IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE WRITING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue and
Birkbeck, Patent Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE WRITING APPARATUS." A communieation from
abroad by Ernest Recordon, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1880.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE WRITING APPARATUS." A communication
from abroad by Ernest Recordon, of Paris, France.
This improved instrument or apparatus has the advantage of allowing the writer
to read the writing as it is written, which is not obtained by any other instrument
or apparatus of this character.
This instrument has also the advantage of being very simple in construction
because the printing levers (viz., those that carry the printing type in relief at one
end) and the levers which when pressed by means of a touch on a key-board are
arranged as well as the whole mechanism in the form of a fan, which allows the
whole mechanism to be greatly simplified, as, for instanco, in this system the
mechanism of all the letters are the same.
In front the printing levers (which when at rest are in a vertical position) by
means of the pressure of the touch form a curve of 45 degrees, and act on a
cylinder covered with leather, on which the paper is kept on one sido by means of
a roller, and on the other side by a friction roller pressing the paper. Facing
the printing levers is placed a table capable of being raised and lowered in a
frame.
The frame rests on a rail on two wheels, and is kept up by means of two hooks
passing through a rack fixed at both ends to the box of the apparatus. The table
carries the cylinder covered with leather or other suitable material on which the
printing is effected.
The table is also provided with a vertical rack which rises against a stop, which

page_text: retains it at each end of a line in order that the paper may pass from one line to
the following line.
The table is caused to pass, and consequently the paper, from one line to another
line by means of a set square coming in contact with the stop or partition of the
box of the apparatus.
The lower part of the frame is provided with another rack, the space between the
teeth being equal to the space of one letter to another.
In pressing or touching a key to write the horizontal lever which supports it
lowers a rod or bar passing under all the levers bearing the key levers, and by its
rocking motion throws into gear the rack and pinion at every impression of a letter
and moves it forward regularly the width of a letter.
A rod or bar surrounds the key-board; both ends of the rod or bar are fastened
to the frame which carries the system of levers, and also carrying the key levers
above the mechanical printing levers.
At the end of each word the rod or bar is pressed, and by means of a lever
presses the rod or bar, moving forward the rack the width of a letter. At the end of
each line a bell sounds to give warning. A button fixed to a pulley is then pressed
and brings back the frame, the table, and the paper in order that the writer may
recommence the following line.
A pad inks the letters; the ink pad is of the form of a bow, and is circular,
placed in front and close to the letters that are stationary; when the latter are put
in motion they come against the ink pad held by a flexible spring, which they raise
and pass freely underneath.
When the letters turn back after printing the ink pad is lifted by means of a
spring in order to regain its place.
It is the force of inertia which imparts a quick and swift motion to the printing
lever, for as soon as the key is pressed the lever which supports it bends at a right
angle, strikes the lower end of the printing lever placed right underneath, and
presses it on to the paper.
The use of the inking pad is of great advantage, and only used in this improved
machine; the inking is self acting, and the pad only requires inking about once a
month.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd.
November 1880.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE WRITING APPARATUS." A communication
from abroad by Ernest Recordon, of Paris, France.
This improved type writing apparatus has for its object to serve as a substitute
for hand writing with advantage.
The apparatus is worked by means of a key-board composed of three rows of
keys on which are inscribed the letters of the alphabet, the letters accented, the
signs of punctuation, and cyphers or numbers.
In placing the finger on one of the keys a slight pressure suffices for the letter
represented on the key to be printed on a sheet of paper placed vertically at the
back of the printing apparatus.
In the printing of each letter the paper moves automatically the width of a.
letter in order to receive the printing of the following letter at the side of the
former one.
When the line of writing is finished the frame carrying the paper moves
backwards and passes automatically to the following line.
The advantages obtained by this improved apparatus are as follows:-
To obtain several copies of what is written by inserting a few sheets of transfer
paper between a few sheets of white paper; their number may amount to six at
lcast.
To supercede by this process the copying of letters as is generally used in
commerce.
To obtain clean and legible copies, which are not always obtained in the ordinary
process of copying letters.
