US577336A - Device for adjusting type in hand-stamps - Google Patents

Description

rm Model.)

J. 0. WARD, DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING TYPE IN HANDSTAMPS.

No. 577,336. Patented Feb. 16,: 1897-.

JAMES COOK \VARD, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING TYPE IN HAND-STAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,336, dated February 16, 1897.

Application filed August 2'7, 1896. $erial No. 604,111. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES COOK WARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Interchange and Adjustment of Type in Hand-Stamps; and I do declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had.

tain new and useful device for the use of postmasters and postal clerks, (the latter especially,) in connection with the usual dating and canceling stamps, for the purpose of facilitating the adjustment of the type therein. Stamps of this kind as commonly used are provided with certain fixed type-characters and also with certain removable and interchangeable type, the lattter being usually employed for marking dates or time and require to be frequently removed or replaced, being held in place by a thumb set-screw. In order that these types may make a legible impression, it is necessary that they be adjusted with considerable accuracy with relation to each other and with reference to the fixed characters, whereby their type-faces shall be in the same plane. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in making such adjustment, especially in moving postal cars, and this is a frequent cause of the illegible postm arks found on mail-matter. It has also been difficult to secure the adjustment of the type when made, owing to the fact that the clerk is unable to fiX the set-screw sufficiently tight with his fingers.

The present invention is more particularly designed to obviate this difficulty and to en- I able the clerk to readily secure and maintain an accurate adjustment of the type at all times.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a postal hand-stamp of the class above referred to and having the fixed type-characters a, the interchangeable type a, seated in a recess or socket of the stamping-face, a set-screw a and a canceling attachment a B designates a device for facilitating the adjustment of the interchangeable type,which consists of a flanged plate or cup of the proper size to fit loosely over the working face of the stamp. It is preferably provided with a bottom lining b, of rubber or other material of like flexible or yielding character, to prevent injury to the type-faces.

In operation the type a are loosely placed in the stamp. This cup is applied thereto and the whole is inverted. The type will then drop down into the cup against its bottom face into accurate adjustment no matter whether they are of the same or of different lengths, and by tightening the screw While in this position such adjustment is secured.

As stated above, considerable difficulty has.

been found in fixing the screw with the fingers sufficiently tight to secure the adjustment. In the present case I form the head of this screw of the proper form to receive a thumb wrench or key D, provided therefor, and connect said wrench or key with the cup B by a chain or the like of sufficient length to enable the wrench to be operated while th cup is applied to the stamp.

When provided with this device, which may be carried in the pocket or otherwise kept at hand, the clerk has at his command convenient and efficient means for securing and maintaining an accurate adjustment of the interchangeable type of his stamp.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described device for use with hand-stamps which are provided with interchangeable type for facilitating the adjustment of such type, said device comprisii'ig a flanged plate 01' cup, adapted to fit over the type-carrying end of the stamp in the inanner substantially as specified.

2. The herein-described device for use with hand-stamps which are provided with interchangeable type for facilitating the adjustment of such type, said device comprising a flanged plate 01' cup, adapted to fit over the type-carrying end of the stamp, said plate or cup having a yielding interior bottom wall, substantially as specified.

3. The herein-described device for use with hand-stamps which are provided with interchangeable type and with a set-screw for se-

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