IMPROVEMENTS IN STYLOGRAPHIC FOUNTAIN PENS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Nadal, of Southampton Row, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STYLOGRAPHIC
FOUNTAIN PENS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Nadal at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1881.
JEAN NADAL, of Southampton Row, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STYLOGRAPHIC FOUNTAIN-PENS."
My Invention relates to improvements in that class of writing instruments or
apparatus known as stylographic fountain pens, and is chiefly designed to provide
simple and effectual means whereby any obstruction in the pointed writing tube
may be readily removed, and whereby the spring which operates the inovable
pointed rod working in such tube, together with parts connected there with, as
hereinafter described, may be readily taken apart or separated when it is necessary
to clean the said spring and other parts, and as readily put together again by an
unskilled person. By my Invention a defect which has caused considerable incon-
venience to the users of such pens, as heretofore made, is entirely remedied, that is
to say, I provide means whereby the working parts may be cleaned and adjusted
with the greatest possible facility.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I provide a pointed movable writing
rod, which extends through the conical writing tube of the instrument, and projects
slightly beyond the pointed extremity, as usual, but tho other end of this rod
extends about a quarter of an inch, more or loss, above the other, or screw threaded
end of this conical tube, and cuters the central air tube when the parts are screwed
together. At a suitable point this rod is provided with an enlargement which
forms a seat for one end of a spiral spring fitting over the rod, and the other end of
the said spring bears against a small flat thin piece, which, when the parts are
screwed together for writing, abuts against the lower part of the air tube. There
is a sleeve, hereinafter described, through which the rod passes.
Instead of an enlargement I may provide a small piece to be rigidly attached to

page_text: the rod, or made moveable thereon along a screw-threaded portion of the said rod,
the small piece itself being screw-threaded. This arrangement is for the purpose
of adjusting the writing point.
The said flat piece is approximately square, but is cut out on the four sides to
allow the ink to flow past the same. The said sleeve is provided with several
slits at its lower end, and with a border or rim at its upper end, and when in
position fits in the upper part of the conical end tube, that is to say, the part of
this conical tube which is screwed to the main or reservoir portion of the pen.
The slits are designed to leave a passage for the ink, and the rim keeps the sleeve
from entering too far, and serves for the purpose of removing the latter. The rod
enters the air tube, as herein before mentioned, and the latter enters the sleeve, and
is thus kept in a central position. I provide the central air tube with a small
aperture near the lower part thereof.
It will thus be understood that the pointed rod, the sleeve, the spring, and the
flat thin piece are all distinct parts, and may be readily separated when the conical
end tube is unscrewed from the reservoir portion. When in position however all
these parts fit and operato together in a most perfect manner. When the conical
end piece is unscrewed from the reservoir the said rod will be seen projecting a
short distance above the screw threaded end of the conical piece, and can therefore
be readily grasped by the thumb and finger, and worked to and fro to clear the
pointed tube of anything in the same likely to cause obstruction. If the spring
and other parts connected therewith require to be cleaned, the sleeve is removed
and the rod drawn entirely out, when the spring and flat piece may be taken off,
and all may be cleaned separately, and when cleaned may be readily replaced.
When the reservoir has to be filled the conical writing end is unscrewed in the
usual manner, but the spring and parts connected therewith need not be interfered
with as they are held securely by the sleevo.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jean Nadal in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd December
1881.
JEAN NADAL, of Southampton Row, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STYLOGRAPHIC FOUNTAIN PENS."
My Invention relates to improvements in that class of writing instruments
or apparatus known as stylographic fountain pens, and is designed to ensure an even
flow of the ink from the point during the act of writing, and provide a facile means
for clearing the point from coagulated ink and ink incrustation.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1-is an external view of the stylographic pen
drawn to double the full size, the cap of the top of the pen being removed; Fig. 2
is a longitudinal section through the centre of the pen, a protecting cover for the
point being shewn in place. a is the external case constituting the reservoir for
the ink, and forming also the holder. This case, which is made preferably of
vulcanite, is fitted with an air tube b, which is screwed into the solid portion of its
upper end, and extends below the case, as shewn best in the detached view, Fig. 3.
A lateral hole is drilled through the upper end of the case, and through one side of
the air tube, as shewn at Fig. 2, to admit air thereto. This air channel is capablo
A second lateral
of being closed by a cross piece c, which screws onto the case a.
hole is made in the air tube b near its lower end, as shewn in Fig. 3, for the purpose
to be hereafter explained.
Fitting to the bottom of the case and secured thereto by screw threads, as usual,
s the hollow conical point d of the stylographic pen (shewn detached at Fig. 4),
through which the ink is intended to flow to the paper. For the purpose of con-
trolling this flow a fine rod e, tipped with irridium, is provided, which is inserted
into the hollow pointed pieco d, and carries a valvof, which is made fast to the
rod. Fitted loosely to this rod is a disc g, which bears against the lower end of
the air tube, and serves as an abutment for a coiled spring h that surrounds the
rode, and is intended to hold down the valve fon its sent in the piece ‹, and
thereby cut off the supply of ink to the point of the pen. To prevent the loss of
the disc and spring when the pieces composing the pen are taken apart for tho
purpose of cleaning the same, I enlarge the diameter of the rod e above the disc,
which is made preferably of vulcanite, and I thus render it necessary to use some
force to remove the disc from the rod. Fitted to the lower end of the air tube b is
sleeve, which is formed with a cup at its upper end (see the detached view, Fig. 5),
and is slit at its lower end to grip the air tube so as to maintain its central
position. This sleeve, it will be seen, is made slightly conical, and fits tightly into
tho upper part of the piece d; it thus affords a steady support for the air tube.
The slits in the end of this sleeve i form channels for the flow of the ink, which,
entering the cup end of the sleevo from the reservoir, finds its way through the
slits to the top of the valve f. The top of the rod e projects slightly beyond the
conical point of the piece d, and as pressure is put upon the tip in the act of
writing the rod e will lift its valve f, and allow the ink to flow to the paper. So
soon however as the pressure is taken off the spring / will force the valve f to its
seat, and stop the supply. The reservoir of the pen is charged with ink by
unscrewing the pieco d, inverting the holder, and pouring in the ink at the open
end by the aid of a dipping tube. When the reservoir is filled the pieco dis
screwed in place, and the pen is ready for use. Preparatory to writing tho cap
piece c is unscrowed to give access of air through the lateral air channel before
mentioned to the air tube. This provides for a proper air pressure being kept up
in the ink reservoir; thus as the ink flows out air will take its place in the reservoir

page_text: As
by passing from the air tube through the lateral hole near the end thereof into the
surrounding ink. So soon however as the writing is completed the cap c is to be
screwed down, and the tendency of the ink to flow out of the point will cease.
a further protection the point is covered by a cup k, which will prevent the soiling
of the pocket in which the pen is carried ready for use.
From the foregoing it will be understood that not only is an efficient security
provided against the undue discharge of the ink while writing, but that means is
provided in the pen itself for cleaning the point of coagulated or incrusted ink.
Thus on unscrewing the piece d the upper end of the rod c (sce the detached view,
Fig. 4) offers a hold for the thumb and finger, which, by drawing the rod up and
down, may use it as a plunger for disengaging and discharging the clotted and
incrusted ink.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in
Stylographic Fountain Pens," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
I claim,-
Adapting the valve rod to be used as a plunger for clearing the hollow point of
the pen, and securing the loose parts carried by the rod, as described with reference
to the Drawing.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Nadal, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the Third day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.