A New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Impressing and Registering Fiscal Stamps to Supersede Adhesive or other Moveable Stamps.
Year: 1884

page_text: A New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Impressing
and Registering Fiscal Stamps to Supersede Adhesive or
other Moveable Stamps.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Street in the City of London,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING
AND REGISTERING FISCAL STAMPS TO SUPERSEDE ADHESIVE OR OTHER MOVEABLE
STAMPS" to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to supersede adhesive or other moveable stamps
such as postage, receipt and commercial stamps, stamped paper and others by
impressing a stamp, either damp or dry according to circumstances, by means of an
apparatus which supplies a sure, easy, instantaneous and infallible check, whilst
offering the greatest possible guarantee against falsification and fraud.
It is indisputable that the adoption of moveable stamps did away with a great
deal of trouble and annoyance, but it is impossible for progress to stop there, for
that system still presents numerous inconveniences not only for the government
but for the public. In fact the application of adhesivo or other moveable stamps
which is so easy and convenient when a few only are used at one time, becomes
a serious matter, and entails a considerable loss of time when hundreds of letters,
circulars, newspapers and so forth have to be dispatched daily, or in the case of
invoices and receipts having to be signed and stamped; as the stamps have to be
separated, damped, and applied one by onc. However simple these various operations
are they have to be done with a certain amount of care, if it is desired that the
stamps shall not be torn or become detached, whilst (in the case of receipt stamps
and others) thero is considerable trouble in cancelling by writing over a stamp
which is still damp, or of applying to it with a certain amount of effort a special
stamp. Furthermore, such a system necessitates considerable labour in checking
when (as is indispensable in large catablishments) it is required to keep an exact
account of the stamps used, besides numerous other inconveniences, such as the
loss and theft of stamps and so forth.

page_text: The inconveniences to the Government are still greater. In the first place the
expense of production of moveable stamps figures in the budget as a considerable
sum. The fraudulent imitation of stamps causes enormous prejudice to the Treasury.
In the post every stamp has to be cancelled or obliterated which requires a
considerable expenditure of time and material.
It is therefore evident that a scheme or method which while it preserved the
advantages of the system at present in use, would suppress the whole or even a
part of the inconveniences above referred to, deserves to be taken into serious
consideration.
According to this invention the application of moveable stamps is superseded by
the impression of a damp or dry stamp by means of an apparatus hereafter
described, and which it is proposed should be furnished by the government to any
person asking for it, on certain conditions and stipulations adopted or used in the
government offices. The use of this apparatus offers numerous advantages to the
various Departments, which advantages may be summarized as follows:
A. Advantages to the public.
1. One operation instead of four (tearing off, damping, applying and cancelling), 4
the four operations being replaced by the simple operation of applying tho stamp
in a damp or dry state.
2. Instantaneous, easy and infallible checking.
3. Loss and robbery of stamps becomes absolutely impossible.
4. Simultaneous impression of the stamp and of the address of the operator 4.
and, if required, of the date, resulting in economy of time and material.

page_text: STAMPED PAPER.
The adoption of this system would enable notaries, solicitors, sheriff's officers,
and in fact all ministerial officers and the like, to use any paper they please, with
or without heading, and printed or not, by applying theroto the corresponding
damp or dry stamp containing their address, the date etcetera.
The advantages to the stamp department would be very great, for this system
would certainly suppress nine-tenths of tho expense now incurred for paper.
NAME STAMPS FOR LARGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND THE LIKE.
It is well known that in many administrativo offices the signatures of certain
chief persons are necessarily replaced by a name stamp, for it would be physically
impossible for them to sign all the documents to which the signature is required.
by regulation. The apparatus forming the subject of this invention gives them.
the means of checking instantly, casily and infallibly the number of documents
signed, as by comparing the rotation number with that shown by the counter they
can take note immediately of any abuse that may have been made of their name
stamp.
DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS.
The apparatus forming the basis of this new system of stamping comprises the
following conditions:
1. It prints the address of the house, the study, the post office or other place
where it is applied, as well as the value of the stamp, and, if required, the date.
2. It contains a counter indicating successive numbers, the number of cyphers to
be indicated will depend on the conditions of the use for which the apparatus is
intended.
3. When the last cypher comprised in the counter is reached, the apparatus stops
automatically.
4. The apparatus allows the stamp to be placed to the right or to the left, at
the top or at the bottom of the letter or document.
5. The ink can be renewed at pleasure without deranging the mechanism of the
apparatus in any way.
6. In the containing case there is a glazed opening at which the cyphers
indicated by the counter are successively visible.
7. The apparatus is constructed so as to render it impossible to ink or stamp by'
hand without putting the counter in action.
8. The apparatus is enclosed in a sealed case and screwed on a table or other
place by means of screws which may be covered with seals to render them
inviolable.
'
In the drawing hereto annexed is shown the apparatus in question arranged to
fulfil the above mentioned conditions. It will be understood however that the
drawings are only illustrative and are intended to show how the invention may be
practically realized.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus taken through the lover.
Figure 2 is a plan.
Figure 3 an underside view, and,
Figure 4a side view with the front of the case removed.
Upon a wooden or metal base t is screwed a box a forming a casing in which the
mechanism is contained.
The feet of the frame of the apparatus are only in contact with the base t
towards the back, there being a slit in the front face and at each side. The object
to be stamped such as a letter or other document is introduced into this slit.
The box a is fixed to the base by internal screws, especially by a screw o which
can only be got at through the opening of the counter as will be hereinafter
described

page_text: Finally an angle piece t¹ on the base limits the introduction of the letter or
paper so as to allow the stamp to be placed at a determinate distance from the
edge thereof. A mark engraved on the plate of the frame, or on the base allows
an envelope to be placed so as to be stamped with one, two or several impressions
according as the postage is single, double or triple. The apparatus can be fixed on 5
a table, bureau etcetera by means of screws passing through two or more lugs
which screws may be covered by a special seal to prevent removal by unauthorized
persons.
The mechanism consists:
1. Of a printing stamp b fixed between the two cheeks of a long lever c 10
Oscillating at o¹. This stamp (an example of which is seen at Figure 5) carries an
engraved vignette of any kind at the bottom of which stands out the cypher
indicating the value of the stamp and if required the name and address of the
Bender,
2. Of an external lever d oscillating at d¹ and connected to the lever o by the 1
arm d³ which forms part thereof, and a connecting link d³ which completes the
connexion.
8.-Of-an-inking_roller f mounted at the end of a fork g which terminates a
lever.goscillating-at-g-round.a spindle which it is-sufficient-to-remove_in_order
to take out the inker when it is desired to refil it--
A spring acts on the lever g' in order to maintain the roller constantly in
contact with the stamp, and to restore all the moveable parts to rest after the
impression of the stamp. Another spring may however be applied to act on the
lever c if the spring h-is-not-sufficient.
In order to withdraw the inking roller the said spring is drawn-back-by-means-2
of the book r.
4.-Of-a-counter with four (more or less) dises the stamping action of which
is put in operation by the lever c carrying the-stamp,-at-each_of_its_effective
oscillations.
This counter moves below a glazed opening in the box a, this opening. k is 3
contained in the small door which forms a staple plate (moraillon) and is locked
by the pin through which is passed the cord of an official seal, the bow of a
padlock or other means of securing it against being tampered with.
5. A bolt v allows the lowering of the lever d to be interdicted by being passed
under the arm d. This bolt is padlocked (cadenacé) by an appendix v with an 3
eye bolt projection (saillie en piton) on the box a. The whole system is thus at
rest, and no one can get either to the counter or to the impressing stamp.
The invention may be carried into effect by any other suitable arrangement of
printing apparatus combined with a suitable counting apparatus, the forms,
materials, dimensions and general arrangement of the parts being varied according 4
to circumstances.
Bad thin 00-11001
'

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING
AND REGISTERING FISCAL STAMPS TO SUPERSEDE ADHESIVE OR OTHER MOVEABLE
STAMPS," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement reference being had
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked
thereon:-
The object of this invention is to supersede adhesive or other moveable stamps
such as postage, receipt and commercial stamps, stamped paper, and others, by
impressing a stamp, either damp or dry.according to circumstances, by means of an
apparatus which supplies a sure, easy, instantaneous and infallible check, whilst
offering the greatest possible guarantee against falsification and fraud.
It is indisputable that the adoption of moveable stamps did away with a great
deal of trouble and annoyance, but it is impossible for progress to stop there, for
that system still presents numerous inconveniences not only for the government
but for the public. In fact the application of adhesive or other moveable stamps
which is so easy and convenient when a few only are used at one time becomes a
serious matter, and entails a considerable loss of time when hundreds of letters,
circulars, newspapers and so forth have to be dispatched daily, or, in the case of
invoices and receipts, having to be signed and stamped, as the stamps have to
be separated, damped, and applied one by one. However simple these various
operations are, they have to be done with a certain amount of care, if it is desired
that the stamps shall not be torn or become detached, whilst (in the case of receipt
stamps and others) there is considerable trouble in cancelling by writing over
a stamp which is still damp, or of applying to it with a certain amount of effort
a special stamp. Furthermore, such a system necessitates considerable labour in
checking when (as is indispensable in largo establishments) it is required to keep
an exact account of the stamps used, besides numerous other inconveniences, such
as the loss and theft of stamps, and so forth.
The inconveniences to the Government are still greater. In the first place the
expense of production of moveable stamps figures in the budget as a considerable
sum. The fraudulent imitation of stamps causes enormous prejudice to the
treasury. In the post every stamp has to be cancelled or obliterated, which
requires a considerable expenditure of time and material.
It is therefore evident that a scheme or method which, while it preserved the
advantages of the system at present in use, would suppress the whole or even
a part of the inconveniences above referred to, deserves to be taken into serious.
consideration.

page_text: According to this invention the application of moveable stamps is superseded by
the impression of a damp or dry stamp, by means of an apparatus hereafter
described, and which it is proposed should be furnished by the government to any
person asking for it, on certain conditions and stipulations, or be used in the govern-
ment offices themselves. The use of this apparatus offers numerous advantages
to the various departments, which advantages may be summarized as follows:
stamps.
-2-Suppression of the obliteration at the departure office, and consequently great-
economy of time, personal staff and plant (matériel).
3-Suppression of fraud and falsification.
4-Absolute suppression of damping (lavage).
5-Instantaneous, easy and infallible checking.
6-Loss and robbery of postage stamps in the offices becomes impossible.
-28
1-One operation, instead of four (tearing off, damping, applying and cancelling)
the four operations being replaced by by the simple operation of applying the stamp
in a damp or dry state.
2-Instantaneous, easy and infallible checking.
3-Loss and robbery of stamps becomes absolutely impossible.
4-Simultaneous impression of the stamp and of the address of the operator and,
if required, of the date, resulting in economy of time and plant (matériel).
3
The advantages are nearly the same as those above described for the postal
department.
STAMPED PAPER.
The adoption of this system would enable notaries, solicitors, sheriff's officers and
in fact all ministerial officers and the like, to use any paper they please, with or
without heading, and printed or not, by supplying thereto the corresponding damp
or dry stamp containing their address, the date, etcetera.
The advantages to the stamp department would be very great, for this system
would certainly suppress nine-tenths of the expense now incurred for paper,

page_text: Fifth The spring h acting on the lever g¹ for securing constant contact between
the inking roller and the stamp, and for returning the mechanism to its normal
position after each impression as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the
Drawings hereto annexed.
Sixth-The hook for drawing back the spring h when it is required to remove
the inking roller, as herein before described, and illustrated in the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Seventh-The connection of the lever o with the counter, in such manner that it
is impossible to obtain an impression without causing the counter to register, as
herein before described.
Eighth-The glazed shutter, forming a staple plate (moraillon), locked by the
pin, by which it may also be sealed, as herein before described, and illustrated in
the Drawings hereto annexed.
Ninth The internal screw o which is only accessible through the opening of
the counter, so that it is impossible to dismount the apparatus without violating
the seals, as herein before described, and illustrated in the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Tenth-The bolt v, with its locking piece v¹, which may be locked by a padlock,
for the purpose of maintaining the whole apparatus at rest, and for preventing
access to the countor, or the stamp, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in tho
Drawings hereto annexed.