Certain Improvements in Typewriters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Typewriters.
We, SAMUEL TIMINGS, of 23, Great Hampton Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Manufacturer, and JoHN THOMAS MEDLICOTT BURGESS, of 64, Hunters Road,
Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Coal Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention consists of the hereindescribed improvements in typewriters and
one arrangement of this invention is carried out as follows:-
We provide a suitable base plate or frame which may be a piece of flat sheet
metal adapted to place on to the sheet of paper which is to be written upon and
made with a straight edge at the top to guide the eye in placing the typewriter on
the paper. The type letters figures of other characters are made of indiarubber or
metal or otherwise formed and each is so shaped as to be readily held between the
operator's thumb and finger. The type letters figures or other characters are
arranged in a row or otherwise near the bottom part of the type writer and each
takes into one of a series of notches or recesses in a plate or bar fixed to the base
which thus keeps the type letters or figures or other characters at their proper
distances apart this har having letters figures or other characters on its upper face
corresponding with the type. Each of the type letters figures or other characters
is held in place by being fixed to one end of a piece of elastic and the other ends
of these elastics are fixed to the lower part of the typewriter frame the said elastics
being long enough to permit of any of the type letters figures or characters being
picked up by the operator's finger and thumb and placed in a space at the upper part
of the typewriter according to where the impression of the letter figure or other
character is required on the paper. The type letters figures or characters rest face
downwards on an inked pad on the base or are adjacent thereto. In the upper part
of the typewriter base there is a hole or holes through which the paper shows and
across these spaces or forming the lower edge of the same there is or may be a bar
with the edge made with notches or recesses at equal distances apart correspond-
ing with the spaces between the letters.
In using the typewriter above described the plate forming the base of the type-
writer is placed upon the sheet of paper on which the writing is to be made, the
upper edge of the typewriter being parallel with the upper edge of the paper. The
letters or other characters are grasped one at a time by the operator's thumb and
finger and raised off the inking pad one at a time as required and placed in one of
the notches or recesses in the top bar and pressed on to the paper thus making the
impressions of the letters in a horizontal line to form the particular words required,
the spaces between the words being formed by the operator as he can see the
writing as he proceeds. The elastic brings the tvne back to its normal position
near the bottom of the type writer. When one line has been written the tyne-
writer is moved down the paner or the paper drawn unwardly therethrough to give
the space of the next line when the upper straight edge of the typewriter will be
immediately under the last line which has been written and thus the lines will be
parallel and the spaces between the lines can be varied at the will of the operator.

page_text: The edges of the plate or base may if desired be turned inwardly so as to form a
guide to hold the paper.
Another arrangement of this invention is as follows:-In this case the metal
base plate or frame carries a stencil disc in which are pierced in a circle the letters
of the alphabet and also if desired figures and stops and other characters. This
disc and the base plate are made of very thin metal and the disc turns on a rivet
or pin which passes through washers embracing the plate and also passes through
a horizontal slit in the plate so that the disc can be moved along the plate and set
to bring any one of the perforated letters figures or other characters in position
ready for use. The said pin or rivet also carries a small metal eye to which is
hinged an arm carrying a small inking pad so that this pad can be turned round
and come over any one of the perforated letters figures or characters in the disc.
Or a separate inking pad or a brush may be used to ink the stencil disc. In using
this form of our invention the plate part of the typewriter is placed on the paper
as stated above and the disc is turned round until the perforated letter for the com-
mencement of the first word occupies the proper position to make the impression
which is done by pressing the ink pad on the top of the perforated letter which
will then be stenciled on to the paper. The next letter is then formed by moving
the disc sideways slightly along the base and then turning the disc round to bring
the required letter in position in line with the last letter stenciled on the paper and
so on the letters being stenciled on the paper one at a time as above described.
The disc is or may be made with upwardly projecting parts to facilitate the turning
and moving of the same.
Instead of the disc being made with perforated letters to act as a stencil plate
as above described, the said letters or other characters on the disc may be formed
of indiarubber or other blocks each fixed on a radial spring tongue formed out of
and fixed to the disc and arranged to stand upwardly slightly from the paper so
that as the typewriter is in use and the disc has been turned to bring the required
letter in position for printing, the particular tongue which bears that letter is
pressed down so as to form an impression on the paper. The upper faces of the
tongue are marked with the letters figures or other characters corresponding with
the type. In this arrangement of our invention the inking pad may be arranged
across the typewriter so that some of the letters or figures of the disc are always
immediately over the same and thus can by the operator be pressed down occa-
sionally to take up some ink from the inking pad and thus keep the type inked
ready for use.
