Improvements in Flexible Letters and Numerals for Inscriptions for Shop Signs and other Advertisements.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
Improvements in Flexible Letters and Numerals for Inscriptions for
Shop Signs and other Advertisements.
I, SAMUEL SEAL, of 184 Osmaston Road, Derby, in the County of Derby
House Painter and Decorator, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
This is an idea for making raised and sunken, flexible alphabets or letters, and
numerals, for shop signs, and other advertising purposes, to be fixed to wood, iron,
stone, glass, plaster; flat, oval, or hollow surfaces; made, by means of embossed
rollers or moulds from a known material, such as lincrusta walton, or any other
known material, capable of being moulded while in a pulp state and retaining a
flexibility when properly dry and set.
To explain my idea clearly:
-
There is a way of making signs very much used in London, Southport, Manchester,
and other large towns, which is very expensive. The signs I refer to have
sunken letters and numbers, carved out of the solid board, and if a letter was cut
across, it would be seen that the hollow part was shaped thus V or thus U.
After the letters are carved or scooped out of the board, the board bearing the
inscription is placed in a wooden frame and covered with glass; the glass being
previously painted black at the back, or grained in imitation of wood, with the
exception of the space where the sunken letters are to be seen from the front.
The carved or scooped out letter being gilded with gold leaf produces a very
rich & effective means of attracting the eye to the inscription.
By my idea, I can produce the same effect, with less labour and expense. In
the first place, a cheaper & thinner piece of board will answer quite as well
for the sign or foundation for my letters, than would be required to carve or scoop
the letters out of solid wood.
I simply take my flexible moulded letters of the material above stated, and
select them to form the inscription, and space them after the manner of sign
writing, fix them on the board with strong glue and paste or cement, pins &c.;
paint and gild the letters, cover with glass as before described, and I have an
inscription equally as durable and effective as carved or scooped letters.
The invention I claim is an idea for adapting a known material into different
kinds of flexible letters and numerals, moulded in imitation of wooden letters in
relief, or carved or scooped sunken letters, numerals &c., and thus made applicable
to form any inscription by being in separate letters and numerals; and that they
may be painted and gilded ready for fixing, thus making it possible for them to be
stocked by wholesale or retail dealers in any town or village. These letters may
be removed to form a fresh name if necessary.
Dated this 7th day of March 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Flexible Letters and Numerals for Inscriptions for
Shop Signs and other Advertisements.
I, SAMUEL SEAL of 184 Osmaston Road, Derby in the County of Derby,
House Painter and Decorator, 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:-
My invention relates to making raised and sunken flexible letters or alphabets
and numerals for shop signs and other advertisement purposes, the said letters or
numerals to be fixed to wood, iron, stone, glass, plaster or the like of either flat,
oval, or hollow surfaces; the said alphabets numerals &c. to be made by means of
embossed rollers or moulds from any known flexible material such as lincrusta-
walton, paper pulp or any other known material capable of being moulded while
in a pulp state and retaining a flexibility when properly dry and set.
There is now a method of making signs very much used which is very expensive.
The signs I refer to have sunken letters and numerals carved out of the solid
board, the transverse section of the said letters being of a sunken U or V shape : after
the letters are carved or scooped out of the board it is placed in a wooden frame
and covered with glass the said glass being previously painted black at the back
or grained in imitation of wood with the exception of the spaces where the sunken
letters are to be seen from the front. The carved or scooped out letters being
gilded produces a very rich and effective means of attracting the eye to the
inscription.
By my invention I am able to produce the same or a better effect with less
labour and expense: in the first place a cheaper and thinner piece of board will
answer quite as well for the signs or foundation for my letters than would be
required to carve or scoop out the letters from the solid wood. I then simply take
my flexible moulded letters of the material above stated and select them to form
the inscription and space them after the manner of sign writing, fix them on the
board with strong glue, paste, cement, pins or the like, paint and gild them,
cover with glass as before described and I have an inscription equally as durable
and effective as carved or scooped out letters.
"
By my invention I can thus form a known material into different kinds of
flexible letters and numerals moulded in imitation of wooden letters, they may be
made flat at the back as well as concave and sunken at the front or "intaglio
as it is called, they can be more readily fixed on a fascia or shop-board and when
fixed on a board I get the letters or numerals in relief as well as sunken and thus
there is a greater attraction of the eye to the advertisement. I may also fix these
letters or numerals on to the back of glass by means of cement for advertising
purposes when a sign-board is not required.
Having now particularly described and 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 :-
Letters or numerals moulded or otherwise formed from a known flexible
material such as lincrusta-walton, paper-pulp or the like, the said letters or
numerals being either sunken (intaglio as it is called) or raised and sunken and
fixed to the fascia or in any position by means of cement or the like and painted
or gilded substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 10th day of December 1895.
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.