IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER DELINEATIONS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Gestetner, of Fairbank Street, New North Road,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS,
AND OTHER DELINEATIONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Gestetner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd July 1880.
DAVID GESTETNER, of Fairbank Street, New North Road; in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING
COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER DELINEATIONS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus employed
in producing copies of writings, drawings, and other delineations, and relates to
that class of apparatus in which a paper stencil is produced by writing with a
style on paper laid on a roughened plate.
"
According to my Invention I form the plate of a number of fine wires, preferably
round in section, laid closely side by side and mounted on a board or plate, on
which they are cemented by the aid of any suitable cement.
The method which I prefer to employ in carrying this part of my Invention into
effect is as follows:-
I first obtain a cylinder of suitable diameter and formed with a longitudinal
groove or recess along its surface from end to end thereof. I then wind the wire
around the same, taking care to lay each coil quite close to its neighbouring coils;
when the cylinder is covered to the extent required I coat the wire with cement,
which I leave on a sufficient time to ensure the wire adhering thereto, but which
is of such a character as to remain pliable sufficiently long to enable the wire to
be cut by running a pair of scissors or other suitable cutter along the groove or
recess in the cylinder, and then removed from the cylinder and cemented on to any,
suitable surface.
This wire surface is according to my Invention fixed on one side of a frame, the
other side of which is employed for the printing bed, whilst such frame is also
formed with a space to receive the inking plate, and with grooves at the ends to
receive rods or bars to enable the paper stencil to be stretched over the frame to
produce the copies.
By these means I am enabled to produce better stencils than by any other
process, with less liability of tearing the stencil paper, and my apparatus is much
more compactly arranged and is cheaper to produce than others hitherto in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Gestetner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd January
1881.
DAVID GESTETNER, of Fairbank Street, Now North Road, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING
COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER DELINEATIONS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus employed
in producing copies of writings, drawings, and other delineations, and relates to
that class of apparatus in which a paper stencil is produced by writing with a
style on paper laid on a roughened plate.
According to my Invention I form the plate of a number of fine 'wires laid
closely side by side and mounted on a board or plate, on which they are cemented
by the aid of any suitable cement.
This wire surface is according to my Invention fixed on one side of a frame, the
other side of which is employed for the printing bed, whilst such frame is also
formed with a space to receive the inking plate, and with grooves at the ends to
receive rods or bars to enable the paper stencil to be stretched over the frame to
produce the copies.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
Figures 1 and 2 are plans of two opposite sides; Figure 3 is a view of the
front edge; Figuro 4 is a view of one of the side edges; Figure 5 is a longitudinal
section, and Figure 6 is a cross section of my improved apparatus; Figure 7 is a
plan of the inking plate separately; and Figure 8 is an enlarged section of a
portion of the frame and of my new wire surface fixed thereto.
a is the surface on which waxed paper is laid to produce the stencil by writing
thereon with a style; b is the surface on which the printing is effected, the stencil c
being stretched thereon and retained in such position by means of the straining
rods or bars d; and c is a space in the centre of the apparatus to receive the
inking plate ƒ when the latter is not required for use, such inking plate being held
in a central position in such space e by running in grooves g.
The straining rods or bars are capable of being readily locked in position and
unlocked by means of hooks h; other means may however be employed for this
purpose.
The surface a is according to my Invention formed of a number of fine wires
laid closely side by side, and the method I prefer to employ in carrying this part
of my Invention into effect is as follows:-
I first obtain a cylinder of suitable diameter and formed with a longitudinal
groove or recess along its surface from end to end thereof. I then wind the wire
around the same, taking care to lay each coil quite close to its neighbouring coils;
when the cylinder is covered to the extent required I coat the wire with a cement,
which I leave on a sufficient time to ensure the wire adhering thereto, but which
is of such a character as to remain pliable sufficiently long to enable the wire to
be cut by running a pair of shears or other suitable cutter along the groove or
recess in the cylinder, and then to be removed from the cylinder and cemented on
to any suitable surface.
The wire may however be laid closely side by side in any other suitable manner
than that above described.

page_text: By these means I am enabled to produce better stencils than by any other
process, with less liability of tearing the stencil paper, and my apparatus is much
more compactly arranged and is cheaper to produce than others hitherto in use.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. Forming a surface of wire laid closely side by side and cemented to a
suitablo block or plate to facilitate the production of paper stencils, substantially.
as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Second. Forming apparatus to be employed in producing copies of writings,
drawings, and other delineations of a frame, one side of which is provided with
the wire surface to be employed in the production of paper stencils, the other side
being used for the straining and printing bed, whilst a spaco in the centre of the
frame is used to receive the ink plate when the latter is not required for use.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Gestetner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand.
eight hundred and eighty one.
DAVID GESTETNER. (L.S.)