Year: 1887

page_text: I, JOHN SHORT DOWNING of Commercial Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, 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 relates to means, or to an appliance for moistening or wetting
the adhesive backs of postage and other stamps, labels and for various other
purposes; and which said appliances are commonly called "dampers" or "damping
pads."
Dampers, or damping pads of the ordinary kind, are usually made up of some
absorbent material, which when saturated with water, retains its dampness, so
long only as water remains at a certain height, with respect to the top or
upper part.
Now the principal object of my invention is to so construct or make damping pads,
that the moisture ascends through the pores of the material of the body of the pad, in
virtue of its capillary attraction, and by which means, moisture placed beneath it, will
ascend through the pores in opposition to gravity; being drawn up by capillary attraction
as aforesaid, to the external upper surface or damping part of the pad, which will always
remain at a constant, and uniform dampness, so long as any liquid remains in the pad
holder or reservoir.
Thus the pad is made bibulous, and the damping portion kept constantly damp, and
maintained so, by the energy of capillary attraction; and as water is used and given off
by evaporation, so more water or moisture arises from the container, until it becomes
completely emptied.
In carrying out my invention, I take a block of wood or other like bibulous
substance, having upon its underside, a hanging or depending part, preferably of less
diameter than that of the body part, and with the upper surface and sides covered
with felt or other absorbent fabric or material.
This pad fits within the open mouth of a well of a stand, and wherein water
is placed.
The direction of the grain of the block of wood as aforesaid, is disposed vertically,
nearly vertically, or obliquely, or in any other position in which the direction of the
D

page_text: end grain" can imbibe and convey the necessary moisture from the underside to the
upper side.
Having described the nature of my invention, I will now proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying drawings, the manner in which the same is to be
performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a damper, or a damping pad, constructed or
made according to my invention Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of
the same, and figure 3 is a part cross section with the pad in elevation-Figure 4
is a top side plan of figure 1, while figure 5 is an underside plan of figure 2,
upon the dotted lines. A B-Figure 6. is a longitudinal vertical section of the parts
separately.
a is an end grain block of wood, constituting the pad body, that is, the grain of the
wood block forming the pad body, is directed vertically, or from the underside to the
upper side; so that water imbibed by the depending part or foot a² (when water is at
a lower level than the underside of the body) is conveyed in a constant manner to the
felt covering, which on becoming saturated, forms the means for damping or wetting
the adhesive backs of postage stamps and the like.
c is the stand or support of the pad, and c³ is a well within it, in which water d is held
or stored, and wherein the hanging or depending foot or underside of the block a dips
The sides a³ of the block are made taper, which fit into like taper sides c³ of the well.
The well has also a shoulder e, for limiting the position of the underside of the block
with respect to the bottom of the well.
By thus employing an end grain block of wood as the body of the pad, water
on its underside is imbibed by it, and conveyed upwardly, to the felt covering,
which is maintained in a state of saturation, by the energy of capillary attraction.
Although I have described that an end grained block of wood preferably used,
yet a block or body of other solid materials, with the veins or fibres directed upwardly,
may be employed with like or nearly the same effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. A damper, or a damping pad, consisting of a block or body of end grain
wood, (with or without a depending foot on its underside) or otherwise a block of
wood, or other like bibulous material, in which the grain, pores or veins. thereof, are
directed upwardly, and through which, water or moisture ascends to a higher level, and
saturates a felt or other covering, pad or the like, on the top, or on the top and sides of
the pad-The end grain block of the pad, and the other parts thereof,, being constructed
and arranged, substantially as described and set forth.
.
Secondly. The use of end grain wood blocks,, with a depending foot, for the
purpose substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. Providing the interior of the well of damping pads, with a shelf marked.c*,
upon which the underside of the body of the pad rests, for the purpose substantially as
described and set forth.
Dated this Twenty ninth day of March 1887.
JOHN SHORT DOWNING.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.