CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND STAMPS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND STAMPS."-A commu-
nication from abroad by William Wirt Secombe, of New York City, in
the United States of America.
Sealed the 25th April 1865, and dated the 5th December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th December 1864.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND STAMPS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of band stamps
in which a chemically prepared or inked apron is used to furnish the types
with the necessary supply of ink or other material wherewith to produce the
desired impression.
The improvements consist, first, in the use of a long continuous strip of
prepared ribbon, secured with its ends to two reels, and drawn over the face
of the types in such a manner that by turning the reels in the proper direc-

page_text: tion a new portion of the prepared ribbon can be brought between the types
and material on which the impression is to be taken, and a clean and
perfect impression is obtained without fail. The reels are either enclosed
in a tubular case, forming the stem of the hand stamp, or mounted on axles
which have their bearings in a block head, secured to the end of a solid stem.
The block or head is attached to the solid stem by a set screw in such a
manner that it can be readily removed and replaced, or that it can be adjusted
in any desired position of the paper and of the desired impression. The types
are secured either in a socket in the end of the cylindrical case or in a slotted
plate attached to the block or head. This slotted plate is provided with a
nick at one edge and a slot at the opposite edge to admit of its catching
under the heads of screws projecting from the face of the block. It can thus
be readily fastened to or removed from the head or block. The table which
is to support the paper or other article to be impressed, and is to receive the
pressure of the hand stamp, is made adjustable or removable, so that it can
be readily raised or lowered or taken off its support at the foot of the casting
which carries the working parts of the hand stamp, and replaced as required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND STAMPS," being a communication to
him from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Wil-

page_text: liam Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of hand
stamps in which a chemically-prepared or inked apron is used to furnish the
types with the necessary supply of ink or other material wherewith to produce
the desired impression.
The improvements consist, first, in the use of a long continuous strip of pre-
pared ribbon, secured with its ends to two reels and drawn over the face of
the types in such a manner that by turning the reels in the proper direction a
new portion of the prepared ribbon can be brought between the types and
material on which the impression is to be taken, and a clean and perfect
impression is obtained without fail. The reels are either enclosed in a
tubular case, forming the stem of the hand stamp, or mounted on axles which
have their bearings in a stock or head secured to the end of a solid stem. The
block or head is attached to the solid stem by a set screw in such a manner
that it can be readily removed and replaced, or so that it can be adjusted
in any desired position of the paper and of the desired impression. The types
are secured either in a cylindrical case or in a slotted plate which is provided
with a nick at one edge and a slot at the opposite side, so that it can be
readily fastened to or removed from the head or table to which it may be
attached. The table is made adjustable or removeable, so that it can be
readily raised or lowered or taken off and replaced, if it should be desirable.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of
the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a detached plan or top view of the head with the
reels and prepared ribbon; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of a modi-
fication of the stamp shewn in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section.
of the same; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the same; Fig. 6 is an inverted
plan or face view of the type case; Fig. 7 is an inverted plan or face view of
the type plate used in the stamp shewn in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a side elevation
of the same.

page_text: A represents a stock or frame of cast iron or any other suitable material,
with a foot B and standard C. The outer end of the standard C forms a
socket for the stem D, which is provided with a handle E, and to which a type
case F is secured. The stem D may be either solid or tubular. When it is
solid, as shewn in Fig. 1, the type case is made in the form of a plate F*,
which is secured to a head G, and this head is attached to the stem D by
means of a set screw a, so that it can be readily removed and replaced or
adjusted in any desired position. The head G is open on the sides, and is
provided with semicircular cavities b, on which the reels H work, and these
reels have their bearings in the end plates of the head, as shewn in Figures 1
and 2. The reels carry a long ribbon I, prepared with ink or chemicals for
the purpose, one of its ends being fastened to one reel and the other end to
the other reel, so that by turning the reels the ribbon can be wound up on
either of them, as may be desirable. In passing from one reel to the other,
the ribbon extends across the face of the types, so that by bringing the types
down on a piece of paper or other white or light material an impression is
obtained. If one part of the ribbon is used up, the reels are turned, and a
new portion of the same is brought in operation. The reels are turned by
handles or buttons d (see Fig. 2), and springs e, acting on these handles, are
applied in any suitable manner to. produce the desired friction, in order to
prevent the reels from turning spontaneously. The type plate F is provided
with a nick f in one end and with a segmental slot f¹ in its other end, as shewn
in Fig. 7, and by inserting the nick under the.screw head g and turning the
plate so that the slot f¹ catches under the screw head g¹ the plate is secured
to the head in a simple and easy manner. That part of the plate which is
outside the slot f¹ forms a spring, which bears against the face of the head
and prevents the type plate from getting loose spontaneously. The stem D is
forced upwards by the action of a spring h, which may be inserted into the
socket a, or otherwise applied to the stem either in the manner shewn in
Fig. 1 or in the manner shewn in Figures 3 and 4. The table J, which is
intended to support the material to be stamped, is secured to the foot B of
the stock by means of a screw j, so that it can be removed or replaced, or so
that it can be adjusted higher or lower, as may be desirable. If desired,
however, the table may be rigidly secured to the foot B, as shewn in Figures 3
and 4. Instead of using the type plate F*, as shewn in Fig. 1, a cylindrical
type case F may be used, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4. This type case is in-
serted into the tubular stem D, and held in position by the set screw k, and in
this case the reels H have their bearings in the sides of the tubular stem. The
operation of the stamp, however, is the same as previously described, though

page_text: the capacity of the same is limited to the comparatively small area of the type
case, whereas when the adjustable type plate is used, the capacity of the stamp
is unlimited. If desired, the type case or plate might be secured in the foot
B, though it is preferable to construct the stamp as shewn.
Having now described this "Invention of" improvements in hand stamps,
and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as
the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,―
The employment or use of a long continuous strip of ink-prepared ribbon
in combination with the reels and a type case or type plate, as and for the
purpose set forth.
I also claim the moveable adjustable head G, applied in combination with
the stem D, reels H, and type plate F*, in the manner and for the purpose
specified.
I further claim the adjustable table J, in combination with the stem D
and type case or type plate For F*, constructed and operating as and for
the purpose described.
Lastly, I claim the within-described means of fastening the type plate F*
to the head G, or any equivalent means, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTUN. (L.S.)