Improvements in or Applicable to Type Writing Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1887
Complete Left, 11th Feb., 1888.
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
Improvements in or Applicable to Type Writing Machines.
We RICHARD COMINGS THOMPSON of 134 Dalyell Road, Brixton, Electrical
Engineer, and WILLIAM SPENCE, of Pemba Cottage Adelaide, Surbiton, Gentleman,
both in the county of Surrey do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to automatically register the number of words
printed by the now well known "Type Writing Machines" and thus obviate the
necessity of counting the words or folios-which counting operation professional
operators and others using such machines are at present obliged to do in cases where
the written matter is charged at per number of words it being customary to charge
so much per thousand words according to the nature of the work.
In carrying this invention into practice there is applied in connection with the
presser levers, or operating parts of the spacing apparatus, a train of multiple wheels
such as are used for instance for the indicator device in Gas or water meters, and fix
such indicator apparatus in any convenient position on the Type Writer, a spring
finger or catch being applied to operate upon a ratchet wheel of the first one of the
train of wheels and so on.
From this counting mechanism to that part of the machine used to cause the
necessary space between each word, we make a connection by means of rod bar,
lever or other suitable device in such manner that when motion is given to the spacing
apparatus for the purpose of spacing, it will be transmitted to the counting wheels and
registered upon the dials thereof.
Since it frequently happens in practice that the spacing key is used several times
in succession for the purpose of giving more space than is ordinary between words
and as one such movement only is requisite to indicate and register a word, we make
the connection in such a manner as to allow an independent movement of the spacing
key at operators will or so arrange the connecting bar in such manner that it will
not be actuated after a movement of the spacing apparatus until a letter of the
alphabet be struck and thus prevent mistakes as to the number of words written.
WALTER A. BARLOW,
6, St. Paul's Churchyard, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We RICHARD COMINGS THOMPSON of 134 Dalyell Road Brixton in the County of
Surrey Electrical Engineer and WILLIAM SPENCE of Pemba Cottage Adelaide Road
Surbiton in the County of Surrey Gentleman 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 :-
The object of this invention is to automatically count and register the number of
words and characters written or printed by the now well known Type writing
machines, and in carrying the same into practice as applied to a No. 2 Caligraph or
to a Remington Type writing machine and found to work correctly we apply under-
neath the horizontal wooden levers connected to the keyboard keys a long rocking
spindle working in bearings in the side frames of the machine. Two levers are fixed
upon this rocking spindle carrying a striking bar the full length of the keyboard so
that any one of the keys struck moves the striking bar the two levers and the
rocking spindle. On each end of the said spindle outside the machine frames is fixed
a lever the top faces at the ends of which are made to fit underneath the arms of the
spacing keys but are not connected thereto. One of these levers has a slotted link
for the crank or disc pin of the counter to work in. This slotted link is made
adjustable on the lever or the crank pin is made adjustable in the crank disc or
excentric sheave to increase or decrease the throw of the same or any other device
may be adopted for that purpose. There are many points of adjustment in the mechanism
by which we find a great simplyfycation and saving of time is effected in attaching it
to the writing machines. The spacing key levers are fixed upon the rocking spindle
in such a position that when either of the spacing keys are struck the pointer on the
units dial of the counter is moved and the rocking spindle is rotated bringing the
striking bar up to the underside of the horizontal key levers. When a piece of
writing is commenced the pointers on the counter all being at zero the first letter key
struck depresses the striking bar and levers causing the rocking spindle to rotate and
thus bringing the outside levers up to the underside of the spacing key arms. Then
when the word is written either of the spacing keys is struck which depresses the
outside levers moving the units pointer of the counter and registering thereon the
word or character written or printed. The spacing key can now be struck any
number of times to give the space required between the words or characters without
moving the counter the outside levers remaining down while the striking bar and
.levers are again up to the under side of the horizontal key levers ready for the com-
mencement of the next word. This operation is repeated until the conclusion of the
piece of work when the total number of words and characters written or printed will
be found registered on the dials of the counter, and there can be no doubt of its
accuracy as mistakes in counting the words and characters written or printed cannot
be made. The counter shown in the drawings is shown on the right hand side of the
machine and has four dials registering from units to ten thousand. It is a geared
counter and if a higher register than the above number is required more dials and
multiplying wheels may be added but any known description of counter may be used.
To dispense with the wheels pinions spindles dials and hands in the word counter
and register retaining only the ratchet wheel we have invented what we term a

page_text: gearless screw automatic word counter and register which consists of a long leading
screw with a split or half nut similar to the leading screw and nut of a screw cutting
lathe, which is attached to the front or side of the Type Writing Machine. One end
of this leading screw carries the ratchet wheel having 30 teeth and worked by a pawl
or ratchet lever connected to one of the levers operated by the spacing bar. or key.
A scale plate having thirty divisions to the inch is fixed in front of the leading screw and
the half nut travelling upon the leading screw is constructed with a groove or slot which
fits over the scale plate so that as it travels upon the leading screw it slides along the
scale plate. The front part of the nut which hangs over the scale plate is shaped into
a pointer to register thereon and forms a stay to the scale plate and leading screw
while the former acts as a guide to the half nut. The ratchet wheel is actuated by
the device herein before described which operates in the same way as upon the units
pointer of the geared counter and counts up to thirty words or characters in one
revolution the leading screw in the meantime having advanced the half nut and
pointer to the first division on the scale. This operation is continued and at the
conclusion of the piece of work the total number of words or characters written or
printed will be found registered by the divisions on the scale. It will be seen that
our gearless screw counter and register can be increased or decreased in capacity by
properly proportioning the diameter of the ratchet wheel the pitch of the leading
screw and the length of and number of divisions on the scale, and it can be applied
in a variety of ways upon Type writing and similar machines for counting and
registering words and folios and the like.
In order to enable our invention to be fully understood we will now proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings. We have not deemed
it necessary to illustrate complete Type writing machines only so much of the Caligraph,
Remington and Hammond machines as will serve to show the application of our
invention. Similar letters or figures in all the drawings represent similar or corre-
sponding parts.
Figure 1. represents a side elevation of a portion of the Caligraph Type writer
showing our invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a part plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the Remington Type writer showing our
invention applied thereto and
Fig. 4 is a part plan view of the same.
Fig. 5 shows a plan view of our invention as applied in the foregoing figures
detached from the existing structure.
Fig. 6 is a front view of a Hammond Type writer showing two features of our
invention applied thereto. It is not intended that both these counters be attached
to the machine at the same time as they are merely shown thus for convenience of
illustration.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of same showing the application of our automatic word
counter only.
Fig. 8 is a front view of our automatic word counter represented in figure 7
and detached from the machine but drawn in correct relation to the levers of
same and
Fig. 9 is a plan view of same and
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the guide plate for the vertical spindles of the counter.
Fig. 11 is a front view of our hand counter shown attached on Figure 6.
Fig. 12 is a plan view of same detached but shown in correct relation to the spacing
key of the Hammond Type writer.
Fig. 13 is a front view of our hand counter shown hung on the side of the
Remington Type writer and
Fig. 14 is an end view of same detached from the machine but shown in correct
relation to the side frame thereof indicated by a dotted line.
Fig. 15 shows a counter with direct action off the spacing keys of the Caligraph
Type writer.
Fig. 16 is a view of same detached from the machine,

page_text: :
with one of the spacing keys of the Caligraph.
Fig. 18 is a plan view of same and
Fig. 19 is a front view of same detached from the machine.
Fig. 20 is a front view of the same feature of our invention applied to the Remington
Type writer and
Fig. 21 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 22 is an end view of the same detached from the machine but shown in correct
relation to the spacing bar thereof.
Fig. 23 is a side elevation of a portion of the Caligraph Type writer showing our
gearless screw automatic word counter and register attached on the front thereof and
Fig. 24 is a partial plan view of the same.
Fig. 25 is a front view of a portion of our gearless screw automatic word counter.
Fig. 26 is a plan view of the outside lever 7 on figure 24.
Now in Figure 1 representing our geared automatic word counter and register
applied to a Caligraph Type writing machine A is the framework of the machine
underneath which there are applied the horizontal key-levers 1 connected to the keys 2
on the keyboard and manipulating the type levers by the attachment D. Under these
horizontal key levers we place a long rocking spindle 3 carrying a striking bar 6 the
full length of the keyboard.
This striking bar may be made of wood, or wood faced with india rubber or solid
india rubber or any other suitable material. Two levers 7 are also attached to the
rocking spindle one at each end outside the machine frame A having the top faces at
their ends 11 made to fit underneath the spacing key arms 14 but not connected thereto.
The end of one of these levers 7 carries a slotted link 8 which is adjustable by
moving it to either of the holes 13 in the underside of the lever end 11 as may be
required to increase or decrease the travel of the various parts between the counter 10
the spacing keys 14 and the keyboard keys 2 or any other suitable device may be
employed for this purpose.
The levers 7 are fixed by set screws 18 upon the rocking spindle 3 in such a position
that when struck the pointer 15 on the units dial 16 of the counter 10 is moved. The
· operation of the automatic word counter is then as follows.
The action from the striking of any one of the keyboard keys 2 in writing or
printing the first letter of a word or a character depresses the corresponding horizontal
lever 1 which in turn depresses the striking bar 6 with the levers 5 thus rotating the
rocking spindle 3 and raising the levers 7 carrying up the sletted link 8 on the lever
end 11 with the crank or disc pin 9 of the counter 10. The smooth faces on the lever
ends 11 are now against the underside of the spacing key arms 14 which at the
completion of a word or the like is struck for space and depresses the lever end 11
with the slotted link 8 and disc pin 9 thus revolving the ratchet wheel of the counter 10
and moving the units hand 16 forward one division on the dial 15 so counting the
word or character written or printed. The spacing key 14 may now be struck any
number of times to obtain any space required between the-words or other characters
without moving the counting mechanism as the levers 7 remain down the striking
bar 6 being again up to the underside of the horizontal key levers 1 ready for the
repitition of the operation with the commencement of the next word and this repitition
can be continued to the end of the piece of work being written or up to the number
of ten thousand words or characters.
Reference to figure 2 will where necessary further illustrate the foregoing
description.
In figures 3 and 4 which are respectively a side elevation and plan of a portion of
the Remington Type writing machine with our invention attached, A is the
framework of the machine underneath which is applied the horizontal key levers 1
connected to the keys 2 on the keyboard and manipulating the type levers by the
attachment D. Under these levers we place a long rocking spindle 3 working in
bearings 4 on the side frames A. Two levers or arms 5 are fixed upon the rocking
spindle 3 carrying a striking. rod 6 the full length of the keyboard. Two levers

page_text: are also attached to the rocking spindle 3 one at each end outside the machine
frames A having the top faces at their ends 11 made to fit underneath the spacing
key arms 14 but not attached thereto. The end of one of these levers 7 carries a
slotted link 8 which is adjustable in the same way as described with regard to Figure 1.
The counter 10 is shown fixed on the right hand side of the machine by the screws 25
and the crank or dise pin 9 thereof passes through the slot 24 made for that purpose
in the side frame of the machine and works in the slotted link 8 and is made adjustable
by moving it to either of the holes 13 in the crank or disc 23 of the counter 10 for
the same purpose as described with regard to the slotted link 8. The operation of our
automatic word counter and register as thus applied to the Remington Type writing
machine and the method of adjusting the same are precisely the same as described
with regard to figures 1 and 2.
Figure 5 is a plan view of that part of our invention as applied and described in
the foregoing and shows the rocking spindle 3 with the two levers 5 fixed upon it
with set screws 18 carrying the striking bar 6 the full length of the keyboard (the
said striking bar being made of wood or wood faced with india rubber or solid india
rubber or any other suitable material) the levers 7 fixed upon the rocking spindle 3
by the set screws 18 and the counter 10 with disc pin 9 working in the slotted link 8
which is adjustable in the lever end 11 by means of the holes 13. The end 11 of the
left hand lever 7 simply works under the spacing bar or spacing key aru 14 without
any attachment or connection whatever.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a front elevation and part plan of the Hammond
Type writer and we will first describe our automatic word counter as shown on the
upper part of the case thereof.
