AN IMPROVEMENT IN OR APPLICABLE TO LETTER-COPYING AND OTHER SIMILAR BOOKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Thomson, of Keith, North Britain, but temporarily
of 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN OR APPLICABLE TO LETTER-COPYING AND OTHER
SIMILAR BOOKS."
43.
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 29th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Thomson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1877.
JAMES THOMSON, of Keith, North Britain, but temporarily of 4, South Street,
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN OR APPLICABLE TO
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex.
LETTER-COPYING AND OTHER SIMILAR BOOKS."
It is well known that in press-copying letters, accounts, and other documents,
great inconvenience and loss of time are experienced from the difficulty of separating
the leaves of the book when damped and prepared for copying, in addition to which,
from the fact of the leaves sticking together, they are frequently torn. Now the
object of my Invention is to remedy these defects by so treating the corners or
margins of the leaves of the book as to render them not only water repellent but
non-adhesive when the leaves are damped for the purpose of copying.
In carrying out my Invention I make use of paraffin wax or other analogous
substance, which I melt to a suitable consistence, and in this melted wax I dip the
corners or margins of the leaves or sheets which are to form the book. When
sufficiently saturated they are removed, and the surplus wax expressed by means of
a screw press, or in any other suitable manner, when it will be found that the
corners or margins of the leaves or sheets so treated will not adhere together under
the influence of water when the leaves are damped for copying purposes.
I would observe that if the leaves or sheets are to be paged or numbered such
paging or numbering should be effected before submitting them to the herein-before
described treatment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Thomson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th November
1877.
↑
JAMES THOMSON, of Keith, North Britain, but temporarily of 4, South Street,
Finsbury, in the County of, Middlesex. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN OR APPLICABLE
TO LETTER-COPYING AND OTHER SIMILAR BOOKS."
It is well known that in press-copying letters, accounts, and other documents,
great inconvenience and loss of time are experienced from the difficulty of separating
the leaves of the book when damped and prepared for copying, in addition to which,
from the fact of the leaves sticking together, they are frequently torn. Now the
object of my Invention is to remedy these defects by so treating the corners or
margins of the leaves of the book as to render them not only water repellent, but
non-adhesive when the leaves are damped for the purpose of copying.
In carrying out my Invention I make use of paraffin wax or stearine (either
separately or mixed), or other analogous substance, which I melt to a suitable
consistence, and in this melted wax I dip the corners or margins of the leaves or
sheets which form the book. When sufficiently saturated they are removed, and
the surplus wax expressed by means of a screw press, or in any other suitable
manner, when it will be found that the corners or margins of the leaves or sheets so
treated will not adhere together under the influence of water when the leaves are
damped for copying purposes.
I would observe that if the leaves or sheets are to be paged or numbered such
paging or numbering should be effected before submitting them to the herein-before
described treatment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is, "The Improvement in or
Applicable to Letter-copying and other similar Books, as herein-before described."
In witness whereof, I, the said James Thomson, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.