Improvements in and in connection with Letters or Symbols for Signs.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., :1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Letters or Symbols for
Signs.
We PHILIP JOHN WEEKES of No. 41 Elizabeth Street, Sydney in the Colony
of New South Wales Sign and Glass Writer, Painter, and Art Decorator and
HENRY GEORGE DOWNTON of Croydon near Sydney in the said colony Brick
Manufacturer 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved fastening or attachment and letter or
symbol for signs and it has been devised in order that symbols or letters as signs
or for signs may be erected with apparently no support outside themselves but at
the same time they will be firmly supported and so that a letter or symbol will
have the appearance of comparative thickness and weight although it is in itself
very light.
According to this invention a strong plate or bar is soldered or otherwise
fastened to the letter or symbol (which it supports) and it extends backwardly
preferably at right angles though it may be at other angles to the said letter or
symbol so as to form a foot which may be fastened or screwed upon the base or
support of the sign and this foot preferably is bent so as to embrace part of the
base or support. The letter or symbol is made of thin metal, say tin or
galvanised iron the shape of said letters being blocked or pressed or hammered
out so that it will have sides formed integral with the front thus being in one
piece with no fastening together of pieces or parts though of course at
corners and turnings of the letter the joints for the sake of neatness may be
soldered.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now be
made to the drawing herewith in which Figure 1 shows the letter or symbol "H"
in front view while Figure 2 shows the letter or symbol "I" in back view. The
front A and the edges or sides A¹ of the letter are blocked or pressed or hammered
from the one piece of metal the corners A2 where cut if necessary or desirable
being soldered. These letters stand upon a base or-board B and are fastened
thereto by means of bars C held by straps C¹ soldered to the inner face or back
of the front of the letter. The bar C has base or flange C2 and may have a
turn or catch piece C3 and through said base catch piece screws are passed to
fasten them and thereby the bar C and the letter or symbol to the base B.
For angle and curved letters the bar C follows the configuration of the letters
and is fastened by soldered straps C¹ to the interior face of said letters in the same
manner as shown in the figures in the drawing.
We have shown and prefer the hollow metal letters or symbols though they
might be made solid of other material in which case the bar C would be fastened
by straps C soldered or screwed or otherwise fastened to the backs of the letter
or symbol. The bar C is made of a strength sufficient to support the letter or
symbol to which it is attached in the required position under all ordinary
circumstances.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. Improved fastening or attachment for letters or symbols for signs con-
sisting of a strong plate or bar soldered or fastened within the interior of hollow
or at the back of solid letters or symbols and having a base or foot adapted to be
affixed to the base or support of the sign substantially as herein described and
explained.
Second. Improved letter or symbol for signs consisting of a hollow metal shape,
(with more or less deep sides or edges) blocked or pressed or hammered out of one
piece and having a strong plate or bar affixed to its inside with a foot for attachment
to a base or support substantially as herein described and explained.
Third. Improved fastening or attachment and letter or symbol for signs con-
sisting of hollow letters such as A having sides or edges such as A¹ bar or plate
such as C following the contour of the letter or sign and affixed to its interior face
and foot or base such as C2 substantially as herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the drawing.
Dated this Sixteenth day of June One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-six.
PHILIP J. WEEKES.
H. G. DOWNTON.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants..