Improvements in Apparatus for the Multiplication of Copies of Written Documents, Drawings, Etchings, Engravings, Stencilling, Embroidery Patterns, and other Designs.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for the Multiplication of Copies
of Written Documents, Drawings, Etchings, Engravings,
Stencilling, Embroidery Patterns, and other Designs.
I FREDERICK BARON MICHELL of 29 Kirkgate Wakefield Yorkshire Watch-
maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THR MULTIPLICATION OF COPIES OF WRITTEN DOCUMENTS,
DRAWINGS ETCHINGS ENGRAVINGS STENCILLING & EMBROIDERY PATTERNS & to be
as follows:-
A plate of steel, prepared, cut, and tempered like a fine file, is used, on which to
lay the paper, or other suitable material employed for the purpose. A hard
pointed, or sharp edged tool, like the scribe used by an. engraver, a penknife, or
the point of a drawing compass, is,then used to press on the material employed.
For writing I use the said scribe, for drawing straight, lines, either the scribe or
a knife, and for curves a compass, a wheel, or, wheels
The scribe is used in the same manner as an ordinary pencil, but with a little
more pressure: the sharp edge of the knife is employed as if it were intended to
cut the paper in two, but with a little less pressure. The compass, after having
its point rounded and tempered, to prevent tearing the paper, or other material,
may be used in the ordinary way. On removing the said material, it will be
found that the lines pressed down on the file by the sharp point or edge; have been
partly perforated, leaving other portions unpierced, to hold the letters or lines
together. This perforated material is used for printing whatever impressions may
have been punctured through it: and the method by which it is produced forms
the principal part of my invention.
Impressions can be obtained from it by any of the following methods; the
discovery of which, however, I do not claim as any part of my invention. A pad,
lightly covered with thin printer's ink, may have the perforated paper laid upon it,
with the raised part of the letters or lines turned upwards; after a sheet of
blotting paper has been laid upon it, it should be lightly, pressed on until the ink
is drawn through by the capillary attraction of the small holes; after which it may
be used for printing impressions by rubbing the hand, or a soft pad, over the paper
laid on it; or by pressing it in a press, or book, or under a roller, so as to cause
the two surfaces to come in close contact, and the ink to exude from the pad,

page_text: But the second part of my invention consists of a press, formed in the shape of
a box, into the cover of which the steel file-like plate is fastened by two screws:
on each side, and on each end of which, a rule is fixed, for the rapid measurement
of distances in drawing, and for ruling lines. There are two rollers on the inside
of the box, fixed on metal axes, in metal bearings, parallel to each other; which
are covered with some soft yielding material, such as India rubber, leather, or
swansdown twill
On the lower of those rollers, on the outside of the box, a handle is fixed, by
which this roller is turned round, and when any material such as will lightly press
on the both is placed between them, the two are caused to revolve together, and
press the material so inserted. Two screws, one on each side of the box, outside,
are so placed as by pressing on the axes to cause the under roller to approach the
upper and thus form a cheap, easily-worked, and fairly rapid press, for office and
commercial work: and when made with great accuracy, fit for art purposes.
In this press, in the following manner, I prefer printing with the above named
perforated material.
One wheel or roller is slightly covered with a thin solution of printer's ink, or
other suitable solution: on this, with the raised parts of the letters or lines upward,
the perforated material is laid; and is held there by the solution. The paper on
which the impression is to be made is then inserted through an opening in the end
of the box nearest the rollers, and the cover of the box having been removed, the
paper is taken from the rollers, printed, on the other side from that on which it
was put in

