IN PRINTING CHARACTERS, AND IN COMPOSING DEVICES THEREFOR."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of the Firm of W. P.
Thompson and Co., Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and of 323, High Holborn, in the
IMPROVEMENTS
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of
IN
PRINTING CHARACTERS, AND IN COMPOSING DEVICES THEREFOR."
A communication from abroad from Arthur Herbert Rogers, of the City of
Springfield, in the State of Massachusetts.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1881.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and Co., Agents
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, and of 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRINTING CHARACTERS, AND IN COMPOSING DEVICES
THEREFOR." A communication from abroad from Arthur Herbert Rogers, of
the City of Springfield, in the State of Massachusetts.
This Invention relates to the construction of printing letters and characters, and
devices for sustaining said letters and characters in proper lines and relations one
to another to form words, sentences, and dates, the object being to provide printing
characters and letters, together with such means for holding them in line or lines
and in proper relation to each other as will enable persons not skilled in the art of
type setting to easily arrange types in proper form for printing; to provide
printed characters and uniting devices therefor, so constructed that a number of
such characters can be "composed" to form words and constitute of themselves a
hand stamp possessing all requisites of form for manipulation and printing without
attaching them to a frame or other device for holding them, to provide said
characters and improved uniting devices therefor which are adapted to easy and
cheap combination with what are termed self inking and dating stamps, and to
provide improved writing devices for said characters, which of themselves compel
the proper composing of said characters without reference to the usual nick
thereon.

page_text: The principal parts are as follows:-First, the printing characters; second, an
elastic composing tube; third, a rigid composing bar having sides of differential
areas; fourth, printing characters adapted by their form to be set side by side to
form parallel lines; fifth, a self inking hand stamp; sixth, an oscillating platen
therein; seventh, spring clamps fixed on platen; eighth, a combined land and
dating stamp; ninth, solid composing rods upon which the characters are held in
the last named stamp and in the self inking hand stamp; tenth, a hand stamp, of
still another description, having dating characters therein; eleventh, a curved
composing rod; twelfth, a character stamp which may be used with special
characters not perforated to receive the elastic tube, composing bar, or rod.
My improved printing characters are made with long bodies above their
printing faces and have a transverse perforation or perforations on a line
parallel to the said face thereof, which in form are either cylindrical or of irregular
form.
When said characters are provided with two round holes through them they
have the usual "nick" on one side; but when one of said holes is of irregular form
to receive the composing bar, the said nick is dispensed with for reasons hereafter
stated.
For the purpose of securing and properly sustaining said characters side by
side in proper lines for printing words without the use of a pallet or frame in
which to lock them, I employ what I term the elastic composing tube or a rigid
bar or rod; said tube is made slightly longer than the combined characters which it
is to hold, and is slotted longitudinally for nearly its whole length, and its
diameter is slightly more than that of the holes in the characters which are to be
composed upon it, so that when said characters are placed upon it they compress
it slightly and its sides press against the walls of the said holes and retain said
characters upon the tube.
Thus a number of characters may be composed upon two tubes, and of
themselves constitute a stamp complete, and convenient for use, presenting it in
the united form of said characters all requisite handle form.
"
Furthermore, said composing tubes afford every facility used with the perforated
characters for easily and frequently changing said characters to meet the varied
requirements of business, and in composing the characters, as above stated, the
** nicks" upon one side thereof serve to indicate in the usual manner how the
characters should be placed upon the tubes to bring them all in proper relation to
each other. When however the rigid composing bar is used no "nicks'
or other
distinctive exterior indication is required upon printing characters to guide-the-
compositor in the proper arrangement of each one upon said bar, for by making
said characters so that either the top or the bottom of the letter or character is
-next to the narrow or wide surface of the upper side of said bar, they must
necessarily, if put upon said bar at all, be composed thereon correctly. Thus by
employing one elastic tube together in the formation of a stamp, the characters are
properly held together for use, and can be assembled and changed at will without
liability of reversing any of the characters.
Said differential sided bar presents the advantages cited above as to "composing,”
and may be with ease and convenience employed in my stamps generally, and
employing therewith characters perforated only for said bar, the upright sides of
•said stamps being similarly perforated to admit of passing said bar through them
and the characters from side to side.
The characters can thus be arranged on a curved composing bar.
In making said characters for use in composing matter requiring parallel lines
they may be made straight sided, or as already described.
Said characters can be adapted for use in an ordinary self-inking stamp and
devices for holding them therein, and thus permit of easily changing them. In
this case the oscillating platen has a rectangular opening through it to allow the
printing ends of the group of characters therein to project through it, so that they
will be even with the face of other stamp forms on the face of said platen. Upon

page_text: the backside of said platen are fixed spring clamps which open as the end of bars
are pushed between them, and close upon said bars when the latter reach the
swelled portion of said clamps. Said platen is turned so that the clamps project
horizontally from either side when said characters and bars are placed upon or
removed from the platen.
For changing the characters in said stamp the same course is pursued as already
described. The stamp is constructed with an opening through it from side to side,
and its printing face is perforated for the ends of the characters, but in this case
the composing bars pass through the sides of said stamp and through the changeable
characters therein, thus securing the latter to the stamp.
Sometimes the vertical ends provide an open space between them to receive the
characters are perforated transversely to receive therethrough the composing rods,
and are formed so as to conform to the shape of a portion of the sides and the
upper end of said characters, so as to constitute therewith a suitable handle by
which said stamp may be conveniently manipulated.
The said printing characters may be made of any suitable material. For those
of large size wood may be conveniently employed. Those of smaller size may be
made of metal, and other descriptions may be made of hard rubber and have printing
faces of soft rubber suitably secured thereto in any well known manner; and
said characters of wood or metal may with equal facility be constructed with
soft rubber printing faces.
}

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Williain Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th January 1882.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and Co., Agents
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, and of 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING CHARACTERS, AND IN COMPOSING DEVICES
THEREFOR." A communication from abroad from Arthur Herbert Rogers, of
the City of Springfield, in the State of Massachusetts.
The following is the description of the Invention as communicated to me :-
This Invention relates to the construction of printing letters and characters, and
devices for sustaining said letters and characters in proper lines and relations one
to another to form words, sentences, and dates, the object being to provide printing
characters and letters together with such means for holding them in line or lines,
and in proper relation to each other as will enable persons not skilled in the art
of type-setting to easily arrange types in proper form for printing; to provide
printing characters and uniting devices therefor, so constructed that a number of
such characters can be "composed" to form words and constitute of themselves a
hand stamp possessing all requisites of form for manipulation and printing, with-
out attaching them to a frame or other device for holding them, to provide said
characters and improved uniting devices therefor which are adapted to easy and
cheap combination with what are termed self inking and dating stamps, and to
provide improved uniting devices for said characters, which of themselves
compel the proper composing of said characters without reference to the usual nick
thereon.
In the Drawing forming part of this Specification, Fig. 1 represents a printing
character constructed according to the Invention; Fig. 2 represents an elastic
composing tube adapted to be used in conjunction with said character, Figure 1;
Fig. 3 shews a series of three of said characters assembled upon two of said tubes
to constitute a dating stamp; Fig. 4 is a like view to Fig. 3, in which the
characters are so arranged upon the composing tubes as to form what is termed
a "tier-date; " Fig. 5 illustrates a series of said characters having no "nicks"
upon them, and assembled upon a round and upon an irregular forined composing
bar Fig. 6 is a view of said irregular composing bar; Fig. 7 illustrates said
characters so made as to stand side by side in a vertical position and form parallel
lines; Fig. 8 illustrates a hand stamp provided with a series of dating characters
arranged upon composing bars therein; Fig. 9 illustrates a self inking hand stamp,
the oscillating platen of which is provided with a series of said characters and
composing bars; Fig. 10 illustrates another description of hand stamps provided
with dating characters and composing bars; Fig. 11 represents said characters
arranged upon a curved composing bar; Fig. 12 represents a character clamp or
a substitute for said composing bar or bars. Like letters refer to like parts in the
several Figures. In the Drawing, a, a, are the printing characters; b is an elastic
composing tube; d is a rigid composing bar having sides of differential areas;
a are printing characters adapted by their form to be set side by side to form parallel
lines; B is a self inking hand stamp;e is the oscillating platen therein; c, c, are
spring clamps fixed on platen e; h is a combined hand and dating stamp; i are
solid composing rods upon which the characters a are held in the last nained stamp
and in the stamp B; D is a hand stamp of still another description, having dating
characters therein; 62 is a curved composing rod; n illustrates a character clamp
;

