IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTERS IN THE LEGS OF TABLES, CHAIRS, PIANOFORTES, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE, AND IN APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING CASTER-WHEELS, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE PERFORATING. OF GLASS ARTICLES GENERALLY
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wilkinson, of the Town of Nottingham,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTERS IN THE LEGS
OF TABLES, CHAIRS, PIANOFORTES, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING CASTER-WHEELS, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO
THE PERFORATING. OF GLASS ARTICLES GENERALLY."
Sealed the 27th March 1857; and dated the 7th October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. William Wilkinson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th October 1856.
I, WILLIAM WILKINSON, of the Town of Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTERS IN THE
LEGS OF TABLES, CHAIRS, PIANOFORTES, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING CASTER-WHEELS, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE
PERFORATING OF GLASS ARTICLES GENERALLY," to be as follows:---
My Invention consists, firstly, in constructing casters partly in glass or iron-
stone, and in the means of connecting the same to the legs of chairs and other
articles, also in forming the legs of articles of furniture by stringing on a shaft
or rod ferrules of glass, ornamented or not; and with or without wood or
ornamental work between all or some of the ferrules.
I cast, stamp, press, mould, or otherwise form a solid wheel or disc in glass,
and press or drill a hole therein for the reception of an axis. This axis is
carried by two arms, in which it is countersunk, and between which the caster

page_text: is free to revolve. The arms project from and form part of a collar or ring.
free to turn round upon a vertical rod rivetted or otherwise fixed upon a metal
cup formed with a flange. Upon this flange, and covering the inside of the
cup, I fix or drop a glass ferrule silvered on the inside, or lined with any
ornamental device or fabric, or not. The upper face of the cup is screw-
threaded to receive a corresponding screw upon the shoe, into which the leg
of the table or other article is inserted. This metal shoe is wholly, or almost
wholly, covered by the glass ferrule, and by the shoe fitting into the cup no
strain comes' upon the ferrule. Instead of the shoe screwing into the cup, it
may be rivetted or otherwise fixed thereto in any manner whereby no strain
is allowed to come upon the ferrule.
I intend to claim under this part of my Invention the combination of glass
wheel caster of the kind described with glass ferrule, and method of fixing or
fitting the whole to the leg, or either of these alone, or any two of them. Also
the forming of the legs of tables or other articles of furniture by mounting
upon a spindle or rod plain or ornamental glass ferrules.
My Invention relates, secondly, to the forming of hollows or apertures
in glass wheels or bowls for casters, which is applicable to the forming of
apertures in glass generally, and consists in the employment of a hollow appa-
ratus or tool to press out or form the required aperture or apertures in articles
of glass, to which the intended shape is to be given by pressure.
The air contained in the hollow of the tool keeps it sufficiently cool to
prevent the molten glass from destroying it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Wilkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WILKINSON, of the Town of Nottingham, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord-
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Wilkinson, Her special licence that I, the said William
Wilkinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Wilkinson, my, executors, "administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: "
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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CASTERS IN THE LEGS OF TABLES, CHAIRS, PIANOFORTES, AND OTHER
ARTICLES OF FURNITURE, AND IN APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING CASTER-WHEELS,
WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE PERFORATING OF GLASS ARTICLES GENERALLY,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Wilkinson,
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 samo 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 William Wilkinson, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in constructing casters partly in glass or iron-
stone, and in the means of connecting the same to the legs of chairs and other
articles; also in forming the legs of articles of furniture by stringing on a
shaft or rod ferrules of glass, ornamented or not, and with or without wood or
ornamental work between all or some of the ferrules.
I cast, stamp, press, mould, or otherwise form a solid wheel or disc in glass
or ironstone, and press or drill a hole therein for the reception of an axis.
This axis is carried by two arms, in which it is countersunk, and between
which the caster is free to revolve; the arms project from and form part of a
collar or ring free to turn round upon a vertical rod rivetted or otherwise fixed
upon a metal cup formed with a flange. Upon this flange, and covering the
inside of the cup, I fix or drop a glass ferrule silvered on the inside, or lined
with any ornamental device or fabric, or not. The upper face of the cup is
screw-threaded to receive a corresponding screw upon the shoe, into which the
leg of the table or other article is inserted. The metal shoe is wholly, or
almost wholly, covered by the glass ferrule, and by the shoe fitting into the
cup no strain comes upon the ferrule. Instead of the shoe screwing into
the cup, it may be rivetted or otherwise fixed thereto in any manner, whereby
no strain is allowed to come upon the ferrule.
I intend to claim under this part of my Invention the combination of a
glass wheel caster of the kind described with glass ferrule, and method of fixing
.

page_text: or fitting the whole to the leg, or either of these alone, or any.two of them;
also the forming of the legs of tables and other articles of furniture by mount-
ing upon a spindle or rod plain or ornamental glass ferrules.
My Invention relates, secondly, to the forming of hollows or apertures.in
glass wlieels or bowls for casters, which is applicable to the forming of apertures-
in glass generally, and consists in the employment of a hollow. aperture or tool
to press out or form the required aperture or apertures in articles of glass, to
which the intended shape is to be given by pressure. The air contained
in the hollow of the tool keeps it sufficiently cool to prevent: the molten.glass
from destroying it.
The Drawings hereunto annexed represent the manner in which I carry, the
first part of my Invention into effect.
Figure 1 is a cross section, and Figure 2 a side view of a castor of glass or
ironstone with its fitments. A is the disc of glass or ironstone,, and B. is the
axis which passes through and carries the disc A, being supported at its,
extremities by the arms C, C, into which it is countersunk. The arms. C, C,
project 'from and form part of a collar or plate D, which is. connected to a
second and separate plate E formed either of metal, glass, -or. ironstone, by
means of a pin or rivet a. This caster is connected immediately to an article
of furniture by means of the screws b; 6, which pass up entirely through holes..
in the collar D, and bear only upon the plate E. In this case, as in all those
which follow, balls or spheres may be substituted for the discs, and vice versa.
Figures 3 and 4 are the same as Figures 1 and 2, excepting that the plate.
E is made larger, so that the screws b, b, need not be passed through the
collar D.
Figure 5 represents a disc A carried upon an axis B countersunk in arms
C, C, in one, with a collar or plate D exactly the same as in the preceding
case, but in this instánce the plate D is connected by a pin or rivet to a socket
F formed "either of metal or ironstone. This socket E is either screwed
directly upon the piece of furniture, or is fitted upon and screwed to it by small
screws through the hole c.
Figure 6 is a 'section shewing a similar arrangement to that shewn at
Figures 1 and 2, but in this instance A is a ball or sphere of glass or ironstone
instead of a disc, and the arms C; C, are spread to receive it.
Figure 7 is a side view, shewing a similar arrangement to that shewn at,
Figure 5, but in this instance also a ball or sphere A is used instead of a
disc.
Figures 8 and 9 are respectively an external view and a section shewing a
method by which I combine with either of the preceding arrangements..an

page_text: ornamental cover G which conceals, the arms C, C, and the greater portion
of the disc or sphere A. The socket H is also ornamented, so as to form with
the cover. G a handsome external appearance. In order to combine the cover
G securely with the socket and the collar of the caster, the said cover is
recessed out in such manner that its upper inward projecting edge d may rest
upon a shoulder e formed around the collar or plate D. It is placed in this
position, before the plate D is connected to the socket, H, and when these two
are united it is-retained in place, but is at the same time free to move round
with the caster.
A
Figures 10 and 11 represent a method by which I fit up on horizontal or
inclined, legs, of furniture a shoe or cap I of glass, ironstone, or metal with my
improved casters. Figure 10 is an external view, and Figure 11 is a section;
A is the disc, or sphere mounted as in the foregoing cases in the arms C, C,
which are in one with the collar or plate D. This collar or plate is rivetted
or pinned directly to the shoe or cap I.. The form of this cap I may be
varied.
Figure 12 is an external view, and Figure 13 a vertical section of a leg
suitable for tables, pianofortes, or other articles of furniture. This legis
chiefly composed of three pieces A, B, C, either all of wood, or partially of
metal. The piece B is either screwed or glued into the piece A, and the
piece C is similarly fastened into the piece B, both as shown; upon the lower
end of the piece C is fixed a metal or ironstone socket D, to the bottom of
which is screwed a casting E, which enters the piece F which carries the disc
or sphere G. a, b, c, d, e, f, are ornamental collars or rings of glass, plain or
colored. The pieces a and b are supported by the piece of wood a', and the
rim b' of the piece a projects over the upper edge of the piece b, so as to
conceal the joint between the two. To the rim 6' are suspended the glass
drops 6; between the pieces b and c is placed the ring of wood or metal c².
All the pieces a, a, b, c, c', are arranged in position upon the piece B before
that piece is inserted and fastened in the upper piece A, and when it is so
inserted and fastened they are all held securely in their places.
pieces of glass d and e is placed the ring of wood or metal (l;
formed upon the piece C, which collar supports the glass ring e.
d and e are arranged upon the piece C before it is inserted and fastened in the
piece B, by which means they are held securely in their places. 9 is a pin
which secures the piece F upon the casting E.
Between the
e¹ is a collar
The rings
The method above described of combining the ornamental and other parts
of legs or pillars may be varied, but the mode above described of combining

page_text: glass collars or rings with legs and pillars formed in short lengths or sections
belongs exclusively to me..
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,
First, constructing casters for furniture partly in glass or ironstone, as
lierein-before described.
Secondly, the several modes herein-before described and represented in
the Drawings hereunto annexed of combining discs or spheres of glass or
ironstone with the remaining portions of the casters, and with the parts
of furniture.
Thirdly, forming the legs or pillars of articles furniture by stringing on a
shaft or rod formed in sections, or otherwise ferrules, rings, or collars of glass,
ornameted or not, and with or without wood or metal or ornamental work.
between all or some of the ferrules, as herein-before described and represented
in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourthly, forming hollows or apertures in glass or ironstone wheels, discs,
or other articles by the employment of a hollow apparatus or tool to press out
or form the required hollows or apertures, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh
day of April One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
WILLIAM WILKINSON. (L.S.)