provements in and connected with Election Polling Station Fittings.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 21st June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and connected with Election Polling Station
Fittings.
THOMAS MILLS 89 Astbury Road Queens Road Peckham S.E. Carpenter & Joiner
do hereby declare the nature this invention to be as follows:-
Sheets Nos. 1 & 3 shew plans of election fittings which are so constructed as to be
movable and portable so that they can be fixed in a few minutes by means of angle
irons or brackets and a few screws put in the floor and used when and as required
& stored away when not in use for future occasions. The partitions forming ballot
box are constructed.of pannelled or other framing as indicated and are hinged at
the parts marked C and are fixed by means of metal slots at the parts D and are
strengthened by means of bars of hard wood or other material and secured by means
of the thumb screws at the parts marked E. The hard wood bars are arranged
on pivots so that when the fittings are not in use they can be placed in a vertical
position & the hinged framing opened or folded back to back & the thumb screws,
reused in the holes F to keep each piece of framing shut, together so that when
not in use the framing is closed up as shewn by dotted lines & packed together
in a very small compass for future use. There are to be tables as indicated for
the voting officials, which are to rest on the hard wood bars & supported in the
centres with a leg as shewn which is to be hinged to the underside of tables so as to
close up when not in use. The leg of the front table is cut as shewn in section A
to B in Sheet No. 2 with another small hinged flap as shewn at G on front elevation
Sheet No. 1 for the reception of the ballot box which is indicated by dotted lines on
the plain Sheet No. 1.
The voting desks or boxes shewn on Sheet 3 are constructed as indicated in one
length or more of framing (according to length) at back, with hinged divisions which
are kept in position by means of metal or hard wood pegs projecting up from front
of desk & to fit into purpose made holes or sinkings in the underside of the hinged
divisional framing or by means of. thumb screws. The desk is to be cut out as
shewn on plan in between the divisional framing & is also hinged as shewn on
section the advantage of which is to enable it to be folded up, so as to occupy
little space & be stored away when not in use.
The voting desks or boxes to have hinged legs with rails & have wrot iron stay
bars or other struts so as all to fold up as indicated by dotted lines on elevation,
Sheet 3 when not in use.
The voting desks or boxes would be fixed to floor by means of angle irons or
brackets & screwed to floor as before.
The size of election fittings comprising ballot box & voting desks or boxes will
be made of a larger or smaller size to meet the requirements of the district, borough
or county or other place that may require the use of such election fittings & used for
all election purposes including Parliamentary, School Board, County Council, and
any other elections.
November 21st 1889.
!

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Election Polling Station
Fittings.
I THOMAS MILLS of 89 Astbury Road, Peckham in the County of London,
Carpenter and Joiner, 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 :-
The said invention relates to a novel construction of polling station and fittings
for the same so designed as to be more readily fixed and removed than those
usually erected for such purpose but in order that my said invention may be more
completely understood I shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same and
shall for such purpose refer to the annexed drawings and to the letters and marks
thereon. Sheets numbered 1. 2. and 3 shew plans of improved fittings and voting
compartments for use at polling stations for parliamentary and all other elections
held by ballot which are so constructed as to be portable and capable of being readily
erected for use at elections and easily and quickly removed and stored away when
not in use. They comprise compartments for the presiding officer, clerks, candidates
and agents or other officials or persons authorised to assist at elections with all
necessary tables resting places for ballot boxes, doors and other fittings used at
elections as well-as-compartments for the use of electors in marking their voting
papers when recording their votes. The compartments-for-the-presiding officer clerks
candidates agents or other officials or persons authorised to assist at elections are
constructed of light pannelled framing of wood. The several-parts of the framing
are hinged with metal hinges at the parts marked C and are fixed by means of metal
slot plates & studs at the parts marked. D and are strengthened by means of bars of
hard wood or other material or materials and secured by means of thumb screws at
the parts marked E.
At the back and on each of the complete framing the hinges are so arranged as to
permit of those parts of the framing being used as doors when required.
The bars are arranged on pivots so that when the fittings are not in use they can
be placed in a vertical position and the hinges framing folded back to back and the
thumb screws can then be used in holes F to keep each piece in its place when folded
together to be stowed away as shown by dotted lines.
The tables rest on bars of wood or other material or materials and are supported by
struts marked H Sheet No. I and a leg as shewn in the drawings hinged to the
underside of the tables so as to close up when not in use. Part of the front table
and part of the leg of the front table are cut away as shewn in section A to B
on Sheet No. 2 and a small hinged .flap is affixed as shewn at G on front elevation
Sheet No. 1 for the reception of the ballot box as indicated by dotted lines in plan on
Sheet No. 1.
The voting compartments shewn on Sheet No. 3 are constructed of light pannelled
framing of wood or other suitable material or materials in one length with hinged
divisions which are kept in position by means of studs pegs or thumbscrews projecting
up from the front of the compartments and filling into holes bored in the underside
of the hinged divisions or compartments, a semi circular opening is cut in each desk
as shewn on the plan in each division or compartment and the desks are hinged to
enable them together with the whole of the divisions to be folded up and occupy a
small space so as to be easily stored away when not in use.
The voting compartments have hinged legs with rails marked K on Sheet 3 and
also stay bars of wrought iron or other material or materials which can be folded up
as shown by dotted lines on the elevation Sheet No. 3.
When in use the voting compartment may be fixed to the floor by means of angle
irons or brackets.

page_text: Other modifications may be made to suit varying requirements and I desire it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein described so long
as the peculiar principles of my said invention are retained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed or constructed I declare
that what I claim is:-
1. The improved fittings and voting compartments for use at polling stations for
parliamentary and all other elections held by ballot substantially as described and as
shewn, on the accompanying Drawings.