An Improved Educational Appliance for Rapidly and Easily Building up Words.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Educational Appliance for Rapidly and Easily
Building up Words.
EDWARD DAVIDSON 83 Burns Road, Sheffield Schoolmaster, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of this invention is, by means of a comparatively small apparatus,
easily portable and readily changed, to save the time and labour of the teacher, and
to dispense with the use of the black-board, and of the loose cards sometimes used
having easy combinations of letters printed thereon, in teaching children to read.
The apparatus consists of a number of cylinders of equal diameter, of which those
at each end are double the width of those intervening between them: all of which
revolve on the same axis close together, yet each independently of the others. The
broad or end cylinders are provided with one or more slides arranged to move
transversely so as to substitute the letters thereon for the letters on cylinder when
required. The periphery of each cylinder as well as the outer faces of the slides
aforesaid are covered with the letters of the alphabet arranged in a definite manner
and as hereinafter shown, to secure the easiest means of making up actual words.
The first or left-hand cylinder carries alphabetical signs for the principal initial
sounds. The second cylinder will only require to have vowels upon it and any
other intermediate cylinders will have a combination of vowels and consonants,
while the last or outer right-hand cylinder has upon it two columns of letters
representing terminal sounds, and all are used in combination with an adjustable
front plate, in which is formed an oblong opening of sufficient length and depth to
show plainly the letters on the periphery of the wheels, the said opening being
fitted with sliding shutters of unequal lengths for shutting off or exposing to view
the letters carried by any of the cylinders. The said front plate is swung by
radial arms from the axis of the cylinders, and is retained at the required angle for
view, by any suitable means, while the whole apparatus is mounted upon a
suitable stand.
The teacher is thus by means of the large letters carried by cylinders of
comparatively small diameter, and in combination with the slides and shutters,
enabled to show easily and quickly to a large class, how words may be formed by
adding a letter to the beginning or ending of a word, or by the substitution of
a letter.
The table following will show the arrangement of letters before referred to and
suitable for a small apparatus having only three wheels or cylinders, while for
building up longer words more than three wheels may be used, and the number of
letters carried upon slides may be also increased.

page_text: An Improved Educational Appliance for Rapidly and Easily
Building up Words.
I, EDWARD DAVIDSON 83 Burns Road, Sheffield, do hereby declare the nature
of this 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 improvements in apparatus to be employed in teaching
children to read, and consists of the combination of a number of cylinders or wheels
of equal diameters but varying in width of face, some of which are fitted with
moveable slides: the outer faces or peripheries of both wheels and slides having
upon them letters or alphabetical signs shown upon them in a pre-arranged and
definite manner, to enable the teacher to readily form words and to effect changes
in the same for the instruction of the pupils. The said cylinders and slides being
used in connection with an adjustable front plate, in which is formed an oblong
opening fitted with sliding shutters of unequal lengths for shutting off, or exposing
to view such of the letters upon the cylinders or slides as may be desired. The
whole apparatus being mounted upon a suitable stand or frame complete in itself,
and without any detached parts, thus avoiding the risk of loss or misplacement of
such parts when out of use.
My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing, whereon
Fig. 1 represents an end elevation,

page_text: Fig. 2. a front elevation of the complete apparatus, omitting most of the letters
upon the cylinders and slides, and
Fig. 3. is a sketch plan of the outer surfaces of a set of three cylinders, with
their respective slides shown detached and placed at the sides thereof in parallel
position.
The reference numbers used indicate like parts in each of the views.
1 is the left hand cylinder, which has upon it alphabetical signs for the principal
initial sounds arranged in two columns. 2 is an intermediate cylinder carrying
vowels and diphthongs in single column. 3 is the right hand cylinder which also
has upon it two columns of letters representing terminal sounds.
1. a. and 1. b are two slides carried upon cylinder 1. 3. a. and 3. b. are similar
slides carried upon cylinder 3, and each is capable of transverse movement across
its respective cylinder, to effect the substitution of the letters thereon as required.
4 and 5 are the sliding shutters moving in the opening across the front plate 6.
The whole apparatus being fixed and carried in the frame 7 and supports 8. 8.
It will be readily understood that each cylinder and part is capable of being
moved independently, and that thereby be brought into view such letters as will
form the word or words selected for the instruction of the pupils, while the slides
materially increase the number of the variations which can be made in the
formation of words either in their initial or terminal sounds.
The letters forming the word "BLADE" are shown in Fig. 2 as an example,
and the mode of effecting changes therein will be easily seen.
Although I have only illustrated and explained the use of three cylinders, two of
which carry two short slides each, and one arrangement of letters; I would have it
understood, that a greater number of cylinders or slides may be used, and the
arrangement of the letters thereon may be varied without departing from the
principle of my invention, and that I do not limit myself to the number of cylinders
or arrangement of letters illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
The combination of a number of cylinders having upon them alphabetical signs,
some of the said cylinders being fitted with slides also lettered, and all used in
connection with a front plate fitted with sliding shutters, substantially as described,
and to be used as an aid to teaching children to read.
Dated this 25th day of July 1891 and signed on behalf of the Applicant by
ISAAC
BECK,
65, Brown Street, Sheffield, Patent Agent