Improvements in coffins / [James Bradley Furniss].

  • Furniss, James Bradley.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Improvements in coffins / [James Bradley Furniss]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Furniss’ Improvements in Coffins. 15 20 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. Improvements in Coffins. I, James Bradley Furniss, of 7A Queen’s Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Undertaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:— The object of my invention is to construct watertight and air-tight coffins in such 0 a manner as to obviate the necessity of having what is known as a “shell,” and confining myself to the outer coffin, and lining the same with lead, zinc or any other metal and making same air-tight and water-tight; arid also to improve the outward appearance of the coffin by filling in the panels with separate panels covered with velvet or other textile material; or separate panels of wood of a different kind or 10 nature to that of the main or principal part of the coffin in the manner hereinafter described. At the present time when it is desirable to have a water-tight coffin with a wood exterior it is usually constructed in three separate parts, viz. :—the shell, the lead coffin, and the outer coffin, and these are so arranged that the lead coffin comes between the shell and the outer coffin. According to the invention forming the subject matter of the present application for Letters Patent the coffins are manufactured in any of the ways hereinafter described. According to one method of manufacture I make an ordinary single coffin and form the sides, ends and lid into panels by means of mouldings either framed together by a mortise and tenon joint or simply secured to the coffin by means of a butt joint, the said moulding at the bottom being flush with the coffin, and the moulding round the top being raised so as to form a rebate for the return of the metal lining, I then cut out of lead, zinc or any other metal the shape of the bottom, 25 sides and ends, the depth of the sides and ends being a little more than that of the coffin to allow of its being dressed into the rebate mentioned above, and these are all soldered together at the angles. In order to properly secure the shroud, linings, paddings, and all necessary inside trimmings without in any way destroying the virtue of the said metal lining, I place 39 several H shaped metal flanges or brackets near the top of the coffin and also near the bottom and these are either soldered to the metal lining or let into prepared slots ; into the said flanges or brackets I fit a slight wooden frame or kerb which would continue all round the coffin, and is prevented from being displaced by means of a tooth formed in the vertical portion of the said metal flange or bracket, or by a 35 screw in the same position, it is to this wooden frame or kerb that I fasten the shroud, linings, and all the necessary inside trimmings above referred to. In forming the metal lid I prepare a skeleton frame which 1 brace across at one or two points to give it firmness, this frame is covered with the same metal and is made to fit into the rebate formed by the said wooden frame or kerb; the metal lid is then dropped into the rebate thus formed and the whole soldered round thus rendering it water-tight and air-tight and as effectual as the present system ; the lid of the coffin which is panelled in the same manner, as the sides and ends, would then be screwed on as in ordinary cases. h igure 1. of the accompanying drawings represents this method in part section. The portion of the coffin shewn in the said Figure 1. is marked A., the mouldings e marked B., the wooden frame or kerb is marked C., the metal lining is marked D., and the metal flanges or brackets, for securing and supporting the said wooden frame or kerb, and to which the linings and trimmings are attached, are Accouling to another method of manufacture the coffins would be framed together ) means o moitises and tenons, and of sufficient thickness to allow of a moulding 40 45 are 50