A New or Improved Blotting Appliance.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1893
A New or Improved Blotting Appliance.
I, FRIEDRICH OTTO TROMMER of Mittelriehe, Eisleben, in the German
Empire, Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to ink blotting appliances the blotting paper usually
in use being substituted by plaster of paris. Blotting appliances so formed have
many advantages over those constructed with paper, as it is not necessary
to cover them with paper which requires stripping off as the sheets become
impregnated.
The plaster of paris owing to its porosity has the property of easily absorbing
the ink and is thus particularly adapted for blotting purposes as there is no
fear of the writing smearing as is often the case when blotting paper is used.
When the whole extent of the blotting surface is covered and impregnated with
ink, and the blotter requires to be cleaned, its upper surface is lightly scraped off
with a blunt instrument, a simple manipulation requiring but little time, after
which the instrument is again ready for use.
The blotter therefore has the advantage of easily and quickly absorbing the ink
whilst at the same time being always ready for use.
The accompanying drawings illustrate modifications of the forms in which the
improved blotting appliance may be constructed. One form consists of a simple
body of plaster of paris with an attached knob or handle or as shewn in Figure 1
the handle g may be secured to a metallic plate m which forms a back for the
plaster of paris.
In the second modification illustrated in elevation and cross section respectively
by Figures 2 and 3 the handle g is secured directly to the plaster body.
To prevent the plaster losing its form through repeated irregular scraping
or cleaning small metal plates have been arranged on both sides of the blotter
to serve as guides and to prevent an uneven scraping whereby edges or corners
would be caused.
The wooden or other handle or knob g is fixed to the blotter by means of a
screws cast into the plaster body and firmly held by a small iron plate p.
The blotting surface is curved rather more suddenly than is the case in the
ordinary blotters, this modification having proved the most satisfactory and
suitable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. An ink blotting appliance constructed of plaster of paris substantially as
herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. A plaster of paris ink blotting appliance having a handle attached and
secured to it substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a plaster of paris ink blotting appliance of guiding

page_text: edge plates substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of March A.D. 1893.
Per pro WM. E. HEYS,
Geo. Heys,
Agent for the Applicant.