Improvements in Attachments for Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
COME DEI DI MULTICATION.
Improvements in Attachments for Type-writing Machines.
I, NEWTON WALKER HARTWELL, Gentleman, of the City of Louisville, in
the County of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, United States of America, 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:-
My invention relates to attachments for type-writers whereby the writing is made
visible to the operator.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention applied to a Remington type-
writing machine, the latter being shown in outline by dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a view showing the relative positions of the platen and prismoid and
the direction of the rays of light through the same.
Figures 3 and 4 show modified forms of the supporting brackets used with the
prismoid.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
A represents a glass prismoid having four flat faces marked 1, 2, 3 and 4, said
prismoid being rhomboidal in cross section. The relation of these faces and the angles
formed by the four sides of the prismoid, to each other is such that objects reflected
in an inverted position in one face are re-reflected in another face in an upright or
correct position.
B represents a metal bracket of a form readily applicable to the front or cross
frame of a typewriter of the style known as the Remington. This bracket B.is
provided at each end with shoulders or lugs b, to the lower portion of which are
secured by small screws c the tongues d which act as frictional latches on the type-
writer frame when the screws are tightened. From the shoulders & depend arms e
secured thereto by screws f passing through slots g in the arms to permit of the
adjustment of the arms when necessary to raise or lower the prismoid A for proper
adjustment. Pivoted to each arm e is a latch h which holds the prismoid when it is
placed in position in the slot i in the arm e, by hearing, against the pivot jand
closing the slot i.
On either end of the prismoid A is a metal sleeve k having a pin or pivot which
fits into the slot of the arm e. To prevent the prismoid from turning on the
pivot j, and at the same time to secure the exact adjustment of the prismoid
necessary to produce the best results, the arms e have their lower and outer ends
turned up to form a bearing surface for the ends of the prismoid. It will be seen
that this bracket is adapted for nice adjustment and provides for inequalities in the
different machines. Where the machines are of uniform construction, I use the
bracket shown in Figures 3 and 4 which in the hands of an operator of ordinary
skilfulness answers all requirements. It is formed from thin flat steel or other
suitable metal, and consists of the shank C the lower end of which is hollowed out
at m and from the upper portion of which extends the body n which is perforated
At right angles with the body n is the arm p the outer end of which is bent
in and provided with a flange 7, said end and flange being of such shape as to
conform to the ends of the prismoid, which as I have stated is rhomboidal in cross
section. Around the perforation o is a collar r which may be stamped from the
body of the bracket or formed from a separate piece of metal and soldered thereto.
at o.
D

page_text: This bracket is secured to the sides of the typewriter carriage by means of screws
which are similar to the screws now used in the Remington machine at those points.
One of these screws passes through the collar r and perforation o into the threaded
screw hole at this point in said machine frame and the other screw passes through
the hollowed out portion m of the shank into the threaded screw hole in the frame
of the machine at this point, the head of the screw bearing on the lower end of the
shank C and by frictional contact holding it in position. An advantageous form of
this bracket, and one that permits of ready adjustment, may be had by making the
body of the bracket in two parts as shown in Figure 4. The parts overlap each
other and one is provided with slots 7 and 8, and the other with screw holes for
small screws the heads of which bear upon the slotted part when tightened.
If desired, upon the face 1 of the prismoid may be etched or otherwise provided
a scale used to indicate the spacing of the letters on the typewriter so that the
insertion or location of letters may be readily made.
In applying my device as shown in Figure 1, after locking the prismoid in
position between the arms of the brackets by inserting the pivots j in the slots i
and pressing down the upper ends of the latches until their lower ends impinge
against the pivots j, the attachment is adjusted to the frame of the typewriter so
that the prismoid is below the platen and just far enough from the point of impression
of the type on the writing surface to prevent the type from striking the prismoid.
When the prismoid is in this position the type impression is refracted through the
face 4 and reflected from the face 3 in a correct position relative to its shape and
to the word or line of which it forms a part, and the operator sitting in the usual
position is enabled to see it without lifting the carriage as is now necessary in this
form of typewriter. In other words there is a double reflection of the characters,
in the first the rays of light are inverted and in the second they are righted as
shown in Fig. 2. The position of the prismoid is relatively the same when I use
the brackets shown in Figures 3 and 4, the only point of difference being in the
attachment of the brackets, which are at the side of the carriage as shown and
described.
While in the drawing and the foregoing description I have shown my device as
applied to but one form of typewriting machine, it is apparent that the prismoid
which I employ may be readily applied to other forms of machines in which the
writing or letter impression is made by the type striking upward against the platen,
it being only necessary to modify the form of the bracket or means of adjusting the
prismoid to the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
An attachment of typewriting machines composed of brackets adjustably secured
to the frame of the machine, and a refracting and reflecting prismoid supported by
said brackets so that the writing or letter impression is made visible to the operator
in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 25th day of September 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.