IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MARKING LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER BALLS
Year: 1885

page_text: JAMES STURROCK Bank Street Dundee Forfarshire do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MARKING LAWN TENNIS
AND OTHER BALLS to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a ready and convenient means of
striping or marking Lawn Tennis and other balls, so as to enable each set, or
each individual ball to be distinguished from the others. I fix, on a piece of metal
or wood, two small heads, very much like the heads of an ordinary small turning
lathe; but made with hollow cups, instead of centres, into which, the ball to be
marked, can be readily placed; the motive power for moving the cup and ball,
being obtained from a pulley on the spindle or by a small crank on end of spindle
Under the place where the ball to be marked, is inserted; I fix a small reservoir
for ink, or other material to be used in marking; and into this reservoir, I fix a
small, revolving disc, hinged, so that it can be pressed by the finger against the
ball. When the ball is revolving, it will cause the disc to revolve; and, the disc
being covered with cloth, or fibrous material, catches up the ink from the reservoir,
and presses it on to the revolving ball.

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Marking Lawn Tennis
and other Balls.
JAMES STURROCK Cashier Dundee Advertiser Office Dundee Forfarshire do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR MARKING LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER BALLS 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 readily and effectively mark tennis balls so
that the balls belonging to each player or set may be easily distinguished This
I effect in the following manner. I erect on a base board C two heads D similar
to the heads of an ordinary turning lathe each being provided with a cup E or
other chucking arrangement of sufficient size to catch the ball. One or both cups
or chucks are adjustable by a screw G cam or other similar device for the convenient
introduction or withdrawal of the ball The ball is shewn in position ready for
marking Fig. 1 H, A circular inking pad I provided with an ink well. K for its
replenishment is fixed in such a manner as to be easily brought into contact with
the ball By another arrangement the well may be filled with water and one or
more coloured pencils or crayons pressed against the ball Fig. 2 L. To operate the
machine, the pad is brought in contact with the ball by a gentle pressure of the
finger The handle is then rotated causing the ball and pad to revolve simul-
taneously When the well is filled with ink this rotating action causes the
distinguishing marks to be made through the direct application of the Ink to
the ball. In the second arrangement where the solid pencils are pressed against
the ball the rotating causes the ball to be slightly wetted allowing the pencils to
mark better and the marking to sink deeper into the covering of the ball Or the
well may be dispensed with altogether allowing the colour to be put on dry.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st The combination of the chucking and adjusting mechanism with inking well
and pad for marking lawn tennis or other balls substantially as described.
2nd The combination of the chucking and adjusting mechanism with or without
pad and solid coloured crayons for marking lawn tennis or other balls substantially
as described.
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