IMPROVE- MENTS IN PENCIL CASES AND HOLDERS FOR CRAYONS AND OTHER MARKING; WRITING, OR DRAWING MATERIALS, AND IN BOXES FOR HOLDING LEADS FOR PENCILS, CRAYONS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Turnor, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Metallic Pen Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PENCIL CASES AND HOLDERS FOR CRAYONS AND OTHER MARKING;
WRITING, OR DRAWING MATERIALS, AND IN BOXES FOR HOLDING LEADS FOR
PENCILS, CRAYONS, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 20th May 1864, and dated the 7th December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Turnor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
December 1863.
I, MICHAEL TURNOR, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Metallic
Pen Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL CASES AND HOLDERS FOR CRAYONS AND OTHER MARKING,
WRITING, OR DRAWING MATERIALS, AND IN BOXES FOR HOLDING LEADS FOR PENCILS,
CRAYONS, AND OTHER ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
My improvements in pencil cases and holders for crayons and other marking,
writing, or drawing materials, have reference to everpointed pencil cases, and
to such pencil cases and holders as have sliding propellers. This part of my
Invention consists in so constructing the said cases and holders that the lead
or marking material cannot be forced back into the case or holder by the
pressure used in writing or marking.
I will describe this part of my Invention with reference to a pencil case
having a sliding propeller :-I make a rack on one or both sides of the oper

page_text: jointed tube in which the propeller slides, the teeth of the rack having parallel |
sides. On the top of the propeller is a spring carrying a tooth, which tooth is
pressed by the said spring into the rack; the slide by which the propeller
is moved is fixed on the said spring; when the slide is pressed so as to cause
the lead to project from the pencil case for writing the inclined side of the
tooth travels in the rack without obstructing the motion of the slide, but the
slide cannot perform the contrary motion so as to permit the withdrawal of
the lead into the pencil case, until the slide has been pressed towards the axis
of the pencil case. By thus depressing the slide the tooth is forced from the
rack, and the slide may be moved towards the top of the pencil case. By this
arrangement the return of the lead into the case by the pressure used in
writing is prevented. Instead of parallel teeth the rack may have teeth
inclined on those sides which are turned towards the top of the pencil case.
In this modification the tooth carried by the propeller acts on the edge of the
rack, and in order to permit the slide to move towards the top of the pencil
case, the said slide requires to be depressed to effect the disengagement of the
tooth from the rack. Instead of disengaging the tooth from the rack by
depressing the slide, the slide may be made elastic so as to engage with the
rack and be disengaged therefrom by lateral pressure on the slide. The rack
with parallel teeth may either be made by cutting or impressing the metal
of the tubular part of the case.
The arrangements described for preventing the lead from being forced back,
by pressure in writing, into a pencil case having a sliding propeller, may also
be applied to pencil cases or holders in which the whole of the mechanism for
propelling the lead is capable of being withdrawn into the case or holder, such
for example as the ordinary everpointed pencil case. By this application of my
Invention the slide by which the "action" is moved engages with a rack and
prevents the said action from being pressed back into the case by the pressure
of writing. When the propeller is a sliding one two external slides may be
employed, one sliding the lead in the propeller, the other sliding the propeller
in the case. Both slides may engage with the same rack or with separate
racks, one on each side of the slot in the case or holder. The slide carrying
the action need not engage with more than one tooth at the required part of
the slot, as the said action only requires to be projected out of the case to one
constant position.
My improvements in boxes for holding lead for pencils, crayons, and other
articles consist in making them of two pieces of sheet steel, or other sheet
metal shaped and made to engage with one another in the following manner :-
The body of the box has the figure of a shallow rectangular tray having a

page_text: projection on one of its shorter sides. The lid consists of a piece of sheet
steel or other metal of the same length as the body, but rather wider. The
longer sides of the lid are bent or turned into a plane parallel to the middle
portion, and the lid thus formed is placed on the body by a sliding motion, the
bent edges of the lid engaging under the bottom of the box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Turnor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
TURNOR, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Metallic Pen Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Michael Turnor, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Turnor,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Turnor, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL CASES
AND HOLDERS FOR CRAYONS AND OTHER MARKING, WRITING, OR DRAWING MATERIALS,
AND IN BOXES FOR HOLDING LEADS FOR PENCILS, CRAYONS, AND OTHER ARTICLES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael Turnor, 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 Michael Turnor, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
My improvements in pencil cases and holders for crayons and other

