IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING INK OR OTHER MIXTURE FOR STAMPS USED IN STAMPING LETTERS. AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Creswell, of Devonport, in the
County of Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SUPPLYING INK OR OTHER MIXTURE FOR STAMPS USED IN STAMPING LETTERS.
AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 6th November 1857, and dated the 16th May 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Creswell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th May 1857.
I, GEORGE HENRY CRESWELL, of Devonport, in the County of Devon,.
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING INK OR OTHER MIXTURE FOR STAMPS USED IN STAMPING
LETTERS AND OTHER ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in a contrivance for applying the ink to the pad or
inking surface mechanically instead of by hand, and in such a manner as to
insure at all times a surface properly dressed with ink in due quantity and of a
proper consistence. It also makes provision for protecting the ink or mixture
in a great measure from contact with the air, and thus obviates the tendency
to thicken and harden, which has ever been one of the greatest obstacles to the
production of uniformly clear and distinct stamping of letters. The object is
accomplished by means of a cylinder inclosed in a case, with which it is in
close contact, except at the sides, where a cavity or cavities are formed to
receive the ink or mixture. The parts of the case between these cavities
and the top or exterior act as rubbers, and are either fixed or moveable, and
adjustable by screws or otherwise. These rubbers may be covered with

page_text: woollen cloth or other suitable material, and they serve to rub off the super-
fluous ink as the cylinder is turned round, and leave its surface in proper con-
dition for use. The cylinder is also covered with woollen cloth or other suitable
material. The top of the case is removable, so as to expose the surface
charged with ink when required for use. When the top is replaced it pro-
tects the inked surface from the air and dust,, and preserves it in a moist clean
state for use when again required. If the exposed part becomes partially dry
or exhausted, it is restored by turning round the cylinder, and a fresh moist
_surface may always be brought up by turning the cylinder half round.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Henry Creswell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th November 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HENRY CRESWELL, of Devonport, in the County of Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Henry Creswell, Her special licence that I, the said George
Henry Creswell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Henry Creswell, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING INK OR OTHER MIXTURE FOR STAMPS
USED IN STAMPING LETTERS AND OTHER ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Henry Creswell, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Henry Creswell, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
The Invention consists in a contrivance for applying the ink to the pad or
inking surface mechanically instead of by hand, and in such a manner as to
insure at all times a surface properly dressed with ink in due quantity and of
a proper consistence. It also makes provision for protecting the ink or mix-
ture in a great measure from contact with the air, and thus obviates the
tendency to thicken and harden, which has ever been one of the greatest
obstacles to the production of uniformly clear and distinct stamping of letters.
The object is accomplished by means of a cylinder inclosed in a case, with
which it is in close contact, except at the sides, where a cavity or cavities are
formed to receive the ink or mixture. The parts of the case between these
cavities and the top or exterior act as rubbers, and are either fixed or move-
able, and adjustable by screws or otherwise. These rubbers may be covered
with woollen cloth or other suitable material, and they serve to rub off the
superfluous ink as the cylinder is turned round, and leave its surface in
condition for use. The cylinder is also covèred with woollen cloth or other
suitable material. The top of the case is removable, so as to expose the
surface charged with ink when required for use. When the top is replaced it
protects the inked surface from the air and dust, and preserves it in a moist
clean state for use when again required. If the exposed part becomes
partially dry or exhausted it is restored by turning round the cylinder, and a
fresh moist surface may always be brought up by turning the cylinder half
round.
proper
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a
longitudinal section, of one form of my apparatus; Figure 3 is a plan of the
same. The same letters refer to similar parts in each Figure. A is the
cylinder, mounted on the spindle B, which is fitted with a winch or handle C
for turning it round. The cylinder A is covered with woollen cloth a, and fits
into the case D, except at the sides, where cavities or chambers d, d, are
formed to receive the ink. E, E, are the rubbers, which are hinged to the
case at e, e, and are faced with woollen cloth at the parts which come in con-
tact with the cylinder; F, F, are two screws, by turning which the rubbers
E, E, are pressed with more or less force against the cylinder; G is the cover
of the apparatus. The ink is introduced into one or both of the cavities or
chambers d, d, and the rubbers are pressed against the roller by screwing in the
screws F, F. The cylinder is turned round by the handle C, and the ink is thus
distributed upon the cylinder. The stamp which is to be inked is pressed

page_text: upon the elastic covering a of the cylinder and is thus inked.
Whenever
the upper surface of the cylinder begins to become exhausted of ink it is
immediately renewed by turning the cylinder round. When out of use, the
cover G is placed over the cylinder, to prevent the surface from becoming dry
or hard. Moderate sized stamps, such as those employed for stamping letters
passing through the post, may be inked by merely pressing them upon the
elastic cloth surface a of the cylinder, and larger stamps may be inked by
giving them a slight rocking motion while pressing them on the cylinder:
Cylinders of large or smaller diameter than that shewn in the Drawing
may be employed, according to the size of the stamp to be inked. When it is
desired to ink very large stamps by mere vertical pressure, the flat end of the
cylinder may be covered with cloth, and employed instead of the periphery.
The rubbers E and cavities d are then placed in the side of the case at g. g,
so as to act against the flat end of the cylinder, which may be made much
shorter in the direction of its axis than is shewn in the Drawing. When the
apparatus is in use it is placed with the axis of the cylinder in a vertical
position; when out of use it may be kept in the same position, or it may be
turned up into the position shewn in the Drawing, so as to prevent the ink
from gradually oozing out from under the rubbers, which might otherwise
occur with an ink or mixture of a fluid nature. If the rotating surface be
always turned in the same direction one rubber and one ink chamber will be
sufficient; a ratchet and click may then be employed, to prevent the surface
from being turned in the wrong direction. The rubbers may be covered with
woollen cloth, or may consist of brushes or scrapers, which are pressed against
the rotating surface.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is,
constructing apparatus for supplying ink or other mixture for stamps used in
stamping letters and other articles; by the combination of a cylindrical or
rotating surface with a rubber or rubbers and an ink chamber or chambers, in
manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Creswell, have hereunto
I set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
G. H. CRESWELL. (L.S.)