Postal Packets and for similar Purposes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Postal Packets and for similar Purposes.
I, OSWALD BROWN, of 27 Great George Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus designed to facilitate and expedite the operation
of affixing postage stamps to the envelopes of letters and to other postal packets; the
same being also applicable to apparatus for attaching adhesive labels to articles of
other descriptions.
Apparatus constructed according to this invention and intended for use with postage
stamps comprises a hollow chamber whereof the length and breadth correspond with
the dimensions of the stamp and whereof the depth may vary according to the number
of stamps with which the holder is to be charged. The bottom of the chamber is open
except for lips which project inwards over the corners or edges of the stamps
sufficiently to prevent the latter falling out. The stamps, having been separated from
one another, are introduced to the chamber and arranged with their gummed faces
towards the bottom or open end of the holder. Above the pile of stamps is a plunger
or block which may be of metal and which loosely fits the interior of the chamber.
Against the back or upper side of the plunger abuts a rod surrounded by a spiral
spring and enclosed within a hollow stem mounted upon and opening into the upper
side of the chamber. Sliding upon this hollow stem is a tube carrying a head; the
motion of the tube upon the stem being limited by snugs which engage in slots of
suitable length formed in the stem, or by equivalent means. One extremity of the
spiral spring bears against the plunger resting upon the stamps, whilst the opposite
extremity thereof bears against the underside of the head and maintains the latter with
its tube in the raised position. Thus the moderate pressure exerted by the spring is
constantly available for retaining the stamps in position ready for application and for
preventing their shaking loose.
In using the apparatus, the surface to which the stamp is to be affixed is moistened,
and the lower or open end of the holder having been applied to the moistened part,
the head is pressed downwards until the underside thereof arrives in contact with the

page_text: rod enclosed within the hollow stem. The pressure applied to the head is thereupon
communicated through the rod to the plunger or block with which the holder
is furnished and which rests upon the pile of stamps; the pressure being thus
evenly distributed and the gummed face of the lowest stamp pressed into
intimate contact with the moistened surface of the article to which the same is to be
affixed.
Although, for the purpose of description, I have assumed the apparatus to be
employed vertically, it is equally applicable in other positions. Or the apparatus
may be mounted in the free end of a pivotted arm or radius bar, a spring being
applied to the said arm to return the latter to the raised position. In such instances,
I sometimes combine with the apparatus a second similarly mounted arm carrying
a damping pad for use in moistening the surface to which the stamp is to be
affixed.
For indicating the denomination as also the position of the stamps contained in the
holder, I mount in the head of the apparatus a stamp of the same description. The
indicating stamp may, by means of a glazed cover, be protected against wear and
liability to become soiled in frequent handling.
Although I have described this invention as applied for use in affixing stamps to
postal packets, it will be obvious that apparatus of the same kind may be employed for
attaching adhesive labels to articles of other descriptions; the holder being in every
instance adapted in size and form to the requirements of the particular label to be
dealt with.
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701
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G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: improvements in Apparatus Applicable for Amxing Stamps Lo
Postal Packets and for similar Purposes.
I, OSWALD BROWN, of 27 Great George Street, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, 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:
This invention relates to apparatus designed to facilitate and expedite the operation
of affixing postage stamps to the envelopes of letters and to other postal packets; the
same being also applicable to apparatus for attaching adhesive labels to articles of
other descriptions.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood, I will, with the aid of the
accompanying drawings, proceed to describe apparatus constructed in accordance
therewith and intended for use in affixing postage stamps. Figure 1 is a vertical
section, Figure 2 a side elevation, Figure 3 an end view of the stamp holder, and
Figure 4 a plan of the opposite extremity or head of the. apparatus. a is a hollow
chamber, corresponding in length and breadth with the dimensions of the stamps, and
having a depth suited to the number of stamps with which the holder is to be
charged. The bottom of the chamber a is open except for lips a' which project inwards
over the corners or edges of the stamps sufficiently to prevent the latter falling out.
The stamps, having been separated from one another, are introduced to the chamber
and arranged with their gummed faces towards the bottom or open end of the holler.
Above the pile of stamps is a plunger or plate b, which may be of metal and which
loosely fits the interior of the chamber a. Against the back or upper side of the
plate, abuts a role surrounded by a spiral spring d and enclosed within a hollow
stem e mounted upon and opening into the upper side of the chamber a. Sliding
upon the hollow stem e is a tube f carrying a heady: the motion of the tube upon
the stem e being limited by snugs which work in slots eel, of suitable length,
formed in the tube e, or by equivalent means. One extremity of the spiral spring d
bears against the plate resting upon the stamps, whilst the opposite extremity
thereof bears against the under side of the head y and maintains the latter
with its tube f in the raised position shewn. The moderate pressure exerted by the
spring d is at the same time constantly available for retaining the stamps in position
ready for application and for preventing their shaking loose.
i
In using the apparatus, the surface to which the stamp is to be affixed is moistened :
and the lower or open end of the holder à having been applied to the moistened part,
the head is pressed downwards until the underside thereof arrives in contact with
the rod c enclosed within the hollow stem e. The pressure applied to the head is
thereupon communicate through the rod to the plate which rests upon the pile of
stamps; the pressure being thus evenly distributed, and the gummed face of the
lowest stamp pressed into intimate contact with the moistened surface of the article to

page_text: which the same is to be affixed. The corners of the plate bare by preference slightly
chamfered as indicated in the face view Figure 5, with a view to maintaining the
effective action of the apparatus until the last stamp contained in the holder has been
delivered.
Although for the purpose of description I have assumed the apparatus to be employed
vertically, it is equally applicable in other positions.
For indicating the denomination as also the position of the stamps contained in the
holder, there may be mounted in the head of the apparatus a stamp of the same
description. An arrangement with this object is represented in Figures 6 and 7,
whereof the former is a section of an alternative form of head g and the latter a plan
view. The upper side of the lead g is in this case provided with a plate h of glass or
other transparent material, the same being retained in position by means of a
removeable frame /. The indicating stamp is inserted face outwards between the
head g and the plate h, and is, protected by the latter against wear and liability to
become soiled in frequent handling.
For moistening the surface to which the stamp is to be applied, the side of the
head may be furnished with a pad of sponge, felt or other suitable absorbent
material, as indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 4; and for maintaining the pad in
a moist condition, the apparatus, when not in use, may be laid with its head upon
a saturated damper, the pad j absorbing the required degree of moisture therefrom.
Although I have described my invention as applied for use in affixing stamps to
postal packets, it will be obvious that apparatus of the same kind may be employed
for attaching adhesive labels to articles of other descriptions; the holder being in
every instance adapted in size and form to the requirements of the particular label to
be dealt with.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
First The improved apparatus applicable for affixing adhesive stamps to the
moistened surface of a postal packet and for similar purposes, constructing and
operating as herein described.
Secondly: In apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clause,
the combination of a holder a, hollow stem e open at both ends, tube sliding upon
the stem and closed at its upper extremity, thrust rod e enclosed within the telescopic
tube and disconnected at both ends, and spiral spring d, the whole arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Thirdly: For use with apparatus of the kind referred to in the first claiming clause
hereto, the improved means for indicating the position or denomination of the stamps
or labels contained in the holder, substantially as described with reference to Figures 6
and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of February 1887.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.