Improved Means for Writing, Drawing, Colouring, or otherwise "Marking on Surfaces.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 18th May, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Writing, Drawing, Colouring, or otherwise
"Marking on Surfaces.
We, FRANCIS GEORGE BENSLY, Manager, and JOSIAH COOPER, Felt Manufacturer,
both of Felt Works, Little King Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists firstly in the employment of compressed felt, as herein-
after described, as a means, when saturated or partly saturated with a. black or
coloured fluid, for writing, drawing, colouring or otherwise marking on surfaces.
In one example of this invention the compressed felt forms the writing or
marking end of a suitable holder and is cut or otherwise formed by preference
into a flattened point of a width suitable for the particular kind of writing or
colouring for which it is required. The said felt part absorbs the black or coloured
fluid when dipped therein and can then be used for writing or other like purposes
even on rough surfaces, and for laying on bands or washes of water colour. By the
felt being bard and absorbent, lines with sharp edges can be formed and a single-
dip in the fluid will suffice for covering a much larger surface than can be-done by
an ordinary brush.
The handle is sometimes made hollow to contain a supply of writing or colouring
fluid which is absorbed by the felt and ready for use thus dispensing with the
necessity of dipping the felt end in the fluid.
I
In another example of this invention letters, figures, words, marks or other
devices are cut from sheets of compressed felt (or are otherwise formed therefrom)
and are employed for printing or other marking purposes by being fixed or
mounted to a wooden or other back or support when required and saturated or
partly saturated with a marking finid (preferably by being pressed on to an inking
pad) and then pressed against the surface to be marked, similarly to the way in
which an india-rubber stamp is used. The hard and absorbent nature of the felt
enables a great many good impressions to be taken without a fresh supply of marking.
fluid being required thereon.

page_text: This invention consists further in the employment of the said felt for the pointed
instruments known as "stumps "used in making crayon and. other drawings instead
of the outer surface of leather as usually employed. The felt is cut or otherwise
formed into the required form and mounted in a suitable handle if required.
Dated this 19th day of May 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Writing, Drawing, Colouring, or otherwise
Marking on Surfaces.
We, FRANCIS GEORGE BENSLY, Manager, and JOSIAH Cooper, Felt Manufacturer,
both of Felt Works, Little King Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention consists firstly in the employment of compressed felt as herein-
after described as a means when saturated or partly saturated with a black
or coloured fluid, for writing, drawing, colouring or otherwise marking on:
surfaces.
In one example of this invention the compressed felt forms the writing or marking
end of a suitable holder and is cut or otherwise formed by preference into a
flattened point of a width suitable for the particular kind of writing or colouring for
which it is required. The said felt part absorbs the black or coloured fluid when
dipped therein and can then be used for writing or other like purposes even on
rough surfaces, and for laying on bands or washes of water colour. By the felt
being hard and absorbent, lines with sharp edges can be formed and a single dip in
the fluid will suffice for covering a much larger surface than can be done by an
ordinary brush.
The handle is sometimes made hollow to contain a supply of writing or colouring
fluid which is absorbed by the felt and ready for use thus dispensing with the
necessity of dipping the felt end in the fluid.
In another example of this invention, letters, figures, words, marks or other
devices are cut from sheets of compressed felt (or are otherwise formed therefrom)
and are employed for. printing or other marking purposes by being fixed or
mounted to a wooden or other back or support when required and saturated or
partly saturated with a marking fluid (preferably by being pressed on to an inking
"

page_text: pad) and then pressed against the surface to be marked, similarly to the way in
which an india-rubber stamp is used. The hard and absorbent nature of the felt
enables a great many good impressions to be taken without a fresh supply of marking.
fluid being required thereon.
This invention consists further in the employment of the said felt for the pointed
instruments known as "stumps" used in making crayon and other drawings instead
of the outer surface of leather as usually employed. The felt is cut or otherwise
formed into the required form and mounted in a suitable handle if required.
Fig. 1 represents an example of our invention in which the compressed felt forms
the writing or marking end to a holder and Fig. 2 shews the said holder and the
felt part separately; Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the same in which the
handle part is made hollow to contain a supply of the writing or colouring fluid and
Fig. 5 shews part of the said tubular handle and the felt part separately; Fig. 6
represents in part sectional elevation and in plan another example of our invention in
which letters of compressed felt are fixed or mounted to a back part or support; and
Fig. 7 illustrates a stump" with the ends made from compressed felt according to
this invention.
{
Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 a is the writing or marking part of the instru-
ment which is formed of the compressed felt and bis the holder. The felt part a may
be of any suitable form but it is by preference made of the shape represented on the
drawing the width being increased or diminished according to the particular kind of
writing or colouring for which the instrument is required. The felt part a is by
preference made separate from the handle, so that felt parts of different forms or
sizes can be used with a single handle and in order to secure the felt part a to the
handle & the former is provided with a shank a¹ which fits into a metal socket 6¹ on
the end of the handle b. Or the shank a¹ may be screwed into the socket b¹ or
secured thereto in any other suitable manner. In using the instrument the com-
pressed felt part a is dipped in the black or coloured fluid as in using an ordinary
writing pen or brush and it will be found that a single dip in the fluid will suffice
for covering a large surface.
When the handle part is made hollow to contain a supply, of the writing or
colouring fluid, for instance as illustrated by Figs. 3, 4 and 5, we prefer for the
shank of the felt part a to be provided with a metal cap a fitting into a socket bat
the lower end of the handle; in this cap is a small hole c and there is a corresponding
hole d at the top of the socket of the handle; these holes are arranged out of centro
so that the felt part can either be turned round to the position shewn in Fig. 3 when
the holes will match and the ink or colouring fluid will flow through the holes to the
felt part or it can be turned round to the position shewn by Fig. 4 so as to close the
holes and prevent the liquid flowing to the felt when the instrument is not in use.
At the upper end of the tubular handle a a screw or other stoppere may be provided
for the purpose of filling the handle.
In the example illustrated by Fig. 6 the letters "() & Co" marked i are cut from
sheets of compressed felt or are otherwise formed therefrom and are fixed by the
screws for by cement or by other means to the wooden or other back or support g
provided with a handle g¹. This stamp or marker is intended to be used with an
inking pad similarly to an ordinary india-rubber stamp. It will be evident that
stamps or markers for other letters, figures, words, marks, or devices can be cut
from sheets of compressed felt and mounted on a back or support for use similarly to
that illustrated by Fig. 6.
4:
In the stump" illustrated by Fig. 7 the pointed ends h h are cut or otherwise
formed of compressed felt and secured to the central handle which in the drawings
is represented as of wood but it will be evident that a metal or other handle can be
employed.
In order to add strength and elasticity to the compressed felt parts a or h we
sometimes provide an internal wire or wires which is or are inserted at the upper
end of the felt parts and extend down almost to the writing or marking end
thereof.

page_text: The Figures on the drawing illustrate what we have found to be the best way for
carrying our invention into practice but it is to be understood that the said invention
is not limited to the precise details illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. A detachable or fixed end for a writing or marking instrument formed of
compressed felt for the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore described.
2nd. The combination with the handle of a writing or marking instrument of a
detachable or fixed end or ends formed of compressed felt for the purpose and sub-
stantially as herein before described.
3rd. The combination in a writing or marking instrument, of a hollow handle
for containing a writing or marking fluid and a detachable or fixed end of compressed
felt for the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described.
4th. In marking stamps the employment of letters, figures, words, marks or
other devices formed of compressed felt for the purpose and substantially as herein-
before described.
5th. The various marking or writing instruments provided with an end or ends
of compressed felt hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing.