IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBINATION OF PERPETUAL ALMANACS OR CALENDARS WITH PENCIL-CASES, PEN-KNIVES, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF UTILITY.”
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Howland, of Folkestone, in the County
of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBINATION OF
PERPETUAL ALMANACS OR CALENDARS WITH PENCIL-CASES, PEN-KNIVES, AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF UTILITY.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Howland at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th February 1875.
I, RICHARD HOWLAND, of Folkestone, in the County of Kent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE COMBINATION OF PERPETUAL ALMANACS OR CALENDARS WITH PENCIL-CASES,
PEN-KNIVES, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF UTILITY," to be as follows:-
.
This Invention consists in certain arrangements, by means of which
perpetual almanacs or calendars are combined with pencil-cases, pen-
knives, and other articles of utility, whether of circular or polygonal
section, thereby affording a ready, speedy, and convenient means of
ascertaining dates.

page_text: In the instance of a pencil-case of circular section the numbers of the
days of a month (up to thirty-one) are engraved, impressed, or painted
in consecutive order in parallel rows, and arranged in seven vertical
columns beginning at No. 1 and ending at No. 31, either on the exterior
of the pencil-case or on a tube passed over the same, forming, as it were,
tablets on which the numerals are represented. Above the tablets thus
arranged is placed a tube or collar, on the surface of which the initial
letters of the several days of the week are engraved, impressed, or
painted.
The last-mentioned tube or collar enables the almanac or calendar to
be readily set for one month, such object being effected simply by
turning the said tube or collar on the first day of each month until the
initial letter of the day of the week is above the number which indicates
the first day of the month, when in the same column will be visible the
succeeding days of the month at intervals of seven days.
.
The respective edges of the tablets and of the tube or collar above the
same are serrated or scolloped or otherwise shaped (as will be well
understood), so as to enable the tube or collar to retain its relative
position after being set, but in articles in which great economy of con-
struction is desired the tube or collar is simply passed or slid on to the
tube or body of the pencil-case. The tube or collar is kept in its position
by a moveable cap on the end of the pencil-case, which may be either
such as is usually provided as a cover for the reservoir of leads, or may
be a cap specially arranged for the purpose.
:
By a simple modification the action of the parts may be reversed, the
tablets being arranged so as to be moveable, and the tube or collar fixed.
In the adaptation of this Invention to articles of a polygonal section
the necessary modifications are of such an obvious nature that it is not
necessary to give any further details or particulars.
It is manifest that by an extension of the arrangements herein-before
mentioned the initial letters of the names of the months may be employed
in like manner and in combination with the other apparatus herein-before
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Howland in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD.
HOWLAND, of Folkestone, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One. thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard Howland, Her special
licence that I, the said Richard Howland, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Howland, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any timė 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 THE COMBINATION OF PERPETUAL ALMANACS OR CALENDARS
WITH PENCIL-CASES, PEN-KNIVES, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF UTILITY," upon] the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Howland, 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 performed, 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 Richard Howland, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention consists in certain arrangements, by means of
which perpetual almanacs or calendars are combined with such articles
as pencil-cases, pen-knives; pen-holders, and other articles of utility,
whether of circular or polygonal section, thereby affording a ready,
speedy, and convenient means of ascertaining dates.

page_text: The nature of my said Invention will be clearly explained by describing
its application to a pencil-case of circular section. In this case the
numbers of the days of the month (up to thirty-one) are engraved,
impressed, or painted in consecutive order in parallel rows, and arranged
in seven vertical columns, beginning at No. 1, and ending at No. 31,
either on the exterior of the pencil-case itself or on a tube passed over
the same, forming as it were tablets on which the numerals are repre-
sented. Above the tablets thus arranged is placed a tube or collar, on
the surface of which the initial letters of the several days of the week
are engraved, impressed, or painted.
The last-mentioned tube or collar enables the almanac or calendar to
be readily set for one month, such object being effected simply by
turning the said tube or collar on the first day of each month until the
initial letter of the day of the week is above the number which indicates
the first day of the month, when in the same column will be visible the
succeeding days of the month at intervals of seven days, the like
arrangement existing of course with regard to the other columns or
tablets.
In order to secure a proper "register" not capable of being acciden-
tally disturbed the respective edges of the tablets and of the tube or
collar above the same are serrated or scolloped or otherwise shaped, as
will be well understood, so as to enable the tube or collar to retain its
relative position after being set, but in articles in which great economy
of manufacture is desired the tube or collar is simply passed or slid on
to the tube or body of the pencil-case. The tube or collar is kept in its
position by a moveable cap on the end of the pencil-case, which may be
either such as is usually provided as a cover for the reservoir of leads, or
may be a cap specially arranged for the purpose.
In the adaptation of my said Invention to articles of a polygonal
section the necessary modifications are of such an obvious character that
it is not necessary to give or describe any further details or particulars,
as they are mere matters of construction which do not in any way
interfere with the principles of the Invention as above described.
It is manifest that by an extension of the arrangements herein-before
mentioned the initial letters of the names of the months may be employed
in like manner, and in combination with the other apparatus herein-
before described.

page_text: Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim
as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in
part recited recited Letters Patent are,―
First. The application and arrangement of the before-mentioned tube
or collar, engraved, impressed, or painted, as aforesaid, substantially as
and for the purposes herein-before described and set forth.
And, Secondly. The combination of perpetual almanacs or calendars
with and the application thereof to pencil-cases, pen-knives, and other
articles of utility, substantially by the means and for the purposes herein-
before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Howland, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of
Ona thorsend sight hundred and seventy-five
Witness,
GEO. E. VAUGHAN,
67, Chancery Lane,
London.
RICHARD HOWLAND. (L.S.)