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Description:
Ref:  873WB A      http://hygra.com/box/873WB-Brunel-patent-polygraph 

Rare Polygraph by I. H Farthing of Cornhill London to the patent design of Marc Isambard Brunel (1769-1849) 
The box is in the Campaign style, made of solid mahogany using dovetail joints reinforced with brass corners, straps and edges. The box has countersunk brass handles. There is a drawer designed to hold the Polygraph mechanism when not in use. There are seven secret drawers concealed behind three sprung panels. The box retains its original inkwells. The Polygraph mechanism which enabled the movements of one pen to be copied by another is now missing.

Origin: ;  Circa: 1803 ; Materials: mahogany brass.

Size: 50.6 cm wide by 30 cm by 19.2 cm:  20  inches wide by  11.8 inches by  7.6 inches.

Condition: good overall; lacking polygraph mechanism, working locks and keys; see images

Keywords: Hygra.com, Antique box, polygraph, Mark  Isambard Brunel, I. H Farthing, writing box, writing desk, mahogany, campaign style, writing and drawing machine,

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Specification of the Patent granted to Mr. MARC ISAMBARD BRUNEL, of Canterbury.-Place, in the Parish of St. Mary, Lambeth in the County of Surrey, Gentleman ; for his Invention of a certain new and useful Writing and Drawing Machine, by which two or more  Writings or Drawings, resembling each other may be made by the fame Person at the same Time. Dated April 11, 1799

The box was designed to have a mechanism, the polygraph which enabled the movements of one pen to be copied by another. 

Marc Isambard Brunel first patented the design in 1799. He was granted a British patent some months later  for a "Machine for writing with two pens".

 

Brunel was born in France in 1769.  He fled to the United States in 1793 having unwisely predicted the demise of Robespierre, one of the leaders of the ongoing French revolution. 

He was skilled in carpentry and navel matters. He had made his own quadrant.

He was appointed Chief Engineer of the city of New York. He designed various houses, docks, commercial buildings, an arsenal, and a cannon factory.

He sailed for England in 1799.

The machine had a gallows arrangement from which were supported two pens which moved in unison. 

J. H. Farthing , (1808-39) writing desk, dressing case and  work box maker , of Cornhill, London Manufactured the Machine for Brunel. See: Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840

 However, Mercantile Advertiser (New York), May 11, 1801
Pierre Martin Stollenwerk and Nephew, a firm of watchmakers, jewelers and machinists of New York advertised the machine and ”they offered to instruct potential purchasers in the use of the machine” Bedini  pg 39.

At first sight the box looks like a good quality writing box of the period. It has  brass straps corners and edges.

The box opens to a slope  "The Sliding Board" covered with green baize.

The box has a hinged lock tennon. The tennon is particularly long to enable it to pass through to Sliding board and engage with the lock.

The writing surface is able to slide. This was to aid the positioning of the necessary two sheets of paper: the original and the copy.

The writing surface can be withdrawn completely. 

The writing surface is of panel construction. In Brunel's patent it is called "The sliding board". 

 It is designed to be stable dimensionally. All the wood has a straight grain.

When the panel is removed there are two compartments for storing paper.

The walls have sprung panels concealing secret drawers.

The box has several secret drawers hidden behind sprung panels.

 

Pressure is applied with the thumb as shown

And a panel opens

with two secret drawers concealed behind.

The drawers are of dovetail construction.

So as to maximize the the drawer size to the place available the sides are not at right angles to the the top and bottom.

The drawers on this side are opened by pressing on the screw in the corner facing.

When the screw is pressed the panel springs open.

Again the drawers have uneven shapes to maximize the space. 

All the drawers are constructed with dovetail joints. The cabinet makers scribe lines are still visible. 

The facing  is stamped 

"Sold by Farthing Cornhill London No. 129."

J. H. Farthing , writing desk, dressing case and  work box maker , of Cornhill, London Manufactured the Machine for Brunel. See: Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840

 

The spring and the catch.

There are drawers in the other side too. Again they are accessed by pressing the screw in the brass facing .

One of the drawers is for sovereigns and half sovereigns. 

Alas, it is empty! 

This is the hidden mechanism of the secret drawer catch: a Brass lever, one end is connected to the screw in the facing.

To take this photo the panel had been removed.
the next picture shows it back in place.

 

The side panel is back in place. Below it there is a nest of three drawers hidden behind a sprung panel. The catch is released by pressing the screw in the facing.

The grain of the panel has been selected for beauty. The flame mahogany reminds one of.....

There are four circular inkwells which fit the compartments on the side.

Two of the inkwells have brass sleeves. 

"SOLD BY FARTHING CORNHILL LONDON No. 129."

J. H. Farthing , writing desk, dressing case and  work box maker , of Cornhill, London Manufactured the Machine for Brunel. See: Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840

The drawer is designed to hold the Polygraph mechanism when not in use.

Unfortunately the mechanism is missing.

The drawer has a separate key. 

The main box key.

The lock has both wards and levers. 
The key has to have slots so as to avoid the wards. It then has to bring the two levers to the correct position so that the bolt can move.

The key raises the levers to the correct position so that the bolt can pass.

 There are strong brass plates on both sides which are designed to hold the Polygraph mechanism. This is an early use of a bayonet fitting. The upright would have had corresponding lugs. It would have been inserted and turned.

The box opens to a baize covered writing surface. 

The inkwells are on one side. One is for the main pen the other is for its slave. The spacing and positioning would have been critical. 

"C, C, denote two ink bottles, about an inch and a half deep, let into the desk in such manner as to slide up and down in proportion to the height at which the pens are required"  

 

There are two extra. 

The box has brass edging and straps. This provides protection  to the edges. The box is of dovetail construction, and the brass straps would in fact hold the box together.

The handles are of skeletal form and countersunk.

The underside of the box is covered with green felt.

I have only been able to trace one complete example of Brunel's patent Polygraph:

"MARC ISAMBARD BRUNEL'S PATENTED POLYGRAPHIC PORTABLE WRITING AND DRAWING DESK, English, c. 1805, signed in three places by the maker I.H. Farthing of Cornhill, London, and likewise serial numbered "167.""

 

http://www.etesseract.com/Drafting/Drafting.html  

Image courtesy Tesseract -- Early Scientific Instruments

http://www.etesseract.com/Drafting/Drafting.html  

Image courtesy Tesseract -- Early Scientific Instruments

http://www.etesseract.com/Drafting/Drafting.html  

Image courtesy Tesseract -- Early Scientific Instruments

When not in use the mechanism fits in the drawer.

XXIX. Specification of the Patent granted to Mr. MARC ISAMBARD BRUNEL, of Canterbury.-Place, in the Parish of St. Mary, Lambeth in tbe County of Surrey, Gentleman ; for his Invention of a certain new and useful Writing and Drawing Machine, by which two or more  Writings or Drawings, resembling each other may be made by the fame Person at the same Time. Dated April 11, 1799

When Bedini  Published his book in 1984 the only example he was able to trace was in the Science Museum in South Kensington.

I can't help but wonder what number it is. 

I have been to see it. Some of my photos are reproduced at:

Brunel's writing machine was first patented in the USA and UK in 1799: Brunel Patent "Polygraph" Circa 1803

 The box frame is a modern reproduction.

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