page_text: marking, writing, or drawing materials have reference to everpointed pencil
cases, and to such pencil cases and holders as have sliding propellers. This
part of my Invention consists in so constructing the said cases and holders
that the lead or marking material cannot be forced back into the case or
holder by the pressure used in writing or marking.
I will describe this part of my Invention with reference to a pencil case having
a sliding propeller. I make a rack on one or both sides of the open jointed
tube in which the propeller slides, the teeth of the rack having parallel sides.
Attached to the propeller is a spring carrying a tooth, which tooth is pressed
by the said spring into the rack. The slide by which the propeller is moved is
fixed on the said spring. When the slide is pressed so as to cause the lead to
project from the pencil case for writing, the inclined side of the tooth travels in the
rack without obstructing the motion of the slide, but the slide cannot perform
the contrary motion so as to permit the withdrawal of the lead into the pencil
case until the slide has been pressed towards the axis of the pencil case. By
thus depressing the slide the tooth is forced from the rack, and the slide may
be moved towards the top of the pencil case. By this arrangement the return
of the lead into the case by the pressure used in writing is prevented. Instead
of parallel teeth the rack may have teeth inclined on those sides which are
turned towards the top of the pencil case. In this modification the tooth
carried by the propeller acts on the edge of the rack, and in order to permit
the slide to move towards the top of the pencil case the said slide requires to
be depressed to effect the disengagement of the tooth from the rack. Instead
of disengaging the tooth from the rack by depressing the slide, the slide may
be made elastic, so as to engage with the rack and be disengaged therefrom
by lateral pressure on the slide. The rack with parallel teeth may either be
made by cutting or impressing the metal of the tubular part of the case.
arrangements described for preventing the lead from being forced back by
pressure in writing into a pencil case having a sliding propeller, may also be
applied to pencil cases or holders in which the whole of the mechanism
for propelling the lead is capable of being withdrawn into the case or holder,
such, for example, as the ordinary everpointed pencil case. By this appli-
cation of my Invention the slide by which the "action" is moved engages with
a rack and prevents the said action from being pressed back into the case by
the pressure of writing. When the propeller is a sliding one two external
slides may be employed, one sliding the lead in the propeller, the other sliding
the propeller in the case. Both slides may engage with the same rack or
with separate racks, one on each side of the slot in the case or holder. The
slide carrying the action need not engage with more than one tooth at the
The

page_text: required part of the slot, as the said action only requires to be projected out of
the case to one constant position.
My improvements in boxes for holding lead for pencils, crayons, and other
articles consist in making them of two pieces of sheet steel or other sheet metal
shaped and made to engage with one another in the following manner :-The
body of the box has the figure of a shallow rectangular tray, having a pro-
jection on one of its shorter sides. The lid consists of a piece of sheet stee!
or other metal of the same length as the body, but rather wider.
The longer
sides of the lid are bent or turned into a plane parallel to the middle portion,.
and the lid thus formed is placed on the body by a sliding motion, the bent.
edges of the lid engaging under the bottom of the box.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in elevation, and Figure 2 in longitudinal section a
simple form of pencil case, having a sliding propeller constructed according to
my Invention; Figure 3 represents the sliding propeller of the said case
separately; and Figure 4 represents a plan of the blank from which the body
of the said pencil case is made.
a is the tubular body of the pencil case, consisting of a split or open-jointed
tube. On one side of the slot or open joint b in the case a is a rack c, the
teeth of which rack have parallel sides as represented. d is the propeller
carrying the lead e. On the top of the said propeller is a spring f, the free
end of which bears against the back of the body a. The said spring f has a
tooth 9, which tooth is pressed by the said spring f into the rack c. Fixed to
the spring f is a slide h capable of moving up and down in the slot b; by
pressing the slide h towards the nozzle end a² of the case the propeller d is
moved in the said case and the lead projected from the end of the case for
writing. During this forward motion of the slide h the inclined side of the
tooth g travels in the rack c without obstructing the motion of the said slide,
but the said slide cannot perform the contrary motion in consequence of the
engagement of the flat side of the said tooth 9 against one of the teeth of the
rack c, as represented in the Drawing. In order to effect the withdrawal of
the lead from the point of the pencil case, the slide h is pressed towards the
axis of the body a. The tooth g is thereby liberated from the rack c, and the
slide and propeller can be moved to the top of the case a.
Figure 5 represents in elevation, and Figure 6 in longitudinal section a pencil
case constructed according to another form of my Invention. Figure 7 repre-

page_text: sents the propeller of the said case separately. In this form of my Invention
instead of making the teeth of the rack with parallel sides as herein-before
described, I make the teeth of the rack i inclined on those sides which are turned
towards the top of the pencil case; k is the tooth, and m the slide carried by
the propeller . The rack i is situated on one side of the slot in the body of the
case, and is turned at right angles to the plane of the said slot, so as thereby
nearly to conceal the said rack. The tooth k engages with the rack i in the
manner represented in Figure 6. By pressing the slide m towards the nozzle
end of the case, the tooth k works over the inclined sides of the teeth of the
rack i and thereby advances the propeller and lead carried by it, the motion of
the said slide m in the opposite direction being prevented by the engagement of
the tooth with the flat parts of the rack i. To withdraw the lead into the
case the slide m is pressed towards the axis of the case so to disengage the
tooth from the rack i, when the said slide can be moved towards the top of
the case.
Figure 8 represents in elevation a pencil case in which the slide itself is
made to engage with the rack, and Figure 9 represents the propeller of the
said case separately; n is the rack made on one side of the longitudinal slot o
having inclined teeth similar to the rack i, Figures 5 and 6; but the said
rack n is situated in the same plane as that part of the body of the case out
of which it is made; 9, 93, is the slide carried by the propeller r, the said slide
working in the sloto in the body p. The slide 9, 92, is made of a piece of
metal bent or doubled so as to make it elastic. The part 9 clips the plain
side of the slot o and the part q engages with the teeth of the rack n. By
moving the slide q, q', towards the nozzle end of the pencil case the part q
works over the inclined parts of the teeth of the rack n, the opposite motion
being prevented by the engagement of the end of the said part against the
flat parts of the teeth of the said rack as represented in Figure 8. In order
to effect the motion of the slide towards the top of the case, the part q is
pressed laterally so as to withdraw its end from out the range of the rack n.
The slide q, q, can then be moved towards the top of the case and the lead
withdrawn into the case.
Instead of making the rack with parallel teeth by cutting out the metal of
the tubular body of the case the rack may be made by impressing the meta
of the said case in the manner represented in elevation in Figure 10 and
longitudinal section in Figure 11; s is the rack situated on either side
the slot t, and having the corrugated or undulatory figure represented in
Figure 11; u is a broad tooth engaging with the rack 8, and v is the slide fixed

page_text: to the propeller w. The slide v can be moved in either direction by pressure on
the said slide, but the slide can be moved up and down in the slot t with great
facility by disengaging the tooth u from the racks by depressing the said slide.
By the arrangements described and represented the return of the lead into
the case by the pressure used in writing or marking is prevented.
Any of the arrangements represented may be encased or covered with
metallic or non-metallic covers or cases. Figure 12 represents in elevation the
arrangement represented in Figures 1 and 2 covered with a metal case or
cover, and Figure 13 represents in section the said arrangement covered with
an ivory or other non-metallic case or cover. I provide the nozzles of the pencil
cases with a lozenge shaped opening a, Figure 12, for enabling the end of the
lead to be readily removed from the propeller. Instead of making the racks
on one side only of the slot, as in some of the arrangements described and
represented, the racks may be situated on both sides of the slot and a broad
tooth made to engage with both racks. But I have found that a rack on
one side of the slot is sufficient for ordinary purposes.
Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17 represent an everpointed pencil case, with a
sliding propeller constructed according to my Invention, that is to say, a pencil
case in which the part carrying the lead, and which is commonly called the
action," is capable of being moved into or projected from its case, the said
action having combined with it one of the arrangements before described for
preventing the return of the lead with the case. Figure 14 represents the
pencil case in elevation, with the action withdrawn into its case; Figures 15
and 16 represent elevations of the same, taken at right angles to one another,
the action being moved out of the case; and Figure 17 represents a longi-
tudinal section of Figure 16. a is the action or moving part of the pencil
case, sliding within the metal case b, the tube a2 of the action a and case b
being covered with a non-metallic cover c. The action a, a, contains the
spring propeller e, carrying the lead k. The said propeller has a spring
tooth d and slide f, the said tooth engaging with a rack made in the tube a³
of the action, as herein-before described, for preventing the return of the lead
into the nozzle by the pressure of writing, The said tube a* of the action is
also provided with a second spring tooth h and slide g, the tooth of the said
slide 9 engaging when the action a, a³, is moved out of the case c with a
transverse slot or portion of a rack i made in the fixed metal tube b and outer
non-metallic case c. The said action is thereby prevented from being pressed
back into the case by the pressure of writing. A longitudinal slot is made
in the tube a of the action, and in the tubes b and c, in which slot a the two
spring slides fand 9 work. The slides ƒ and g can be moved independently of

page_text: one another. By moving the slide f in the manner herein-before described,
the lead k can be held beyond the nozzle end of the case or withdrawn into
the said case at pleasure. By moving the slide 9 to the position Figures
15, 16, and 17, the action a, a, is projected from the case c and held firmly
in that position, and by pressing the said slide 9 so as to liberate the tooth h
from the rack or slot i, and moving the said slide to the top of the longitudinal
slota, as represented in Figure 14, the action is withdrawn into the case.
The action a, a, carries at bottom a stop 7 to limit the distance to which the
said action can be moved out of the case.
Instead of preventing the return of the action into the case by the slide
engaging with a transverse slot or rack near the middle of the case, the same
object may be attained by the slide being made to engage with a transverse
slot near the bottom of the case, or by a rotary collar engaging with the slide
and preventing its motion in the longitudinal slot.
9,
Figures 18 and 19 represent a pencil case constructed according to one of
the last described arrangements of my Invention, Figure 18 showing the
action moved out of its case, and Figure 19 the action withdrawn into its
case. m is the propeller slide, and n the action slide, both working in the
longitudinal slot o. The slide n is fixed to a moveable collar p on the action
so that the said slide can be moved transversely without moving the said action.
At the bottom of the case r, and opening into the slot o, is a transverse slot s.
When the pencil case is required to be used the slide n is moved to the bottom
The
of the case, and the action 9 thereby projected out of the said case.
slide n is then moved transversely, so as to engage it with the slot 8, as
represented in Figure 18. The action q is thus prevented from being pressed
back into the case by the pressure of writing. To withdraw the action q into
the case r, the slide n is moved out of the transverse slot s into the longitudinal
one o, and the said slide then moved in the said slot o to the position
represented in Figure 19.
Figures 20 and 21 represent a modification of the last described arrange-
ment. In this modification instead of the slide engaging with a transverse
slot at the bottom of the longitudinal slot, a rotary collar engages with the
said slide. t is the rotary collar, having a longitudinal slot u and transverse
slot v made in it. When the collar t is in the position Figure 20, the slide n
can be moved to the bottom of the slot o, and the action 9 projected from the
case. By then turning the collar t the transverse slot vengages with the pin
of the slide n, and a portion of the said collar covers the longitudinal slot o,
and thereby prevents the action being pressed back into the case, as represented
in Figure 21. By moving the collar t so as to uncover the longitudinal slot o,

page_text: the slide n can be moved in the said slot, and the action withdrawn into the
case, as represented in Figure 20.
Instead of making the propeller slide and "action" slide engage with
different racks, as in Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17, a rack may be made on one
side of the slot in the tube b (Figure 17), with which rack both slides may
engage; or a rack may be made on either side the slot in the tube b, and the
propeller slide engage with one of the said racks, and the action slide engage
with the other rack.
Although I have only described and represented the action of an ever-
pointed pencil case, having a sliding propeller constructed according to my
Invention for preventing the return of the lead into the said action, yet this
part of my Invention is also applicable to the actions of everpointed pencil
cases having rotary propellers.
Although I have only described my improvements as applied to pencil cases,
yet my said improvements are also applicable to cases and holders for crayons
and other marking, writing, or drawing material.
Figure 22 represents in plan the upper side of a box for holding leads,
crayons, and other articles made according to my Invention; and Figure 23
represents a plan of the under side of the same; Figures 24 and 25 are side
and end elevations respectively of the same; and Figure 26 is a longitudinal
section of the same; Figure 27 represents the blank of sheet steel or other
sheet metal from which the lid of the box is made; and Figure 28
represents the blank from which the body of the box is made. a is the
body of the box, having the figure of a shallow rectangular tray, with a
projection 6 on one of its shorter sides; c is the lid of the box having nearly
the figure of the body, excepting that its ends are open and its lower edges d
are bent into a plane parallel with the middle part; the said lid is also some-
what broader than the body. The lid c is placed on the body a by a sliding
motion, the bent edges d of the lid engaging under the bottom of the body a,
as best seen in Figures 23 and 25. By means of the projection 6 the body a
can be drawn from out of the lid c, and the leads or other articles placed in or
taken from the said body.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
imit myself to the precise details herein described and represented, as the
same may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention; but
I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly, the several improvements herein-before described, and illustrated in
he accompanying Drawings, in pencil cases and holders for crayons and other

page_text: marking, writing, or drawing materials, for preventing the return of the lead
or marking material into the case or holder by the pressure used in writing or
marking.
Secondly, the several improvements herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings in pencil cases and holders for crayons and
other marking, writing, or drawing materials, for preventing the return of the
action or that part containing the lead or marking material into the case or
holder by the pressure used in writing or marking.
Thirdly, the improvements in boxes for holding leads for pencils, crayons,
and other articles herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, that is, to say, making the said boxes of two nearly tray-shaped
parts connected to and sliding upon one another in the manner described and
represented.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Turnor, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
MICHAEL TURNOR. (L.s.)