Improvements in and Connected with the Method of Making and Fixing Cornices, Facias, Illuminated Signs and the like over Shops, Railway Stations and Platforms, and other Buildings or Structures.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with the Method of Making and
Fixing Cornices, Facias, Illuminated Signs and the like over
Shops, Railway Stations and Platforms, and other Buildings or
Structures.
JAMES GREENAWAY 13 Stroma Terrace Seven Sisters Road Stamford Hill N.
Plumber Gas & Hot Water Fitter &c. do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Two frames of any kind of wood or other material of sufficient strength for the
purpose, moulded on the face and rebated at back to take glass panels upon which
the advertisement is painted by filling in the back ground first (leaving the space
occupied by the letters clear) when coated sufficient to be rendered opaque they are
bedded into their respective frames and a piece of white opal. glass placed behind
thereby showing a white letter on any chosen ground. The frames are then fixed,
the one in a vertical, the other oblique position and screwed to cast iron brackets of
special design & make, fixed to the building with iron bolts passing through the
front of same, through these brackets a iron barrel runs longitudinally with burners
at irregular intervals (as the case requires) to supply the illuminating power which
is Gas, thus making two illuminated tablets (instead of the old wooden cornices
formerly used over shop fronts and other buildings). The upper part of structure
is covered with Galvanised iron of Corrugated Pattern thereby allowing escape for
superfluous heat. A zinc gutter (with or without ornamental edging) is then fixed
to carry off water and hide the bottom of corrugated iron from view.
The whole forming a great improvement in appearance of fronts of shops, as
well as being a day-light and night advertisement. It can also be used on any other
Building or with little variation for platforms of Railway Stations (side or central)
showing advertisement both sides or one side only.
121
M1 1000
JAMES GREENAWAY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with the Method of Making and
Fixing Cornices, Facias, Illuminated Signs and the like over
Shops, Railway-stations and Platforms, and other Buildings or
Structures.
I, JAMES GREENAWAY, of 13, Stroma Terrace, Seven Sisters Road, Stamford Hill,
in the County of Middlesex, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in and connected with the method
of making and fixing cornices, facias, illuminated signs and the like over shops,
railway-stations and platforms and other buildings or structures.
The Invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1.
represents a front view of part of a shop front adapted in accordance with the
present improvements. Fig. 2. represents a transverse sectional elevation thereof,
and Fig. 3. represents a transverse section of a modification designed for use on a
central or other railway platform or the like from which both of its sides can be
viewed.
The especial object of the Invention is to construct cornices, facias and the like
over shops, railway stations, platforms and other buildings or structures in such a

page_text: manner substantially as hereinafter described, as that they will be especially adapted
in the improved manner hereinafter described, for the effective display by day and by
night of notices, signs or the like, the names and descriptions of the proprietors of
shops, the names of railway stations or of other advertisements so that such shall
appear to equal advantage both by day and by night.
To this end in constructing and adapting facias and the like according to the
present improvements, I construct suitable frames, 4, of a single sided formation as
represented in Figs. 1. and, 2, or of a double sided for mation as represented in Fig. 3.
in cast iron or other suitable metal, making the same in such a manner or of such a
formation at the parts, 5, as that they will be adapted to receive and retain the
advertisement to be exhibited in the desired vertical or oblique position, vide Fig. 3.
or in both such positions, vide Figs. 1. and 2.
The name, description or other advertisement desired to be exhibited is, according
to the present improvements, set out on plain sheet glass or on separate glass panels,
as at, 6, by painting in in any suitable colour or otherwise filling in so as to render opaque
all other parts of the back of the glass so as to leave the said advertisement trans-
parent, and these glass panels are secured in any suitable inanner in frames, 7, made
of wood or other suitable material and of any desired ornamental appearance, such
frames being rebated at the back as at, 8, or otherwise formed at such part for the
reception and retention in any easily removable manner of the said panels.
Immediately behind the plain glass upon which the advertisement is delineated, I
secure a second plate or panel, 9, preferably of white opal glass, by which means the
advertisement is made to appear in white as if it were enamelled upon an opaque
ground of the colour chosen. The frames, 7, with the advertisements they hear are
secured to the frames, 4, at the parts, 5, thereof, by screws, 10, or other suitable
means, and the frames, 4, are secured to the building by bolts as at, 11, or by other
suitable means.
I provide for the illumination of the advertisement by night by securing within
the lower part of the frame, 4, and also if required within the upper part thereof
one or more gas pipes, 12, which may be supported by brackets, 13, or in any other
convenient manner, and are adapted with jets, 14, which may be spaced or grouped
as desired behind the advertisement. I may, however, use other suitable means of
illuminating the advertisement at night or when needed.
The open top of the framework, 4, is preferably closed in with a roofing, 15, of
corrugated galvanized iron, which affords provision for the entrance of the air to
support combustion, when needed, and to prevent condensation of moisture within
the apparatus, and for the escape of the products of combustion of the illuminant.
Provision for lighting the gas or other illuminant is made by means of flapped or
trap doors as at, 16, or in any other suitable manner.
In order that the light from the illuminant used may be equally dispersed so that
all parts of the advertisement may appear to be uniformly illuminated, I find it of
advantage to secure between the illuminant and the opal plate, 9, which causes the
advertisement to appear as aforesaid, a screen, 17, also formed of opal glass. I
prefer in all cases the use of white opal glass as the translucent glass employed for
the purposes aforesaid, as the illumination rendered therethrough is more uniform and an
enamal-like appearance is obtained, but I can also use for such purposes translucent
glass of any other suitable colour.
If the roof is exposed to the fall of rain, I provide for the leading off of the rain
water by the addition of a zinc or other gutter, 18, of O. G or other suitable pattern
which is also so arranged as to hide the lower part of the corrugated roofing so as
to prevent the emission of light at the front edges thereof, which would detract from
the appearance of the advertisement. In other cases such as where the apparatus
is constructed for use in tunnels or in other places where it would not be exposed to
the fall of rain, in lieu of such a gutter I provide a moulding so arranged as to
prevent the emission of light from under the front edges of the corrugated
roofing.
In Fig. 3. the improved apparatus is represented as constructed of a double sided

page_text: formation for use in such positions as on a central platform of a railway station from
which both of its sides can be viewed. Such arrangement consists essentially of a
duplicated arrangement or construction of the frames, 4, the same-being cast with
or bolted to or otherwise supported by a central hollow standard. 19, adapted to receive
a pipe, 20, for supplying gas, and a pipe, 21, for carrying off the water led thereto
from the gutters, 18, by pipes, 22. The apparatus represented in this Figure is only
designed to exhibit advertisements at the oblique parts, a; but the apparatus
represented in Figs. 1, and, 2, is designed to exhibit advertisements both at the oblique
part, a, and at the vertical part, b. The duplicate arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3.
can, however, also be made to exhibit both vertical and oblique advertisements, and
the single arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1. and, 2. can also be made to exhibit
advertisements only at the oblique or vertical portions, a, b.
Any suitable firescreen may, if required, be placed between the gas bracket and
the breastsummer if constructed of wood.
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.
1. The herein before described improvements in and connected with the method of
making and fixing cornices, facias, illuminated signs and the like, over shops, railway-
stations and platforms and other buildings or structures.
2. The method of constructing day and night advertising facias and the like
hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1, and, 2, of the accompanying drawings ;
and the special arrangement of apparatus represented in such Figs.
3. The method of constructing day and night advertising facias and the like herein-
before described with reference to Fig. 3; and the special arrangement of apparatus
represented in such Figure.
4. In appartus used for the purpose of the Invention, the use of the frames, 4,
constructed and adapted in the manner hereinbefore described, in combination with
the frames, 7, carrying transparent glass panels upon which the advertisement is
delineated in the manner hereinbefore described and translucent glass panels which
cause the advertisement to appear in the manner described, and with suitable means
arranged behind the latter for illuminating the same when desired and equally
dispersing the light as aforesaid.
Dated this 19th day of July 1889
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.