AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE TAKING AND READING OF SHORT HAND AND OTHER REPORTS, NOTES, AND MEMORANDA.”
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Laidler, of South Stockton, in the County
of York, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, for the Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE TAKING AND
READING OF SHORT HAND AND OTHER REPORTS, NOTES, AND MEMORANDA.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Laidler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th May 1875.
I, JOSEPH LAIDLER, of South Stockton, in the County of York,
5 Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS POR FACILITATING THE
TAKING AND READING OF SHORT HAND AND OTHER REPORTS, NOTES, AND MEMO-
BANDA," to be as follows:-
According to this Invention two rollers of metal or other suitable
O substance, and each of which rollers has a slot formed or cut therein

page_text: B
lengthwise, are fixed parallel to each other in a cylindrical or other
suitably-shaped case of metal or other substance or substances adapted
for the purpose, and are provided at one or both ends with thumb or set
screws, by which they are capable of being rotated. In the top of the
case and above the two rollers two parallel slots or apertures of the same
or nearly the same length as those in the rollers are cut, leaving a portion
of the material of which the case is composed between them, so as to
form a platform for the paper to travel over, as herein-after mentioned.
The two ends of a strip of paper of any desired length are passed
through the two slots or apertures in the case and fixed into the slots in
the two rollers, one of which is then rotated by means of its thumbscrew
until the paper is nearly all wound thereon, the other roller then being
rotated sufficiently to securely fix the other end of the paper in the slot
thereof, and to draw the paper tight over the space between the two
slots or apertures in the case, thus forming an even surface to write
upon. .
The rollers are kept in position and caused to move steadily by means
of spiral or other springs, which are connected to the ends thereof, and
which springs aro boxed in to prevent them coming into contact with
the edges of the paper wound upon the rollers.
The case is provided with a lid or cover for the purpose of giving
access to the interior of the same, in order to fix the ends of the paper
into the slots in the rollers, and if desired a lid or cover may be placed
over the platform in order to keep the paper over the same clean when
not in use.
When it is desired to use the apparatus for the purpose of writing
reports or notes it is placed upon a table or other convenient surface or
held in the palm of the hand, with the paper over the platform upper-
most, and the empty or nearly empty roller above the other.
When the portion of paper exposed to view is all written upon the
thumbscrew of the upper roller is turned until another blank portion of
paper is presented, and so on until the whole length of paper is used,
when it can be removed, and a fresh length substituted therefor.
Instead of blank paper being inserted into the case paper with notes
or memoranda printed or written thereon may be so inserted, so as to be
readily and easily read whilst the apparatus is held in the hand.

page_text: In order to prevent the edges of the platform cutting the paper
passing over the same they may be rounded, or a small roller may be
placed at each edge for the paper to travel over.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Joseph
Laidler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
LAIDLER, of South Stockton, in the County of York, Member of the
Royal College of Surgeons, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Laidler, Her special licence
that I, the said Joseph Laidler, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Joseph Laidler, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS POR
FACILITATING THE TAKING AND READING OF SHORT HAND AND OTHER REPORTS,
NOTES, AND MEMORANDA," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Joseph Laidler, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office on or before the
Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord 1875.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Laidler, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
According to my Invention two rollers of metal or other suitable

page_text: material, and each of which rollers has a slot formed or cut therein
lengthwise, are fixed parallel to each other in a cylindrical or other
suitably shaped case of metal or other substance or substances adapted
for the purpose, and are provided at one or both ends with thumb or set
'screws, by which they are capable of being rotated. In the top of the 5
above-mentioned case two parallel slots or apertures of the same or
nearly the same length as those in the rollers are cut, leaving a portion
of the material of which the case is composed between them so as to
form a platform for the paper to travel over.
The two ends of a strip of paper of any desired length and suitable 1
width, and which may be either plain for writing upon or may have
notes or other matter printed or written thercon, aro passed through the
two slots or apertures in the case and fixed into the slots in the two
rollers, one of which is then rotated by means of the thumb or set
screw attached thereto until the paper is nearly all wound thereon, the 1
other roller then being turned sufficiently to secure the other end of
the paper in the slot thereof, and to draw the paper tightly over the
platform, thus forming an even surface to write upon.
In order to keep the paper in its place on the rollers, and to cause it
to wind evenly thereon, a small spring roller may be placed behind each 2
of the winding rollers, and which spring rollers are kept constantly
pressed upon the paper, the winding rollers themselves being kept in
position and caused to move steadily by means of spiral or other springs
connected to the ends thereof, which springs are boxed in to prevent
their coming into contact with the edges of the paper wound upon the 2
rollers.
In order prevent the edges of the platform cutting the naner nassing

page_text: When it is desired to use the apparatus it is placed upon a table or
other convenient surface, or held in the palm of the hand, with the
platform and paper uppermost, the latter being regulated by the thumb-
screws, as will be understood.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe
in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination and arrangement of
parts and mechanism in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
set forth and described, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Laidler, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.