IMPROVEMENTS IN PERPETUAL CALENDARS OR ALMANACKS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Johann Fissithaler, of No. 24, Northampton Square,
Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Watchmaker, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN PERPETUAL CALENDARS OR ALMANACKS."
Sealed the 21st July 1876, and dated the 27th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johann Fisslthaler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January 1876.
JOHANN FISSLTHALER, of No. 24, Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, in the
County of Middlesex, Watchmaker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERPETUAL CALENDARS
OR ALMANACKS."
This Invention consists of further improvements in perpetual calendars or
almanacks, as described in my former application, No. 2868, in the year 1875, and
which are applicable to pencil cases, penholders, walking sticks, cigar cases, purses,
lockets, watch cases, and clocks, umbrellas, and other similar article of daily or
other use; also may be applied to pipes, cigar holders, match boxes, charms, paper
weights, and such like articles.
I will explain my Invention by describing its application to a locket, purse, or
other flat article. I insert in the locket a plate having in its surface engraved or
printed a table representing the days of the inonth in vertical columns, and arranged
in such a manner that by simply pushing a stud or small knob, or other similar
contrivance, the day of the week, which are engraved or printed on the article itself
or on separate tablets or small bars, is shown, or I can use a roller whercon the date
and the day of the week is indicated, and this being continually performed gives
perpetually the date, day, and month of the year.
When the calendar is engraved on the article itself a small plate is fixed on the
centre of the calendar, on which the first letter of the days of the week are engraved,
and this centre plate is pushed and set to whatever figure may be desired.
When this Invention is carried out in reference to circular or other shaped articles,
such as penholders and such like, the calendar is printed or engraved on some elastic
or limp material, or on metal or glass tubes, and a collar is made to move up or
down or to revolve as occasion may require. On the tube is engraved the days of
the week, and the collar is either pushed up or down or turned round according to,
the day of the week.
I do not always use a collar or other material, as in some cases I engrave the
days or numbers on the article itself.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Johann Fisslthaler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th July
1876.
JOHANN FISSLTHALER, of No. 24, Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, in the
County of Middlesex, Watchmaker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERPETUAL CALENDARS
OR ALMANACKS,"
The improvements are applicable to flat or curved surfaces or places, and calendars
made according to this Invention may also be applied as parts of or additions to
pencil cases, knives, penholders, walking sticks, umbrellas, cigar cases, travelling
cases, letter cases, dressing cases, combs and brushes, pipes, cigar holders, purses,
lockets, solitaires, charms, seals, compasses, watch cases, match and other boxes,
pocket and other books, clocks, paper weights, chimney piece and other ornaments,
lamps, inkstands, writing desks and slopes, thermometers, barometers, hats, tobacco
pouches, and many other articles of daily or other use.
The movable parts constituting this novel combination or arrangement are made
to slide in a straight or circular direction, all as herein-after described.
And in order that this my Invention may be more fully and readily understood I
will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a front view, Fig. 2 a back view, and Fig. 3 a plan section of a
calendar constructed according to this Invention, and used either separately or
applied to a flat surface on a piece of furniture or other article. A is a plate, by
preference made of metal, and on its surface is engraved or otherwise plainly marked a
table representing the days of the month, from 1 to 31, in vertical columns; D is a
pocket or receptacle for seven separate tablets or small bars E, each marked with
the initial letters or some or all letters of the days of the week. The front plate A
is at this part made with a slot, hole, or opening, so that the days of the week show
through. Each tablet E is provided with a small knob or stud e or other similar
contrivance for taking hold of it for the purpose of removing and changing them in
their order or position relatively to the day's of the month marked on the plate A;
F is a catch swinging on a pin f, and serving to hold the tablet E in place; B is a
round disc turning round its centre on the plate A, and by engraving or otherwise
marked with the names of the twelve months of the year, and the number of days
in each month, which months become visible one by one through a hole in the
plate A, when set each mouth as required. The calendar may also, if desired, be
provided with a sliding or otherwise movable piece C, marked with the current
and a few following years, which show through a hole in the plate A one by one as
required.
Fig. 4 is a front view, Fig. 5 a back view, and Fig. 6 a plan of a calendar
very similar to the one just described, only that the names of the day's of the week
here are all marked in seven vertical rows in seven different orders on one plate E,
instead of on seven separate plates or tablets; the plate E is made to slide behind
the front plate A, and is fitted with a knob e for taking hold of it; the days of the
week show through a hole in the plate A; H is a sliding pointer, which can be set
so as to indicate the current week or the day, as required, or a separate pointer
may be applied to point out the day; this pointer or any other equivalent pointer
may also be applied to the arrangement shown at Figure 1. The plate E may also
form part of the article itself, to which the calendar is applied, in which case it is
stationary, and the plate A is made to slide over it, reversing the mode of
operation.
Fig. 7 is a front view, and Fig. 8 a back view of another arrangement, where

page_text: the plate E marked with the days of the week is made to slide behind or relatively
to the front plate A, as before, but where all the names of the months and their
numbers of days are marked on the front plate A itself, a jointed pointer H can
be set so as to point to the current month. In this case a movable disc C (or it
might be a straight slide, as at Fig. 1) marked with the current year and a few
following years is arranged at the top, the current year for the time showing through
a hole in the plate A.
Fig. 9 is a front view, and Fig. 10 a side view of a calendar where a series
of tablets E marked with the initials of the days of the week in seven different
orders are placed in a pocket or receptacle at the back of the plate A.
There are
here shown four tablets, three of them being marked thus on both sides, and the
fourth marked on one side only. These tablets can be readily removed, and be
changed as required, the uppermost one shewing the order of the days of the current
week through a horizontal slot in the plate A. The months and their respective
number of days are marked on the front plate A; also if required and as here shown
the corresponding numerical position in the year of each last day in the month; for
leap year 1 must be added to them all, except January; H is a pointer that can
slide up and down with its knob in a slot formed in the plate A, and be set to point
against the current month, being also movable on its knob, so that it can be turned
the other way as required.
Fig. 11 is a front view, and Fig 12 side view of a similar arrangement;
the tablets E are here only three in number, being marked with two rows of initial
week-day letters, written upside down relativély to one another. To change them
turn the tablet over, or turn it about end for end, or change their order as required.
The disc B, with the months marked on, can be turned round its centre, and shows
the current month through a hole in the front plate A.
Fig. 13 shows a circular arrangement of calendar, which may be used separately
or applied to the inside bottom of a hat, or to pieces of furniture or other articles.
A is the stationary part of it, which in the case of a hat may be made of some fabric
such as silk, on which the days of the month are printed. At or on the central
part is arranged a movable disc E, which is marked with the initials of the days of
the week, as shewn, and may be formed as an eyelet hole in the middle, thus con-
stituting a ventilator, or being placed on such an appliance. To show the week of
the month a disc or ring I may be arranged at some portion of the part A, which is
formed with an aperture to show the numbers, and fitted with a movable pointer H,
which can be shifted round its fulcrum, and set as required, so as to indicate the
week of the month. The months may also, if desired, be similarly applied, or as
shewn at Fig. 14.
Fig. 14 shows one face, and Fig. 15 the opposite face of a purse, each face
being shown fitted with its kind of calendar for the sake of illustration, though
practically one face so fitted is enough; Fig. 16 is a side view of the purse, the
dotted lines showing the calendar of Fig. 14, applied as forming a lid in the open
position for a locket, which may contain, say, a photograph; Fig. 14 is an enlarged
sectional view of the calendar shown at Fig. 14. The calendar shown at Fig. 14
is of the circular kind, similar to that shewn at Fig. 13. The movable centre
disc E is marked with the initials of the days of the week, and can be set as required
relatively to the next following stationary disc A, which is marked with seven rows
of figures denoting the days of the month. Behind the centre dise E is a ring or
disc I marked with 1 to 5, to represent the week of the month, and made to shift
relatively to the centre disc. The number 3 shows through a hole in the centre
disc E in this case. Behind the stationary disc A. there is a movable ring C, with
the current and a few following years marked on, and a movable ring B with. the
name of the months and their number of days marked on.
Fig. 15 shows a straight sliding arrangement of calendar applied to a purse.
The plate E, which can slide behind the front plate A, is marked with names of the
days of the week, and is fitted with a knob or stud, which can slide in a slot formed
in the front plate A, and serves to take hold of it with. The names of the months

page_text: are marked on a round disc B sliding behind the plate A, which is formed with a
hole to suit. The plate A is also formed with a slot, wherein a stud or pointer H
can slide, and be set to indicate the week of the month.
Fig. 17 is a side view, Fig. 18 a plan, and Fig. 19 a vertical cross section of a
spherical arrangement of calendar. E is a small plate fitted centrally in the
plate A on, say, the knob of a walking-stick or umbrella (or it might be on the
knob itself); the plate E is here ring shaped, and on it the first letters of the days
of the week are engraved or marked. The days of the month are arranged in seven
radial rows all round on the lower part of the plate E (or on the knob itself); the
ring plate E may be shifted or pushed and set to any of the rows of figures as
required. The bottom edge or lower part of the plate A (or the knob itself) may
be marked with the number of weeks in a month, and a small knob or pointer
which can slide in a slot formed at this place may be set opposite any one of these
numbers, as shown. The names of the months may also, if desired, and as shown,
here be marked on a narrow ring sliding under the plate A, which is here formed
with a slot or hole, through which the current month is visible.
Figs. 20 and 21 shew the Invention as applied to a pencil case (or penholder
or other such circular objects). In this case the initials of the days of the week are
engraved or marked in seven different rows on the outside or tubular part E of the
penholder. A is a tubular sleeve, which can slide up and down on the case or
holder between collars, limiting its travel; it is slit open, and studs formed on the
case E work in the slot so formed. A nut a¹ formed with a notch so that it can
slide over the said studs when the notch is fair with them, as here shown, serves to
hold the sleeve A in any desired place, for when the nut is turned a little to one
side it is retained between any two adjoining studs, and by turning it sufficiently a
grip is obtained, so that it is held firmly in place. B is a loose collar, whercon are
marked the months and their numbers of days all round; this collar fits nicely
between the two collars band . The arrangement here shown may of course be
reversed and varied; thus, the sleeve A. may have the rows of initials of the
week days marked on it, and the part E be marked with the days of the month.
I am aware that perpetual calendars with movable parts have been constructed
and used before, therefore I do not claim such in general; but by my Invention
calendars can be more conveniently, usefully, and tastefully applied than heretofore,
and also be applied to many articles to which it has not heretofore been possible or
convenient to apply such calendars.
And having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of this Invention I
declare that I claim,-
First. The combination in perpetual calendars of a stationary part A marked
with the days of the month, one or more movable or adjustable parts or plates or
tablets E marked so as to indicate the names of the days of the week, and a movable
or adjustable part or disc B marked so as to indicate the names of the month, or a
pointer H adjustable relatively to a stationary part marked so as to indicate the
names of the months or the current week of the month, all constructed and applied
substantially as set forth.
t
Second. The combination recited in the first claim, together with a movable or
adjustable part C marked so as to indicate the current and proximate years, all
constructed and applied substantially as set forth.
Third. The pointer H and the catch F applied as set forth for perpetual
calendars.
In witness whereof, I, the said Johann Fisslthaler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-siv
JOHANN FISSLTHALER. (L.S.)