IMPROVEMENTS IN WRITING DESKS, WHICH CAN BE USED IN THE DARK, OR AFTER A PERSON HAS RETIRED FOR THE NIGHT, OR BY THE BLIND, OR THOSE WITH WEAK EYESIGHT
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Russell Palmer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
August 1855.
I, WILLIAM RUSSELL PALMER, of the City and County and State of New
York, in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WRITING DESKS, WHICH CAN BE USED IN
THE DARK, OR AFTER A PERSON HAS RETIRED FOR THE NIGHT, OR BY THE BLIND, OR
THOSE WITH WEAK EYESIGHT," to be as follows:-
inches long by six wide and three
The top of this box, for about one-
end, so as to be elevated, or is slid
I construct an oblong box, about ten
in depth, though the size is not material.
third or half its length, is hinged at the
back, as preferred; and underneath this top, near the lower end of the box,
is a cylinder, around which is wound a continuous sheet of paper, so as to be
easily drawn off, as needed. The top of the box, above the hinged or sliding
top, and between it and the rollers, hereafter referred to, is of close-grained
hard wood, or metal, or glass, which makes the surface or tablet for writing.
The paper passes from the cylinder between the moveable top and the tablet,
over the tablet, and then between two other rollers or cylinders, which are
worked by a little finger wheel at the side of the box, and which move the
paper as desired. The proper distance to which the paper is to be moved

page_text: whenever a line is written, i. e., the distance between any two of the lines, about
half or three quarters of an inch, is measured by a pawl falling into a cog wheel
upon one of these rollers, and which records by a little click when the paper is
drawn the right distance. Upon the lower end of the desk is a rest for the
arm, and which has a rotating motion to give easy motion to the hand; and
the end of the box upon which this support rests also extends, when desired, so
as to be adapted to the length of the arm. The width of the paper, and conse-
quently the length of the written line, is such, that there is no necessity of lifting
the hand when writing, but the natural sweep of the arm carries the pencil
across the sheet. It follows that the written line will be slightly curved, but
this does not matter, as every line will be parallel with the preceding ones.
I sometimes also have a rest, movable across the tablet, designed for the
little finger, and which is so contrived, that when it has passed across the page
it touches a spring, which moves the rollers before mentioned, and carries the
paper the proper distance. A small moulding or wire runs along the top of
the box, at the sides or edges, and serves as a guide to the pencil used in
writing where to commence a line and when it is finished. At the upper end
of the box are two or more bows or wires, which can be raised when desired,
making a sort of top, the object of which is to sustain the bed covering, so that
they shall not interfere with writing when the desk is used in bed.
From the above description it is evident that the desk can be used without
any necessity for a light, and it is designed to be placed at the head of
the bed, convenient to be used whenever any thought worthy of recording
shall be suggested to the mind. It can also be used at any time, and with
great comfort and convenience, by the blind, or by those with weakened or
diseased eyes.