Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-28

A MAcHISE IoR SErfIEG TYPE.-In late Northern
paper fnd the following description of the working
of q machine invented By Mr.. Felt, Of Masachu-
sets:
The machne stands in sub:tantial iron framework
FIVE leet by four within which the mechanism Is nicely
disposed that there may be ample 70, the four
operations of setting jus1fying leading and distributing
In trent is key beard OF forty keys, which cores
pond to hundred and fifty SIX characters arranged
eight cases single case consists Of thirty two hat
bras ubes standing perpendcuaTy side by side each
one being filled with certain denomination of type
Thus the small letter is set by touching the key;
by touching the capital key" in connection with the
ley the "capit0" by touching the "capita key" in
connection with the key; aod With every letter.
There slso keys csIed the small capital :" the
taic capital" so that the machine contains all the
characters known to the compositor Tee operation of
these "csptal" and email capital keys" il similar 10
that of organ stop in modifying the effect of other
keys
when the mac Inc is in motion-And sh, uld here
mention that is worked by steam-a curious piece of
mechanism called the stick which about large
mans hand and quite "a adroit plays to and fro be.
meath the So and obsdieny to the operators
touch Toe spectacle Of th, little metallic intelligence
is amusing l. is armed with pinoers, which il
much The elephant does his trunk, though WITH in
6ue celebrity. Every time key is touched these pin
cars seize type f.om ons of the tubes tuned down
ward, and, it were, puts it into the mouth Of the
creature that IN few seconds its stomach ia fu-in
other words, the line Is SET tiny bv gives warning
OF this isc and the operator finishes Tire word sya
tie He then touches tn: ustying key and the spscer
sezss the line aud draws it into another part OF the
machine to he justified, While the empty stick resumes
It's feeding No tins is lost Tor, while the stick is
setting secord line, tie spacer is jusfyDg ths ss
so that few ats af,er starting tie PROCESSES
are going forward simultaneously. That OF jusifying
D. perhaps, the most ingenious. 1t is accomplished in
this wise. TIE stick full line, but leaves
room for spIcss aud with the last lei;er Of word
inserts peos of steel to separate the words. When
the line has ben drawn Ito the spacer tho pieces of
steel, which furnished with nicted heads for the
puipose withdrawn, and ordinary spaces are sub
stituted. All this requiIe3 attention nom the Ops-
rator The matter taus set and justified, is loaded
by the machine, and deposited on galley ready for
The press
'In this machine distribution Is the reveIss OF c,m
pOstios aud is effected b! sapy reversing the motion
o; the shaft. By Duplicating certain pirts OF the
chine, both OPERATIONS performs the time.
TIE process OF distributing may be made automatic by
of the register ThiI device, although al orgi
nal invention with Ne Felt is application of tie
jacquard loom. 1t consists Of narrow strip Of card
paper, 10 which the holes punched the types
are taken, forming substitute for the troublesome
nckng Of the type which has heretofore been thought
indispensable to automatic distribution. By this means
the type be changed in ressttpg, if desired sothst
different editions Of tpe same work can be printed in
diff,raut aizaa of tyn'a ~