AN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO TIME. FARE, DISTANCE, AND OTHER TABLES, ALMANACS, ARITHMETICAL CALCULATIONS, POSTAL AND OTHER BOXES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Christopher Kimpton, of Market Street, in
the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention
of "AN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO TIME. FARE, DISTANCE, AND OTHER TABLES,
ALMANACS, ARITHMETICAL CALCULATIONS, POSTAL AND OTHER BOXES."
Sealed the 13th May 1864, and dated the 18th November 1863,
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Christopher
Kimpton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th November 1863.
I, THOMAS CHRISTOPHER KIMPTON, of Market Street, in the City of Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO TIME, FARE, DISTANCE, AND OTHER
TABLES, ALMANACS, ARITHMETICAL CALCULATIONS, POSTAL AND OTHER BOXES,"
be as follows:-
1st. My Invention consists, first, as regards time, fare, distance, and other
tables, almanacs, and arithmetical calculations, as follows:-I make a hollow
drum or box (by preference a drum), the side I place perpendicular, the ends
horizontal, I make apertures in the drum, and attach to the latter a base and
top or apex, and these are fixed or moveable caps; I then make what is
termed a spindle, this I place in the centre of the base, and which extends to
the top or apex. This spindle is either fixed or moves in axle boxes; I next
make wheels (solid, except containing a box or aperture in the centre,) these
wheels I make of proper diameter so as to revolve within the said drum; on
the edges of these wheels I write words and figures, or I attach thereto labels
}

page_text: with words and figures marked thereon as required, and these said wheels I
pass over the spindle either from the base or upper end of the drum. This
spindle forms an axis, on which I cause these said wheels to revolve. I then
make bearings, which I fix to the spindle beneath each of such wheels, so as
to prevent pressure of the upper upon the lower ones. According to the
purpose for which required, I use either one or several of the said wheels for
revolving within such said drum, I also make the said wheels to revolve in
various directions; I give motion to the said wheels by pressure of the finger
through the apertures of the drum, or by means of a key or handle from the
outside, moving a vertical toothed wheel working in a horizontal toothed
wheel attached to each of such wheels inclosed within the drum. I make the
top of the apparatus herein described flat, convex, or of other form, I make
the top also in the form of an inkstand or match box, and use the same
for any purpose of utility or ornament, including pedestals for statuary and
clocks.
2nd. My Invention, secondly, as regards time, fare, distance, and other
tables, almanacks, and arithmetical calculations, consists as follows:-I make
a hollow drum or box (by preference a drum), the side of which I place hori-
zontal, the ends perpendicular, one of which said ends is the front or face of
the apparatus, from the front to the back of the said apparatus, and through
the centre of the drum supported by bearings, I place an axle, upon this axle
I place one or more wheels (solid, except containing a box or aperture
in the centre). These said wheels (except when one only is used) I
make of various diameters, each wheel placed upon the axle being of less
diameter than the one placed behind it; on the surface of these said wheels
and near their edge I mark words and figures, or I attach labels having
thercon marked words and figures as required. I cover the surface of these
wheels with a moveable cap, which I attach to the drum. In this said
moveable cap I make apertures, through which are shewn the words or figures
as required. I give motion to these said wheels as before described. The appa-
ratus described first and secondly in my Invention I manufacture of or from
wood, metal, stone, porcelain, glass, gutta percha, or of other material, or of
either one of them, or of a combination of one or more of them.
3rd. My Invention, thirdly, as regards postal and other boxes, consists as
follows: I make a box of the required width and depth for the purpose of
the deposit of letters, to be placed inside a house, doorway, or pillar; at the
upper end of the box and facing outwards I make an aperture, in which I
fix on bearings or springs a wheel or drum of the width of the aperture, from
which I make an inclined ledge, and from the opposite side of box I make

page_text: another inclined ledge, beneath this ledge I fix in bearings a wheel or drum
of the width of the box having a catch, so that it revolves in one direction
only when required; below this wheel and facing inward, I make a door from
which letters deposited may be withdrawn.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Christopher Kimpton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
CHRISTOPHER KIMPTON, of Market Street, in the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Thomas Christopher Kimpton, Her special licence
that 1, the said Thomas Christopher Kimpton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Christopher Kimpton, my
executors, 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 "AN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO TIME, FARE,
DISTANCE, AND OTHER TABLES, ALMANACS, ARITHMETICAL CALCULATIONS, POSTAL AND
OTHER BOXES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Christopher Kimpton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Thomas Christopher Kimpton, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention relates chiefly to an easy method of ascertaining dates, fares,

page_text: distances, arrangements for shewing almanacs and ready calculated tubles of
figures, the making of arithmetical calculations, and the arrangement of other
letters and figures, and for applying the same to and making my apparatus a
part of various objects of utility and ornament, such as clock stands, pedestals,
inkstands, writing and dressing cases.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have appended hereunto a Sheet of explanatory
Diagrams to be herein-after referred to, and illustrating modifications of my
arrangements for making and working my Invention.
Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of part of my apparatus.
A, base; B, apex; C, spindle; D, support wheels resting on base and on
each other; E, wheels resting on support wheels and moving independently of
each other, on the edges of these wheels I attach words and numbers as
required, and when the same is enclosed in drum or case, as Figs. 4, 5, and 6,
the same, the words and numbers required appear at the apertures indicated
at Fig. 4, N; Fig. 5, O, P.
Fig. 2, a sectional elevation of a modification. F is, a solid drum, having
steps or shoulders diminishing upwards; G are wheels; H are wheels to move
within G, both G and H are made to revolve independently of each other,
supported by shoulders F on the edges of wheels G and H. I attach words
and figures as required. I enclose this part of my apparatus in case either
Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, and the words and figures required are made to appear at the
apertures N, O, or P.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of another modification. I make a hollow
drum or inner case K, by preference of metal, in which I make ridges L. I
next make bands M, which I place over the hollow drum K. I make the bands
moveable and to revolve independently of each other, bearing on the ridges L;
to the said bands M, I attach words and figures as required. I enclose this
part of my apparatus in case as Fig. 4, and the words and figures required are
made to appear at the apertures O, P, or Q.
Fig. 4 is the front elevation of the hollow drum or case inside of which I
place either part of the modifications of my apparatus described in Figs. 1, 2,
and 3. N are apertures to shew the words and figures attached to the wheels
in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, as before described.
Fig. 5 is the front elevation of the hollow drum or case inside of which I
place either part of the modifications of my apparatus described in Figs. 1, 2,
and 3. O, P, are apertures to shew the words and figures attached to the
wheels in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, as before described, but the case is more parti-
cularly applicable to the apparatus described in Fig. 2.

page_text: a cone, either
Fig. 6 is the front elevation of a drum or case forming part of
parts of my apparatus as described in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, may be enclosed in this
case, and also made with conical incline. The apertures Q are to shew the
words and figures as required.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of my apparatus as applied to the purposes of an
inkstand. R is a solid drum having steps or shoulders diminishing upwards;
S, are solid wheels made to revolve thereon; T is a wheel having a flange on
the upper edge; U is a matrix to receive the ink well and pens; V, the ink
well. The aforesaid wheels have words and figures thereon as required;
W, the drum or case, having apertures as Fig. 6, No. 2.
Fig. 8 is a half elevation and half section of my apparatus and Invention as
applied to an inkstand. A 1, the drum or case; B 1, the inner drum or case;
C 1, the bands; D 1, ledgers, as before described Fig. 3, K, L, M; E 1, F 1, ink
well; G1, apertures for shewing the words and figures as required as attached
to bands C 1 H 1, the base having attached thereto a tray and letter balance.
the same being attached to the outer case by a bayonet or other joint near the
base between the outer case A1 and the inner case B 1 to move on a ledge.
I place a band having marked thereon numbers advancing from 0 consecutively,
so that one number only is seen at once; at the aperture K 1, on the outside
the case A 1, are a duplicate set of figures K2; K 3 are pins or apertures for
pins for moving the band to right or left; when the band is moved to right,
sums total in addition, and when moved to left arithmetical sums in subtraction,
are thereby calculated.
Fig. 9 is a perspective of a stand for a clock or an ornament. I enclose
therein either one of my apparatus as described in Figures 1 to 6; in the face
of the said stand I make apertures to show the words and figures as required.
Fig. 10 is a modification of my Invention applicable to dates, but more
especially to arithmetical calculations, and is sectional elevation side view of
my apparatus. L1 is the case containing a solid drum having steps or
shoulders L 2 diminishing towards the centre; L 3 are wheels to move upon L2,
and are sunk within each other, so that the face of each wheel does not extend
beyond the other; on the faces of said wheels I attach words and figures as
desired; M, the cap, as described in Fig. 12.
Fig. 11, a modification. In place of wheels, L3, Fig. 10, I make circular
bands, which I cause to revolve in circular grooves made of corresponding
diameter. Fig. 12 is elevation of face of cap M 1, also Fig. 10; M 1, M2, are
apertures to shew the words and figures on the face of the wheels L 3, Fig. 10.
N1 is a ledge having at the back a rebate or groove on which a ring N2 is
made to revolve; N 1 are stationary figures; on N 2.are duplicate figures; N 2 is

page_text: cased with an aperture or not. When the ring N 2 is moved to the right, sums
total in addition, and when moved to the left arithmetical sums in subtraction,
are thereby calculated. 01 are columns of stationary figures; 02 are aper-
tures in the face of the cap; P1 are knobs, the shanks of which pass
through the face of the cap, and are attached to discs moving in sunk circles at
the back of the cap S 1, Fig. 13; R 1 are wheels placed on an axle supported
by bearings which are made to move vertically and apart from each other, the
edges of the same are square with the elevation; on each of these said wheels I
mark Figures 0 to 10. On the faces of the discs S 1 I mark words and figures
as required, which I set up in columns by the arrangement as indicated in
Fig. 14, so that by turning the knobs, Figs. P 1, I make any column of figures
required appear at the apertures 02, by which means I am enabled to calculate
sums in multiplication, division, and cubic measure, and by means of ready
calculated tables attached to some of the discs I make other arithmetical
calculations with great facility.
Fig. 13 is elevation of cap back view. S1 are discs moving in sunk circles,
the same are made to move apart from each other.
Fig. 14, an arrangement of figures or columns of figures whereby the same
are parallel to the eye at the apertures and set horizontally.
Fig. 15, a modification of the cap m 1, Fig. 12, whereby I use only one
disc, which is placed at the back of the cap. I mark thereon circles of ready
calculated figures diminishing towards the centre. The disc is moved round by
the knob T 1. Placed in the centre of the cap U1 are circles of stationary
figures; V1 are apertures through which the required words and figures are
shewn.
Fig. 16, a modification, is a half-section elevation. V 2, outer case, which is
stationary or revolves; V 3, inner case or drum attached to a spindle, it is
made to revolve by turning the knob V 4. On the inner case or drum V3 I
attach words or figures as required. V 5, aperture; V 6, a column of stationary
figures. Sometimes I use several of this modification of my Invention, and
attach the same to a disc placed horizontally.
Fig. 17 is the sectional side view of a letter box which I sometimes attach
to my other apparatus. W 1, the aperture outward; X 1, the inward slide;
X2, the outward slide; Y, a wheel supported by an axle and bearing; Z, a
balance attached to centre of the axle.
I manufacture the apparatus herein described or any part of the same of
wood, metal, paper, porcelain, or other material.
Having thus particularly described my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict myself

page_text: to the precise details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe
to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the application of wheels and bands having words and numbers
marked thereon, placed and to move horizontally within a case having
apertures, thus to perpetually indicate dates and more readily to make
arithmetical calculations, substantially as herein-before described.
Second, the application of similar marked wheels, bands, and discs placed
vertically, being for a like object, substantially as herein-before described.
Third, a novel arrangement of words and figures in circles, and the applica-
tion of a wheel and balance within a box to increase the safety of deposits,
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Christopher Kimpton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
THOMAS CHRISTOPHER KIMPTON. (L.s.)