Improvements in and connected with Tents.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1897
Camolate Cannifination Loft 14th Apr
1898 Accepted. 16th July, 1898
Improvements in and connected with Tents.
I, ATHOL EDWARD MAUDSLAY, of Littlebourne, Twyford, Winchester, in the
County of Southampton, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists of a simple and effective means of making and construct-
ing a square, poleless tent with no side frame work, that can be erected and
taken down by one person with ease and rapidity. To erect or remove my tent
takes only three or four minutes. Unlike all other poleless tents in the market
to support the canvas there is, no frame work whatsoever except two light ash
rods the use of which are absolutely necessary to extend the roof.
The principle upon which these tents are constructed and supported is as
follows. I first make a round ash pole with a ferrule at the lower end which I
drive into the ground. This pole may be of lengths varying from 4 to 8 feet.
When not using an iron ferrule I encircle the lower end of the pole with an iron
collar, and boring a hole in the ash pole longitudinally I drive an iron rod
pointed at its lower end 4 inches or so up the ash pole, leaving a foot or more of
the rod to enter the ground. The upper end of the pole I again encircle with an
iron collar and boring another hole into the pole lengthways I drive a short iron
rod into the hole allowing it to project a few inches beyond the end of the pole.
I then proceed to make a second rod this time square, averaging in length from
to 10 feet by about 1.or 1½ inch square, and boring a hole through this rod in
a slanting or oblique direction I drop it over or on to the top of the round pole
which has already been placed in the ground vertically. The iron pin in the
upper part of the vertical pole passes through the rod placed obliquely and sup-
ports it in its slanting or oblique position. The hole bored through the slanting
rod is about 2 feet from its lower end, its longer end rises upwards some 8 or
10 feet in the air. I attach two iron plates to the upper and lower surface of the
rod at that point where the iron pin in the top of the pole passes through it
obliquely. To the upper extremity of the square rod placed obliquely I attach
a side pulley with plate and sheave through which I pass a cord or rope to the
extremity of which an S or spring hook is secured, the other end of the rope
being made fast to a cleat at the lower end of the long square wooden rod, which
lower end is secured to the ground at its lower extremity by a cord fastened to a
tent peg consequently it will be seen that by pulling the cord which, as I have
explained, passes through the sheave at the upper end of the square rod anything
fastened to or placed obliquely supported by the S hook will be raised or lowered.
Having therefore described how I raise and lower my tent I will proceed to
explain how the tent is itself constructed enabling it to be raised or lowered in
such a fashion.
The tent itself is absolutely square, or the walls may be gored so that they
slant outward making the surface enclosed by the canvas larger at the base than
at the summit. The roof is absolutely flat and has triangular pockets at its four

page_text: corners. I then proceed to make two ash rods about 1 inch in diameter and of
varying lengths according to the size of the tent required, and crossing these
ash rods so that they are placed at right angles to one another, I bore a. hole
through that part where they intersect one another, and passing a bolt through
this hole I secure the two rods together with a butterfly nut which nut may be
unscrewed, which doing the two rods are brought together and lie parallel to
one another when necessary to remove or transport them, but when placed at
right angles to one another and firmly secured together, by placing the ends in
the afore mentioned pockets in the corners of the roof of the tent and attaching
a ring to the centre of the roof on the outside, through which ring I make the
afore-mentioned S hook to pass, and by pulling the rope and making it secure
to the cleat on the wooden rod which has been elevated as described, an absolutely
square tent having a raised canopied roof some 7 feet above the ground is pro-
vided, or rather erected, it only being necessary to tent peg the four corners
through the brass rings sewn to these corners to extend the canvas walls with
absolute rigidity, which done, one beholds a tent absolutely perfect as a .shelter
from sun, wind, and light showers of rain. A lady or a maid servant, or if the
tent be large a couple of women can easily raise and lower the canvas, and by
unhooking it from the S. hook and the tent pegs and removing the rods which
extend the roof can carry it from a lawn into the house, where it may be folded
up and kept clean until required. If such a tent be needed for purposes of
residence by travellers I propose making it of waterproof canvas, and making in
addition to the three sides a fourth side which shall roll up and be secured over-
head: This fourth side or door or curtain or whatever it may be called, I fasten
when lowered to the side walls of the tent by means of hooks and eyes, or lace it
to the sides and secure it with padlocks when security against theft or inter-
ference be requisite.
As a protection from damp ground I make use of a ground sheet turned up
all round, the turned up sides standing some 12 inches above the ground, and
secured to the side walls of the tent by means of hooks and eyes. In some cases
I suspend the tent from the over hanging branch of a tree and it can dispense
with the walls.
I have now fully described the methods I adopt in the construction of these
tents, which I am convinced are the most absolutely portable and readily erected
tents in existence, in fact the only square poleless tent which a lady or a maid
servant can erect and remove utterly unassisted. The long slanting rod can be
made to fold up by means of hinges, so that the folded rod and the upright
vertical pole placed side by side are of the same length.
These two and the rods supporting the roof I strap together and place in a
canvas case resembling a long bag tied securely at the neck. The vertical pole
and slanting rod which it supports need not be removed or interfered with except
when the tent is no longer needed, seeing that the canvas can be removed inde-
pendently of these supports.
