Improvements in the Manufacture of Pencils.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Pencils.
I, ROBERT RALSTON RAKESTRAW, of VI Dreihufeisengasse 3, Vienna, in the
Empire of Austria, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to pencils of the kind or class in which a sheet or strip
of flexible material, such, for instance, as paper or thin wood, is rolled or wound
around a lead or crayon.
In paper pencils as hitherto generally made, the lead or crayon is rolled up in
a sheet of paper which has been scored, indented or otherwise weakened along a
number of parallel lines to permit of its being easily severed or torn apart into
narrow strips, the paper being rolled upon the lead or crayon in such a manner
that, in the finished pencil, the said weakened lines extend around the same
diagonally to the axis of the roll each in the form of a spiral cone or conical helix,
and consequently the removal of a strip of the paper will uncover a portion of the
lead or crayon of suitable length for use.
The paper is usually rolled upon the lead or crayon and upon itself without the
application of any adhesive material except that which is applied to the outer edge
of the sheet to firmly secure the same to the convolution beneath it when the
paper is completely rolled. The consequence of this mode of manufacture is that
the pencil lacks the requisite stiffness or rigidity, and is liable to be broken by
bending, as the paper can be easily separated or torn apart at the weakened lines
by bending of the pencil, there being but little if any resistance to relative
longitudinal movement or sliding of the layers or convolutions even when tightly
wound one upon another.
One object of my invention is to obviate this defect and to increase the stiffness
and strength of such pencils as compared with those heretofore made, and thus
diminish their liability to be bent or broken.
For this purpose I coat the aforesaid flexible material on one or both sides with
a substance or composition which is a feeble adherent, that is to say, of such a
nature that the layers or convolutions of said flexible material coated there-
with will adhere together in such a manner that great resistance will be offered
to relative longitudinal movement of the layers or convolutions when tightly
wound one upon another as in the finished pencil, but each convolution of a
strip of the said flexible material can nevertheless be very easily separated or pulled
apart from the convolution beneath it by simply unwinding it in the operation
of pointing the pencil, the adhesiveness of the said substance or composition not
being sufficiently strong to resist gradual pulling apart in a transverse direction
of the surfaces united thereby.
Another object of my said invention is to facilitate the tearing off or detachment
of the said strips and to enable this operation to be performed without the aid of a
knife or like instrument, and without the necessity for cutting the material.
Heretofore, in the manufacture of paper pencils, holes or perforations correspond-

page_text: ing respectively to the weakened lines have been formed in the sheet of flexible
material along a line situated at such a distance from the edge of the sheet which
will be outermost in the finished pencil, that there will be sufficient space between
the rows of perforations and the said outer edge for the glue whereby the said edge is
secured to the convolution beneath it. Consequently, in order to detach a
strip of the material, it has been necessary to first cut through the outermost
convolution of the said strip which lies between two adjacent perforations. In
doing this, some risk is incurred of cutting through more than one thickness of
the material, and thus severing one part of a strip from another part thereof, so
that, when one convolution of the strip is unwound, the said convolution will
be detached from the remainder of the said strip, and the removal of the latter
can only be effected with difficulty. Moreover a knife or other sharp instrument
has to be used to detach the several strips.
To overcome these objections I provide the sheet of paper or other flexible
material with a series of notches, recesses or slits in its outer edge, which notches,
recesses or slits correspond respectively to the weakened lines of the paper, so that the
end of each strip lies between two notches, recesses or slits; and I unite the outer
edge of the said flexible material to the convolution beneath it by a feeble adherent
or feebly adhesive substance or composition of the character hereinafter mentioned.
With a pencil thus made, the end of a strip of the flexible material can be very
readily detached from the convolution beneath it by simply inserting the finger-
nail beneath the said end; and the said strip can then be entirely removed by
unwinding in the usual manner without the necessity for cutting the material and
consequently without liability to severance of one part of the said strip from another
part thereof.
In carrying out the first part of my said invention, I make the sheet or strip
of paper with a series of weakened parallel lines, and I find it advantageous to use,
as a feeble adherent for uniting the convolutions of the paper, rosin or resin or a
suitable gum-resin dissolved in a solvent, such as benzine or turpentine, and to
spread this solution upon the paper and then evaporate the solvent so as to leave a
coating on the paper which, when heated and then cooled, will be sufficiently
adhesive for the purpose of my invention. Or the paper can be run through a
solution of rosin or resin or of a suitable gum-resin, which will soak into the
paper and, when the solvent is evaporated, will leave a coating on both sides of the
paper for uniting the convolutions thereof when wound upon the lead or crayon.
