IMPROVEMENTS EN THẺ CONSTRUCTION OF COAL VABES OR BOXES, AND IN COATING PARTS OF SUCH VASES OR BOXES WITH A DEPOSIT OF NICKEL, WHICH LATTER PART OF THE INVENTION IS ADAPTABLE FOR WRITING AND DRESSING CASES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Underwood, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS EN THẺ
CONSTRUCTION OF COAL VABES OR BOXES, AND IN COATING PARTS OF SUCH
VASES OR BOXES WITH A DEPOSIT OF NICKEL, WHICH LATTER PART OF THE
INVENTION IS ADAPTABLE FOR WRITING AND DRESSING CASES."
Sealed the 16th February 1875, and dated the 14th September 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Underwood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th September 1874.
I, JOSEPH UNDERWOOD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COAL VASES OR BOXES, AND IN COATING PARTS OF SUCH
VASES OR BOXES WITH A DEPOSIT OF NICKEL, WHICH LATTER PART OF THE INVENTION
IS ADAPTABLE FOR WRITING AND DRESSING CASES," to be as follows :—
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved method or means of
strengthening the bodies of coal vases or boxes, or of other similar boxes,
cases, or articles when. made of wood, papier maché, or of other non-
metallic substance, the object of this part of the Invention being to

page_text: prevent the parts of the said vases, boxes, or other articles from loosening
or separating. These parts have hitherto been rabbetted and glued
together, and have consequently been very liable to get loosened or
separated when being filled with coal or other substance, or if by accident
violently shaken.
These improvements consist in retaining and holding the various parts
together by means of a series of stays or supporting tubular or solid
bars, rods, or rounds of iron, wood, or other suitable substance, which
are passed through the sides (or other parts) of the box, and are fastened
and kept in position by means of nuts, knobs, or plates screwed or other-
wise affixed on or to the ends of the said rods on the outer (and in some
cases the inner) sides of the boxes.
The Invention relates, secondly, to an improved method of coating or
preserving the surfaces of the metallic handles and corner plates or other
useful or ornamental pieces of the said coal boxes, vases, cases, or other
articles, this part of the Invention being also applicable to coating the
metallic fittings of writing, dressing, and other similar cases or articles,
the object of this part of the Invention being the preservation of the
surfaces of the said handles, plates, or other metallic parts from rust or
oxidation arising from exposure, use, or moisture, and these improve-
ments are effected by coating the said handles or other metallic parts
with a deposition of nickel, which may be effected by any known
process, so that when dull or deadened the said handles or other metallic
parts can be restored to their original brightness by the application of
a slight rubbing or friction of wash or kid leather or other similar soft
substance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Underwood in the Great Seal Patent Office..
on the 10th March 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH 3
UNDERWOOD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
*Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the 3
'

page_text: thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Underwood, Her special
licence that I, the said Joseph Underwood, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Underwood, my exe-.
-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
THE CONSTRUCTION OF COAL VASES OR BOXES, AND IN COATING PARTS OF SUCH VASES
OB BOXES WITH A DEPOSIT OF NICKEL, WHICH LATTER PART OF THE INVENTION IS
ADAPTABLE FOR WRITING AND DRESSING CASES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Joseph Underwood, 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 Joseph Underwood, 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 in writing, that is to say:-
r
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved method or means of
strengthening the bodies of coal vases or boxes, or of other similar boxes,
cases, or articles when made of wood, papier maché, or of other non-
metallic substance, the object of this part of the Invention being to
prevent the parts of the said vases, boxes, or other articles from loosening
or separating. These parts have hitherto been rabbetted and glued
together, and have consequently been very Hable to get loosened or
separated when being filled with coal or other substance, of if by accident
violently shaken.
These improvements consist in retaining and holding the various parts
together by means of a series of stays or supporting tubular or solid
bars, rods, or rounds of iron, wood, or other suitable substance, which
are passed through the sides (or other parts) of the box, and are fastened
and kept in position by means of nuts, knobs, or plates screwed or other.

page_text: wise affixed on or to the ends of the said rods on the outer (and in some
cases the inner) sides of the boxes.
The Invention relates, secondly, to an improved method of coating or
preserving the surfaces of the metallic handles and corner plates or other
useful or ornamental pieces of the said coal boxes, vases, cases, or other
articles, this part of the Invention being also applicable to coating the
metallic fittings of writing, dressing, and other similar cases or articles,
the object of this part of the Invention being the preservation of the
surfaces of the said handles, plates, or other metallic parts or fittings
from rust or oxidisation arising from exposure, use, or moisture. And
this requirement is effected by coating the said handles or other metallic
parts with a deposition of nickel, which may be effected by any known
process, so that when dull or deadened the said handles or other metallic
parts can be restored to their original brightness by the application of a
slight rubbing or friction of wash or kid leather or other similar soft
substance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, together with the manner in which the
same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention the above-
described improvements in the construction of coal vases or boxes for
the purpose specified, and the coating or preserving the surfaces of the
metallic handles and corner plates and other ornamental metallic pieces
or parts of such vases or boxes, and the metallic fittings of writing,
dressing, and other similar cases or articles with a deposition of nickel
for the purpose of preserving such metallic parts from rust or oxidisation
arising from exposure, use, or moisture, all substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Underwood, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in the year of our
Witness,
JOHN KENDRICK.
JOSEPH UNDERWOOD. (L.S.)