Improvements in Wood Mantels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Wood Mantels.
I, JOHN PARKER, Joinery Manufacturer, 111, Conybere Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to interchangeable wood-mantels and is a further develop-
ment of my invention described in the Specification No. 12,854 of July 13th, 1892.
In the construction of the shelf-part of my improved mantels under Specifica-
tion No. 12,854-1892, dovetail tenons are provided on the shelf taking into
dovetail mortices provided on the jam-brackets and on the upper-edge of
frieze. In making mantels with dovetailed shelves I find that when making
the mantels out of inexpensive woods suitable to sell at a moderate price
for use in dwelling-houses of moderate rental, the making and fitting of the
dovetails and the fitting of the lower face of shelf onto upper face of jamb-brackets
consumes much time and consequently makes the mantels too costly for the special
purpose for which they are intended to be used, to remedy the disadvantages here-
inbefore described and also as a means of making the expensive mantels more
expeditiously I have invented new and useful improvements in relation to the
several parts constituting the mantel as improved means of attaching the shelf
to the jamb-brackets and to the frieze and the new and useful parts are herein-
after described.
Surrounding the upper part of jamb-bracket I provide a moulding from which
projects a special member or overhanging surface such overhanging surface is by
preference the bottom of a groove, through the projecting-surface I bore any
desired number of clearance-holes.
I next provide the shelf which may be a flat slab or which may be a built up
or framed surface suitable for use as a mantel-shelf.
I provide jambs on each of which is secured an improved-jamb-bracket carrying
the overhanging moulding I next provide an adjustable frieze-board with slotted
ends or with screw-holes as described in relation to Figure 1 of Specification
No. 12,854 of year 1892.
In putting the interchangeable parts together, the frieze-board would be screwed
or otherwise secured to the back of the jambs so as to secure the jambs the required
distance apart, the shelf would then be secured in position by means of wood-
screws (namely metal screws used for fastening wood together) passed through
the clearance holes in overhanging surface of moulding, thence into the under-
side of shelf.
It will be readily understood that 3, 6 or more ordinary wood-screws can be
used to secure each jamb-bracket to the under-side of shelf and as the heads of
screws sink flush with the bottom of groove the securing-screws are entirely

page_text: hidden and yet the screw-nicks are ready for the screw-driver whenever it is
found necessary or advantageous to disconnect the jambs from the shelf, I am
thus enabled to produce a highly-finished interchangeable mantel at a moderate
cost, I can also utilize the improved jambs in the making up of high-grade costly
interchangeable mantels.
By a second modification I provide as a substitute for the overhanging
moulding a new and additional part or attachment consisting of a securing-piece
made from wood, metal or other suitable material, the securing-piece is attached
within the boxed jam-bracket in such a manner as to connect with the jam-
bracket with the face of the securing-piece slightly lower than the finished upper
face of the boxed jamb-bracket, the securing-piece is provided with grooves or
with other suitable sinkings so that clearance holes can be bored through the
grooves or other sinkings through which to pass the screws that fasten the jamb-
brackets to the under-side of shelf.
In putting the interchangeable parts together the frieze-board would be screwed
or otherwise secured to the back of the jambs, the shelf would then be secured in
position by means of wood screws passed through the clearance holes in grooves
or other sinkings thence into the underside of shelf, the securing pieces being fixed
within the boxed jamb-brackets about one eighth of an inch below the true upper
faces of the jamb-brackets permits of the underside of shelf being drawn close to
the trued upper face of jamb-brackets by means of the tightening-screws.
This second modification is suitable for use in the make-up of either low cost
or high-cost interchangeable-mantels.
111 1
200
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
bden Buildings, 67, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in wood Mantels.
I, JOHN PARKER, Joinery Manufacturer, 111, Conybere Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to interchangeable wood mantels and is a further develop-
ment of my invention described in the Specification No. 12,854 of July 13th, 1892.
In the construction of the shelf of my improved mantels under Specification
No. 12854 of July 13th, 1892, dovetail tenons are provided on the shelf taking
into dovetail mortices provided on the jamb-brackets and on the upper edge of
frieze, in making mantels with dovetail shelves I find that when making the
mantels out of inexpensive woods suitable to sell at a moderate price for use in
dwelling houses of moderate rentals, the making and fitting of the dovetails
and the fitting of the lower face of shelf on to upper face of jamb brackets con-
sumes much valuable time and consequently makes the mantels too costly for
the purpose for which they are intended to be used, to remedy the disadvantages
hereintobefore described and also as a means of making the expensive mantels more
expeditiously I have invented new and useful improvements in relation to the
several parts constituting the mantel, as improved means of attaching the shelf
to the jamb-brackets and to the frieze, and the new and useful parts are herein-
after described.

page_text: 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 a broken off front view of left hand top corner of a mantel
piece shewing my improved securing moulding.
Figure 2 represents an enlarged side view of securing moulding with shelf and
jamb-bracket in dotted lines.
Figure 3 represents a sectional plan on the line A B of under side of Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a view similar to Figure 1 but with a wide jamb bracket
Figure 5 represents a vertical section on line CD of securing moulding:
Figure 6 represents an enlarged sectional plan on line E F of the under side
of Figure 4.
Figure. 7 represents an enlarged side view of metal angle bracket shewn at
Figure 1.
$
Figure. 8 represents a front view of angle bracket shewn at Figure 7.
Figure 9 represents a front view of a broken off left hand top corner of mantel
piece fitted with double jamb-brackets and securing pieces.
In carrying out my invention I provide a pair of any suitable jambs a and con-
nect thereto a frieze b, the connection being made through the slotted ends of
frieze described in relation to Figure of my Specification No. 12854 of
July 13th 1892; I next provide a shelf c and the connection of such a shelf to
the frieze and to the jambs is made by means of new parts hereinafter described;
the new parts consist of a moulding e secured to the jamb bracket d; the mould-
ing e as shewn at Figures 23 5 and 6 is represented as glued to the jamb bracket
and as consolidated therewith, nevertheless the three sides of such moulde may
be formed out of one piece secured to the jamb bracket.
It will be observed that from the moulding e projects a special member or over-
hanging surface f forming the bottom of a groove and beyond such groove
projects a lip or nosing 9 formed as part of the moulding e, such lip or nosing g
acts as a screen or cover to hide the securing screws h.
In putting the interchangeable parts together the frieze board 6 would be
screwed or otherwise secured to the back of the jambs a so as to secure the jambs
the required distance apart, the shelf c would then be secured into position by
means of the screws h passed through the clearance holes pierced through the
overhanging surface f of moulding e, the wormed ends of such screws tighten-
ing into the under side of shelf c as shewn at Figures 2 and 5; I have shewn
three screws h nevertheless any desired number of screws can be used to secure
each jamb bracket to the underside of shelf in accordance with the size and weight
of the complete mantel, and as the heads of the screws h sink flush with the bottom
of groove f, such securing screws h are entirely hidden from the view of a person
standing or sitting opposite one of my improved mantels fixed in position in front
of a fire-place, and yet the screw nicks can be seen by a cabinet maker who leans
under the mantel and looks into the groove f, such screw nicks being always
ready to receive a screw-driver whenever it is found necessary or advantageous
to disconnect the jambs a and jamb-brackets d from the shelf c; I am thus
enabled to connect the shelf to the jambs over the frieze board in a more expedi-
tious manner than can be attained by the dovetail tenons and dovetail mortices
provided in connection with the frieze, jamb-brackets and shelf of my improved
mantel described in Specification No. 12854 of July 13th 1892.
By a second modification of this my invention I provide as a substitute for the
screw-holes and groove in the overhanging moulding e a new and additional
part or attachment consisting of a securing piece made from wood, metal or other
suitable material; the securing piece ; is shewn in position at Figure 9 secured
to the jamb-brackets, one securing piece to each jamb-bracket, the securing pieces
being screwed to the under side of shelf c¹ by means of the screws h¹; securing
pieces similar to j Figure 9 are utilized in the manner shewn at k Figures 1 and 7
as a substitute for the central dovetail and dovetail tenon shewn at g and g¹ of

page_text: Figures 6 and 7 of my Specification No. 12854 year 1892; the face of such secur-
ing piece presents a ready surface suitable for use as a name plate.
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. An interchangeable mantel consisting of a frieze and shelf secured to two
jambs the frieze being secured behind the jambs interchangeably and the shelf
being secured to jamb-brackets by means of screws passing through
overhanging parts of the jamb-brackets into the under side of shelf as illustrated
and described.
2nd. In an interchangeable mantel the utilization of a moulding or securing-
piece containing an overhanging member the face of which is situated below the
outer projecting lip part of moulding or securing piece, so that screws can be
readily passed through the overhanging member into the under side of shelf to
fasten the shelf to the mantel jambs and yet the heads of the screws remain
screened from view behind the projecting lip part of moulding or securing piece.
3rd. In an interchangeable mantel the utilization of a securing piece which is
separate and distinct from the moulding, such securing piece being fastened to
the jamb-bracket with its securing face presented to under side of shelf slightly
below the upper face of jamb-bracket so that when screws are passed through the
securing face into under side of shelf the shelf will be drawn snug against the
top of jamb-bracket, such securing piece being screened by means of overhanging
moulding, as illustrated and described in relation to Figure 9.
4th. In an interchangeable mantel the utilization of a securing piece or secur-
ing-bracket to connect the frieze to the under side of shelf, as illustrated and
described in relation to Figures 7 and 8.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Golden Buildings, 67, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.