IMPROVEMENTS IN DATING CANCELLING AND OTHER STAMPS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Emerson, of the City and County of San
Francisco, State of California, United States of America, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DATING CANCELLING AND OTHER STAMPS."
Sealed the 19th December 1879, and dated the 23rd October 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Edward Emerson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1879.
GEORGE EDWARD EMERSON, of the City and County of San Francisco, State of
California, United States of America, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DATING
CANCELLING AND OTHER STAMPS."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of stamps which are
employed for marking, dating, cancelling or otherwise impressing various docu-
ments, and at the same time indicating the hour and minute at which such
impression is made, and it consists of the ordinary fixed die having the usual
official marks, letters, or figures upon it, and within this die a clock or time dial
forming a part of, or permanently fixed within it, upon the bed plate of the stamp.
In combination with this stationary die I employ two indicators, hands, or pointers,
which are moved by a clock or timing mechanism beneath, so as to mark by the
dial the hour and minute at which the impression is made without the use of any.
automatically moving dial or other mechanism.
My Invention further relates to a novel means of moving the indicating pointer
by a direct vertical connection with clock movement, while the latter is at the
same time relieved from all the effects of concussion by the blows of the stamp.
In combination with this mechanism I employ a peculiar meridian disk, by which
the ante and post meridian divisions of time are indicated, and also a cylindrical
die rotating at right angles with the horizontal die, and having the words "
celled," "received," "audited," etc., formed upon it. This cylindrical die is provided
with an adjusting and locking device, by which any desired word or character
upon it may be instantly brought uppermost and locked in position for use.
can-
The letters and figures of the date are fitted into a dovetailed slide, which is
casily introduced to or removed from the bed-plate when the date is to be
altered.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a view of my Invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.
"
3, 4, & 5 are details of construction.
Various attempts have been made to combine a timing and stamping apparatus
in one machine, but this has hitherto been effected by a multiplicity of automatically
moving dials and meridian wheels, which necessitated complicated gearing and
intermediate mechanism to connect it with a more or less distant clock movement,
so as to protect the latter from injury, and also in devices for restoring lost motion
in the moving dials, all of which have had the effect to render the apparatus
exceedingly delicate, easily deranged, and unfitted for practical use.
In my Invention I employ the ordinary stamp, having a bed-plate provided with
fixed official and dial dies, dating letters and figures, meridian disk, and such other
words as may be desired, and a combination of these of two hands or pointers con-
nected directly with a simple clock mechanism situated directly beneath the dial
and hands. The frame of the stamp is formed with a cavity to receive the clock
mechanism, and has the usual hinged or other stamping arm and impression pad,
and the inking ribbon with its feeding pawls and ratchet.
The base of my stamp consists of a hollow portion forming an inverted cup, as
shown at A, to contain the timing mechanism, and a foot B, which is united to the
part A by an arch or connecting portion C. The impression pad D is mounted in
the free end of the arm or lever E, so as to have a universal movement to adjust
its face so as to fit the die or type in the usual manner.
The arm E is hinged at the rear to the top of the arch C in the usual form of
this class of stamps, and the impression pad is held up and withdrawn after each
impression by means of a spiral or other spring, as shown. The inking ribbon F
passes around the rollers situated within the frame at each side of the bed plate,
and is moved over the die, being actuated at each movement of the impression pad
lever E by the ratchet wheel G and the double pawls H in the usual manner, these
parts having nothing novel in them.
The bed plate H' is secured to the top of the hollow clock containing case A, and
upon this plate are formed the name of the bank, office, or place of business, together
with the figures or characters of a clock dial, from one to twelve, as at I, J. These
letters and figures are fixed to or form part of the plate H', so that they are per-
manent, while within the inner circle are fitted two concentric moveable stems or
disks K, L, each of which carries a suitable pointer or indicator upon its surface in
the manner of a clock face, and in this construction of solid receiving letters and
figures, combined with the moveable indicator pointers, lies the principal merit of
my machine, as I am thus enabled to provide a stamp of equal solidity with the
ordinary dating or cancelling stamp, and having but few exterior moving parts.
The minute hand m is in the form of a raised arrow or pointer upon the upper
surface of the disk or stem L, which extends down through the bed plate H¹ into
the case to connect with the clock work or timing mechanism. The hour hand is in
the form of an arrow head or indicating point n, and it is raised above the surface
of the ring or annulas forming the head of the outer stem k. This outer stem is
a cylindrical sleeve, which surrounds the stem L, and has an independent connection
with the clock mechanism, as will be more fully described hereafter.
The clock mechanism is of any ordinary simple form of escapement, and is secured
to a plate Q, which may easily be introduced to or removed from the case A. The
spindle O, which actuates the minute hand, has its upper end flattened, and the
lower end of the stem L is formed with a long slot which will fit over the flattened
end of the spindle, so that the stem will be turned by it and thus actuate the
indicator m upon its upper surface.
The sleeve K carrying the hour hand has two studs p, p, projecting downward
from its lower end, and these studs fit into corresponding slots in a disk q driven at
the proper rate by the clock mechanism. This sleeve surrounds the spindle O, and

page_text: the two indicators are thus driven directly from the timing mechanism without the
intervention of levers or other intermediate connecting gear. The movement and
action of the clutches being in line vertically with their connecting spindle and
sleeve, it will be seen that while the pointers will be continuously rotated by the
timing mechanism no blow upon or vertical motion of the indicator stems can in
any way be communicated to the mechanism below.
In order to sustain the indicators against the blows of the pad necessary to
imprint the stamp, and hold them at all times on a level with the stationary words
and figures on the plate H', and also to prevent such action from being in any way
detrimental to the timing mechanism, I countersink the bed-plate H' from its upper
surface so as to form a seat, with a square shoulder 7, into which the annulas or
disk carrying the hour indicator fits.
This depression supports the flange of the disk, so that it is as solid to resist the
blows of the pad as the plate H' itself. The inner stem, which carries the minute
hand or indicator, has an enlarged disk or head which fits into a depression in the
head of the sleeve K carrying the hour hand, and a similar shoulder S in this
depression supports the stem, so that any blow or concussion upon it will be
supported and resisted in a vertical line and by the shoulder in the outer
plate H¹.
A groove is formed around the inner stem L, and a pin or screw fits this groove,
and prevents its being withdrawn while permitting its free rotation. The outer
sleeve K is similarly secured within the bed plate H', as shown.
At one side of the circle containing the official letters or figures is the letter M,
while at the other side I fit a small disk Z, which may be rotated horizontally in
its seat. Upon one side of this disk is the letter A, and at the opposite side the
letter P. This is so placed that only one of these letters will lie beneath the inking
ribbon and impression pad at one time. This enables me to turn the disk so as to
use the letters A and P respectively with the permanent letter M and thus indicate
morning and afternoon.
The dating letters and figures are fitted into a dovetailed slide R, which fits a
similar slot or groove in the bed-plate just in front of the dial. A spring T is secured
to the side of the slide, and by its elastic tension holds the slide in place and steadies
it without other fastening. The day, year, and month are formed so as to be easily
removed or replaced in the slide so as to be, changed with but little trouble. The
front part of the bed plate H' is forined with two extensions or arms U, which
serve as journal boxes, between which the cylinder V revolves. This cylinder has
the raised letters, words, figures, or characters formed upon its side, as may be
demanded by the especial business in which the stamp is to be used, as forwarded,
received, recorded, paid, audited, answered, cancelled, etc. One of the journals W
of this cylinder is round, while the other journal W¹ has as many sides as there
may be words or characters upon the cylinders. The extension or bearing U corre
sponding with this journal has a similar shaped opening, so that when this polygonal
bearing is introduced into its socket the cylinder will be firmly held with whichever
character or word may be desired uppermost.
In order to make a rapid adjustment the opposite round journal W is made long
enough to allow the whole cylinder to be pushed along in that direction until the
polygonal bearing is out of its seat, and the succeeding round portion (which is
somewhat sinaller) has entered it. This then allows the cylinder to be rotated until
the desired word is uppermost, when the spiral spring will force the angular
bearing back into its socket and hold it there; this gives ne a firmly supported
and at the same time easily adjusted series of words or characters.
The winding key a for the clock mechanism is permanently attached and projects
through the plate Q, so as to be easily reached and operated. The milled head b
also extends through the plate, and is connected with the hands, so that they may
be easily set when desired.. The regulator d is also operated from the same point.
My apparatus thus provides a strong and durable chronometric stamp suitable for
any office use, especially valuable in such positions as the offices of train despatches'

page_text: where the time must be accurately taken. It contains the fewest possible moving
parts, and by the employment of the fixed dials with moving pointers or indicators
an imprint is given which is a fac-simile of a clock dial, and is much more easily
and correctly read than if a number of continually changing dials were
employed.