The counter 10 is fixed to the cover 55 of the machine frame A by the screws 25
the disc 23 has two pins 9 upon it on opposite sides of the centre and upon these two
pins 9 two vertical spindles 56 and 62 are hung by means of the slotted crosshead 8
formed at their top ends and working on the said pins 9. The spindle 62 has its
lower end screwed into a boss 58 on the upper side of an angular striking bar 6 which
is thus suspended over the horizontal levers 1. The other spindle 56 passes through
a boss 58 on the upper side of the striking bar 6 which has a slot 63 from its under
side partially through the said boss. The striking bar 6 is also provided with another
boss 58 into which is screwed a guiding spindle 57 which works in a boss on the
guide plate 60 which is also provided with bosses to guide the spindles 56 and 62 and
is screwed to the top of the cover 55.
This guide plate is shown by figure 10. The operation of this part of
our invention is as follows. The horizontal key levers 1 are connected to
the key-board keys 2 and balanced upon the concentric rib 61 of the machine
thus when any one of the keys 2 are struck the back part of the horizontal
key lever I corresponding thereto is raised revolving the type segment and
printing the first letter. The movement of the horizontal key lever lifts the
striking lar 6 with the spindle 62 thus depressing the spindle 56 the end of which
will now be close down to the top of the spacing key lever 45. When the word or
character is written or printed the spacing key 14 is struck which acting through the
horizontal lever 45 raises the spindle 56 thus rotating the disc 23 and ratchet wheel
of the counter 10 and advancing the units pointer 16 one division on the dial 15 so
counting the word or character written or printed. The spacing key 14 may now he
struck as often as necessary for any required space without moving the counting
mechanism as the spindle 56 remains up the other spindle 62 and the striking bar 6
being again down to the upper side of the horizontal levers 1 ready for the repitition
of the operation with the commencement of the next word the spacing key lover 45
mean while moving in the slot 63 in the striking bar 6. This operation may be repeated
till the complotion of the work in hand or up to the number of ten thousand words
or characters.
The counter in this case is shown square but it will be understood that its con-
struction is otherwise identical with those shown elsewhere. The foregoing description
will be fully illustrated by reference to figures 8 and 9.

page_text: The other counter shown on the front of the Type writer by figure 6 and fully
illustrated by figures 11 and 12 detached from the inachine is not automatic in its
action but is constructed and operates as follows.
the
The counter 10 is attached to the front of the machine frame A by the screws 25
and is provided with a crank 23 carrying a pin 9 which works in the slotted crosshead 8
formed upon the lower end of the counting spindle 14° upon
end of which
upper
is formed the striking key 14b lipping over and fitting upon the spacing key 14 of the
machine. The counting spindle 14 works in a guiding boss or socket 51 which is
made in one piece with the back plate of the counter 10. When a word or character
is written or printed the striking key 14 of the counter is struck carrying down with
it the spacing key 14 of the machine which is thus made to fulfil its function at the
If extra space is
same time as the counting spindle 14ª is operating the counter 10.
required the spacing key 14 inay now be repeatedly used without touching the striking
key 14b.
In figures 13 and 14 the construction of the counter is the same as that last described
except that the striking key 14 does not lip over the spacing key or bar of the machine
(although it could be made to do so if desired) and as therefore there would be no
means of the striking key returning automatically to its position after being used
there is a spring 52 fitted under the slotted crosshead 8 of the counting spindle 14*
for this purpose. Also instead of being fixed to the Type writer this counter is
provided with two hooks 53 which are made in one piece with the back plate of the
counter 10 and by which the same may be hung upon the framework of the machine
in any convenient position. There are also provided two props or bars 54 which are
screwed into the back plate of the counter 10 and bear against the frame A of the
machine so as to keep the counter 10 straight and level. One of these bars also serves
as the pin for the spring 52 to work upon.
Instead of being hung upon the machine this counter may be stood upon the
machine stand, desk or anywhere to suit the convenience of the operator as it is
intended for the use and advantage of those who go from place to place to do work
where the type writers are not fitted with an automatic counter.
