CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PENCIL CASES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Vale, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Pencil Case Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PENCIL CASES."
Sealed the 28th July 1865, and dated the 3rd February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Vale at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
February 1865.
I, WILLIAM VALE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Pencil Case
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PENCIL CASES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to combine a watch key with a pencil case,
in manner herein-after described. It is found to be frequently the case that.
when watch keys are carried loose in the pocket, or on a bunch of keys, the
barrel of the watch key is from time to time choked with dust. or other
material, so that when used the barrel has not the firm hold or grip it should
have for properly winding the watch. Now in my Invention, the watch key,
when not in use is screwed inside the barrel of the pencil case, and is protected.
thereby.
Pencil cases constructed according to my Invention are so made that the
head or upper end unscrews in the usual manner, and as is well understood.
The watch key is attached thereto, and a sufficient 'space being reserved for

page_text: the same inside the barrel, the head is screwed on in the ordinary way, and
the Invention is complete.
I propose, however, so to construct the barrel of the key that it may be
adjustable, so that the same barrel may wind a watch of any size; this I do
by cutting slits crosswise in the barrel, and the barrel having been slightly
bulged a little distance from its top or gripping part, a metal cap is screwed
thereon, and according to the distance this cap is screwed upon the barrel, the
size of the top of the barrel is decreased, the cap being furnished with a rim
or flange which presses against that part of the barrel which is bulged, so
partly or wholly closing the slits of the barrel, as occasion may require.
I propose to apply this Invention to all kinds of pencil cases, whether metal,
ivory, bone, papier machè, or any other description whatsoever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Vale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
VALE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Pencil Case Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Vale, Her special licence that I, the said William Vale, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Vale, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PENCIL CASES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Vale, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Vale, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
(that is to say):
The object of this Invention is to combine a watch key with a pencil case,
in manner berein-after described. It is found to be frequently the case that
when watch keys are carried loose in the pocket, or on a bunch of keys, the
barrel of the watch key is from time to time choked with dust or other
material, so that when used the barrel has not the firm hold or grip it should
have for properly winding the watch. Now in my Invention the watch key
when not in use is screwed inside the barrel of the pencil case, and it is
protected thereby.
Pencil cases constructed according to my Invention are so made that the
bead or upper end unscrews in the usual manner, and as is well understood.
The watch key is attached thereto, and a sufficient space being reserved for
the same inside the barrel, the head is screwed on in the ordinary way, and
the Invention is complete.
I propose, however, so to construct the barrel of the key that it may be
adjustable so that the same barrel may wind a watch of any size; this I do
by cutting slits crosswise in the barrel, and the barrel having been slightly
bulged a little distance from it top or gripping part, a metal cap is screwed
thereon, and according to the distance this cap is screwed upon the barrel,
the size of the top of the barrel is decreased, the cap being furnished with a
rim or flange, which presses against that part of the barrel which is bulged,
so partly or wholly closing the slits of the barrel, as occasion may require.
I propose to apply this Invention to all kinds of pencil cases, whether metal,
ivory, bone, papier maché, or any other description whatsoever.
That my Invention may be better understood, I have annexed Drawings
thereof, which I now proceed to describe.
Fig. 1 is a part section, shewing a metallic pencil case constructed after
my improved method; Fig. 2 shows the Invention as applied to an ivory
pencil case; Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2, but with the addition of a pen-
knife; Fig. 4 is a cross section, taken at the line A, B, Fig. 2. The same
letters of reference apply to all the Figures, and the cross section, Fig. 4, is'
also applicable to all. All the Figures are drawn double the actual size.
a is the ordinary barrel of the pencil case, containing a sliding pencil b, and
also, if required, a sliding penholder, which is not shown, but moveable by the
projection c. The end d of the pencil case contains the spare leads, as usual,
and the bottom of it is formed by the plug e, which is firmly attached to the

page_text: end d, and is formed with a thread f screwing into the body or barrel of the
pencil case a. A continuation g of the plug made of hardened steel or other
material has a square hole h formed in the direction of its length, and con-
stitutes the barrel of the watch key.
To make it adjustable, so as to suit any size of watch, the barrel is slit
crosswise at i, i, and externally it is formed of a bulged or conical shape, as
at 'k. The portion 9 is screwed, and receives a cap 1, having an internal flange
or projection m at one end; this flange bears upon the four arms of metal
left by slitting the barrel of the key, and causes them to approach or recede
from each other as it is screwed on or off the screwed portion 9 of the barrel.
The square hole is thus diminished or increased at pleasure.
Fig. 2 shows the plug 9 screwed into the ivory end d of the pencil case, and
secured there by a pin n. In this case the end d is itself screwed into the
body a of the pencil case, dispensing with the plug e, f, (Fig. 1). In Fig. 3
a knife blade o and spring p are shown in addition, and attached to the end d.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be performed, I desire it to be understood that without
limiting myself to the precise details herein-before described (as these may be
varied or modified without departing from the nature of my said Invention) I
desire to claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent-
First, the combination of a watch key with a pencil case, in manner berein-
before described.
Second, the mode or manner of constructing the barrel of the said pencil
case so that it may be adjustable, and that the same barrel may be able to
wind a watch of any size, as herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Vale, have hereunto set my band
and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
G. R. HOLLAND,
Patent Office,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM VALE. (L.S.)