Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-20

dimensions. The mould is so constructed
as to admit of the width being altered to
suit the letters to be cast; thus the letter I,
which is very narrow, is upon the body of a
type, the perpendicular face of which is pre-
cisely the same as that of the letter w, sew
cral times as wide. 1t is necessary that the
bodies of types should also have all their
lines at exact right angles without this they
would not stand in line, and would conse-
qucntly be useless. If the types varied in
height, they would not give perfect i'm
preston, in endeavoring to obtain which,
some would be subjected to an injurious
pressure. A few types shave a portion of
the face letter projecting over the body, as
in the letter f.; this projection is called the
kern, and in combination with other letters
the projecting part generally extends over
the next letter, as in fe. In those combina-
tions, wherein the kern would come in con-
tact with another letter, compound types are
cast, as in the case Of #, Fl, fl, fl, Fl. Some
years since, these combinations, wore much
more numerous, but many have been dispen-
sed with by altering the form of the letter.
The next operation is that of casting
The old method, of which is even to the
present time generally used in England, may
be thus described: The matrix having been
adjusted to the mould, is taken by the cas-
ter in his left hand. At his right, upon a
furnace is pot of molten metal. This met
al he dips out in suitable quantities with a
small ladle, and pours into the mould, at
times giving a quick upward jerk, for the
purpose of forcing the metal we'll into the
matrix, to give the type good face. A
A spring which holds the matrix in its prop
er position is then removed the matrix is
then pried out from off the type, the mould
opened, and the type thrown out. By this
method an average of about 1000 types per
day can be cast by one man. An important
improvement was made in 1911, by Archi-
bald Binney, of Philadelphia, whereby, with
one motion of the hand, the matrix was
thrown out and the mould opened. This
invention increased the rapidity with which
types were cast at least so per cent Type
casters acquired great expertness, and with
the hand moulds were enabled to cast with
extraordinary rapidity, but only for a short
time.
In 1928, the casting machine was patented
by William NJ. johnson, an ingenious citi-
zen of New York, and put in operation in
Mr.. Whites foundry, since which time it
has been greatly improved. BY this contri-
vance, a pump inserted in the molten metal
injects the requisite quantity into the mould,
which is brought sharply into contact with
the piston the mould then comes off from
the pump, opens and discharges the type
into box. In type foundries, generally,
this machine is worked by hand; but in the
one we had the pleasure of examining, steam
power is successfully applied. At least
three times the number of type can be cast
by the machine than by the ordinary hand
mould, and velocity of 200 revolutions per
minute, (each revolution forming one type)
has occasionally been obtained, though the
actual results are by no means to be based
upon that fact. Various causes operate to
prevent long continuance of such speed.
The type, after being discharged from the
mould has a piece Of metal, called the jet,
attached to the bottom; this is broken off by
boy, called breaker, and the singular
swiftness of all his motions is truly astonish-
ing. Smart lads Or girls, who have had
sufficient experience, perform all these ope-
rations with such rapidity, as to pain the eye
that observes them. The jets having been
removed, the types are taken to another
room, where boys and girls are engaged in
rubbing off the inequalities upon the sides.
This is effected by bringing the type in con-
tact with smooth stone, prepared for the
purpose, and moving it from side to side -
The rubbers generally smooth several at the
same time. Those letters which are kerned
as before described, cannot be wholly rub
bed upon a fiat surface, and they are conse-
quently filed smooth by an ingenious con-
trivance, which prevents the kern from be-
ing injured.
After this operation, the types are set
together, with the faces downward, in COM
posing stick eight inches long, and thence
are transferred to the setting stick which is
one yard in length. Those who do this are
called settlers. The dresser DOW takes the
setting stick, and placing the line of type
upon fiat surface, tightens it with screw;
then, with piece of steel having sharp an
giles, he rubs off the edges, turning the line
of type for that purpose. They are then
placed, face downwards, in vice, and the
dresser, with plane, cuts small groove in
the end, over the place from which the jet
has been removed. He now carefully ex-
anlines the face with maguifying glass, re-
jecting all such as are in the least imperfect.
The perfect types are now formed, and they
arc placed together, side by side, upon a
small board with frame on three edges,
until there is page. The page is uniform
in size being 6 by II inches A cord is then
drawn several times tightly around the page,
and is wrapped up in paper ready for the
printer.
Type metal is.readily fusible, and is COM