To allow persons of weak sight or trembling of the hand to write legibly.
This improved instrument or apparatus has the advantage of allowing the writer
to read the writing as it is written, the sheet of paper being placed on the apparatus
at or about the level of his eyes.
The following description of the Drawings hereto annexed shows the construction
and working of this improved type writing apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the type writing apparatus.
Figure 2 shows a front view of the frame on which the paper is fixed.
Figure 3 shows a corresponding general plan.
Figure 4 is a transverse section showing the arrangement of the apparatus.
Figures 5 and 6 show different detail views of some of the parts.
The box of the apparatus may be made of wood or thin sheet metal, and the lock
leoad A
L
1
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the type writing apparatus.
Figure 2 shows a front view of the frame on which the paper is fixed.
Figure 3 shows a corresponding general plan.
Figure 4 is a transverse section showing the arrangement of the apparatus.
Figures 5 and 6 show different detail views of some of the parts.
The box of the apparatus may be made of wood or thin sheet metal, and the lock
placed at A secures the lid, provided with two hinges folding at Band at C to
fall over at the back of the box when the instrument or apparatus is in use.
In Figure 1 will be seen the arrangement of the keys T of the key-board, the
hood or lid of varnished sheet metal (advantageously iron or zinc) F covering the
vertical levers P and the keys T, the second hood or lid G covering the movable
pad for the automatical inking of the letters.
The open space between the two hoods or lids will allow the printing levers to
be seen, and the same being very slender will allow the writer to read as fast as
he is writing and without having to touch or remove the paper.

page_text: On the vertical back part of the box is also seen the top of the frame J which
carries the paper.
This frame carrying the paper placed at the back of the printing apparatus
moves the paper to the left after the printing of each letter the distance equal to
the space of a letter; at the end of each line it is brought back to its former
position and raised the space equal to the distance between two lines.
This frame work is composed of three parts jointed and sliding one into the
other.
The first C made of very light metal runs on the rail a fixed on the base of the
box of the apparatus by means of two friction rollers g by the upper rail b.
The lower rail and the upper rail are secured at both ends by rods or bars t; these
two vertical rods or bars are also fixed to the vertical sides of the box.
At the bottom of the frame C is fixed a double toothed rack c; this double
toothed rack with alternate teeth (that is to say, they are not face to face to each
other help to operate automatically the succession of letters, one following the
other on the line after each impression of letter; this motion will be further
explained hereinafter.
The second frame I is kept to the side of the first frame C by means of a
slide.
This frame I carries the cylinder on which the impression of the letters are
produced, and the lever L moving the paper from one line to the following line.
The third frame J receives the paper pressed at the upper part by the paper
presser (Figure 4); this paper presser revolves on a hinge d.
In order to fix the paper the paper presser is raised by the lever handle e; a
spring (Figure 4) keeps the paper presser open during the introduction of the
paper, which is kept in a vertical position by two small stops i (Figures 1 and 2),
the paper presser is then shut and kept well closed by the spring ; the small
points fixed on the inner surface of the paper presser aid in securing the position
of the paper Q on the frame J.
In order to fix the paper with ease on the frame J it can be entirely removed.
from the first frame by means of the two handles ffixed to the upper part of the
frame or by drawing the same only partly out, in which case a spring keeps it in
position during the placing of the paper.
In order to present a horizontal surface to print on the paper moves from the
paper presser p on to the cylinder K, on which it is kept by the two other
cylinders j and m, supported by the lever H, and pressed against the paper by a
long spring R.
The cylinder K on which the letters are printed is made of wood covered with
leather or india rubber, and is mounted on the second frame I.
In order to place the paper with ease between the cylinders K, j, m, the lever
His brought backwards by means of the handle h, as shown by the dotted lines
(Figure 4); the same spring R which kept it against the paper is now free.
When the paper is longer than the frame the lower part is rolled up into a
curved trough V, fixed to the second frame I; this trough may be more closed
than is shown in Figure 4.
