IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC- TION OF GIGS DOC CARTS AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Emery, of Preston, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF GIGS DOC CARTS AND OTHER VEHICLES
Sealed the 20th October 1853, and dated the 25th April 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Emery at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th April 1853.
I, JAMES EMERY, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF GIGS, DOG CARTS, AND OTHER VEHICLES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in the substitution of cane and wicker work
for wood in the body of gigs, and other kinds of vehicles, in the follow-
ing manner: The bottom or flooring is of wood, as usual; the sides
and back are formed by the insertion of cane uprights, into holes near
the edge of the flooring, at the thickness of a cane, or about a quarter
of an inch apart. At certain distances, and at each corner, an iron

page_text: rod is substituted for a cane, and, being driven through the flooring, is
-screwed fast underneath; the canes and rods are then interlaced with
willows, and thus bound fast together. A wooden framing is fixed on
the top of the canes, and screwed on the iron rods, and the whole
forms a compact and unyielding surface. The back of the seat and
the splash board are made in a similar manner. Very neat and orna-
mental devices may be made in the wicker work, and in dog carts air
holes may be readily left. Any kinds of carriages or vehicles may be
constructed upon this principle, but particularly gigs, dog carts, or
where lightness combined with strength is very essential. The cane
and wicker work is much stronger than wood used in the same parts
of the vehicle, and is less expensive. The great source of strength and
superiority over ordinary basket work is in the canes, which are about
one quarter of an inch thick, and cannot be broken by any force that
is likely to be brought against the vehicle in case of collision, &c.
It is proposed to use canes instead of willows, for a distance of three
or four inches from the flooring, to make the uprights more secure in
their framings; cart bodies may also be constructed, entirely of cane,
the cross canes (in place of willows) being rather thicker than the
uprights; greater strength is thus obtained for spring carts, and other
commoner kinds of vehicles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Emery, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 24th October. 1853..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES EMERY, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Emery, Her special licence that I,
the said James Emery, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or.

page_text: such others as I, the said James Emery, my executors, administrators,
or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF GIGS, DOG CARTS, AND OTHER VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Emery, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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 James Emery, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said. Invention consists in the substitution of cane work, or
combined cane and wicker work, for wood, in the bodies of gigs, and
other kinds of vehicles, in the following manner :-In such vehicles
the bottoms or floorings are of wood, as usual; the sides and back
are fornied by the insertion of cane uprights, into holes, near the edge
of the flooring, at the thickness of a cane, or about a quarter of an inch
apart. At certain distances, and at each corner, an iron rod is substi-
stuted for a cane, and this rod, being driven through the flooring, is
screwed fast underneath; the canes and rods are then interlaced with
canes or willows, and the whole details are thus bound fast together.
A wooden framing is fixed on the top of the canes, and screwed on to
the iron rods, and the whole thus forms a compact and unyielding
surface. The back of the seat, and the splash board, are made in a
similar manner, and very neat and ornamental devices may be made-in
the wicker work, whilst in dog carts air holes may be readily left in
the sides and back.
All kinds of carriages or vehicles may be constructed upon this

page_text: principle, but particularly gigs, dog carts, or other vehicles where
lightness combined with strength is very essential. The cane and
wicker work is much stronger than the wood ordinarily used in similar
parts of the vehicle, and it is less expensive. The great source of
strength and superiority over ordinary basket work is in the canes,
which are about one quarter of an inch thick, and cannot be broken
by any force that is likely to be brought against the vehicle in case of
collision. I prefer to use canes instead. of willows, for a distance of
three or four inches from the flooring, to make the uprights more
secure in their framings. The bodies may also be constructed. entirely
of cane, the cross canes (in place of willows) being rather thinner than
the uprights. Greater strength is thus obtained for spring carts, and
other kinds of vehicles.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
shall now proceed to describe the Figure on the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto attached. This Figure is a perspective representation of the
body of a dog cart, as constructed according to my improved plan.
The frame A, of the vehicle is of the usual construction; but, instead
of being fitted up with wooden panels, these are replaced by strong cane
work, or combined cane and wicker work walls, as at B.
In con-
structing this kind of frame work, strong vertical canes C, are let into
holes, and fixed to the top and bottom horizontal pieces of the frame.
At certain intervals iron rods D, are used in place of the canes, to
increase the strength, and also to bind the frame firmly together; the
rods passing through the frames, and having a head at one end, whilst
they are rivetted upon washers at the other end. Horizontal cross
canes or willows are interwoven with the uprights D, as at B; and,
where willows are used, this interweaving may be made to produce any
pattern or device, such as is met with in other kinds of wicker work.
The splash board E, is composed of cane and wicker work combined,
in a similar manner. I further propose to bind the shafts of vehicles
in general with cane, as at F, in order to strengthen and defend them,
and prevent them from splitting...
In constructing carts and other heavy vehicles, I prefer to use an
inside lining of boarding, so that they may be used for any purpose.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which
I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of my Invention. But what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
1st, the general arrangement and construction of vehicles, as herein-
before described.
2nd, the system or mode of constructing vehicles with bodies of cane
work, or combined cane and wicker work, as herein-before described.
3rd, the application and use in the cane work or combined cane and
wicker work bodies of vehicles, of intermediate metal stay rods, for
strengthening the bodies.
4th, the system or mode of constructing the cane or basket work
bodies of vehicles with cane uprights for strengthening the bodies.
5th, the system or mode of constructing the cane work or combined
cane and wicker work bodies with an internal lining of wood.
6th, the strengthening of the shafts of vehicles by a cane work
binding.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Emery, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JAMES EMERY. (L.S.)