IMPROVEMENTS IN DESKS, WORK BOXES, DRESSING Cases, TEA CADDIES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENTS AND FITTINGS THEREOF
Year: 1853

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John George Taylor at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th August 1853.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within the
time prescribed by the Act.)
Spe
I, JOHN GEORGE TAYLOR, .of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Pr
North Britain, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DESKS, WORK BOXES, DRESSING Cases,
TEA CADDIES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENTS AND
FITTINGS THEREOF," to be as follows:-
This Inyention relates to the construction and ornamentation of
desks, work boxes, and similar articles partly with the material used
in the manufacture of what are technically known as "agate buttons,"
and for which a Patent was obtained in the year 1840 by Mr. Richard
Prosser. The body of the desk is made of any cheap common material,
as pine wood, and it is then covered over with the "agate" compo-
sition formed into sheets or ornamental pieces, so that the desk may
have the appearance of being wholly or nearly composed of this
material. Or, instead of constructing a box of common material,

page_text: a mere skeleton frame only may be employed, the sheets of ornamenta
material being held in position by such frame, so as in themselves to
form the box or desk. And the same system may be carried out with
sheets of glass, which may be silverised so as to give the article the
appearance of being composed of mirrors throughout. Such mirror
sheets are either left plain or they may be primarily engraved or
ornamented with gold or colours, the silver coating being laid on the
ornamented side afterwards. The internal fittings of these receptacles
are also ornamented in a similar manner, as well as the details of
work boxes. In the fittings of a writing desk the inkstand is arranged
with an clastic cover piece of india-rubber or similar material con-
trived to completely cover up the ink. Through the centre of this
elastic diaphragm a small aperture is made for the entrance of the pen
in passing down to the ink, and as this aperture fits to and embraces
the
pen the latter is always kept clean and free from superfluous ink.
And to give this elastic cover a better effect it is made in two layers,
'set one upon the other, and each slitted through at right angles to one
another, so that the pen is more closely embraced. The desks and
boxes are also lined either with glass or with Prosser's material; and
in the work boxes the reels, winders, thimbles, and other fittings
are made of Prosser's material or of glass. Similarly the shaving and
tooth brush and other handles of dressing cases are made of Prosser's
material, as well as the frames of mouth glasses, and the frame pieces
or backs and handles of brushes. In arranging tea caddies and articles
of that class three or more bottles or square jars are used, one on each
side to contain tea, and a central one for sugar, each having closely
fitting covers of glass, Prosser's material, or other substance. Opaque,
plain, or ground glass may be used in the form of veneering for all
these. arrangements.