Year: 1886

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from
Paul Joseph Schlicht, residing at Rochester, in the County of Munroe, and State
of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer) and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:―
This invention relates to certain improvements in Indexes, which improvements
are fully described in the accompanying specification and drawings and the novel
features thereof specified in the claims.
This improved index-system is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure 1 represents a portion of this improved index-table as arranged for 25,000
and 50,000 names;
Figure 2 represents the same for 125,000 and 250,000 names.
Figure 3 represents the same for 1,000,000 names.
Figure 4 represents the pages of the name-book.
In carrying this invention into practical use I will first describe this improved
index-table, and the mode of operating the same for 25,000 names or any less
number. I construct a table, a portion of which is shown in Figure 1, and which
table consists of two series of intersecting or crossing columns, one of which is
headed with the letters of the alphabet, (either singly or in subdivisions of two
or more letters), this series of columns in the example shown being placed
vertically, and the other, which is arranged horizontally in this example,
being headed with the letters of the alphabet arranged in their alphabetical order
in twos or threes, so that reference can easily be made to them. Thus, under the
letter A for the above-mentioned number of names or less, I have found it
convenient to provide eight columns, which are headed respectively first, Aa, Ab,
Ac; second, Ad, Ae, Af, Ag; third, Ab, Ai, Aj, Ak; fourth, Al, Am; fifth, An,
Ao, Ap, Aq; sixth, Ar; seventh As, At, Au, Av; eighth Aw, Ax, Ay, Az. At the
points where the two series of columns cross each other are given a series of
Price 11/1

page_text: numbers which indicate the pages in the name-book. In the illustration given in
Figure 1, the vertical columns headed with the letters of the alphabet in their
proper order, refer to given names, while the horizontal columns refer to surnames.
Thus suppose it be required to find the page in the name-book on which the name
Frank Atwater occurs; the searcher refers to the vertical column headed F, the
first letter of the given name, opposite At, the first two letters of the surname in
question, and finds the number 16 at the point where the two columns intersect,
which is the page of the name-book on which the above name is entered. Further
reference may be made to the particular section on the said page on which the
required name is to be found, by the section number 8, which indicates the section
or sub-division of the page containing the names. For the names of corporations
and firms, I use the first and second essential parts, as illustrated in the following
examples: thus Bank of Commerce is found where the horizontal column Ban
crosses the vertical column C, page 21, section 1: Bancroft and Co. under Ban-C,
page 21, section 1; Sibley, Lindsay and Co. under Si-L, pape 508, section 1;
Albany and Susquehanna Railroad Co., under Al-S, page 8, section 1; Alpena
Mining Company, page 7, section 8.
In Figure 1, the subdivisions are given of the first letters of the surnames down
to Bj, for the above-mentioned total number of names; for the balance of the table.
the constructor can use as many or few subdivisions as his judgment may dictate ;-
the following example, which has been used in practice, serving as a guide: Thus,
besides the thirteen horizontal columns given under B in Figure 1, fifteen more
are employed which are headed respectively, B1; Boa, Bob, Boc, Bod, Boe, Bof,
Bog, Bob, Boi, Boj; Bok, Bol, Bom, Bon, Boo, Bop, Boq, Bor, Bos, Bot, Bou, Bov,
Bow, Box, Boy, Boz, Bra, Brc, Bre, Bri, Bro, Bru, Bry, Brz, Bs Bua, Bub, Buc, Bud,
Bue, Buf, Bug, Buh, Bui, Buj, Buk, Bul, Bumn, Bun, Buo, Bup, Buq, Bur, Bus, But,
Buv, Buw, Bux, Buy, Buz, By; Bz.
In further illustration the letter C is subdivided into nineteen columns, headed
as follows:
Caa, Cab, Cac, Cad, Cae, Caf, Cag, Cah, Cai, Caj, Cak, Cal, Cam, Can, Cao, Cap,
Caq, Car, Cas, Cat, Cau, Cav, Caw Cax, Cay, Caz, Cc, Ce, Cha, Che, Chi, Chl, Chm,
Cho, Chr, Chu, Chy, Ci, Cl, Cn, Coa, Cob, Coc, Cod, Coe, Cof, Cog,Coh, Coi, Coj,
Cok, Col, Com, Con, Coo, Cop, Coq, Cor, Cos, Cot, Cou, Cov, Cow, Cox, Coy, Coz,
Cr, Cs, Cu, Cw, Cy, Cz.
This improved index table is arranged with suitable subdivisions more or less
numerous, under each letter of the alphabet, as above indicated, and it may be
written or printed on one or more sheets of paper, and used separate from or bound
in with the name-book or books to which reference is to be made. The index
table may also be made with the vertical columns arranged to indicate the
surnames, if preferred.
In Figure 2, which represents a portion of this improved index-table as arranged
by me for 125,000 and 250,000 names, the subdivisions of the first letters of the
surnames are made more numerous, and the section-numbers on the pages of the
name-book may be omitted.
The manner of indexing is so simple that no directions, beyond a few examples,
are necessary. To find page on which to index Edward Adams, look in the
column E (first letter of given name), opposite Ad (first letters of surname),
page 13. To find page for Charles Banning, Charles Banning and Co., or Daniel
Bancroft, look in column C D, Ban, page 158. In a firm or corporate name,
having no given name, the second capitalized part determines subdivision same as
given name. Thus it will be readily seen, that on the same page with Charles
Banning should be indexed such names as the following: Banning and Co., Banning
and Campbell, Bancroft, Cole and Co., Bank of Commerce.
In Figure 3 the first part of this improved index-table is given as arranged
for 1,000,000 names and as used by the U.S. War Department. It will be
observed that the surname subdivisions are in this case very much increased in
number.

