IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS OR INKHOLDERS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Mill, of 3, Hunter's Lane, Birmingham, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS OR INKHOLDERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Mill at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th March
1854.
I, WILLIAM MILL, of 3, Hunter's Lane, Birmingham, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS OR INKHOLDERS" to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to admitting and retaining for use a supply of ink in
the dipping cups of inkstands and inkholders. In constructing the dipping
cups of inkstands or inkholders, I make them wholly or in part flexible and
elastic, with openings or perforations through which the ink from the vessels
passes into the dipping cups, the passages or openings having a tendency to
close by reason of the elasticity, and the ink will only flow into the dipping
cups so long as the passages are kept open by the use of pens or other instru-
ments, or plugs or valves may be used to close the passages between the
dipping cups and ink vessels. In supplying air to the interior of the ink
vessels to replace the outgoing ink, air passages are made in the vessels, which
may at all times be open where the dipping cups are provided with means of.
shutting off the supply of ink to them, or the openings into the dipping cups
may be small and the air passages into the ink vessels closed with plugs or
valves, by preference kept closed by springs. The dipping cups 1 prefer to
arrange below the inner bottom surface of the ink vessels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Mill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MILL, of 3, Hunter's Lane, Birmingham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself,, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Mill, Her special licence that I, the said William Mill,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Mill, my exécutors, administrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS OR INK-
HOLDERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Mill,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain 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 William Mill, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof (that is to say):
This Invention relates to admitting and retaining for use a supply of ink in
the dipping cups of inkstands and inkholders. In constructing the dipping
cups of inkstands or inkholders, I make them wholly or in part flexible and
elastic, with openings or perforations through which the ink from the vessel
passes into the dipping cups, the passages or openings having a tendency to
close by reason of the elasticity, and the ink will only flow into the dipping
cups so long as the passages are kept open by the use of pens or other instru-
ments, or plugs or valves may be used to close the passages between the dipping
cups and ink vessels. In supplying air to the interior of the ink vessels to
replace the outgoing ink, air passages are made in the vessels, which may at
all times be open where the dipping cups are provided with means of shutting
off the supply of ink to them, or the openings into the dipping cups may be

page_text: small and the air passages into the ink vessels closed with plugs.or valves, by
preference kept closed by springs. The dipping cups I prefer to arrange below
the inner bottom surface of the ink vessels.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed :to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
**
The Drawings show the various parts on a magnified scale; to facilitate the
understanding of the same. In making the dipping cups for inkstands or ink-
holders, although other materials may be used, I prefer for the most part to
employ separate dipping cups of gutta percha, made to fit into suitable open-
ings to receive them; and such is the peculiar property of gutta, percha, that a
dipping cup made thereof will readily fit air and fluid tight in a proper
opening, in any suitable form of inkstand or inkholder.
Figure 1 shews two views of a dipping cup. a, a', is a short tube of vul-
canized india-rubber, with several perforations or slit openings made through
it at a with a keen edged instrument; the upper end of the tube a¹ of vul-
canized india-rubber is expanded so as to fit on to the end of the dipping cup,
having first applied thereto india-rubber solution or cement, and the extreme
end of the tube a' is stretched over a solid bottom a², of gutta percha or other
suitable material, and also fastened with india-rubber cement. In these two
views, one case shows that the slits or openings in the vulcanized india-rubber
tube are closed, and in the other view opened, as will be the case by pressure
on the closed end or bottom a², by a pen or other instrument, which will allow
the ink to flow from the ink vessel into the dipping cup through the said open-
ings, and when the pressure is withdrawn therefrom, the slits or openings will
instantly close and prevent any passage through them; consequently the ink.in
the dipping cup will be retained there for use.
.
The form and arrangements of the dipping cups and the valvular means of
opening and closing the ink passages by the spring or elasticity of the dipping
cups or of the parts applied thereto, may be greatly varied; I do not, therefore,
in this part of my Invention confine myself to, any precise form or arrange-
ment, so long as the dipping cups or apparatus applied thereto has the elas-
ticity suitable for closing the ink passages; and in order to give the best
information I possess in regard thereto, I will now proceed to describe various
modifications of dipping cups according to this part of my Invention.
Figure 2 shows two views of a similar construction of dipping cup to that
shown in Figure 1; but the india-rubber tube a' may be thicker in substance
and the end of it cemented to the bottom end of the gutta percha dipping cup

page_text: or otherwise; but in this arrangement, in place of pressing down the bottom
a², to open the slits or elastic valve for the passage of the ink into the dipping
cup, there is an instrument with a handle c fixed to the bottom a², the stem of
such instrument moving in a bearing at d, so that by moving the handle a
short distance round, the bottom a² is turned partly round, which will cause
the inclined slits or openings at .x to open, as shewn, but immediately on
releasing the handle the spring or elasticity of the part a' will cause the slits to
close, and prevent ink flowing into or out of the dipping cup through the said
ink passages.
Figure 3 shows another modification of the dipping cup, and which may be
furnished with india-rubber tube a', as described in Figure 2, but the slits in
the part a¹ are horizontal in place of oblique, and they are only on one side,
and there is a rod e fixed to the bottom a², which being pulled over towards
the opposite side of the dipping cup opens the slits or elastic valve, which
passage immediately closes on the rod e being released.
Figure 4 shows another modification of a dipping cup; in this case as in the
preceeding one there is a rod e fixed to the bottom a² of the flexible end or
valve part of the dipping cup, and there is only one slit or passage through
the flexible part a¹ of larger dimensions than those shewn in Figure 3, and an
additional spring of india-rubber f is applied, to render the slit or valve more
securely closed; the action of this dipping cup is in other respects the same as
the last described.
Figures 5 and 6 show two plans and a section of an arrangement of dipping
cup, the bottom a² of which is sheet vulcanized india-rubber attached to the
gutta percha dipping cup with india-rubber solution or cement, having a single
slit or perforation through it, as shewn at x in plan, Figure 5, or with a cross
slit as shewn in Figure 6; in using either of these forms the simple act of
applying pressure by pens or by compressing the atmosphere within the ink
vessel, the slits or perforations will most readily open and allow the ink to flow
into the dipping cup, and the slits or ink passages will immediately close on
withdrawing such pressure.
Figure 7 shows a plan and section of another modification of dipping cup in
which the valve is preferred to be constructed by making the bottom a¹ of the
dipping cnp of thick sheet vulcanized india-rubber, with a hole through its
centre, and over which hole a flat surface a² of gutta percha or other suitable
material is kept close by vulcanized india-rubber springs g; hence when the
valve or stopper a² is pressed down by a pen or other instrument, admits the
ink to flow through the passage into the dipping cup, and the flow will
immediately cease on relieving the stopper or valve a³..

page_text: Figure 8 shows a section of another arrangement of dipping cup, with a
hole or passage through the bottom thereof, and having a stem or plugs of
glass or other suitable material; the bottom end of the said stem is made of a
conical form, and if the dipping cup be made of gutta percha, a slight pressure
on the stem s with the finger will plug the hole, and cause the passage to be.
securely closed by reason of the yielding or elastic property of the gutta percha
dipping cup; but if the passage be made through a non-elastic material, the
plug must be made to fit perfectly close therein, and may be kept closed by a
spring or vulcanized india-rubber ring or band m, which is passed over the eye
at d, and stretched or expanded over a hook on projections at the upper end of
the stem s, as shown in the Drawings; and it is preferred that such should be
the case; hence, by raising the plug, allows ink to flow into the dipping cup.
Figure 9 shows another modification of dipping cup, the bottom a', of which
I prefer to be of vulcanized sheet india-rubber, through which there is a hole,
and through which hole a stem s passes with an enlarged conical end; m is a
spring or vulcanized india-rubber spring or band, fixed similar to that described
in Figure 8, but pulling in an opposite direction, and having a tendency con-
stantly to close the opening through the bottom of the dipping cup, and the
hole or passage is opened by pressing down the stem s.
Figure 10 shows two views, in section, of another arrangement of dipping
cup, wherein the bottom a¹ is formed of sheet vulcanized india-rubber cemented
on to the gutta percha dipping cup, and through the bottom there is a hole
which ordinarily fits close round the stem or plug i, but on pressing the top
end of the stem i back, in the direction of the arrow, it stretches the hole in
the flexible bottom a' and opens a passage for the ink to flow into the dipping
cup, but instantly on the stem i being released, the hole closes on the stem and
tightly embraces it.
Figure 11 shows a section of another modification of dipping cup, through
the bottom of which is a hole, through which is passed a piece of round
vulcanized india-rubber k, the lower end of which is reduced in thickness and
fixed outside the dipping cup with india-rubber cement, or by any other
suitable means; so long as the india-rubber k is unstretched, it fills and plugs
the hole, and no ink can pass, but on the india-rubber k being pulled upwards,
the plug-formed valve is opened, and allows the ink to flow into the dipping
cup a.
Figure 12 shews two views of another dipping cup, having a tube j of
vulcanized india-rubber fitting close and plugging the hole through the bottom
of the dipping cup, and is held in its place by means of a gutta percha rim or
flange a being cemented on to the bottom end thereof; the upper end of the

page_text: tube j is closed by being stretched over a knob o; slits are made in the tube j,
which ordinarily are closed; but on pulling the tube and extending it, the
slits open and admit the flow of ink through them into the dipping cup,
these slits or elastic valve closing immediately on the tube being released.
Figure 13 shows two views of an arrangement very suitable for closing the
air passages of inkstands or inkholders and readily supplying air to the
interior thereof; this plug or valve consists of a piece of vulcanized india-
rubber tube m, with a rod n through it, which I prefer to be of glass, though
other suitable material may be employed; the air passage of the ink vessel at
c is made of a size so that the tube m may fit closely therein. By passing the
end of a thin wire into the air passage at c, and out through the mouth of the
ink vessel at b, see Fig. 22, and attach it to the upper end of the tube m; by
this means the plug or valve may be readily drawn into its place in the air
passage of the ink vessel; or if a small rod n be used, it can be passed in
through the air passage at c, with the india-rubber tube m attached thereto.
India-rubber cement is then applied to the interior surface of the upper end
of the tube m, which is then stretched or expanded over the knob o, which
closes the tube m air tight, and the rod n supports and holds the tube m in
the interior of the ink vessel. By this arrangement the air passage is perfectly
closed air tight, and by pressing the knob o on either side, out of its ordinary
position, the tube m will contract in diameter and open a passage for air into
the ink vessel, which will allow or cause the ink to flow into an opened passage,
dipping cup, and the flow of the air, and consequently the flow of the ink into
the dipping cup will also be immediately stopped on releasing the knob o.
Figure 14 shows a similar elastic plug or valve as that last described, but
the part m is solid vulcanized india-rubber in place of tubular; in other respects
the action is the same as that last described. The knob o of this stopper has
a hole through it, and is fitted on to the end of the plug m, and may be
fastened with india-rubber cement.
Figure 15 shews another construction of stopper or valve for air passages
of inkstands or inkholders, which consists of an elastic hollow bulb H of
vulcanized india-rubber, or any other suitable elastic material, with a small
hole through one side thereof, and its small open end P fitting close into the
air passage of the ink vessel at c, and having a solid ball i of glass or other
suitable material fitting close in the neck of the bulb, which forms a valve and
closes the air passage of the ink vessel. Hence, by placing the finger or
thumb on the small hole in the elastic bulb, so as to close it, and at the same
tine press the elastic bulb'together, will cause the air contained therein to pass
round the ball i into the ink vessel; consequently a portion of the ink con-

page_text: tained in the ink vessel will be admitted or caused to flow into the dipping cup
while the level of the ink in any suitable form of ink vessel is at all above the
entrance of the ink passage on opening into the dipping cup.
Figure 16 shows another convenient stopper or air plug and valve for
supplying air to the interior of inkstands or inkholders, having a similar
vulcanized india-rubber tube m to that described at Figure 13, plugging or
closing the air passage of the ink vessel at c by its spring or elasticity, and held
in its place by the rod n having a round solid ball of glass, or any other
suitable material forming a valve to close the air passage in tube m; the upper
end of the said tube m is made of a size to admit of being stretched or
expanded over the hollow flexible ball H of vulcanized india-rubber or any
other suitable flexible material and fastened or cemented thereto. The flexible
ball H has two holes or openings d and e, and by closing the hole or passage d
with the finger or thumb, and at the same time press the ball H, so as to collapse
it, the air contained in it will pass out through the hole or passage e, and
between the surfaces of the tube m and the ball z into the ink vessel, which
will admit or cause a portion of the ink contained in the ink vessel to flow into
the dipping cup, while the level of the ink in the inkstand or inkholder is at all
above the entrance of the ink passage of the dipping cup in any suitable kind
of ink vessel; and if the dipping cup be placed above the level of the ink in the
ink vessel or inkholder, the ink contained in the dipping cup can most readily
be returned into the ink vessel when desired by pressing the tube m on
one side, out of its ordinary position, which will open the air passage of the
ink vessel, and allow or cause the ink to flow back into the ink vessel or
inkholder.
Figure 17 shows a plan and section of another valve covering the air
passage c, which consists of a plate of metal n or other suitable material,
with a hole through its centre, and which is constantly drawn down by two
spring rings or bands m of vulcanized india-rubber, which presses the sheet of
vulcanized india-rubber p so as to cover and close the air passage; the said
sheet of india-rubber p is fastened to the plate n with dissolved shellac, or
by any other suitable means, so that by lifting the plate n on either side
admits air to pass into the ink vessel, and the passage will be immediately
closed on releasing the plate n. The under parts of each of the two spring
rings or bands m are held down by passing them over two pegs or pro-
jections attached at opposite sides to a metal ring or cap 9, and their
upper parts are stretched over the projecting parts of the plate n, as shown
in the Drawings. The metal ring or cap g may be cemented or with
plaster of Paris to a suitable projection formed on the ink vessel, so that the

page_text: india-rubber p may close the air passage c. Figure 18 shows another form
of valve, which consists of a metal ring or cap g, over which is placed a plate n
having its centre part taken away, and across which is stretched a piece of
sheet vulcanized india-rubber p, which is fastened at each end to the metal
ring or cup g by plates of metal or other suitable material screwed down tight
upon each end of the india-rubber p, as shown in the Drawings. This valve, as
the last described, may be cemented on to the ink vessel, so that the india-
rubber p may close the air passage; hence by raising the plate n air passes
into the ink vessel. Figure 19 shows a dipping cup with an open passage
through the bottom part thereof, the use of which will herein-after be ex-
plained. Figure 20 shows an inkstand or inkholder, and Figure 21 a plan
thereof, having the dipping cup arranged below the bottom of the ink vessel
or inkholder, and consequently there will be at all times a convenient supply
of ink in the dipping cup so long as any remains on the bottom surface of
the enterance into the interior of the ink vessel or inkholder; in fact the ink
may be used up almost to the last; but I prefer in the most part to use
separate dipping cups of gutta percha. And it will readily be seen that if a
dipping cup made according to either of the dipping cups, provided with
means of openings and closing the ink passage thereof, as shown at Figures
from 1 to 12, and herein-before described, be fitted air tight in an inkstand or
inkholder such as shown at Figures 20 and 21 at the mouth 6, and a small
open air passage be made in the ink vessel at c, the ink contained in the ink
vessel or inkholder may be admitted into the dipping cup, or shut off there-
from by opening or closing the perforated, plugged, or other valve-stopper
thereof, as the case may be; and by applying at the same time either of the
arrangements for opening and closing passages shown at Figures from 1 to 18,
and herein-before described, or a modification thereof, to close the air passage
at c in the ink vessel, the ink contained in the ink vessel will be perfectly
enclosed from the atmosphere; and by supplying air to the interior of the ink
vessel by mean sof the valve or stopper at the air passage c, and by opening
the ink passage of the dipping cup at b, both at the same time, the ink con-
tained in the inkstand or inkholder will flow into the dipping cup, and will
cease instantly on either of the valves or stoppers being closed. The dipping
cups shown at Figures from 1 to 12, or a modification thereof, may be readily
applied to close the air passage by opening the said passage to receive them
as a plug; or if a dipping cup such as shown at Figure 19, with an open ink
passage, be fitted air-tight in the mouth of the ink vessel at b, and either of
the arrangements for opening and closing passages shown at Figures from 1
to 18, or a modification thereof, at the same time be applied to close the air

page_text: passage at c, the ink will only flow into and fill the dipping cup when air
is supplied to the interior of the ink vessel by means of the valve or stopper at
the air passage c.
But if the ink vessel be made of gutta percha, or so as
to be elastic, and a dipping cup such as shewn at Figures 5 and 6, or a
dipping cup with a modification of the valvez, shewn at Figures 15 and 16,
be applied thereto, then by stopping the air passage and compressing the
elastic ink vessel or holder, the ink will flow most readily through the elastic
slits or passage at the bottom part of the dipping cup; and by first opening
the air passage before allowing the ink vessel to expand to its natural form,
the ink will be retained in the dipping cup for use; and by compressing the
elastic ink vessel, with the air passage remaining open, and then close the air
passage, and while closed alow the ink vessel to expand to its ordinary form,
the ink contained in the dipping cup will be withdrawn into the ink vessel or
inkholder. The inkstand or inkholder shewn at Figures 20 and 21 being by
preference so formed as to admit of the dipping cup being arranged below
the bottom of the ink vessel so as to ensure the whole or nearly all of the
ink flowing from the ink vessel into the dipping cup by the different means
herein-before described; but although this mode of forming or arranging
dipping cups below the bottom of the ink vessel constitutes part of my im-
provements, I do not confine myself to that arrangement, as such construction
is not necessary in all inkstands or inkholders where the other parts of my
improvements may be applied; and I do not confine myself to the use of the
shapes of ink vessels shown, nor do I claim in this Patent such forms of ink
vessels when separately independent of the dipping cups and means of sup-
plying and regulating air thereto. Figure 22 shows a section of a suitable
form of ink vessel, such as was formerly patented by me, with a screw
movement attached at the back part thereof, but it is shown supplied with a
dipping cup with an open ink passage through the bottom part thereof,
and which opening or passage is constantly open to the contents of the
interior of the ink vessel, and is also supplied with an air plug or valve,
such as is shown at Figure 13; so that by this arrangement, as the ink
becomes used, the bulk part of the ink vessel can be elevated by means of
the screw movement attached thereto, which has the effect of raising the
level of the ink in the ink vessel or inkholder, and by opening the plug or
valve at the air passage c, the ink will flow into the dipping cup slowly, by
reason of the smallness of the ink passage and of the regulated supply of air
through the air passage; and thus will the filling of the dipping cups be
perfectly under control of the user. The ink can be returned from the dipping
cup to the ink vessel when desired by opening the valve stopper at the air

page_text: '
passage, and inclining the ink vessel so, that the ink may flow back.
Figures 23 and 24 show another ink vessel similar to the preceding one, but
without the screw movement; it is shown with a small open air passage at c, and
a dipping cup such as that shown at Figure 1, fitted in the mouth at b, and
by pressing a pen or other instrument down upon the bottom part a² of the
dipping cup will open the slits x, on elastic valve, and allow the ink to flow
into the dipping cup; and by the same pressure of the pen the ink vessel can
be tilted forward and raise the ink when low in the ink vessel to the upper
part of the dipping cup a, and by withdrawing the pressure from the bottom a²
of the dipping cup the slits or elastic valve will instantly close and retain the
ink in the dipping cup for use. The ink can be returned from the dipping
cup into the ink vessel when desired by opening the ink passage of the dipping
cup, and tilting the ink vessel back. My improvements and arrangements for
opening and closing the ink passages of dipping cups, and the arrangements
for closing the air passages of inkstands or inkholders, and the means of
supplying air to the interior thereof, may also be applied to any other suitable
form of ink vessel..
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is, the
application of dipping cups and apparatus to inkstands or inkholders, arranged
in such manner as to close the ink passages thereof, as described. I also
claim the application to the air passages of inkstands or inkholders of appa-
ratus consisting of air valves or stoppers, which are kept closed by springs or
elasticity, and arranged in such manner as to supply air to the interior of
the ink vessel, as described. I also claim the making of inkstands or ink-
holders with the dipping cup arranged below the inner surface of the bottoms
of the ink vessel, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Mill, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JAMES G. JONES.
WILLIAM MILL. (L.S.).