A COMBINED RULE, RULER, PEN AND PENCIL CASES, ERASER, AND PAPER KNIFE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Wolf Spear, of South Place, Finsbury, in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "A COMBINED RULE,
RULER, PEN AND PENCIL CASES, ERASER, AND PAPER KNIFE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Wolf Spear at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1879.
JACOB WOLF SPEAR, of South Place, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer. "A COMBINED RULE, RULER, PEN AND PENCIL CASES, ERASER,
AND PAPER KNIFE"
This Invention consists in combining in one article a parallel ruler, a rule, a case
for lead or other pencil or crayon, a box for pens, and an eraser, the article at the
same time serving for use as a paper knife.
In carrying out my Invention I employ an ordinary rectangular shaped rule of
suitable material divided on one side into English measurements, and on the other
side into French or other measurements, the edge or edges of the said rule being
bevilled so as to allow of the article, when complote, being used as a paper knife,
as hereinafter described.
In the middle of the said rule I form a rectangular shaped slot, and in this slot I
pivot a tubular case consisting of two tubes, one of which fits and turns within the
other. One end of the outer tube has a pivot working in one end of the said alot,
and the opposite end of the inner tube has a pivot which passes through the end of
the outer tube and through a bearing in the rule and outside the end of the rulo;
the said pivot carries at this end a small tubular case forming a pen box provided
with a tubular cap or cover, the inner end of which carries an eraser or a piece of
india rubber; this small tubular case forms a handle to the complete article. Each
of the herein before described metal tubes forming the pencil case has a rectangular
slot through nearly the whole of their length, so that if the outer tube be held and
the hereinbefore described handle be turned the inner tube will be revolved until
its slot be brought opposite the corresponding slot in the outer tube, and thus an
opening is provided through which the pencil may be placed in or removed from
the case; then by turning the handle in the opposite direction the opening will be
closed. The said handle also serves for using the article as a paper knife; and the
hereinbefore described case turning on centres or pivots allows the rule to be used
as a roller parallel rulor.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jacob Wolf Spear in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th July
1879.
JACOB WOLF SPEAR, of South Place, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer. "A COMBINED RULE, RULER, PEN AND PENCIL CASES, ERASER,
AND PAPER KNIFE."
This Invention consists in combining in one article a parallel ruler, a rule, a case
for lead or other pencil or crayon, a box for pens, and an craser, the article at the
same time serving for use as a paper knife.
In carrying out my Invention I employ an ordinary rectangular shaped rule of
suitable material divided on one side into English measurements, and on the other
side into French or other measurements, the edge or edges of the said rule being
bevilled so as to allow of the articlo, when complete, being used as a paper knife,
as hereinafter described.
In the middle of the said rule I form a rectangular shaped slot, and in this slot I
pivot a tubular case consisting of two tubes, one of which fits and turns within the
other. One end of the inner tube has a pivot working in one end of the said slot,
and the opposite end of the inner tube has a pivot which passes through a bearing
in the rule and outside the end of the rule; the said pivot carries at this end a
small tubular case forming a pen box provided with a tubular cap or cover, the
inner end of which carries an eraser or a piece of india rubber; this small tubular
case forms a handle to the complete article. Each of the herein before described
metal tubes forming the pencil caso has a rectangular slot through nearly the whole
of its length, so that if the outer tube be held and the herein before described
handle be turned the inner tube will be revolved until its slot bo brought opposite
the corresponding slot in the outer tube, and thus an opening is provided through
which the pencil may be placed in or removed from the case; then by turning the
handle in the opposite direction the opening will be closed. The said handle also
serves for using the article as a paper knife; and the herein before described case
turning on centres or pivots allows the rule to be used as a roller parallel ruler.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan of my
combined rule, ruler, pen and pencil cases, eraser, and paper kuife; Figure 2,
section of same on line A, B, of Figure 1; Figure 3, section on line C, D, of
Figure 1; Figure 4, end view; Figure 5, plan shewing the pencil case open;
Figures 6 and 7, longitudinal and transverse sections on lines E, F, and G, H,
respectively of Figure 5. Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
a, a, is the rectangular rule divided on one side into English measurements, and
on the other side into French or other measurements; b, b, shew the bevilled edges
of the rule to allow of its being used as a paper knife; c is the rectangular shaped
slot in the middle of the rule, in which is pivotted the tubular case consisting of
two tubes & and c, the inner one s fitting and sliding in the outer one d, each of
the tubes being formed with a rectangular slot through nearly the whole of its
length, as shewn. The ends of the inner tube e are closed, each end carrying a
pivot marked ƒ and g respectively, the pivot f working in a bearing at the end of
the slot c; the other pivot g passes through a bearing h, and outside the end of the
rule where it carries a small tubular caso i forming a pen box; j, tubular cap or
cover of the box i, the inner or open end of which is provided with an eraser or
picco of india rubber k; this small case forms a handle to the complete article ;
2, 1, are rollers on the pivots f and 9, the diameter of such rollers being somewhat
greater than that of the outer tubo d, so as to allow of the articlo being rolled over
a sheet of paper or otherwise, and of the rule being used as a parallel ruler.
By this construction it will thus be seen that the article may be used as a rule
or scale for measuring, as a parallel ruler, and as a paper knife; also as a pencil

page_text: case, as by holding the outer tube d and turning the handle the slot of the inner
tube e will be brought opposite the slot of the outer tube d, and thus allow of the
introduction or removal of a pencil m, crayon, or similar article; then by turning
the handle in the opposite direction the case will be closed. The tubular case
forming the handle may be used for containing pens or otherwise, as hereinbefore
described, the cover of the same carrying an eraser or its equivalent. It will be
understood that instead of the tubular cases being turned by the handle, as herein-
before described, they may be opened and closed in any other suitable manner.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in
the Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar
character of the Invention, but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of the combined rule, ruler,
pen and pencil cases, eraser, and paper knife, or any mere modification thereof,
substantially as hereinbefore described, and represented in the accompanying
.Drawing.
Secondly. The combination with the rule of the tubular pen and pencil cases,
arranged and operating as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Wolf Spear, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
J. W. SPEAR. (L.S.)