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for. the Multiplication of Copies
of Written Documents, Drawings, Etchings, Engravings,
Stencilling, Embroidery Patterns, and other Designs.
I FREDERICK BARON MICHELL 29 Kirkgate Wakefield Yorkshire Watchmaker
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR THE MULTIPLICATION OF COPIES OF WRITTEN DOCUMENTS DRAWINGS ETCHINGS
ENGRAVINGS STENCILLING EMBROIDERY PATTERNS AND OTHER DESIGNS and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The apparatus consists of the following instruments.
First those that are to perforate the stencils that are to form the type.
Secondly those that are to form the Press by which impressions therefrom are
to be multiplied.
First a steel plate, indented or grooved like a fine file, on which a prepared
paper, or other suitable material is laid.
To write, or draw on this, I employ any of the following instruments, according
to the kind of work to be performed..
A scribe, or style, whose point has been carefully rounded off and polished: or
better still, one formed by making a gradually tapered piece of steef into a loop.
A cylinder revolving on a pivot perpendicularly with the handle.
A perfectly plain wheel, revolving on a pivot, passing horizontally throu the
bottom of its handle: this I find preferable to the indented wheel mentioned in
my first specification; because it runs more smoothly over the paper, and produces
finer indents therein. Such a wheel I employ also fixed on a pivot ouside the
handle, to allow of its more free revolution; the handle may then be bent down
near the end, to allow of the wheel running when its surface is nearly flat on the
paper, so that its under angle may impinge on the file.
A compass with such a wheel, or with one foot rounded off like above described
scribe.
A cylinder whose outside surface is filed off at different widths at the bottom, to
admit of its forming lines of various breadths.
A knife, or instrument with a like edge.
Secondly. The Press consists of a box, with a cover to take the steel plate, a
frame to secure the paper to form the type, four rules, one at each of the sides and
ends of the plate, for measurement, two rollers running in parallel lines inside the
box; which may either run loosely, or by the aid of two toothed wheels; these are
turned by a handle on the outside, where adjusting-screws cause them to approach
or receed from each other by acting on their axes. The frame enclosing the steel
plate gradually slopes away, enlarging from the surface. downwards; on this
another frame, sloping in the contrary direction, is fitted, which tightens on the
paper to secure its flatness, and prevent its motion.
Having described the nature of the apparatus, I will now give a description of
the method of working the same.
I lay on the file-like steel plate the material to be perforated, and secure it
with the frames. Then in writing, holding the scribe as though it were a pencil,

page_text: I use it in the same manner as one, but with rather more pressure. In drawing
either of the instruments may be employed with the aid of an ordinary ruler or
square but in the use of the compass it is necessary to lay a piece of square metal,
with lines as given in the drawing thereof, and, an indent in it centre, on the
surface of the material to be perforated, to prevent the point of the compass
piercing the same. The pressure of these instruments on the surface of the paper
causes the lines under the points, or edges of the instruments to be pierced through
by the sharp projections of the file-like-plate; while the parts of the file between
the projections allow threads of paper to Femain unsevered, to hold the letters
together.
.
While all other methods for perforating stencils, with which I am acquinted, are
done by the sharp teeth of the instrument pressing down from the upper surface,
mine is performed by the projections of my plate passing up through under
pressure, producing lines of holes corresponding with the lines drawn on the upper
surface by the instruments above described for that purpose. This forms the first
and most essential part of my invention.
The stencils may be used to print impressions from, either with my press, or any
of the following methods. They may be used with an ordinary inked roller
passing over them, with a soft or smooth surface beneath; with an ordinary press;
by being laid on an inked pad, and pressed with a roller, a pad, or the hand. To s
all of which methods of using my stencils, which are the only new thing in
connection with these methods of printing, I claim the use, though I do not
pretend to the discovery of printing by them.
In printing with my press, the ink, the stencils, and the rollers come in contact,
when the ink is forced through the holes at every revolution, leaving an exact
impression on the material placed for its reception.
employ a paper especially prepared by covering it with a solution of Russian
glue, or paraffin wax, to render it impervious to ink where it has not been pierced.
My ink is a mixture of American ink and linseed oil.
For producing a cheap modification for copying writings, or plain drawings I
employ a block like Nº 5, & frame like N° 7, with a detached roller like N° 6.

page_text: 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. A method of perforating paper & by means of a steel plate, indented or
grooved like a fine file, and pointed or edged instruments, whether with one point
or edge or more, such as many bladed knives, that will perforate many lines at
given distances at the same time.
2. A Press with rollers, and screws to regulate their required distances, and
with a file-like-steel plate, and frame to enclose the same, with another frame
fitting thereon, to secure the paper on the plate.
3. Wheels and cylinders, pointed scribes and edge tools, like knives, with a
compass, and square piece of metal with lines as in N° 8.
4. A modification for copying writing & plain drawings, consists of a block with
a frame to fit on a gradually sloping part thereof, and a detached roller to work
thereon as fully shown in the accompanying drawings.