IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DEVICES FOR CANCELLING OR OBLITE- RATING POSTAL AND OTHER STAMPS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DEVICES FOR CANCELLING OR OBLITE-
RATING POSTAL AND OTHER STAMPS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES."
munication from abroad by Alonzo Stockbridge Gear, of the City and State of
New York United States of America.
A com-
Sealed the 7th October 1879, and dated the 22nd July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Building, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DEVICES
FOR CANCELLING OR OBLITERATING POSTAL AND OTHER STAMPS, AND FOR SIMILAR
PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by Alonzo Stockbridge Gear, of the
City and State of New York, United States of America.]
'
The main object of the said Invention is to provide cheap, rapid, and effective
means for the cancellation and destruction of postage and revenue stamps and
the like.
The said Invention comprises a method of utilizing heat for this purpose, and
suitable apparatus by and through which the heat is safely employed therefor, and
also for the prevention of the obliteration, altering, or raising of impressions made
by figures, words, and designs.
To effect these results I employ a thermo-cancelling apparatus. This apparatus
has a pipe one end of which is the handle thereof, which pipe is provided with a
flexible gas-tube attached at the end of the said pipe, or to a nipple connected
therewith at any desired point between the ends. The opposite end of this pipe is
perforated upon its sides and near its end for the purpose of emitting gas, which is
burnt upon the outside of the said pipe, and for the purpose of heating the same end
of the said pipe to a degree sufficient to instantly burn or scorch an impression upon
paper when in contact therewith. The end of this pipe, when left open, serves as
the die, or a die may be attached to the same. When the end of the pipe is used as

page_text: the die the gas and flame will be emitted from the open end of said pipe; when
the end of said pipe comes in contact with the substance to be cancelled the flame
_would become extinguished were it not for the perforations through the sides of the
pipe, and through which the gas escapes, thus-keeping-it-constantly ignited.
This pipe may be used in a horizontal or vertical position. When used in a
horizontal position the end used as a die, or to which a die is fastened, should be
-bent-sufficiently to allow the handle part of the pipe to remain in a horizontal
position, and allow space for the hand of the operator between the handle and table
while-the-die-is-in-contact with the material operated upon. When the pipe is to
be used in a vertical position it should contain an offset sufficiently great to prevent-
injury to the hand of the operator from the rising heat.
2
The burner may have an annular chamber therein in which the gases are emitted
from an annular compartment and burned; the said burner is also provided with an
annular die upon its face and an inter-changeable die holder with inter changeable
dies therein. The said dies are made from perforated sheet metal or in one solid
piece. The holder is provided with a supporting stem which is screwed into the
upper part of the burner; the holder is also provided with bosses for the purpose of
keeping the said holder centrally within the burner. A hole is drilled through one
of the said bosses, through which a screw projects and impinges upon the type, thus
keeping the said type in its place.
The said thermo cancelling die may be provided with a lamp in lieu of a flexible
gas-tube; this lamp constitutes the handle to the cancelling die, and is filled with
hydro-carbon liquid which is conveyed through a suitable connection to the said
pipe, which is filled with absorbing-material. This absorbing material connects with
a wire gauze filling which is inserted into and through the burner. The flow of the
said liquid is regulated by a cock.
I sometimes use a double thermo die burner.
If wood or other analogous substance is to be branded a secondary pipe with a
flexible connecting tube can be attached to the burner or introduced within the
first named pipe, for the purpose of conducting air into the burner, where it will
mingle with the incoming gases, which will be burned therein instead of on the
outside of the burner, as in the case first described. The air can be driven into the
said burner under pressure produced by any suitable means. The cancelling die in
this case is attached to the burner from which it receives its supply of gas and heat.
The said thermo-die stamp is connected to a gas supply by means of the flexible
or jointed tube for conducting gas to the burner of the said thermo die stamp. The
flexibility of the tube, when of sufficient length, allows free use of the stamp in the
band of the operator. In the horizontal form of this apparatus the impression is
made by bringing the thermo die stamp down in contact with the substance to be
stamped or cancelled with a hammer stroke. One great advantage in the horizontal
device is that the ascending heat generated at the burner is so far removed from the
hand of the operator that the said operator experiences no inconvenience therefrom.
I find it highly advantageous to confine and retain the heat as near as possible-to-
the die or stamp, in order to make rapid impressions, and I also find it advantageous
to use very thin metal in the construction of the said burners and dies or special
parts thereof, and also to make the special combined parts of the die and designs,
such as the dates or numbers and the holder thereof, as open as possible for the
rapid circulation of heat in and around the parts above enumerated, whereby these
parts from which the impressions are derived become rapidly heated, and the heat
is rapidly transmitted from the flame through the metal to the substance stamped
or cancelled.
I also find it advantageous to perforate the die. The gases are emitted from the
perforations or apertures, and burn beneath the face of the said die. The heat
generated at this point keeps the cold air from coming in contact with the face of
the die, and assists very. materially in keeping the face of the said die at the proper
degree of heat necessary to produce scorched impressions from the said die in a very
rapid and effective manner.

page_text: The advantages of my method of cancellation over others now in use are that the
work is done with great celerity and certainty, and when applied to postage and
revenue stamps it affords a complete and effective barrier to fraud; for wherever
this thermo die produces an impression a positive destruction occurs to the past
impressed, consequently no subsequent erasing or mending can efface the indelible
scorched impression which can be imparted only by a thermo die.
Another important advantage of the said horizontal thermo die stamp over other
stamping devices in use is, that while holding the handle the operator, when can-
celling and destroying stamps, and while manipulating the envelopes or other articles
to be cancelled with one hand, can see to strike unerringly the proper place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd January
1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DEVICES
FOR CANCELLING OR OBLITERATING POSTAL AND OTHER STAMPS, AND FOR SIMILAR
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Alonzo Stockbridge Gear, of the
City and State of New York, United States of America.
The chief object of the said Invention is to provide cheap, rapid, and effective
means for the cancellation and destruction of postage and revenue stamps and the
like.
According to the said Invention I utilize heat by means of devices or apparatus
through which the heat is safely employed for the above purposes, and also for the
prevention of the obliteration or altering of impressions of figures, words, and
designs.
The said Invention comprises a cancelling die-burner, which receives its gases
uncombined with air, the said gases afterwards combining externally therewith,
and partly consists in the construction and arrangement of suitable mechanical
parts, by and through which heat may be safely employed as an agent to effectually
cancel and destroy postage and revenue stamps and other similar matter; and also
for the prevention of erasions or alteration for fraudulent purposes of figures,
words, and designs upon drafts, checks, notes, and all other commercial and legal
papers.
The means employed to effect these results comprise a pipe, one end of which
forms or is provided with a handle and a flexible gas tube attached at or near the
end of the said handle, or to a nipple connected at any desired point between the
ends of the said pipe. Near its opposite end this pipe is perforated at its sides for
the purpose of emitting gas, which is burnt upon the outside of the said end of
the pipe for the purpose of heating the end thereof to a degree sufficient to instan-
taneously burn or scorch impressions upon paper or other substances when brought
in rapid contact therewith.

page_text: The open end of this pipe serves as the die or stamp, and if necessary an auxiliary
die or stamp can be screwed on the end thereof, but when the end of the pipe is
-used-as-the die the gas and flame therefrom will be discharged from the open end
thereof, and when the end of the said pipe-comes-in-contact with the substance to
be-cancelled the flame would be extinguished were it not for the perforations through
which-the-gas-escapes, thus keeping it constantly ignited.
-This-pipe-may-be-used in a horizontal position, and when so used the end which
serves as a die, or to which a die is fastened, should be bent sufficiently to allow
the handle of the pipe-to-remain.in_a_horizontal position, and allow room for the
hand of the operator between the handle and table while the die is in-contact-with
the material operated upon, but when the pipe is to be used in a vertical position
it should contain an offset sufficiently large to enable the hand of the operator
to escape the rising heat.
The said Invention also comprises a cancelling die burner, in which the gases
and air are combined or mingled prior to the combustion or decomposition thereof
within the said cancelling die-burner. The said Invention in this case consists in
suitably constructed mechanical means and the arrangement thereof, whereby the
process of generating heat from gas or oil or any other suitable volatile fluid or
substance can be accomplished for the purpose of effectually cancelling and destroying
postage and revenue stamps and other equivalent matter. The said mechanical
means, and the process employed for the production of the results above enumerated,
comprise what I denominate a pyro-cancelling die-burner and an external pipe with
an internal pipe connected therewith for conducting gases and air to and within
the said die-burner, whence from the decomposition thereof heat is generated and
transmitted through the cancelling die to produce the effect as above set forth.
