Improvements in Indicators, chiefly designed for use at Telephone Stations, also used for Advertising Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Indicators, chiefly designed for use at Telephone
Stations, also used for Advertising Purposes.
We, IGNATIUS RALEIGH BURNS, of Chicago View Hotel, corner Ogden
Avenue and Madison Street, and WALTER FRANCIS BURNS of No. 330 La Salle
Avenue, both of Chicago, Illinois United States of America 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 :-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in indicators, and as described, is
particularly adapted to an indicator to be used at telephone station, in which
indicator flexible sheets are secured, affording space for placing or writing the
names and telephone numbers of subscribers thereon and upon which sheets is also
displayed advertising matter. A casing preferably of attractive design, is
provided with suitable means for securing therein the flexible sheets, such as spring
rollers, weights or elastic bands, whereby the flexible sheets are caused to normally
recoil within the casing.
The casing is further designed to bear advertising matter and this may be either
engraved or printed upon the casing itself, or upon removable plates of suitable
material, such as metal, cardboard, porcelain, celluloid or the like.
Lists for reference in commercial or hotel business, where economy of space or
privacy is desired, may be enclosed in a similar casing without detracting from the
value of the advertising features.
The object of this invention is to provide an attractive article that will form a
part of the fixtures of a telephone station, wherein all information desirable to the
particular station may be compiled upon the flexible sheets therein, thus ensuring
privacy. As an advertising medium, it is placed where it will attract the attention
of the business public, thereby ensuring advertisers that their advertising matter is
continually being brought before the people they most desire to reach.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the indicator with the door open and showing
one of the flexible sheets partly withdrawn from the case.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the indicator in its closed position.
Figure 3 is a side or edge view of the indicator, the rolls of flexible material
being shown by the dotted lines.
In the drawing, A represents a casing of rectangular form having secured
therein spring rollers B, upon which rollers are the flexible sheets or curtains C,
whose free ends extend through slots D in the front of the casing and have stop
rods E and pulls F thereon. A tablet G formed of slate porcelain, celluloid or
other suitable material is secured upon the front of the casing and affords means
for noting down memoranda. A receptacle for pencils is formed at I in the top of
the casing. H represent plates that are removably secured to the front of the
casing and upon which advertising matter is displayed. The door J has upon its
sides the plates K and mirror L.
Other forms of construction and other material, than herein shown and described
may be employed without departing from the purpose and scope of the invention.
It is immaterial as to whether one or more flexible recording or advertising sheets
are used, while the mirror may be omitted entirely, or some other substitute
employed therefor, as this feature is simply ornamental, or the door itself may be
dispensed with, as it is not essential to the invention, although preferably used.
The plates upon which the advertisements are either engraved or printed may be
discarded and the advertising matter printed or engraved upon the casing itself.
Various designs may be substituted for the casing and still embody the elements

page_text: of the invention. All the changes or variations in construction mentioned, may be
adopted, provided the construction or arrangement, employed, is such as to afford
space for recording telephone subscribers or for other uses, as well as space for
advertising purposes when desired...
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an indicator the combination with an enclosing casing having slots therein,
flexible sheets upon which memoranda may be compiled, said sheets extended
through the slots, and means whereby the sheets are normally retained within the
casing, substantially as described.
2. A telephone indicator comprising in combination, a casing, flexible sheets
upon which a list of subscribers may be arranged, means for securing the flexible
sheets within the casing, and means whereby the flexible sheets are normally
retained within the casing, substantially as described.
3. A telephone indicator comprising in combination a casing, spring rollers
within the casing, flexible sheets upon the rollers, said sheets affording space for a
list of subscribers and advertising matter thereon, and stops for controlling the
sheets, substantially as described.
4. A telephone indicator having a casing with advertising space thereon, a
memoranda tablet and flexible sheets normally held within the casing, substantially
as described.
5. In a telephone indicator the combination with an enclosing casing, having
slots therein, flexible sheets designed for having a list of subscribers thereon, means
for retaining the sheets within the casing, removable advertising plates, upon the
casing, a memoranda tablet and a pencil holder, substantially as described.
6. A telephone indicator of the class described with a casing having a door
with removable plates upon its sides whereon advertising matter is displayed,
substantially as described.
7. In a telephone indicator the combination with an enclosing casing, one or
more flexible sheets secured therein, whereon may be placed a list of subscribers,
and a door to conceal the face of the casing, substantially as described.
8. A telephone indicator of the class described with a casing having removable
plates, whereon advertising matter is displayed, substantially as described.
9. A telephone indicator of the class described with an enclosing casing having
space for advertising matter, a memoranda tablet, pencil holder, a door, said door
having advertising space and a mirror thereon, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of Autobor 1902
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
4