IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PENS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Enoch Edwards, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Tool Maker, and Henry Shaw, of Aston, near Birmingham, afore-
said, Tool Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PENS."
Sonled the 12th January 1877, and dated the 27th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Enoch Edwards and Henry
Shaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1876.
ENOCH EDWARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Tool Maker, and
HENRY SHAW, of Aston, near Birmingham, aforesaid, Tool Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METALLIC PENS."
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in metallic
pens whereby two independent pens are so combined together that one or other
may be used at the will of the writer by giving the holder carrying the compound
or duplex pen a semi-rotation on its axis.
We will describe our Invention as applied to a slip pen to be held in an ordinary
penholder; but our Invention is also applicable to barrel pens.
Our Invention consists in combining with the same stem or heel, or that part
inserted in the penholder, two pairs of nibs, cach pair of nibs constituting an
independent pen. The said pens or pairs of nibs start from the front end of the
stem and are situated on each side of a line passing through the middle of the stem,
the said pens being inclined to each other at an acute angle. The convex side of
one of the pens is turned in one direction, and the convex side of the other pen is
turned in the opposite direction. The two pens or pairs of nibs may bave points of
the same degree of fineness, or one pen may be broad pointed and the other pen
fine pointed.
In using the duplex pen described both pens or pairs of nibs take up ink, and
each pen in its turn may be used by the writer by turning the holder as described;
thus when fine and broad strokes have to be made the writer has only to turn the
holder and present to the paper the charged pen which he requires to use to produce
the required thickness of stroke; and when the points of the pens are of the same
degree of fineness one pen when worn may be turned away and the other pen

page_text: brought into position for use without removing the duplex pen from the holder.
The duplex pens are also convenient for the writing of music.
Instead of charging both pons at the same time with ink one only may be
charged at a time with ink by using an ink holder constructed for that purpose.
The duplex pens described are made from blanks which are raised or shaped, 5
pierced, and slit in the same manner as ordinary single pens.
In applying our Invention to barrel pens the two pairs of nibs are made in one
piece with the barrel instead of with the stem or heel as in slip pens.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Enoch Edwards and Henry Shaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th January 1877.
ENOCH EDWARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Tool Maker, and
HENRY SHAW, of Aston, near Birmingham, aforesaid, Tool Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METALLIC PENS."
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in metallic
pens whereby two independent pens are so combined together that one or other may
be used at the will of the writer by giving the holder carrying the compound or
duplex pen a semi-rotation on its axis.
We will describe our Invention as applied to a slip pen to be held in an ordinary
penholder, but as herein-after shown our Invention is also applicable to barrel pens.
Our Invention consists in combining with the same stem or reel, or that part
inserted in the penholder, two pairs of nibs, each pair of nibs constituting an
independent pen. The said pens or pairs of nibs start from the front end of the
stem and are situated on each sido of a line passing through the middle of the stem,
the said pens being inclined to each other at an acute angle. The convex side of
one of the pens is turned in one direction, and the convex side of the other pen is
turned in the opposite direction. The two pens or pairs of nibs may have points of
the same degree of fineness; or one pen may be broad pointed and the other pen
fine pointed.
In using the duplex pen described both pens or pairs of nibs take up ink, and
each pen in its turn may be used by the writer by turning the holder as described;
thus whon fine and broad strokes have to be made the writer has only to turn the
holder and present to the paper the charged pen which he requires to use to produce
the required thickness of stroko; and when the points of the pens are of the same
degree of fineness one pen when worn may be turned away and the other pen
brought into position for use without removing the duplex pen from the holder.
The duplex pens are also convenient for the writing of music.
Instead of charging both pens at the same time with ink one only may be charged
at a time with ink by using an ink holder constructed for that purpose.
In applying our Invention to barrel pens the two pairs of nibs are made in one
piece with the barrel instead of with the stem or heel as in slip pens.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents in front elevation a slip duplex
or compound pen constructed according to our Invention; and Figure 2 represents
a side clevation of the same held in a holder.
Figure 3 represents in front elevation and Figure 4 in side clevation a barrel
duplex or compound pen constructed according to our Invention; and Figure 5
represents a back elevation of the same fitted upon a stick.
In the said Figures 1 and 2 a is the heel or stem of the slip pen, and b is one of
the independent pens, and c is the other independent pen of the duplex pen, the
said pens b, c, starting from the front of the stem or heel a and being situated on
cach side of a line passing through the middle of the stem, the said pens b, c, having
the inclination to one another represented in the Drawing. One of the said pens is

page_text: slightly longer than the other. The convex side of the pen b is turned in one
direction, and the convex side of the other pen c is turned in the opposite direction,
as represented. The points of the pens b, c, may have the same or different degrees
of fineness.
In Figures 3, 4, and 5 the barrel is marked d, and the two independent pens
starting from the front of the said barrel are marked respectively e, f, the said pens
being constructed as described with respect to the independent pens of the slip
duplex pen, Figures 1 and 2.
In using the duplex pen both pens b, c, or e, f, are dipped into ink, and that pen
which is required to be used is presented to the paper with its concave side down-
wards as in using an ordinary pen, the other pen being in a reversed position and
out of use. When it is wished to change the pon being written with the holder is
turned through a semicircle.
In Figures 1 and 2 the pen bis represented in a position proper for writing, the
other pen c being in a reversod position and out of use.
In Figures 3 and 4 the pen e is represented in a position for writing, the other
pen f being in a reversed position and out of use.
"
In Figure 5 the pen fis shown in a proper position for writing, the other pen e
being in a reversed position and out of use.
That pen of the duplex pen which for the time being is the writing pen may
either be situated on the right-hand side of the stem or barrel, or on the left-hand
side of the said stem or barrel.
In the slip pen, Figures 1 and 2, the pen which is in use is situated on the left-
hand side of the heel or stem, while in the barrel pen, Figures 3, 4, and 5, it is
situated on the right-hand side of the barrel.
The duplex pens described and represented are made from blanks which are
raised or shaped, pierced, and slit in the same manner as ordinary single pens.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Inven-
tion the improvements in metallic pens herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, combining with the same stem, or heel,
or barrel two pairs of nibs, each pair of nibs constituting an independent pen, the
convex side of one pen being turned in one direction, and the convex side of the
other pen in the opposite direction, the semi-rotation of the holder carrying the
duplex or compound pen throwing out of position one pen and bringing into position
for writing the other pen, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said Enoch Edwards and Henry Shaw, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
ENOCH EDWARDS. (L.S.)
HENRY SHAW.
(LS.)