Improvements in Drawing and other Pencils.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Loft 20th July 1898-Accented 20th Aug
1808
Improvements in Drawing and other Pencils.
I, ALEXANDER GEORGE THORNTON, of St. Mary's Street, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturer of Drawing and Surveying Instruments, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in lead pencils, or black leads, composed
of a core of graphite surrounded by a wooden covering as is well understood.
The graphite core or lead is most usually of square, hexagonal or circular outline
in cross section and the user requires to point or otherwise prepare such lead on
sharpening as the exigencies of the task or his taste dictates.
When a pencil is used by a draughtsman a spade or chisel point is preferred and
the formation of such a spade or chisel point is not so readily accomplished as I
deem desirable.
In order to render the preparation of such a spade or chisel point on a lead core a
matter of the utmost simplicity, I propose to make the core of a triangular con-
figuration in cross section. The actual section I prefer is one corresponding with
an equilateral triangle.
In preparing a spade or shovel point on such a core all that requires to be done
after denuding the lead of its covering of wood is to cut or rub away to a suitable
extent the point for the time being constituting the apex of the triangle when
the requisite chisel edge is obtained.
A spade or chisel point is thus obtained with a minimum of exertion and with
no loss of time.
Although I have referred to drawing and to lead pencils only I might of course
form the core of pencils other than for drawing purposes, and of substances other
than graphite, of my improved triangular section.
Improvements in Drawing and other Pencils.
I, ALEXANDER GEORGE THORNTON, of St. Mary's Street, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturer of Drawing and Surveying Instruments, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
Price 8d1

page_text: performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawings:-
My invention relates to improvements in lead pencils, or black leads composed
of a core of graphite surrounded by a wooden covering as is well understood.
The graphite core or lead is most usually of square, hexagonal or circular outline
in cross section and the user requires to point or otherwise prepare such lead on
sharpening as the exigencies of the task or his taste dictates.
When a pencil is used by a draughtsman a chisel point is preferred and the
formation of such a chisel point is not so readily accomplished as I deem desirable.
In order to render the preparation of such a spade or chisel point on a lead core a
matter of the utmost simplicity, I make the core of a triangular con-
figuration in cross section. The actual section I prefer is one corresponding with
an equilateral triangle.
The accompanying sheet of drawings clearly illustrates my invention.
Fig. 1 is a cross section of the improved triangular lead to an enlarged scale.
Figs. 2 and 3 are end views of pencils also drawn to an enlarged scale, provided
with the triangular lead core and indicating in dotted lines the saving of lead
in comparison with the usual round and hexagonal leads.
Fig. 4 shows a pencil broken in length with the lead core cut to a chisel point.
In preparing a chisel point on the triangular core a all that requires to be done
after denuding the lead of its covering of wood b is to cut or rub away to a suitable
extent the point c for the time being constituting the apex of the triangle when
the requisite chisel edge is obtained, as will be readily apparent from an inspection
of Fig. 4.
A chisel point is thus obtained with a minimum of exertion and with no loss of
timc.
Should it be required to sharpen the lead to a round point, it suffices to cut away
the three edges.
The improved triangular shaped lead is moreover not only sharpened to the
desired point in much less time than before, but a distinct saving of graphite is
attained as will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, the dotted lines
in these figs. representing the customary round and hexagonal leads.
Although I have referred to drawing and to lead pencils only, I might of course
form the core of pencils other than for drawing purposes, and containing substances
other than graphite, of my improved triangular section.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is-
1) Forming the cores of lead and similar pencils of a triangular shape for the
purposes and substantially as described and shown.
2) The improved lead pencil provided with a core of graphite of a triangular
formation substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 19th day of July 1898.
Dated this 19th (lay or July 1.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester.