CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS USED IN WRITING
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
EDWARDS, of Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Pen Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eleventh day of January, in the first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Edwards, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said John Edwards, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Edwards, my exors, admors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS USED
IN WRITING," in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I,
the said John Edwards, shall cause a particular description of the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I do hereby
declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the

page_text: same is to be performed, are fully set forth in the following description thereor,
and in the Drawings hereunto annexed and referred to, that is to say :-
Firstly, in a certain addition or appendage to pens for the better supplying
thereof with ink, so that a person may write for a longer time than usual with
one dip of ink.
Secondly, in certain fountain penholders in which the flow of ink into the
pen may be regulated by a conical plug or plugs, in the manner herein-after
described.
And, lastly, in an inkstand or inkholder for supplying or charging certain
of the penholders, herein-before described, with ink or other writing fluid.
I shall now proceed fully to describe my said several improvements, that is
to say-
Firstly, as regards the addition or appendage to metallic pens for the better
supplying thereof with ink. Figure 1 represents a pen with a spiral coil of
wire inserted in the tube of the pen, extending down to the shoulder, and fixed
in that position by any convenient means of attachment. Figure 2 shews a
pen, which may be put into any ordinary metallic penholder, with a spiral coil
of wire inserted above the shoulder thereof, the sides of the pen embracing and
holding the coil of wire by forming somewhat more than a half circle. This
spiral wire ink holder may be taken out for the purpose of cleansing itself or
the pen. The coil, instead of being made of round wire, may be made of wire
which has been rolled flat, and then annealed and turned into a coil edgeways,
the coil compressed, and then each ring of the coil drawn a little asunder.
And I declare that what I claim as my Invention in this first part of my
improvements is, the attaching or appending to pens an inkholder of the form
or forms herein-beforo described, in whatever way such form or forms may be
constructed, or obtained, or immaterially modified.
Secondly, as to the fountain penholders, and the apparatus for filling the
same. Figure 3 shews a penholder, which may be filled with ink by the
pressure of the atmosphere, or, as it is commonly called, by suction. This pen-
holder is formed of two tubes, a and b, the one sliding within the other. The
lower part c of the tube b is packed, so as to form an air-tight piston, which
being thrust to the bottom of the tube a, while at the same time the vent hole
of b is opened, and the mouth d of the pen dipped in ink or other writing fluid,
on drawing up, the said piston, ink, or fluid will ascend, and fill or nearly fill
the interior of the tube a, from which ink is supplied to the pen, in the manner
immediately herein-after described. To the interior of the lower end of the
tube a is soldered the tube e, having a shoulder at the top, which tube is
tapped on the outside with a screw thread; at the lower end of the tube e is

page_text: soldered the conical plug f, which is formed, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, so
as to allow the ink to flow from the reservoir a past its sides, so far as regards
the tube, but the conical point fitting completely into the top of the tube g,
the said plug is capable of stopping the flow, or of gradually increasing it to its
greatest extent, by the said conical point being made to advance to or recede
from the top of the said tube g. This conical plug is made to advance to or
recede from the top of the tube 9 in the following manner :-A tube h, threaded
on the inside with a screw to correspond with the screw on the outside of the
tube e, is soldered to the top of the tube g. The upper end of this tube h has a
collet or ring soldered round it at i. The tube a has a collar; soldered or
screwed to the lower end thereof, the end of which overlaps the collet or ring i
upon the tube h, can turn therein, but cannot ascend or descend further than
will be allowed by the collect or rimi and the shoulder of the tube e. Thus,
it will be seen that by turning with the finger and thumb the lower part of the
penholder, consisting of the tubes g and h, the plug f may be made to advance
or recede from the top of the tube g, and a greater or less passage for the flow
of ink allowed, according to the desire of the writer. The action of the screw,
however, being confined between the two extremes, as herein-before described,
by the rim or collet i, the collar j, and the shoulder of the tube e. To allow the
ink to pass out at the point of the penholder air must be admitted at the
top of the hole k, which is covered by a collar on the outside, packed with
leather, cork, or other suitable material, to render it air-tight. The air is
admitted to or shut out from the interior of the penholder by the sliding of
this packed collar off or on the hole k. The range of action of this collar is
kept within its proper limits by rims attached to the outside of the tube a.
When this penholder is not in use, the hole k should be closed to prevent the
flow of ink as well as the plug 9 screwed down. When it is desired to carry
this penholder in the pocket full of ink to prevent the upper tube 6 from
being pressed into the lower tube a, the inside of the top end of the tube a,
and the outside of the lower end of the tube b, are threaded with screws, so
that when the holder has been filled with the piston c being drawn up, two
or three turns will fix it in that position, where it may remain until it is again
required to be filled with ink. There is a collet of the depth of two or three.
threads of the screw on the inside of the tube a, to prevent the scrows being
worn by the sliding up and down of the tube b. In either of these two first-
mentioned fountain penholders, upon momentary or occasioned stoppages, the
flow of ink may be stopped by turning the hand so as to hold the pen in
a-horizontal or nearly horizontal position, taking care to keep the vent hole
upwards, which should be on the left-hand side. of the pen. A flat piece of

page_text: metal or other material may be fastened on the contrary side of the pen to
iusure this upward position of the vent hole on laying the pen down.
Figure 6 shows the upper part of a fountain penholder, which may be
filled with ink or other writing fluid by its being poured in at its somewhat
funnel-shaped top, the head e being screwed off. There is an air hole at m,
which may be opened or closed by screwing up or down the head l. Tho
lower part of the penholder is the same as herein-before described of
Figure 8.
Figure 7 shews a fountain penholder of another construction, and which
can only be properly filled or charged with ink or writing fluid by means of
the apparatus herein-after described. u is the tube forming the body of the
penholder. A smaller tube o (shewn separately at Figure 8), having a
bottom and a division p, is placed inside the tube u, and soldered in the
position shewn in the Drawing. A somewhat similar tube r, having a top s
and division & in it, is soldered to the lower part of the said tube u. Along
the inside of one side of the body of the penholder or tube u is soldered or
fastened a small tube u, u, a small portion of the inner side of which is bent
out (so as to shut off the communication of the ink from the finger), at the
lower end, to the outside of the tube u, and soldered thereto air-tight, as also
to the divisions p, q, and s, t, through which it passes. The divisions q and t
in the tube u have holes drilled through their centres, forming sockets into
which the conical plugs u, v, upon the bent rod or wire w, w, fit exactly, the
pieces pands act only as guides to keep centrical the action of the rod w and
valves v, v, the lower ones having its sides cut away to allow free passage to
the ink, as shewn in plan in Figure 9, one leg of the rod or wire w, u',
having the conical plugs v, v, upon it, passes up through the centre of the
tube to contain the ink n, and the other leg passes down through the small
tube u, u, and comes out at a short slot in the side of the tube u, having tho
finger knob & attached to its end. The purpose of the small inner tube u, u,
and bent rod w, w, is to exclude the ink from all the moveable joints, and to
prevent ink coming to the finger in using the penholder. There is a hole
at y to admit air to the inside of the tubo u. A separate view of the double
rod w, w, plugs v, t, and tube w, u, is given at Figure 10.
Figures 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16 are the parts of which the lower portion of
the pen consists, shewn separately. Upon the small tube 1, Figure 13,
from which the ink flows immediately on to the pen, is soldered the piece,
Figure 16, which is a bit of small tubing with a portion of one side cut away,
so as just to leave room enough for the wedge-formed tail of the pen to be
inserted, above which is fastened the tube 2, with the outside threaded with

page_text: a screw, and slit up, as shewn in the Drawing. Thus a receptacle is left for
the pen (which I recommend to be very small, and of the form shewn in
Figure 15,) to be placed into and between the tubes 1 and 2, where it is
held by the spring formed by the slitting of the tube 2, and the top of the
pen being wedge-shaped, and correspond to the part taken off the tubing,
Figure 16, as aforesaid. The top of the tube 2 is soldered into the bottom
of tube, Figure 12, and the tube, Figure 12, is soldered into the tube r,-
Figure 11, which is soldered to the tube or body of the penholder u, as before
mentioned. The tube, Figure 12, has a portion cut out of its side to allow.
a place for the reception of the small tube u, u, to which it is soldered, as well.
as to the bottom. 8 is a cover to protect the point of the pen when not in
use. At the top of the holder a reserve, as shewn, for containing pens, shewn
in plan, Figure 14. The action of this fountain penholder is as follows:-
The holder having been filled with ink, as will be hereafter directed, when it is-
desired that the ink should flow, the knob or rosette a should be pushed down..
wards by the middle finger (which in the ordinary method of holding pens.
for writing just comes to that point of the holder), this will simultaneously open
the lower plug v, to allow the ink to pass, and the upper plug v, to admit the
air, which enters through the hole y into the tube or body of the holder u.:
The action of the finger knob or rosette is limited by the collar = being
screwed up or down between the extremes of being close and at full flow, so
that the supply of ink can be regulated to a nicity to suit the pleasure of the
writer. In the various Figures of penholders the apertures at the points of.
the tubes, through which the ink issues immediately to the pen, are all shewn
as being on one side of the said tubes, but they may be also at the ends of
such tube points, in which case I make use of the cover, shewn at Figure 17,
having a rod or stalk fixed in the centre. After the ink has been shaken out
of the point of the pen this stalk is pushed up the point tube of the penholder.
(to prevent the tube from being clogged with ink), and the cover screwed on.
Wherever there are screws used as moveable joints subject to friction and the
action of the ink they should be smeared or covered with bees'-wax, the metal
being made warm, which will produce a completely air-tight joint.
".
And I declare that what I claim as to the second part of my improvements:
is the regulating the flow of ink or other fluid from fountain penholders of the
descriptions herein-before set forth, or of any other analagous description, by
means of a conical plug or plugs being made to advance or recede from its,
socket or sockets, so as to leave a smaller or larger space for the ink to flow
through in connection with or separate from a simultaneous admission of air.
to the interior or reservoir of the holders.
:

