IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTS AND STALLS, AND IN THE MEANS OF FIXING THEM
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emile Cordonnier, of No. 82, Boulevard Sébastopol,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Geometrician, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTS AND STALLS, AND IN THE MEANS OF FIXING THEM
Sealed the 3rd November 1865, and dated the 12th May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Emile Cordonnier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
May 1865.
I, EMILE CORDONNIER, of No. 82, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Geometrician, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTS AND STALLS, AND IN THE MEANS OF FIXING
THEM IN THE GROUND," to be as follows:-
The present Invention relates especially to stalls and tents suitable for
markets, the object being to obviate the necessity of removing the materials
of construction from the spot after the market, at the same time leaving the
market place free from encumbrance in shape of poles, awnings, and similar
articles. This I propose to effect by sinking in the ground at suitable spots
cast-iron boxes, capable of containing one or more tents or stalls, the boxes
being so arranged as to be when closed level with the ground. The iron of
which the boxes are made can be protected from humidity in any of the

page_text: ordinary ways, and the boxes being furnished with a lock their contents are
secure from theft or damage. The stalls I propose are of simple construction
to admit of rapid erection and taking down, to facilitate which the cross
beams are bolted or hinged to the supports, and so arranged that on removing
the angle irons with which they are strengthened they can be folded together
to admit of their introduction in the box. The lower ends of the front
supports are hinged to fixed pieces adapted for that purpose in the receiving
box; the back supports, on the contrary are held secure in suitable sockets
by means of key pieces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Emile Cordonnier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EMILE
CORDONNIER, of No. 82, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Geometrician, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Emile Cordonnier, Her special licence that I, the said Emile Cordonnier,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Emile
Cordonnier, my executors, 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 TENTS AND
STALLS AND IN THE MEANS OF FIXING THEM IN THE GROUND," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Emile Cordonnier, 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 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 Emile Cordonnier, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, that is to say :-
My Invention is more especially adapted to those species of tents or stalls
employed at fairs or markets as they can be more readily put together or
removed than those now in general use, and from their simplicity of con-
struction are less cumbersome and occupy less than half the space when
packed.
My improvements consist in causing the supports and cross beams to be
bolted or hinged together, and so arranged that on removing the angle irons
with which they are strengthened they can be folded to admit of their intro-
duction in an iron box, which may be sunk in the ground, and capable of
containing one or more tents or stalls, the box being so arranged as to be
level with the ground when closed. The iron of which it is made can be
protected from humidity in any of the ordinary ways, and each box being
furnished with a lock their contents are secure from theft or damage. The
lower ends of the front supports are binged to fixed pieces adapted for that
purpose in the receiving box; the back supports are held secure by means of
sockets fixed in the earth, and may be fastened with key pieces. The tent is
made to divide in two parts; the first consisting of front and back supports
which are hinged or bolted to a cross bar, and the second also consisting of
front and back supports, which are likewise hinged to a similar cross bar, as
well as the back and front cross beams of the roof; these are connected by
the same means thereto, and are also attached to the first part of the tent by
any suitable fastening.
It will thus be seen by the above description that the various parts
forming the framework of the stall or tent can easily be folded together and
placed in the box secure from wet and wilful damage in a very short space of
time.
The following description is a slight modification of the above-described
system, over which it has the advantage of greater simplicity of construction,
combined with equal strength. The framework is of cast iron in the form of
the letter T, each bar or beam, of which five only are necessary when a row
of tents or stalls are arranged together, is fixed by means of rivets at the ends
so as to form secure joints. Three of the bars are united in front, and the
two others at the back; these two bars or supports of the back are connected
with those of the front of the stall by a cross bar, which forms the slope
necessary for the roof. The vertical support or bar of the back fits into a
socket having a key piece, which serves to secure the support when in the
socket, and which must be drawn back to permit of its removal. The vertical

page_text: front branch is keyed at its lower extremity to the bottom of the box, the
upper extremity terminating in a hinged or compass joint; the frameworks
are bound together by two cross bars, the joint being secured by a pin ; the
uniformity of the position of the various parts is maintained by angle pieces,
which also impart additional strength to the joints. In taking down the tents
the supports fold together, this permits of their being placed in the receiving
box, which, as has been already mentioned, is flush with the ground. My
system of connection permits of two stalls being packed in one box, the boxes
are secured by a pass key, and are easily kept dry by means of a small drain
in front.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim and desire to secure
by Letters Patent is, the peculiar arrangement of market stall as above
described, the same arrangement being equally capable of adaptation to
tents, marquees, and similar structures, where the prompt erection and taking
down is an advantage; these various cases will naturally require certain
modifications, but in all the principle remains the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Emile Cordonnier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
E. HÉBRÉ,
82, Boulevart Sébastopol,
Paris.
EMILE CORDONNIER. (L.S.)