IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND BEDSTEAD BOTTOMS AND IN CASTORS FOR THE SAME AND FOR OTHER METALLIC FURNITURE ทAL SPFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Benjamin Whitfield of Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Manufacturer & Samuel Ilsley Whitfield of the same
place for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND
BEDSTEAD BOTTOMS AND IN CASTORS FOR THE SAME AND FOR OTHER
METALLIC FURNITURE
ท
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Benjamin Whitfield
and Samuel Ilsley Whitfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 17th November 1882.
SAMUEL BENJAMIN WHITFIELD of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Manufacturer and SAMUEL ILSLEY WHITFIELD of the same place IMPROVEMENTS
IN METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND BEDSTEAD BOTTOMS AND IN CASTORS FOR THE SAME
AND FOR OTHER METALLIC FURNITURE
The first part of our Invention refers to a mode of brass mounting bedsteads
having the head and foot rail cast upon the pillars.
To effect this we take the pillars and rails already cast together and finished in
the ordinary way, the pillars being severed at the point where the corner blocks are
required, and having sprung the brass mounts through the severed part of the
pillars and slid them up and down, we then cast the corner blocks upon the pillars
where severed, and thus rejoin them, after which we slide the mounts into their
places to the cast corners.
The second part of our Invention consists in curving the metallic Spring Fabric
of Bedstead Bottoms; this we effect by arching the two cross bars to which the
Fabric is attached, thus enabling the ordinary straight angle bars to be used at the
sides of the Bedstead. In cases where loose pillars are used, the ordinary corner
blocks upon them would prevent the fabric being attached at its corners; we there
fore cast upon the pillars short corner blocks, and cast upon the ends of the straining

page_text: piece other blocks to dovetail into the blocks on the pillars, so that the full extent
of the cross bars can be used to attach the fabric thereto, the side bars dovetailing
onto the blocks cast on the cross bars.
By our Improvement in Castors we obtain great strength and durability, by
casting upon the foot of the Bedstead Pillars or the legs or supports of other
articles of metallic furniture a collar or rim carrying a cone or hemisphere with a
pin or projection at its apex, these foot pieces fit into cast socket pieces upon which
are the brackets to carry the bowl, the pin passing through a hole in the bottom of
the socket, which is left free to revolve round it and the rim or collar having a
bearing on the top thereof.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Benjamin Whitfield and Samuel Ilsley Whitfield in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th May 1883.
SAMUEL BENJAMIN WHITFIELD of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Manufacturer and SAMUEL ILSLEY WHITFIELD of the same place IMPROVEMENTS
IN METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND BEDSTEAD BOTTOMS AND IN CASTORS FOR THE
SAME AND FOR OTHER METALLIC FURNITURE
The first part of our invention refers to an Improvement in the method of Brass
Mounting Bedstead Pillars, to effect this we make and finish the bedstead end in
the usual way but without corners, and with the Pillars severed at the points
which the corners will cover when cast on.
We open the pillar at the severed point so as to allow the mounts to be slipped
onto the pillar through the opening we then cast the corner blocks on in the usual
way paint or finish it and bring the mounts into position and fix them as required
the corner being cast on effectually rejoins the pillar and that part of the japan or
finish which injured by the casting process is hidden by the mounts when
brought into position. By these means we are enabled to brass mount the corners
of metallic Bedsteads, which from intervening castings on the pillars or the shape
or curvature of the bow it has hitherto been impracticable so to treat without
cutting or severing the mounts or without making the Bedsteads with loose rails
and pillars.
The second part of our Invention refers to Improvements in spring bottoms of
Bedsteads and has for its object the construction of a curved spring bedstead
bottom instead of cranking or bending the sides and attaching the edges of the
spring Fabric to them we curve the end bars of the bedstead to which the fabric
is attached thus producing a curved surface by a simpler and more sightly
arrangement.
The bars to which the Fabric is attached we make by preference of angle iron
one or both of which may have at its extremities a horizontal slot so as to fit and
slide upon the upper web of the side angle iron and may be actuated in the usual
manner by screws When it is necessary to have the entire length of a head or
foot angle iron from side to side of a Metallic bedstead clear, so as to attach a
spring fabric to it or for any other purpose and at the same time loose and
detachable from the pillars instead of casting on to the Pillar the ordinary corner
having a dovetail at its side and back to take the dovetails on the side and end
angle irons we cast or attach onto the pillar a short corner block having a dovetail
at its back only, On the extremity of the end angle iron we cast or attach a block
having a dovetail both on its front and back the front one taking into the corner
cast onto the pillar and the back one being suitable for the reception of the
dovetail on the end of the side angle iron of the bedstead by these means we
obtain the end angle iron free from obstruction along its entire length and at
the same time loose and detachable from the pillars This form of corner may
be used in an ordinary bedstead which is not intended to receive a spring Fabric
and is an advantage in that an extended loose corner may be constructed of less
iron than in the usual manner and bedsteads which have hitherto for the sake
of economy, been constructed with immovable angle irons may at a very small
extra cost, be constructed with loose angle irons. We do not confine ourselves
to any special arrangement of the dovetails.
Our Improvements in castors is effected as follows onto the bottom of the
pillar or leg of the article of furniture is attached by casting or otherwise a

page_text: mount having on its underside a collar and below that a cone or projection on
the apex of which is a peg or a screwed aperture, The loose or revolving castor
part is formed of the requisite shape with horns for holding the bowl or roller
having on its upper edge a smooth collar or rim suitable to revolve under the
before mentioned collar on the mount with a hollow in its centre to fit into the
cone or projection loosely except for a small space at that part of the cone nearest
its upper edge in the centre and bottom of this hollow is a hole suitable for
receiving the peg at the apex of the cone or projection, which may be rivetted or
otherwise secured or a screw may be used instead of the peg thus attaching the
loose or revolving castor part to the leg of the article of Furniture. When
necessary for instance where it is required to slide a mount or collar over the leg
the collar on which the revolving part turns may be formed within the diameter
of the leg and the whole apparatus covered by a mount or otherwise.
The before mentioned horns or brackets for carrying the bowl may be either of
cast iron or suitable pieces of wrought iron laid and cast into the body of the
Castor.
By means of our Castor the appearance of the article of Furniture is improved
the revolving castor part partaking of the shape and contour of and forming part
of the foot or mount but we do not confine ourselves to the precise shape of the
castor shewn,
Referring to the drawings Fig 1 is a view of a portion of a bedstead end
shewing a pillar having castings upon it which would prevent the brass mounts (A)
being slid over them.
Fig 2. is an enlarged view of the pillar cast as before described severed at the
point (B) to enable the upper and lower portions of the pillar to be sprung apart so
as to allow the mounts (A. A.) to be slid upon them. The corner blocks having
been then cast upon the pillars at the point (B) the mounts (A, A) are slid into
position as shewn in Fig: 1.
Fig 3. is a view of a bedstead with a spring bottom having the curved end
bars (DD) to which the fabric is attached thereby giving the fabric a curved
surface in the view shewn a sliding bar is placed at the head end only and this
bar is adjusted by the ordinary adjusting screws but it is formed so as to slide
upon the side angle irons as shown at (E) this portion is shown in the enlarged
detail Fig 4 in which the curved sliding bar (E) is shewn notched out so that the
upper web of the angle iron may fit into the notch.
Fig: 5 shews our arrangement of dovetails when it is desirable to have the entire
length of the head and foot angle irons clear from side to side of the bedstead (F)
is the short dovetail block cast upon the pillar (G) (H) is the end angle iron with
the dovetail at its back and front, the front one taking into the short corner block
on the pillar and the dovetail on the end of the side angle iron (I) taking into the 4
one at the back.
Fig: 6 is a section through the bedstead leg and castor and
Fig 7 an elevation of the castor (K) is the mount cast on the end of the leg
having on its under side a collar (L) and a cone or projection (M) on the apex of
which is the peg (N) passing through the hole (O) in the revolving or castor 4
part (P) upon the upper edge of which is a smooth collar or rim (R) working under
the collar (L) on the mount (K) Fig 8 is a section through the castor part in
which a screw (S) is used instead of the peg (N)
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner in which
the several Improvements are carried into effect we wish it to be understood that 5
we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein set forth and specified but
We claim.
Firstly the means and arrangement by which we are enabled to Brass mount the
corners of metallic bedsteads which from intervening castings on the pillars
or the shape or configuration of the bow or from other causes it has been 5
impracticable so to treat without cutting or severing the mounts or without
making the bedsteads with loose rails or pillars,

page_text: econdly-Curving the head and foot bars to which the spring Fabric is attached
and forming slots on the ends of one or both of these curved bars to enable
them to slide upon the side angle irons.
hirdly-The construction of the end angle irons of bedsteads clear from cast iron
from end to end and at the same time loose and detachable from the pillars
and the construction of bedsteads with extended rails having corners of the
same or less depth than if the rails were not extended and with loose angle
irons.
ourthly-The construction of a castor for bedsteads and other metallic furniture as
herein described.
In witness whereof we the said Samuel Benjamin Whitfield and Samuel
Ilsley Whitfield have hereunto set our hands and seals this fourth day
of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty
three.
SAMUEL BENJAMIN WHITFIELD (L.S.)
SAMUEL, ILSLEY. WHITFIELD
(L.S.)