page_text: And, lastly, as regards my apparatus for holding ink or other fluid for
writing, and for filling or charging my lastly herein-before described pen
with ink or other writing fluid, I declare that it consists of a cylindrical
vessel A, A, (shewn in section in Figure 17, and in elevation Figure 18,
having screwed on to it a top B, with the shoulder or projection C on one
side thereof. Through this top B is inserted the piston rod or screw D,
which turns freely against a collet fixed upon the said screw in the said top
by means of the head E, fixed to the rod by the screw S, which bead is pro-
vided with a milled edge. (This head should be conveniently large, so as
to allow a sufficient grasp for the hand, and may be mado a box for wafers or
other like articles, as represented in the Figures). The piston rod D is tapped
with a left-hand screw from top to bottom. F is a piston packed with cork,
leather, or by other suitable means, so as to fit tightly within the cylindrical
vessel A, which piston has a hole in the centre tapped with a female screw
corresponding with the left-hand screw on the piston rod D, on which rod the
said piston works. By turning the screw in the usual way from left to right
by means of the milled head E, the piston will descend (the packing being
sufficiently tight to prevent its turning in the cylinder), and if the screw be
turned in the contrary direction the piston will ascend. The cylindrical vessel
A is inserted into a bottom G, H, with a projecting part or shoulder I, which
is placed immediately under the projecting part or shoulder C, at the top of
the said vessel. The projecting piece I has a socket drilled out in it K, K,
through the bottom of which works the tube valve L; the tube L has fixed at
the top a small cap piece M, which contains a piece of leather or otlier
suitable packing material N; at the lower end of this tube are holes or
apertures O on each side, and at the end is a hard soldered button pieco P,
conically formed so as to close the hole in the bottom of the socket K, K, when
placed against the under side of such hole. The tube L has a small spiral
spring Q coiled round it, which presses between the bottom of the small cup
M and the bottom of the socket K, K, and consequently keeps the tube up in
the piston, shown in the Drawings. A piece of cork, leather, or other material,
for the purpose of packing should be placed at the bottom of the socket K, and
upon which the spiral spring should press. There is a free communication or
channel for the ink to flow from the cylinder into the arm I under L, as shewn
in the Drawing. R is an air vent or hole in the top of the cylinder. The
operation of this apparatus for filling or charging my fountain penholder is as
follows:-The top of the cylinder A being taken off, and with it the piston and
piston rod, and the cylinder A filled with ink, the piston F being screwed up
to the top of the rod D, the top B, with the piston and rod, should be screwed

page_text: on to the cylinder, taking care that the projection C is made to come imme-
diately over the projection I; the apparatus is now filled and ready for use.
The manner of filling my improved penholder herein-before described is as
follows: Place the point of the penholder through the hole in the centre of
the piece of leather or other packing N, press it down, and by placing the
head of the penholder under the projection C it will be retained in its position,
as shewn in Figure 18. The pressing down of the pen on the cup M causes
the tube L to descend, and the holes or apertures O therein to descend into
the ink in the channel in I. The milled head E then being turned from right
to left, the ink will be forced out of the cylinder, and through the holes or
apertures O, up the tube L, and through the aperture in the point into the
penholder, when the penholder is filled. On its being removed, the spiral
spring Qwill close the valve tube L, by making it spring up to its original
position. Care should be taken not to overfill the penholder with ink, so
as to go through the air vent. The utmost height of ink I recommend is
shewn in Figure 7. After the pen is withdrawn, it would be advisable to
return the piston back about one thread, whilst the tube valve L is pressed
down, leaving the hole uncovered in order to withdraw the small portion of ink
contained therein.
The extreme point of the lower projection I contains a small cup or socket,
in which the point of the pen may be placed, its upper end being leant against
the upper shoulder C when not in use, as shewn by red lines in Figure 18.
For this purpose the upper shoulder is made of the form shewn in plan,
Figure 20.
Having now fully described the nature of my said Invention of certain
improvements in instruments used in writing, and having declared what I
claim as new, and of my Invention, with regard to each respective improve-
ment separately; I further declare that I do not claim any of the parts of
which my respective improvements are formed, otherwise than as combined for
the purposes thereof. And I further declare that I do not confine myself to
any kind or description of metal, or alloy of metal, but that gold, silver,
platina, rhodium, or other suitable description of metal may be used. And I
further declare that I do not confine myself to the precise description or
method of joining the various parts together, whether by screwing, soldering,
or otherwise, but that any suitable means may be used.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Edwards, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this. Eleventh day of July, One thousand eight hundred
JOHN (L.s.) EDWARDS.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eleventh day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1838, the aforesaid John Edwards came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-eight.