15

Knife Eraser

U. S. Patent Number 322, 991 was granted

to Frank L. Stowell of New York City for

his

“

Knife Eraser

”

on July 28, 1885.

Referring to the patent drawing we learn

that Stowell

‟

s tool includes a sharp edge for

pen making or general cutting (G), an ink

eraser edge (E), a notch used for pencil

sharpening (D), a file surface for

sharpening the lead of a pencil (C), a handle

(A), and an eraser to be fitted at the end of

the handle (K).

Stowell suggests the handle can be made of

“

wood, hard rubber, ivory, celluloid, or any

other suitable material.

”

Although the patent does not mention a

corkscrew, Stowell

‟

s product does contain a

corkscrew accessed by unthreading a wood plug in the eraser end from the

worm. The corkscrew is used for opening an ink bottle.