IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF KALENDARS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Darling, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT
OR CONSTRUCTION OF KALENDARS."
Sealed the 7th May 1880, and dated the 11th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Darling at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th November 1879.
JOHN DARLING, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF KALENDARS."
This Invention which relates to improvements in the arrangement or construction
of kalendars has reference, firstly, to kalendars for ascertaining any date throughout
any month of a year, and secondly, for ascertaining any prospective date during
any given series or succession of years.
The kalendar as arranged for the first purpose above named consists of a strip
of paper, card-board, wood, metal, or other suitable material, in which are printed,
or otherwise produced, the succession of numbers from 1 to 31 corresponding to the
maximum number of days in a month. Parallel with the foregoing strip is another
strip on which are printed successively the initial letters corresponding to the days
of five successive weeks.
At that end of the kalendar corresponding to the first day of the month is a
cylindrical, flat, or other suitably shaped adjustable piece, on which are marked
in their proper order of succession the twelve months of the year from January
to December. By adjusting this last named piece to the proper position, that is to
say, with the name of the month in which a date is sought in line with the strip
or column containing the numbers 1 to 31, and by adjusting the moveable strip or
column with the day of the week in which the month commences opposite the
number 1 in the strip or column of numbers, all the other days of the week fall
into their proper succession opposite their numbers, so that the date of any par-
ticular day of any week or the day of the week in which any date in the month
occurs is at once read off.
The kalendar as arranged for the second purpose above named consists of a
column having a row of letters corresponding to the days of the week on which

page_text: any year of the series or succession of years to which the kalendar relates com-
mences. Above, or nearly in line with, the uppermost of these letters is a row
having twelve divisions corresponding to the twelve months of the year, the first
division having the hereinbefore mentioned column of week day initials below it.
Beneath this row of twelve divisions there are marked over a series of, say, 10, or
other number of years, 10, or other number of rows of letters (consisting each of
twelve letters) corresponding to the days of the week, the initial letter in the first
column of the week day initials being the first such letter in any series of 10 or
other number of prospective years for which the kalendar is adapted.
At the further end of the kalendar is a row or column, each division of which
corresponds to the other divisions hereinbefore described, and contains the numbers
of the series of prospective years. To ascertain any prospective date the kalendar
herein first described is used in combination with that now lastly or secondly
described, and the operation consists in first finding from the row of letters corre-
sponding to the days and months, the day of the week in which any month of
any such prospective year commences, having ascertained which the moveable
parts of the kalendar herein first described are adjusted with the day of the week
on which the month commences opposite the number 1 in the column of numbers,
when the day of the week on which the date occurs is at once read off.
The kalendars may be fitted with pointers for directing the eye at once to the
part or parts of the kalendars on which a date or day of the week of any particular
year or month has been ascertained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Darling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May
1880.
JOHN DARLING, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROve-
MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF KALENDARS."
My Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement or construction of
kalendars, and has reference, firstly, to kalendars for ascertaining any date
throughout any, month of a year, and secondly, for ascertaining any prospective
date during any given series or succession of years.
The kalendar as arranged for the first purpose above named consists of a strip
of paper, card-board, wood, metal, or other suitable material, on which are printed
or otherwise produced the succession of numbers from 1 to 31, corresponding to the
maximum number of days in a month. Parallel with the foregoing strip is another
strip on which are printed successively the initial letters corresponding to the days
of five successive weeks. At that end of the kalendar corresponding to the first day
of the month there may be a cylindrical, flat, or other suitably shaped adjustable
piece, on which are marked in their proper order of succession the twelve months of
the year, from January to December. By adjusting this last named piece to the
proper position, that is to say, with the name of the month in which a date is
sought in line with the strip or column containing the numbers 1 to 31, and by
adjusting the relative positions of the two first mentioned strips or columns with
the day of the week on which the month commences on the one strip opposite the
number 1 on the other strip or column of numbers all the other days of the week
fall into their proper succession opposite their numbers, so that the date of any
particular day of any week, or the day of the week on which any date in the month
occurs is at once read off. The strip with the names of the months thereon may be
dispensed with if desired.
The kalendar as arranged for the second purpose above named consists of a
column having a row of letters corresponding to the days of the week on which
the several years of the series or succession of years to which the kalendar relates
commences. Above the uppermost of these letters is a row having twelve divisions
corresponding to the twelve months of the year, the first division having the
herein before mentioned column of week day initials below it. Beneath this row of
twelve divisions there are marked over a series of say 10, or other number of years,
10 or other number of rows of letters (consisting each of twelve letters) corre-
sponding to the days of the week; the initial letter in the first column of week
day initials being the first such letter in any series of 10 or other number of
prospective years for which the kalendar is adapted.
At one end of the kalendar is a row or column, each division of which corresponds
to the other divisions hereinbefore described, and contains the number of the series
of prospective years. To ascertain any prospective date, the kalendar herein first
described is used in combination with that now lastly or secondly described, and
the operation consists in first finding from the row of letters corresponding to the
days and months the day of the week in which any month of any such prospective
year commences; having ascertained which, the moveable part of the kalendar
herein first described is adjusted so that the day of the week in which the month
commences is opposite the number 1 in the column of numbers, when the day of
the week on which the date occurs is at once read off.
The kalendara may be fitted with pointers for directing the eye at once to the
part or parts of the kalendars on which a date or day of the week of any particular
year or month has been ascertained.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner, in or under which the

