AN APPARATUS FOR MOISTENING POSTAGE STAMPS AND OTHER LABELS, THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR EITHER MOISTENING ADHESIVE SURFACES OR FOR APPLYING GUM OR OTHER ADHESIVE LIQUID TO SURFACES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, AUGUSTUS BARCLAY CALDER, of 24 Kinnoull Street, in the City and County
of Perth, North Britain, Bachelor of Medicine do hereby declare the nature of
'the said invention for AN APPARATUS FOR MOISTENING POSTAGE STAMPS AND
OTHER LABELS, THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR EITHER MOISTENING
ADHESIVE SURFACES OR FOR APPLYING GUM OR OTHER ADHESIVE LIQUID TO
SURFACES to be as follows:-
This invention, which relates to an apparatus for moistening Postage Stamps
and other Labels, the same being also applicable for either moistening adhesivė
surfaces or for applying gum or other adhesive liquid to surfaces, consists of an
oblong vessel one end of which is inclined.-This vessel, when the apparatus is
used for moistening adhesive surfaces, contains water and is provided at the upper
inclined side with a sponge or wick which, absorbing water from the vessel, moistens
the envelope or other surface when applied thereto.-When used for applying gum
or other adhesive liquid to surfaces, the apparatus is charged with such liquid
instead of water.-The stanips or labels, where small, may be carried round the
exterior of the vessel or in a receptacle formed at the side thereof.-That part of
the apparatus from which the stamps emerge may or may not be provided with a
cutter and presser which, when the thumb or finger of the user is applied thereto
separates the stamp and affixes it to the envelope or other Packet or Parcel as
required, and it may be provided with a roller for feeding out the stamps or other
small labels.
When used for moistening envelopes, the apparatus is applied in the same way
as herein before described, excepting that the stamp separating, affixing and feeding
parts of the apparatus, are not brought into use or not applied thereto.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Petitioner's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

page_text: I, AUGUSTUS BARCLAY CALDER of 24 Kinnoull Street in the city and county
of Perth, N.B. Bachelor of Medicine, 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 :—
This invention which relates to an apparatus for moistening postage stamps or
other labels is also equally applicable for either moistening adhesive surfaces or
for applying gum or other adhesive liquids to surfaces.
The apparatus consists substantially of a reservoir or chamber to contain water
or adhesive liquid provided with a wick or other suitable device to distribute the
said water or adhesive liquid and having also a suitable receptacle for stamps or
labels forming part thereof.
In practice I generally prefer to make the said reservoir or chamber of an oblong
form one end being inclined like the end of a carpenter's chisel such inclined end
is double to form a receptacle to contain a wick and holes are provided at the
bottom of the said receptacle for the admission of the liquid to the wick.
The other end of the reservoir is provided with a screw plug or other suitable
device through which the liquid is introduced into the reservoir.
The upper side of the reservoir is recessed with the exception of a part near the
inclined end to form a receptacle for the stamps or labels and is closed by a hinged
lid. In the said lid an aperture is formed to enable the said stamps or labels to
be fed forward by the finger as required.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to
further & more particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side view Fig. 2 n plan Fig. 3 a section through the centre of Fig. 1
and Fig. 4 a cross-section through the lines X X in Figs. 1 and 3 of an apparatus
constructed as above described.
The same letters refer to the same parts in each figure.
A is an oblong reservoir or chamber containing water or adhesive liquid and is
filled through the aperture B closed by the screw plug C.
The inclined end D is double to contain a piece of wick, felt, sponge, or other
suitable absorbent material E the said material protruding slightly at the end E¹
as shewn.
Holes F are provided to admit the liquid to the material E.
H is a recess to contain stamps or other labels and J is a lid hinged at K to cover
such recess, the said lid being provided with an aperture L.

page_text: When the apparatus is employed for affixing postage stamps or other adhesive
labels the reservoir A is filled with water and a strip of stamps folded to and fro
three deep is placed in the recess H the first stamp resting on the table M under
the aperture L with the adhesive side downwards as clearly shewn in Fig. 3. The
apparatus is held in one hand with the forefinger resting on the stamp through the
aperture L.
The finger is pushed forward until a stamp protrudes as shewn at N―The surface
to which the stamp or label is to be affixed is then moistened by drawing the damp
end E' of the material E over it, the projecting stamp is pressed down by the
fingers of the other hand and separated through the perforations by imparting a
slight twist or rotation to the apparatus, the stamp at M being held between
the edge of M and the underside of the lid J by pressure thereon by the
forefinger.
If the labels to be affixed are not adhesive then the reservoir A must be filled
with a solution of gum or other suitable adhesive liquid. The process of using
being the same as before.
In order to provide more space to contain the labels I may extend the recess H
round the end and bottom of the reservoir as shewn in Fig. 5 the plug C being
placed at the side.
That part of the apparatus from which the stamps emerge may if desired be
provided with a cutter and presser which when the thumb or finger of the user is
applied thereto separates the stamp and fixes it to the desired surface and it may
be provided with a roller or rollers for feeding out the stamps or other small
.labels.
In Fig. 3 a projection J is shewn affixed to the underside of the lid J to assist
in retaining the stamps in position.
When the apparatus is used for moistening the flaps of envelopes or for
moistening surfaces for labels which are too large to be carried in the recess H,
the apparatus is applied in the same way as herein before described excepting
that the stamp separating affixing and feeding parts of the apparatus are not
brought into use or not applied thereto.
The apparatus may be made of sheet metal or of any other material or substance
suitable for the purpose.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of
construction herein described and shewn but 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 I claim is
1. An apparatus for holding moistening and affixing postage stamps and other
small labels and for moistening adhesive surfaces or applying adhesive liquid to
surfaces substantially as herein shewn and described.
2. In an apparatus for moistening adhesive surfaces or applying adhesive liquid
to surfaces a cistern A, with a double end D, with perforations F, to contain
absorbent material E, substantially as herein shewn and described.
3. In an apparatus for moistening adhesive surfaces or applying adhesive
liquid to surfaces a recess H (with platform M and hinged cover J with
aperture L) to contain postage stamps or small labels substantially as herein
shewn and described.
1
AMBROSE MYALL, C.E.,
Agent for the Applicant.