Improvements in Copy-holders.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Copy-holders.
I, JOSEPH TURLEY SOLOMON, of 858 West Lake Street, Chicago, in the County of
Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Professional Penman, 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 improvements in copy-holders; and it consists in certain
peculiarities of the construction and arrangement of the different parts of the same,
as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and specifically claimed.
The object of my invention is to provide a copy-holder which will be simple in
construction and operation, inexpensive, durable, and attractive in appearance, and
effectual in its working, both as a copy-holder and line-indicator; and it will be found
useful to compositors, copyists, operators of type-writing machines, and all persons
having copying or similar work to perform.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make
and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying
drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my copy-holder, showing the copy in position.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same, and
Figure 3 is a view of the back of the holder.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.
A represents a flat plate made of suitable size and material, but usually of japanned
tin or sheet metal, and is formed at its lower end with a cylinder or tube a, which
extends horizontally across the lower end of the plate and projects slightly to either
side thereof, as at bb, these projecting ends being provided with a serrated or milled
rubber ring a¹ to prevent the device slipping when placed upon a smooth surface.
The upper end of the plate A is bent back upon itself at its rear and is formed with a
tube c for the reception and retention of a wire rod d, which is bent near each end, so
as to form a hook d¹, and at its centre a long arm c¹, which arm may be covered with
a suitable casing c² to strengthen the arm and to render it less flexible, and may also
be provided with a rubber collar or ring c³, similar to those on the projections b b, and
for a like purpose.
It will be seen by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings that the tube c is cut away
or formed with openings at proper points to allow the hooks d' and arm c¹ to project,
and that the wire d, being loosely held in the tube, will permit the wire to revolve and
to adjust the supporting-arm c¹ at any desired angle. On each side of the plate A,
at the upper portion thereof, is formed a tube e, which extends downwardly a suitable
distance on the front surface of the plate, and through which a wire B is passed and
retained. On each side of the lower portion of the plate and on the front surface
thereof is formed a short tube e¹, which receives the lower end of the wire B, which is
formed so as to extend from the top through the tubes e and e¹ and to reach across the
top of the plate A and to protect a little distance therefrom to the rear, as shown in
Figure 2.
C is a removable plate formed with its lower portion turned over, so as to form
ΓΕ

page_text: tube fon its front surface, and having its sides deflected at substantially right angles
and formed with a tube g of sufficient length to fit between the lower end of the
tubes e and the upper end of tubes e¹. Just above the top of the plate C, and to the
front surface of the plate A, is journaled in suitable bearings i a rod D, which projects
slightly beyond the sides of the plate A, and is provided at each end with a milled
thumb-piece E for turning the rod when desired.
On the rod D at suitable points is placed a number of rubber collars F, which rest
lightly upon the face of the plate A until the paper G, upon which the matter to he
copied is inserted, when they rest upon it and by reason of their elasticity take hold
of the same and force it through the aperture between the strip H and the surface of
the plate A, the strip H being secured at each end to the plate A, as shown, and
slightly raised from the surface thereof to admit of the free passage of the paper. This
strip not only retains the paper in position, but also forms a guide for the eye in
copying, the line to be copied being just above the upper edge of the strip.
It will be understood that by inserting the ends of the wire B into the tubes e, g,
and e¹ the plate C will be held in place and may be easily withdrawn by withdrawing
the ends of the wire B from the tubes e¹, when the plate may be slipped off. The
upper portion of the wire B, which extends across the top of the plate A at the rear
thereof, serves to hold the paper in position and prevents it falling in front when a
long sheet of paper is used. As shown in Figure 1, the plate is slightly raised, by
reason of its deffected sides, above the surface of the plate A, which allows the paper
to pass freely between the two plates and protects the eyes from the glare produced
by the white paper. I may sometimes divide the plate C vertically at the centre as
shown by dotted lines, in which case the wire B, passing through the tubes e, g,
and e, forms a pintle upon which the two portions of the plate are hinged, and may
be turned when it is desired to open the doors, so as to place the sheet of paper under
the strip H. It is obvious that I may dispense with the plate C, but I prefer to use
it for the protection of the eyes, and also when it is desired to copy from a book the
lower portion of which will rest on the tube f, as is apparent. The books d' are to be
used when it is desired to hang the holder on a compositor's case or other suitable
place, and the arm c¹ to support the holder at any desired incline upon a desk or
table.
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. In a copy-holder, the combination of the plate A, having the tube a, with the
projecting ends bb and collars a¹ thereon, the tubes e e at the sides of the plate, and
the top bent back upon itself and formed with the tube c, with the wire B, having its
ends inserted in the tubes e, the wire d, having the hooks d' and arm c', the rod D,
having the thumb-pieces E and rubber rollers F mounted thereon, and the strip H, all
constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as set forth.
2. In a copy-holder, the combination of the plate A, having the tube a, with the
projecting ends b b and collars a', the tubes e at the sides of the plate, and the top
bent back upon itself and formed with the tube c, with the wire B inserted in the
tubes e e¹, the wire d, having the books d', and arm e¹, having the collar c³ and casing c²,
the rod D, having the thumb-pieces E and rubber rollers F mounted thereon, the
strip H, the plate C, having the tute f, and its sides deflected and formed with the
tubes g, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 17th day of Santamban 1900.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.