The size of the internal pipe should be such that between its exterior and the
interior of the external pipe an intervening space of about four times the conductive
capacity of the internal pipe should be allowed for the purpose of conducting the
requisite amount of air to the pyro-cancelling die-burner, which is attached to the
end of the external pipe for the purpose of insuring a complete decomposition of
the hydro-carbon or other combustible gases, all of which are conducted through the
internal pipe to the burner or furnace.
The order of introducing the gases and air as above set forth may be reversed
when deemed necessary, for by increasing the size of the internal pipe the conductive
capacity of the two will increase and diminish in a corresponding ratio; or the
requisite proportion of gas and air can be regulated by the power employed to
force them to the burner.
These pipes offset radially to the plane of the face of the pyro-cancelling die-
burner, and are provided with a handle, through which they project at a proper
distance, for attaching a flexible internal and external tube thereto; the said internal
flexible tube is first connected to the internal pipe, which projects beyond the
-external-pipe,. and, lastly, the external flexible tube is connected with the external
pipe, whereby a communication is formed between-the-said-pyro-die-burner and
the sources from whence said gases and air are obtained.
The air is obtained by means of a fan-blower driven by any suitable motor or
device, which forces it through the external flexible tube and pipe into the chamber
or furnace within the pyro die-burner, where it meets and mingles with the gases
which are conducted thereto through the said internal flexible tube and pipe.
It is not absolutely necessary that the said internal pipe and tube should be
within the external pipe and tube, for they can both be independent of each other,
and attached separately to the chamber or furnace of the die-burner, but for the
sake of simplicity and compactness and to diminish trouble in operation I prefer the
former device.
Another important feature in my Invention consists in the construction of a hollow
tubular supporting frame or holder which may be cheaply constructed of ordinary
standard pipe and fittings for the purpose of holding or supporting the pyro-cancelling
die-burner when not in use. This frame is quite necessary for holding the said

page_text: die-burners when the gases are burning therein, for without it or an equivalent
device the flame would have to be extinguished before laying said burner aside,
and again re-lighted for each subsequent use thereof. This hollow supporting frame
is also employed for the reception and distribution of gases and air to the several
cancelling die-burners connected thereto.
Another important and distinctive feature of the said Invention is the making of
the dies hollow and with or without flanges thereon, or perforations within their
sides. The said hollow dies can be cut from sheet-metal in blank form and then
struck up in the form of types; or the said types and their bodies, with or without
flanges, can be made by depositing copper or other suitable metal upon requisite
When one word, or a set of figures, or a design is to be used continuously
or at alternating periods of time, such words, figures, and designs can be deposited
in one piece, whereby I effect a saving of time and trouble in selecting and
adjusting separately the number of letters and figures necessary for the impression
required.
forms.
This pyro-cancelling die-burner may be constructed and adapted to meet all of
the varying requirements for which, when the nature of the material or substance
to be used is duly considered, the said cancelling die-burner may be employed;
therefore I do not limit myself to the precise construction, or to the area of the
printing face of the die-burner, nor to the form or shape thereof as shown in the
Drawings, but I may vary the form or shape and area to adapt the said die-burner
most effectually and advantageously to any purpose for which it may be applicable
or made available.
Figure 1 is a side view of my thermo die or stamp, the die and burner being
partly in section.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a cancelling die-burner which is to be screwed to
the end of the burner or pipe.
Figure 3 is a plan or face view of Figure 2 showing the die.
Figure 4 is an external view of the die-burner, shewn in Figure 1 detached.
Figure 5 is a side view of the die detached from the burner.
Figure 6 is a face view of the die shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a thermo-cancelling die-burner for burning liquids
to produce thermo impressions.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of hollow dies or types and their bodies.
Figure 9 is a face view of the types, which are represented as perforated.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of one of the said types and its body.
. Figure 11 is a sectional view of a double die-burner to be used for post marking
and cancelling postage stamps.
Figure 12 is a face view of the same.
Figure 13 shews on an enlarged scale the face of a double die-burner with
letters thereon, and an interchangeable central die with letters and figures stamped
therein.
Figure 14 represents a blank piece of metal to be stamped into the requisite shape
with letters, figures, and designs therein.
Figure 15 represents the face of a die, with letters, figures, and designs stamped
therein, intended to be stamped from one piece of metal in one operation.
Figure 16 is a sectional view of the same.
Figure 17 is a sectional view of an interchangeable cancelling die.
Figure 18 is a side elevation of the said supporting frame with a pyro-cancelling
die-burner resting thereon, the said frame being properly constructed and arranged
for the reception of air and gases, and the distribution thereof.
Figure 19 is a side view, partly in section, of a duplex or double pyro-cancelling
and post-marking die-burner with external and internal pipes and tubes connected
therewith.
Figure 20 is a sectional view illustrating the means employed for introducing
or conducting air and gases into external and internal tubes and pipes which
conduct the air and gases to and within the pyro-cancelling die-burner.

page_text: therein.
Figure 22 is a plan or face view of Figure 21!
Figure 23 is a sectional view-of-a-pyro-burner with flanged hollow-cancelling
type therein and-dies-thereon.
Figure-24.is.a transverse section of-Figure 23 on a plane just above the flanges
-of-the-hollow type, and showing the said flanges resting on supporting bars.
Figure 25 is a sectional view of a flanged hollow body and type therewith.
Like-letters-refer to corresponding parts throughout the Drawings.
A represents a pipe or tube, and B a handle affixed-to-said pipe by means of the
connection C which is provided with a flexible tube F for conducting gases to and-
through the pipe A to a cancelling die-burner E' and cancelling die E2 therein. e are
small holes drilled into the burner for the eduction of gases which are burned around
the exterior of said die-burner, whereby said die-burner becomes sufficiently heated.
to produce scorched impressions in a rapid and continuous manner.
The burner shewn in Figure 2 has an annular chamber-K in which the gases are
emitted from the annular compartment m'and 'burned; said burner is also provided
with an annular die E upon its face, and an interchangeable holder with inter-
changeable dies a therein; the said dies and bodies thereof are made from perforated
sheet-metal, or in one solid piece; d'represents the type as being struck from the
sheet-metal with perforations e therein, said perforations in the face of the type
and bodies thereof and holder thereof are for the purpose of allowing the flaming
gases or heated gases therefrom to circulate in, around, and through said holder and
type, whereby heat is rapidly transmited to the types or designs.
The holder is provided with a supporting stem which is screwed into the upper!
part of the burner. This holder is also provided with bosses h for the purpose of
keeping the said holder centrally within the burner; a hole is drilled through one
of said bosses through which the end of a screw f projects and impinges upon the
type, thus keeping said type in its proper place. A face view of this die is seen-in
Figure 3.
Figure 4 shews an interchangeable burner to which interchangeable - dies of
various patterns or forms can be affixed. In Figures 5 and 6 the burner is provided
with perforations e therein. The die-burner shown in Figure 1 can be replaced by.
the one shewn in Figure 2.
The thermo-cancelling die-burner shewn in Figure 7 is provided with a lamp in
lieu of the flexible gas-tube shewn in Figure 1: The body of the lamp or reservoir
for holding volatile or burning fluids constitutes the handle D to the cancelling.die;
said handle is to be filled with hydro-carbon liquids, or any suitable,burning fluids,.
which are conveyed through the connection H to pipe A which is filled with
absorbing material J! This absorbing material connects with a wire gauze wicking.
which is inserted into and through the burner L and connection O¹.
The-flow of the volatile fluids is controlled by the plug-cock I, and in order to
graduate the flow of liquid as effectually as possible Lallow the wicking J to pass
through the orifice in the plug I, so that it will become compressed tightly between
the edge of the orifice and the run of the opening which the plug closes.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 represent hollow perforated types with hollow bodies,
a being the body; b, a groove therein; cand e, perforations; and d, the-type.
In the double thermo die-burner shewn in Figure 11, E' is the burner. and
post-marking die, and E2 the cancelling die with perforations e therein. The
cancelling die E2 is attached to the burner E from which it receives its supply of
heated gases through the arm N. A face view of the double dies is shown in
Figure. 12.
.
In Figure 13, which shews the face of the double die, the larger die has the name
of a place stamped or engraved on the annular face, while the interior is provided
with an interchangeable die which contains the dates. These internal dies are
made from one piece of sheet-metal cut out in blank form, as shewn in Figure 14,

page_text: and then stamped into their required form with letters, figures, and designs
therein.
The die, Figures 15 and 16, is struck from sheet-metal with letters, figures, and
designs upon its face, as shewn. These dies are for the purpose of attachment to
and removal from the burner shown in Figure 1.
Figure 17 shews a cup-shaped die-burner connected to an offset pipe A provided
with the handle B and flexible tube F as shown.
In Figure 18 H¹ represents a stand or table on which a supporting frame is
secured; the said frame is constructed of pipes and fittings. L'and S' are standards
or nipples to which the cross piece K' and T-piece R¹ aro secured; said fittings are
connected by the horizontal pipe N', T-piece V', and nipple X'; T and J are
nipples screwed into the run of T-piece R¹ and the vertical run of cross piece K¹.
To the upper ends of said nipples one end of the run of the two T-pieces L² and Q'
are screwed with their outlets facing each other, and are also connected by the
horizontal pipe Z¹. The upper run of the T-piece L2 is provided with an ordinary
gas-burner R2, while the upper run of the T-piece Q¹ is provided with a close nipple u¹
and L-piece P¹ to which is attached the flexible tube G'; C¹ and Care two cocks
screwed to the under side of pipe Z', while cocks F1 and F1 are screwed to the
upper side of pipe N¹; said cocks are connected by pipes c', c¹, which are for the
purpose of conducting gases from pipe N¹ to cocks C and C, and from thence to an
internal flexible tube within the external flexible tube F; e¹ and d' are devices for
holding the pyro-cancelling die-burners when not in use, one of which is suspended
therefrom as shewn in the said Figure, E¹ being the burner, A the pipe, and B the
handle thereof. F is a flexible tube connecting said cancelling die-burner with one
of the cocks C from which it receives hydro-carbon gases and air, and conducts
said gases and air to the pyro-burner.
The conducting pipes or tubes I¹ or M¹ are to connect with a service pipe or
other receptacle for holding gases, or with an apparatus by which the above named
gases can be generated.
The air for supporting the combustion of gases within the pyro die-burner or
furnace is forced therein by means of the blower Y' and motor Z, or by some other
equivalent device into T connection V¹, thence through nipple T¹ to T-piece Q¹,
and from thence into pipe Z¹, from whence it is distributed and conducted
through cocks C¹ into external flexible tube F, and from thence to the furnace of
the pyro-cancelling die. a¹ is a continuation of the small gas-pipe c' and to which
the internal flexible pipe is attached, whilst the external flexible tube F is attached
to the end of the cock, as shown in the adjoining attachment.
The double pyro-die-burner (Figure 19) for cancelling and post-marking mail
matter affords the means for effecting both of these purposes in one operation. El
represents the post-marking die and E³ the cancelling die, which is attached to the
die-burner E by means of an extension arm N.
The post-marking die-burner is made with an exterior and interior compartment
x and v; said interior compartment communicates directly with the exterior and
interior pipes A and q. The exterior pipe projects beyond the upper plane of the
chamber v, as shown in Figure 19. The projected end of said pipe is provided with
a screw-thread thereon or therein for the purpose of attaching inter-changeable dies
or type-holders with interchangeable types therein; said holder should fill the area
of the interior chamber, so as to prevent the escape of the flame from said chamber
at or beneath the face of said type-holder and the face of said types therein,
excepting at such points within the face of the interchangeable type or die as may
be deemed desirable or advantageous.
The intervening space between the interchangeable holder and projection thereon
and the top of the interior chamber von the projected end of pipe A is perforated
at 8, 8, for the purpose of emitting gases and air from said pipe A and interior pipe q
into said interior chamber v, where said gases and air are decomposed, while the
products of said decomposition escape or are forced through the eduction orifices
at or near the bottom, and through the annular wall of said chamber into the

page_text: exterior annular chamber x, whence it makes its exit through the open top thereof;
and also said products can pass through orifices l¹ in the top of the holder, thence
down into the hollow_type_bodies and through perforations in the sides thereof and
holder thereto, through corresponding openings in the wall-of-chamber-v-into-
chamber, where it makes its escape through the open top.
The bottom of the said exterior annular chamber is provided with letters, figures,
-or-designs-engraved, stamped, cast, or otherwise affixed thereon or thereto, and the
blank spaces between said letters, figures, and designs and between the raised lines
-and-surfaces-forming-said letters, figures, and designs may be perforated for the
purpose of allowing heat to escape therefrom, whereby a material assistance is given
to the heat within the burner for keeping the printing face of the die in a properly
heated condition.
Whenever it is desirable or necessary to use an auxiliary or duplex cancelling
stamp or die for making scorched impressions simultaneonsly, I affix a secondary
stamp or die to the main or central die-burner by means of a hollow arm, which
pierces the two walls of the pyro-die-burner E¹, from whence flame or heated
decomposed gases are conducted to said auxiliary die, whereby its heat is derived,
for the purpose of producing scorched cancellations.
This auxiliary die can be made interchangeable, thus producing an infinite variety
of designs; moreover, the said die with its connecting pipes can be removed when
only the pyro-die-burner is to be used; and, furthermore, several auxiliary dies can
be arranged radially around the central pyro-die-burner E¹ if necessary.
The circular form of these burners and dies need not be strictly adhered to; a
variety of forms can be substituted; and where still more complex patterns or work
is required, the secondary dies can be provided with attendant satellites radiating
therefrom, whereby the cancelling die apparatus receives its heat from the central
pyro cancelling-die-burner.
The internal pipe q is inserted into the pipe-A; then the said pipes are bent at
or nearly at a right angle, and thence extend radially from the axial line of the
pyro-cancelling die-burner, and parallel or nearly so to the plane of the face of said
die, but within a plane above the plane of the face of said, die, to the distance
required to keep the hand of the operator so far removed from the heat rising from
said pyro-die-burner that the hand will not be affected thereby, whence said pipes
are bent upward at a right angle or nearly so to said radial extension, and a handle
affixed thereon, after which the pipes are attached to their respective internal and.
external tubes; said tubes are subsequently connected to their respective sources,
from whence gas and air are supplied, as shewn.
Referring to Figure 20, N¹ represents a gas-supply-pipe to which the cock F¹ is
attached, c¹ being a pipe leading from said cock, and connecting with a nipple on or
near the end of cock C'; said nipple continues or connects with nipple in the
interior of the cock, and extends below the end thereof, where it connects with the
-interior-flexible-tube.q,-while_the_exterior of the cock connects with the exterior
tube F. Z represents a pipe to which the cock C¹ is screwed, and from which air
is received and conducted through said cock, the flow of such air being regulated by
the plug t.
Referring to Figure 21, E¹ represents the burner or furnace, and E2 the face of the
die or printing face thereof; this die-burner is made in two parts, by casting or in
any other suitable manner. The section E' is made in a cup-shaped form, with a
central tubular stem or stud which projects at a suitable distance toward the opening
of said cup, while the other end thereof projects beyond the end of said cup sufficiently
far to admit of a lock-nut to be screwed thereon.
The inwardly projecting end of this stud is provided with a screw-thread, to
which the annular cup-shaped section B¹ is screwed. When the two parts E¹ and B¹
are screwed together the open end of the part E¹ projects within and forms the
annular chamber x near to the bottom thereof, thus forming a very narrow space or 5
outlet between the edge of the cup E¹ and the bottom of the chamber x for the
escape of heated gases or the products of combustion, or for the escape of gases prior

page_text: to being decomposed, in which case the combustion of said gases would be upon the
outside of the pyro-die-burner or at the exit of the annular chamber x.
The underside or face of the bottom of said annular face or chamber x is provided
with letters, figures, and designs m as may be required, and which may or can be
engraved, stamped, cast, or otherwise affixed thereto; and when necessary small
holes can be drilled between said raised surfaces and blank spaces formed by the
raising of said letters, figures, and designs.
The outer and inner edge of the said annular bottom is provided with annular
projecting ridges or lines, which terminate in the plane of the aforesaid letters or
the like; said annular projections can be made in a V form for the purpose of
imprinting a hair-line, or it can be made with a flat surface, whereby a wider line
can be made; and also several concentric circles of varying width can be made for
printing borders around the enclosed work; or when very fine borders are required
the concentric circles can be replaced by borders cut thereon by the geometrical
lathe, all of which will produce clear and well defined impressions when properly
heated as herein before described.
I prefer to make these projecting concentric circles with notches or nicks therein,
or a serrated surface, for producing an annular dotted or dash line for the purpose of
preventing that part which is imprinted by scorched impressions from breaking
and falling away from whatever substance is so imprinted, for the heat at times
may be so great as to scorch through the annular line, and if so the circular disc
so formed would break away and be of no service; therefore said dotted or dashed
lines will be of service, for the parts not scorched will hold the parts imprinted to
their places.
