AN INSTRU- MENT FOR DAMPING, SEVERING, AND AFFIXING POSTAGE AND OTHER LIKE STAMPS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Richard Johnson, of Saint John's Wood, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN INSTRU-
MENT FOR DAMPING, SEVERING, AND AFFIXING POSTAGE AND OTHER LIKE
STAMPS."
Sealed the 7th October 1859, and dated the 13th April 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Richard Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 13th April 1859.
I, ALFRED RICHARD JOHNSON, of Saint John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN INSTRUMENT FOR DAMPING, SEVERING, AND AFFIXING POSTAGE AND OTHER
LIKE STAMPS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing an instrument in which a strip of
postage or other like stamps is wound upon a drum, and from which the end
is carried along a spout or trough between two vertical feed wheels, and
through a slot in an upright plate; the end of the strip of stamps is placed
the distance of one entire stamp through the slot; under the plate is a table
or platform, over it is a piston with piston rod and helical spring to keep the
piston raised. To a cross bar extending from the top of the piston rod the
upper end of a vertical rod is connected, while the lower end rests upon one
of a series of projecting pins upon a disc, which is mounted upon the same
axis as that of one of the feed wheels.
Over the platform is a plate or carrier, which does not extend down to the
platform, and carries a sponge or other suitable material kept moist.

page_text: To affix a stamp on, say, an envelope, press the top right-hand corner of
the envelope against the wet sponge, push it forward and allow it to rest upon
the platform under the stamp protruded through the slot in the upright plate,
and depress the piston, when the stamp will be severed and pressed down on
the damped corner of the envelope, the vertical rod will at the same time
drive forward the disc, which will cause the feed wheel to push on the strip
of stamps to the extent of one stamp, which will be protruded through the
slot in the upright plate, when the operations may be repeated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Richard Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
RICHARD JOHNSON, of Saint John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Richard Johnson, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred
Richard Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Richard Johnson, 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 Inven-
tion for "AN INSTRUMENT FOR DAMPING, SEVERING, AND AFFIXING POSTAGE AND
OTHER LIKE STAMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alfred Richard Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seal, should particu-
larly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Richard Johnson, 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

page_text: following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in constructing an instrument in which a strip of
postage or other like stamps, gummed at the back, is wound upon a drum A,
and from which the end is carried along a spout or trough B, between two
vertical feed wheels C and D, and through a slot a in an upright plate E the
end of the strip of stamps is placed the distance of one entire stamp through
the slot; under the plate E is a table or platform F, over it is a piston G, with
piston rod H, and helical spring b, to keep the piston raised. To a cross bar
extending from the top of the piston rod the upper end of a vertical rod J is
connected, while the lower end c is hooked and takes hold of one of a series of
projecting pins e, e, e, upon a disc K, which is mounted upon the same axis as
that of the feed wheel C. Over the platform is fixed a damping apparatus L,
which does not extend down to the platform F; the piston d of the damper is
fitted with a sponge or other suitable material kept moist. To affix a stamp
on, say, an envelope, pass the top right-hand corner of the envelope under the
damper L, and push down the piston d, whereupon the proper place for the
stamp will be moistened; then place the envelope under the stamp protruded
through the slot in the upright plate E, and depress the piston G, when the
stamp will be severed and pressed down on the damped corner of the envelope;
the vertical rod J will at the same time drive forward the disc by hooking
into the next pin e in succession on the disc K, which will cause the feed
wheel to push on the strip of stamps to the extent of one stamp, which will be
protruded through the slot in the upright plate E, when the operations may be
repeated.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the construction
of an instrument for damping, severing, and affixing postage and other like
stamps, in which the motion for severing and stamping is made to act upon
the feed wheel or wheels, and to advance a fresh stamp ready for the next
operation.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Richard Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.
ALFRED RICHARD JOHNSON. (L.s.)