IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF SEWING MACHINE TABLE
Year: 1869

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Fash Proctor, of Cheapside, in the
AN
City of London, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF SEWING MACHINE TABLE."--A Communication
from abroad by the Singer Manufacturing Company (Incorporated)
of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 15th June 1869, and dated the 30th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Fash Proctor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th March 1869.
I, WILLIAM FASH PROCTOR, of Cheapside, in the City of London,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
SEWING MACHINE TABLE," to be as
for "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION
follows:-
This Invention relates to the mounting of a sewing machine upon a
platform forming part of a sewing machine table, which platform may
[Price 6d.]

page_text: be raised and depressed at pleasure, thus elevating the machine to the
level for working, or sinking it below the table and out of sight when
not required for use. The object is to make a folding extension table,
which when opened out will answer the purpose of the ordinary sewing
machine stand, and when folded up will answer the purpose of a neat
work or ornamental table. Below the table top is formed a box (closed
on all sides) for receiving the machine. A central opening in the table
top is made to enable the platform to rise to its level together with the
machine which is made fast thereto. The platform when depressed
forms the bottom of the box and to it are connected by strap hinges,
(which are secured to the under side of the table top) folding side pieces
that form the sides of the box. The ends are formed by a fixed and a
hinged pendent piece, the latter being connected both to the framing of
the table and also by hinged segment arms to a right angled leaf which
forms part of the top of the table when the table is folded up. Con-
nected by hinges to this right angled leaf and also to the framing of the
table is a leaf which folds over the table top and covers it, and also a
recess provided to receive the tools belonging to the machine. This
folding leaf is connected by hinged rods to the movable platform and
by lifting and lowering this leaf the platform with the machine upon it
is raised and lowered. When the machine is raised the folding leaf is
thrown back to a horizontal position and forms an extension of the
table top.
To assist in sustaining the raised platform a spring bolt
working in the framing is used, which yields to the rising platform and
springs out when it has passed to retain it in its raised position. To
lower the machine this spring bolt has first to be drawn back by pulling
at the knob with which it is provided. When the folding leaf is turned
back to open out the table the angular leaf is at the same time depressed
and the hinged pendent piece connected therewith is thrown into a
horizontal position out of the way of the knees of the operator. The
rising of the platform causes the side pieces to fold upon themselves and
lie immediately under the table top.
The Invention applies equally to sewing machines fitted to cabinet
cases and to iron stands.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Fash Proctor in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FASH PROCTOR, of Cheapside, in the County of London, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors
give and grant unto me, the said William Fash Proctor, Her special
licence that I, the said William Fash Proctor, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Fash Proctor,
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 "AN IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF SEWING MACHINE TABLE," being a communication from the
Singer Manufacturing Company (Incorporated) of the City and State of
New York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Fash Proctor, 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 William Fash Proctor, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 bad to the Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):
This Invention relates to the mounting of a sewing machine upon #t
platform forming part of a sewing machine table top, which platform

page_text: may be raised and depressed at pleasure, thus elevating the machine to
the level for working or sinking it below that level and out of sight
when not required for use. The object is to make a folding extension
table which when opened out will answer the purpose of the ordinary
sewing machine stand, and when folded up will provide a closed recep-
tacle for the machine and will answer the purpose of a neat work or
ornamental table.
The Invention is applicable both to an open iron frame or stand and
to a closed case or cabinet.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn the Invention as applied
to a cast-iron frame; Fig. 1 represents in longitudinal sectional elevation
the improved table opened out and with the machine in an elevated
position, and Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same taken in
the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section shewing the
table folded up, and the machine depressed below the table top or sunk
into the receptacle prepared to receive it, and Fig. 4 is a transverse
section taken in the line 3, 4, of Fig. 3.
A, A, represent the ordinary cast-iron standards, upon which a hori-
zontal frame B is fixed, having a rectangular opening at its centre.
To this frame all the moveable parts forming the table top and the box
or receptacle for the machine are connected. C is the moveable platform
to which the machine is attached. It is made to fit the opening in the
frame B so that when raised to its elevated position as shewn at Fig. 1
it will fill or close that opening and form a portion of the table top.
The platform C when depressed forms the bottom of the box enclosing
the machine, which box (see Fig. 3) depends from the framing B and
is closed at all sides and at the top. To the platform or bottom of the
box are connected by strap hinges c, c, (which are secured to the under
side of the frame B) folding side pieces D, D, that form the sides of the
box. The ends are formed by a fixed piece E and a hinged pendent
piece F, the latter being connected by hinges f to the framing of the
table, and also by hinged segment arms f to a flanged or right angled
leaf G which forms part of the top of the table when the table is folded
up. Connected by double hinges g to this right angled leaf G, and also
to the frame B of the table is a leaf H, which folds over and covers the
frame B, and also a recess b, provided to receive the tools belonging to
the machine. This folding leaf H is connected by hinged rods h, h, to
the moveable platform C, and by lifting and lowering this leaf the platform

page_text: with the machine upon it is raised and lowered as by a lever.
When it
is desired to raise the machine the folding leaf is lifted up on its hinges,
and thrown back to a horizontal position as shewn at Fig. 1 where it
forms an extension of the table top. To assist in sustaining the raised
platform C, a spring bolt C working in the framing B is used, which
yields to the rising platform and springs out when it has passed to retain
it in its raised position. To lower the machine this spring bolt has first
to be drawn back by pulling at the knob with which it is provided.
While the folding leaf is being turned back to open out the table the
angular leaf G will at the same time be depressed until it rests upon the
frame B, and the hinged pendent piece D connected therewith will by
the lowering of the leaf G be thrown into a horizontal position, as shewn
at Fig. 1, out of the way of the knees of the operator. The rising of
the platform causes the side pieces D to fold upon themselves and lie
immediately under the table top as shewn at Fig. 2.
"
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of An Improved
Construction of Sewing Machine Table," as communicated to me from
abroad, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish
it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
1 claim, constructing sewing machine tables as above described, whereby
I am enabled to provide a proper support or stand for the machine when
in work and a closed receptacle for the machine when not required for
use, at the same time converting the stand into a neat work or
mental table.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Fash Proctor, have here-
WILLIAM FASH PROCTOR. (L.S.)