The central chamber or compartment h¹ in the section B₁ is provided with a top
and a threaded socket 11 projecting therefrom; this chamber h¹ is left open for the
purpose of introducing a type-bolder or a holder with letters, figures, and designs
engraved, cast, stamped, or otherwise formed or affixed thereto. But the method
which I prefer in constructing said letters, figures, and designs is to make a suitable
form for the impressions required and then deposit metal thereon until the requi
thickness is obtained; after which the deposited metal is removed from said fol
and is ready to be inserted into the above mentioned chamber, and held thereir oy
"screws f; suitable sheet metal can be cut in blank form and then struck up in the
requisite shape or form with dies which have the necessary letters, figures, and
designs thereon.
When the types a, a, are used they are set within the holder h² in proper order
and then pressed firmly therein by bringing one or both of the screws f to bear
thereon. These types are made of sufficient depth to rest against the covered
end of the holder and terminate within the flange of the annular die E², thereby
making the face of the pyro-cancelling die-burner E¹ all within the same plane.
When hollow types with hollow bodies thereto are employed, as shown in Figures
19 and 21, and in Figures 23, 24, and 25, I perforate their sides when desirable,
and also perforate the closed end of the type-holder h¹, as shown in Figures 19
and 21. When said end is so perforated I perforate the closed end of the type-
holder chamber, as shewn at 1, the perforations being within the area of the open
end of the projecting stem I" or socket within the cup shaped section E', and for
the purpose of allowing gas or gas and air to pass into the hollow type and bodies
thereof in a heated condition or as heated products of combustion, which will
escape through the perforations within the bodies of said types and then through
perforations within the walls of the type-chamber into the annular chamber x,
whence the said products of combustion are forced through the annular opening at
the top thereof; y, y, represent holes in the hollow stem " for discharging gases
or air and gases from the interior of said hollow stem into the annular chamber v,
where said gases and air are decomposed. The products of said decomposition
escape beneath the edge of the cup E' into the annular chamber x, and thence.
through the open top thereof.
The annular chamber x assists in retaining the heat within the hollow type and

page_text: interior chamber v. The said external chamber x can extend to the top of the
burner, as shown in Figure 19 k and are jamb or lock-nuts for making a tight
joint about the threads and A and q are pipes for conducting gases and air
into the aforesaid pyro-cancelling-die-burner.
Figure 22 represents the annular face of the bottom of the annular-cup-shaped-
section B-of-the-pyro-die-burner seen in Figure 21.
A-modification of the above described device is shewn in Figure 23, in which
E represents the body-or-fire-chamber or furnace of the pyro-cancelling or pyro-
type-printing die or stamp; B¹ indicates the base of said die-stamp, which is large
enough in diameter to afford a clear-annular-space-around_the_body_to the fire-
chamber E. The bottom of said base B' is annular, and the interior diameter
-thereof is somewhat less than the interior diameter of the fire-chamber E¹; said
base B¹ is connected to the interior of said fire-chamber E¹-by a vertical annular
wall and run v¹ thereon, thus forming an interior annular projection within said
fire-chamber and a small annular chamber beneath said projection, which opens
into the annular chamber x. The space formed by the interior wall x is divided
into compartments by hollow or solid cross-bars b', the said compartments being
left open both at the top and bottom for the purpose of suspending hollow-bodied
types a by the flanges w therein, or solid type may be so suspended. These types
project through the openings formed by the bars 6 until the face of the types d, d,
coincides with the plane of the annular die m³, thus bringing the entire face of the
combined die and type E² all within the same plane.
In order to hold the said flanged types in position the follower W, which is
attached to the hollow stud or post V and to the screw-cap D', is brought to bear
thereon by turning said screw-cap on the fire-chamber E'; when a change of type
is to be made the screw cap is taken off and the type taken out and replaced by
whatever type is desired.
Gases and air are introduced into the fire-chamber by means of pipes A and q
and the holes s within the post V where they are decomposed. The products of
combustion resulting therefrom are forced through orifices in the follower W, then
into the hollow-type-bodies a, and thence through their perforated sides into the
small annular chainber 11, whence they makes their escape through the openings
into the annular chamber x, and from thence to the open air. The small annular
chamber is not a necessity, for the wall x and the side of the fire-chamber E
may coincide, and with the inward projecting run v¹ the same function would be
performed as can now be done by the device shewn.
Figure 24 shows the hollow types a as being suspended by their flanges w.
Figure 25 shows a hollow type d and body a with flanges w thereon. This
type and its body can be made as hereinbefore described, either separately or in
groups, or in word form, as circumstances may require. I do not limit myself to
any form or size of the said type.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January,-in-the-year_of_our_Lord_
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.