An Improved Device for Use in Moistening, Affixing, and Separating Postage Stamps, Labels, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
An Improved Device for Use in Moistening, Affixing, and Separating
Postage Stamps, Labels, and the like.
I, SIEGFRIED EBERTSHEIM of 9 Mittelweg, Frankfurt on the Main in the
Empire of Germany Manufacturer 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 consists in a device for use in moistening, affixing and separating
postage stamps, labels and the like.
This device consists of a hollow case which is so formed as to be conveniently
held in the hand in the manner hereinafter described when the index finger of the
hand is passed through a passage therefor in said case. The casing has a slot
to be occupied by a piece of sponge and a cover plate hinged to be folded
over into the case and sponge and suitably cut out for the movement of the
thumb of the hand in which it is held for feeding the stamps or the like over
the sponge and under the cover plate. The casing is provided with a hole
through which it may be partially filled with water in order to moisten the
sponge.
This device is shown in the annexed drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side view.
Fig. 2 a view from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 a plan view, Fig. 4 a similar plan
view with cover plate folded back to show the spouge. Fig. 5 illustrates the
method of its employment.
A is the case which is preferably made of nickelled or plated metal of the shape
shown, that is to say the part about the passage way B, for the finger, is annular
and it is extended in a tapered manner to the edge C which is preferably oblique
as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Along the edge C at the upper face D of the tapered
part of the case is a slit of convenient width to receive the piece of sponge E, and
over this face D is fitted the cover F hinged at G to one side edge of the casing
and having a lip at the other side at H to fit with friction over the slightly
raised edge J of the case so as to leave a slight space between the under face
of the cover and the upper face D of the case A. The cover is cut away at K
as shown and the metal may be bent over as at L or corrugated as at M to
strengthen the cover. N is the hole through which the water for moistening
the sponge is poured into the case A.
In using this device a strip of postage stamps may be inserted between the
cover F and the face D with the adhesive face of the corner of the first stamp
upon the sponge. The cover is then closed over the stamps and the device may
be held in the right hand with the index finger through the passage B as seen
from Fig. 5 whereupon the stamps may be fed forward by motion of the thumb
of that hand or may be drawn out by the left hand and pressed down in the
place to which each is to be secured, they being easily separated as they are
affixed, by a suitable upward movement of the device.
For labels or the like the device may when necessary be made on a larger
scale.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is ;-
The device consisting of the case substantially as described with moistening

page_text: slit and cover, the whole constructed for use in moistening, affixing and separating
postage stamps, labels and the like in the manner set forth.
Dated this, 23rd day of April 1895.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.