An Improved Apparatus for Damping Envelopes and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Damping Envelopes and the like.
A communication to me from abroad by ALFRED STELZNER, of Wiesbaden, in the
Empire of Germany.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The ordinary custom of licking envelopes with the tongue for the purpose of
damping the gum or adhesive matter upon them is not only unpleasant but is often
injurious to health. The object of the present invention is to provide means by which
this unwholesome practice and its consequences are avoided.
The improved damping apparatus is composed of a rectangular shallow tin box into
which a piece of felt, cloth or the like is fitted, and of another box or cover fitting
exactly over the first box.
This upper box or cover has an angular slit or opening through it corresponding
with the shape of the edge of the three cornered flap of the envelope, and two square
openings of about the size of postage stamps and two knobs serving as handles.
Before using the apparatus the felt pad must be placed in water until it is quite
soft. Afterwards it is only necessary to add a little water from time to time according
to requirement, to maintain the necessary degree of moisture, in order that the
gummed parts of envelopes, wrappers and the like may be sufficiently moistened by
coming in contact with it.
In order to place a letter or other written matter in its envelope the writer
ordinarily lays the latter with the address downwards upon the table or blotting book,
and then raises the three cornered gummed flap so as to enable him to insert the
document.
This done the improved damping apparatus is used by taking hold of its two knobs
with the thumb and middle finger of the left hand and placing the apparatus upon the
open part of the envelope in such a manner that the front and side edges of both
apparatus and envelope coincide.
The three cornered gummed flap is then folded over the apparatus with the right
hand, the lower corner being at the same time kept tightly pressed down upon the
moistened felt with the fore finger of the left hand, drawing a finger of the right
band along the outside edges until they become moistened; and finally letting loose
the flap, which is now moistened, the apparatus is then removed, whilst the envelope
is closed by sticking the flap down.
The dimensions of the apparatus vary according to the size of the envelopes, and
it can be made in all sizes.
In a slightly modified form the apparatus is composed of a shallow box with a felt
pad as before and an upper box or lid the edges of which fit so tightly upon the
lower box that no other fastening is required.
Two knobs serving as handles are fixed upon the top of the upper box or cover,
which latter has a triangular space cut out so that the felt is there left entirely free,
thus rendering it possible to moisten wrappers, postage stamps and envelopes of all
sizes. With a little practice on the part of the user, the elasticity of the bulging
paper will prevent any other part of the flap being moistened except the edges over
which the finger is drawn.
The exterior embellishments of the apparatus may be varied according to its price.

page_text: It may be simply varnished, bronzed or decorated with paintings in gold and in
order to protect the inside of the boxes from rust, it should be coated with some
suitable preservative.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Damping Envelopes and the like.
A communication to me from abroad by ALFRED STELZNER, of Wiesbaden, in the
Empire of Germany.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
The ordinary custom of licking envelopes with the tongue for the purpose of
damping the gum or other alhesive matter upon them is not only unpleasant but is
often injurious to health. By the use of the present invention, this unwholesome
practice and all its consequences are avoided, for every writer can employ the invention
very simply and quickly, its characteristic principle consisting in the method of placing
it between the flap and the pocket of the envelope whilst using it for the purpose of
damping the gum.
In order to place a letter or other written matter in its envelope the writer is
necessarily obliged to lay the latter with the address downwards upon the table, or
blotting book and then to lift up the three cornered gummed flap so as to enable him
to push in the document. This having been done in the usual way the improved
apparatus is put into use by taking hold of its two knobs with the thumb and middle
finger of the left hand and placing the apparatus upon the open part of the envelope
in such a manner that the front and side edges of both apparatus and envelope
coincide.
The three cornered gummed flap is then folded over the apparatus with the right
hand, at the same time keeping the lower corner tightly pressed down upon the
moistened spot with the forefinger of the left hand, drawing a finger of the right
hand along the outside edges of the flap so that the inner and gummed edges become
moistened, finally letting loose the flap, which springs up immediately by the elasticity
of the paper, the apparatus being then removed and the envelope closed by sticking
the flap to the pocket.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of the invention,-
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus,
Figure 2 is a plan,
Figures 3 and 4 are a plan and section of a modified form of the apparatus,
Figure 5 is a perspective view shewing the method of using it.
The apparatus is composed of a rectangular shallow tin box A, into which a piece
of felt, cloth or the like B is fitted and of another box or cover C fitting exactly over
the box A.
The upper box C has an angular slit or opening D corresponding with the shape of
the edge of the three cornered flap of the envelope, and two square spaces Ę corre-
sponding with the size of the postage stamps, and two knobs serving as handles,
and when taken sideways with two fingers of the left hand, allowing the end of the
flap to be held down with the fore-finger of the same hand as shewn in Figure 5.
The dimensions of the apparatus will vary with the size of the envelopes.
The modification represented in Figures 3 and 4 is likewise composed of a box A

page_text: with a felt pad B and of an upper box C, the edges of which fit so tightly on the lower
box that no other fastening is required.
.
The two knobs F serving as handles are arranged upon the top of the upper box,
which has a triangular space G cut out so that the felt is left entirely free, thus
rendering it possible to moisten wrappers, postage stamps, and envelopes of all sizes.
With a little practice on the part of the writer, the elasticity of the bulging paper
will prevent any other part of the flap being moistened except the edges over which
the finger is drawn.
Before using the apparatus the felt pad B must be placed in water until it is quite
soft. Afterwards it is only necessary to add a little water from time to time according
to requirement, to maintain the necessary degree of moisture, in order that the gummed
parts of envelopes, wrappers, etc. may be sufficiently moistened by coming in contact
with it.
The exterior embellishments of the apparatus may be varied in accordance with its
price. It may be simply varnished, bronzed, or ornamented, with paintings in gold,
and in order to protect the inside of the boxes from rust, it may be coated with a
suitable preservative.
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 :-
The apparatus composed of a box A fitted with a felt pad B or the like, and of an
upper box fitting closely upon the lower box and provided with triangular
openings D or G, square openings E, and knobs or handles F, all for the purpose of
moistening the gummed parts of envelopes, wrappers, etc. in a very quick and
convenient manner, substantially as described and shewn in the drawing.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1890.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, ('hancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.