A NEW OR IMPROVED BLOTTER OR BLOTTING PAD
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Wishart, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED BLOTTER OR
BLOTTING PAD."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Wishart at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th May 1880.
DAVID WISHART, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr, North Britain.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED BLOTTER OR BLOTTING PAD."
This Invention relates to a new or improved construction or arrangement of
blotting pad, also adapted for use as a portable writing frame or desk for offices
and private use, which is specially designed to avoid the untidiness and waste of
blotting paper arising from the use of blotting pads as hitherto prepared.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consists essentially in fitting or
inserting the sheets of blotting paper in a loose and unattached flat state, or folded
to the required size and shape, into a light portable rectangular case or frame, in
which they are firmly retained, and there offer a smooth and soft surface for
writing on.
This improved case is formed preferably of polished wood, but it might be of
japanned sheet metal, with a plain back board or panel and a side framing, which
is rebated or checked to form a horizontal groove all round the inner edge of the
frame. One side or edge of this framing is made movable by being hinged or fitted
with pins or screws which enter inverted V grooves or slots cut in the back panel,
so that this edge part can be made to slide out and into its place by hand. The
blotting paper in the loose or folded sheets is cut a little larger than the "sight" or
inside dimensions of the framing, and it is slipped into the groove in the framing
through the open end or side when this movable end of the frame is removed, the
groove being of a depth to admit half a quire or other suitable quantity or
thickness of paper at one time. When this movable end or side piece is replaced
the framing overlaps the blotting paper all round its sides or edges, and retains it
firmly to prevent any sheet becoming loose or being crumpled; but when the upper
sheet becomes soiled by use or otherwise it can be withdrawn through the side by

page_text: removing the sliding part or side of the frame, or this outer sheet may be
simply turned inwards or torn out to leave the next sheet in sucession ready
for use.
The back board or panel is preferably covered on its upper surface with soft
cloth or velvet, to give extra softness to the pad, and also to prevent the sheets
slipping when these are cut rather small for the case or frame; and a longitudinal
rail, with or without bevilled or angled transverse side rails or bars, is fitted near
one side at the back of the case to give a slight slope to the pad, so as to adapt it for
use as an angled writing pad or desk; and in many of these modifications, whether
this new frame for retaining the blotting paper is made of wood, sheet metal,
vulcanite, or papier mache, or partially of any of these or equivalent rigid material,
the front top edge of the frame which retains the blotting paper is made very thin,
not to obstruct the freedom of the arm or wrist in writing over it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Wishart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
November 1880.
DAVID WISHART, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr, North Britain.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED BLOTTER OR BLOTTING PAD."
My said Invention relates to a new or improved construction or arrangement of
blotting pad, also adapted for use as a portable writing frame or desk for offices
and private use, which is specially designed to avoid the untidiness and waste of
blotting paper arising from the use of blotting pads as hitherto prepared.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of explanatory
Drawings, illustrating the construction and use of my improved blotting pad, which
I shall now proceed to describe. In these Drawings the same reference letters are
used to indicate the same or like parts where shown.
.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 1
1 of a
modification of my improved blotter or blotting pad fitted complete; Figure 3 is a
plan of part of the improved blotter to a larger scale, and Figures 4 and 5
are corresponding transverse and longitudinal sections on lines 2-2, 3- - 3,
respectively, while Figure 6 shows the improved blotter laid on a table or desk z
ready for use, and also illustrates the mode of opening the case for inserting or
removing the blotting paper.
Referring to these Drawings the Invention consists essentially in fitting or
inserting sheets of blotting paper A in a loose and unattached flat state, or folded
to the required size and shape, into a light portable rectangular case or frame B, in
which they are firmly retained, and there offer a smooth and soft surface for
writing on.
This improved case is formed preferably of polished wood, as shown (but it might
be of japanned sheet metal), with a plain back board or panel B₁ and a side
framing B, which is rebated or checked to form a horizontal groove a all round
the inner edge of the frame. One side or edge B₁ of this framing is made movable
by being hinged or fitted with pins or screws c which enter inverted V grooves or
slots b cut in the back panel B', so that this edge part B can be made to slide out
and into its place by hand, its ends being cut to form a mitre joint with the other
sides of the framing B, or being made to slide over or under these sides.
The blotting paper in the loose and folded sheets is cut a little larger than the
"sight" or inside dimensions of the framing B, and is inserted into the groove a of
the framing B through the open end or side when this movable end B¹¹ of the frame
is removed, the groove a being of a depth to admit half a quire or other suitable
quantity or thickness of paper at one time. When this movable end or side picce B"
is replaced the framing B, B", overlaps the blotting paper A all round its sides or edges,
and retains it firmly to prevent any sheet becoming loose or being crumpled. When
the upper sheet becomes soiled by use or otherwise it can be withdrawn through
the side by removing the sliding part or side B¹¹ of the frame, or this outer sheet
may be simply turned inwards or torn out to leave the next sheet in succession
ready for use. The back board or panel B¹ is preferably covered on its upper
surface with soft cloth or velvet to give extra softness to the pad, and also to
prevent the sheets slipping when these are cut rather small for the case or frame.
A longitudinal rail D, with or without bevilled or angled transverse side bars, as
at D', is fitted at or near one side at the back of the case to give a slight slope to
the pad, so as to adapt it for use as an angled writing pad or desk, but when
intended for use on a sloping desk this longitudinal rail D may be dispensed
with.

page_text: This new frame for retaining the blotting paper may be made of wood, sheet-
metal, vulcanite, or papier mache, or partially of any of these or equivalent rigid
material, the front top edge at B2 of the frame B which retains the blotting paper
being in every case made very thin, not to obstruct the freedom of the arm over it,
although the ends and back edge frames B, B", might be thicker.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
berein described or delineated, but what I believe to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercin before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The construction of a blotter or blotting pad formed with a surrounding casing
of wood or other material B, B1, B2, to retain sheets of blotting paper by overlapping
their edges, and fitted with a hinged or sliding movable edge or end B, to admit
of the paper being inserted or withdrawn, all substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whercof, I, the said David Wishart, have hereunto set my hand
hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E.,
of W. R. M. Thomson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Glasgow.
DAVID WISHART. (L.S.)