Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
Types and type Making.

The Cincinnati Gazette. in describing the
branches of manufacture represented in Gin
cinnati, remarks:
We propose TO devote a short chapter to
the manufacture of common newspaper
types and in a Subsequent number speak of
the electrotype process. Plain newspaper
and book types of different sizes are known
by different names, and these sizes are
uniform or nearly so the world over. The
first in order is called Plea (which is derived
from Cicero, and nam,d because it was
first used in printing the writings of Cicero
1t takes about six of them placed side by
side to make an inch. The sizes that are
larger than plea are called two line plea
three line plea, &c. The heading of this
paper, mt the top of the first page, is four line
plea. The next size smaller than plea is
called small plea" so named from its being
smaller than plea. The next size below this is
Long Prmmer.'' the next smallest is
"Bourgois,' named after Frenchman. who
was master of printers when it was first
introduced BREWER is the next sZt, and
so named because it was first used in print
ing the Brcviary. book containing the daily
service of The Roman Catholic Church. The
next in order is '.Mnion," which means
tender, gentle. a darling, or favorite. so
named because it was the smallest and most
smaller is ''Nonparicl.' which means di,co-
very not to be surpassed. and evidently shows
that the manufacturers supposed that in was
the smallest that could possibly he made
The next four sizes in order arr Agate, Pearl,
Ruby and Diamond, named from the precious
stones, because they are very delicate and
expensive. The last too named are too small
for newspaper work and Pearl Is seldom used
. except in book work.
=. TYNE metal is cnrnnoSed Drincipaliv ~ Tin
lead and anthony. These constituents are
varied in their relative proportions by diff
ferent founders. The types were formerly
cast by hand or the metal poured into an
ingeniUusly contrived matriX held in the
hand, but type casting machines are now
used which do the work much better, and
more rapidly.
The m0ulds are made of tempered steel
and require to be fitted very neatly. there
being but few men skillful enough to perform
this work properly. The dies which form
the face of the type, and which gives the
letter it's form, are made of copper, and the
impression Of the letter is sunken in by means
OF punch upon the end of which the letter
has been cut or engraved. To cut these
letters requires great skill. Stewart, of Scot
land. is acknowledged TO be the best cutter
living, and most OF the finest die punches
used in the world are cut by him. Bruce, of
his skill in this rare accomplishment.
After the types leave the mouIds. they are
taken To the finishing room, and any rough
ness that may been caused in the operation
OF moulding, Is obvialed by rubbing them
upon perfectly fiat stone. The Types are
then set up in rows, each kind hy itself, aud
placed upon the dressing rod, which is fiat
strip of brass about one yard long, and having
"A shoulder on one edge, and so constructed as
to hold the type firmly while the bottoms IRE
planed of precisely the right length, which Is
the same the world over, aud small groove
cut in the bottom, which prevents auy ten
dency to tip over or lean in the form. The
types are then passed to the next, who ex-
amines each one separately, through mag
nifying glass, and picks cut every one that
shows any imperfecton. In finishing, very
skiIlful operators are required, because II the
slightest variation in the size Of type occur,
they are wholly spoiled.