AN IMPROVED SELF-INKING STAMP FOR PRINTING CARDS, LABELS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, and 28, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow, North
Britain, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED SELF-INKING STAMP FOR PRINTING CARDS, LABELS, AND OTHER
ARTICLES." A commuuication from William H. Elliot, of Plattsburgh,
in the State of New York.
Sealed the 8th September 1857, and dated the 9th March 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th March 1857.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and 28, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer
and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED SELF-INKING STAMP FOR PRINTING CARDS, LABELS, AND OTHER
ARTICLES," a communication from William H. Elliot, of Plattsburgh, in the
State of New York, to be as follows:-
The frame and bed of the apparatus are made of cast iron or other suitable
material, and support the stamp by means of a crank below and an arm or link
above. The stamp is provided at its lower end with a die, upon the under surface
of which is cast, cut, or formed, the device or design to be printed. The upper

page_text: end of the stamp is provided with a hand piece of suitable form, by striking
which twice with the open hand the die is inked and the impression given.
The impression pad is immediately under the stamp when in its perpen-
licular position, and the inking pad is placed at an angle of about 45° on
the other side of the centre of the crank, so as to be at right angles to the
stamp when on that side of the centre.
The apparatus is provided with a spring, which has a constant tendency to
throw the stamp upwards. If the stamp is placed at an angle over the inking
pad and struck smartly with the hand (which is to be quickly withdrawn), the
die will be forced against the inking pad, taking up the requisite quantity of
ink, and the recoil of the spring will throw the stamp over on the other side of
the centre of the crank over the impression pad. The stamp is then again
struck and the impression will be given; the recoil of the spring will return
the stamp into its former position ready to be operated as before.
By a slight modification, this stamp may be arranged so as to be operated by
the foot by means of a treadle, so as to leave both hands free to place and
remove the articles to be printed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 28, Saint Enoch Square, Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Davies, Her special licence that I, the 'said George Davies,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Davies, '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 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SELF-
INKING STAMP FOR PRINTING CARDS, LABELS, AND OTHER ARTICLES," (a com-
.

page_text: munication from William H. Elliot, of Plattsburgh, in the State of New
York,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Davies,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, 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 George Davies, do hereby declare the,
nature of the 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 in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
that is to say:
The frame and bed of the apparatus are made of cast iron or other suitable
material, and support the stamp by means of a crank below and an arm or
link above. The stamp is provided at its lower end with a die, upon the
under surface of which is cast, cut, or formed, the device or design to be:
printed.
The upper.end of the stamp is provided with a hand,piece of suitable form,.
by striking which twice with the open hand the die is inked and the impression.
given. The impression pad is immediately under the stamp when in its
per.
pendicular position, and the inking pad is placed at an angle of about forty-.
five degrees on the other side of the centre of the crank, so as to be at right.
angles to the stamp when on that side of the centre.
The apparatus is provided with a spring, which has a constant tendency to
throw the stamp upwards. If the stamp is placed at an angle over the inking
pad and struck smartly with the hand (which is to be quickly withdrawn), the
die will be forced against the inking pad, taking up the requisite quantity of
ink, and the recoil of the spring will throw the stamp over on the other side of
the centre of the crank above the impression pad. The stamp is then again.
struck and the impression will be given; the recoil of the spring will returi
the stamp into its former position ready to be operated as before.
By a slight modification, this stamp may be arranged so as to be operated.
by the foot by means of a treadle, so as to leave both hands free to place and
remove the articles to be printed.. I would also here remark, that instead of
the die, the lower end of the stamp may carry a typeholder containing moveablo
type, which can be changed at pleasure.
In order that the practical construction and application of this Invention
may be perfectly understood, I. have. annexed to these Presents a. Sheet of

page_text: Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following, explanation
thereof.
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the apparatus, shewing the stamp
and die over the impression pad ready for giving the impression; and Figure 2
is a geometrical section of the same, shewing the die over the inking pad
ready to receive a supply of ink. A, A, is the foot or base; and B, B, the
bracket, which supports the stamp C, C, by means of the crank D, D, below,
and the arm or link E, E, above. It will be observed that the stamp C, C, is
furnished with a curve or crook a, a, in order to allow of its passing the centre
of the crank D, D, and with a hand piece b, b, above. F, F, is the die or type-
holder, secured to the lower end of the stamp C, C, by means of a screw c;
G, G, is the impression pad; and H, H, the inking pad, having its surface
standing at such an angle as to be at a right angle to the stamp when it is
moved over on that side of the crank D, D, and having its surface covered
with cloth, india-rubber, or other suitable material that will retain and hold a
supply of printing ink for inking the face of the die or type when brought into
contact with it. The shank d of the pad is fitted loosely into the socket e,
so that the face of the pad H may adjust itself to the face of the die or
type when brought together, and thus transfer to the die or type an uniform
quantity of ink throughout its surface. I, I, is a spring, fastened at its
lower end to the bracket B, B, and having its upper end free to act against
a shoulder on the lower side of the inner end of the arm E, E, for the
purpose of changing by its recoil the position of the die or type from the
inking pad to the impression pad, and vice versâ, when the stamp is struck.
The surface of the pad H being duly supplied with ink, and the apparatus
in the position shewn in Figure 2, the card, label, or other article to receive
the impression is adjusted in the necessary position upon the pad G. Upon
striking the hand piece smartly with the palm of the hand and with-
drawing the hand quickly the die or type will be forced into contact with the
pad H, receiving a supply of ink therefrom, and (by the recoil of the spring I)
immediately assuming the position shewn in Figure.1. A second blow with
the hand will give the impression, and return the stamp into the position
shewn in Figure 2, ready to be operated as before.
Having thus described the nature and object of the said Invention, for
"An Improved Self-inking Stamp for Printing Cards, Labels, and other
Articles," together with the manner of carrying the same into practical effect,
I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim, as the Invention communicated to
me by the above-named William H. Elliot,-

page_text: Firstly, the crank D, D, to control the movement of the stamp C, C, and
bring it to a right angle either with the inking pad or the impression pad, as
may be desired.
Secondly, the combination of the crank D, D, and arm E, E, as shewn and
described.
And, thirdly, the combination of the spring I, I, and arm E, E, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.S.)