The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-04-20

German named John Gutenberg; but little
proficiency, however, in the type founding art,
was made in his day, the operations of casting
being exceedingly rude and tedious, and if old
German John was now to arise from his grave
and see the improvements which have been
made in the manufacture of types since that
time, he would be as greatly surprised, if not
more so, than was the public at the time he
discovered the improvement, which was so far
superior to the old pen-made books.
The first mode of casting types was to strike
a letter of approved cut, answering to the
modern punch, into soft clay or plaster, and to
pour the metal into the mold thus formed;
the body Of the letter would then have to be
dressed into shape by hand. This slow and
imperfect method was superseded by the inven-
tion of highly ingenious metal hand-casting
machine, still somewhat extensively used. We
are without the particulars of this invention,
as it was kept secret in the hands Of a few
for nearly half century.
The above engraving is perspective view
of type-casting machine, the novel features Of
which were patented by Mr.. DAVID BRUCE, Of
New York. Nine of these machines are in use
at the franklin Type Foundry, 16s Vine street
where we saw them in operation. They eacf
occupy q space of about two feet square, an6
| are attached to the wall. A furnace, heated by
| bituminous coal, occupies space Of about
eight inches square, directly under the back
part of the machine, and is arranged with fue'
leading to the chimney hue, which produce
draft sufficient to keep the Goals glowing hot
| Directly upon this furnace is placed cast
iron reservoir, about FIVE inches square, fol
| receiving the composition, which is kept in g
state of fusion by the heat from the furnace
! A small cast-iron pump is so arranged as tC
elevate into the mold, at the proper time, &
sufficient quantity of the metal to form one
| type, and is operated by crank, which alsC
works the mold plate, and brings the molC
down to small aperture leading to the reser
voir, where, by means of the pump, it receive
a charge, when the mold plate is elevated
and the type, having suddenly congealed, i
released from the mold, and slides off into
box. The whole process is completed by sim
ply turning crank, the only skill require
being to keep the composition at the righ
temperature and the machine in order. fas
workman will cast about sixty types per minute
The molds are made of tempered steel an
require to be fitted very neatly, there being bu
few men skillful enough to perform this wor
properly. The dies which form the face of tn
type, and which give the letter its form, ar
made of copper, and the impression of the lette
is sunken in by means Of punch, upon th
end of which the letter has been cut or engraved
To cut these letters requires great skill, but NJ
BRUCE has received much praise for his success
in this rare accomplishment.
After the types leave the molds, they al
taken to the finishing room, and any rougl
ness that may have been caused in the oper'
ton of molding, is obviated by rubbing the
upon perfectly fat stone. The types are the
set up in rows, each kind by itself, and place
upon the dressing rod, which is fat strip
steel about one yard long, and having shou
der on one edge, and so constructed as to ho
the type firmly while the bottoms are plan'
off precisely the right length, which is the Sar
e the world over, and a small groove cut in 4
bottom, which prevents any tendency to tip ov
= or lean in the form. The types are then pass
d to the next, who examines each one separated
: through magnifyinR- glass, and picks o
y every one that shows any imperfection.
finishing vory skillful operators are require
because if the slightest variation in the 81
Of the types occur, they are wholly spoiled.
9 Connected with the Franklin Foundry is
r. Stereotype Department, which is the largest
the West. The stereotype plates arc made
: follows: Tho form is composed in ordina
types, over which is poured plaster of Par
=. which, when dry, forms mold, into which
6: poured the type-metal. These plates are th
\ reduced to the proper thickness by the use
26 shaving machines, of which there are four
q this establishment.
] The Electrotype Department in this estt
v. lishmont is, perhaps, the most interesting
y all, and the process of coating the surface
: type-metal with copper by electrical acti
Is constitutes one of the greatest wonders OF I
/ wonderful age. The advantages of cop
surfaces for types and cuts are, that Il