AN IMPROVED SELF-INKING HAND STAMP OR PRESS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hume Skellern, of South Terrace, Hatcham
Park, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED SELF-INKING HAND STAMP OR PRESS."
Sealed the 5th August 1862, and dated the 21st February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hume Skellern
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st February 1862.
I, RICHARD HUME SKELLERN, of South Terrace, Hatcham Park, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED SELF-INKING HAND STAMP, OR PRESS," to be as
follows:-
The improved hand stamp or press may be used for a variety of purposes
both useful and ornamental, and is suitable to stamp with printing, marking,
or other ink, or with color, gold, or silver liquid, or with gold size, gum, or
other moist adhesive medium to which gold or other metal leaf, or gold, silver,
or bronze or other powder or flock night be subsequently applied.
The Invention relates to that class of hand stamp or press consisting of two
side frames connected together at or near the top by a cross piece, through
which slides vertically a hollow plunger, which is raised by means of a spiral
spring in the interior. To the lower end of this plunger I affix a plate, to
the under side of which the die plate or type box is connected by a spring

page_text: hinge. The die plate or type box is furnished at one or both ends with a pin
or screw working in a slot cut in one or both of the side frames of the press.
The form of this slot is peculiar, and is so adjusted with regard to the central
line of the plunger, that when at rest the face of the die or type is in a vertical
position and turned outwards. Upon applying pressure to the plunger, the
die plate or type box descends a certain distance in that position, the slot being
vertical at the upper part, but as it descends further, the pin or screw passes
into an inclined part of the slot running across the centre line, which causes
the die plate to be turned on its hinge into the horizontal position face
downwards; the latter part of the slot is again vertical, so as to allow the die
or type to descend in that position to give the required impression.
The apparatus for supplying the ink or other liquid to the die or type is as
follows: In front of the die or type, and slightly below it when in its position
of rest, is a covered. roller capable of revolving on pivots passing through
oblong holes in the side frame, and pressed forwards by means of springs, so
that as the die or type descends it comes in contact with the roller, causing
it to revolve, and supplies itself with ink or other liquid therefrom-before
turning face downwards to give the impression. A lever may be applied to
this roller to move it back out of contact with the die or type as it ascends,
and, if preferred, a second roller may be applied above and in contact with it
to supply it with ink or moisture. A fixed pad may also be employed instead
of the roller, but the latter is preferable. The pads, rollers, and die or type
are so arranged as to be easily removed, changed, or renewed when required.
I also form horizontal slots or guides in the side frames or at front and back
(or both), either with or without rollers, in order to allow of the passing of
ribbons or strips of silk, paper, or other material under the stamp or press
without raising the same, so as to facilitate the obtainment of a number of
successive impressions for printing labels or for other similar purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Hume Skellern in the Great Seal Patent Office on 3
the 21st August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
HUME SKELLERN, of South Terrace, Hatcham Park, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our.

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Richard Hume Skellern, Her special licence that I, the
said Richard Hume Skellern, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Richard Hume Skellern, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SELF-INKING HAND STAMP OR PRESS,"
upon the condition. (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Hume Skellern,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Hume Skellern, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, that is to say:-
The improved hand stamp or press may be used for a variety of purposes
both useful and ornamental, and is suitable to stamp with printing, marking,
or other ink, or with color, gold or silver liquid, or with gold size, gum, or
other moist adhesive medium to which gold or other metal leaf, or gold, silver,"
or bronze or other powder or flock might be subsequently applied.
The Invention relates to that class of hand stamp or press consisting of two
side frames connected together at or near the top by a cross piece, through
which slides vertically a hollow plunger, which is raised by means of a spiral
spring in the interior. To the lower end of this plunger I affix a plate, to the
under side of which the die plate or type box is connected by a spring hinge.
The die plate or type box is furnished at one or both ends with a pin or screw,
working in a slot cut in one or both of the side frames of the press. The
form of this slot is peculiar, and is so adjusted with regard to the central line
of the plunger, that when at rest the face of the die or type is in a vertical
position, and turned outwards. Upon applying pressure to the plunger, the
die plate or type box descends a certain distance in that position, the slot
being vertical at the upper part, but as it descends further the pin or screw

page_text: passes into an inclined part of the slot running across the centre line, which
causes the die plate to be turned on its binge into the horizontal position face
downwards; the latter part of the slot is again vertical, so as to allow the die
.or type to descend in that position to give the required impression.
The apparatus for supplying the ink or other liquid to the die, or type is as
follows: In front of the die or type, and slightly below it when in its position
of rest, is a covered roller capable of revolving on pivots passing through
oblong holes in the side frame, and pressed forwards by means of springs, so
that as the die or type descends it comes in contact with the roller, causing it
to revolve, and supplies itself with ink or other liquid therefrom before turning
face downwards to give the impression. A lever may be applied to this roller
to remove it back out of contact with the dic or type as it ascends, and, if
preferred, a second roller may be applied above and in contact with it; to
supply it with ink or moisture. A fixed pad may also be employed instead of
the roller, but the latter is preferable. The pads, rollers, and die or type are
so arranged as to be easily removable, changed, or renewed when required.
I also form horizontal slots or guides in the side frames or at front and back
(or both), either with or without rollers, in order to allow of the passing of
ribbons or strips of silk, paper, or other material under the stamp or press
without raising the same, so as to facilitate the obtainment of a number of
successive impressions for printing labels, or for other similar purposes; and
to prevent noise in action I attach a piece of indian-rubber or other soft
material to the cross piece of the boss, in which the hollow plunger slides.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "An Improved
Self-inking Hand Stamp or Press," I will now proceed to describe more in
detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, and in order that the same may be distinctly understood
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with
those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
In the annexed Drawing, Figure 1 represents a back view; Figure 2 a
side view, Figure 3 a front view, and Figure 4 a vertical section of a hand
These four views
stamp or press constructed according to my Invention.
show the stamp or press ready for use before pressure is applied to it; and
Figure 5 is a section of the same in the position which it assumes at the
moment of giving the impression.
a, a, is the frame of the stamp through the boss b, b, in the cross piece of
which slides the hollow plunger c, c, in the interior of which is coiled a belica!
spring d, d, which has a constant tendency to keep the plunger in its highest

page_text: position, or as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, but upon pressure being
applied to the knob allows it to descend into the position shown in Figure 5.
To the bottom of this plunger is affixed a plate e, e, to the under side of one
edge of which the die plate fif, is connected by a spring hinge; or a box
to contain moveable type may be substituted for the die plate. The die
plate ff, is furnished at each end (near the edge opposite to the hinge) with
a pin or screw g, g, the head of which works in a slot h, h, cut in the side
frame of the press. This slot is so formed that when the press is not in use
the screw or pin is in the same vertical line with the hinge, so that
the die plate is in a vertical position, as shown at Figure 4. i, i, is a
saturated inking roller, and k, k, is a similar roller in contact therewith for
keeping up the supply of ink. If the surface of the roller i, i, is very elastic;
the pin on which it revolves may be simply mounted in a hole, but, if pre-
ferred, it may be mounted in a slot, and pressed forward by a spring, or by
a band of indian-rubber or other elastic material. These rollers are easily
removed and replaced by withdrawing the central pin. The front and back
plates of the frame also are removable at pleasure, so as to afford ready access
to the die plate, type box, or inking rollers.
Upon referring to Figure 4 the action of the press will be readily understood.
Pressure by the hand being applied to the knob of the plunger, the latter
will descend, carrying the die with it in a vertical position, which as it descends
will furnish itself with ink or other matter from the surface of the roller i, i,
which it causes to revolve, but as soon as the screws g, g, enter the inclined
part of the slots h, h, the die plate will turn on its hinge into the horizontal
position (face downwards), shown in Figure 5, and in that position it will
finally descend slightly and give the impression. Upon withdrawing the hand
from the knob of the plunger the spiral spring will return the plunger and
die plate or type box into the position shewn in Figure 4, and it will be
evident that in ascending the surface of the die or type will be again inked or
moistened; but as in using some kinds of inks or liquids this second inking of
the die may be objectionable, I have represented in Figures 6 and 7 a simple
self-acting means by which the inking roller is pressed back out of the way
of the die during its ascent, and thrown forward into action again during its
descent. The pivots of the inking roller are mounted in short horizontal slots
(one at each side), and are pressed against the die or type by springs k*, k*.
1, 1, is a cranked lever capable of vibrating upon a centre or fulcrum.
Figure 6 shows the position of this lever when the stamp is at rest. As the
die descends, and after it has passed the inking roller, the ping comes into
contact with the lower limb of the lever 1, and forces it into the position shown

page_text: in Figure 7, the inclined end of the upper limb 1 of the same forcing back
the inking roller out of the way, and holding it during the ascent of the die
after the impression, but after the die has passed the roller, and just before
the pin g reaches the top of the slot, the pin. comes into contact with the
under side of the limb of the lever, and returns it. and the roller i, i, into
the position shown in Figure 6, so as to be ready to ink the die during its
descent.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, for
"An Improved Self-inking Hand Stamp or Press," together with the manner
in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention, the
improved self-inking hand stamp or press above described and exhibited in
the Drawings annexed, or any mere modification thereof, constructed and
operating in substantially the same manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hume Skellern, have hereunto
set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
RICH. HUME SKELLERN. (L.S.)
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Sol. & Patent Agent,
1, Serle St., Lincoln's Inn.