This tent has a still further advantage over other tents. When erected and
suspended to the supporting arm without drawing the tent pegs the tent can be
made to face any one of the four points of the compass, so that if shelter from
sun or wind is requisite the tent can in a moment be turned round so as to afford
shelter from that point from which the wind is coming or the sun is shining.
And I undertake to say that with no other tent in existence is it possible to secure
in a moment such protection, besides which all the other square poleless tents in
the market have walls that are encumbered with heavy iron work, difficult to
repair when injured, troublesome to erect needing the help of quite two men,
and heavy to transport.
The advantages I claim for my suspended, frameless, garden and travelling,
portable tent, I have now fully set forth.
In conclusion I wish particularly to point out that ash need not necessarily,be

page_text: employed in the construction of these supports although it appears to me to be
the best, strongest, and most serviceable wood to make use of for such a purpose,
but any wood that possesses the same characteristics would probably do equally
well. There is one thing to be said for ash-it bends but rarely breaks-but has
the disadvantage of being exceedingly difficult to work. The dimensions of the
wood supports will depend upon the size of the tent required, they will be as
light as possible compatible with the necessary strength.
I have two of these tents erected upon my lawns and I find them absolutely
successful in every respect.
Improvements in and connected with Tents.
I, ATHOL EDWARD MAUDSLAY, of Littlebourne, Twyford, Winchester, in the
County of Southampton, Author and Landowner, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of simple and effective means of making, constructing,
and externally suspending square and round poleless tents with no side frame-
work whatsoever, that can be erected and taken down with ease and rapidity.
To erect or remove my suspended tents takes only three or four minutes, unlike
all other tents in the market to support the canvas there is no internal frame-
work whatever except two light ash rods, or in the case of the round tents circular
hoops of wood or iron, the use of which are absolutely necessary to extend the
roof, and even these by adopting a slightly different arrangement--such as. I
will further on describe and of which I frequently make use may be absolutely
dispensed with.
The principle upon which these tents are constructed and supported is as
follows.
I adopt the crane principle of elevating weights and apply it to the support of
tents, and by so doing support a tent covering a very large area.
My tents are constructed as follows.
I first make a round ash pole of varying lengths according to circumstances,
and fit an iron collar to the top and bottom of this pole, after which I bore a hole
with a turn-bit up one end of the pole in the direction of its length, which hole
is intended to take an iron rod, not to be driven into the pole but for the pole
when placed in a vertical position to be dropped over the iron rod, which iron
rod is driven into the ground, a hole in the ground having already been made to
receive it. This iron rod is pointed at one end which point is driven into the
ground. Into the upper and reverse end of the pole bore another hole in the
direction of its length, and into this hole I drive firmly and securely a short iron
rod of about 6 inches which I so arrange that it shall project about 3 inches
beyond the end of the pole.
I then proceed to make a square ash rod of varying lengths according to cir-
cumstances, and of varying diameters, and boring a hole through and from side
to side of this rod in a slanting, diagonal, or oblique direction, at a point some
two, three, or four feet from the lower end according to circumstances, I hold it

page_text: in a position that will enable it to be dropped over the iron rod which is driven
in to the upper end of the circular ash pole which is already placed vertically in
the ground and allowing it to descend, the iron rod passing through the rod held
obliquely holds it securely in a diagonal position with one end elevated in the air
and the other end pointing toward the ground. That is, I drop the square ash
rod on to the top of the round pole which has already been placed into the ground
vertically, the iron pin in the upper part of the vertical pole passes through the
rod placed obliquely and supports it in the slanting or diagonal position. I
attach two iron plates to the upper and lower surfaces of the square rod at that
point where the iron pin in the top of the vertically placed pole passes through it
obliquely. In the upper end of the square rod placed obliquely I fit an iron
sheave close against which I bore a hole through which I pass a cord or rope to
the extremity of which an S or spring hook is attached. The other end of the
rope is made fast to a cleat at the lower end of the long square diagonally placed
wooden rod, the lower end of which rod is secured to the ground by a cord or
rope fastened to a tent peg which is driven into the ground at the rear of the
vertically placed pole. Consequently it will be seen that by pulling the lower
end of the cord, which as I have explained passes through the sheave at the upper
end of the square rod placed obliquely, anything fastened to or supported by the
S hook will be raised, and if the roof of a tent be fastened in this manner to the
Shook it will be elevated from the ground.
Having therefore described how I raise and lower my tent I will proceed to
explain how the tent itself is constructed, enabling it to be raised and lowered
in such a fashion.
The tent itself is absolutely square, or the walls may be gored so that they
slant outward, making the surface enclosed by the canvas larger at the base than
at the summit. The roof is made absolutely flat, and has triangular pockets at
its four interior corners. I then proceed to make two wooden rods of varying
lengths and diameters according to the size of the tent required, and through the
centre of these wooden rods I bore a hole through which when the rods cross one
another and are placed at right angles to one another, or intersect one another 1
pass a bolt which secures the two rods together, on to the end of which bolt I
screw a butterfly nut, which nut may be unscrewed when one requires the two
rods to be brought together and to lie parallel to one another when necessary to
remove or transport them; but when these rods are placed at right angles to one
another and firmly secured together by means of this bolt and nut, the four ends
of the rods being placed in the before-mentioned pockets at the interior corners
of the roof keep the roof extended, and this is still better accomplished by attach-
ing to the corner pockets strong pieces of webbing, which crossing the ends of
the wooden rods prevent their shifting their position.
