AN IMPROVED PRESS FOR COPYING LETTERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Silverthorne Hallam, of 31, Friday Street, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PRESS FOR COPYING
LETTERS." A communication from abroad by Jean Augusto Prosper Villard, of,
Lons le Saunier, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 20th September 1878, and dated the 22nd March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Silverthorne Hallam
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1878.
ARTHUR SILVERTHORNE HALLAM, of 31, Friday Street, in the City of London.
"AN IMPROVED, PRESS FOR COPYING LETTERS." A communication from abroad
by Jean Auguste Prosper Villard, of Lons le Saunier, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus for copying letters by,
means of a cylinder or roller press.
The press consists of two cylinders or rollers revolving on their axes, one being
placed above the other. The lower one revolves in fixed bearings, but the upper
one is capable of being raised or lowered as may be required by means of springs
and screws.
In using the press, I insert the end of the letter book in which the letters are to.
be copied (the same being of the ordinary description now in use) between the two
cylinders or rollers, and then pass the book between the rollers by revolving the
uppermost cylinder or roller, by means of a handle or thumbscrew placed at its
axis for this purpose, the necessary pressure requisite for copying the letters being
applied by means of the screws above referred to.
:

page_text: The advantages of this press are, the facility in copying without the necessity of
fixing its portability, the quickness with which it may be used, its simplicity in
construction, and its cheapness.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance, of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Arthur Silverthorne Hallam
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th October 1878.
ARTHUR SILVERTHORNE HALLAM, of 31, Friday Street, in the City of London.
"AN IMPROVED PRESS FOR COPYING LETTERS." (A communication from abroad
by Jean Auguste Prosper Villard, of Lons le Saunier, in the Republic of France.)
My Invention relates to an improved press for copying letters constructed with
revolving cylinders or rollers.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawing annexed are respectively front and side elevations
of my improved press.
In these Figures, (A) represents the stand holder or foundation plate, which may
be made of wood or other suitablo material. To this stand are attached the raised
standards (a) and (a'), which standards serve as supports or bearings for the
revolving cylinders or rollers (B) and (B').
These standards I construct of cast iron or other suitable metal or material. The
under roller or cylinder (B¹) revolves on its axis, (61) in fixed bearings in the
standards (a) and (a), but the upper roller (B) revolves on its axis (b) in movable
nuts or bearings (c) and (c'), which nuts or bearings are capable of being raised or
lowered in channels formed in the upper part of the standards (a) and (a¹) by
means of the regulating screws (D) and (D'), which screws work in holes bored and
tapped through the crowns of the standards (a) and (a¹).
The ends of the screws (D) and (D') outside the standards have cheese-shaped
heads milled, to enable them to be turned by the thumb and forefinger. In the
other ends of these screws are cut V shaped grooves, fitting into similar grooves cut
in the tops of the nuts or bearings (c) and (c¹), so that these nuts or bearings may
be raised or lowered by turning the screws (D) and (D¹).
To enable the roller (B) to be revolved, I fix to its axis (b) an ordinary winch
handle or cross handle (G), which may be turned by one hand. The rollers I con-
struct of hard wood, india-rubber, or some suitable material, and their axes, bearings,
or nuts, screws, and handles of metal.
A scale may be delineated on the framework, and an index fixed to the nuts at
each end of the roller (B), to enable the person using the press so to work the screws,
as to ensure an equal pressure at each end of the rollers.
.
In using the press, I insert the end or side of the letter book in which the letters
are to be copied (the same being of the ordinary description now in use) between

page_text: the two rollers, and apply the necessary pressure by means of the screws above
referred to, I then pass the book between the rollers by causing them to revolve by
means of the winch handle or cross handle (G) placed at its axis for this purpose.
When the screws (D) and (D') are once set for a book of any given thickness, it
is not necessary to set them again for each operation of the press.
I make the machine of a portable size, such as may be carried about in a hand
bag; I do not restrict myself to the exact relative proportions given in the
Drawings.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of using
the same, I would have it understood that what I claim and desire to be secured by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The construction and use of the roller press in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Silverthorne Hallam, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ARITHIID
CIT VEDITHARNE TATTAR
ADITH FID SIT VENDITUDORNE T
(2.5.)