page_text: In preparing tables for use in particular localities it may be desirable to make
provision for the frequent occurrence of foreign names. Thus in Minnesota, where
there is a large Swedish population, surname divisions commencing with Bj, Ol,
and other letters would be used which are unusual in English. In adapting this
improved table to names in foreign languages also, corresponding changes would
require to be made.
It is obvious that the vertical columns may, if preferred, be used for the
surnames, and the horizontal columns for the given names.
The name-book may be a book giving references to another book or series of
books, or it may contain entries showing the history of the transaction with which
the party whose name appears therein was or is connected. Thus, suppose the
name-book to be a record of mortgages, it may contain an abstract of the instru-
ment in question, the names of the mortgagor and mortgagee, a description of the
property mortgaged and such other information as may be desired.
In a modified form of this improved index-table, the first vowels are used, or the
first consonant after the first vowels, or other distinguishing character, of the
given names to bead the vertical columns shown in the accompanying illustrations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1-An index-table having a series of columns headed by the first two or more
letters of surnames in divisions in the alphabetical order of succession, a series of
intersecting columns headed by the first letters of given names alphabetically.
arranged, and page indicating numbers at the points of intersection, in combination.
with a name-book paged to correspond with the index-table substantially as
described and shown: whereby the names being like initials are subdivided into
smaller groups to the end that the searcher may instantly select the particular
name required.
2: An index table having columns headed by the first two or more letters of
surnames in divisions in alphabetical order of succession, a series of intersecting
columns headed by an indicating letter of given names alphabetically arranged,
and page indicating numbers at the points of intersection in combination with a
name-book paged to correspond with the index-table and divided into sections in
the manner described and shown: whereby the names bearing like initials are sub-
divided into the smaller groups to the end that the searcher may instantly select
the particular name required.
3-An index table for compound names, that is to say, those composed of
Christian and surnames, having a column containing the first two or more letters
of one name, another column containing the first letter of the other name, and page
indicator numbers in line with both columns, substantially as described; whereby
names of the same initials are subdivided into different groups or classes according
to the letters following said initials.
.
5000