Leroy lettering set
Datecirca 1954
Inventory Number1997-1-1997
ClassificationLevel (Engineer's)
Subject
Maker
Keuffel & Esser Company
1867 - 1987
User
Benjamin Martin Shaub
1893 - 1993
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions3.8 × 40.7 × 9.1 cm (1 1/2 × 16 × 3 9/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriesmahogany case
DescriptionThe lettering set is stored in a rectangular mahogany box that opens with two brass hinges along one of the long edges. There are two brass hooks attached to the bottom of the box that hook in to two brass loops on the top half of the box to keep it closed. On the inside of the lid there is a rectangular white card with written and diagrammatic directions for use. The inside bottom of the case is partitioned into three main sections with mahogany dividers and there are grooves and holes where needed to hold the pieces in place when the case is shut.
This lettering set contains eight white, rectangular, plastic, letter templates; two of large length, two of medium length, four of small length. Each template contains a series of letters and/or numerals etched shallowly in black symbols on the white plastic. There is a black groove along the full length of the bottom of each template. Each white template is also equipped with set of measurements, in black letters, along one edge that it may double as a ruler.
There are ten Leroy pens, labeled variously within the range of 00, 0, 1, 2, ..., 8. The thickness of the line drawn with the pen increases with the number. There is a sample line of each pen size on the instruction card inside the lid of the box. The pens are small, metal cylinders held in place, each in its own drilled hole, inside the bottom of the box. This set is also accompanied by a clear plastic bag with eleven miscellaneous pens inside it. Each pen has a cleaning pin on top that can be used to keep the ink running smoothly during use. The set also contains a small lead holder containing three pieces of lead in case the user would like to letter with lead instead of ink.
The set also contains a Leroy Scriber. The Scriber is a mechanical tracing device for transferring letters from the template onto paper. It consists of a metal, isosceles triangle. At the vertex of the two equivalent, long edges, there is a black plastic ball. Underneath, there is a trail pin that fits into the groove along the bottom of each template, to guide the tracing motion. There is a sharp metal pin at one of the remaining vertices and it traces the letters or numbers in the template that a user is reproducing. At the final vertex, there is a holder for a single Leroy pen and a black knob for adjusting the placement of the pen on the surface below. There is also a black-handled pen holder for free hand-pen use.
For a full description, read the original 1936 patent website.
This lettering set contains eight white, rectangular, plastic, letter templates; two of large length, two of medium length, four of small length. Each template contains a series of letters and/or numerals etched shallowly in black symbols on the white plastic. There is a black groove along the full length of the bottom of each template. Each white template is also equipped with set of measurements, in black letters, along one edge that it may double as a ruler.
There are ten Leroy pens, labeled variously within the range of 00, 0, 1, 2, ..., 8. The thickness of the line drawn with the pen increases with the number. There is a sample line of each pen size on the instruction card inside the lid of the box. The pens are small, metal cylinders held in place, each in its own drilled hole, inside the bottom of the box. This set is also accompanied by a clear plastic bag with eleven miscellaneous pens inside it. Each pen has a cleaning pin on top that can be used to keep the ink running smoothly during use. The set also contains a small lead holder containing three pieces of lead in case the user would like to letter with lead instead of ink.
The set also contains a Leroy Scriber. The Scriber is a mechanical tracing device for transferring letters from the template onto paper. It consists of a metal, isosceles triangle. At the vertex of the two equivalent, long edges, there is a black plastic ball. Underneath, there is a trail pin that fits into the groove along the bottom of each template, to guide the tracing motion. There is a sharp metal pin at one of the remaining vertices and it traces the letters or numbers in the template that a user is reproducing. At the final vertex, there is a holder for a single Leroy pen and a black knob for adjusting the placement of the pen on the surface below. There is also a black-handled pen holder for free hand-pen use.
For a full description, read the original 1936 patent website.
Signedon brass plaque on front of case: KEUFFEL & ESSER CO.
written in black lettering on white card inside lid of case: KEUFFEL & ESSER CO.
on Leroy scriber: K & E
on lettering templates: KEUFFEL & ESSER CO.
Inscribedon brass plaque on front of case: NEW YORK HOBOKEN, N.J. / CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, SAN FRANSISCO / DETROIT, MONTREAL.
in black lettering on white card inside lid of case: N.Y.
LEROY LETTERING SET / TRADE MARK / PATENT NO. 1,528,142
on Leroy scriber: Leroy / PAT. 2,050,057-58 / 2011 195-PAT DES 127,962
on lettering templates: 3240 - 80C (etc.) / REG. U.S. LEROY PAT OFF. / N.Y. / PAT. 2,050,057
FunctionThe Leroy Lettering kit permits the user to trace letters and numerals from templates on to the surface. Various sizes and shapes of upper- and lower-case letters are available. In order to reproduce the letters, users can fix the Leroy Scriber onto a template such that the trail pin is fixed in the groove along the bottom. The user then traces the letter or numerals etched into the appropriate template with the Scriber pin. The Scriber transfers the motion to the Leroy pen or lead attachment which subsequently draws the identical symbols on the surface below. Users can reproduce several letters subsequently from the same template and the trail pin-groove assembly will keep the lettering straight. At each letter size, the full Roman alphabet is available in upper- and lower-case, the numerals from 0 - 9 are available, as well as the following symbols (separated by a space):( % ) " =. One template is for upper case Greek letters.
This particular Leroy Lettering set was used by Prof. Shaub for drawing maps and diagrams, according to Mrs. Shaub.
This particular Leroy Lettering set was used by Prof. Shaub for drawing maps and diagrams, according to Mrs. Shaub.
ProvenanceUsed by Prof. Benjamin M. Shaub, Department of Geology, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063. Prof. Shaub gifted a total of 11 instruments to the Collection, inventory #s 1997-1-1997 thru 1997-1-2007
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: circa 1962
Accessories: green cardboard storage box
mohagony storage box
instruction card inside lid of box
five small instruction pamphlets
Leroy Lettering guide
Object number: 1989-4-0016
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: circa 1950
Accessories: green plastic case
Object number: 2004-1-0391
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: circa 1970
Accessories: K & E catalog 6; green plastic case; manual for the equipment
Object number: 1999-1-0091
Wood-Regan Instrument Company, Inc
Date: 1925
Accessories: Spaulding-Moss Cataloge No. 6; lettering guides (in envelope in case); The Wood-Regan Instrument Co., Inc. instruction book; carrying case
Object number: 5462
Jakob Amsler
Date: circa 1906
Accessories: instrument is in four (4) parts; the rail is in own box and is inventory # 2006-1-0002b; letter from Prof. William Brower containing the complete history of ownership and use (missing)
Object number: 2006-1-0002a
Forster
Date: 1950-1960
Accessories: spare ink cartridges; pen attachments
am auxiliary box containing small Allen wrench, scotch tape, extra parts, and storage instructions
Object number: 1999-1-0054
Zeiss-Aerotopograph
Date: circa 1950
Accessories: in wooden storage case with metal handles; documentation booklet is now kept in the instrument's file; all other accessories are kept in the box and are included in the description.
Object number: 2009-1-0002b
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: 1920-1950
Accessories: cylindrical cardboard pen holders (3); clear plastic case
Object number: WJ0637b
Hammond Typewriter Company
Date: circa 1923
Accessories: four Hammond type shuttles for different type faces, each with a wooden storage box; four laminated paper rectangles with symbol placement guide; instruction book, instruction sheets, advertisements, and correspondence (in object file)
Object number: 1996-1-0373
Walter Balcke
Date: 1955
Accessories: mahogany box with plexiglass lid; pencil; eraser; box of lead; putty ball; cleaning cloth; cardboard instruction card
Object number: 1997-1-1619
Charles W. Dixey
Date: circa 1830
Accessories: silver framed green shagreen case
original curatorial cards and photos
Object number: DW0288
Aston & Mander Company, Ltd.
Date: circa 1915
Accessories: double shelved mahogany case
Object number: 1989-4-0011