AN IMPROVED PENHOLDER
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George G. Ray, of Boston, in the State of Massa-
chusetts, of the United States of America, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED PENHOLDER."
Sealed the 16th October 1861, and dated the 27th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George G. Ray at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the.
27th April 1861.
I, GEORGE G. RAY, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, of the United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for " AN
IMPROVED PENHOLDER," to be as follows:-
Figure 1 denotes a side elevation, and Figure 2 a longitudinal section of my
improved penholder, as provided with an ordinary steel pen.
The nature of my Invention consists in an improved penholder, as made with
an elastic or rubber pen supporter, applied to a non-elastic handle in such
manner that a pen when used in such holder is rendered capable of vibrating
independently of the handle, thereby securing to the user of such pen not only
the stiffness of the steel pen, but the elasticity of the quill pen.
It is a fact well known to book-keepers, accountants, and copyists, as well as
those whose business calls them to make much use of a pen, that there are serious
evils incident to the use of both the steel and the quill pen. To obviate such

page_text: defects and at same time retain all the advantages of both, has been the
object of my Invention. Persons accustomed to the daily use of a steel pen
confined rigidly to an inflexible handle, it is well known, often experience
a numbness in the arm owing to the peculiar position in which the nerves of
the arm are required to be maintained while in the act of writing. The
long-continued maintenance of such nerves in one position often produces para-
lysis; while, on the other hand, those who make use of quill pens experience
other difficulties, as the want of a proper stiffness in them either causes their users
to consume much time in making and mending such pens, or their writing is
often rendered illegible thereby.
In carrying out my Invention I construct the pen-handle A of wood, or any
other suitable material, and of any desired form, and apply to its lower end an
elastic rubber pen supporter B. This pen supporter B, I usually mako of a
tubular form, and apply it to the handle in manner as shewn in the Drawings.
When so applied the rubber forms a soft elastic cushion to the fingers giving
great ease to them, and besides is not liable to benumb or paralize them, as is
the ordinary rigid penholder, and besides, when the pen is applied to the holder,
the elasticity of the rubber allows the pen the move or vibrate independently
of the handle, thereby giving that ease of motion peculiar to the quill pen,
without any of its inconveniences. A penholder constructed in the above
described manner has been found in practice to be a useful and an excellent
article.
I claim the improved penholder as made with the elastic or rubber pen
supporter applied to the handle, and serving to hold the pen and allow it to
vibrate independently of the handle, substantially in manner and while, being
used as described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George G. Ray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, GEORGE 3
G. RAY, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, of
the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, A.D. 1861, in the
twenty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George G. Ray, Her special licence that

page_text: I, the said George G. Ray, my executors, administrators, and assigns, `or,
such others as I, the said George G. Ray, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention of "AN IMPROVED PENHOLDER," upon the condition' (amongst
others) that I, the said George G. Ray by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed; and:
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calen-
dar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George G. Ray, do hereby declaro
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
Specification, and the accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 denotes a
side elevation and Figure 2 a longitudinal section of my improved penholder
as provided with an ordinary steel pen.
The nature of my Invention consists in an improved penholder as made
with an elastic or rubber pen supporter applied to a non-elastic handle in
such manner that a pen when used in such holder is rendered capable of
vibrating independently of the handle, thereby securing to the user of such
pen not only the stiffness of the steel pen, but the elasticity of the quill
pen.
It is a fact well known to book-keepers, accountants, and copyists, as well
as those whose business calls them to make much use of a pen, that there are
serious evils incident to the use of both the steel and the quill pen. To obviate
such defects, and at the same time retain all the advantages of both, has been
the object of my Invention. Persons accustomed to the daily use of a steel
pen confined rigidly to an inflexible handle, it is well known often experience
a numbness in the arm, owing to the peculiar position in which the nerves of
the arm are required to be maintained while in the act of writing. The long-
continued maintenance of such nerves in one position often produces para-
lysis; while, on the other hand, those who make use of quill pens experience
other difficulties, as the want of a proper stiffness in them either causes their
users to consume much time, in making and mending such pens, or their writing
is often rendered illegible thereby.
In carrying out my Invention, I construct the pen handle A of wood, or
any other suitable material, and of any desired form, and apply to its lower

page_text: end an elastic rubber pen supporter B. This pen supporter B I usually
make of a tubular form, and apply it to the handle in manner as shown
in the Drawings. When so applied the rubber forms a soft elastic cushion to
the fingers, giving great ease to them, and besides is not liable to benumb
or paralize them as is the ordinary rigid penholder; and besides, when the pen
is applied to the holder, the elasticity of the rubber allows the pen to move or
vibrate independently of the handle, thereby giving that ease of motion peculiar.
to the quill pen, without any of its inconveniences. A penholder constructed
in-the above-described manner has been found in practice to be a useful and
an excellent article.
I claim the improved penholder as made with the elastic or rubber pen
supporter B applied. to the handle A, and serving to hold the pen and allow it
to vibrate independently of the handle, substantially in manner and while being
used as described..
In witness whereof, I, the said George G. Ray, have hereunto set my
hand and cool this Tighteenth day of LL. AD 1961