A Box, CHEST, OR CASE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PARCHMENT DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS FROM DAMAGE BY STEAM WHEN PLACED INSIDE AN IRON SAPE MADE FIREPROOF ON THE VAPOURIZING PRINCIPLE, MILNER'S PATENT, 1840
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Price, of Cleveland Safe Works, Wolver-
Hampton, in the County of Stafford, Fireproof Safe Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "A Box, CHEST, OR CASE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PARCHMENT
DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS FROM DAMAGE BY STEAM WHEN PLACED INSIDE AN IRON
SAPE MADE FIREPROOF ON THE VAPOURIZING PRINCIPLE, MILNER'S PATENT,
1840."
Sealed the 1st February 1856, and dated the 22nd November 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Price at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd November 1855.
I, GEORGE PRICE, of Cleveland Safe Works, Wolverhampton, in the County
of Stafford, Fireproof Safe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for A Box, CHEST, OR CASE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PARCHMENT
DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS FROM DAMAGE BY STEAM WHEN PLACED INSIDE AN IRON SAFE
MADE FIREPROOF ON THE VAPOURIZING PRINCIPLE, "MILNER'S PATENT, 1840," to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists of making a box, chest, or case of wood, papier
machè, or metal, and coating the interior of the same with a preparation of
caoutchouc; the lid or door to be made with a flange, upon which is to be
fastened a layer of indian-rubber, or other elastic material, and made to fit
close into the inside of the box, chest, or case; or else that part of the lid
which comes in contact with the top of the box to have a layer of indian-
rubber fastened thereon. By the above means, and the lid or door being kept
quite tight by a lock or other fastening, the receptacle becomes (by the warmth
of the steam generated by the chemical composition enclosed in the chambers
of the safe when in a fire) perfectly closed, and is thus rendered steamproof.

page_text: This is essentially necessary for the preservation of parchment deeds or
documents from the effects of steam when placed inside an iron safe made fire-
proof on the vapourizing principle, "Milner's Patent, 1840," now expired;
for whilst the steam preserves books and papers from singeing or burning, in
consequence of the interior of such a safe being kept at a temperature of 212°
Fahrenheit (boiling water), parchment, on the contrary, becomes a shrivelled
mass, and is almost destroyed.
This is at once apparent from the circumstance that size is made from
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Price in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st May 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
PRICE, of Cleveland Safe Works, Wolverhamptou, in the County of Stafford,
Fireproof Safe Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Price, Her special licence that I, the said George Price, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Price, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for A Box, CHEST, OR CASE FOR THE
PRESERVATION OF PARCHMENT DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS FROM DAMAGE BY STEAM WHEN
PLACED INSIDE AN IRON SAFE MADE FIREPROOF ON THE VAPOURIZING PRINCIPLE,
"MILNER'S PATENT, 1840," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Price, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George; Price, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention consists of making a box, chest, or case of wood, papier
maché, or metal, and coating the interior of the same with a preparation of
caoutchouc; the lid or door to be made with a flange, upon which is to be
fastened a layer of indian-rubber, or other elastic material, and niade to fit close
into the inside of the box, chest, or case; or else that part of the lid which
comes in contact with the top of the box to have a layer of indian-rubber
fastened thereon; or an endless cord of indian-rubber may be placed inside an
open tube, which latter is fastened to the inside of the lid of the box, chest, or
case, and the indian-rubber is made to press upon a flange or sharp edge fixed
to the inside of the top of the lower part of the box. Either of the above
modes will do, but I prefer the latter. When the box, chest, or case is closed
and locked it is hermetically sealed, and consequently becomes air, water, and
steam tight. As the air on heating expands, and would thereby burst the box
when the exterior of the latter is affected by heat, a small valve is constructed
inside the lock, which latter is placed outside of the indian-rubber joint, and
thus allows the air to escape through the keyhole without permitting the
steam to pass into the interior. In a small sized box the act of locking imparts
sufficient pressure for the desired purpose, but larger ones require the aid of
several clips, constructed on the wedge principle, and fastened to the lower
part of the box, which, by drawing over the studs affixed to the lid, effectually
closes it, and makes it steam-tight.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not
confine myself to the details or the materials used, as the same may be con-
structed of various materials and by other substances; but I claim the mode
of constructing steam-tight boxes, chests, or cases as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Price, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
GEORGE PRICE. (L.S.).
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said
George Price, in the presence of
BENJ. T. BECK,
Cleveland Street, Wolverhampton.