IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS USED FOR WRITING AND MARKING, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INKSTANDS
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MILL, formerly of Newhall Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, but now of No. 3, Hunters Lane, Handsworth, near Birmingham,
Staffordshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Gicat Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth
day of June, in the tenth year of Der reign, did, for Herself, Ifer heirs
and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Mill, my exors,
adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole puvilege and
authority, that I, the said William Mill, my exors, adññois, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Mill, my exois, adiñors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in
the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS USED FOR WRITING AND MARKING, AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF INKSTANDS," in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso that I, the said William Mill, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
anrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar

page_text: part
ciates
pencilcases. Figure 1 shews an external view of the movement or internal part
of my improved ever-pointed pencilcase. a is a tube with a male screw cut on its
sui face throughout its whole length, and it has a slit or opening also throughout
its whole length, as shewn. The bore of the said tube a is made of a size
throughout, so as to be capable of receiving the largest size leads generally in
use for ever-pointed pencilcases, and so that the said leads may pass freely
therein. b is a nut or runner, with a female screw to run on tube a, the said
nut has an internal groove, as shewn in the section Figure 2. c is the
propelling wire, also shewn in the section in Figure 2. The upper end of
this propelling wire is bent and flattened, so that at the bent and flattened
part may travel up and down freely in the slit in tube a, and also project
sufficiently far through the shit to pass into the groove in the nut b, as
shewn in section, Figure 2; by this arrangement the propelling wie
will be drawn from the point of the pencilcase by revolving the nut 6 in
one direction and by evolving the nut b in the opposite direction the
wue c will be propelled towards the point of the pencilcase, which will of
course force the leads out of the point of the pencilcase, as requned. dis
the colla of the point, fastened firmly on the end of the tube a, as shewn.
e is a circular groove on the collar d, the use of which is herein-after ex-
plained. The extreemo diameter of the colla d is equal to that of the
nut is a stop on the end of the tube a to prevent the nut 6 being
screwed off the tube a.
Figure 3 represents two views of a spring accomodating or expanding point
for ever-pointed pencilcases, which point I construct of metal of about the
thickness of the thin sheet steel used for steel pens, of which metal or other
suitable material I make a tube with its bore to fit the larger size leads
generally used for ever-pointed pencilcases, and so as to allow of such leads

page_text: icely to pass therein. I then cut such tube into lengths suitable for the
intended spring point, as shewn at Figure 3, which, as well as the other
Figues on this Sheet of Diawings (excepting Figures 17 and 18), is drawn
to a scalo of double the real size. I then slit the onter end of these lengths
of tube on cach side to about g, and open the said slits by filcing or any other
convenient means, sufficiently to allow the shit part of the point to collapse
sufficiently to clip the smallest size leads generally used, at the inner extremity
g of the said shits I open out the divided parts of the point, as shewn in
Figure 3, the object of which will presently be explained. A spring point so
constructed I inscit in the nozel of the colla d, Figure 1, the bore of which
collar is to be of a size to receive the inner or unslit end of the expanding
point, and the bent or enlarged paith is enclosed just within the nozel of the
collar d, whereby the bent or enlarged part of the spring point is contracted,
which closes the shit point to its smaller size, so as to clip the small leads and
allow the point to expand to accommodate the large leads; the collar also
supports and strengthens the shit part of the point A movement for evel-
pointed pencilcases, such as shewn at Figure 1, and herein-before described
(with accommodating spring point, as described with respect to Figure 3),
I enclose in a case simular to those now in use for ever-pointed pencils,
which case may be of gold, silver, or other suitable metal or material, as
shewn in Figures 2, 4, and 5, having a slit 7 throughout the greater part of
its length, and with an interior diameter equal to the diameter of the nut b
and large part of the collar d; and when the movement is placed in its
case I apply the sping m in the groove e. The slide is placed over the
groove e, and pinned through at '; the pin ' passes into the groove e, by
which arrangement the point end of the movement may be slided out fiom or
into the case, and the sping m causes the movement to slide tightly in the
case at the same time that it allows of the movement revolving in either
direction therein; the pin or stud b¹ in the nut 6 projects a little through the
slit 2 of the pencilcase, preventing the propelling nut 6 from revolving, except
with the case, and causing the said nut with the stud 6¹ to travel up or down
the case, according as the movement is revolved in one direction or the other;
the stud b¹ moving along the slit in the case answers to indicate how much
lead is in the case; for as the lead is propelled out at the point the stud b
approaches nearer to the slide, and the space between the stud b' and slide z
shows the length of lead in the case I would, however, remark, that if the
transverse section of the case be of other form than of a cylinder,-as, for
instance, of a figure of six or eight sides,-then, if the nut 6 be of the same
hguic hitting closely, the nut 6 will be prevented turning within the case

page_text: without the necessity of the slit / being longer than is at present required to
draw the point into and out of the case. And when the nut 6 comes within
the range of the slit it will serve to indicate the quantity of lead in the case
This pencilcase is charged with leads by passing them in through the expanding
point, and it will be perceived that a pencilcase thus constructed with an
expanding point possesses the advantage of carrying a greater length of lead
than ordinary pencilcases (as it will contain lead throughout the length of the
inovement, with the exception of that occupied by the propelling wire), and
it will clip and hold firmly the smallest leads, and also accommodate itself to
the largest leads generally in use for ever-pointed pencils
What I claim with respect to this first part of my Invention is, the
enclosing a movement, such as shown in Figure 1, in a case, and the arrange-
ments for working the same, as described, and with respect to the spring
point I do not claim the shitting the points of pencilcases, being aware that such
points have been shit before But I what I claim is, the forming or arranging
of shit points for ever-pointed pencilcases, in the manner before described, which
improvement I claim for ever-pointed pencils in general.
The second part of my Invention consists in an improvement in penholders.
And such is the advantage of this improvement, that a penholder, made
according thereto, will be capable of receiving different sizes of pens, and will
yield to the curve and form of the pen, thereby preventing the shit pait or the
point of the pen being distorted or bent out of its proper position Figure 6
shows a plate of sheet metal cut suitable to construct what is termed a pen-
holder tip, according to this part of my Invention, with two spring flaps a, a,
formed out of the same; Figure 7 shows a side view of the same bent into
form, and Figure 8 shows the tip or penholder with part of a handle complete.
In these three Figures it will be seen that the spring flaps a, a, are of the
same curve as the barrel of the tip or holder, with the exception of the angles
Oi corners at c, c, which are bent inwards to facilitate the entrance of the pen
into the holder. The pen is inserted under the extremity of the tip or holder
and above the spring flaps a, a, by this arrangement it will readily be seen
that different sizes of pens may be securely held by the holder, as the spring
flats act as yielding or accommodating bearings or inside supports for the pen,
and the barrel or outer support of the pen is at liberty to open and expand
by means of its slit or joint at b This penholder tip may be made of any
metal or material capable of being made elastic, but sheet steel of about the
thickness generally used for steel tips for penholders I consider the best, as it
can be hardened and tempered after it has been formed into shape
What I claim with respect to this second part of my Invention is, the

page_text: forming of holders for pens with spring or yielding inside supports or bearings
for pens as herein described.
I will now describe the third part of my Invention, which also applies to
penholders, and which combine the advantages of the one already described of
holding different sizes of pens and accommodating the curve and form of the-
same, but as these penholders or tips are intended to be made principally of
metals not capable of being hardened and tempered after being formed into
shape, as is done with articles made of steel; I introduce a yielding or ac-
commodating inside beating or support for the pen by an elastic or spring tube-
a, shewn separately at Figure 9; such tube should be diawn "hard." To give
it spring and elasticity, at the under side of the said tube about one fourth of
its circumference is taken away, as is shewn, so as to allow of its yielding and
contracting a', a¹, are two projections formed one on each side of the front
end of the said tube at a, a, which projections provent the pen fiom moving
sideways from its proper position in the holder; the hole 6 is to receive a
fastening pin. A tube thus formed I insert within, so as to fit another tube
formed capable of expanding by means of an open joint, as shown by Figure
10, which represents an end view of the tip. Figure 11 is an external view,.
and Figure 12 a section of the same; the two elastic tubes or surfaces aro
fastened together by a pin or rivet c, the said pin passing through the outer
tube d into the hole in the inner tube; the pin is fixed firmly to the outer
tube, but fits loosely in the hole 6, in the inner tube the pen is inserted and
held between the two tubes a and d. The outer expanding tube has an open
Joint throughout, and I make use of a slip of thin curved metal e shewn
separately at Figure 13, which slip I insert within the said outer tube over
the joint, and solder it to one side of the joint of the tube; by this arrange-
ment the tip will adjust itself to its handle, and the ship e will prevent the
inserted part of the handle and the inside of the tip from being exposed to
view when the joint opens or expands.
What I claim in respect to this thud part of my Invention, is the fitting of
a spring or elastic tube, as shewn at Figures 9, 10, 11, & 12, within an outer
expanding tube for accommodating and holding different sized pens as hercin
described; and I also claim the preventing of the interior of the tip or holder
from being seen through the expanding joint, as herein described.
The fourth part of my Invention also relates to penholders, such as arc
generally denominated Biamah penholders Figure 14 shows three views of
one of such penholders without their handles. The moving part or outer
support a for the pen has hitherto been connected to the main part of the tip
bby lateral axes or pins, one on each side, passing through both parts a and b

page_text: at c, c, and it is well known that by this arrangement that the part a soon
becomes strained, and the pins or axes deranged, but instead of connecting the
parts a and b at c, c, I connect them by one pin at d, which will be found
more durable and will render the holder more accommodating to different
sizes of pens; the pin at d passes through the part a into a hole in the pait b
larger than the pin; the pin is fixed firmly to the pait a, but moves freely in
the hole in the part b, so as to allow the part a to swing when released fiom
the slide e
What I claim with respect to this fourth part of my Invention is, the
connecting the parts a and b by one pin as herein described.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to metal pens, and the object of the
improvements is to cause the pens to hold the ink from dropping out of the
pen when a large dip of ink is taken, and at the same time to allow the ink
to flow freely to the nib or point of the pen when in use. Figure 15 shows
a pen constructed according to this part of my Invention, and in the manu-
facture of such pens I form a spring on each side of the pen, and cause the
said springs to be bent in towards the centre of the pen, as shewn at a, a, and
according to this part of my Invention 1 prefer that the bent in parts of
the springs should stand off a distance of about one sixteenth part of an inch
fiom the inner surface of the pen, as shewn by the section, at the same time
I do not confine myself to that dimension, nor do I confine myself to the
length of the parts a, a, though the length I have shewn I consider the best ;
the object of the parts a, a, standing off from the inner surface of the pen is to
allow the ink flowing freely to the point of the pen in writing; but if the
spring extend nearer towards the point of the pen than shown in the
Diawings, the extremeties of the springs or inkholders may then approach
nearer to the inner surface of the pen.
'
What I claim with respect to the fifth part of my Invention is, the
airanging the bent spring so as to support the ink in the pen, and at the
same time allow it to flow fiecly to the point of the pen in writing, as
described.
The sixth part of my Invention also relates to metal pens
Figure 16
shows a pen constructed according to this part of my Invention, the edges of
this
pen are notched at a, a, to enable the pen to be held by the fingers more
securely, thus facilitating the inserting and removal of such pens into and from
the holders.
What I claim with respect to this sixth part of my Invention, is the
notching on roughing of pens, as herein described.
The seventh part of my Invention relates to the construction of instruments

page_text: for making, with a holder for the same combined, forming an apparatus for
maiking many changes of dates, numbers, mottoes, letters, devices, or other
maiks on impressions with the said apparatus. Figure 17 shews a tube with
a slit throughout to give it elasticity; the said tube is contracted a little at
each end Figure 18 are different views of the markers, each marker having
two ends, and on each end of each of the said markers any desired device
may be engraved, or otherwise produced thereon; the markers are made to
fit the interior of the tube, as shewn at Figure 17, and each marker should be
of the same length, and the number of markers intended to be held in the
tube or holder when placed close, end to end, should occupy a space a little
longer than the tube or holder in which they are enclosed, so that the marker
desued to be changed may be taken out, and by placing it in the opposite end
of the tube it will force the other markers along the tube or holder, and causo
the following marker to that taken out to piotrude through the end of the
tube or holder convenient for use, and as the tube or holder is contracted at
each end, and it will clip and hold firmly the two end markers, and prevent
the others fiom dropping out of the holder. The apparatus shown at Figure
17 contains sixteen double-ended markers, which will be suitable for marking
the days of the month, but a greater or less number of markers may be used,
and any desired device may be engraved or otherwise produced thereon for
marking on sealingwax or other material capable of being marked by the said
apparatus.
What I clan in respect to this seventh part of my Invention is the
construction of an apparatus for marking, as herein-before described.
The eighth part of my Invention relates to the forming of instruments for
marking of such novel and peculiar shape or form that several different
devices, figures, letters, mottoes, &c, may be marked on sealingwax, or any
other material capable of being marked or impressed with such instrument.
Figure 19 shows such instrument for marking according to this part of my
Invention, having angular sides, and it will readily be seen that the number
of sides round the base may be varied, and that any desired device, letters,
figures, or mottoes may be produced on each of its sides by means of suitable
dies, as shown at Figure 20, and the instruments being of such peculiar shape
or form that will admit of being withdrawn from the die after being struck.
Instead, however, of using a top and bottom die, such as shown, two dies, such
as that used as the bottom die may be employed, when a figure composed of
two concs with any desired number of sides will be produced.
What I claim with respect to this eighth part of my Invention is, the

page_text: forming of marking instruments of metal, glass, or other suitable material, as
herein described
The ninth part of my Invention relates to an improvement in the con-
struction of inkstands. Figure 21 shows a side view, Figure 22 a section,
Figure 23 a plan, and Figure 24 a plan in section of an inkstand constructed
according to this part of my Invention. a is the cover of the body of the ink-
stand; 6 is the inkholder or ink vessel to contain the ink; c, a tube or opening
to receive the ink vessel; d is the cover of the ink vessel, which cover tuins
on axes at e, e, carried in slots in the standards f,f; the cover of the ink vessel
is by a connecting rod 9 connected to the horseshoe beam h, which horseshoe
beam moves on an axis in the tube cat j, and the horseshoe beam carrics a
cup or receiver k, and the parts are so arranged and adjusted that the end of
the horseshoe beam where the connecting rod gas attached is so heavy as to over-
balance the weight of the cover of the ink vessel, which causes it to open; and
when the pen with its handle is placed into its stand at 7 the pen takes into the
cup or receiver k, and the weight of the pen with its holder will overbalance
the heavy end of the horseshoe beam h, and allow the cover of the ink vessel
to close; and it will be readily seen that when the pen is taken out of its
stand for use, the cover of the ink vessel will be opened by means of the heavy
end of the beam descending so that the pen may be dipped into the ink; and
when the pen is placed in its stand and in receiver the cover of the ink
vessel will be closed, and thereby protect the ink from dust and other injuries.
With respect to thus part of my Invention I would remark, that although I
prefer that the pen should be passed through the cover into a receiver k, in
order to cause the cover to inclose the ink vessel, yet I do not confine myself
to that arrangement, at the ends h³ of the horseshoe beam h might be so
formed as to receive the penholder across them; or the parts may be otherwise
arranged, the object being to have the parts so arranged that the ink vessel
may be closed by the weight of the pen or penbolder when the same is not
in usc.
What I claim in this ninth pait of my Invention is, the mode of combining
the cover of the ink vessel with the other parts, as described, whereby the
cover of the ink vessel may be opened and closed by the means described
The tenth part of my Invention consists in a novel construction of
inkstand.
Figure 25 shows a plan and Figure 26 a section of such inkstand accord-
ing to this part of my Invention, the shape of the vessel may be slightly varied,
but I believe the shape shown to be the best. a is the vessel to contain the ink,

page_text: and the mouth or dipping place thereof; c is a screw which works in nut d
attached to the inkstand, and according as the ink is used the pait a of the
vessel will have to be raised by turning the screw c, by which the mouth b of
the ink vessel will descend, by which means the level of the ink at the dipping
place will be retained to any desired level convenient for use.
What I claim in this tenth part of my Invention is, the construction of
inkstands such as described with respect to Figures 25 and 26.
The eleventh part of my Invention consists in applying a portable inkstand
at the top of a penholder o penholder case, and making the said penholder
or penholder case the stopper of the ink vessel
Figure 27 represents a section of such portable inkstand with a male
screw on the mouth of the outer case thereof, which outer case contains an
ink vessel z.
Figure 28 shews a penholder with its case a and the inkholder applied
(partly in section), and Figure 29 shews an external view of Figure 28. The
penholder with pen is capable of being slided in and out of the said case, as is
well understood, and which case may also contain an ever-pointed pencil, the
pen case a has a cap with a female screw at its end 6, which cap fits on the
male screw at the mouth of the inkstand, and is to be screwed thereon so as
to fit close on the mouth of the ink vessel, and act as a stopper thereof, as
shewn. The internal ink vessel is pressed upwards against its stopper
by means of a spring a, as shown.
What I claim in this eighth part of my Invention is, the attaching an
inkstand to the top of penholders or penholder cases, so that the said penholders
or penholder cases may act as stoppers for the ink vessels thereof, as shown
and described.
hand
In witness whereof, I, the said William Mill, have hereunto set my
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand oight hundred and forty-six
WILLIAM (L.S) MILL.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-eighth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid William Mill came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose
Enrolled the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Loid
One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.

page_text: In the Matter of a Patent granted to William Mill, of Newhall Sticet,
Bumingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, for his
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS USED FOR WRITING
AND MARKING, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INKSTANDS," bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the tenth year
of the reign of Her present Majesty Queen Victoria, to which
Letters Patent a Specification has been duly imolled.
DISCLAIMER proposed to be entered by the said Patentee with the Clerk of
the Patents of England, pursuant to an Act passed in the fifth and sixth
years of the reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth, entituled
"An Act to amend the Law touching Letters Patent for Inventions."
I, the said William Mill, in my said Specification did describe my said Inven-
tion to consist of eleven parts, and since the enrolment of the said Specification
several of the parts of the said Invention have come into extensive public use,
whilst several other parts thereof have come but little into public use; and I have
been advised that there may be some doubts whether the validity of the said
Letters Patent may not be injured by icason of the comparatively small extent
of public utility of some parts of my said Invention: For which reason, and also
for the further reason that I wish to avoid the otherwise necessary expence of
proving them to be useful in a Court of Law. I wish to disclaim, and I do
hereby disclaim, so much of my said Invention as is claimed in the third claiming
clause in the said Specification by the words "And I also claim the preventing
"of the interior of the tip or holder from being seen through the expanding
Joint, as herein described;" and for the reasons aforesaid I do also wish to
disclaim, and I do hereby disclaim all those parts of my said Invention which
are respectively described and claimed in the said Specification as being the
fifth, the sixth, the seventh, and the eighth parts of the said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Mill, have hereunto set my hand
seal, thus Twenty-second lay of April, in the year of our Lord One 3
thousand eight hundred and fifty.
To the Clerk of the Patents of England.
WILLIAM MILL. (L.S.)
This is to certify that the above-named William Mill, of Newhall Street,
Bumuingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, has applied to me

page_text: for leave to enter with you the above-written Disclaimer of certain parts of
the Specification of a certain Invention for which Letters Patent were granted
to him under the Great Seal of Great Britain, dated at Westminster, the
29th day of June, in the tenth year of the reign of Her present Majesty
Queen Victoria, and to which a Specification was duly enrolled; and having
considered of the said application, and no valid objection having been made to
the same, I hereby grant leave to the said William Mill to file his said
Disclaimer pursuant to the Statuto passed in the fifth & sixth years of the
reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth, entituled "An Act to
amend the Law touching Letters Patent for Inventions."
Joux ROMILLY
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-second day April,
in the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid William Mill came before our
said Lady the Queen in He Chancery, and acknowledged the Disclaimer
aforesaid, and all and every thing therem contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Disclaimer aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Loid One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.