Improved Means for use in Teaching the Alphabet.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for use in Teaching the Alphabet.
THOMAS DUNKLEY 55 Abbeville Road North Clapham Park S.W. Manager for
William Dunkley Pianoforte Manufacturer of 101 High Street Clapham S.W &c. &c.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1
The Alphabet reduced to a few elementary forms, for reconstruction, with a view to
the rapid acquisition of the characteristic shape of each letter, showing the resem-
blances & differences, by means of a few sections, easily fitted together.
5/2/89.
THOS. DUNKLEY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for use in Teaching the Alphabet.
I THOMAS DUNKLEY of 55 Abbeville Road North Clapham Park London in the
County of Surrey Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved means of teaching the alphabet by reducing
the letters thereof to their elementary forms so that such parts can be readily put
together and firmly secured in position so as to for in the various letters of the alphabet
as desired and my invention consists in forming eleven elementary shapes or parts
which may be readily disconnected and connected together again so as to obtain the
above objects.
And in order that my invention may be easily understood and readily carried into
practice I will proceed to fully describe same with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
The sheet of drawings represents the eleven parts (four being curved and seven
straight of various lengths) as shown or in about the proportions shown.
Each of the four curved parts is slotted laterally and also each of the four long
straight pieces (after the manner of the piece marked .e which is a side view of a
straight piece) and at one end only or at both ends of each of the eleven parts
tongues are pivoted in the aforesaid slot so that such tongue will fit or take into
any groove or slot in any other piece or if not required is capable of turning right
in out of the way—the edges of the tongue lying flush or thereabouts with the edges
of the piece itself.
Two of the straight pieces or parts are rabbeted diagonally as shown in the drawing
so as to form the letter X.
The parts may be formed of wood or sheet metal or any other suitable material and
cut out or formed in any convenient manner so that they can be readily connected
or disconnected for obtaining the object of my invention in any well known or
suitable manner.
If desired for convenience of construction the four curved parts may each or any
of them be divided into two parts—without departing from the nature of invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The eleven elementary shaped pieces or parts shown in the drawings capable of
being readily connected to or disconnected from one another substantially as and for

page_text: 2. The improved means for teaching the alphabet with elementary shapes which
shapes are to be connected together and placed in different positions to show thu
resemblances and differences of the letters of the alphabet and thus fix on the mind
the individual characteristics of each letter substantially in the manner describel.
Dated this 5th day of November 1889.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C,
Agents for the Patentee.