Instead of arranging the stencilled or other letters figures or other characters
on a disc as stated above they may be arranged in or on a metal or other strip
or slide which is arranged to slide across the base or frame of the typewriter to
bring the proper letter. figure or other character in position to be stencilled or
impressed on the paper.
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Certain Improvements in Typewriters.
We, SAMUEL TIMINGS, of 23, Great Hampton Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Manufacturer, and JOHN THOMAS MEDLICOTT BURGESS, of 64, Hunters Road,
Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Coal Merchant, do hereby declare the

page_text: 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:-
This invention consists of the herein described improvements in typewriters
intended for use by children and this invention is carried out as we will describe
by referring to the accompanying drawings on which Fig. 1 is a plan of a type-
writer shewn partly in section constructed in accordance with this invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same and Fig. 3 is an end view of the
same shewing how the back part opens for the insertion of the paper; Fig. 4
shews a part of the typewriter separately and Fig. 5 shews one of the type letters
of the same separately.
Fig. 6 is a plan of another form of juvenile typewriter constructed in accordance
with this invention; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the same and Fig. 8 is a
sectional side elevation of the same and Figs. 9 and 10 'shew detailed parts of the
typewriter represented by Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
in use.
Fig. 11 is a plan of another form of juvenile typewriter constructed according
to this invention; Fig. 12 is a sectional side elevation of the same and Fig. 13°
shews separately a part of the typewriter represented in Figs. 11 and 12; Fig. 14
is a plan and Fig. 15 is a front elevation of another form of typewriter constructed
according to this invention and Fig. 16 is a plan of a modified form of the same.
We will first describe the arrangement of our invention which is illustrated by
Figs. 1 to 5 in which the same letters of reference indicate the same parts. We
provide a suitable sheet metal base plate or frame A to place upon the sheet of
paper B which is to be written upon and made with a straight edge a¹ at the top
to guide the eye in placing the paper in position. Hinged at cc to the back
of the base plate A we prefer to provide the back plate C made with a catch ³ to
engage with the side of the base plate A the object of this back plate C being to
hold the paper B in position in case the typewriter should be moved whilst it is
The type letters (or figures or other characters) are by preference made of
indiarubber. One of them is shewn separately in Fig. 5 and marked d. They
are each secured in a metal holder E provided with an upright projecting piece e¹
so as to be readily held between the operator's thumb and finger. The said type
letters E are as shewn arranged in two rows across the typewriter and each takes
into one of a series of notches or recesses marked f¹ which are formed in the plate
or bar F which is fixed to the base A and thus these notches f¹ keep the type letters
figures or other characters at their proper distances apart and this bar Falso has
letters marked on its upper face as shewn in Figs. 1 and 4 corresponding with the
type. Each of the type holders E is held in place by being fixed to an elastic loop
which elastic loops are marked G. The elastic loops are secured to the respective
type holders E by being looped at one end round a hook e³ formed on the type
holder E and at the other end being fixed to upwardly projecting parts a¹ a² which
stand up from the lower part of the base plate A these elastics G being long enough
to permit of any of the type letters being picked up by the operator's thumb and
finger and placed in the space H at the upper part of the typewriter according to
where the impression of the letter is required on the paper B. I is an inked pad
fixed on the base A for the purpose of inking the type. In the upper part of the
base plate A there are sight holes through which the paper B shews and
immediately below these spaces there is a raised .bar K made with notches or
recesses (see Fig. 1) at equal distances apart corresponding with the required
spaces between the letters. The front ends e³ of the type holders E are made of
a V-shape to fit into the notches k¹ of the bar K and the back part of each of the
type holders E is made rebated at so as to come against and rest upon the turned
up edge of the hole H this edge h¹ being straight and parallel with the lines of
writing. L is the cover plate which is just above and partly covers the elastics G
and serves for resting the operator's hand upon. The base plate A is by preference
made with a raised rib at immediately under the elastics which leaves a narrow
opening (see Fig. 2) between this bar a and the cover plate G so that if tae

page_text: operator should accidently loose one of the type letters before placing it in
its notch fit will not shoot down underneath the cover plate L.
