Im- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STENCILLING
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Sykes, of Stanhope Street, Hampstead Road,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STENCILLING."-A communication from
abroad by Joseph Sykes, of Muscatine, Iowa, in the United States of
America.
Sealed the 15th November 1864, and dated the 1st June 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Sykes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
June 1864.
I, JAMES SYKES, of Stanhope Street, Hampstead Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STENCILLING," a communication to me from
abroad by Joseph Sykes, of Muskatine, Iowa, in the United States of America,
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an apparatus for facilitating the use of stencil
plates, and to a mode of shaping stencil plates intended to be used with such
apparatus. Hitherto stencil plates have been used separately, and held down
upon the surface to be stencilled by the fingers of the operator solely, each
letter or finger, or combination of two or more letters or figures being sten-
cilled separately, and the spacing out for a word, or for the spaces between
the words, has been guided entirely by the eye of the operator.

page_text: According to this Invention it is proposed to use a frame in which the
separate stencil plates to form a word or series of words, numerals, or figures are
set up or arranged primarily in their proper order before the marking ink or
composition is applied. This frame consists of two side pieces of any desired
length placed parallel to each other, and connected at their ends by cross pieces,
the distance between the side pieces corresponding to the length or height of
the stencil plates, which should all be equal. On the inner edge of each of the
side pieces a series of recesses are formed, into which recesses corresponding
projections made on the top and bottom of each stencil plate are made to fit
accurately, thus ensuring the proper spacing of the letters or figures. On the
under side of this frame a thin metal plate is screwed, having a slot or opening
made therein, sufficiently large to take the longest word or series of figures
required, and upon this metal plate rest the several stencil plates when set
up. In order to hold down the stencil plates when set up an inner movable
frame is used, which fits inside the outer frame, and is secured in its place by
buttons or catches attached to the side and cross pieces of the frame.
The several stencil plates are of such a width that one plate will always
overlap slightly the preceding one when set up in the frame. It will thus be
seen that the essential feature of the Invention is the setting up of stencil
plates somewhat after the manner of movable types in a frame or holder in
lieu of using each plate separately.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Sykes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, JAMES
SYKES, of Stanhope Street, Hampstead Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Sykes, Her special license that I, the said James Sykes,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Sykes, my executors, administrators, or 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,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR STENCILLING," a communication to me from abroad by Joseph
Sykes, of Muskatine, Iowa, in the United States of America, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the 'said James Sykes, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or under the
hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Sykes, do hereby declare 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
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention relates to an apparatus for facilitating the use of stencil
plates, and to a mode of shaping stencil plates intended to be used with such
apparatus. Hitherto stencil plates have been used separately, and held down
upon the surface to be stencilled by the fingers of the operator solely, each
stencil plate being used separately, whilst the spacing out for a word, or for
the spaces between the words, has been guided entirely by the eye of the
operator.
According to this Invention it is proposed to use a frame in which the
separate stencil plates to form a word or series of words, numerals, or figures
are set up or arranged primarily in their proper order before the marking ink
or composition is applied. This frame consists of two side pieces of any desired
length placed parallel to each: other, and connected at their ends by cross
pieces, the distance between the side pieces corresponding to the length or
height of the stentil plates, which should all be of equal dimensions. On the
inner edge of each of the side pieces a series of recesses are formed, into
which recesses corresponding projections made on the top and bottom of each
stencil plate are made to fit accurately, thus ensuring the proper spacing of
the letters or figures. On the under side of this frame a thin metal plate is
screwed, having a slot or opening made therein sufficiently large to take the
longest word or series of figures required, and upon this metal plate rest the
several stencil plates when "set up." In order to hold down the stencil
plates when set up an inner moveable frame is used, which fits inside the
outer frame, and is secured in its place by buttons or catches attached to the
"

page_text: side and end cross pieces of the frame. The several stencil plates are of such
a width that one plate will always overlap slightly the preceding one when
"set up" in the frame. It will thus be seen that the essential feature of the
Invention is the setting up of stencil plates somewhat after the manner of
moveable types in a frame or holder in lieu of using each plate separately.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 of the annexed Sbeet of Drawings represents a plan of the upper
surface of the frame in which the stencil plates are set up, a few of such plates
being represented as set up in their place in the frame; Fig. 2 is a longi-
tudinal section; Fig. 3 is a plan of the under side of the frame; Figure 4 is a
transverse section thereof; Fig. 4 is a plan of a double frame; Fig. 5 is
a plan of the moveable inner frame detached; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal
section, and Fig. 7 an end elevation thereof; Fig. 8 is a detail of one of the
stencil plates partly prepared for being fitted into the frame; Fig. 9 is a
similar view of the same plate complete; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of
a box or case fitted up with stencil plates, frames, ink, and brushes, complete.
A is the main frame in which the stencil plates B are "set up" in the proper
order required. On the two inner longitudinal sides of this frame are formed a
number of recesses or notches a, a, into which are made to fit accurately the
corresponding projecting parts a', a', (Fig. 9) formed at the top and bottom
of each plate in the box. This projection may be made by notching out a
portion at each angle of the plate, or by slitting merely the plate, as shewn
at b, b, in Fig. 8, and then doubling or folding back the slit portions, as shewn
in Fig. 9. All the plates should correspond in their dimensions, so that any
one of them will fit into the notches or recesses of the frame A. The extreme
length or height of each plate should be equal to the distance across the inside of
the frame A, measuring from the insides of the opposite recesses, and the width
of the plates should be sufficient to admit of one plate overlapping slightly the
previously, inserted plate in the frame, as shewn in Fig. 1. On the under side
of the frame A there is screwed or otherwise attached a thin brass or other
suitable metal plate C, having an oblong opening made therein, with which
opening the letters or characters which are cut out in the stencil plates are
made to coincide when such plates are properly "set up" in the frame (see
Fig. 3), whilst the edges of the plate surrounding the oblong opening serve to
support the stencil plates which rest upon them. The stencil plates having
been "set up" in the frame A, they are retained in their places by means of

page_text: the inner or moveable frame D (shewn detached at Figs. 5, 6, and 7), which
is made to fit easily inside the frame A, as shewn in Fig. 1, where a portion
of the inner frame D is broken away. E, E, are buttons or catches fitted to
the sides and ends of the frame A, and capable of being turned over on to the
frame D, thereby holding such frame in its place, the stencil plates B being
thus held securely between the metal 'plate C and the under side of the
moveable frame D, whilst the recesses a keep them in their places laterally.
If desired, double frames may be made, as shewn at Fig. 4º, by having a lon-
gitudinal centre strip A¹ recessed on both sides, in which case one frame may
be made to contain two or more lines or rows of plates. This stencilling
apparatus will be found of great service to shippers, manufacturers, wholesale
dealers, and others, as it greatly facilitates and expedites the branding or
addressing of bales or packages of merchandize, more particularly in cases
where several packages require the same brand or address. The whole
of the requisites are contained in a box, shewn at Fig. 10. It is provided
with a series of compartments F for containing the several stencil plates,
which may comprise two or more alpbabets as well as other characters properly
assorted, the letters in each compartment being indicated by a corresponding
letter situate in front of each compartment, as shewn in the Drawing. Blank
plates are provided for spacing out words, and for filling up the frame A when
the number of letters or characters required is not sufficient to occupy the
entire length of the frame. The frames, of which two or more may be pro-
vided, are packed inside the oblong cavity G of the box in company with an
ink holder H, brush I, and one or more hair pencils. The smaller portion
or tuft on the end of the brush I is intended for applying the ink over the
stencil plates, whilst the larger surface of the brush is for the purpose of
cleaning or brushing off the ink from the stencil plates after use, and before
they are removed from the frame and distributed through their respective
compartments in the box. The hair pencils will be found useful in making
stops. Two or more letters or characters may be cut in some of the plates if
found desirable; for example, the names of counties may be cut in one plate,
also the words " & Co.," and the word "Son," the latter will be found useful as
being a common termination of surnames, and being frequently required in
the designation of firms. If desired, two or more different sizes of letters or
characters may be cut in plates of uniform dimensions, so that various sized
letters may be used in the same frame or holder.
In using the improved stencilling apparatus care must be taken when
"setting up" the separate plates in the frame A that each plate overlaps in
the same direction the edge of the adjoining plate which has been previously

page_text: inserted. When the plates have been all "set up" and fastened in their
places by means of the frame D and buttons E, the inner frame must be
pressed by the finger and thumb of one hand, whilst with the other the ink is
carefully rubbed over them by the aid of the brush I. Before being removed
from the frame the plates should, if wet, be rubbed lightly with the dry portion
of the brush, and then placed in their compartments with their heads and
all facing one way.
up,
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement and combination of stencilling apparatus as
⚫herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Second, the peculiar construction of frame or holder for containing a series
of stencil plates, and holding them during the operation of stencilling, as
herein-before described.
Third, the combination of an outer and an inner frame, constructed sub-
stantially as herein-before described for the purpose of holding stencil plates.
Fourth, the "setting up" or arranging in the order required a series of
stencil plates in a frame or holder, whereby the whole of the series may be
stencilled at one operation, substantially as herein-before described.
Fifth, the manufacture of stencil plates with projections upon them intended
to fit into corresponding recesses or notches made to receive them in a frame
or holder, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Sykes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
JAMES SYKES. (L.B.)