An Improved Apparatus and Means for Enabling the Blind to Write, or for Writing in the Dark.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus and Means for Enabling the Blind to Write,
or for Writing in the Dark.
I EDWARD EDWARDS MONTFORD of Swanton Abbot Rectory, Norwich, Clerk
in Holy Orders do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements on the invention in Specification 9768
A.D. 1894 and the object of it is to form such guiding channels or grooves upon
paper that the blind may be able to write upon it or it may be used for writing in
the dark.
To effect my object I form upon a writing board or surface a straight and shallow
groove slightly wider than it is desired to make the size of the letters that have no
heads nor tails as m, o, s and I form the groove, either
(1.) By ploughing it into or by impressing it upon the board or surface or
(2.) By placing upon the board two thin strips of metal or other suitable
material parallel to each other and so far apart that the space between them forms
the required groove, which pair of strips are rigidly connected together at their
extremities by cross bars when it is desired to write one size of hand only, or they
may be clamped together at their extremities so that they can be readily released
and adjusted to any desired width of space between them for different sizes of hand
writing. In either case the pair of strips are so attached to the board that they are
not liable to move unless intentionally released and placed in a fresh position, or
(3) I fix a strip forming one side of a groove rigidly to a writing board and
connect a strip forming the other side so that it can be moved and clamped to the
board at any suitable distance from the fixed side for different sizes of writing.
I then place a sheet of writing paper on the board over the groove or strips
clamping it in position by any suitable means, and by passing the nail or other
instrument with due pressure on the paper along the sides of the groove the form
of it is impressed upon the paper and it is so shallow that though the sides may be
felt with the point of a pencil or suitable pen and thus limit the size of such .etters
as m, o, s when written in the groove, yet such pencil or pen being held rather more
vertically than is usual in ordinary writing may be readily passed over the sides to
form capital letters and the heads and tails of such letters as p, t, q.
When a line of writing along a groove has been completed I move the writing
paper from the writer through the distance at which it is desired to have the lines
of writing apart, clamp it in position and again impress a groove upon it and so on.
This movement of the paper 1 effect by winding it on a cylinder; or by a suitable
frictional roller or rollers pressing upon the paper & turned by a handle, so that
the blind can judge of the space through which the paper is moved either by the
angle through which the handle is turned or by the sound of a click actuated by
the movement; or other ordinary means may be used for moving the paper.
In another form when the groove is formed between the pair of strips connected
together as above described, I leave the paper stationery, and as each line of
writing is completed I move the pair of strips towards the writer parallel to
themselves into a fresh position and clamp them there for the next line of writing
and so on.

page_text: By preference I use a lead or indelible pencil or writing instrument not requiring
ink, so that the course of the writing point may be followed by a finger of the left
hand to facilitate the spacing of the words.
Dated this 17th day of May 1895.
E. E. MONTFORD,
Applicant.
An Improved Apparatus and Means for Enabling the Blind to Write,
or for Writing in the Dark.
I EDWARD EDWARDS MONTFORD Clerk in Holy Orders of Swanton Abbot
Rectory near Norwich 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 improvements on my invention described in Specifi-
cation 9768 A.D. 1894 and the object of it is to form such guiding channels or
grooves upon paper that the blind may be able to write upon it, line after line, or
it may be used for writing in the dark.
To effect my object I form upon a writing board or surface a straight and shallow
groove wider by two thicknesses of the paper to be used than it is desired to make
the size of the letters that have no heads nor tails as ni. o. s and I form the groove
(1) either by ploughing or cutting it in or by impressing it upon the board or
surface
(2) or I fix a thin strip of metal or other suitable material rigidly to a writing
board, and place another strip parallel to it and so connect it with the board that
it can be clamped at any suitable distance from the fixed strip, so that the space
forming a groove between then can be adjusted in width for different sizes of
writing. I then place a sheet of writing paper upon the board over the groove or
strips clamping it in position by any suitable means, and by passing the finger nail
or other instrument with due pressure on the paper along the sides of the groove
I impress the form of the groove upon the paper, which groove is so shallow that
though the sides may be felt with the point of a pencil or suitable pen and thus
limit the size of such letters as m. o. s. when written in the groove yet such pencil
or pen, being held rather more vertically than is usual in ordinary writing, may be
readily passed over the sides to form capital letters and the heads and tails of such
letters as p. t. q. When a line of writing along a groove has been completed I move
the writing paper from the writer through the distance at which it is desired to
have the lines of writing apart, clamp it in position and again impress a groove
upon it as before and so on. This movement of the paper I effect by winding it on
a cylinder, or by a suitable frictional roller or rollers pressing upon the paper and
turned by a handle, so that the blind can judge of the space through which the
paper is moved either by the angle through which they turn the handle or by the
sound of a click actuated by the movement, or other ordinary means may be used
for moving the paper.
(3) In another form I place upon the board two thin strips of metal or other
suitable material parallel to each other and so far apart that the space between
them forms the required groove, which pair of strips are rigidly connected together
at their extremities when it is desired to write one size of hand only, or they may
be clamped together at their extremities so that they can be readily released and
adjusted to any desired width of space between them for different sizes of hand
writing. In either case the pair of strips are so attached to the board that
they are not liable to move unless intentionally released to be placed in a fresh
position.
I then place a sheet of writing paper over the strips and clamp it to the board

page_text: and impress upon it the groove between the strips by the method already described,
and when the line of writing in that groove has been completed I move the pair of
strips towards the writer parallel to themselves into a fresh position and attach
them again to the board for the next line of writing and so on.
By preference I use a lead or indelible pencil or writing instrument not requiring
ink so that the course of the writing point may be followed by a finger of the left
hand to facilitate the spacing of the words.
In order that my invention and the mode of carrying the same into effect may be
fully understood, I will now describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings.-
Fig. 1 is a plan and Figs. 2 and are end elevations of a portion of a writing
board B. R R¹ are rollers which may be covered with rubber or other suitable
material and revolve in brackets C C so that the writing paper may be held fast
between them or drawn forward through any required space by turning the
handle D. E is a groove cut in the board B. Fis a strip fixed to the board and
Fa strip that can be moved and clamped in position by means of the slots G and
screws H to adjust the width of the space forming the groove E between them.
If one roller R only is used the board is extended beneath it and the paper
passed between the board and rollers; or R' being removed R may be used as a
cylinder on which to wind the paper. A click wheel and pawl may be attached to
the end I of the roller R.
Fig. 4 is a plan and Fig. 5 an end elevation of a portion of a writing board B¹
on which are shown two different arrangements of strips and grooves capable of
being moved while the paper remains clamped beneath the parts K of the wire
spring L. M. M₁ are two strips attached to cross bars N N₁ which are rigidly
fastened to one strip M' and connected with the strip M by screws O, nuts OⓇ and
slots P so that the space between them can be adjusted. The screws O terminate
below in pins Q which fit easily in the countersunk holes S in the board. T. T¹are
strips terminating at each end in plates V V₁ which extend beyond the board and
are turned over the edges of the board reduced in thickness to receive them as at W
in Fig. 6. X are springs fastened to the plates which take into V notches in the
board as shown.
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 combination of a writing board furnished with a groove either of fixed
or adjustable width with paper overlaid, so that the paper can be impressed with
the groove and moved into a fresh position as and for the purpose herein described.
2. The combination of a writing board with paper clamped upon it overlying a
groove of fixed or adjustable width formed between strips, so that the paper can
be impressed with the groove and the strips moved and connected with the board
in a fresh position as and for the purpose herein described.
Dated this 19th day of February 1896.
EDWARD EDWARDS MONTFORD,
Applicant.