As thus constructed, (and supposing that the top clamping-plate, I, is temporarily removed,) the apparatus is adapted to receive and hold by lateral pressure objects of any shape in the following manner: The object being laid upon the top of the jaws H H, as many pins P as the operator deems necessary to hold it are inserted in such of the holes N as are adjacent to its sides, and the screw E is then turned so as to bring the nuts a a, and consequently the jaws H H, toward the center of the block. The jaws being free to swivel upon the pivots h h, they will adapt themselves to the sides of the object, whatever be its form, and will hold it firmly, so that the engraver can work upon the top surface thereof, turning the block to any desired position. Ordinarily four of the pins P will, by reason of this swiveling capacity of the jaws, be sufficient to hold any objects; but the operator may insert any number of pins and allow them to select the hold which is most natural.

The remaining parts of the apparatus are designed to hold objects of any shape by pressure upon the top, and are constructed as follows: By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that each of the jaws H H has on its top and in the center of its curved portion an inclined groove, L, whose bottom is circular in cross-section, and whose inclination, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, is outward. The flat clamping-plate I has upon its under side two inclined projections or wedges, i. (See Figs. 1 and 4.) The angle of these wedges, as well as the cross-section thereof, conforms to the inclination and circular cross-section of the grooves L L upon the jaws H H. Elongated
slots j are formed near the periphery of the clamping-plate I, and through those slots flat-headed thumb-screws J or overhanging holders extend downward into threaded openings of the block B. These screws being inserted upon either side, it will be seen that that portion of the right and left screw E, which retracts the jaws H H, will force the grooved portions L L along the inclines of the wedges i in an outward direction, and will thus raise the clamping-plate I until it comes into contact with the under side of the flat heads upon the screws J. The reverse movement will cause the grooves L L to travel down the inclines of the wedges i, and will permit the clamping-piece I to descend. Supposing that a flat object—such as a spoon or knife—is to be engraved, it is inserted between the upper surface of the clamping-plate I and the lower surface of the screws or holders J. The screw E is then actuated so as to throw the jaws H H outward and the clamping-plate I is raised. If the object is of irregular height the clamping-plate I will tilt, by reason of the circular cross-section of wedges i and grooves L until it has adapted itself to the proper position for clamping each end of the object beneath the holders J. As before stated, the block can be revolved so as to permit the operator to work upon any side of the object; and since there is substantially no friction in rotating the block may be made very heavy without interfering with the manipulation thereof.

As is well understood by engravers, it is desirable that the block should be of very considerable weight; but in the devices heretofore used such weight rendered the block very cumbrous.

Having thus described my invention, I claim –

EDWARD S. STEHMAN.

Witnesses:
CHAS. E. LONG,
JNO. C. LONG.

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