Improved Means of Teaching Writing and Drawing.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Teaching Writing and Drawing.
JELIZABETH DOUGLAS of 58. Linthorpe Road, Stamford Hill in the County
of Middlesex, Certificated Mistress, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to a method whereby young children are readily
taught the elementary use of the pen or pencil in a good style, with a minimum
of individual attention on the part of the teacher.
According to the present invention, I propose to prepare the slate, tablet, or
other writing or drawing surface, with the characters, figures, or designs to be
copied, engraved or impressed into the said surface.
The child follows the engraved lines of the figure or character with the point of
his pencil, and after á little practice, he acquires, together with increased power of
manipulation almost unconsciously the style of writing he has been copying, so
that even when the guiding lines are removed, the character of the copy is still
retained.
Various materials may be used for the tablet or writing surface;-the metliod
of engraving or impressing the copy thereon must depend upon circumstances.
The most suitable writing surface for my purpose is the ordinary slate, and on
this I propose to produce the lines of the copy by means of the sand-blast. By
this means, which consists in exposing the slate to the action of a jet of sand,
covering carefully those parts not desired to be acted on, the lines of the copy,
whether of a letter or figure, or series of letters and figures, or a geometrical or
other design, may be produced with any degree of fineness and depth.
The depth of the lines will be just sufficient to form an easy guide for the
pencil point in the act of writing or drawing.
It will be understood that, with the aid of slates or tablets so prepared with
trenches or grooves, a teacher will be able to give efficient writing instruction to
a much larger class than would be otherwise possible.
A child has no difficulty in tracing over the copy without supervision, and in
so doing, he does not acquire any undesirable habits in the formation of the
characters. On the contrary, a facility of manipulation is thus obtained, which,
later on, simplifies to a great extent the use of the pen.
Deted this 18th day of June 1896.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Means or
ening
I, ELIZABETH DOUGLAS, of 58, Linthorpe Road, Stamford Hill, in the County
of Middlesex, Certificated Mistress, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a method whereby young children are readily taught the

page_text: elementary use of the pen or pencil in a good style with a minimum of individual
attention on the part of the teacher.
According to my said invention I engrave or impress in the writing or drawing
surface, such as a slate or tablet, the characters, figures, or designs to be copied,
the engraved lines serving to receive and guide the point of the pupil's pencil,
whereby, after a little practice, he acquires, together with power of manipulation
almost unconsciously the style of writing he has been copying, so that, when
guiding lines are dispensed with, the character of the copy is still retained.
My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
which illustrate examples of my invention.
Figure 1 shews an engraved surface suitable for teaching writing :
Figure 2 an engraved surface for teaching shorthand :
Figure 3 a series of signs or symbols used in teaching mental arithmetic; and,
Figure 4 engraving suitable for imparting instruction in drawing.
It will be obvious that the form and style of the engraving may be varied
almost indefinitely.
Various materials may be used for the tablet or writing surface, and the method
of engraving or impressing the copy thereon must depend upon circumstances.
The most suitable writing surface for my purpose is the ordinary slate and on this
I propose to produce the lines of the copy by means of the sand blast, that is to
say, by exposing the slate to the action of a jet of sand, covering carefully those
parts not desired to be acted on, whereby the lines of the copy, whether of
letters or figures or a series of letters and figures or a geometrical or other design,
may be produced with any degree of fineness and depth.
The depth of the lines will be just sufficient to form an easy guide for the pencil
point in the act of writing or drawing.
It will be understood that with the aid of slates or tablets prepared with
grooves as described a teacher will be able to give efficient writing instruction to
a much larger class than would be otherwise possible.
A child has no difficulty in tracing over the copy without supervision and in so
doing does not acquire any undesirable habits in the formation of the characters.
On the contrary a facility of manipulation is thus obtained which later on
simplifies to a great extent the use of the pen.
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 :-
1. The improvement in the art of teaching writing and drawing or the like
consisting in the use of writing or drawing surfaces having engraved upon them
the characters, figures, or designs to be copied, the engraved lines serving to
receive and guide the pencil point, substantially as described.
2. Writing or drawing slates or tablets having engraved upon them characters,
figures or designs to be copied, substantially as, and for the purpose described.
3. The manufacture and use of slates or the like substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of January 1897
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.