IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TEACHING READING AND ARITHMETIC
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwyn John Jeffery Dixon, of Bangor, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TEACHING READING AND
ARITHMETIC."
Sealed the 12th January 1855, and dated the 29th July 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwyn John Jeffery
Dixon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th July 1854.
I, EDWYN JOHN JEFFERY DIXON, of Bangor, do hereby declare the nature of
the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TEACHING READING AND
ARITHMETIC" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the combining apparatus, consisting of a case or
frame, within which are arranged a series of endless bands, on which are
marked the letters of the alphabet, figures, and, when desired, other devices.
These endless bands pass over pullies at the top and bottom of the case, and
are, by means of finger keys or other instruments, caused to move step by step,
so as to bring the required letter or figure or device opposite to a slit or
opening in the front of the case or frame.

page_text: привез
capitals, and also from a to z in the minor characters, are printed, painted, or
embossed. Each of these belts or bands is exactly similar with respect to its
alphabets, &c.
I make a wooden case, similar to that of a cabinet piano or a wardrobe;
across the top of this case insido I place a spindle, upon which I string a
number of small pulley wheels to revolve separately, and a corresponding
spindle with the same number of pullies is placed at the bottom of the case.
These "alphabet bands" are placed from pulley to pulley, like the "driving
bands" of machinery, and are thus strained tight along the front of the
apparatus. Each turns independently of the other, and they are acted upon
individually by connections and levers, acting on ratchet or other contrivances,

page_text: from a similar position to that of the keys of a cabinet pianoforte, or in any
other convenient situation; each key acting by its lever on the ratchet of the
pulley of one band only, which it revolves at the operator's will.
A folding door (like that of a cupboard) encloses all this arrangement, but
there is a narrow strip of glass placed horizontally in the said door, and the
former is only wide enough to show one letter at a time of each band, as the
same is moved before it and then stopped at the letter he (the operator) wishes
to exhibit for the time being. It will be seen that the object and presumed
utility of this Invention is to transpose the alphabet without limit (instead of
beginners learning it by rote), and for more advanced pupils to compose words
and sentences at will.
The number of the alphabet bands is limited only by the size of the
machine, while the capabilities of the latter is only confined by the number of
the alphabet bands. In a machine of twenty-four of the latter, all sentences
consisting of that number of letters can be shown at a time, or separate words
to that limit, while the alphabet itself can be transposed beyond belief. It is
not essential that the bands for the alphabets should be endless, as each of the
bands may be made to wind up and down, as sun blinds at windows, having a
weight attached to keep them tight; but I prefer to have them endless. In
fact, the Invention consists in having a certain number of alphabets placed side
by side on bands or tapes, and so arranged, that by rotating the pulley of any
band, any letter can be placed in such a position relatively to its neighbours as
to form complete words and sentences, the composing powers of the apparatus
being controlled only by the number of such alphabets capable of being so
placed. I also propose to introduce numerals in the same manner for teaching
the rudiments of arithmetic.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin John Jeffrey Dixon, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
E. J. J. DIXON. (L.S.)