IMPROVE- MENTS IN WRITING MATERIALS, AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John George Taylor at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th February
1859.
I, JOHN GEORGE TAYLOR, of Paris, and of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WRITING MATERIALS, AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists, first, in improvements in the manufacture of pneu-
matic inkstands. In the adaptation of levers for pressing elastic balls or
cones, and also in the use of curved, pierced, or other form of end or end
pieces to the dipping or supply cups, and by such means causing the ink to
risc up gently, and not spirt over as it does in dipping cups with straight
tubes; and where I use elastic diaphragms I employ two or more to each
inkstand, and thereby secure a more perfect vacuum than when only one is
used.
Secondly, in improvements in pencils. I make pencils with my endless
screw or slotted cylinder movement to propel and withdraw the leads (and
which leads pass through an elastic point for renewal) to slide the point back-
wards and forwards by means of a ring or stud, or to spring back by using an
elastic cord and a slot, or similar contrivance, instead of taking it back by a
spiral movement, as in my former Patent. I also put the same movement in
pencils with pen, letter weigher, &c., to slide or spring back; and I make
pencil points of aluminium or other metal, out of one piece unsoldered. The

page_text: metal is cut in circular blanks and then pressed in suitable dies; and I make
a very cheap pencil to take back the lead with a tube to fix the lead in, and
an elastic point; and I take the lead back by means of a close fitting slide on
the exterior of the case, which prevents the lead going back while in use.
Thirdly, in making steel or other pens with one or more slits at the top, and
by this means gaining extra elasticity; and also in making reservoir pens,
which I do by attaching a thread or threads of gutta percha, wire, or other
suitable material in such a manner as to retain an extra quantity of ink, and I
place two or more bars, wires, or pieces lengthwise, or lengthwise and crosswise;
I use also one or more wires, twisted together or plain, or I place a suitably
formed piece or pieces of metal on the under or the under and the outer part of
the pen to fix or slide on to the nib, or in cutting the blank of the pen I serrate
the sides and bend the serrated parts inward, or inwards and outwards; or I
make a flange or flanges at the sides, which are bent so as to increase. the
capillary attraction; and I make galvanic or electric pens by using a com-
bination of zinc and copper to form a reservoir.
Fourthly, in making brushes or pen cleaners for the above, either of wire, or
of wire and bristles.
Fifthly, in improvements in making balance penholders, so that the fingers,
desk, or table are not soiled when in use. In making penholders wholly of
aluminium or any other metal I take tubing cut to proper dimensions, and so
shape the end that it will hold a pen, and at the same time press out one or
more projections near the extremity, so that the pen will balance; and I
make tapered penholders very small at top and large at the bottom, of circular
form, and of all the known metals; and at the lower extremity of such metal I
insert a wooden or other plug, which plug has a suitable orifice cut in to receive
the pen. The said holders may be in joints to shut or fall in something like a
telescope; and I make circular orifices at the bottom of penholders by the
employment of a novel cutter of a circular form partially toothed and grooved
or slotted, so as to allow the debris to escape while the cutter is in motion.