Figures 2 and 3 show that the cylinder j is not plain but formed of a series of
friction rollers, in order that when the paper rises one line the ink of the former
line is not defaced in passing under this cylinder.
When the line is finished the paper is brought back to its former position by
means of one of the handles f. The paper must then rise the width of one line
from another; this is effected automatically by means of the vertical toothed rack c¹
fixed to the right of the third frame J. In bringing the paper backwards or to the
right to recommence the following line the bent lever L (Figure 2) strikes by its
extreme end 8 against the side of the case of the apparatus, as shown by the
arrow, the other extreme end v being engages in one of the teeth of the toothed
rack c; the lever L raises the same, and the stop t¹ prevents the frame from falling
because during the time of writing the frame moves from right to left, and the

page_text: extreme end of the lever L leaving the side of the case would allow the frame to
fall which must be prevented.
In order to lower the frame J again, and recommence another page, a knob fixed
on the lever or stop t' allows the same to withdraw from the toothed rack c'.
As will be seen there are three frames for keeping the paper; the first has a to
and fro motion to form the line, the second moves the same from one line to
another by the mechanism and carries and maintains the paper, and the third
frame also holds the paper and prevents it from falling when the paper has been
raised for changing to another line. A bell T¹, fixed to one of the uprights of the
metallic frame C gives warning at the end of each line.
The hammer m¹ and the lever n' turns on o' and strikes the bell when, by the
successive movements of the frame towards the left, the upper end of the lever n¹
meets the hinged stop t*; a spring presses on the hammer in order that it may act
better on the bell.
The hinged stop t* is fixed on a flat bar provided with a groove in its entire
length, and the position of the stop t must vary according to the size of paper in
use; the hinged stop t* is kept in position by means of a set screw.
By means of a metal index fixed on the box at the back part of the frame a
bell may be made to sound at the second or third letter before the end of the.
line.
Having shown the method of fixing the paper and the different movements of
the paper, I will now describe the mechanism relating to the operation of.
printing.
Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the keys on the key-board.
In order to clearly distinguish the letters at first sight the color of the paper onA,
which they are marked varies according to their nature, and advantageously the
vowels are represented on red ground, the cyphers on green ground, and the letters
which are accented on violet ground.
The keys T are arranged in three graduated rows.
All the keys T actuate the levers of the same form (Figure 4), actuating in turn
the printing levers P, all being of the same form.
The printing levers P carry at their upper ends an engraved letter corresponding
to that seen on each key under a glass plate. All the levers are arranged in the
forin of a fan; in pressing the corresponding keys the levers P take the position
of P¹ and strike the paper always on the same place (Figure 4). For forming the
line the paper must then, after the impression of each letter, move automatically
the width of one letter, as will be seen further on.
The number of letters to be printed by the apparatus may vary, on the Drawings
annexed the number is 45.
The levers being all alike one of each will only be described.
These levers are kept in position on a metallic support S, being in the form of a
circle of 120 degrees, and divided in 45 divisions, in which the levers are fixed.
The opening o¹ has a spindle, round which the levers may move.
Directly above the printing levers P the key levers U are placed, kept, and
disposed on the support S', of the same form as the support S.
These two supports S and S¹ are fixed by their ends to the vertical frames M.
Figure 4 shows how in pressing the key T the upper lever P can move in order
to bring forward the letter to be inarked on the paper Q.
The extreme end of the lever U is widened in order to see better the end p¹ of
the letter P. The spring / brings the lever P backwards, and the weight of the
touch brings the lever U backwards. 45 springs * are required, fixed to a rod k,
bent also in the form of a circle from a frame M to the other frame M¹.
The levers P are supported on x on a rod in the form of a circle, similar to the
rod of the springs h*.
The letter
of the lever P is inked by means of a pad of cloth m* or other
suitable material covered with silk in order to avoid blotting.

page_text: The pad being also in the form of a semi-circle (Figure 3) is suspended by three
small chains fixed to the upper lid or hood G by light springs.
In pressing the key T the lever P strikes first the pad to form the letter, raises
it to pass over, and comes on to the paper which it prints. To avoid the pad from
swinging a flexible stopper in the form of a circle passes in front of the three small
chains close to the pad.