page_text: which may be used with characters like a³ not perforated to receive tube b, bar d,
or rod į.
These improved printing characters are made with long bodies above their
printing faces, and have a transverse perforation or perforations a¹ on a line
parallel to the said face thereof, which in form are either cylindrical or of irregular
form, as shown in the lower part of Figure 5.
When said characters are provided with two round holes through them, as in
Fig. 1, they have the usual "nick" x on one side, as shewn, but when one of said
holes is of irregular form, as shown in Figure 5, to receive the bar d, Figure 6, the
said nick is dispensed with for reasons hereafter stated.
For the purpose of securing and properly sustaining said characters side by side
in proper lines for printing words without the use of a pallet or frame in which to
lock them, there is employed what is termed the elastic composing-tube d, Figure 2,
or a rigid bar or rod; said tube is made slightly longer than the combined characters
which it is to hold, and is slotted longitudinally for nearly its whole length, and its
diameter is slightly more than that of the holes in the characters which are to be
composed upon it, so that when said characters are placed upon it they compress it
slightly, and its sides press against the walls of said holes, and retain said characters
upon the tube.
Thus a number of characters a, as in Figures 3 and 4 may be composed upon
two tubes b, b, and of themselves constitute a stamp complete and convenient for
use, presenting in the united form of said characters all requisite handle form.
Furthermore, said composing tubes 6 afford every facility used with the
perforated characters a for easily and frequently changing said characters to meet.
the varied requirements of business, and in composing the characters as above
stated the "nicks" × upon one side thereof serve to indicate in the usual manner
how the characters should be placed upon the tube b to bring them all in proper
relation to each other. When however the rigid composing bar d is used, no
"nicks" or other distinctive exterior indication is required upon printing characters
to guide the compositor in the proper arrangement of each one upon said bar, for
by making said character so that either the top or the bottom of the letter or
character is next to the narrow or wide surface of the upper side of said bar, they
must necessarily if put upon said bar at all be composed thereon correctly. Thus
by employing one elastic tubo d together in the formation of a stamp, as in
Figure 5, the characters are properly held together for use, and can be assembled,
and changed at will without liability of reversing any of the characters.
"
Said differential sided bar d presents the advantages cited above as to
'composing," and may be with ease and convenience employed in stamps, similar
to those shown in Figures 8 and 10, and employing therewith characters perforated
only for said bar; the upright sides of said stamps being similarly perforated to
admit of passing said bar through them and the characters from side to side,
similar to the manner in which the bars i and tube b are arranged in said
Figures 8 and 10.
In Figure 11 is shown the arrangement of said characters a upon a curvéd com-
posing bar b²
In making said characters for use in composing matter requiring parallel lines,
they are made substantially like those in Figure 1, a³, or they may be made
straight sided.
In Figure 9 the adaptation of said characters for use in an ordinary self inking
stamp, and devices for holding them therein, and which permit of easily changing
them are there illustrated.
In this case the oscillating platen e has a rectangular opening through it to
allow the printing ends of the group of characters a therein to project through it,
so that they will be even with the face of other stamp forms on the face of said
platen. Upon the backside of said platen are fixed the spring clamps c, c, which
open as the end of bars i are pushed between them, and close upon said bars when
the latter reach the swelled portion of said clamps. Said platen is turned so that

page_text: the clamps c project horizontally from either side when said characters and bars are
placed upon or removed from the platen.
For changing the characters in said stamp B the same course is pursued as above
described in relation to those embraced in Figures 3 and 4. The stamp D,
Figure 10, is constructed with an opening through it from side to side, and its
printing face is perforated for the ends of the characters a, as just described, relative
to platen e, on stamp B, but in this case composing bars 6 pass through the sides
of said stamp D and through the changeable characters & therein, thus securing
the latter to the stamp. Figure 8 in so far as the relation of the characters a and
the printing face of stamp h is concerned shows much the same construction as
that embodied in Figures 9 and 10, but it differs therefrom in that its vertical
ends provide an open space between them to receive the characters a are
perforated transversely to receive therethrough the composing rods i, and are
formed so as to conform to the shape of a portion of the sides and the upper end
of said characters, so as to constitute there with a suitable handle by which said
stamp may be conveniently manipulated.
The said printing characters a may be made of any suitable material. For those
Those of smaller size may be
of large size wood may be conveniently employed.
Inade of metal, and other descriptions may be made of hard rubber and have
printing faces of soft rubber suitably secured thereto in any well known manner,
and said characters of wood or metal may with equal facility be constructed with
soft rubber printing faces.
Having now described the Invention exactly as communicated to me, what I
claim under the Letters Patent is,-
1. The within described printing character a having one or more transverse
perforations, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In combination the slotted composing tube b and one or more of the trans-
versely perforated printing characters a, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination the composing bar d having sides of differential areas, and
the printing character a perforated transversely to permit of passing said bar d
there-through, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In combination the solid composing rod i and one or more of the transversely
perforated printing characters a, substantially as set forth.
5. In combination the oscillating platen of the self inking stamp B, the series
of transversely perforated printing characters a, the composing rods i and appliances,
substantially as described,-for securing said rods upon said platen, substantially as
set forth.
6. The stamp h having the vertical ends 12 perforated to receive the composing
rods, in combination with said rods and the series of transversely perforated
printing characters a, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
W. P. THOMPSON. (L.S.)