An Improved Apparatus for Affixing Adhesive Stamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Feb.,
1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Affixing Adhesive Stamps.
I SYDNEY HOOD THORP of Charters Towers in the Colony of Queensland
Share Broker 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 :-
Although the operation of affixing a single adhesive stamp to an envelope or
document is not in itself either tedious or particularly disagreeable yet where it is
necessary to stamp a considerable number the operation becomes not only tedious
but also intensely disagreeable where the stamps are moistened in the mouth.
Several appliances have been devised to facilitate the moistening of adhesive
stamps where a large number of them have been required to be used. Some of
these appliances consist of a pad of felt or other similar material, kept moist
by having water applied to it at intervals. Others consist of a roller of glass or
earthenware with its lower half dipped into a body of water contained in a small
vessel in whose sides said roller is mounted. None of these appliances however are
capable of applying as well as moistening the stamps at one operation, and there-
fore they involve the expenditure of considerable time when any large number have
to be affixed.
The object of my present invention is to provide a reliable apparatus wherewith
stamps can be readily affixed without the expenditure of so much time and without
involving such disagreeable operations as have hitherto been necessary.
My invention consists in an apparatus which comprises a pad kept constantly
moist with water or other liquid contained in a small receptacle alongside it,
and a roller which normally rests upon said pad and is moistened thereby.
The spindle of this roller is connected by arms or levers with a pair of
other arms or levers carrying at their upper end the stamp receptacle, in which
fits a wooden or other spring plunger provided with a handle whereby the
apparatus can be operated so as to cause said roller to pass from off the damp pad
over the surface of the envelope or other article to which the stamp is to be affixed
and to press the stamps down on to that part of the envelope or other article which
has been moistened by the passage of said roller, means of course being provided
as hereinafter described to ensure that not more than one stamp at a time is
withdrawn from the apparatus.
'
Referring to the accompanying drawings,―
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus for affixing adhesive stamps
illustrating same with the parts in their normal positions in full lines, and in
the positions they occupy when in the act of affixing the stamp in dotted lines,
whilst,
Figure 2 is a plan, and
Figure 3 an end elevation of said apparatus.
Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section on line 4-4 Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the water reservoir detached and
Figure 6 is a transverse section thereof on line 6-6, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section across the receptacle in which the
supply of stamps is contained, showing the plunger which works therein in