A SYSTEM OF COLUMNS OR MONUMENTS TO BE EMPLOYED AS SENTRY BOXES, BRANCH POST AND OTHER OFFICES, TELEGRAPH AND FIRE-ENGINE STATIONS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British and
Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of
France, for the Invention of "A SYSTEM OF COLUMNS OR MONUMENTS TO BE
EMPLOYED AS SENTRY BOXES, BRANCH POST AND OTHER OFFICES, TELEGRAPH AND
FIRE-ENGINE STATIONS."-A communication from Irénée Leys, residing
at Amsterdam, Holland.
Sealed the 20th January 1860, and dated the 5th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th August 1859.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A SYSTEM OF COLUMNS OR
MONUMENTS TO BE EMPLOYED AS SENTRY BOXES, BRANCH POST AND OTHER OFFICES,
TELEGRAPH AND FIRE-ENGINE STATIONS," (a communication,) to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a system of
columns or small monuments intended to meet different requirements of public
thoroughfares. Up to the present time the various structures of this nature
which are to be found in the main streets of large towns have each been
confined to one special application, postal columns, sentry boxes, urinals. The

page_text: main object of the present system is to render uniform in outward appearance,
and to centralise, as far as practicable, these different structures by multiplying
the applications of each, thus economising to a considerable extent the street
'space at present needlessly occupied. The accompanying Drawing, which
represents one of the improved columns in elevation and ground plan, will
explain the principle of construction.
A, Fig. 1, is the column, in iron, wood, brick, or other material; the height
may be varied according to circumstances, but as a general rule should be
from eighteen to twenty feet. The diameter at the base may be from five.
feet and above. The lower part of the structure is arranged as in the ground
plan, Figure 2. A is the urinal at the back of the column, entirely separated
from the rest of the structure by the partitions B, B. The space C, C, C, on
the other side serves as a guard or sentry box, the doors of which are
represented in D, D, of both Figures. E, E, are benches or seats, above
which may be formed a series of lockers or shelves; F is a table; G, fire-
place, communicating with a metal pipe or chinney, which passes through the
middle of the column, and carries off the smoke by the cap B, Fig. 1. This
pipe serves in summer for the additional ventilation of the pile. The interior
is lighted at night by a reflecting lamp C, Fig. 1, placed over the transparent
cupola D, and serving at the same time as a street light. By modifying the
distribution of the interior of the columns according to the requirements of the
locality, we obtain an indefinite number of useful applications, such as branch
telegraph, post, and other offices, fire-engine stations, public water-closets,
newsvenders' booths, the outer surface of each being spaced off for bill posting
and similar purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices,
39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand. eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that I,

page_text: the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine-François Mennons, 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 "A SYSTEM OF COLUMNS OR MONUMENTS TO BE
EMPLOYED AS SENTRY BOXES, BRANCH POST AND OTHER OFFICES, TELEGRAPH AND
FIRE-ENGINE STATIONS," (a communication,) upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said. Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 Marc. Antoine François Mennons,
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 had to the accompanying
Drawing, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say:―
The Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a system of
columns or small monuments intended to meet different requirements of public
thoroughfares. Up to the present time, the various structures of this nature
which are to be found in the main streets of large towns have each been,
confined to one special application, postal columns, sentry boxes, urinals, &c. .
etc. The main object of the present system is to render uniform in outward
appearance, and to centralise, as far as practicable, these different structures by
multiplying the applications of each, thus economising to a considerable extent
the street space at present needlessly occupied.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 is a view of one of the improved columns, constructed in iron, wood,
brick, or other material; the height may be varied according to circumstances,
but as a general rule should be from eighteen to twenty feet. The diameter.
at the base may be from five feet and above. A is the weather cock;
B, extremity of the chimney; C, lamp; D, reflector; E, cupola, by which the
light is admitted to the interior; F, cornice, pierced with air holes; G, trans-
parent clock, illuminated at night by the lamp light passing through the

page_text: cupola; H, door; I, I, loop-holes; J, J, letter boxes; K, K, doors corre-
sponding with the latter, for removing their contents.
Fig. 2 is a section of this column. A, weathercock; B, extremity of the
chimney; C, clock space; D, E, F, G, lockers and shelves; H, grate.
Fig. 3 is a ground plan of the column, arranged to serve as a guard-house
or station for general purposes. A, free space; B, table; C, C, lockers,
shelves, or benches; D, grate; E, entry; F, urinal at the back; 'G, G,
partitions separating the latter from the rest of the structure.
Fig. 4 is the ground plan of a column, arranged as a public water-closet.
A, A, free space; B, B, seats; C, urinal; D, entry.
.
Fig. 5 is the ground plan of another arrangement of water-closet. A, entry
space; B. seat; C, urinal; D, separate space for the service.
Fig. 6 represents a similar column, the urinal of which is hidden by an
upright screen, which may be fitted with a bench, or otherwise made useful.
It will be seen from the above examples, that by modifying the interior
distribution of those columns according to the requirements of the localities,
an indefinite variety of useful applications may be obtained, independent of the
uniform utility of the exterior arrangement; thus at the exterior of each
column we may have letter box openings, water-cocks if necessary, space for
bills, clock, street lamp, weathercock, &c., &c., while the interior may be
arranged to serve as guard-houses, or sentry boxes, postal receiving offices,
telegraph stations, auxiliary offices for general purposes, fire-engine stations,
public water-closets and urinals, newsvenders' and other booths, etc., etc., etc.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into execution, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
the general construction of a system of columns, substantially as represented
in the Drawing, which columns of uniform external appearance may, by simple
modifications of their internal arrangement, be rendered susceptible of the
various applications above enumerated.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.