IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND DELINEATIONS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eugenio de Zuccato, of Charterhouse Street, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS,
DRAWINGS, AND DELINEATIONS."
Sealed the 12th March 1878, and dated the 29th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eugenio de Zuccato at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1877.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
EUGENIO DE ZUCCATO, of Charterhouse Street, London.
PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND DELINEATIONS."
My Invention of improvements in producing copies of writings, drawings, and
delineations consists, firstly, of obtaining a surface which will cut or pierce a sheet
of paper when pressed upon it.
There are several modes of obtaining such a surface, I prefer the following:-A
number of very thin steel blades, all of equal height and sizes, with a very sharp
edge, or with a large number of sharp points on one of their ends in the direction
of their lengths, are placed together side by side, the sharp edges or the sharp points
upwards, and made into a plate, the surface of which will then be composed of as
many sharp edges as there are blades in the plate, or with a number of sharp
points. In the next place it is necessary to make a stencil by placing a sheet of
paper upon the cutting or piercing surface herein-before described, and by writing
or tracing upon the sheet of paper with a hard pencil or a style; the plate will
then pierce or cut the sheet of paper in those places only where the sheet of paper
has been pressed with the style or the pencil against the cutting or piercing surface
of the plate. The lines of the writing or drawing will thus be formed in the
stencil by a series of small holes or cuts.

page_text: Having thus obtained a stencil, colour or ink is made to pass through the holes or
cuts of the stencil, and to be deposited upon a sheet of paper pressed against the
stencil, thus obtaining a copy of the writing or drawing represented by the stencil
where all the tracing is formed by means of very small points or lines.
A like result is obtained when a fresh sheet of paper is pressed against the stencil,
and color or ink forced through the holes or cuts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Eugenio de Zuccato in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1878.
EUGENIO DE ZUCCATO, of Charterhouse Street, London.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND DELINEATIONS."
My Invention of improvements in producing copies of writings, drawings, or
delineations, consists, firstly, of obtaining a surface which will cut or pierce a sheet
of paper or other suitable material when the sheet is pressed upon it by means of a
point.
There are several modes of obtaining such a surface, which may also be produced
upon different materials, but I prefer the following:-A steel plate for ordinary
purposes, about two inches in width and eight inches in length, is cut in the manner
of a fine file, taking care that the slopes or cuts by which the points are produced
are made as deep as possible. The plate should be hardened or tempered after
having been prepared or cut, and for greater convenience for writing upon it, it
may be embedded in a wooden board shaped like a small desk, see (Figure 1). In
the next place it is necessary to obtain a stencil by placing a sheet of paper upon
the piercing surface of the plate herein-before described, and by writing upon the
sheet of paper with a style, being, by preference, a tempered steel point, the plate
will pierce or cut the sheet of paper in those places only where the sheet of paper is
pressed against the cutting or piercing surface of the plate by means of the style.
The lines of the writing or drawing are formed in the stencil by a series of small
holes or cut.
To produce the stencil I use, preferably, very thin paper, which may be rendered
impermeable by means of a suitable waterproof substance, such as wax, stearine,
Canada balsam, or resin, dissolved in spirits of wine.
Having obtained the stencil it is next necessary to pass a colour or ink through its
holes or cuts, and cause such color or ink to be deposited upon paper or any other
suitable material, in order to produce copies of the delineations of the stencil, and the
modus operandi which I consider capable of yielding the best results is the
following: One of the ends of the stencil is placed under a suitable spring clip
(Figure 2) attached to one end of a smooth wooden board; the clip presses tightly
the end of the stencil against the board, and prevents the stencil from getting out
of position during the operation of printing.
Under the stencil in the first instance is placed a sheet of blotting paper, and a
little colour or ink is evenly spread upon the written face of the stencil with a brush

page_text: and by means of an india-rubber scraper, which is dragged or passed with moderate
pressure several times over the whole surface of the stencil; the ink or colour is
made to pass through the holes or cuts of the stencil, and to be deposited upon the
blotting paper underneath, thus producing a copy of the writing or drawing
represented by the stencil, where all the delineations are formed by means of very
small points or lines.
A like result is obtained when a fresh sheet of paper or any other suitable
material is placed under the stencil, and ink or colour forced through the holes or
cuts of the stencil in the manner herein-before described.
During the above operation the end of the stencil opposite to the one pressed
down by the clip is to be held against the board, in order to prevent the stencil
from wrinkling or moving.
I prefer to use a scraper of india-rubber, though it may be made with other
materials, and I construct it preferably in the following manner (Figure 3):-Strips of
india-rubber one sixteenth of an inch thick, and for ordinary purposes about seven
inches long are obtained cut perfectly true and straight, some about one inch, and some
about ths of an inch in width; five or six of such strips of india-rubber are placed
together side by side, and provided with a proper handle, taking care to place
alternately a broad strip, and a narrow one; then, if, for instance, the scraper is
made with six strips of india-rubber, the edges of three strips only, if properly
mounted, will come into contact with the surface of the stencil when the scraper is
dragged over it.
The ink I prefer to use is made by finely grinding lamp black with oil. Of
course any other colour or pigment may be used when ground with oil or any other
liquid, according to its nature, and worked into a proper consistence.
A simple and effective apparatus to hold the stencil during the operation of
producing copies, herein-before described, and which may be used instead of the
spring clip attached to the board, is that represented by Figure 4.
a, a, are two metallic bars or rods hinged at the back of the apparatus; they can
be raised or lowered; and fit into two corresponding grooves, and may be kept
tightly down when resting in their respective grooves by means of the two
hooks (b, b). The upper part (c) of the apparatus which lies between the two
metal tie bars (a, a,) being hinged at the back may be inclined or raised by means
of the lever (d), which is worked by the handle (e) placed in front of the
apparatus.
The use of the apparatus herein-before described is as follows:-The two
bars (a, a,) are lifted up, and the two opposite ends of the stencil properly stretched
are placed underneath them, then the two bars are lowered and secured by the
hooks. The ends of the stencil being held tightly by the bars pressing them in
their respective grooves.
The top of the apparatus (c) is inclined by means of the handle (e), and a sheet of
paper is placed upon it. The top is again raised to its proper position, together
with the sheet of paper, which is then brought into contact with the under surface
of the stencil. During the operation of raising and lowering (c) the stencil has
remained always stretched, firmly held by the two bars (a, a,). The operation of
producing copies is then carried on in the same manner, as herein-before described,
with the difference, however, that by using the above-described apparatus, or any
other apparatus, where the principle of lowering or raising the top of the apparatus
underneath the stencil is carried into effect, the stencil needs not to be disturbed or
changed in its position.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into operation, I would have it understood that what I claim as new,
and desire to secure by the herein-before named Letters Patent, is,
1. The mode of and apparatus for producing stencils by means of a cutting
surface, metallic or otherwise, and a style, substantially as herein-before described.
2. The mode of and apparatus for producing copies of writings, drawings, and

page_text: delineations from stencils, by using an india-rubber scraper in conjunction with the
means of holding the stencil, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eugenio de Zuccato, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 23rd day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
"
EUG, DE ZUCCATO. (L.S.).

page_text: REQUEST TO AMEND SPECIFICATION.
***
I EUGENIO DE ZUCCATO of 15 Charterhouse Street in the City of London seek
leave to amend the specification of Letters Patent, No. 3647 of 1877, as shown
in red ink in the copy of the original specification hereunto annexed :—
My reasons for making this amendment are as follows:-
I have reason to believe that the language used in the claiming clauses of the
said specification is ambiguous and therefore does not clearly define the precise
invention for which the said Letters Patent were granted.

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eugenio de Zuccato (at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1877.
EUGENIO DE ZUCCATO of Charterhouse Street London IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND DELINEATIONS"
My invention of improvements in producing copies of writings, drawings and
delineations consists firstly of obtaining a surface which will cut or pierce a sheet of
paper when pressed upon it. There are several modes of obtaining such a surface
I prefer the following ;-
*A number of very thin steel blades all of equal height and sizes with a very sharp
edge or with a large number of sharp points on one of their ends in the direction
of their lengths, are placed together side by side, the sharp edges or the sharp points
upwards and made into a plate the surface of which will then be composed of as
many sharp edges as there are blades in the plate or with a number of sharp
points.
In the next place it is necessary to make a stencil by placing a sheet of paper
upon the cutting or piercing surface herein before described, and by writing or
tracing upon the sheet of paper with a hard pencil or a style; the plate will then
pierce or cut the sheet of paper in those places only where the sheet of paper has
been pressed with the style or the pencil against the cutting or piercing surface of
the plate. The lines of the writing or drawing will thus be formed in the stencil
by a series of small holes or cuts.
Having thus obtained a stencil, colour or ink is made to pass through the holes or
cuts of the stencil and to be deposited upon a sheet of paper pressed against the
stencil thus obtaining a copy of the writing or drawing represented by the stencil
where all the tracing is formed by means of very small points or lines. A like
result is obtained when a fresh sheet of paper is pressed against the stencil and
color or ink forced through the holes or cuts.
7.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Eugenio de Zuccato in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1878.
EUGENIO DE ZUCCATO of Charterhouse Street London
PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS DRAWINGS AND DELINEATIONS
"
:
IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention of improvements in producing copies of writings drawings.or
delineations consists firstly of obtaining a surface which will cut or pierce a sheet
of paper or other suitable material when the sheet is pressed upon it by means of a
point.
There are several modes of obtaining such a surface which may also be produced
upon different materials but I prefer the following
A steel plate for ordinary purposes.about two inches in width and eight inches in
length is cut in the manner of a fine file taking care that the slopes or cuts by which
the points are produced are made as deep as possible.
The plate should be hardened or tempered after having been prepared or cut and
for greater convenience for writing upon it, it may be embedded in a wooden board
shaped like a small desk see (Figure 1).
In the next place it is necessary to obtain a stencil by placing a sheet of paper
upon the piercing surface of the plate hereinbefore described and by writing upon
the sheet of paper with a style being by preference a tempered steel point the
plate will pierce or cut the sheet of paper in those places only where the sheet of
paper is pressed against the cutting or piercing surface of the plate by means of
the style
The lines of the writing or drawing are formed in the stencil by a series of small
holes or cuts!
To produce the stencil I use preferably very thin paper which may be rendered
impermeable by means of a suitable. waterproof substance such as wax, stearine
Canada balsam or resin dissolved in spirits of wine.
Having obtained the stencil it is next necessary to pass a colour or ink through
its holes or cuts and cause such color or ink to be deposited upon paper or any other.
suitable material in order to produce copies of the delineations, of the stencil and
the modus operandi which I consider capable of yielding the best results is the
following,
One of the ends of the stencil is placed under a suitable spring clip (Figure-2)
attached to one end of a smooth wooden board the clip presses tightly the end of
the stencil against the board and prevents the stencil from getting out of position
during the operation of printing.
1*11.4
f
Under the stencil in the first instance is placed a sheet. of blotting paper and a
little colour or ink is evenly spread upon the written face of the stencil with a. brush

page_text: and by means of an india rubber scraper which is dragged or passed with moderate
pressure several times over the whole surface of the stencil the ink or colour is
made to pass through the holes or cuts of the stencil and to be deposited upon
the
blotting paper underneath thus producing a copy of the writing or drawing
represented by the stencil where all the delineations are formed by means of very
small points or lines. A like result is obtained when a fresh sheet of paper or any
other suitable material is placed under the stencil and ink or colour forced through
the holes or cuts of the stencil in the manner hereinbefore described.
During the above operation the end of the stencil opposite to the one pressed
down by the clip is to be held against the board in order to prevent the stencil
from wrinkling or moving.
I prefer to use a scraper of india rubber though it may be made with other
materials and I construct it preferably in the following manner (Figure 3)-Strips of
india rubber one sixteenth of an inch thick and for ordinary purposes about seven
inches long are obtained cut perfectly true and straight some about one inch and some
about the of an inch in width. Five or six of such strips of india rubber are placed
together side by side and provided with a proper handle taking care to place
alternately a broad strip and a narrow one. Then if for instance the scraper is
made with six strips of india rubber the edges of three strips only if properly
mounted will come into contact with the surface. of the stencil when the scraper
dragged over it.
is
The ink I prefer to use is made by finely grinding lamp black with oil. Of
course any other colour or pigment may be used when ground with oil or any other
liquid according to its nature and worked into a proper consistence
i
A simple and effective apparatus to hold the stencil during the operation of
producing copies hereinbefore described and which may be used instead of the
spring clip attached to the board is that represented by Figure 4.
a, a, are two metallic bars or rods hinged at the back of the apparatus they can
be raised or lowered and fit into two corresponding grooves and may be kept
tightly down when resting in their respective grooves by means of the two
hooks (b b)
The upper part (c) of the apparatus which lies between the two metal tie bars
(a a) being hinged at the back may be inclined or raised by means of the lever (d)
which is worked by the handle (e) placed in front of the apparatus. The use of the
apparatus hereinbefore described is as follows:
The two bars (a a) are lifted up and the two opposite ends of the stencil properly
stretched are placed underneath them then the two bars are lowered and secured by
the hooks. The ends of the stencil being held tightly by the bars pressing them in
their respective grooves.
J
The top of the apparatus (c) is inclined by means of the handle (e) and a sheet of
paper is placed upon it. The top is again raised to its proper position together
with the sheet of paper which is then brought into contact with the under surface
of the stencil. During the operation of raising and lowering (c) the stencil has
remained always stretched firmly held by the two bars (a a).
The operation of producing copies is then carried on in the same manner as
herein before described with the difference however that by using the above described
apparatus or any other apparatus where the principle of lowering or raising the top
of the apparatus underneath the stencil is carried into effect the stencil needs not to
be disturbed or changed in its position.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
carrying it into operation I would have it understood that what I claim as new and
desire to secure by the hereinbefore named Letters Patent is,
1. The mode of and producing and the apparatus for producing stencils by means
of a cutting surface metallic or otherwise and a style substantially as herein before
described.
'

page_text: 2. The mode of and-apparatus for producing copies of writings drawings and
delineations from steneils the stencils produced as above specified by using an india
rubber scraper in conjunction with the means of holding the stencil substantially
as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said Eugenio de Zuccato have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 23rd day of March in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventyeight.
EUG DE ZUCCATO (L.S.)