THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BACKED FORM OR SEAT CAPABLE OF BEING CONVERTED INTO A LEVEL TABLE WITH SEAT, OR A DESK, EITHER LEVEL OR SLOPING, OR AT ANY ANGLE
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Williams, of the Borough of New Windsor,
in the County of Berks, Schoolmaster, for the Invention of "THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A BACKED FORM OR SEAT CAPABLE OF BEING CONVERTED
INTO A LEVEL TABLE WITH SEAT, OR A DESK, EITHER LEVEL OR SLOPING, OR
AT ANY ANGLE."
Sealed the 31st October 1862, and dated the 5th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Williams, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th May 1862.
I, ALFRED WILLIAMS, of the Borough of New Windsor, in the County of
Berks, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BACKED FORM OR SEAT CAPABLE OF BEING CONVERTED
INTO A LEVEL TABLE WITH SEAT, OR A-DESK, EITHER LEVEL OR SLOPING, OR AT
ANY ANGLE," to be as follows: →
An iron standard consisting of two uprights connected at the top and bottom
by horizontal iron plates, at the upper front corner of which a tenon is
inserted and secured by a pivot in the mortice of the other portion of the
standard, to which is attached the board to form the back of the seat. Down
upon the horizontal plates before mentioned, another board is secured and
forms the seat itself. By raising the back board before mentioned and

page_text: turning it forward upon the joint formed by the mortice and tenon before
referred to, the back board of the seat forms a level table, or being secured by
a screw through the cheek of the mortice to be turned forward against the
tenon, the back board will be held in any sloping position required, and thus
form a writing desk. The improvement effected will be to avoid the expense
benches for school churches, and to render the usual
furniture of school rooms available for use at missionary and other meetings,
tea parties, and for parish reading room purposes.
of separate seats and
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Williams, in the Great Seal Patent Office ou the
5th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I ALFRED
WILLIAMS, of the Borough of New Windsor, in the County of Berks, School-
master, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Alfred Williams, Her special licence that 1, the said
Alfred Williams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Williams, 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 "THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BACKED FORM OR SEAT CAPABLE OF
BEING CONVERTED INTO A LEVEL TABLE WITH SEAT, OR A DESK, EITHER LEVEL OR
SLOPING, OR AT ANY ANGLE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alfred Williams, 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 Alfred Williams do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
An iron standard consisting of two uprights, connected at the top and
bottom by horizontal iron plates, at the upper front corner of which a tenon is
inserted and secured by a pivot in the mortice of the other portion of the
standard to which is attached the board to form the back of the seat. Down
upon the horizontal plates before mentioned, another board is secured, and
forms the seat itself. By raising the back board before mentioned and turning
it forward upon the joint formed by the mortice and tenon before referred to,
the back board of the seat forms a level table; or being secured by a screw
through the cheek of the mortice to be turned forward against the tenon the
back board will be held in any sloping position required, and thus form a
writing desk. The improvement effected will be to avoid the expense of
separate seats and benches for school churches, and to render the usual
furniture of school rooms available for use at missionary and other meetings,
tea parties, and for parish reading room purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Williams, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ALFRED WILLIAMS. (L.S.)