In figures 15 and 16 the word counter is arranged for attachment to one side of
the Caligraph Type writer by screws 25. The slotted link in this case is made with a
lug 8 and is thereby attached to the spacing key arm 14 with screws 46 and thus
the word counter 10 is made to work direct off one spacing key while the spacing key
on the other side of the machine may be used for extra space if required. For new
machines one of the spacing key arms 14 could be made with the slotted link 8 upon
it thus dispensing with the lug 8 and the screws 46.
In figures 17 and 18 the counter 10 is fixed to the machine frame A of the Caligraph
Type writer with screw 25.
Figure 19 is a view of the same counter detached. The crank pin 9 working in
the slot 50 in the crank arm 23 of the counter 10 is attached to a connecting link 49
which at its upper end is attached by a pin joint to a bracket 48 which is fitted and is
adjustable upon the counting lever 14. This counting lever 14 works upon-the
fulcrum pin 47 which also carries the spacing key 14 of the machine inside the
framing A. The upper part of the counting lever 14* is let into a recess in the flat
top of the spacing key 14 made to receive it and is provided with a flat striking key 14"
which lips over and fits upon the spacing key 14. This counter can be adjusted either
by means of the sliding bracket 48 on the arm 14" or by the crank pin 9 in the slot 50.
It is manipulated in precisely the same way as the counter illustrated by figures 11
and 12. In figures 20, 21, and 22 the counter is arranged to operate and be mani-
pulated in precisely the same way as that described above but applied to a Remington
type writer. In this case the crank disc 23 has an adjustable pin 9 working in the
slotted crosshead 8 of the counting spindle 14 which works in the guide-boss or
socket 51 made solid with the back plate of the counter 10 and has on its upper end
the striking key 14 fitting on and lipping over the spacing bar 14 of the machine.
The counter 10 is attached to the framing A of the machine by the screws 25.
It will be seen that although these modifications of our invention either fixed or

page_text: portable shown by figures 11 to 22 are simple, cheap and easily used they are all open
to the objection of a possible inaccuracy in the total count through the omission of
counting after a word or counting double or so on during the execution of a piece of
work but this is a fault existing in any non-automatic device and which must be left
entirely to the skill and care of the operator to avoid.
We will now describe our gearless screw automatic word counter and register
which in figures 23 and 24 is shown attached in front of a Caligraph Type writer.
The mechanism for operating the counter is the same in principal and similar in con-
struction to our automatic geared counter and consists of a rocking spindle 3 bearings 4
levers 5 striking bar 6 operated precisely as before described. The levers 5 have slots in
them for the adjustment of the striking bar 6. The levers 7 are fixed upon the ends of
the rocking spindle 3 outside the framing A of the machine by the screws 18 and upon
the end of one of them is made the slotted crosshead 8 in which works the pin 8ª
upon the lower end of the connecting link 8b the upper end of which is attached to
the crank 23 by the crank pin 9. This crank pin also carries the ratchet lever 31
gearing into the ratchet wheel 33 which with the crank 23 is fixed upon the projecting
end of the leading screw 34. The bearings 35 for the leading screw 34 the side
upon
frames A of the machine are made to fit over the first or lower key board guide bar and both
are screwed to the side frames A by the same screws. On the under side of the bearing
a bracket 41 is formed to fit to the outside of the side frame A with a small box 44
upon for the ratchet wheel back-stop 43 with a spiral metalic or india rubber
spring.
ucts as
14.
The graduated registering scale 38 extends across the front of the machine in front
of the leading screw 34 which also extends the whole distance between the bearings 35
to the front of which the registering scale is fixed by the screws 32. A half nut 37
is provided to travel upon the leading screw 34 and in the front part of the same a
slot 39 is cut. The outer face of the half nut 37 beyond the slot 39 is shaped towards
the left hand side to form a pointer 40. Thus when the half-nut 37 fits down over
the scale 38 it forms a stay for the scale plate 38 and leading screw 34 while the scale
a guide to the half nut the pointer 40 on the front of the same
indicating the divisions thereon. The operation of the counter and register
is as follows: The action of the horizontal key lovers 1 depresses the striking
bar 6 and levers 5 rotating the rocking spindle 3 thus raising the levers 7
with the slotted crosshead 8 to the underside of the spacing key arm
When the spacing key 14 is struck the levers 7 are depressed which draws
down the connecting link 8b with the crank 23 and the ratchet lever 31 thus
rotating the ratchet wheel 33 and the leading screw 34 and advancing the half nut 37
and pointer 40 thereon. The ratchet wheel 33 will also have advanced one tooth upon
the back stop 43 which prevents it being drawn back during the next operation. The
spacing key 14 may now be struck as often as necessary for any required space and
when the next word or character is commenced the foregoing operation is repeated.
