IMPROVEMENTS IN SLATES FOR DRAWING AND WRITING, AND IN HOLDERS FOR COPIES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Conrey Shepherd, of Passaic, in the State of
New Jersey, United States of America, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS
IN SLATES FOR DRAWING AND WRITING, AND IN HOLDERS FOR COPIES."
Sealed the 20th September 1878, and dated the 23rd April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Conrey Shepherd
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd April 1878.
CHARLES CONREY SHEPHERD, of Passaic, in the State of New Jersey, United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLATES FOR DRAWING AND WRITING, AND
IN HOLDERS FOR COPIES."
The slate or artificial slate is made with a surface adapted to drawing or writing,
and the same is mounted in a frame that is preferably of wood. At one end of the
slate I provide a holder that is adapted to receive pieces of thick paper or paste-
board, upon which are the designs or writing that is to form the copy that the
pupil imitates in learning to write or draw. These copy slips are inserted edgewise
into the holder, and said holder is made as a frame of sheet metal strips, each bent
into a U form.
I prefer to hinge the holder at the edge next to the slate, so that the holder and
copy can be raised into an inclined position at the end of the drawing surface and
thereby be.convenient for the pupil.
The copy holder is of a size adapted to receive any desired number of these copy
slips, and they are changeable, so that either may be brought to the front. The
bolder with its copy slips when not in use is depressed into a box near the end of
the slate. This box may be of metal and provided with a swinging cover, or it may

page_text: be above the surface of the slate, near the end thereof. This box will usually be
of a size adapted to receive a ruler and pencils beneath the copy slips and their
holder.
A spring may be used for holding the copy holder in an elevated position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Charles Conrey Shepherd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
October 1878.
CHARLES CONREY SHEPHERD, of Passaic, in the State of New Jersey, United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLATES FOR DRAWING AND WRITING, AND
IN HOLDERS FOR COPIES."
The slate or artificial slate is made with a surface adapted to drawing or writing,
and the same is mounted in a frame that is preferably of wood. At one end of the
slate I provide a holder that is adapted to receive pieces of thick paper or paste-
board, upon which are the designs or writing that is to form the copy that the
pupil imitates in learning to write or draw. These copy slips are inserted edgewise
into the holder, and said holder is made as a frame of sheet metal, or of strips, each
bent into a U form.
I prefer to hinge the holder at the edge next to the slate, so that the holder and
copy can be raised into an inclined position at the end of the drawing surface, and
thereby be convenient for the pupil.
The copy holder is of a size adapted to receive any desired number of these copy
slips, and they are changable, so that either may be brought to the front. The
holder with its copy slips when not in use is depressed into a box near the end of the
slate. This box may be of metal and provided with a swinging cover, or it may be
above the surface of the slate, near the end thereof. This box will usually be
of a size adapted to receive a ruler and pencils beneath the copy slips and their
holder.
A spring may be used for holding the copy holder in an elevated position.
In the Drawing, Fig. 1 is a section of the slate from top to bottom; Fig. 2 is a
plan showing the surface of the slate; and Fig. 3 is a section of the copy slip
holder.
The slate a is either a natural slate, or a sheet of thick paper or other material
with a surface adapted to writing or drawing. The frame 6 is by preference of wood
and surrounds the slate. The slate and frame may be of any desired size.
The copy holder e is made of sheet metal, either in the form of an open frame
composed of U shaped strips, or of a sheet of metal, as shown in Fig. 3, with the
edges folded over to form grooves for the edges of the copy slips f. These slips are
pieces of thick paper with the letters, pictures, or designs that are to be copied upon
one or both surfaces. The frame is open at one edge so that the copy sheets can be
slipped out and the desired one brought to the front.

page_text: The copy holder c is pivoted ati to the side pieces g upon the slate frame. When
in position for use it is held in an inclined position by the spring 7, as shown by
dotted lines in Fig. 1. When depressed the copy holder is retained by the button o.
The space between the copy holder and slate forms a box for the reception of a
ruler k, pencil t, and rubber m.
I claim as my Invention, the combination with a writing or drawing slate and its
frame of a copy holder connected by pivots and adapted to being swung into an
inclined position when in use or depressed into a box, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Conrey Shepherd, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of October, A.D. 1878.
Witness,
J. P. ROSE,
204, West Houston St.,
New York.
WILLIAM G. MOTT,
76, Chambers St.,
New York.
CHAP. C. SHEPHERD. (LS)