IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOP FIXTURES CHIEPLY DESIGNED FOR GROCERS AND CORN CHANDLERS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas William Wilson, of the Firm of Wilson
& Co., Grocers and Wine Merchants, of Woodbridge, in the County
of Suffolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOP FIXTURES
CHIEPLY DESIGNED FOR GROCERS AND CORN CHANDLERS."
Sealed the 1st June 1875, and dated the 1st December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas William Wilson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st December 1874.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM WILSON, of the Firm of Wilson & Co., Grocers
and Wine Merchants, of Woodbridge, in the County of Suffolk, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHOP FIXTURES CHIEPLY DESIGNED FOR GROCERS AND CORN CHANDLERS," to be as
follows:
My said Invention relates to a novel construction of shop fixtures for
grocers, corn chandlers, and other shops or warehouses for containing
various articles of merchandize, such as tea, coffee, sugar, grain, or seed
of any kind, and drugs or chemical substances, or other goods sold in a
dry condition.

page_text: By this Invention I substitute for the ordinary inconvenient boxes,
jars, and other like receptacles used for containing the above or other
substances, a compact and convenient arrangement of lockers or bins,
which will hold a large quantity and keep their contents in good
condition, while allowing the tea, coffee, or other substance to be
delivered therefrom in a convenient and expeditious manner. The said
lockers or bins are formed by constructing an upright case with vertical
The said
divisions extending from the top to the bottom of the case.
case may be formed of wood or other suitable material, and in some
instances I form the front of the bins or compartments wholly or partially
of glass, so that their contents may be seen. If desired the said case
may extend up through the ceiling or top of the shop or warehouse into
the room above.
At the bottom or lower end cach bin or compartment terminates in a
forwardly projecting pocket or box provided with a downwardly sloping
hinged lid or cover. There is free communication between the vertical
part of the bin and the pocket, so that the contents of the said bin will
pass into the said pocket and keep the same full without running over.
These pockets are of convenient shape and size for the introduction of a
scoop for taking out their contents.
The bins are filled through openings at their upper ends, which
openings are tightly closed by suitable covers; and it will be seen that
as the contents of the said bins or lockers are emptied from the bottom
there will be no accumulation of old materials therein, as the stalest
portions of their contents must be delivered first. Moreover as the said
pockets or projecting parts of the bins or lockers are all arranged at the
same level the work of a shop, store, or warehouse can be performed
with much less labour and in a much shorter time than when the
ordinary fittings are used, and therefore the number of shopmen or
assistants may be reduced. The front of the said bins or lockers may
be finished or ornamented in any desired style, and may be furnished
with shelves or brackets.
I prefer that the lower part of the shop, room, or warehouse should be.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas William Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WILLIAM WILSON, of the Firm of Wilson & Co., Grocers and Wine
Merchants, of Woodbridge, in the County of Suffolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Thomas William Wilson, Her special licence that I,
the said Thomas William Wilson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas William Wilson, my exc-
cutors, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHOP FIXTURES CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR GROCERS AND CORN CHANDLERS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas William Wilson,
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 bo filed in the Great
Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas William Wilson, 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
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
My said Invention relates to a novel construction of shop fixtures for
grocers, corn chandlers, chemists, and other shops or warehouses for
containing various articles of merchandize, such as tea, coffee, sugar,
grain, or seed of any kind, and drugs or chemical substances, or other
goods sold in a dry condition.

page_text: By this Invention I substitute for the ordinary inconvenient boxes,
jars, and other like receptacles used for containing the above or other
substances a compact and convenient arrangement of lockers or bins,
which will hold a large quantity and keep their contents in good
condition, while allowing the tea, coffee, or other substance to be
delivered therefrom in a convenient and expeditious manner. The said
lockers or bins are formed by constructing an upright case with vertical
divisions extending from the top to the bottom of the case. The said
case may be formed of wood or other suitable material, and in some
instances I form the front of the bins or compartments wholly or partially
of glass, so that their contents may be seen. If desired the said case
may extend up through the ceiling or top of the shop or warehouse into
the room above.
At the bottom or lower end each bin or compartment terminates in a
forwardly projecting pocket or box provided with a downwardly sloping
hinged lid or cover. There is free communication between the vertical
part of the bin and the pocket, so that the contents of the said bin will
pass into the said pocket and, keep the same full without running over.
These pockets are of convenient shape and size for the introduction of a
scoop for taking out their contents.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn the interior of a shop
furnished with my improved shop fixtures.
A, A, are the ordinary counters of the shop; a, a, are the aforesaid
lockers or bins arranged against the walls behind the said counters; b, b,
are the pockets at the foot of the said lockers. These bins a, pockets b,
and pocket lids 6', may be constructed of mahogany, walnut, oak, deal,
or any suitable wood, or of metal, or partly of both.
On the left-hand side of the Drawing I have shown the bins termi-
nating below the ceiling of the shop, and provided with lids or covers c,
which are hinged or otherwise so secured as to open and close readily in
order that the bins may be filled; and the said lids or covers must be
well fitted to the tops of the bins to prevent any deterioration of their
contents by the admission of air. With the bins arranged in this manner
they are filled within the shop, access being had to the openings at the
top by step ladders provided for that purpose. But in cases where the
space or floor above the shop, store, or warehouse is available I prefer to
extend the bins up into the same, as shown on the right-hand side of the

page_text: Drawing. The tops of the said bins are level with the floor d above the
shop, and are filled through the openings e, which are provided with
suitable tightly fitting lids or covers. One of the bins, with its locker
at the extreme right of the Drawing, is shewn in vertical section, and
the manner of filling the same is clearly illustrated; or a series of bins
without the pockets on the floor above may be used in connection with
those below for filling the latter.
In some cases I may form the front of the lockers or bins entirely or
partially of plate glass, so that their contents may be seen without
exposure to the air; or the front of the said lockers may be fitted
with mirrors or otherwise finished or decorated.
In the Drawing I have shewn shelves f arranged in front of the
lockers for the reception of jars, bottles, boxes, packets, and the like. I
have also shown a safe or cupboard at g, and the space below the lockers
is fitted with drawers and shelves h, i. But these are details which may
be obviously varied to suit the convenience or taste of the proprietor of
the shop, store, or warehouse. For instance, I may if desired arrange a
second row of bins or lockers in front of the first row with pockets above
the pockets b; or I may have part of the space occupied by the said bins
or lockers and part by drawers or shelves.
It will be seen that as the contents of the said bins or lockers are
emptied from the bottom there will be no accumulation of old or stale
materials therein, as the stalest portions of their contents must be
delivered first. Morcover, as the said pockets or projecting parts of the
bins or lockers would be all arranged at the same or nearly the same
level the work of a shop, store, or warehouse can be performed with
much less labour and in a much shorter time than when the ordinary
fittings are used, and therefore the number of shopmen or assistants may
be reduced.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. The shop fixtures or fittings, consisting of the vertical bins or
lockers provided with openings at the top for filling them, and with
projecting pockets or boxes at the bottom, from which their contents
may be taken, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
'

page_text: Second. A case or frame containing a series of the said bins or lockers
arranged in combination with shelves and drawers and other shop fittings,
as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas William Wilson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
HY. JA. NOONE.
THOS. WILLIAM WILSON. (L.S.)