Improvements in the Manufacture of Wood Mantels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 27th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Wood Mantels.
1, JOHN PARKER of 111 Cony here Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Joinery Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the production of wood mantles in such a manner
that after a mantle has been completed and delivered ready to fix over a grate or
other place such mantle can be readily reduced or extended in width without inter-
fering with the commercial value and utility of the mantle.
In order to fully understand the nature of my invention I would point out that
hitherto it has been customary in the production of mantles to consolidate and
secure the upright jambs, the frieze, and the shelf together in a permanent manner
so that the frieze could not be disconnected from the upright jambs without
destroying or greatly reducing the commercial value of the mantle, consequently
makers usually stock a number of mantles of the same pattern but of different
widths.
By my invention I produce an interchangable mantle the frieze being connected
to the jamb in such a manner that instead of making and stocking a number of
different widths of the same pattern of mantle I should by preference make and
stock the parts that when put together constitute the mantle.
In carrying out my invention I utilize the jambs, frieze boards, and shelves in
the following manner :-
In some cases the frieze board would pass behind each jamb without cutting or
scarfing in any manner, in such cases the frieze board would be secured behind the
jambs by means of ordinary wood screws or by other equivalent mechanical means,
the shelf would be secured over the frieze board by means of moveable sliding dove-
tail tennon, taking into dovetail mortices cut out of any suitable par of the upper
edge of the frieze board or the upper ends of jambs or jamb-brackets; the parts
constituting the wood mantle having been so prepared could be readily packed in
quantities or in single sets and when the set was taken to the grate or other place
where it was proposed to fix it the frieze board could be screwed behind the jambs
any required distance apart to suit the width of grate.
To fix the shelf over the frieze board the moveable dovetail tennon would be
screwed on to the under side of shelf at the distance from centre to centre to suit
the dovetail mortices provided on the upper edge of frieze or on the upper end of
jambs or jamb-brackets so that when the shelf was slidden into position the ends of
such shelf would project an equal distance over the outer edge of each side
jamb.
In some cases the vertical face of frieze would be formed with mouldings and
ornamental surface shewing a mitre with the jamb or jamb-bracket but instead of
making angular cut mitres I scribe the moulding or ornamental surface of the jamb-
side or jamb-bracket side over the moulding formed on the face of frieze and
thus allow the frieze board to slide easily behind the jambs to suit the width of
grate.
In addition to the vertical frieze board one or more horizontal shelves parallel
with the top dovetailed shelf frequently form part of the frieze of high class wood
mantles therefore provision must be made for such horizontal boards to slide behind
the jambs and the provision is as follows:-
The side of jamb or jamb bracket is pierced with a slot entering at the back
surface of jamb or jamb-bracket and extending the width of the horizontal part of
frieze each end of horizontal shelf part of frieze is made a parallel width for a few

page_text: inches irrespective of the configuration of the main edge of such horizontal part
consequently the horizontal part of frieze will slide in or out of the jamb with the
vertical part of frieze.
Although I prefer to connect the frieze board without cutting or scarfing the
ends nevertheless I can where desired rabbet, tennon, scarf, or otherwise prepare
the ends of frieze and also similarly prepare the upper ends of jambs or jamb-brackets
to receive the frieze.
I do not confine myself to the particular method of connecting the ends of frieze
to the ends of upright jambs or jamb-brackets as my invention consists essentially in
connecting the frieze to the jambs interchangably.
What consider to constitute the novelty and utility of my invention is:-
The new manufacture of mantles by connecting the frieze and shelf to the jambs
so that the parts are moveable and interchangable thus affording great convenience
for packing the parts closely together for transit and also providing means for
setting up a mantle adjusted to the exact width of the opening, before which such
mantle is fixed.
Dated this 12th day of July 1892.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Wood Mantels.
1, JOHN PARKER of 111 Conybere Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Joinery Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object the production of wood mantels in such a manner
that after a mantel has been completed and delivered ready to fix over a grate or
other place such mantel can be readily reduced or extended in width without
interfering with the commercial value and utility of the mantel.
In order to fully understand the nature of my invention I would point out that
hitherto it has been customary in the production of mantels to consolidate and
secure the upright jambs, the frieze, and the shelf together in a permanent manner
so that the frieze could not be disconnected from the upright jambs without
destroying or greatly reducing the commercial value of the mantel, consequently
makers usually stock a number of mantels of the same pattern but of different
widths.
By my invention I produce an interchangeable mantel the frieze being connected
to the jamb in such a manner that instead of making and stocking a number of
different widths of the same pattern of mantel I should by preference make and
stock the parts that when put together constitute the mantel.
In carrying out my invention, I utilize the jambs frieze-boards and shelves in the
following manner :-
In some cases the frieze-board would pass behind each jamb without cutting or
scarfing in any manner, in such cases the frieze-board would be secured behind the
jambs by means of ordinary wood screws or by other equivalent mechanical means,
the shelf would be secured over the frieze-board by means of movable sliding
dovetail tennons, taking into dovetail mortices cut out of any suitable part of the
upper edge of frieze-board, or the upper ends of jambs or jamb-brackets; the parts
constituting the wood mantel having been so prepared could be readily packed in
quantities or in single sets and when the set was taken to the grate or other place
where it was proposed to fix it, the frieze-board could be screwed behind the jambs
any required distance apart to suit the width of grate.
To fix the shelf over the frieze-board the moveable dovetail tennons would be

page_text: screwed on to the underside of shelf at a distance from centre to centre to suit the
dovetail mortices provided on the upper edge of frieze, or on the upper end of
jamb or jamb-brackets, so that when the shelf was slidden into position the ends
of such shelf would project an equal distance over the outer edge of each side
jamb.
In some cases the vertical face of frieze would be formed with mouldings and
ornamental surfaces shewing a mitre with a jamb or jamb-bracket but instead of
making angular cut mitres I scribe the moulding or ornamental surfaces of the
jamb-side or jamb-bracket side over the moulding formed on the face of frieze
and thus allow the frieze-board to slide easily behind the jambs to suit the width
of grate.
In addition to the vertical frieze-board one or more horizontal shelves parallel
with the top dovetail shelf frequently form part of the frieze of high class wood
mantels therefore provision must be made for such horizontal boards to slide
between the jambs and the provision is as follows:-
The side of jamb or jamb-bracket is pierced with a slot entering at the back
surface of jamb or jamb-bracket and extending the width of the parallel part of
frieze shelf, each end of horizontal shelf part of frieze is made a parallel width
for a few inches irrespective of the configuration of the main edge of such horizontal
part, consequently the horizontal shelf part of frieze will slide in or out of the
jambs with the vertical part of frieze.
I do not confine myself to the particular method herein described of connecting
the ends of frieze to the ends of upright jambs or jamb-brackets as my invention
consists essentially in connecting the frieze to the jambs interchangeably.
What I consider to constitute the novelty and utility of my invention is:-
The new manufacture of mantels by connecting the frieze and shelf to the jambs
so that the parts are moveable and interchangeable thus affording great convenience
for packing the parts closely together for transit and also providing means for
setting up a mantel adjusted to the exact width of the opening before which such
mantel is fixed.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is constructed and used.
Figure 1 represents the frieze-board which is also technically known as the
mantel.
Fig. 2 represents a plan of Figure 3.
Fig. 3 represents a vertical elevation of jambs and frieze-board (or mantel-board)
secured together, the position of the shelf being shewn in dotted lines.
Fig. 4 represents an enlarged end view of dovetail piece.
Fig. 5 represents an enlarged horizontal view of dovetail piece.
Fig. 6 represents an edge view of mantel-shelf.
Fig. 7 represents a plan of underside of mantel-shelf.
Fig. 8 represents a sectional end view of Figure 3 on the line A B:
Fig. 9 represents an enlarged view of upper portion of Figure 8.
Fig. 10 represents a back view of Figure 9.
Fig. 11 represents a plan of Figure 10 exclusive of the shelf.
Fig. 12 represents a front elevation of adjustable mantel with one frieze shelf.
Fig. 13 represents a sectional plan of Figure 12 on the line C D.
Fig. 14 represents the frieze-shelf.
Fig. 15 represents a section of Figure 16 on the line E F.
Fig. 16 represents a sectional plan of Figure 15 on the line G H.
Fig. 17 represents an inside face view of jamb shewing the slot entering at back
surface or edge, and extending the width of parallel part of frieze-shelf.