Or I use as a feeble adherent a solution of india-rubber in a solvent, such as ether
or benzine, spread upon the paper, so that, when the solvent is evaporated,
a sufficiently adherent film or coating will be left thereon. Or I use a mixture of
rosin, or of rosin and shellac with a slightly adhesive substance, such as dextrine
or a weak solution of glue, which will make the rosin or the rosin and shellac
adhere to the paper. After coating the paper, I allow the said substance or com-
position to dry and then roll or wind the said sheet on a lead or crayon so that the
said weakened lines are diagonal to the axis of the roll, and at the same time apply
heat to melt the said substance or composition so that, when cooled, it will unite
the convolutions of the said material.
The feeble adherents above mentioned act very efficiently in resisting longitudinal
movement of the convolutions united thereby, and thus greatly increase the strength
of the pencil and its capability of withstanding bending stresses, and I am therefore
enabled to make the weakened lines in the paper much weaker than has hitherto been
practicable, thereby facilitating the separation of the strips one from another along
the weakened lines in the operation of unwinding a strip, and obviating the
difficulties that have heretofore been experienced through insufficient weakening of
the paper along the lines where it has to be separated.
Although I prefer, in the manufacture of my improved pencils, to use a com-
position of which rosin or resin or a suitable gum-resin is one of the constituents,
I do not confine myself to that particular substance or composition, as other
substances or compositions might, as above stated, be used which would answer

page_text: the purpose. I can also use as a feeble adherent for the purpose of my invention,
a weak solution of dextrine or glue (say of less than five per cent. Beaumé) applied
in a moist state to the paper just before the latter is rolled upon the lead or
crayon; this solution, when dried, will cause the desired adherence of the convolu-
tions of the paper and still be weak enough to permit the ready unwinding of the
strips. Or the pencil may be dipped into a suitable feebly adhesive solution so that
the paper will absorb a sufficient quantity of the said solution to effect the requisite
adherence of its convolutions.
In some cases the outer edge of the sheet of paper may be united to the convolu-
tion beneath it, by means of the aforesaid feeble adherent, strongly enough to
prevent accidental detachment thereof. In other cases, however, it may be
advantageous to apply some more strongly adhesive material, such as strong
glue, to the outer edge of the sheet so that the same will be effectually secured
to the convolution beneath it. This glue can, if desired, be applied over the
coating of the aforesaid composition.
These improvements are applicable not only to paper pencils but also to other
pencils in which a sheet or strip of flexible material is rolled or wound upon the
lead or crayon.
In carrying out the second part of my said invention, when applied to pencils
made as above mentioned so as to afford great resistance to relative longitudinal
movement of the convolutions, whilst offering but little resistance to the unwinding
of the strips in the operation of pointing the pencil, I make the sheet of flexible
material with notches, recesses or slits in its outer edge corresponding respectively
to the weakened lines in the said sheet; and, when the aforesaid feeble adherent is
suitable for the purpose of securing the outer notched or serrated edge of the sheet
to the convolution beneath it in such a manner as to permit detachment of the
strips by the insertion of the finger-nail beneath the same, I apply no other
adhesive material to the outer edge of the sheet for this purpose. In some cases,
however, I find it advantageous, in making such pencils, to use in conjunction with
the said feeble adherent some adhesive material, such as a weak solution of
dextrine or glue, which will be dried instead of melted by heat, for the purpose
of ensuring the adherence of the edge immediately the rolling of the pencil is
completed and thus preventing unwinding of the roll.
In making pencils of this kind in which adhesive material is applied only to
the notched or serrated edge of the flexible material, and not to the whole sheet as
above mentioned, I can also use any of the aforesaid feeble adherents which may
be suitable for the purpose.
In any case the adhesive material used for securing the said notched or
serrated edge must be such as will prevent accidental detachment thereof from the.
convolution beneath it, whilst offering but little resistance to the detachment of
the several strips by the insertion of the finger-nail beneath the end of the
same.

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
My invention relates to pencils of the kind or class in which a sheet or strip
of flexible material, such, for instance, as paper or thin wood, is rolled or wound
around a lead or crayon.
