Improved Recumbent Couch

Although this oak adjustable Day Bed has a small brass plaque noting G.H. Harris Patentee, Bristol St. Birm. it is likely that it was made by Robinsons of Ilkley.

Indeed, the castors are stamped Robinson & Sons, Patent, Ilkley. The legs are removable and the plates that they screw into are also stamped with Robinson's mark. It's worth noting that the castors have a long steel bolt which is loose fitted through the centre of the turned leg to fix to the plates to the underside of the chair. Although the leg is stronger for having a full length rod, it is normal for such bolts to be fixed in place to the leg. This system formed part of Robinson's patent of the 9th of March 1878. Other than the timber used, the chair bed is fairly typical of portable Day Beds with 3 caned sections that will adjust their angle on a ratchet allowing you to have a flat bed or to raise the back and legs to a variety of comfortable positions. It has small inset nut plates that indicate it originally could be fitted with removable arms.

It would appear that G.H. Harris were both Birmingham makers and retailers so it is possible that they were selling as an agent of Robinsons. They advertised the couch as their own in 1878 as suitable for a number of uses from shipboard, to the camp and by emigrants and travellers, to employing it in the boudoir and at the sea side. The company also won Prize medals for their lawn mowers and appeared to have sold a range of ironmongery. Late 19th Century.