Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-01-28

and would consequently be useless. If the
types varied in height, they would not give
a perfect impression, in endeavoring to OBJ
tain which, some would be subjected to an
injurious pressure. A few types have a
portion Of the letter projecting over the bo-
Idy, as in the letter f; this projection is call
ed the kern, and in the combination with
other letters the projecting part generally
extends over the next letter, as in fe. In
those combinations, wherein the kern would
come in contact with another letter, COM
pound types are east, as in the case Of Fl, Fl,
I fl, fiji, FL. Some years ago these combina-
tions were much more numerous, but many
have been dispensed with by altering the
form of the letter
The next form is that of casting The
old method, of which is even to the present
time generally used in England, may thus
be described: The matrix having been ad-
1justed to the mould, is taken by the caster
in his left hand AT his right upon fur
mace is pot of molten metal. This metal
he dips out in suitable quantities with a
small ladle, and pours into the mould, at
times giving quick upward jerk, for the
purpose Of forcing the metal well into the
matrix, to give the type a good face. A
spring which holds the matrix in its proper
position is then removed the matrix is then
pried utfrom off the type, the mould open
ed and the type thrown out. By this meth
Cd an average Of about 4 900 types per day
can be stby one man. An important i'm
proyement was made in 1914, by Archibald
Binney, of Philadelphia, whereby, with one
motion of. the hand, the natrix was thrown
out and the mould opened. This invention
increased the rapidity with which types were
east at least SO per cent. Type casters ac-
lquired great expertness, and with the hand
moulds were enabled to cast with extraor-
dinary rapidity, but only for short time.
In 1928. the casting machine was patent
ed by William NJ. johnson, an ingenious
citizen of New York. and put in operation
ia Mr.. Whites foundry, since which time
| it has been greatly improved. BY this con-
trivance, pump inserted in the molten
metal injects the requisite quantitySinto the
mould, which is brought sharply into con-
tact with the piston; the mould then comes
| off frem thespump. opens and discharges the
= = g =
rally. the machine IS worked BY hafu.; out
in the one we had the pleasure Of examin-
ing. steam power is successfully applied. -
At least three times the number of type can
be cast by the machine than by the ordi-
nary hand mould, and a velocity of 200 re-
volutiens per minute, (each revolution form
ing one type) has occasionally been obtain
ed, though the actual results are by no
means to be based upon that fact. Vari-
Gus causes operate to prevent a long contin-
uance of such speed.
The type, after being discharged from
the mould, has piece ofmetal called the
jet, attached to the bottom; this is broken
off by boy called a breaker, and the sin
gular swiftness Of all his motions is truly
astonishing. Smart lads or girls, who have
had sufficient experience, perform all these
operations with such rapidity, as to pain the
eye that observes them. The jets. having
been removed the types are taken to anoth-
er 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 kern
ed as before described, cannot be wholly
rubbed upon fiat surface, and they are
consequently filed smooth by an ingenious
contriyance, which prevents the kern from
being injured.
After this operation the types are set to-
gether, 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
Icalled settlers. The dresser now takes the
setting stick, and placing the line of type
upon fat surface, tightens it with screw;
then with piece of steel having sharp an
giles, he rubs off the edges, turning the line
of type fer that purpose. They are then
placed face downwards, in vice, and the
dresser with plane cuts a. small grove in
the end, over the place from which the Jet
has been removed. He now carefully ex-
amines the face with magnifying glass,
rejecting all such as are in the least imper-
feet. The perfect types are now formed, and
they are placed together side by side upon
small board with a 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 it is wrapped up IN paper ready for the
printer.
Type metal is readily fusible, and is COM
posed of antimony, tin and lead These
are used in various proportions, according
to the size Of the letter and the degree of
elasticity required. Lately, process, by
which the face of the type is coated with cop
per, thereby increasing its durability, has
been adopted to considerable extent.
Ilnfil within feu 11na re th orc 1uora hut four