An Improved Appliance for Use in Teaching Reading and Spelling.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Use in Teaching Reading and Spelling..
ALFRED HARVEY SMITH, Russell Villa, Lord Street Basford, Stoke on Trent,.
Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:-
This is a mechanical contrivance for scholastic use, by means of which a single
printed word is presented to the view, and rapid mutations in the same are effected
by varying one or more of the letters successively, as may be desired, the changes
being accomplished by simply turning one or more of the knobs or handles, each of
which serves to vary one of the letters of the word presented. The apparatus
consists essentially of a number of revolving discs of cardboard or other material,.
around the edges of which are printed the letters of the alphabet suitably
arranged, and which are contained within a thin case of wood or other suitable
material having on its front face several small openings arranged side by side.
in horizontal line, & equal in number to the number of discs. The discs are so
fixed that when by means of the knob or handle attached to the centre of each
they are made to revolve, their edges play opposite the different openings, each
disc presenting its letters in succession, one at a time, opposite its own opening..
Thus an infinite variety of changes may be readily and systematically made in
the word exhibited. By presenting a blank on one or more of the discs, words
or syllables of a less number of letters than are provided for may be formed, and
by having the discs also marked with figures, numbers may be presented.
Dated this 8th day of June 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Use in Teaching Reading and Spelling.
ALFRED HARVEY SMITH Russell Villa, Lord Street Basford, Stoke on Trent,
Schoolmaster, 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 nature of my invention will be readily seen by reference to the accompanying
drawing in which ;-
E. F. G. H is a light thin frame of wood or other suitable material containing
a number of revolving discs, which are invisible, excepting where each shows
through one of the apertures b, e, s, and t, in the front of the frame. For con-
venience of adjustment, the number of discs is limited to four, numbered 1. 2. 3 and 4,
in the sketch. Discs 1. and 4 revolve by means of their centre knobs A and B,
which are connected with them through the front of the frame. Discs 2 and 3 are
worked by means of the knobs C and D, which are connected with them through the
back of the frame. If preferred, however, C and D may be grooved wheels instead
of plain knobs, and may then be operated by knobs working from the front, fixed
at K and I, and connected in each case with C & D, by running cords.
Around the edges of the discs are printed in convenient order the letters of the
alphabet, so that, as the discs revolve, they exhibit their letters through the four
apertures, disc 1 being worked at A and showing at b, disc 2 worked at C and
showing at e, disc 3 worked at D, & showing at, and disc 4 worked at B showing
at t. Thus any suitable combinations of letters may be exhibited to form words or
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page_text: syllables of four letters, and the letters at any aperture may be rapidly varied as
desired by turning the proper knob. Words of less than four letters may be formed
by presenting a blank at one or more of the openings, a portion of each disc being left
blank for the purpose. The discs can, if required, be detached, and likewise reversed
by opening the frame, and unscrewing them from their knobs. The reverse side of
the discs is also printed with letters, one side having the capitals, the other the small
letters. After detaching, another set of discs may be adjusted bearing instead of
letters the ten digits. Thus any number up to 9,999 may be shown, and the scholars
practised in rapidly reading off such numbers, as they are varied by turning the
different knobs. These discs also are marked in other portions of their margins,
with (1) concrete illustrations of number by means of combinations of dots up to
the number 10, and (2) with the Roman numerals up to ten. Thus different
representations of a number may be shown simultaneously, & the scholars are helped
by this association. And (3) the discs may also be marked with a series of colours, so
that by exhibiting these different colours separately or simultaneously at the
apertures lessons on "colour" to infants may be illustrated.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
另
The application of revolving discs, lettered or figured on their edges or margins,
and exhibited through apertures, to the purpose of educational "word-building," i.e.
to the presentation of suitable combinations & changes of letters for the production
of different words, by means of suitable combinations of the discs, effected by turning
or revolving them as heretofore described.
Dated this Eighth day of March 1894
ALFRED HARVEY SMITH.