In carrying out my invention I provide the part a referred to in the Provisional
Specification as the frieze, the technical term mantel is generally used to signify a
vertical board, stone, or plate carrying on its upper edge a horizontal shelf usually
called the mantel-shelf, nevertheless the mantel a when supplemented with mouldings
and an undershelf may be correctly termed a frieze,

page_text: The frieze or mantel a may be made out of a single board or out of several boards,
or it may be framed and panelled; in either case, the frieze or mantel is formed in
the new and original manner hereinafter described.
I provide the slots bor in lieu of the slots b suitable pin-holes or screw holes,
I next provide a dovetail mortice c on the upper edge of mantel, the mortice c
is by preference covered by the moulding d, I make and stock any desired number
of the boards a of various lengths, each provided with the adjusting slots b and the
dovetail mortice c.
I next provide my adjustable jambs e such jambs being made by preference in
the box form shewn in detail at Figures 8, 9, and 10 but which method of boxing
the jambs I do not claim as new excepting in combination with the adjustable
frieze a.
I provide the mantel-shelf ƒ of any suitable design, I also provide the dovetail
tennons 9, such dovetail tennons may be made out of wood, metal, or other suitable
material the adjusting slots being pierced through the two end dovetails the central
dovetail g' may also be pierced with adjusting slots where desired, but I prefer to
fix such central dovetail g' rigid and non-adjustable.
I next provide the dovetail adjusting screws, which may be coach screws, ordinary
joinery screws, or screws of any suitable pattern that can be tightened up with a
screw-driver or with a spanner.
I next provide the frieze adjusting screws & such screws may be of various patterns
as described in reference to the screws j.
The inside face or board m of jamb or jamb bracket is pierced with a slot n
entering at the back surface o and extending the width of the parallel part p of
frieze-shelf.
The dovetail tennon g¹ would usually be secured permanently to the underside of
shelf but the dovetail tennons g would be placed in position and loosely connected
by means of their adjusting screws h.
The separate parts would be made in large or small quantities as hereinbefore
described and delivered to builders, merchants, or private purchasers the parts can
be taken to the room where it is intended to fix them or put together in the ware-
house or workshop of merchant, builder, or other person; in either case I utilize
the separate parts in the following manner.
When using one or more frieze shelves the parallel ends p of such shelf or
shelves would be slidden into the slots n and the parallel ends of the moulding
in a like manner slidden into the slots &; the frieze or mantel a would be then
placed in position behind the jambs e and secured thereto rigidly, by means of the
screws such screws taking a position in the slots 6 in accordance with the distance
from t to u; it will be readily understood that the parallel ends of shelf q and
moulding would extend within the slots n and s to suit the width of jambs from t to u
as illustrated at Figures 12, 13 and 14.
In some cases I dispense with the frieze shelf y and moulding utilizing a plain
frieze as shewn at a Figures 3, 8, 9 and 10. The mantel shelf is secured to the
frieze and jambs or jamb-brackets in the following manner :-
The dovetail-tennons g would he moved along their adjusting slots / until in a
proper position to enter the end dovetail slots v the tennons g would be fastened
rigidly to the underside of mantel shelf by means of the adjusting screws the
mantel-shelf would then be slidden into position over the frieze thus completing my
adjustable mantel ready to place in position before the grate or other place where
such mantel would be fixed for permanent use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1st. A new manufacture, consisting of making an interchangeable and adjustable
mantel, in the manner described, for the purpose described.
2nd. In an interchangeable mantel the construction of an adjustable frieze or

page_text: mantel a, by the utilization of one or more sliding shelves q, adjusted by means of
parallel ends p, taking into guiding slots a, in conjunction with frieze adjusting
slots, as and for the purpose described.
3rd. In an interchangeable mantel the construction of an adjustable shelff, by
the utilization of movable adjustable dovetail tennons, as illustrated and described
in reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7.
4th. In an interchangeable mantel the construction of adjustable jambs, by the
provision and utilization of frieze-shelf slots n, moulding slots s, and frieze-end-
recesses, by means of which the jambs can be adjusted over the frieze (4,
and
over the frieze-shelf or shelves q, to suit any width of grate opening, as illustrated
and described.
5th. The combination of separate jambs, separate frieze, separate frieze-shelf, and
separate mantel shelf, to form and forming a complete mantel.
Dated this 30th day of March 1893
JOHN PARKER.
Witness:
ALFRED W. TURNER,
Enrolled Patent Agent,
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham.