IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND AFFIXING POSTAGE OR OTHER LIKE STAMPS PROAL
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Collard Augustus Drake, of Bedford Square, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR
APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND AFFIXING POSTAGE OR OTHER LIKE STAMPS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Collard Augustus Drake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1882.
COLLARD AUGUSTUS DRAKE of Bedford Square in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND AFFIXING
POSTAGE OR OTHER LIKE STAMPS OR LABELS."
The object of my Invention is to construct a device or apparatus which will
hold a number of postage or other like stamps or labels and facilitate the affixing
of the same to envelopes or other articles.
My improved devices or apparatus consist essentially of a holder for containing a
number of superposed stamps, the bottom of this holder being a spring or spring
plate which leaves part of the gummed side of the lowest stamp exposed. This
holder is contained within a frame or box in which it may have play within a
certain limit. When it is required to affix a stamp to an envelope for example,
the envelope is moistened, the frame or box containing the stamp holder is
placed upon the envelope, the holder is pressed down so that the exposed part
of the lowest stamp comes in contact with the envelope to which it adheres,
the pressure is then removed from the holder and the frame with the holder is
then moved across or along the face of the envelope. During this movement
the stamp is left adhering to the envelope, and the end of the frame, which may
be fitted with a roller, in passing over the stamp firmly affixes it by its whole
surface to the envelope.
An apparatus constructed as before described and capable of holding two or three
dozen stamps may be conveniently carried in the waistcoat pocket.
If preferred the envelope may be drawn across the apparatus instead of the
apparatus being drawn across the envelope, and what I have described as the
bottom of the holder may form the top or side.
In some cases, more particularly for office use, I combine with the apparatus a
damping or moistening roller under or over or at the side of which the envelope is
passed before it comes under or over or at the side of the stamp holder and
affixer.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Collard Augustus Drake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th July 1882.
COLLARD AUGUSTUS DRAKE of Bedford Square in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND AFFIXING
POSTAGE OR OTHER LIKE STAMPS OR LABELS."
The object of my Invention is to construct a device which will hold a number of
postage or other like stamps or labels and facilitate the affixing of the same to
envelopes or other articles.
My improved device or apparatus consists essentially of a holder for containing
a number of superposed stamps the bottom of this holder being a spring or spring
plate which at the time of use leaves part of the gummed side of the lowest stamp
exposed. This holder is contained within a frame or box in which it has play
within a certain limit.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan or top view of the device,
Figure 2 a view of the underside, Figure 3 a side view and Figure 4 a section on the
line 1 1 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a similar section showing the device in use.
a is a rectangular frame or box. b is a top piece connected at one end to the
frame a by screws or otherwise and free at its other end and at its sides. c is a
bottom piece consisting of a spring plate which is free to slide in grooves cut in the
sides of the frame b at g, g; this plate c should not be flush with the bottom edge
of the frame a but above it. The pieces b and c form the holder for containing a
number of superposed stamps as seen at e Figure 5. f is a roller at the end of the
frame b.
The action is as follows:-When it is required to affix a stamp to any surface such
as an envelope, the surface is wetted or damped, the frame or box a
placed upon
the wetted surface, the bottom sliding spring plate c having been previously drawn
out the required distance so as to expose a portion of the gummed surface of the
lowest stamp; the holder b c is then pressed down by applying the finger at the
part marked X so that the exposed part of the stamp comes in contact with
the wetted surface to which it adheres; the pressure is then removed from the
holder enabling the spring plate c to rise and thereby to throw up within the box as
seen in Figure 6 all the stamps except the lowest which as has been previously stated
has been made to adhere to the wetted surface; the frame with the holder is then
moved along the wetted surface. During this movement the stamp is left adhering
to the wetted surface and the roller fin passing over it firmly affixes it thereto.
An apparatus constructed as before described and capable of holding two or three
dozen stamps may be conveniently carried in the waistcoat pocket.
Instead of the spring plate c being made to slide this movement may be
dispensed with in which case I fix the plate at one end to the box a as seen in
Figure 7 and make it so as to permanently leave a portion of the lowest stamp
exposed. I do not however recommend this modification because the heat of the
body when the device is carried in the pocket is liable to cause the stamps to curl
at the end.
It is not essential that the top piece or cover b should be affixed to the frame at
one end; it may be fitted so as to work perpendicularly within the frame, small
projections preventing it coming out. If the roller fis dispensed with the end of
the frame as it is drawn over the stamp will serve to affix it to the envelope.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that I claim-
Constructing devices for holding and affixing stamps or labels substantially as.
herein before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.'
In witness whereof I the said Collard Augustus Drake have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Fourteenth day of July One thousand eight hundred
and eighty two.
COLLARD AUGUSTUS DRAKE. (L.S.)