IMPROVEMENTS IN PERFORATING INSTRUMENTS FOR PRODUCING STENCILS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE REPRODUCTION OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER DELINEATIONS.” PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Gestotner, of South Street, Thurloe Square, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERFORATING
INSTRUMENTS FOR PRODUCING STENCILS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE REPRODUCTION
OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER DELINEATIONS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Gestetner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1881.
DAVID GESTETNER, of South Street, Thurloe Square, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERFORATING INSTRUMENTS FOR PRODUCING
STENCILS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE REPRODUCTION OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS,
AND OTHER DELINEATIONS.'
"
The Invention has for its object improvements in perforating instruments for
producing stencils to be employed in the reproduction of writings, drawings, and
other delineations.
For this purpose I employ a toothed, notched, or roughened wheel of small
diameter, and 1 mount this wheel upon an axis carried by a holder or handle
similar to a pencil or pen.
1 in some cases incline the axis of the perforating wheel, in order that the
instrument when in use may be held by the hand in an inclined position in a
similar manner to an ordinary pen, and yet allow of the perforating wheel
remaining upright, but I do not confine myself to this arrangement.
By the aid of this instrument lines of minute perforations are produced by
writing or drawing therewith upon thin waxed paper or other suitable material
placed upon any even surface, but I have found that by employing a surface of
tinned metal for this purpose I obtain good results. This sheet of perforated
paper or other material forms the stencil, and may be employed to reproduce the-
writing, drawing, or other delincation in any desired manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Gestetner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd December
1881.
DAVID GESTETNER, of South Street, Thurloe Square, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERFORATING INSTRUMENTS FOR PRODUCING
STENCILS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE REPRODUCTION OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS,
AND OTHER DELINEATIONS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in perforating instruments for
producing stencils to be employed in the reproduction of writings, drawings, and
other delineations.
For this purpose I employ a toothed, notched, or roughened wheel of small
diameter, and I mount this wheel upon an axis carried by a holder or handle
similar to a pencil or pen.
I in some cases incline the axis of the perforating wheel, in order that the
instrument when in use may be held by the hand in an inclined position in a
similar manner to an ordinary pen, and yet allow of the perforating wheel
remaining upright, but I do not confine myself to this arrangement.
By the aid of this instrument lines of minute perforations are produced by
writing or drawing therewith upon thin waxed paper or other suitable material
placed upon any even surface, but I have found that by employing a surface of
tinned metal for this purpose I obtain good results. This sheet of perforated paper
or other material forms the stencil, and may be employed to reproduce the writing,
drawing or other delineation in any desired manner.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings,
more fully to describe the saine.
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 is a sido or edge view of a perforating
instrument constructed according to my Invention, and Figure 3 represents a
sectional end view of the handle thereof. The above Figures are drawn to the
actual size of the perforator; Figures 4 and 5 represent respectively a front view
and an edge or side view of the perforator shown at Figure 1 and 2 drawn to an
enlarged scale; and Figure 6 is an enlarged edge or side view of a perforator,
showing the axis of the perforating wheel inclined.
a represents the perforating wheel, which I form with an edge divided or cut
into a number of teeth with only very small spaces between them. In the
perforating wheel shown the edge of the wheel is formed curved or semicircular or
thereabouts, and the teeth extend from or near the axis on one side of the wheel to
or near the axis on the other side thereof, thus enabling the perforating to be
properly effected at whatever angle the pen may be held; this wheel is mounted
upon an axis b, which may be at right angles to the holder, as shown at Figures 1, 2,
4, and 5, or inclined theroto, as shown at Figure 6.
The axis b is, as shown, preferably supported on only one side thereof, thereby
facilitating the use of very small perforating wheels, and enabling the perforator
readily to produce curves and other lines without danger of tearing the thin waxed
paper or other material employed for the stencil.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, I have shown the handle c formed triangular in section
at the lower part thereof to facilitate holding the perforator in proper position for

page_text: use. The shape of the teeth of the perforating wheel may be different from that
shown in the Drawings, provided that in running over the paper it will produce
perforations therein.
By the aid of this perforator lines of minute perforations are produced by writing
or drawing therewith upon thin waxed paper or other suitable material placed
upon a hard even surface, by which means stencils of writings, drawings, or other
delineations can be readily produced, such stencils being used in the manner now
well understood to obtain numerous reproductions of said writings, drawings, or
other delineations.
Having thus described the nature of my, said Invention, and the mode in
which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,
First. Tho perforating instrument consisting of a very small notched, toothed, or
roughened wheel a, mounted on an axis of motion carried by a suitable handle
or holder c, substantially as hĕrein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
Second. A perforating instrument consisting of a very small notched, toothed, or
roughened wheel mounted on an axis of motion b, and having the edge of the
wheel of a curved or semi-circular form or thereabouts, and having the notches or
teeth extending from one side of the wheel around the periphery to the other
side thereof, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Gestetner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one,