Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Teaching Spelling and Numeration.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Sept., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Teaching Spelling and
Numeration.
1 CHARLES ALEXANDER MAYNARD of No. 9 Berners street Oxford street London
in the county of Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a box of about the size and shape of an ordinary domino
box. I divide the lid of my box by means of slots into panels of about the size of a
domino. Threaded upwards through one slot, passing over one of the panels and then
disappearing down the next slot, there runs à tape on which the 26 letters of the
alphabet are printed and so spaced as to correspond with the width of the panels of
the box lid. There can be as many panels as may be desired and for every panel in
the lid 1 provide a separate tape.
The first panel of the lid on the left hand side is preferably made double the width
of the other panels and on the tape which runs over this larger panel I print pictures
instead of letters.
The top of the box therefore presents to the eye pictorially some object such as a dog
a cat a hat &c., whilst to the right of the picture are seen the letters which spell the
name of the object presented in the picture.
runs.
Inside the box I provide for each of the tapes mentioned above, a pair of spindles
which I place horizontally in a vertical plane under the panel over which the tape
One end of one spindle in each pair passes through a circular hole cut through
one of the sides of the box and projects sufficiently to admit of a button being secured
to it. To one of these spindles I fasten one end of the tape whilst to the other spindle
I fasten the other end of the same tape and coil around it the whole of the slack. I
then close the box which is ready for use.
By rotating any one of the spindles I cause the tape which is fastened to it, to pass
over the panel with which it is connected and by reversing the motion I can return
the tape to its original position through the instrumentality of the toothed wheel which
PS17

page_text: I place upon each spindle. I thus display on the top of the left panel any one of the
pictures printed on the wider tape and on the other panels any letter of the alphabet
printed on the narrower tapes.
In addition to the letters of the alphabet the tapes can show the numerical symbols
and be used to teach numeration.
I work out the same idea in a good many different ways, notably one in which I
place upon an axis running through the centre of the box as many convoluted springs
as I intend using tapes. I then pass the tapes over the panels as before, but bring out
one end through the side of the box whilst the other is secured to the spring and
coiled around it. By this arrangement the desired letter or figure is reached more
expeditiously.
I make some boxes with only 3 alphabets for beginners and I make others with 4 or
more alphabets for the use of those who have mastered 3 letter words.
Datad this 6th day of Santamban 1007

page_text: Numeration.
I, CHARLES ALEXANDER MAYNARD of No. 9 Berners Street Oxford Street London
in the County of Middlesex Gentleman 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 apparatus usually consists of a box of about the size and shape of an ordinary
domino box. I divide the lid of my box by means of slots into panels of about the
size of a domino. Threaded upwards through one slot, passing over one of the panels
and then disappearing down the next slot, there runs a tape on which the 26 letters of
the alphabet are printed and so spaced as to correspond with the width of the
panels of the box lid. There can be as many panels as may be desired and for every
panel in the lid I provide a separate tape.
The first panel of the lid on the left hand side is preferably made double the width
of the other panels and on the tape which runs over this larger panel I print pictures
instead of letters.
The top of the box therefore presents to the eye pictorially some object such as a
dog, a cat, a hat &c. whilst to the right of the picture are seen the letters which spell
the name of the object presented in the picture.
Inside the box I provide for each of the tapes mentioned above, a pair of spindles
which I place horizontally in a vertical plane under the panel over which the tape
runs. One end of one spindle in each pair passes through a circular hole cut through
one of the sides of the box and projects sufficiently to admit of a button being secured
to it. To one of these spindles 1 fasten one end of the tape whilst to the other spindle
I fasten the other end of the same tape and coil around it the whole of the slack. I
then close the box which is ready for use.
By rotating any one of the spindles I cause the tape which is fastened to it, to pass
over the panel with which it is connected and by reversing the motion I can return
the tape to its original position through the instrumentality of the toothed wheel which
I place upon each spindle. I thus display on the top of the left panel any one of the
pictures printed on the wider tape and on the other panels any letter of the alphabet
printed on the narrower tapes.
In addition to the letters of the alphabet the tapes can shew the numerical symbols
and be used to teach numeration.
I work out the same idea in a good many different ways, notably one in which I
place upon an axis running through the centre of the box as many convoluted springs
as I intend using tapes. I then pass the tapes over the panels as before but bring
out one end through the side of the box, whilst the other end is secured to the spring
and coiled around it. By this arrangement the desired letter or figure is reached
more expeditiously.

page_text: I make some boxes with only three alphabets for beginners and I make others with
4 or more alphabets for the use of those who have mastered 3 letter words.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus constructed
according to my invention.
a a are the tapes, bb are the rollers, c c are the handles by which the upper ones
are turned and à d'are the toothed pinions communicating the motion to the lower
rollers.
Figure 3 shows a face view of a modified apparatus. In this the letters and picture
are upon a number of concentric discs which can be rotated independently.
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 improvements in apparatus for use in teaching spelling and numeration
substantially as described.
2. The combination of the tapes a the rollers b and the pinions & substantially as
described and shown in Figures 1 and 2.