As IMPROVED FOUNTAIN PEN
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Goodman, of Hazel Grove, in the
County of Chester, Doctor of Medicine, for the Invention of "As
IMPROVED FOUNTAIN PEN."
Sealed tho 19th March 1858, and dated the 19th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Goodman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th October 1852.
J, JOHN GOODMAN, of Hazel Grove, in the County of Chester,
Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for ""AN IMPROVED FOUNTAIN PEN" to be as follows:-
The body of this pen is a metallic bored (or otherwise hollow)
cylinder, within which is fitted an ordinary piston which works from end
to end of the cylinder. Through the entire centre of the cylinder is
affixed a metallic screw, which is received by a tapped orifice in the
piston, and by its simple revolution causes the latter to move forward!
and backward in the cylinder, and to exhaust or force out the contained
fluid from its extremity. There is no need of grooves in the bore of the
cylinder or any other contrivance to preserve the piston from rotation.
In order to preserve the piston water tight the screw passes through a

page_text: stuffing box at one end of the cylinder. This central screw is firmly
secured either to the seal head at top of cylinder, or to a revolving rod
(which perforates a collar of leathers or stuffing box at the lower
extremity of the cylinder) by being screwed into a tapped orifice in its
interior; and to prevent the screw turning, except with the rod, a small
cap (which is perforated with several small holes) fits closely upon the
screw, which is here filed square or only on one side so as to produce a
flattened surface; the cap then fits upon the squared end of the rod, and
a little metallic "nut" is screwed up to the cap, and retains the wholc.
At the exterior this rod forms a thick shoulder or drum by which the
central screw is made to revolve The squared or flattened side of the
central screw serves also to form a channel or channels in the interior
of the rod for the flowing of the contained fluid. It will be observed
that when the central screw is turned by the seal head the latter con-
trivances are not needed. The orifice described passes nearly to its
extreme end, where it escapes laterally by a small hole into an enclosed
cavity formed by a cylinder which screws about three quarters of an
inch upon the end of the-rod, having its extremity closed, with the
exception of a small orifice that leads to a small bent tube and supplies
the pen with ink. This screw of the rol is slightly hollowed round its
circumference and wrapped with packing material, which. when the
cylinder is screwed upon it, completely arrests the flow of ink in that
direction, and when the small orifice at the end of the cylinder is
screwed up so as to come in contact with the extremity of the rod, the
latter formis with it a stop valve, closes the orifice, and prevents waste
both by concussion and evaporation of the contained liquid, and by this
means when out of use the ink is preserved as effectually as if contained
in a well corked phial. With this construction this fountain pen pos-
sesses all the advantages of a metallic screw to force and regulate the
supply of ink without any increased length of holder or unsightly
appearance of the screw; in fact, all the facilities and dimensions of an
ordinary pencil case.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Goodman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN GOODMAN, of Tlazel Grove, in the County of Chester, Docto
of Medicine, send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of fer reign, did, for Ilerself, Ifer heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto the said John Goodman, Пer special
license that 1, the said John Goodman, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Goodınan, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agice 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
"AN IMPROVED FOUNTAIN PEN," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, tho said John Goodman, by an instrument ju writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the naturo
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 John Goodman, 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 Invention of an improved fountain pen relates to a portable pen
or pen-holder which may be conveniently carried in the pocket or other
suitable place, and is capable of containing a copious supply of ink or
other fluid, the flow of which can readily be increased, diminished, or
stopped altogether instantaneously when required. The construction of

page_text: my improved fountain pen is as follows:-The body of the pen is formed
of a hollow metallic cylinder perfectly true or parallel throughout its
entire length. In this cylinder is fitted a piston suitably packed, and
capable of moving from end to end of the cylinder. A central screw
extending the entire length of the cylinder passes through a tapped
orifice in the centre of the piston. The upper end of the screw is
secured to a thimble or ferrule, which, revolving in or upon the upper
end of the cylinder, keeps that end of the screw always central. The
lower end of the screw is firmly screwed into a revolving tube, which is
'suitably packed, and passes out through the lower end of the cylinder.
In order to compel the screw to turn with the tube, and to maintain'
-the screw and tube in their respective places, the lower end of the
screw and the upper end of the tube are squared or flattened, and a
small cap uniting the two is fitted thereon and secured by a nut. The
said revolving tube is furnished at or near its centre with a boss, the
edge or periphery of which is milled or otherwise roughened in order to
facilitate its being turned by hand. The lower end of the tube (which
-is chase with a left hand scrow is also suitably packed and screwed
into a small cylinder, at the lower end of which is au orifice leading to a
small bent tube which supplies the pen with ink. The lower end of the
revolving tube is formed solid (the orifice for the ink being at the side)
and nearly touches the bottom of the small cylinder, so that when the
-cylinder is screwed up or down in the slightest degree by incans of a
milled boss, the end of the tube closes or opens the orifice of the small
bent tube, and thus regulates the flow of ink or other fluid to the pen.
The practical construction and mechanical details of my improved
ffountain pen will be readily understood upon referring to the Drawing
accompanying these presents and the following explanation thereof:-
The said Drawing is a section of the pen, and is made double the actual
size of the same for the more perfect illustration thereof.
a, a, is the
cylinder or reservoir for containing the supply of ink or other fluid;
b, b, is the piston, which is packed both inside and outside, and through
a tapped orifice, in the centre of which the screw c, c, passes. The
upper end of the screw is attached to a thimble or ferrule d, d, which is
fitted into the upper end of the cylinder a, a, and thus keeps that end

page_text: of the screw central. The lower end of the screw is squared and
screwed into the revolving tube c, e. The small cap f, f, unites the
squared end of the screw and the squared end of the tube (thus com-
pelling them to turn together), and is secured by the nut g. It will be
seen that there are diagonal holes or openings drilled in a lateral
direction through the cap and the tube, forming a communication for the
flow of ink or other fluid from the cylinder to the interior of the tube.
h, h, is the milled boss, by means of which the tube e, e, may be turned;
i, i, is a small cylinder, which is attached by means of a left hand screw
to the lower end of the tube c, c, and is also furnished with a milled
hoss for the convenience of turning. The lower end of the cylinder
i, i, is provided with a small tube h, k, for supplying the ink to the pen.
and also with either a fixed metallic pen or a socket for holding metallic
or quill nibs. The cap or:ferrule 1, 1, (which is also provided with
a scal or stamp) is to be withdrawn and placed upon the other end of
the pen when carried in tho pocket, or otherwise not in use. The
method of using the pin is as follows:-First, to charge the cylinder
with ink or other fluid, remove the caps 1, 1, and d, d, and by means
of the boss h, h, screw the piston on to the upper extremity of the
screw and fill the cylinder with ink or other fluid. I would here remark
that owing to the greater amount of friction upon the outside of the
piston than upon the inside thereof the piston will have no tendency
to turn with the screw, and therefore no groove or other contrivance
to prevent its revolving is necessary. The pen being charged with ink
or other fluid, and in the position shewn in the Drawing, is ready for usc.
As the supply of ink or other fluid becomes deficient, the screw must
be turned to the right, which will bring down the piston and furnish a
fresh supply; when it is desired to stop the flow of ink or other fluid,
the small cylinder i, i, must be turned to the left, which will have the
desired effect by closing the upper orifice of the small bent tube k, k.
The cylinder i, i, is connected to the tube e, c, by a pin and slot, in such
a manner as only to allow of its turning upon the said tube to the
right a sufficient distance to open the said orifice, so that upon still
turning it in the same direction it will turn the screw and bring down
a fresh supply of ink or other fluid.

page_text: Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention of
an improved fountain pen, together with the manner of carrying the
same into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that 1 claim
as my Invention the general construction and arrangement of the
several parts as above described, and exhibited in the Drawing; more
especially the revolving screw, working through the tapped orifice in the
centre of the piston, for regulating the supply of ink or other fluid.
In witness whercof, T, the said John Goodman, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOHN GOODMAN. (L.B.)