How to make a quill pen patented 1809 part 7
Seventh, and final part. To finish this important method of writing, and make it as beneficial as possible, , I’ve adopted, for the use of public offices, the law, and most static situations, such a method of supply for every person employed so they can write for any period of time with minimal charge of the reservoir without stopping. I expect, on some occasions, when a lot of people whose job is to write in permanent situations, when the method will apply to supply a number of desks with ink from one main source, and placed on a shelf, or any elevated place,high enough to ensure the ink flows easily, down to each desk, just like water flows for domestic uses; the main tank is inserted a small cock, where the writer can fill the fountain or handle of the pen with ease when empty of ink, as previously instructed. Also sometimes, to connect these cocks by a small flexible tube, (leather) by a screw, same as that hose pipes on fire-engines; these tubes will be long enough to easily reach any desk. The lower end of the flexible tube, is joined to the upper part, or top of the hollow handle by a screw, as the brass nozzle of fire-engines, this will ensure the pen will always fill.When the cock is closed, the ink should then not escape out of the capillary into the mouth of the pen unless forced.
To ensure a smooth flow compress between the fingers part of the small flexible tube mentioned, between that is the stop cock and the pen’s top; this pressure will make the mouth of the pen be charged as required, and ensure a ample constant supply of ink in the main tank, this should ensure continuity of writing.
As mentioned the small tubes need to be flexible, but not so soft that they easily collapse. Otherwise the ink will be to readily discharged down into the pen, so in order to resist this pressure, take a long slip of thin leather, cut parallel, of a required width to wrap round a small wire, about one-eighth of an inch in diameter, and as much overplus leather so that both the edges are thinned in cutting, to over-reach each other when placed round the mandrill to make a splice. Then, on the mandrill, join the splice, the leather, with effective gum, so to form the tube; then take and wrap the outer part of the tube with wire. This should ensure they are diametrically strong enough to resist the atmospheric pressure as required, but yet flexible enough to so the extra pressure of the fingers used for filling the pen.
Dated February 21, 1809.
