AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPRESSIONS, CARTES DE VISITE, STEREOGRAPHS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Fruwirth, of Palace Road, Upper Norwood,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR CUTTING PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPRESSIONS, CARTES DE VISITE, STEREOGRAPHS,
AND OTHER SUCH LIKE PURPOSES."
Scaled the 3rd March 1865, and dated the 8th September 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Fruwirth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
September 1864..
1, DANIEL FRUWIRTH, of Palace Road, Upper Norwood, in the County of
Surrey; do hereby declare. the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPRESSIONS, .CARTES DE VISITE, STEREO-
GRAPHS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE PURPOSES," to be as follows:
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus by the use of which the
edges of photographic impressions, cartes de visite, stereographs, and other
similar articles may be cut off, the action being such that all four sides of the
card or paper are cut away by one stroke of the cutter.
The apparatus consists of a table plate of metal or other material on which
a block or rest of iron or steel is fixed, its dimensions and form corresponding
to the size to which the card or paper is to be reduced; over this block is a
four-sided cutter or shears, the internal edges of which fit the outer edges of
the block; this cutter is held by an arm whose extremity is attached to a hinge

page_text: or fulcrnm on the end of tho tablo furthest from the block; underneath tho
table plato a flat spring is set by a screw, and the moveable end of the spring
is connected by a vertical pin (passing through the table) to the arm of tho
cutter, so as always to exercise a downward powerful pressure or strain upon
the same. Near the centre of the table a horizontal cam is set in bearings,
and is provided with a handle by which it may be turned by the operator. The
surface of this cam is made to assume an oblique or incline during its entire
circumference, and at its highest point a vertical ledge descends to its lowest
surfaco; in its revolution it acts upon a vertical pin underneath the arm of
the cutter, and raises the same against the action of the spring; the card or
paper is then arranged on the block and under the cutter, and tho cam being
turned slightly further, the pin escapes over the ledge, and the cutter is forced
down, thus shearing all sides of the paper or card with clean and even edges.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Daniel Fruwirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
FRUWIRTH, of Palace Road, Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Daniel Fruwirth, Her special licence that I, the said Daniel
Fruwirth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Daniel Fruwirth, 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 Invention for "AN IN-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPRESSIONS, CARTES DE VISITE,
STEREOGRAPHS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Daniel Fruwirth, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to

page_text: be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Daniel Fruwirth, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus by the use of which the
edges of photographic impressions, cartes de visite, stereographs, and other
similar articles may be cut off, the action being such that all four sides of the
card or paper are cut away by one stroke of the cutter.
The apparatus consists of a table plate of metal or other material on which
a block or rest of iron or steel is fixed, its dimensions and form corresponding
to the size and pattern to which the card or paper is to be reduced; over this
block is a four-sided or other shaped cutter or shears, the internal edges of
which fit the outer edges of the block; this cutter is held by an arm whose
extremity is attached to a hinge or fulcrum on the end of the table furthest
from the block; underneath the table plate a flat spring is set by a screw, and
the moveable end of the spring is connected by a vertical pin (passing through
the table) to the arm of the cutter, so as always to exercise a downward power-
ful pressure or strain upon the same. Near the centre of the table a hori-
zontal cam is set in bearings, and is provided with a handlo by which it may
be turned by the operator. The surface of this cam is made to assume an
oblique or incline during its entire circumference, and at its highest point a
vertical ledge descends to its lowest surface; in its revolution it acts upon a
vertical pin underneath the arm of the cutter, and raises the same against the
action of the spring; the card or paper is then arranged on the block and
under the cutter, and the cam being turned slightly further, the pin escapes
over the ledge, and the cutter is forced down, thus shearing all sides of the
paper or card with clean and even edges.
Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings represents a side elevation of the machine.
a is the foundation on which the block or rest b is fixed; c is the cutter or
shears held by the arm d, set on the hinge or fulcrum e in the upright f, a
similar upright being on the other side of the arm. The dotted line 9 shews
the position of the spring underneath the table or foundation, the spring being
connected to the vertical pin h, passing through the table, and joined to the
arm by a screw and nut. i is a handle and crank turning a vertical shaft,
passing through a slot in the arm, and actuating a horizontal cam wheel which
elevates the arm against the power of the spring, and suddenly releases it; the
article to be cut being placed on the block while the cutter is raised, will be

page_text: cut to the desired size by the descent of the cutter. Fig 2, shews 'n side view
of the cam.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would romark in conclusion, that I do
not limit myself to the precise detail and configuration of parts I have expressed
and shewn, as the same may be modified or varied without departing from the
principle of the Invention; but I claim the apparatus substantially as herein
described, applicable to the purposes of cutting photographic impressions,
cartes de visite, stereographs, and other such like articles.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Fruwirth, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our
Lord Ono thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
ALEX. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
D. FRUWIRTH. (L.S.)