In using the typewriter above described the sheet of paper upon which the
writing is to be made is placed under the base A as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 and
clipped between the base A and the back plate C the upper edge 6 of the paper B
being parallel with the upper edge al of the base plate A. The type letters to
form the required words are grasped by their projections e¹ one at a time by the
operator's finger and thumb and raised out of the notches f¹ and pressed on the
inked pad I and then placed in one of the notches or recesses k¹ in the top bar K
and rested on the edge h¹ and pressed on to the paper B thus making the impres-
sions of the letters on a horizontal line to form the particular words required the
spaces between the words being formed by the operator as he can see the writing
as he proceeds. In Fig. 1 the machine is represented as writing the words
"Juvenile Typewriter" this figure shewing the machine in the act of forming the
second T in the word typewriter. After the letter has been formed on the paper
the type holder E is by the operator placed to its corresponding notch fl of the
bar and there retained by the elastic G. When one line has been written the
paper B is drawn upwardly through the typewriter for a short distance until the
last line which has been written can be seen through the sight holes ¹³ and
the paper will then be in position for writing the next line. It will be evident
however that by pulling the paper farther or not so far through the typewriter
the spaces between the lines can be varied at the will of the operator.
Another arrangement of this invention illustrated by Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
is as follows: In this case the metal base plate A carries a metal stencil disc M
(shewn separately by Fig. 9) in which are pierced in a circle the letters of the
alphabet and also if desired letters figures and stops or other characters. This
dise M and the base plate A are made of very thin sheet metal and the disc M turns
on a central rivet or pin m which passes through washers embracing the plate A
and also passes through a horizontal slot a³ in the plate A so that the disc M can
be moved along the plate A and set to bring any one of the perforated letters in
position ready for use. The said pin or rivet m' also carries a small metal ear
piece to which is hinged an arm 2 carrying at its outer end a small inking
pad and this pad and the arm n² and ear piece n¹ can be turned round the rivet
or pin m² so as to come over any one of the perforated letters in the disc M. The
disc M has two upwardly projecting parts m² m³ for turning the disc. Instead
of employing the inked pad n³ and arm n² and earn a separate inked pad or
brush may be used to ink the stencilled disc M. The edges aa of the plate
or disc A are turned back underneath so as to form guides for the paper B. The
plate A is made with a row of holes o through which the paper B shews and each
of which corresponds with the position of one of the letters in the line.
In using this form of our invention the paper B is placed under the plate part A
of the typewriter with the edges of the paper engaging with the turned under
edges of the plate part A and the disc M is turned round until the perforated
letter for the commencement of the first word is in its proper position that is
immediately over the first hole on the left hand side of the typewriter to make
the impression on the paper which is done by passing the inked pad n³ on to the
top of the perforated letter of the disc M which will then be impressed on to the
paper B.
The next letter is then formed by moving the disc M slightly towards
the right hand in position for the next letter and the perforated disc M is moved
round to bring the required letter in position with the second opening at the
side of the letter stencilled on the paper and so on the letters being stencilled on
the paper one at a time as above described.
Instead of the disc M being made with perforated letters to act as a stencil
plate as above described and illustrated by Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the said letters on
the disc M may be formed (see Figs. 11, 12 and 13) of indiarubber or other blocks d
each fixed on a radial spring tongue which spring tongues are marked m formed
out of or fixed to the disc M and arranged to stand upward slightly from the

page_text: paper B so that as the typewriter is in use the disc M has to be turned to bring
the required letter in position for printing. Then the particular'tongue which bears
the letter such as the one bearing the letter "A" in Fig. 11 is pressed down so
as to form an impression on the paper B. The upper faces of the tongue are as
shewn in Figs. 11 and 13 marked with the letters corresponding with the type
underneath. In this arrangement of our invention the inking pad I is by prefer-
ence arranged at one side of the base A of the typewriter so that the disc M can
be moved to the right hand side of the slot as immediately over the inked pad I
and thus can by the operator be pressed down occasionally to take up some of the
ink from the inking pad and thus keep the type inked ready for use.
Instead of arranging the stencil or other letters or figures or characters on the
disc M as stated above they may as shewn by Figs. 14, 15 and 16 be arranged in a
row on a metal or other strip or slide such as P which is arranged to slide in
guides q¹² across the base or frame A of the typewriter to bring the proper letter
figure or other character in position to be stencilled or impressed on the paper B.
In the arrangement shewn by Fig. 14 the metal or other strip P has the proper
letters pierced in it so that this strip P is really a stencil plate whereas in the
arrangement of our invention shewn by Fig. 16 the metal strip P is pierced so as
to form spring tongues m which spring upwardly off the paper as in the disc
shewn by Figs. 11, 12 and 13 these tongues m having indiarubber type letters
fixed on their underside and on their top surfaces bearing a letter corresponding
with the type. To ink the indiarubber type on the strip P in the arrangement
shewn by Fig. 16 the strip P has to be slided out of the frame and the type
impressed on an inked pad I which is fixed on the frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A typewriter comprising in combination a base plate adapted to receive
underneath it the paper to be written upon and provided with an opening such as H
through which said paper can be seen, said opening having a notched cross bar
corresponding with the spaces between the letters, a series of type holders adapted
to be held between the operator's thumb and finger and made with indiarubber
or like letters or other characters on their underside and connected to the base
plate by elastic bands or loops, a plate or bar made with a row or rows of notches
adapted to receive the type holders which are held therein by the indiarubber
bands or loops said type holders being shaped so as to enter the opening of the
base plate and to be guided into position by the notched cross bar of said opening
the parts being constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The typewriter constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
3. A typewriter comprising in combination a base plate adapted to receive
underneath it the paper to be written upon and made with side guides for such
paper and provided with an opening or series of openings such as O through
which said paper can be seen, a stencil disc M perforated with letters or other
characters in a circle and carried by and adapted to turn on a central pin which
can slide to and fro in a guide from side to side of said base plate, said pin also
carrying an arm made with a movable inking pad adapted to impress the ink
through the stencilled letters or other characters of said disc said parts being con-
structed and adapted for use together in the manner substantially as herein before
described with reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The typewriter constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A typewriter comprising in combination a base plate adapted to receive under-
neath it the paper to be written upon and made with side guides for such paper
and provided with an opening or a series of openings such as O through which said

page_text: paper can be seen, a stencil disc M perforated with letters or other characters in a
circle and carried by and adapted to turn on a central pin which can slide to and
fro in a guide from side to side of said base plate, so that the disc can be turned
and the letters stencilled through the opening or openings of the base plate on to
the paper underneath in the required order substantially as herein before described
with reference to Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
6. A typewriter comprising in combination a base plate adapted to receive
underneath it the paper to be written upon and made with side guides for such
paper and provided with an opening or a series of openings such as O through
which said paper can be seen, a disc such as M provided with radial spring tongues
each of which carries underneath it one of the type letters or other characters and
is marked on the top with the same letter or other character the said disc being
carried by and adapted to turn on a central pin which can slide to and fro in a
guide from side to side of said base plate which also carries an inking pad the said
parts being constructed and adapted for use together in the manner substantially
as herein before described with reference to Figs. 11, 12 and 13 of the accompany-
ing drawings.
7. The typewriter constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 11, 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
8. A typewriter comprising a base plate adapted to receive underneath it the
paper to be written upon and made with side guides for such paper and provided
with an opening or a series of openings such as O through which said paper can
be seen, a stencil strip such as P perforated with letters or other characters in a
row and adapted to slide to and fro along parallel guides of said base plate over
the said opening or openings so that the letters or other characters of the stencil
strip can be brought into position and stencilled in their required order on the
paper underneath, the parts being constructed and adapted for use together in the
manner substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 14 and 15
of the accompanying drawings.
9. A typewriter comprising a base plate adapted to receive underneath it the
paper to be written upon and made with side guides for such paper and provided
with an opening or a series of openings such as O through which said paper can
be seen, a metal strip such as P made with a row of spring tongues each of which
carries underneath it one of the type letters or other characters and is marked on
the top with the same letter or character the said strip being adapted to slide to
and fro along parallel guides of said base plate over said opening or openings 80
that the letters or other characters of the strip can be brought into position in their
required order and pressed down on the paper underneath, the parts being con-
structed and adapted for use together in the manner substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Fig. 16 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1898.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.