Two knobs q fixed on the lid of the hood (Figure 1) allow the same to be
removed when the pad requires inking or to be changed. The small chains which
hold the pad are unhooked, and the pad is inked in the same manner as an
ordinary pad.
I will now describe the manner in which the paper moves automatically the
space of a letter after each impression of a letter on the paper.
A bent lever L passes under all the levers, and the two ends are linked to two
bearings B and B¹
In pressing a key this lever is lowered; on ccasing to press the key the key
rises by the action of the spring R¹ enclosed in a tube, and can only rise up to
the stop E¹.
It has been described above that the double toothed rack c has alternate teeth;
under each of these racks there is a double wheel C₁ (Figures 2 and 4) having also
alternate teeth.
This double wheel C' is keyed to one of the ends of the shaft H', the other end
of the shaft carries a cog wheel (Figures 4, 5, and 6).
A slide 2, hinged to the shaft H₁ and fixed to the bent lever L³, carries the
paul c, which takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel 2.
The result will be that every time the bent lever L' is pressed the lever (2
descends, and rises at the same time as the bent lever L² rises; the paul jointed on
the lever in the second period of the movement pushes a tooth of the wheel ₁²
and forces it to turn. A catch w prevents the ratchet wheel 7 from turning
backwards.
The ratchet wheel has 16 teeth, and the double wheel C¹ has 8 teeth on
each wheel.
Facing each of the wheels C¹, C', and below each of the toothed racks there is a
small mechanism shown at Figure 2.
The end of the support 82 terminates in a socket serving as a guide to a piston p³,
constantly pushed by a light spring in order that its end being always engaged in
the teeth of the toothed wheel C₁ may stop it.
The toothed wheel revolves constantly, as indicated, by the arrow, by the action
of the barrel X (Figure 2), on which is wound a steel band, the end being fixed to
the frame of the paper carrier.
As the teeth of the double wheel C¹ are alternate, it happens that the two
pistons p² are never engaged at the same time in the teeth of the two toothed racks,
because by means of the stud q² of the piston på one tooth of the wheel C¹ keeps
the piston in the lowest part, whereas the other tooth of the wheel C¹ not touching
the stud of the corresponding piston the latter is engaged in the toothed rack c.
It has been shown that at each pressure on the arched lever L the toothed
rack, and consequently the frame paper carrier, is moved to the left the width of a
letter.
When the line is finished the paper is brought backwards on the frame which
carries the paper by pushing simply the frame by the hand in the opposite
direction.
When a word is written it must be separated from the following word, that is
to say, to have a space between each word equal to the width of one letter.
This object can be obtained by means of a blank space, but as this would be
repeated too often a circular bar D¹ is arranged, which surrounds the entire key
board (Figure 3) and rests on a rail 82 of the bent lever L², so that the said bar is

page_text: always ready to hand, and that by means of pressing the same at one part will
always cause the bent lever L³ to act in changing of letters.
The bar is mounted and connected to the two supports B¹, B', of the bent
lever L (Figure 3), which causes the same to be brought back to its former position
after being pressed.
It will be seen that in order to secure strength to all parts of the apparatus they
are fixed on sheet metals at the bottom of the box.
use;
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing or carrying the sume into practice, it will be evident that the size of
the apparatus and the materials of which it is made may be varied, according to
the purpose for which it may be required; it will also be evident that the con-
struction and disposition of the parts may be varied without departing from the
essential character of the improvements; at the same time it is not intended to
claim any of the mechanical parts separately, which are well known and in common
but that which is claimed under the above in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The improved arrangement, construction, and combination of parts constituting
this improved automatic type writing apparatus, in which the actuating keys,
together with the printing or type levers, are arranged in the form of a fan or part
of a circle and in such manner that the operator can see what he is writing as it
is written, the apparatus being greatly simplified as the mechanism of each separate
type is alike, and the whole combined apparatus is arranged to act automatically,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore fully described and
represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty second day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE. (L.S.)