Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-02-21

greatly improved. BY this contrivance, a
pump inserted in the molten metal injects
the requisite quantity into tho mold, which
is brought sharply into contact with the
pistonj the mold then comes Off from the
pump, OPENS, and discharges the type into a
box. Ia typo fcundries, generally. this ma
chine 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 ma
chine than by the ordinary hand mold, and
velocity Of 200 revolutions per minute leach
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
mold. has piece of metal, called the jet,
attached to the bettom; this is broken off by
hoy. called the breaker and the singular
swiftness of all his motions is truly astonsh-
ing. Smart lads or girls, who have had
sufficient experience, perform all these ope-
rations with such rapidly 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 u 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 rubbed
upon fat surface, and they are consequently
filed smooth by I'm ingenious contrvance,
which prevents the kern from being injured.
After this operation the types are set
together, with the faces downward, in CON-
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 now takes the
setting sticks, and placing the line Of type
upon fat surface, tightens it with a screw;
then. with a piece of steel having sharp
angles, he rubs off the edges, turning the
line Of type for that purpose. They are then
placed, face downward, in vice. aud the
dresser with a plane, cuts a small grove in
the end, over the place from which the jet
has been removed. lie now carefully exam.
ines the faces with a magnifying glass, re-
jecting all such as are in the least imperfect.
The perfect types are now formed, and they
are placed together side by side, upon
small board with frame on three edges,
until there is prge. The page is uniform in
size, being by ~ inches. A cord is then
drawn several times tightly around the page.
and it is wrapped up in paper ready for the
printer.
Type metal is readily fnsble, and is CON-
posed Of autmony. tin. and lead. These are
used in various proportions, according to the
size Of the letter and the degree Of elasticity
required. Lately, process, Ivy which the
face of tyre is coated with copper, thereby
increasing its durability, has been adopted to
a considerable extent.
Until within a few years there were but
few varities of type in use-Dow they are to
be counted by hundreds. They are cast
from the most minute size up TO large blocks
having surface face of l6 square inches.
OF Diamond type (the smallest size in use
20l lines measure II inches. OF an averaged
sized Diamond letter, sl,214 may be i'm
pressed on a surface Of one square foot and
there are Diamond spaces so small that
2O3. 1877 will go to q square foot, or All to
the square inch and of these about $500
are obtained from one pound Of metal. The
largest letter regularly supplied by type
founders is called twelve line plea these are
two inches on the perpendicular face, varying
! in width with the letter. The larger. sizes
that we see on show-blls, etc are cut in
wood.
Such is brief, and. we feel. very imperfect
sketch OF the origin, progress, and present
condition of an art which bas already accom-
plished SO much for mankind. Eulogium has
been exhausted in its praise-it is beyond
all praise like the sun, the air, it is a ,neces-
sity-"I'he Art Preservative of'all Arts
1t has enlightened ignorance, dispersed error
corrected superstition, and overthrown armies
1t strengthens the brave. encourages the
timd, inspires the desponding, and consoles
the aficted.--lts light penetrates the dark
est dungeon, and cheers the most humble
cottage. Truth accompanies it and error
fees before it. 1t will regenerate the
world !-Germanto,rn Telegraph.