IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS AND PENHOLDERS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Butcher, of Southport, in the County of
Lancaster, Dentist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN
PENS AND PENHOLDERS."
Sealed the 1st April 1870, and dated the 2nd October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Butcher at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd October 1869.
I, JOHN BUTCHER, of Southport, in the County of Lancaster, Dentist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOUNTAIN PENS AND PENHOLDERS," to be as follows:-
First. For the purpose of regulating the flow of ink from the holder to
the nib so as to supply at all times the required quantity and no more I
place a small portion of sponge or a pellet or piece of any suitable
fibrous or porous substance over an aperture formed in the lower end of
the holder.
Second. As means for conducting the ink allowed to flow through the

page_text: from
any suitable holder to the writing nib, and at the same time
maintaining it in a fluid condition, I employ two ordinary nibs of metal
or other material, the one placed over the other at such distance apart
that there is a small space between. Either one or both of the said
nibs may be fixed or stationary, and in all cases the inner one must be
slit.
Third. To regulate the outflow of ink from holders I have devised an
inexpensive and simple elastic valve. This resembles a double-headed
button or stud. One head is placed in the holder and the other outside.
By pressing on the outer one a small quantity of ink is discharged from 1
the holder.
Fourth. To provide a cheap and efficient pen I employ the sponge or
fibrous or porous material above described under the first head in com-
bination with any ordinary or convenient regulating valve.
Fifth. To facilitate the filling of fountain penholders with ink I
employ a hollow india-rubber or other flexible air-tight ball. This may
be used either to suck ink into the said holder through the lower
aperture near the writing nib or to force it in through the same or any
convenient aperture or opening.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Butcher in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BUTCHER, of Southport, in the County of Lancaster, Dentist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Butcher, Her special licence that
I, the said John Butcher, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Butcher, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN
PENS AND PENHOLDERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Butcher, 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
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 John Butcher, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of illustrative Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
First. For the purpose of regulating the flow of ink from the holder to
the nib so as to supply at all times the required quantity and no more I
place a small portion of sponge or a pellet or piece of any suitable
fibrous or porous substance over an aperture formed in the lower end of
the holder.
Second. As means for conducting the ink allowed to flow through the
sponge or pellet or piece above mentioned or the ink allowed to flow
from any suitable holder to the writing nib, and at the same time
maintaining it in a fluid condition, I employ two ordinary nibs of metal
or other material, the one placed over the other at such distance apart
that there is a small space between. Either one or both of the said
nibs may be fixed or stationary, and in all cases the inner one must be
slit.
Third. To regulate the outflow of ink from holders I have devised an
inexpensive and simple elastic valve. This resembles a double-headed
button or stud. One head is placed in the holder and the other outside...
By pressing on the outer one a small quantity of ink is discharged from
the holder.
Fourth. To provide a cheap and efficient pen I employ the sponge or
fibrous or porous material above described under the first head in com-
bination with any ordinary or convenient regulating valve.

page_text: Fifth. To facilitate the filling of fountain penholders with ink I,
employ a hollow india-rubber or other flexible air-tight ball. This may.
be used either to suck ink into the said holder through the lower
aperture near the writing nib or to force it in through the same or any
convenient aperture or opening.
5
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of a
modification constructed in accordance with the first head of my
Invention. a is the penholder formed of two pieces connected together
and fitted with a movable cap 6 for filling and for admitting air through
the aperture c; d is the writing or designing nib which passes under a 1
projecting part of a; e is the sponge or other porous or fibrous material
for regulating the flow of ink to the nib through a small aperture
at t*.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of a
modification illustrating the second head of my Invention. f are the 1
two nibs placed over each other and supplied with ink through an
aperture formed at g in the holder h.
Figs. 3 and 4 also shew a modification of the elastic regulating valve
constructed in accordance with the third head of my Invention. h is
the holder; i, double-headed button or stud passing through and closing 2
an opening in h. The inner flange of i spreads over a large surface in h.
By pressing on the required quantity of ink can be ejected at g..
One nib can be used with the said valve, but I prefer two. j, movable
cap.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation, and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section of another 2
modification under the third head of my Invention. Here are the nibs,
the outer one being formed cylindrical at its upper end and with a canal
on its inner surface; m, movable cap; n, stud, the inner flange of which
is made of an elastic gum and so adapted as to form a lining for the
bulbous part of 1. The end of n is tubular and is small enough to fit 3
into the aperture leading to or between the nibs. By turning the nibs
or holder and thereby twisting the end of n as shewn the flow of ink can
be shut off.
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modification under the fourth head of my
Invention. o is the holder, made of glass or other suitable material; p, 3
the nibs; q, presser piece to allow pressure to be applied to the elastic
valver; the said valve r forms a lining for the bulbous part; 8, sponge
or other porous or fibrous material. Other forms of valves can be used..

page_text: The mode of shutting off the supply of ink by twisting the end of the
elastic picce of n can be used in combination with the sponge or
other fibrous or porous material under the said fourth head of my
Invention.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation, and Fig. 10 a longitudinal section intended
to show the mode of filling penholders with ink under the fifth head of
my Invention. tis the penholder; u, the nibs; v, hollow flexible ball.
By compressing the said ball, then fitting it on the end of the holder,
and allowing it to expand by its own tendancy to assume its original
form ink is drawn in. The form of the so called hollow ball may be
varied; it can be used with holders of all kinds constructed with openings
to be closed by caps or otherwise closed. A ball of this kind can be
filled with ink and employed to inject ink through the escape aperture
leading to the nibs.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and par-
ticularized the same by suitable modifications, I desire to state that what
I claim is, the constructions and combinations of fountain pens and pen-
holders; substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Butcher, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Thirty-first day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
In the presence of
J. T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
JOHN BUTCHER. (L.S.)