AN IMPROVED MEANS OF HOLDING LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Kolbe Milne, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, Scotland, Pocket-book Maker, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED MEANS OF HOLDING LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES."
Sealed the 1st September 1854, and dated the 3rd July 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kolbe Milne at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd July 1854.
I, JOHN KOLBE MILNE, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, Scot-
land, Pocket-book Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED MEANS OF HOLDING LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the adaptation and application to a board or other
suitable back of an elastic band, which is passed through a tube and confined
to the board by its two ends, which extend from the ends of the tube. By this
means the letters, papers, or documents of any description are intended to be
suitably held between the tube and the board, the elasticity of the band
serving to hold them as required.
The board or back of the holder may be covered or otherwise, but it should
be stiff or unyielding. The tube should be flattened in form, and may be
"

page_text: composed of leather, metal, or other suitable material or materials, and if
composed of metal, may have its internal surface turned outwards at the ends,
in such a manner as to prevent the liability to undue wear of the elastic band
in its friction against such ends of the tube.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Kolbe Milne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd December 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN KOLBE
MILNE, of Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian, Scotland, Pocket-book
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Kolbe Milne, Her special license that I, the said John Kolbe Milne,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Kolbe Milne, 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 MEANS
OF HOLDING LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Kolbe Milne, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 John Kolbe Milne, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say): -
-
My Invention of "An Improved Means of Holding Letters, Documents, or
ther similar Articles," has for its object the employment for the purpose of an
lastic band protected by a tube, and consists in the adaptation and application

page_text: to a board or other suitable back of an elastic band, which is passed through a
tube and confined to the board by its two ends, which extend from the ends of
the tube. By this means the letters, papers, or documents of any description
are intended to be suitably held between the tube and the board, the elasticity
of the band serving to hold them as required.
The board or back of the holder may be covered or otherwise, but it should
be stiff or unyielding. The tube should be flattened in form, and may be
composed of leather, metal, or other suitable material or materials, and if
composed of metal may have its internal surface turned outwards at the ends,
in such a manner as to prevent the liability to undue wear of the elastic band
in its friction against such ends of the tube.
In order, however, that my Invention may be fully understood, I will
proceed to describe the accompanying Drawing, which represents a mode of
carrying it into effect.
Fig. 1 is a front view, and Fig. 2 an edge view, of the holder, only without
any papers or documents in it; Figs. S and 4 are similar views of the holder,
with papers or documents held by it. In these several Figures the same
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. a is the board or back of the
holder, which may be covered or not, as preferred, and may be either plain or
ornamental; b is the elastic band of india-rubber or other suitablo material,
fixed thereto at the two ends, as shewn; c is the flat tube or cover for this
band. At d (Figs. 3 and 4) are represented a set of papers or documents
within the holder.
On reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the tube or cover c lies closo
to the board or back a, unless it be drawn therefrom for the purpose of
inserting papers or documents between them as represented at Fig. 4; and
it will be obvious that the papers or documents so inserted will be held with
more or less tenacity, according to the elastic power of the band.
I have thus shewn and described a simple form of holder, but I would
remark that my Invention is not confined to such form thereof, as it may be
varied in size, shape, and proportions, as well as in the materials of which it is
composed, in order to suit different purposes.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not claim as of
my Invention the use of any particular material or materials for the respective
parts of the holder; neither do I claim the application of india-rubber or other
elastic material to the purpose of forming a retaining band, otherwise than as
described; but what I do claim as of my Invention is, the adaptation and

page_text: application to a stiff or unyielding board or back of an elastic band combined
with a protecting tube or cover, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Kolbe Milne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.'
JOHN KOLBE (L.s.) MILNE.
HENRY, WATTS, Witness.