So that no difficulty may be experienced in stretching the roof sufficiently to
place in the pockets the four ends of the extending rods, I slit one pocket up, and
attach to it a hook and eye, so that after introducing the ends of the rods into
the three pockets the remaining end may be placed in the fourth pocket without
difficulty, and by fastening the hook and eye firmly secured therein.
On the outside and to the centre of the roof I sew a strong ring through which
ring I make the before-mentioned S hook at the end of the elevating cord or
rope to pass, and pulling the rope I raise the tent from the ground, and then
securing the lower end of the rope to a cleat on the lower extremity of the square
wooden rod placed obliquely, the tent being then elevated to the required height,
I hook the rings which I sew on to the bottom of the walls to iron tent pegs
driven into the ground.
In the case of mere garden tents it
one ring at each of the four corners,
stronger make used for camping out,
bottom of the walls.
will not be necessary to have more than
but should the tent be of a larger and
several rings might be attached to the
In large tents in place of a ring sewn to the centre of the roof on the outside I

page_text: introduce an eyelet or brass circlet through which I pass the cord, making use
prin-
in this case of no S hook, but tying a knot on the "Matthew Walker"
ciple at the end of the cord, which preventing it passing through the circlet raises
the roof when the cord is pulled taut and made secure. It may also be made
in the case of large tents to support in the centre the rods that extend the roof.
The tent when the roof is thus raised is not only absolutely secure but presents
an appearance of absolute rigidity which one does not observe in any other tent.
The roofs of my tents in order that they may bear the strain of hoisting I
strengthen with stout webbing radiating from the centre of the roof to the sides,
the walls are also strengthened in the same manner. For very small tents this
is not necessary but in the case of large ones it is absolutely imperative that such
means should be taken to enable them to resist the strain applied when hoisting
them up, since the tighter they are hoisted the greater their rigidity is. When
hauled tight they look remarkably well, seeing that there is not a single crease
to be detected in the material of which they are made.
In some cases I do not use a vertical ash pole over which to drop the oblique
ash rod but adopt another plan. This is to make an iron rod 4 or 5 feet in length,
shouldered at the top, and drop the oblique rod over this. It has this advantage
over the ash pole, it can be driven into the ground like a tent peg, it does not
necessitate so much labour in construction, in fact in some cases I use a very
short rod standing not more than 18 inches from the ground, and have a long
ash rod placed obliquely on it as in the other case, that is pivoted to the iron rod
but with its lower extremity rising almost from the ground, and with its upper
extremity so reduced that it bends over the roof of the tent, making perhaps the
lightest and most portable of all appliances for supporting these suspended tents.
All these rods or spurs which are used as supporting arms can be jointed.
I have also another method of suspending these tents. I have a vertical ash
rod as already described with an iron collar at the top and an iron pin driven
into its upper extremity, but instead of placing a square rod obliquely non
this upright pole I make the pole 10 feet high, and taking an ash rod of varying
lengths and thicknesses I bore a hole through the centre of this rod in a horizontal
direction and drop it over the pin at the top of the vertical pole, and supposing
this rod to be 10 feet long, 5 feet from where it rests upon the upright pole that
is at the extreme end, I introduce a sheave over which I pass a line, and attach-
ing the centre of the roof of the tent to one end hauling at the other end I hoist
up my tent into the required position, and then make the cord fast to a cleat on
the upright post, having conducted the cord along the horizontal bar through eye-
bolts until it reaches the post where I pass it through a pulley block, but in
order to steady the pole and counteract the force employed in raising the tent,
to the other end of the now horizontal bar I attach a rope which I tent peg
securely to the ground.
When thus erected this means of hoisting a tent is perhaps more simple than
the other plans which I adopt, and has, moreover one great advantage, which is
that the horizontal bar revolves, or can be made to do so, on the upright pole,
in fact the extreme ends of the bar describe a circle, of which circle the upright
pole is the centre, so that not only can the tent be turned round by releasing the
rings from the tent pegs at either corner so as to avoid wind or sun, but it
can be made to absolutely change its position to any of the four points of the
compass by merely removing the tent pegs and placing them in the position
required. There is also another advantage in this plan. In place of the rope
tent pegged to the ground at the opposite end of the rod to that at which the
tent is suspended, another tent can be added, in which case one tent can be made
to counterbalance the other, and if any doubt exists as to the horizontal bar not
being strong enough to support the two tents when very large, a square rod in
place of a round pole can be employed and the cross bar or horizontal bar can be
shouldered into this square post and bolted thereto, and by making the post
several feet above the level of the horizontal bar, rope supports can pass from

page_text: the top of the post to the extreme ends of the horizontal bar, enabling them to
resist the strain. Ropes can also be fastened to either side of the post and secured
to the ground to resist the lateral strain or tendency of the pole to lean sideways.
But if the pole with the iron rod driven into the top be used, two horizontal rods
crossing one another can be employed and four tents can be suspended to the four
ends of such horizontal bars, and if these four tents have their doorways or open-
ings facing one another a canopy or roof can be arranged so that in passing from
one tent to another shelter is provided.
This can also be done in the case of two tents with the doorways facing one
another, a roof can easily be provided between the two tents so that one may be
used as a sleeping tent and the other for a day tent, or for any convenience
required. When two tents are suspended in this manner the door of one can face
one way and the door of the other in an opposite direction. As a river tent this
would be a great convenience since the day tent could face the river and towing.
path, whilst the night tent faced in the opposite direction, or such tents could
be used by gentlemen and their servants on shooting expeditions in Africa or
elsewhere. Thus arranged these tents have less woodwork than any other tent
in existence.
In the case of the four tents suspended to the ends of the two ash rods there is
only the upright pole in the centre, the two horizontal bars or rods which suspend
the tents, and the extenders for the roofs of the four tents, so that the wood work
necessary to erect four large square poleless tents would be represented by one
single pole and a few light ash rods, and sixteen small tent pegs. So that sup-
posing each of the four tents is 10 feet square or with a superficial area of 100 feet,
four tents would have an area of 400 superficial feet or would cover a space 20 feet
square, and each tent if used for residential purposes would give sleeping accom-
modation to five men, that is allowing 2 feet to each man, which supposing a
man to be 6 feet high would leave 4 feet unaccounted for. So that four tents
arranged upon this principle would easily accommodate twenty men and leave
an extra space of 10 feet by 4 feet in each tent.
These tents are a perfect shelter from sun and rain.
If the tent does not exceed 8 feet square a couple of women can easily raise and
lower it, and removing the rods which extend the roof can carry it from a lawn
into the house where it may be folded up and kept clean until required. When
these tents are made larger than 8 or 10 feet square my supports are differently
arranged. I no longer let the oblique rod drop on to the top of the vertical rod,
but I provide a square post about 10 ft. high and 2 inches square, tapering
toward the top. At the bottom I fit a square iron collar and boring a
hole longitudinally I drop it over an iron rod placed in the ground. At the
upper end I have no rod and no collar as in my first plan, but I let the spur or
obliquely placed square rod cross the square post placed vertically at about 7 feet
from the ground. I then bore a hole through the rod placed obliquely and the
post placed vertically and pass a bolt through their point of intersection, which
bolt I secure with a nut, taking care to provide a small iron plate on either side
the post and on either side of the oblique rod at the point where they impinge upon
and are secured to one another in order to guard against their wearing out at
this point.
I also in some cases make two holes in the obliquely placed rod so that it may
overhang to a more or less extent according to the size of the tent which it is
proposed to erect, and I am careful to give this spur or oblique rod a certain
elevation, the correctness of which has been ascertained and established by careful
investigation when enquiring into the best method of designing cranes in order
that they may be so constructed as to utilize and make effective all their parts.
To obtain the greatest power the oblique rod should be placed with regard to the
vertical rod at an angle of 45° so that the upper angle formed by the two is an
acute angle, and the lower angle formed by the two rods impinging upon one
another is an obtuse angle, no matter how the oblique rod might be placed against

page_text: the vertical_rod with regard to the height from the ground. It is, however, to
this angle that I adhere, and as a rule I make the point of intersection between
the two rods 7 feet from the ground, so that the tent when suspended may be
brought close to the upright post, not only affording ample head room but bring-
ing the centre of the tent, that is the point of suspension, as near as possible to
the upright post, which securely fixed in the ground supports the whole structure.
The nearer whatever weight the projecting arm has to carry is brought to the
supporting post the more that weight is reduced since the leverage is less.
The spur or oblique rod I support in the following manner at its upper end,
in addition to the support already provided by its being bolted and secured to
the vertical rod. I secure a rope to the upper extremity of the spur or oblique
rod and this I carry to the top of the post, through a hole in the post from front
to back, then through another hole in the post a few inches lower down from
back to front, then through an eyebolt at a point midway between the upper
extremity of obliquely placed rod and its point of intersection with the vertical
post, I then bring the rope back through a third hole in the post and carry it
right away to a block on a tent peg at some distance in the rear of the post, then
back to the lower extremity of the oblique rod to which I firmly secure it by
means of a cleat.
In this manner on the most scientific principles I render the post absolutely
rigid and secure as against any force that may be applied to the upper extremity
of the oblique rod, the tent being secured to a rope passing through a sheave at
the upper end of the oblique rod, and made secure to a second cleat placed a little
higher up the rod than the one already mentioned.
I do not in all cases bore a hole in the post longitudinally and having done
so drop it over an iron rod placed vertically in the ground. I sometimes drive
a piece of flat iron, say 1 or 2 inches wide by 1 inch or of an inch thick into
the ground, pointed and sharpened at the end. Two holes are bored in this iron
to take bolts, one about 3 inches from the top, and the other about 1 foot down.
Having prepared a hole in the ground to take this iron I drive it into the earth
leaving about 18 inches above the surface of the ground. To this iron I bolt
securely the upright post, so that the flat side of the iron entering the ground
with its flat surface facing toward the tent offers very great resistance to the
appliance of any force in that direction. It is of course the weight of the tent
if very large that has to be resisted, and it is at that point at which the tent is
suspended where all the forces which have to be overcome are concentrated.
By adopting this plan of using a flat piece of iron instead of a circular rod, I
am enabled to support with very little wood work very large tents on this sus-
pended principle, but in order to resist any inclination this flat piece of iron may
have to cut its way into the earth sideways, I fit an eyebolt to the upright post,
screwing it into the post about 5 feet from the ground, and using guy ropes
fastened to this evebolt I secure them to pegs driven into the ground on either
side of the post, thereby rendering the post absolutely incapable of moving in
any direction. Sometimes I use angle or T irons instead of flat irons for driv-
ing into the ground and securing to the post, seeing that they offer greater
resistance to lateral movement.
In making small tents on this last-mentioned principle, that is placing the
oblique rod sideways against the upright post and bolting it thereto, I merely
secure the suspending rod in its oblique position by fastening its lower end to a
tent peg driven in the ground at the rear of the upright post. No rope is
employed to support the oblique spur or made to pass backwards and forwards
through the upright post as in the plan adopted with heavy tents, a sheave, how-
ever, is introduced into the upper end of the spur, and also in to the top of the
upright post, over which two sheaves the elevating rope passes, which rope when
the tent is elevated is fastened to a cleat on the upright post. This upright post
and the spur crossing it obliquely is the plan I most generally adopt in making
these tents.

page_text: I make it my principle to give the post which is the main support of these
tents such absolute stability that a suspended tent up to 30 feet square can easily
be erected upon this principle. When suspending tents as large as this I support
with a rope in the centre the cross pieces of wood that extend the roof, and as
they have to be very long I joint them in the following manner.
For instance, I take two pieces of ash or any other suitable wood, about 14 feet
long by 1 inch square, and crossing them I bolt them together, but before doing
this I bore a hole 5 inches deep longitudinally down the end of each rod and drive
into this hole a square piece of iron about of an inch square and about 10 inches
long. I then take four other wooden rods of the same diameter and 6 feet long
or what ever length is required to extend the roof and bore these rods in the
same way, but the holes being a shade larger, 5/16 instead of ½ I am able to intro-
duce the projecting square iron rod easily into these holes, by doing which I bring
the four rods I first mentioned into position with these additional rods, thereby
adding 6 feet to their length, and making their length 20 feet instead of 14 feet,
and so by adopting this plan I make my extenders whatever length is required,
the only thing necessary being to support them in the centre where they cross
or intersect one another in the middle of the tent, as being very light they are
apt to bend unless so supported. By adopting this plan I add to the portability
of the tent as very long rods would be extremely cumbersome, besides which such
long pieces of wood are not often obtainable, centre rods, however, may be
obtained 15 feet long, so that if 15 feet be added at either end, rods 45 feet long
can be so jointed giving a tent 28 feet square.
If properly supported in the centre by a strong rope one could make use of
these extenders to support a lamp seeing that the canvas roof of the tent is in
every case, in the centre of the tent, 2 feet or 3 feet above the extending rods.
In some cases I dispense with the wooden roof extenders altogether and sus-
pend bell-shaped tents to these overhanging rods. Sometimes I make the hori-
zontal rod which I place at right angles to the upright post, to act as a ridge
roof, that is I hang the canvas over the horizontal rod and, sloping it away from
the rod, tent peg it to the ground. Sometimes I do not make the roof flat but
gore it so that when suspended it is high-pitched, this enables me to dispense
with the wooden roof extenders, as by attaching guy ropes to either four corners
of the roof where the roof meets the walls, I can guy the roof down so that it
slopes towards the ground, and from that point where the ropes are attached I
let the walls fall vertically and naturally to the ground. To do this it is necessary
that the roof should be very sloping and high-pitched, and consequently the rod
that supports it whether placed horizontally or obliquely, must be at its highest
point some distance from the ground.
When making very small tents on the suspended principle I sometimes use
wooden or iron hoops. The smaller hoop is at the top of the tent and extends
the roof in place of the cross ash rods. This hoop is either laced to the eaves on
the inside of the tent, or tied, or slipped into a continuous pocket. When slipped
into a pocket there is an opening in the hoop, that is, the hoop although it meets
is cut through in a diametrical direction, this enables it to be slid into the pocket
with perfect ease, extending the roof and sides of the tent. At the bottom of
the walls I use a similar iron hoop the weight of which keeps the walls rigid,
so that no tent pegs whatever are necessary in calm weather except one be used
behind the tent to prevent it revolving. When once these rods have been slid
into the pockets they need not be again removed, the tent can be lowered and it
will then be found to collapse in the same manner as a hanging meat safe covered
with netting, or a sponge net which has two light hoops to extend it, and which
is sold by chemists for toilet purposes. When so collapsed the tent is very
portable.
an
For larger tents on this principle I use ash rods some 2 inches wide by
inch thick and of varying lengths. These I bend and fasten one to the other so
as to form a large hoop which I lace or tie to the caves of the tent on the inside.

page_text: There is one great advantage in these circular tents contrived on this principle
There is nothing whatever to interfere with the head room. The walls may be
only 5 feet high, but directly you enter the tent the sloping roof allows of ample
space to stand in any part of the tent. In this case I make use of only one hoop
in the roof and tent peg the walls to the ground. In many cases I find that cane
is more applicable to these tents, pushed into the pockets that enclircle the tent
at the eaves the cane easily travels round the tent and extends the roof provided
that the ends where they meet are secured together, there being an opening pro-
vided in the pocket for this purpose. By employing cane to extend the roof I
add greatly to the lightness and consequently need a very slight supporting
medium. For travellers the use of cane is perhaps better than ash as circular
extenders for these tent roofs.
Such of these tents as have their roofs extended by means of wooden rods placed
in pockets I suspend to the overhanging branch of a tree, these tents being
admirably suited to such a purpose, in which case I require no other supports,
and if such a tree could be found one could suggest no better method of support:
ing these tents. Into the overhanging branch of the tree I screw an eyebolt with
the eye facing downwards, onto this eyebolt I hook a pulley block, if the tent to
be supported is a very large one and a very heavy one made of waterproof canvas
I use a very large eyebolt, on to the end of which at the upper side of the branch
I screw a nut and fit a washer, so that no matter what weight the tent is the bolt
cannot be drawn out of the tree.
I have other methods of suspending tents. as follows.
an
I take four ash rods and I reduce them at one end, the larger end I secure to
the ground in such a position that the four rods are equidistant from one another
and are so arranged as to form a square, a rod being at each corner of the square.
I then bend each rod so that the four ends meet and bolt them together with an
eyebolt which is secured with a nut.
I then pass
Shook through
the eyebolt, the other end of this S hook passes through the ring
in the centre of the roof of the tent, the ash rods bending inwards and over
the centre of the tent, that is they are inclined toward the ground, the tendency
of the ash rods is to straighten themselves, therefore when hooked to the roof of
the tent they spring upwards and so raise the roof, the only thing then to do is
to hook the eaves of the tent to the ash uprights, and also to secure the bottom
of the walls to the bottom of the posts or wooden rods close to where they meet
the ground.
-
Another method of suspending these tents is to employ one, ash rod which I
secure vertically to the ground, its upper end being greatly reduced I bend it
over and secure to the centre of the roof of the tent, the tendency it, has to
straighten itself raises the roof of the tent to the required, height.
Another method which I adopt is to provide four upright poles about 8 feet
high, the lower end of which I secure to the ground. The top I encircle with an
iron collar, and boring a hole down it longitudinally I drive four iron rods into
the poles, so that they project from the top of these poles about 9 inches. These
poles are placed vertically at the four corners of a square. I then take two. light
rods and boring holes in them at their ends cross ways or diametrically I drop the
ends of these two rods which cross or intersect one another in the centre, over the
iron pins at the top of the four poles, these two horizontal rods being secured. in
the centre with an eyebolt, the eye of the bolt facing downwards. To this I
attach one end of an S hook, the other end I pass through the ring at the top.
and in the centre of the roof of the tent, so that all that is needful is to hook the
tent at the four corners of the roof to the upright posts, and secure the bottom
of the walls to the posts close to where they meet the ground. This tent is abso-
lutely ropeless and pegless.
When not employing the crane principle to hoist up my tents I adopt another
plan as follows.
I dispense entirely with the ash rods which I make use of to extend the roof

page_text: and I use four ash poles about 2 inches or more in diameter as the case may be,
and of varying lengths from 8 feet to 12 feet or even more according to the size
of the tent. These rods or poles have an iron collar at their lower extremity and
have a hole bored up them longitudinally, that is in the direction of their length,
and at their top extremity they have an iron sheave introduced over which a
rope passes. These posts, four in number, are placed vertically in the ground,
that is they are dropped over the iron rods which are driven into the ground and
stand upright. I sometimes also use square posts and secure them to the ground
with plates of iron bolted to them. The distance of these posts or poles one from
the other depends of course upon the size of the tent to be erected, and the size
of the tent depends entirely upon the distance the posts are placed apart. When
a post is placed at each of the four corners of the tent and a rope passes from one
corner post to another in its passage or in doing so it passes through the
ring at the top of the tent and so elevates it to the required height; that is,
that the ropes passing from one corner post to the other corner post diagonally
intersect one another at that point immediately over the centre of the tent, and
if these ropes pass through the ring in the centre of the tent the roof is thereby
supported. The corners of the roof are then hooked on and secured to the four
corner posts at a distance of 6 feet 4 inches from the ground. Upon the ropes
which pass from one corner post to another being pulled tight the centre of the
roof will be raised in precisely the same manner as it was raised in the case of my
other suspended tents, but with this difference. Where I use the crane principle
of suspension it is necessary to use cross rods to extend the roof, or if they be
round tents hoops must be used to extend the roof, but in this last-mentioned
tent no such rods or hoops are necessary. The tent may be erected and taken
down and no wood-work except what is in position need be employed. The four
posts can be left standing out of doors and the tent can be removed and placed
under shelter. The rope when drawn tight is secured to tent pegs placed at
some distance from the poles, or rather they pass from the top of the pole through
a block secured to a tent peg driven into the ground, and then return and are
cleated to the poles, so that when drawn tight they enable the poles to resist any.
counteracting strain, or rather, to resist the weight of the tent when drawn up to
the required height.
I propose making these tents very large indeed, big marquees suitable for
banquets, balls, flower shows or out door entertainments may be erected on this
principle with far greater safety than has hitherto been the case when erecting
large tents. It simply depends upon the lengths and thickness of the iron rods
driven into the ground to receive the upright poles, and the thickness of the
poles themselves.
Were iron rods 2 inches to 2½ inches in diameter and 6 feet or 7 feet long to
be employed, and ash poles with strong iron collars at their base, 6 or 7 inches
in diameter to be used, with a height from the ground of 12, 14, 16, or 18 feet,
a tent could then be supported 60 or 80 feet square provided that the roof were
not made of too heavy material. When one observes the enormous amount of
paraphernailia used in erecting big marquees and the, enormous ridge pole that
is frequently used this plan must be considered a vast improvement over the old
methods.
Another plan I adopt for suspending large tents is one I find answers admir-
ably. This is to secure two posts to the ground at a distance from one another,
and to attach to each post a horizontal rod or bar 6 feet 4 inches from the ground,
so that the two posts being placed in a position facing one another, say 16 feet
apart, the horizontal rods are brought parallel to one another though at a distance
apart, a sheave being fitted into the top of each post, a rope passing from one
post to another is passed through the post and over the sheaves and then secured
to the ground, in the rear of the post, but before this is done the tent being con-
structed with a ridge roof is suspended over and between the posts. The rope
passes under the ridge of the tent through two eyelets at the extreme upper ends

page_text: of the roof, and the rope having supported the roof of the tent as explained, con-
tinues its course to the ground where it is securely fastened to tent pegs, conse-
quently the tent will be by hauling at the ropes very quickly elevated to the
required height, the horizontal bars extending the ends of the roof at the eaves
the roof can of course be guyed out where required. The only woodwork neces-
sary in these tents are the two upright posts and the two horizontal bars. The
posts can be placed any distance apart in reason, say 20, 30, or 40 feet apart,
which if done a fine large tent with ample head room will be provided. The rope
which forms the ridge must be hauled very tight the slack being taken up from
time to time. The horizontal bars I put into pockets on the outside of the tent
at the eaves of the roof at either end. The rope supporting the roof need not
necessarily pass inside the ridge, it may be made to pass through rings on the
top of the roof outside, or through one ring only in the centre-of the roof outside.
To keep my horizontal bars at right angles with the upright posts I fit a piece
cf wood to the upright post on the side which is crossed by the horizontal bar so
that the bar can be neither raised nor lowered but must remain absolutely at
right angles to the post. To accomplish this I take a piece of some hard wood
about 4 inches long and 1 inches square supposing that the post to which it is
to be fixed is 2 inches square, and cut a 2 inch mortice out of the centre leaving
1 inch either side. I then bore a hole through it diametrically and also through
the upright post, and fitting the short piece of wood, already cut out or morticed,
against the post secure it thereto with a bolt and nut. I also adopt this plan in
those tents on the crane principle which are provided with a horizontal bar cross-
ing them at right angles from which the tent is supported.
If my smaller suspended tents such as I have already described, be needed for
purposes of residence by travellers, I propose making them of waterproof canvas,
and making in addition to the three sides a fourth side which shall roll up and
be secured overhead. This fourth side, or door, or curtain, or whatever it may be
called, I fasten when lowered to the side walls of the tent by means of hooks and
eyes, or lace it to the sides and secure it with padlocks when security against theft
or interference is required. I also make the walls at the sides to be brought
round to the front, that is I do not leave the entire front of the tent open.
For
instance if the tent is 8 feet square I make the opening or doorway 6 feet, and
leave a foot of wall on either side of such opening. In some cases I connect
the lower part of these walls together with a band of canvas, say 1 foot wide or
high, over which it is of course necessary to step when entering the tent, but
this arrangement gives far greater rigidity to the tent, binding it together and
making it set better, besides which when the door or curtain is let down, which
is rolled up when not required, it is far more easily secured and there is less
chance of draught.
As a protection from damp ground I make use of a ground sheet turned up
all round, the turned up sides standing some 12 inches above the ground and
secured to the side walls of the tent by means of hooks and eyes.
The vertical pole and the slanting rod which it supports in the crane tent need
not be removed or interfered with except when the tent is no longer needed out
of doors, seeing that the canvas can be removed independently of these supports.
This tent has a still further advantage over other tents. When erected and sus-
pended to the supporting arm without drawing the tent pegs the tent can be
made to face any one of the four points of the compass, so that if shelter from sun
or wind is requisite the tent can in a moment be turned round so as to afford
shelter from that point from which the wind is coming or the sun is shining.
And I undertake to say that with no other tent in existence is it possible to
secure in a moment such protection, besides which all the other square poleless
tents in the market have walls that are encumbered with heavy iron or woodwork,
difficult to repair when injured, troublesome to erect, needing the help of quite
two men, and heavy to transport.

page_text: In some cases I use curtains which drop down over the opening and can be
looped up when one desires to open the tent, or rolled up and tied to the eaves.
I have now fully described the methods I adopt in the construction of these
tents, which are the most admirably portable and readily erected tents in exist-
ence, in fact the only square poleless tents 6, 8, or 10 feet square which two ladies
or a couple of maid-servants can erect and remove utterly without assistance.
They can be moreover produced very cheaply, and for this reason and because
they are capable of being erected where a man's assistance cannot be rendered
they are very suitable for small gardens attached to the houses of person's of
limited means, besides which as it is not necessary to leave the canvas out of
doors except when tent is required, they last longer and do not become soiled and
dirty but may be kept absolutely and spotlessly clean.
My invention is shown in detail in the attached 11 sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1 gives an illustration of my suspended, tent viewed from the front. A
represents the spur or oblique rod. with the hole bored obliquely through it, sur-
mounted with an iron plate, and having two cleats at its lower end, and a sheave
fitted to the upper end through which the elevating rope passes. B is the vertical
pole that supports the spur A. As will be seen there is an iron collar at each end,
two iron rods introduced into both ends, and an eyebolt in the centre. C is the
iron tent peg that secures the spur A in position.
Fig. 2 represents a front view of the same tent but differently suspended. D is
a horizontal ash rod with a vertical hole through its centre through which passes
an iron pin which is driven into the vertical rod E which rod has an iron collar
top and bottom. At the lower end a hole bored up it lengthways so that it may
be dropped over the iron rod F which is already driven into the ground. When
the rod D is dropped over E which is secured by the guy rope G to tent peg I
and eyebolt H in the end of the horizontal rod 1) and the tent is pegged to the
ground at the four corners, it is then rendered absolutely secure.
Fig. 2 gives a front view of a 12 feet square tent secured and suspended in
the same manner as in Fig. 2 except that the upright J is crossed by the hori-
zontal K and is not dropped on the top of it. In this plan as will be seen the bar
is supported by a rope L L L L which gives the whole structure greater stability.
Figure 3 represents two 10 feet square tents suspended to either end of the hori
zontal bar M M which rests upon the upright pole N N and is secured thereto as
shown in drawing.
Fig. 4 shows four tents suspended to the ends of two cross bars resting on an
upright pole and secured thereto by a pin passing through their centre.
Fig. 5 represents the front view of a tent supported on the crane principle.
The rope 000 supports the spur in its oblique position, the elevating rope PP
passing through a sheave at the upper end of the oblique rod is secured to the
cleats at its lower end. As will be seen the upright post is in this case secured to
the ground by being bolted to a piece of flat iron, pointed at the end, which is
driven into the ground before being bolted to the upright post.
Fig. 5 represents the upright post with the flat iron bolted to its base with
bolts and butterfly nuts. The iron need not always be the same width as the post, it
is better that it should be square so as to offer equal resistance in every direction.
Fig. 6 represents a tent on the bell-shaped principle suspended to an oblique
spur secured to an upright post. The walls in this tent are 4 feet high. No
wooden roof extenders are used in this case only guy ropes and tent pegs as will
be seen in drawing. As will be seen there is 6 feet head room at 2 feet 3 inches
from the sides of the tent. There is a space of 5 feet from side to side where the
head room exceeds 6 feet the tent being 10 feet square.
Fig. 7 gives an illustration of a small circular tent 6 feet wide at base and
5 feet at top. The roof and walls are extended with iron hoops or with canes
bent round to form hoops.
Fig. 8 shows an 8 feet square tent suspended to a bent ash rod, the ash giving

page_text: as the tent is elevated from the ground. This ash rod is secured to the ground
by being bolted to a piece of flat iron as described in Fig. 5.
The walls at the corners at their.
Fig. 9 represents a 16 feet square tent.
highest point are hooked on to the upright posts, the bottoms of the walls are
also secured to the posts at the corners, the roof is then raised in the centre by
hauling at the elevating ropes Q Q Q Q and secured to the cleats R R R R.
this principle very large marquees can be suspended.
Upon
Fig. 10 shows a tent supported without any spur. This tent is 6 feet square.
The guy rope S S which supports the roof follows the line of the roof and is
secured to ring T. The roof is also secured at V to the upright post with a ring
attached to the eaves of the tent which fastens on to a hook on the upright.
Fig. 11 represents a 4 feet 6 in. square tent. This tent has not sufficient head
room for standing, it is merely for sitting in a garden, reading, sketching, or
working. The upright rod is secured to the ground by being bolted to an iron
plate already placed in the ground. W W is a guy rope which keeps the bent
rod in position. The rod is bent not by being tapered or reduced, but by having
a number of saw cuts made diametrically in its upper end on that side toward
which it is required that the rod should bend. This enables the rod to resist the
strain of being bent over without causing it to break.
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:-
The improved construction of square and round poleless tents, involving
in every case I have mentioned the principle of exterior suspension, and it is
this my invention and principle of suspending tents exteriorly to which I particu-
larly lay claim, which tents are suitable for all purposes, and are of all tents the
most portable and easily erected, as substantially described and illustrated.
1 1041 1900
ATHOL EDWARD MAUDSLAY.