It will be manifest that in order to have the movement of the hands or indicators
correspond with the face of a dial, and type which will make a correct imprint, the
movement of these bands must be reversed, and they must turn to the left instead
of to the right. This may be done either by a specially constructed movement; or
if an ordinary clock movement be employed, the gears and pinions actuating the
hands and the spindle for the same must be placed on the opposite side of the frame
from their ordinary position.
In the present case the spindle O which actuates the minute hand passes freely
through the hub of its driving gear and pinion, and is driven by frictional pressure
of elastic washers, which are held against the hub by a pin passing through the
spindle, and the milled head b being secured to the lower end of the spindle the
latter may be turned at any time to adjust the hands without affecting the clock
movement.
The disk g, which drives the hour hand, turns freely upon the spindle o, and with
its gear wheel has a certain amount of longitudinal motion upon it without affecting
its rotary movement, thus allowing of an adjustment between it and the lugs p of
the sleeve k, which it drives.
The hub of this disk q rests upon a convex elastic plate e, which is held down
'upon the side of the gear wheel so as to be driven by it, but at the same time to
allow the disk to be moved around so as to adjust the hour hand independently of
the minute hand when necessary for regulating its position.
Having thus described my Invention I do not claim broadly the combination of
a dating or marking stamp with a timing mechanism, as I am aware that such a
combination has been already used, but differing from my Invention; what I do
claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The improved chronometric stamp, consisting of the innumerable letters,
characters, or dials forming part of or fixed to the bed-plate H¹, as shown, in com-
bination with the hands or pointers m, n, and a clock or time mechanism by which
they are driven, whereby the time may be indicated upon a permanent stamp and
dial, substantially as herein described.
2nd. The fixed letters and characters I and dial J mounted upon the bed-plate,
and having the moveable pointers m and n and the clock mechanism, as shewn, in
combination with slide R containing the dating letters and figures, and the stamp Y,
the whole combined substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
3rd. The fixed letters or characters I and dial J mounted upon the bed-plate H¹,
and having the moveable pointers m, n, with their operating clock mechanism in
combination with the permanent raised letter M and the disks Z, with the letters
A and P formed upon opposite sides, said disk rotating in a horizontal plane, and
capable of reversing the letter, so as to indicate ante or post meridian, substantially
as herein described.
4th. The cylinder V having the raised characters, letters, or words upon its sides,
and the corresponding polygonal journal W¹ fitting into a similarly shaped socket
in the bearing arm U, in combination with the elongated cylindrical journal W and
the spring X, whereby either side of the cylinder may be brought uppermost and
form the stamp, substantially as herein described.
5th. The clock mechanism situated within the case A directly beneath the stamp,
and having the hour and minute disk q and spindle o, as shown, in combination
with the hands or pointer steins K, L, standing in a line above said disk and spindle,
and so united to them as to be rotated while having a free vertical movement, sub:
stantially as herein described.
6th. The stem L carrying the minute hand, and having its lower end slotted, as
shewn, and the sleeve k carrying the hour hand, and having the lug p at its lower

page_text: end in combination with the flattened spindle o and the slotted disk q of the clock
mechanism, whereby a direct vertical connection is made to drive the index hands
without conveying the concussion of the impression pad to the clock mechanism,
substantially as herein described.
7th. The foot B, arch C, and the hollow case A, said case containing the clock
mechanism, and supporting the fixed bed plate H³, stamp, and dial, and the moveable
index hands in a line vertically above it, in combination with the impression pad D
and an actuating arm E, substantially as herein described.
8th. In a chronometric stamp consisting of the foot B, connecting arch C, and
hollow clock containing case A, having the fixed stamp and dial upon the top, and
the moveable index hands with actuating stems extending into the case, I claim
the adjusting or setting device b extending through the bottom of the case in line
with these stems, substantially as herein described.
9th. In a chrometric stamp the combination of a moveable index hand or hands,
and an actuating clock or timing mechanism, whereby said hands are driven directly
without any intervening mechanism, with a fixed stamp and dial plate, upon which
an impression pad may be made to fall so as to impress the stamp and date and
indicate the time upon a document, substantially as herein described.
10th. The disk q, with its driving gear independently mounted upon the spindle
O, and caused to move in unison by means of the elastic plate e interposed between
them, whereby the disk q may be turned and its position regulated upon the spindle,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Emerson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
S. H. NOURSE.
GEORGE EDWARD EMERSON. (L.S.)