galvanised sheet
metal, which has never been applied to similar uses, nor in any case in a similar
way. The thickness of the sheet metal may vary according to the purpose and
dimensions of the construction and the strength it is required to possess. The sheet
iron employed may either be galvanised over its whole surface or only at the edges
to the extent actually required for the soldered joints and seams hereafter referred
to. Third. The uniting the different sheets by means of soldered joints or seams,
which is a very rapid mode of effecting the object desired, affording an economy in
labor, great facilities in putting together the parts, great strength, and complete
exemption from rust. The solder penetrates all the joints, and renders them
perfectly tight, and as the sheet iron may be galvanised on both its exterior and
interior surfaces the construction is rendered absolutely proof against humidity and
rust, and its durability is increased to an indefinite extent beyond that of wood.
The joints may also be rivetted with iron or copper rivets to strengthen and
prevent them giving way in case of fire. In certain cases it is proposed to employ
uprights, frames, and angle brackets of sheet metal of various forms, rolled iron of
commerce, or of special form or section, cast or malleable cast iron, or even where
economy is the main object, of wood placed interiorly and united with sheet metal
by screws or rivets. It is also proposed to employ wood mouldings applied to
frames and panels of metal.
Fourth. The joinery and cabinet work constructed according to this Invention
being hollow enables the locks, bolts, and other fastenings to be located within the
hollow space, the knob handles only being external. The unsightly iron work is

page_text: thus entirely concealed from view, and the cost of rendering it ornamental merely
in order that it may not detract from the appearance of the room is avoided. The
cost of mortising wood to receive the locks, bolts, and other fastenings is avoided
as well as the other objections accompanying this mode of fitting them. This
hollow construction for doors enables a moveable plinth to be fitted in the bottom
of the door made of sheet iron or wood, and capable of being raised or lowered and
fixed at the proper height by screws or other means of fastening. By means of
this arrangement the necessary amount of adjustment or allowance may be made:
to enable the door to pass over a carpet or other obstruction, and when the same
is from any cause no longer required the door may be altered without
repainting it.
Fifth. The standing framework, such as door and window frames, are also made
of metal, as above mentioned, and each door, window, or other article is therefore
a complete whole with its frame, lining, and fastenings, and can be transported
where required in readiness to be mounted on any framework, door post, or pillar
of masonry or brickwork. The frames may be jointed at the angles in such a way
as to enable any settlements to be allowed for, and to admit of the door or window
being taken down and rehung after having set the frame square, the door, window,
or shutter squaring itself without requiring alteration.
Sixth. The employment of sheet metal for the jambs or side frames of sliding
sash windows, forming the grooves for the sashes, and enabling the counterweights
to be contained within the hollow uprights.
This Invention applies also in all places where wood can be replaced by sheet or
angle metal, the hollow construction and mode of jointing above described being
adopted. Amongst the many applications may be mentioned furniture and certain
parts of carriages and the interior fittings of ships. The metal may either remain
visible or be painted, veneered, or panelled with wood.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The novel application of metals and alloys in sheets in the manufacture of joinery,
of all kinds of buildings, furniture, and other similar purposes, and the method of
applying them to these purposes, as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.