IMPROVEMENTS IN STRETCHERS USED IN MARKING LINEN AND OTHER SUCH LIKE ARTICLES, AND THE CASES OR BOXES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Charles Stephens, of 171, Aldersgate Street, in the
City of London, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STRETCHERS
USED IN MARKING LINEN AND OTHER SUCH LIKE ARTICLES, AND THE CASES
OR BOXES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
Sealed the 5th April 1878, and dated the 4th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Charles Stephens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1878.
"
HENRY CHARLES STEPHENS, of 171, Aldersgate Street, in the City of London,
Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS IN STRETCHERS USED IN MARKING LINEN AND OTHER
SUCH LIKE ARTICLES, AND THE CASES OR BOXES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
This Invention relates to improvements in marking ink stretchers, being so
shaped that two or more can be made to readily and neatly fit one into another, as
herein-after described.
The objects of this Invention aro to utilize certain advantages resulting from the
multiple principle involved in this plan of manufacturing marking ink stretchers,
by which method any number of different sizes can be packed, one within the other,
in a neat and close manner, thus affording in a comparatively small space every
service for which a marking ink stretcher could be required; and, as herein-after
described, the outer or larger stretcher is also made to form the upper portion of a
case to hold the stretchers of smaller size, with or without receptacles for pens, pen-
holders, and a bottle, or other vessel for ink.
These improved stretchers will be found to be more useful than any hitherto
known to me; they will be suitable for marking coarse as well as fine or delicate
descriptions of articles, and some nearer the edge of the fabric than others, and also
some of greater length in one continuous line.
To carry out the objects of this Invention I shape (in a lathe) a block or disc of
wood (when I use wood in preference to other materials) of the thickness required
to make stretchers, the periphery of which is rounded or otherwise shaped; I then

page_text: cut through the said disc at a short distance from its edge, continuing all round, in
a slanting direction, leaving the remainder of such disc of a shallow conical shape,
over the upper surface of which the article to be marked is evenly placed, and the
ring being pressed down over the whole, with its interior surface placed parallel
to the slanting surface of the periphery of the disc, the article is thereby held firmly
in its place for marking on.
From the underneath side of the said cone or disc I cut away interiorily the
solid parts, leaving only as much thereof as shall be sufficient to form a shell; in
this shell or receptacle I place the next smaller sized stretcher, and so on in suc-
cession for any number required, whether round, oval, or other convenient shape,
and which can be packed in combination with each other.
In making the case above named I shape the outer or largest stretcher (in a lathe,
when wood or other materials capable of being so shaped are used) by forming the
outer part of any shape required, whilst interiorly I cut away the solid parts
thereof, leaving only a hollow shell, which will constitute the lid or upper portion
of the said case, and in which I pack the stretchers, I then place a disc of wood or
other material over these, forming a bottom to the case or shell, or I use some other
suitable means to keep them in their place, and I adopt other forms as follows:-
Through a hole in the centre of a disc of wood or other material placed over the
stretchers to prevent them falling out of the upper case or shell, the top parts of the
bottle contained in a well in the bottom or lower part of the case can reach
up into
a hollow or receptacle made in the under side of the smallest stretcher, such hollow
or receptacle can also be employed at times as a box or receptacle for nibs or pens,
and a bottle or other vessel for ink.
In forming the bottom part of this case I proceed as last described except that I
cut sufficient out of the centre thereof to form a well, in which I place a bottle or
other vessel containing ink in the manner above set forth in the last paragraph.
I line the said well with cork or other materials that will answer the purpose; or
sometimes I use catches, springs, or other simple fastenings to preserve the bottle
in its place. In the solid parts round this well I drill holes for the reception of pen
nibs, penholders, or both.
I also make these cases of millboard, paper, papier maché, and such like materials,
especially those capable of being blocked up or moulded into the shapes required,
and in these cases I fit up or fix in the interior receptacles or spaces for the bottle
or the vessel above referred to, the pen nibs, penholders, or other articles in
connection therewith.
In stretchers of an oval shape the bottom part of the case is made according to
the method above described, except that in some I place the bottle or vessel on its
side in a recess made therein to receive it, and in this I secure it by one or other of
the means above described, utilising the remaining space by cutting grooves for the
reception of pen nibs and penholders.
