Whilst continuing on with research for this blog I came across what I now believe to be the first pneumatic device to check or retard the speed at which a door shuts. Long before our American cousins and long before the Ovendens 1864 patent I would like to introduce you to William Bullock, of Newman Street, in the county of Middlesex, Locksmith and Brass-founder, and James BOAZ, of Glasgow, Scotland, Engineer.
The Anglo - Scottish team in 1813 were noted for their mechanical contrivance designed to stop doors (and windows) from being blown in by the wind (a somewhat similar problem that Mr Norton faced) hinted at in a snippet from their patent, below.
"A pneumatic apparatus for preventing the sudden closing of a door. Air is received into a cylinder or collapsible receptacle, and the door cannot be completely shut until the air is expelled or squeezed out."
The Anglo - Scottish team in 1813 were noted for their mechanical contrivance designed to stop doors (and windows) from being blown in by the wind (a somewhat similar problem that Mr Norton faced) hinted at in a snippet from their patent, below.
"A pneumatic apparatus for preventing the sudden closing of a door. Air is received into a cylinder or collapsible receptacle, and the door cannot be completely shut until the air is expelled or squeezed out."
Here is a link to their patent in its entirety AD 1813 No - 3695 Securing Doors and Shutters found in English Patents of Inventions, Specifications, Volumes 3666-3744.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qlrlE-6wJisC&pg=PA21-IA33&dq=william+bullock+james+boaz+patent+1813&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzkY6UkcrjAhVIecAKHerXAycQuwUISzAG#v=onepage&q=william%20bullock%20james%20boaz%20patent%201813&f=false
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qlrlE-6wJisC&pg=PA21-IA33&dq=william+bullock+james+boaz+patent+1813&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzkY6UkcrjAhVIecAKHerXAycQuwUISzAG#v=onepage&q=william%20bullock%20james%20boaz%20patent%201813&f=false
As always please feel free to comment.
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