When thirty words have been written the leading screw 34 has described one revolu-
tion and carried the half nut 37 with the pointer 40 to the first division line up
upon the
scale 38 thus counting and registering the first 30 words written or printed. The scale
38 is ten inches long rogistering nine hundred words or characters to the inch thus
giving a total of nine thousand. At the end of the scale or at any point upon it at
the completion of a piece of work the half nut 37 with pointer 40 can be lifted off the
leading screw and scale by the knob 70 and placed at zero.
Figures 25 and 26 will further illustrate the arrangement of our gearless screw
automatic word counter and register.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The application and combination of the geared or the gearless screw automatic
word and character counter and register to and with Caligraph or Type writing
machines substantially as herein shown and described.

page_text: 2. The combination of a long leading screw with an adjustable split or half nut to
work and travel upon it with a registering hand or pointer to count and register upon
the scale fixed in the front thereof. A ratchet wheel or the like fitted upon the end
of the said leading screw the motion being given to the said ratchet wheel or the like
by a ratchet lever or the like connected to any manipulating devices actuated by the
striking or depressing of keys or the like upon the keyboard or its equivalent of
Caligraph or Type writing machines substantially as herein shown and described..
3. The combination of the adjustable mechanism for operating the word counters and
registers and the devices for reversing any motion of the rocking spindle or the like
fixed upon the machine (such spindle not being inside or upon the dial counter_and
register itself) or any motion transmitted thereto from the keyboard of a Type
writing machine, and the levers being separate from each other upon the rocking
spindle to secure quicker and better means of connection substantially as herein
shown and described.
4. The combination of a word counter and register with the slotted link or similar
device as applied to one of the spacing keys of the Caligraph writing machine and
operating the word counter and register without the aid of the keyboard keys
substantially as herein shown and described.
5. The combination of the word counter and register with an additional key attached
to the side of the machine and constructed so as to lip over the top of one of the
existing spacing keys and working upon the pin or spindle thereof lengthened to
receive it and operating the counter and register without the aid of the keyboard keys
counting and spacing with the said additional key at the same time the ordinary
spacing key being free for use should extra space be required between the words
substantially as herein shown and described.
6. The combination with the word counter and register of the striking key and
striking spindle of the counter the said striking spindle having a slotted crosshead at
its lower end working upon the disc pin of the counter and the said striking key
overlapping the top of the spacing bar the guide for the said striking spindle being
made in one piece with the back plate of the counter the whole combination being
fixed or hung to the side of the Remington Type writer or the like machine so that one
strike of the counter key counts and registers the word and produces an ordinary
space and the spacing bar is free for use should extra space be required substantially as
herein shown and described.
7. The above combination applied to the Hammond Type writer for the same
purpose substantially as herein shown and described.
8. The application of a word counter and register or any such device to the
Hammond Type writer or the like manipulated by the combination of mechanism
shown and described or by similar devices operated from the spacing and keyboard
key levers substantially as herein shown and described.
9. The combination to form a portable hand counter of a word counter and register
with a striking key and vertical spindle with a slotted crosshead at its lower end
working upon the crank pin of the counter or such device having the guide for the
said spindle and the two hooks for hanging the counter on the machine made in one
piece with the back plate of the same, and the spring or similar device to return the
striking key and spindle back to its position after being struck. Any description of
counter and register may be fitted with the striking or other similar device to constitute
it a portable hand counter within the meaning and object of our invention substantially
as herein shown and described.
Dated this Tenth day of February 1888.