IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCK CALENDARS AND BLOTTING PADS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Redfern, of the General Patent Office,
N° 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCK CALENDARS AND BLOTTING
PADS" a communication from Joseph Patrick a person resident at Frankfort
on the Main, in the Empire of Germany
¦
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick Redfern
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1883.
GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN of the General Patent Office, N° 4, South Street,
Finsbury, in the county of Middlesex, Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCK
CALENDARS AND BLOTTING PADS" [a communication from Joseph Patrick a person
resident at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany
The invention communicated to me relates to the manufacture of a combined
block calendar, blotting pad, letter weight, pen cleaner or ink pot as the case may
be, the whole forming one compact article.
In carrying out the invention a block calendar is provided (with space for notes
at the foot of each page) which can be of the ordinary type of block calendars now
in use; to the bottom of the calendar is attached a blotting block made of a
segmental form; at the centre of the inside of this blotting block, against the
bottom of the block calendar, a pen cleaner, or an ink bottle with a long neck bent
upwards is placed, with a weight at one side, this said weight being at that end
which corresponds to the foot of the calendar, the opposite space is filled out with
a piece of wood, paste board or other suitable material.
The sides of the combined block are pasted over with paper or like material, the
lower end and sides of the block calendar however are left unpasted so that the
sheets can be turned back to make notes for future reference. It will be seen
from the hereinbefore described construction that the weight being at one side and
the whole resting on the segment blotting pad, the article will take a slanting
position, thus allowing the date to be easily seen. Each day the date of the day
before is torn off and from time to time the lowest sheet of blotting paper is
removed from off the bottom of the blotting pad until at the end of the year the
whole is used up.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Frederick Redfern in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th October 1888.
GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the General Patent Office, 4 South Street,
Finsbury, in the county of Middlesex, Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCK
CALENDARS AND BLOTTING PADS A communication from Joseph Patrick, a person
resident at Frankfort on the Main, in the empire of Germany
"
The invention communicated to me relates to the manufacture of a combined
block calendar, blotting pad, letter weight, pen cleaner or ink pot as the case may
be, the whole forming one compact article.
In carrying out the invention a block calendar is provided with space for notes
at the foot of each page which can be of the ordinary type of block calendars now
in use; to the bottom of the calendar is attached a blotting block made of a
segmental form; at the centre of the inside of this blotting block, against the
bottom of the block calendar, a pen cleaner, or an ink bottle with a long neck
bent upwards is placed, with a weight at one side, this said weight being at that
end which corresponds to the foot of the calendar, the opposite space is filled out
with a piece of wood, pasteboard, or other suitable material.
The sides of the combined block are pasted over with paper or like material, the
lower end and sides of the block calendar however are left unpasted so that the
sheets can be turned back to make notes for future reference.
In order to enable the invention communicated to ině to be fully understood I will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which
figure 1, represents a perspective view shewing the improved block calendar and
blotting pad; figure 2, a longitudinal section of the same; figures 3, to 8, represent
perspective views of several modifications of the improved blocks; figure 9,
represents a perspective view of a suitable method of attaching the sheets of blotting
paper together.
Similar letters in all the figures represent similar parts.
The block represented in figures 1, and 2, is constructed of a frame F, made of
paste board or other suitable material; to the top side of this frame F, is attached
the ordinary block calendar A, and on the lower and rounded surface of the frame
are placed a number of sheets of blotting paper B; the space within the frame. F,
is filled out with a bundle of bristles C, a small piece of wood or cork D, and a
weight E, of iron, stone or other suitable material. The sides of the whole are
then pasted over with paper or other suitable material in such a manner that a
compact solid block is formed. The paper pasted over the sides of the block
however is cut away where the ends of the bundle of bristles C, come, as shewn in
figure 1, in such a manner that a pen can be readily thrust into the same and thus
cleaned. The lower end and about half of the sides of the block calendar are also
not pasted over thus allowing the leaves of the calendar to be turned up and notes
made for a future day. The beforementioned weight E, being placed in the front
part of the block causes the block to take a slanting position as shewn in figure 1,
thus allowing the date to be easily read. The weight also serves to make the
whole block heavy so that it may be used as a paperweight. J
The manner of using the block is as follows:-
Each day the top sheet is torn off thus exposing the date for the day; as soon as
the bottom sheet of blotting paper is soiled and blotted up it is torn off, thus
exposing a fresh sheet for use, this goes on until the end of the year when the
block is used up.
Figure 3, represents a perspective view of a block made up with an ink pot h, in
place of a bundle of bristles as before described, or, in place of the ink pot a
postage stamp holder or other suitable appliance may be used.
い
9:
Figure 4, represents a block made up with a tag or ear g, by which it can be
hung on a nail if desired,

page_text: Figure 5, represents a block which is made with a block of wood, suitably cut,
in place of the pasteboard frame F, before described, this wooden block has a
weight let into it at one end, so that the whole block slants when placed on a table,
or the like, in the manner before described. This block is held together by being
pasted over the ends, and not at the sides, with paper or other suitable material, its
wooden centre piece being left open at the sides and polished, stained or the like.
Figure 6, represents a similar block to that shewn in figure 5, except that the
top side of the block is provided with a small monthly block calendar, and a sheet
of asses skin N, (or other suitable material) for making notes upon.
Figure 7, represents a further modification, the block calendar in this case being
attached to a small board O, which is provided with a screw passing into the
wooden block X,. The blotting paper is passed round the curved side of the
block X, and the ends held fast by the board O, which is screwed down upon
them.
Figure 8, represents a block the top side of which is provided with a memorandum,
note book or pocket almanac.
All the hereinbefore described blocks are so constructed as to stand in a slanting
position.
Figure 9, represents a suitable manner of attaching several sheets of blotting
paper B, together by strips or pieces of cloth Z, whereby a pad or block of blotting
paper is obtained which can be easily attached to the frame of any blotter, by
means of the said ends of cloth Z, if the supply of blotting paper should become
used up before the end of the year.
It will be obvious that the frame of the blocks may be made of metal or stone,
in which case, the said frame being of more expensive construction would not be
thrown away at the end of the year, but is so constructed that the blotting pad as
well as the almanac or calendar can be renewed at pleasure. These frames are also
made in such a manner as to give the block a slanting position.
Having thus described the invention communicated to me and the manner of
performing the same I wish it to be understood that what is claimed and intended
to be protected by the herein in-part-recited Letters Patent is :-
Firstly. A block calendar and blotting pad made up together in such a manner
that they take a slanting position when placed on a table or the like substantially
as shown and described.
Secondly. The combination as herein described of several office or writing
necessaries so as to form one article, which said article consists chiefly of a calendar,
a blotting pad, a note block and paper weight, combined or not with a pen wiper,
ink pot, postage stamp holder, or any other suitable, article substantially as
described.
Thirdly. A blotting pad combined with a note sheet and monthly calendar
substantially as described and shown by figure 6, of the accompanying drawing.
Fourthly. A blotting pad combined with a note book substantially as described
and shown in figure 8, of the accompanying drawing.
Fifthly. The manufacture and use of the improved combined block calendars and
blotting pads hereinbefore described and represented in the several figures of the
accompanying drawing.
In witness whereof I the said George Frederick Redfern have hereto set my
hand and seal this twenty fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three