page_text: same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
.
The accompanying Drawing represents various arrangements or constructions of
kalendars according to my Invention. Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively in
plan and elevation a kalendar for ascertaining any date throughout any month in a
year; with which is also shewn combined the means for ascertaining any
prospective date during any given series or succession of years. A strip a of wood
or other material upon which the days of the month are marked, and a strip b
upon which the days of the week are marked, are divided into a number of divisions
all of the same width, so that when the first division on the strip a is opposite a
division of the strip b, the other divisions of the said strip a will fall in regular
order opposite each of the divisions of the strip b. Thus by moving the
figure 1, on the strip a, opposite the day of the week upon which the first day of
a month falls, the other days of the month on the strip a will come opposite the
days of the week on the strip b, upon which they respectively fall. A slot is formed
through the tablet c, the said slot extending along the side of the strip b, and being
for the reception of the strip a, the said slot terminating at either end in a groove d,
in which the tails of the strip a take, so that the said strip a can be slidden in one
or other direction through a distance equal to six of the divisions of the strip b, a
stud e being provided for facilitating the moving of the said strip. A backing f
keeps the strip a in place.
In place of being upon a special tablet, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the kalendar
constructed or arranged according to my Invention may be applied to an article of
utility or ornament. In Figures 3 and 4 I have shewn, in longitudinal and
transverse sections respectively, its application to a penholder. A slot is made in
the said penholder for the reception of the strip a. The said strip is kept in position
by a piece g, confining the tail piece a² at one end, and by the barrel of the holder h
overlapping the said strip at the other end. Markings, similar to those shewn on
the strip a in Figure 1, are made upon this strip a, Figures 3 and 4, and markings
similar to that shewn on the strip b, Figure 1, are made upon the penholder at the
side of the groove therein, in which the said strip a slides.
"
In Figure 1a I have shewn, in addition to the strips a and b, a cap or adjustable
piece i forming the end of a penholder, and being marked with twelve divisions,
in which are marked in their order the twelve months of the year. This cap is so
fitted to the penholder (for example, as shewn in Figure 2a), that by turning this
cap upon the main body of the penholder the name of the month, respecting which
particulars are required, can be brought opposite the strip a.
For ascertaining the prospective date or day of the week on which any date
occurs during any given series or succession of years, there is combined with the
strips a and b a table shewn in Figure 1. The said table consists of a series of
twelve columns, each containing a number of divisions in accordance with the
series of years for which the kalendar is constructed. In the Drawing it is divided
for seven years, but I do not limit myself to this number. Each column is headed
by the names of the months of the year in succession, and opposite the lines or rows
formed by the divisions of the columns are marked the years. In the divisions of
the January column are marked the days of the week on which the first of January
falls in the respective years marked opposite the said divisions. Similarly in the
divisions of the February column are marked the days of the week on which the
first of February falls in the respective years marked opposite the said divisions.
The divisions of the other columns are similarly marked with the respective days
of the week upon which the first day of the month of each year falls.
By this table the day of the week on which falls the first day of any month of
any year for which the kalendar is constructed can be readily found, and the strip a
being adjusted in relation to the strip b, as before described, the date of the month
upon which any particular day of the week falls, or the day of the week upon
which any date of the month falls in any of the series of years for which the

page_text: kalender is constructed can be readily ascertained. The penholders, or other
articles with which the strips a and b are used, may have this table marked upon
them.
The article to which the aforesaid kalendar is applied may be marked with
instructions for its use, or with other desired particulars.
It will be understood that the marking shewn upon the strip a may be on the
strip b, when those on the strip b will be on the strip a.
The markings of the strips a and b may be applied to a circular box, or other like
circular body, to one part of which rotation may be given, the one set of markings
being on the stationary part and the other on the moveable part, so that by turning
the moveable part the markings may be brought into the requisite relative position,
essentially as hereinbefore described
The strip a may be moved in any desired or convenient way. In Figure 5 I
have shewn it as being attached to the rod or bar k, a stud k² on which engages in
a rapid screw thread in the rotating end 6, so that by partially rotating the said
end the rod k and strip a carried by it may be moved essentially as the parts of
a certain class of pencil case are moved.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The hereinbefore described arrangement or construction of kalendars for
ascertaining the day of the week upon which any particular date of the month may
fall, or the date of the month upon which any particular day of the week may fall,
that is to say, the combination of the strip a and b, with or without the adjustable
piece i, Figures 1ª and 2ª, essentially as herein before described with reference to
the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The hereinbefore described arrangement or construction of kalendars
consisting in the combination with the strips a and b of a table giving the days of
the week upon which the months of a series of years commences, by which com-
bination the kalendar is capable of use for obtaining the particulars referred to
in the preceding claiming clause in respect of any month of the said series of
years.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Darling, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
JOHN DARLING. (L.B.)