In paper pencils as hitherto generally made, the lead or crayon is rolled up in
a sheet of paper which has been scored, indented or otherwise weakened along a
number of parallel lines to permit of its being easily severed or torn apart into
,narrow strips, the paper being rolled upon the lead or crayon in such a manner
that, in the finished pencil, the said weakened lines extend around the same
diagonally to the axis of the roll each in the form of a spiral cone or conical helix
and consequently the removal of a strip of the paper will uncover a portion of the
lead or crayon of suitable length for use.
The paper is usually rolled upon the lead or crayon and upon itself without the
application of any adhesive material except that which is applied to the outer edge
of the sheet to firmly secure the same to the convolution beneath it when the
paper is completely rolled. The consequence of this mode of manufacture is that
the pencil lacks the requisite stiffness or rigidity, and is liable to be broken by
bending, as the paper can be easily separated or torn apart at the weakened lines
by bending of the pencil, there being but little if any resistance to relative
longitudinal movement or sliding of the layers or convolutions even when tightly
wound one upon another. Such bending also destroys the usefulness of the
marking lead or crayon by breaking it into small pieces and as the sections are
removed the pieces drop out, making the pencil which has received a slight strain
almost worthless.
It has sometimes been the practice to provide but slightly weakened lines in the
paper to avoid, in some measure, the above described liability to breaking of the
pencil, but the adoption of such slightly weakened lines is seriously objectionable
in that the strips can only be separated from each other with much difficulty in
the act of unwinding to point the pencil, and very frequently the strips will not
separate.
One object of my present invention is to obviate this defect and to increase the
stiffness and strength of such pencils as compared with those heretofore made,
and thus diminish their liability to be bent or broken.
For this purpose I coat the aforesaid flexible material on one or both sides with
a substance or composition which is a feeble adherent, that is to say, of such a nature
that the several layers or convolutions of the said flexible material coated there-
with will adhere together in such a manner that great resistance will be offered
to relative longitudinal movement of the layers or convolutions when tightly
wound one upon another as in the finished pencil, but each convolution of a
strip of the said flexible material can nevertheless be very easily separated or pulled
apart from the convolution beneath it by simply unwinding it in the operation
of pointing the pencil, the adhesiveness of the said substance or composition not
being sufficiently strong to resist gradual pulling apart in a transverse direction
of the surfaces united thereby.
Another object of my said invention is to facilitate the tearing off or detachment
of the said strips and to enable this operation to be performed without the aid of a
knife or like instrument, and without the necessity for cutting the material.
Heretofore, in the manufacture of paper pencils, holes or perforations correspond-
ing respectively to the weakened lines have been formed in the sheet of flexible
material along a line situated at such a distance from the edge of the sheet which
will be outermost in the finished pencil, that there will be sufficient space between
the rows of perforations and the said outer edge for the glue whereby the said edge is
firmly secured to the convolution beneath it. Consequently, in order to detach a
strip of the material, it has been necessary to first cut through the outermost
convolution of the said strip which lies between two adjacent perforations. In

page_text: doing this, some risk is incurred of cutting through more than one thickness of
the material and thus severing one part of a strip from another part thereof, so
that, when one convolution of the strip is unwound, the said convolution will
be detached from the remainder of the said strip, and the removal of the latter
can only be effected with difficulty. Moreover a knife or other sharp instrument
has to be used to detach the several strips.
It has also been proposed, after the pencil has been manufactured to the extent
of winding the flexible material around the crayon, and firmly securing its outer
edge to the convolution beneath, to cut out. those portions of the outermost
convolution which lie between the perforations or holes.
This, however, is open to the objections that there is no security against
accidental detachment of the strips in the ordinary use of the pencil and before
the necessity for repointing the same arises, and that a special machine would have
to be provided to accomplish the cutting out operation, or that such operation would
have to be accomplished by hand which would be very expensive; and, moreover,
should a machine be employed for the purpose, there could be no assurance that
it would only cut the outermost layer, and if the cutting operation penetrated the
inner layer or layers, it would prevent the proper unwinding of the several strips
composing the cover of the lead or crayon.
To overcome these objections I provide the sheet of paper or other flexible
material with a series of notches, recesses or slits in its outer edge (as contra-
distinguished from a series of holes or perforations located more or less distant
from the edge), which notches, recesses or slits correspond respectively to the
weakened lines of the paper, so that the end of each strip lies between two notches,
recesses or slits; and I unite the outer edge of the said flexible material to the
convolution beneath it by a feeble adherent or feebly adhesive substance or com-
position of the character hereinafter mentioned. With a pencil thus made, the
end of a strip of the flexible material can be very readily detached from the con-
volution beneath it by simply inserting the finger-nail beneath the said end; and
the said strip can then be entirely removed by unwinding in the usual manner
without the necessity for cutting the material and consequently without liability
to severance of one part of the said strip from another part thereof.
In carrying out the first part of my said invention, I make the sheet or strip
of paper with a series of weakened parallel lines, and I find it advantageous to use,
as a feeble adherent for uniting the convolutions of the paper, rosin or resin or a
suitable gum-resin dissolved in a solvent, such as benzine or turpentine, and to
spread this solution upon the paper and then evaporate the solvent so as to leave a
coating on the paper, which, when heated and then cooled, will be sufficiently
adhesive for the purpose of my invention. Or the paper can be run through a
solution of rosin or resin or of a suitable gum-resin which will soak into the
paper and, when the solvent is evaporated, will leave a coating on both sides of the
paper for uniting the convolutions thereof when wound upon the lead or crayon.
Or I use as a feeble adherent a solution of india-rubber in a solvent, such as ether
or benzine, spread upon the paper, so that, when the solvent is evaporated,
a sufficiently adherent film or coating will be left thereon. Or I use a mixture of
rosin, or, of rosin and shellac with a slightly adhesive substance, such as dextrine
or a weak solution of glue, which will make the rosin or the rosin and shellac
adhere to the paper. I have set forth adherents which are satisfactory in practice,
but I wish it understood that I do not confine myself thereto, as other adherents
may be employed within the scope of my invention. After coating the paper, I
allow the adherent to dry and then roll or wind the said sheet on a lead or crayon
so that the said weakened lines are diagonal to the axis of the roll, and at the same
ime apply heat to melt the said substance or composition so that, when cooled, it
vill unite the convolutions of the said material.
The feeble adherents above mentioned act very efficiently in resisting longitudinal
movement of the convolutions united thereby, and thus greatly increase the strength

page_text: of the pencil and its capability of withstanding bending stresses, and I am therefore
enabled to make the weakened lines in the paper much weaker than has hitherto been
practicable, thereby facilitating the separation of the strips one from another along
the weakened lines in the operation of unwinding a strip, and obviating the
difficulties that have heretofore been experienced through insufficient weakening of
the paper along the lines where it has to be separated."
Although I prefer, in the manufacture of my improved pencils, to use a com-
position of which rosin or resin of a suitable gum-resin is one of the constituents,
I do not confine myself to that particular substance or composition, as other
substances or compositions may, as above stated, be used which will answer
the purpose. I can also use as a feeble adherent for the purpose of my invention,
a weak solution of dextrine or glue (say of less than five degrees Beaumé) applied
in a moist state to the paper just before the latter is rolled upon the lead or
crayon; this solution, when dried, will cause the desired adherence of the convolu-
tions of the paper and still be weak enough to permit the ready unwinding of the
strips. Or the pencil may be treated with a suitable adhesive solution so that
the paper will absorb a sufficient quantity of the said solution to effect the
requisite adherence of its convolutions.
In some cases the outer edge of the sheet of paper may be united to the convolu-
tion beneath it, by means of the aforesaid feeble adherent, strongly enough to
prevent accidental detachment thereof. In other cases, however, it may be
advantageous to apply some more strongly adhesive material, such as strong
glue, to the outer edge of the sheet so that the same will be effectually secured
to the convolution beneath it. This glue can, if desired, be applied over the
coating of the aforesaid composition.
These improvements are applicable not only to paper pencils but also to other
pencils in which a sheet or strip of flexible material is rolled or wound upon the
lead or crayon.
In carrying out the second part of my said invention, when applied to pencils
made as above mentioned so as to afford great resistance to relative longitudinal
movement of the convolutions, whilst offering but little resistance to the unwinding
of the strips in the operation of pointing the pencil, I make the sheet of flexible
material with notches, recesses or slits in its outer edge (as contradistinguished
from a series of holes or perforations located in the sheet at a distance from the
edge), corresponding respectively to the weakened lines in the said sheet; and when
the aforesaid feeble adherent is suitable for the purpose of securing the outer
notched or serrated edge of the sheet to the convolution beneath it in such a manner
as to permit detachment of the strips by the insertion of the finger-nail beneath
the same,
I apply no other adhesive material to the outer edge of the sheet for this
purpose. In some cases, however, I find it advantageous, in making such pencils,
to use on the outer edge in conjunction with the said feeble adherent some adhesive
material, such as a weak solution of dextrine or glue, which will be dried instead
of melted by heat, for the purpose of ensuring the adherence of the edge
immediately the rolling of the pencil is completed and thus preventing unwinding
of the roll. When this reinforcing glue is employed, the feeble adherent readily
separates therefrom when the strips are being detached by the insertion of the
finger-nail.
In making pencils of this kind in which adhesive material is applied only to
the notched or serrated edge of the flexible material, and not to the whole sheet as
above mentioned, I can also use any of the aforesaid feeble adherents which may
be suitable for the purpose.
In any case the adhesive material used for securing the said notched or
serrated edge must be such as will prevent accidental detachment thereof from the
convolution beneath it, whilst offering but little resistance to the detachment of
the several strips by the insertion of the finger-nail beneath the end of the
same.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is:
1. A pencil consisting of a lead or crayon upon which is wound or rolled a sheet
of flexible material weakened along a series of parallel lines and having its several
convolutions united by an adherent of a character to resist relative longitudinal
movement of the said convolutions whilst permitting easy detachment of the said
material by unwinding, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
2. A pencil consisting of a lead or crayon upon which is wound or rolled a sheet
of flexible material weakened along a series of parallel lines and having its several
convolutions united by a feeble adherent of which rosin or resin or a suitable gum-
resin is one of the constituents, substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore
described.
3. The improved process of making pencils, consisting in treating the surface of
a sheet of flexible material having a series of weakened parallel lines with a feeble
adherent and allowing the same to dry, then winding or rolling the said flexible
material upon a lead or crayon so that the said weakened lines are diagonal
to the axis of the roll, and at the same time applying heat to ensure the union of
the several convolutions of the said flexible material by the feeble adherent,
substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.
4. A pencil consisting of a lead or crayon upon which is wound or rolled a sheet
of flexible material weakened along parallel lines and having notches, recesses or
slits in its outer edge corresponding respectively to the said weakened lines, and
having the said outer edge united by a feeble adherent to the convolution of the
said material beneath it, for the purposes above specified.
5. A pencil consisting of a lead or crayon, a sheet of flexible material weakened
along parallel lines and having notches, recesses or slits in its outer edge
corresponding respectively to the said weakened lines, which sheet is rolled or
wound upon the said lead or crayon, and a feeble adherent uniting the said outer
edge to the convolution of the said flexible material beneath it and also uniting the
several convolutions of the said material, for the purposes above specified.
6. A pencil consisting of a lead or crayon upon which is wound or rolled a sheet
of flexible material weakened along parallel lines and having in its outer edge
notches, recesses or slits corresponding respectively to the said weakened lines,
and having its outer edge united to the convolution of the said material beneath
it by means of a feebly adhesive composition one of the constituents whereof
is rosin or resin or a suitable gum-resin, for the purposes above specified.
7. A pencil consisting of a lead or crayon, a sheet of flexible material weakened
aleng parallel lines and having in its outer edge notches, recesses or slits corre-
sponding respectively to the said weakened lines, which sheet is rolled or wound
upon the said lead or crayon, and a feebly adhesive composition, one of the coa-
stituents whereof is rosin or resin or a suitable gum-resin, uniting the said outer
edge to the convolution of the said material beneath it, and also uniting the several
convolutions of the said material, for the purposes above specified.
8. The improved process of making pencils, consisting in providing a sheet of
flexible material having a series of weakened parallel lines with notches, recesses
or slits in its outer edge corresponding respectively to the said weakened lines,
applying a feeble adherent to the said sheet, and rolling or winding the said sheet
upon a lead or crayon, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
9. The herein described process of making pencils, consisting in first providing
a sheet of flexible material with a series of weakened parallel lines and with
notches, recesses or slits in its outer edge corresponding respectively to the said
weakened lines, applying to the said sheet a feeble adherent and allowing the same
to dry, then applying an adherent, such as a weak solution of glue or dextrine, to
tne said outer edge, and rolling or winding the said sheet upon a lead or crayon,
and at the same time applying heat to dry the said glue or the like and cause

page_text: adherence of the outer edge, and to melt the said feeble adherent so that when
cooled it will unite the several convolutions of the said material, for the purposes
above specified.
Dated the 21st day of Fahruary 1800
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.