A Magnetic and Electric Penholder for the purpose of Showing Certain Scientific Phenomena.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Magnetic and Electric Penholder for the purpose of Showing
Certain Scientific Phenomena.
MESSINA LOWE 252 Ormskirk Road Pemberton Wigan Lancashire Stationer &c.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I construct in a modified manner, a pen-holder, so as to be able to utilize its
various parts for the purpose of showing, in a neat and cheap manner, certain
scientific laws, and 1 construct it in the following manner-
Fig. (a). (1) is the holder of a pen, and is made pointed at one end.
(2) is a short stem of ebonite or vulcanite, about three inches long (other
material which easily becomes charged with electricity by friction may be used),
fitting into one end of (1) and forming a short continuation of the pen-holder.
(3) is a hard steel hoop or tube about two inches long, and is magnetized. It is
made to fit on the end of the short vulcanite or ebonite stem (2) so as to complete
the length of the pen-holder.
(4) is a magnetic needle of peculiar shape, being made in the form of an ordinary
writing pen (but not for the purpose of writing with), this form enabling it to be
easily stowed away inside the hoop or tube (3) when not in use. At its centre it is
provided with an indentation on the under, or hollow side, for the purpose of
balancing it on a point. Other means may be used for this purpose. The ends
may or may not be pointed.
The scientific purposes for which this pen-holder is arranged are as follows-
The holder of the pen (1) is removed from the short vulcanite or ebonite stem on
which it fits, and placed point upwards upon a table, or other convenient support;
the magnetic needle (4) is then taken from the case or tube (3) in which it fits, and
balanced at its centre, on the point of (1) when it of course turns to the north,
showing the polarity of the earth. This forms the first experiment.
Figure b. For the second experiment the steel tube or hoop (3) is taken off the
short stem of vulcanite or ebonite on which it fits, and is brought near either end
of the needle (4) as it (the needle) rests on the point of (1) when attraction
or repulsion takes place between the two, according to the pole presented, thus
showing in a neat manner the attraction or repulsion of similar or dis-similar
magnetic poles.
The third experiment consists in taking the short piece of vulcanite or ebonite (2)
and rubbing it on the back of the dry hand, or with a piece of silk, or other suitable
means when electricity is generated on it, and on presenting it to the needle (4)
while it is still on the point (1) the needle will be attracted towards it, thus giving
an example of the attraction between electrified and un-electrified bodies.
When these experiments are not required the parts are easily slipped together
again, with the magnetic needle (4) resting inside the hoop (3) when it becomes a
pen-holder ready to write with. Thus it may be seen that this simple apparatus
may be easily and cheaply arranged to show some important scientific laws,
and would be very useful, on account of its cheapness, in public schools and
elsewhere.
Dated this 15th day of September 1890
MESSINA LOWE,
252, Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Wigan, Lancashire.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Magnetic and Electric Penholder for the purpose of Showing
Certain Scientific Phenomena.
MESSINA LOWE 252 Ormskirk Road Pemberton Wigan Lancashire, Stationer &c.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
I construct in a modified manner, a pen-holder, so as to be able to utilize
its various parts for the purpose of showing in a neat and cheap manner certain
scientific laws, and I construct it in the following manner.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification
Figure (a). (1) is the holder of a pen, and made pointed at one end. The
stability may be increased if necessary by placing a small hoop on the other end.
Any other suitable means for this purpose may be used.
(2) is a short stem of ebonite or vulcanite, about three inches long (other material
which easily becomes charged with electricity by friction may be used), fitting
into one end of (1) and forming a short continuation of the pen-holder.
(3) is a hard steel hoop or tube, about two inches long, and is magnetized. It is
made to fit on the end of the short vulcanite or ebonite stem (2) so as to complete
the length of the pen-holder. One end may be closed.
(4) is a magnetic needle fitting inside the hoop or tube (3) when not in use.
At its centre it is provided with an indentation for the purpose of balancing it on a
point. Other means may be used for this purpose. Any suitable form of
magnetic needle may be used.
The scientific purposes for which this pen-holder is arranged are as follows:-
Figure (b). The holder of the pen (1) is removed from the short vulcanite
or ebonite stem on which it fits, and placed, point upwards upon a table, or other
convenient support; the magnetic needle (4) is then taken from the case or tube (3)
in which it fits, and balanced at its centre on the point of (1), when it of course
turns to the north, showing the polarity of the earth. This forms the first
experiment.
For the second experiment, the steel tube or hoop (3) is taken off the short stem
of vulcanite or ebonite on which it fits, and is brought near either end of the
needle (4) as it (the needle) rests on the point of (1), when attraction or repulsion
takes place between the two, according to the pole presented; thus showing in a
neat manner, the attraction or repulsion of similar, or dis-similar magnetic poles.
The third experiment consists in taking the short piece of vulcanite or ebonite (2),
and rubbing it on the back of the dry hand, or with a piece of silk, or other suitable
means, when electricity is generated on it, and on presenting it to either end of the
needle (4), while it is still on the point (1) the needle will be attracted towards it;
thus giving an example of the attraction between electrified and un-electrified
bodies.
When these experiments are not required, the parts are easily slipped together
again with the magnetic needle (4) resting inside the hoop (3), when it becomes a
pen-holder ready to write with. Thus it may be seen that this simple apparatus
may be easily and cheaply arranged to show some important scientific laws, and
would be very useful on account of its cheapness in public schools and elsewhere.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
:―
"The modified pen-holder herein described for the scientific purposes named."
Dated this 22nd do
MESSINA LOWE,
252, Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Wigan, Lancashire.