IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF PRINTERSS' COMPOSING CASES, AND IN THE FRAMES USED THEREWITH
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry William Poulter, of Thayer Street, Man-
chester Square, in the County of Middlesex, Compositor, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF PRINTERS
Sealed the 18th January 1861, and dated the 20th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry William Poulte
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th July 1860.
I, HENRY WILLIAM POULTER, of Thayer Street, Manchester Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Compositor, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF
PRINTERS' COMPOSING CASES, AND IN THE FRAMES USED THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
The object of the improvements is, first, to diminish the number of compart-
ments or "boxes" in the "cases," and thereby to reduce the distance the
operator's hand is required to traverse in picking up the types and spacing
out the lines.
For this purpose I omit some of the compartments or "boxes," namely,

page_text: those devoted to the reception of accented vowels, and obtain a better dis-
position of other of the boxes or compartments, and I also form some of the
partitions for the "boxes" of zinc or other suitable metal for the purpose of
giving more room in such "boxes;" and I hinge what are commonly called
the "upper" and "lower" "cases" together, so as, in fact, to reduce the whole
to one case. I also arrange some of the "boxes" or compartments of cases
for small-sized types with false bottoms of sheet india-rubber or otherwise
elastic, in such manuer that when fully loaded with type they will sink to the
bottom of the case, and then gradually rise as the type is removed, bringing
the remainder to the surface.
The accompanying diagrams drawn to the same scale, exhibit a case (A) as at
present in general use, and also a case (B), an arrangement subject to slight
modifications according to my improvements. It will be seen that the e box
of Drawing (B) has width in place of length, allowing space under it for both
the "n" quadrat and the "thin space'
""boxes." The j, k, and q occupy a
different position, whilst the double letters are also better placed. The points
are placed with particular regard to conversational or quoted matter. The
"hair space" (which is mostly used with it) being close to the apostrophe.
The figures are placed within immediate reach, and as near as possible to the
"m" and "n" quadrat "boxes," for the greater convenience in setting tablo
and figure matter.
For the support of the cases I form the "frames" with the top part inclined
from the centre, so that four "combined cases," two side by side on each side
may be used simultaneously; and I form each slide or "rack" to receive a
"combined case," that is an "upper and lower" connected case, in place of
only an "upper" or "lower" case.
I also form the "bulk" to receive on the top of it a double-post or double-
foolscap form, and with adjustable spaces or "fillets" underneath for form rack,
so as to suit different sized forms.
By these improvements I obtain amongst other the following advantages:-
The changing of only one case instead of two in using different sized types.
The superior light to be had by the case not being so large, bringing it more
under the gaslight. A saving of gas by one burner serving well four
combined cases, or for four compositors. Better light to be had for the
'imposing" stones and centre of composing room, there being much less
obstruction to the daylight. Less liability to breakage, as the cases are made
of more durable materials. And also the distance saved in the travelling of the
hand, especially in spacing out the lines. Increased space gained by the
66

page_text: "frames" being so much narrower than those now in use, occupying only
about four-fifths of the space. The superior accommodation afforded by the
new "bulk," as also the case rack to frame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry William Poulter in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WILLIAM POULTER, of Thayer Street, Manchester Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Compositor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry William Poulter, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
William Poulter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Henry William Poulter, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IN-
PROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF PRINTERS' COMPOSING
CASES, AND IN THE FRAMES USED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry William Poulter, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry William Poulter, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The object of the improvements is, first, to diminish the number of com-
partments or "boxes" in the "cases," and thereby to reduce the distance the
operator's hand is required to traverse in picking up the types and spacing out
the lines.

page_text: For this purpose I omit some of the compartments or "boxes," namely,
those devoted to the reception of accented vowels, and obtain a better dispo-
sition of other of the "boxes" or compartments; and I also form some of
the partitions for the "boxes" of zinc or other suitable metal for the purpose
of giving more room in such "boxes;" and I sometimes hinge what are com-
monly called the "upper" and "lower" "cases" together, though this is not
absolutely necessary, but in either case the whole is, in fact, reduced to one
"case." I also arrange some of the "boxes" or compartments of " cases" for
small-sized types with false bottoms of sheet india-rubber or otherwise elastic,
in such manner that when fully loaded with type they will sink to the bottom
of the "case," and then gradually rise as the type is removed, bringing the
remainder to the surface.
But that the nature of the improvements may be more fully understood, I
will proceed to describe the same, aided by the accompanying Drawing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
"
"
Figure 1 shews a pair of cases as at present in general use. Figures 2
and 3 shew "cases" according to my improvements. Figure 2 shews what
are commonly called the "upper" and "lower" "cases" hinged together. At
a in Figure 3 the hinges are omitted, and the whole is one "case." By
reference to these figures it will be seen that the e box has width in place of
length, allowing space under it for both the "n" quadrat and the "thin space"
"boxes." The j, k, and q occupy a different position, whilst the double letters
are also better placed. The points are placed with particular regard to con-
versational or quoted matter, the "hair space" (which is mostly used with it)
being close to the apostrophe. The figures are placed within immediate reach
and as near as possible to the "m" and "n" quadrat "boxes," for the greater
convenience in setting table and figure matter. Figure 4 shews an arrangement
of support for the "cases" according to my improvements, by which it will be
seen that the "frames" with the top part are formed inclined from the centre a,
so that four "combined cases" b, two side by side on each side may be used
simultaneously; and I form each slide or "rack" c, c, to receive a "combined
case," that is, an "upper" and "lower" connected "case " in place of only an
"upper" or "lower" "case."
I also form the "bulk" d to receive on the top of it a double-post or double-
foolscap form, and with adjustable spaces or "fillets" e underneath for "form
rack," adapted to suit different sized forms.
By these improvements I am enabled to obtain amongst other the following
advantages: :-

page_text: First, the changing of only one "case" instead of two in using different
sized types.
Second, a superior light by the "case" not being so large, in bringing it
moro under the direct rays of the gaslight when gas is used.
Third, a saving of gas by one burner being able to serve well four "combined
cases," or for four compositors.
Fourth, better light in the daytime for the "imposing" stones and centre
of composing room, the new arrangement of "cases" and "frames" affording
much less obstruction to daylight.
Fifth, time saved in the distance traversed by the hand, especially in spacing
out the lines.
Sixth, increased space gained by the "frames" being so much narrower
than those now in use. Those according to my improvements occupying only
about four-fifths of the ordinary space.
Seventh, superior accommodation afforded by the new "bulk," as also the
case rack to "frame."
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry William Poulter, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
HENRY WILLIAM POULTER. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM BROOKES,
78, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agent.