I use other description of cases or boxes, the character and shape of which it is
unnecessary to enumerate here, the chief part of this Invention being the multiple
principle involved therein.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Charles Stephens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th June 1878.
"
"
HENRY CHARLES STEPHENS, of 171, Aldersgate Street, in the City of London,
Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS IN STRETCHERS USED IN MARKING LINEN AND OTHER
SUCH LIKE ARTICLES, AND THE CASES OR BOXES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH,'
This Invention relates to improvements in marking ink stretchers, being so
shaped that two or more can be made to readily and neatly fit one into another, as
herein-after described.
The objects of this Invention are to utilize certain advantages resulting from the
multiple principle involved in this plan of manufacturing marking ink stretchers
by which method any number of different sizes can be packed, one within the other,
in a neat and close manner, thus affording in a comparatively small space every
service for which a marking ink stretcher could be required; and, as herein-after
described, the outer or larger stretcher is also made to form the upper portion of a
case to hold the stretchers of smaller size, with or without receptacles for pens, pen-
holders, and a bottle, or other vessel for ink.
These improved stretchers will be found to be more useful than any hitherto
known to me; they will be suitable for marking coarse as well as fine or delicate
descriptions of articles, and some nearer the edge of the fabric than others, and also
some of greater length in one continuous line.
To carry out the objects of this Invention I shape (in a lathe) a block or disc of
wood (when I use wood in preference to other materials) of the thickness required
to make the stretchers, the periphery of which is rounded or otherwise shaped; I
then cut through the said disc at a short distance from its edge, continuing all round,
in a slanting direction, leaving the remainder of such disc of a shallow conical
shape, over the upper surface of which the article to be marked is evenly placed, and
the ring being pressed down over the whole, with its interior surface placed parallel
to the slanting surface of the periphery of the disc, the article is thereby held firmly
in its place for marking on.
in
From the underneath side of the said cone or disc I cut away, interiorily, the
solid parts, leaving only as much thereof as shall be sufficient to form a shell;
this shell or receptacle I place the next smaller sized stretcher, and so on in suc-
cession for any number required, whether round, oval, or other convenient shape,
and which can be packed in combination with each other.
In making the case above named I shape the outer or largest stretcher (in a lathe
when wood or other materials capable of being so shaped are used) by forming the
outer part of any shape required, whilst interiorily I cut away the solid parts
thereof, leaving only a hollow shell, which will constitute the lid or upper portion
of the said case, and in which I pack the stretchers; then place a disc of wood or
other material over these, forming a bottom to the case or shell, or I use some other
suitable means to keep them in their place, and I adopt other forms as follows:-
Through a hole in the centre of the disc of wood or other material placed over the
stretchers to prevent them falling out of the upper case or shell, the top parts of a
bottle contained in a well in the bottom or lower part of the case can reach up into
a hollow or receptacle made in the under side of the smallest stretcher, such hollow
or receptacle can also be employed at times as a box or receptacle for nibs or pens,
and a bottle or other vessel for ink.
In forming the bottom part of this case I proceed as last described, except that I
cut sufficient out of the centre thereof to form a well, in which I place a bottle or
other vessel containing ink in the manner above set forth in the last paragraph.
I line the said well with cork or other materials that will answer the purpose; or
sometimes I use catches, springs, or other simple fastenings to preserve the bottle in

page_text: its place. In the solid parts round this well 1 drill holes for the reception of pen
nibs, penholders, or both.
I also make these cases with millboard, paper, papier machié, and such like
materials, especially those capable of being blocked up or moulded into the shapes
required, and in these cases I fit up or fix in the interior receptacles or spaces for
the bottle or the vessel above refered to, the pen nibs, penholders, or other articles
in connection therewith.
In stretchers of an oval shape the bottom part of a case is made according to the
method above described, except that in some I place the bottle or vessel on its side
in a recess made therein to receive it, and in this I secure it by one or other of the
means above described, utilizing the remaining space by cutting grooves for the
reception of pen nibs and penholders.
I use other descriptions of cases or boxes, the character and shape of which it is
unnecessary to enuinerate here, the chief part of this Invention being the multiple
principle involved therein.
But that my improvements may be better understood I will proceed, by the aid
of the accompanying Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side view, and shews a set of stretchers packed one within the other,
and Fig. 2 is also a side view, and represents a set of three stretchers also
packed one within the other, only in a reverse manner to those of Fig. 1.
The letters in each Figure represent similar parts in all the Figs., viz., A, B, & C,
represent rings with a slanting surface made interiorly, as seen at the dotted lines
of A¹, B¹, C¹, Figs. 1 and 2, and also at smaller circles in Figs. 10, 12, & 14, while
the dotted lines at Figs. 1 and 2 shew the shallow conical shaped disc named in
connection with this Invention.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew a plan view, each of Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 4 being intended
to represent Fig. 1, and 3 being similar view of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 shows a plan view of D, the two outer lines represent a rounded or bevelled
edge, the two inner lines indicate a raised flange, and seen better at the dotted lines
connected with D, Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 shews one of these stretchers with an example of the manner of placing an
article to be written upon, A representing the ring, and A¹ the surface, over which
is evenly placed the article (a), being firmly held in its proper place by means of
the ring A.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent a box or case in which to pack certain descriptions of
stretchers made according to this Invention, examples being shewn at Figs. 1
and 2.
Fig. 9 shews a set of stretchers, such as shewn in Fig. 1, piled one above
another, and like Figs. 1 and 2 clearly exhibit the multiple principal involved in
this Invention.
Figs. 10, 12, and 14 are described above.
Figs. 11, 13, & 15 shew the progressive sizes of the disc or part of the stretcher
which forms at A', B, and C¹, respectively the even surface on which the article to
be written upon is to be stretched, Figs. 16, 17, and 18 representing the said Figs.
11, 13, and 15 interiorily.
Fig. 19 shews a stretcher of an oval shape, a portion of the upper part of the case or
bottom thereof marked D, being cut out to form a receptacle in which a bottle con-
taining marking ink can be placed in a convenient manner, as shewn at L, which
can be more plainly seen at Fig. 20; the manner of closing this stretcher is to draw
A', the oval-shaped hollow disc or stretcher over, past the ridge or flange, scen
about or encircleing the position of the bottle in Fig. 19, shut it down close, and
then press the oval-shaped ring A down tightly over that again; the whole is then
packed, either for use, as shewn at Fig. 28, or if letter (a) representing the material

page_text: to be written upon is removed then the said stretcher is sufficiently packed either
to be preserved in a case or as it is.
Fig. 20 shews an arrangement of a receptacle for a vessel to contain marking ink
as referred to in describing Fig. 19, and also certain grooves made in the upper
surface thereof to contain pens, penholders, or both.
Fig. 21 shews a similar arrangement. as applied to stretchers of a circular shape.
Fig. 22 shewing an example of a bottle proposed to be used in these Figures.
Fig. 23 shews an oval stretcher in combination with those of a circular shape
with a cylindrical bottle L in the centre, the dotted line shewing A¹, of Fig. 19,
inverted; the holes marked R, R, indicate receptacles made to receive pen nibs or
parts of penholders (to be joined together when used) or both.
Fig. 24 shews a plain oval disc with two pens N, N, and a penholder N, kept in
their places by means of india-rubber bands, tapes, or other suitable fastenings.
Fig. 25 shews the oval shape stretcher as exhibited at Fig. 23 without the outer
ring, the central round stretchers, or the bottle as therein shewn.
Fig. 26 is a plain disc to be used as a cover to be placed over such sets of
stretchers, as shewn in Fig. 23, to keep the same in their proper position, having a
hole in its centre, up through which the top part of the bottle can pass.
And Fig. 27 is an oval bottom or outer cover or lid corresponding to D, in Figs. 1
and 5.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the means to
carry the same into effect, what I desire to claim by the herein-before part
recited Letters Patent is, the principle and means of multiple stretchers and the
box containing the same, as herein-before described, and substantially set forth in
the above Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Charles Stephens, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
o Witness,
HENRY CHARLES STEPHENS. (L.B.)
STEPHEN NORRIS,
Agent,
2, Little Marlboro' Street,
Regent Street, W.