The Mechanical Stamp

I walked across the wooden coffee table and came across a heavy metal desk stamp standing upright beside an open notebook. Its internal ink pad was suspended above a set of tiny adjustable date bands. Curious about the linkage, I climbed onto a small stack of sticky notes to reach the top plunger. Bracing both gloved hands firmly against the rounded knob, I leaned down with all my weight. The frame compressed smoothly, pivoting the internal stamp head upside down to kiss the moist ink pad before thrusting down onto a blank slip of paper below with a firm, hollow thrum. It sprang back up instantly, leaving a crisp red imprint behind.