IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR COMPOSING AND PRINTING
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel Hubbard Loomis, of the City and State
of New York, United States of America, temporarily residing at the City
of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR COMPOSING AND PRINTING."-A commu-
nication from abroad by Thomas Hall, of Bergen, in the State of New Jersey,
United States of America.
Sealed the 5th March 1867, and dated the 26th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel Hubbard
Loomis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th October 1866.
I, NATHANIEL HUBBARD LOOMIS, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, temporarily residing in the City of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR COMPOSING AND PRINTING," a communica-
tion from abroad by Thomas Hall, of Bergen, in the State of New Jersey, United
States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to machines where by depressing keys a correspond-
ing letter or character is printed upon paper or other suitable material, so
Paine d

page_text: that by operating upon the keys composition and printing is carried on simul-
taneously.
The Invention consists of an improved arrangement and combination of
mechanism having peculiarities described as follows-Each letter or
character to be used in the machine is of circular form in the stem part so
that it can be fitted in a socket and turned so as to be adjusted: this socket
is formed on the end of a lever which has its fulcrum secured to a horizontal
ring. There is a separate lever for each character, and they are placed at
equal distances all round the ring, and when not depressed they stand nearly
vertical, but when depressed they are brought to a horizontal position or
thereabouts, where they strike upon the printing surface. each lever being of
such length as to strike its type downward at the same point that is at or
immediately under the centre of the ring. Each lever is connected by a
vertical rod with a horizontal lever having its fulcrum between its two ends,
the outer end of each lever having a stem secured to it with a knob at its
upper end which is pressed upon when the letter is to be printed. Only one
key must be depressed at the same time, and one feature of the Invention is
a peculiar arrangement which prevents more than one key from being
depressed at the same time. Descending from each key is a stem with a
peculiar shaped end which comes against one edge of a rocking bar extending
under all the keys, and causes it to turn slightly on one side and bring
another edge of the rocking bar immediately under the stems from the other
keys so as to prevent them from being depressed till the key lifts again and
allows the rocking bar to assume its first position. As each type strikes at
the same place the surface to be printed upon must be moved after each
impression and the completion of each line, and requires two movements, one
in the direction of the lines to be printed to give the space for and between
each letter and between each word, and another movement at a right angle
thereto to give the spaces between the lines. The paper or surface to be
printed upon is mounted upon a frame and secured by clips which press upon
its top and bottom edges, and this frame has V grooves or guides which slide
upon V-edged rails formed into a frame; this allows of the movement for the
spaces between the lines. The rail frame (called the upper rail frame) itself
slides upon another rail frame below and at a right angle to it, and this
allows of the movement for the spaces between the letters and the words.
Under the lower rail frame a horizontal rod is placed and is arranged so
that it can oscillate to and fro in the direction of its length, which is parallel
to the lines to be printed. One end of this rod is jointed with an arm at the
lower end of a vertical shaft having bearings upon the framing of the

page_text: machine, and to another arm at the upper end of this shaft another rod is
jointed which connects it with an arm on a rocking shaft that extends under
all the keys: To the rocking shaft there is a separate arm secured by a set
screw for each key, and to each arm a stem or rod is jointed which ascends
to come in contact with the under side of each key. It will thus be seen that
whichever key is depressed a movement will be given to the rocking shaft which
will be transmitted to the rod passing under the lower rail frame.
Jointed to the upper rail frame there is a friction catch or clutch which sur-
rounds the rod under the rail frame, and this clutch permits the rod to move
freely one way but "bites" upon it so as to cause the upper rail frame to be
carried with the rod when moved the other way, that is, in the direction in which
the paper must move after each letter is printed. This friction clutch forms
another peculiar feature of the Invention.
Now each letter or character requires a different length of space, and this
is obtained by adjusting the arms upon the rocking shaft at varying lengths
from its axis or by allowing the keys to descend to a greater or less extent
before coming in contact with the stems according to the space required by
each letter or character, and this forms another feature of the Invention.
It may be here remarked that the rocking shaft may be made with a web or
flange passing from end to end having a separate slot for adjusting in place of
a separate arm for each key. It may be also remarked that besides keys for
letters or characters there are keys for spaces between words, which keys act
directly upon the rocking shaft.
Another feature of the Invention consists in an arrangement which will
prevent the keys from being depressed after the line has been completed until
the paper is moved back for another line, and this is accomplished by causing
an incline upon the upper rail frame when it arrives at one end of its move-
ment to strike upon the lower end of a rod connected with the rocking bar so
that the rod is lifted and the rocking bar is turned, and thus the keys are pre-
vented from being depressed.
Arrangements are required for moving the paper backwards and forwards
in the lengthway of the line for a new line and for adjustment, which
arrangements form another feature of the Invention. A lever is jointed to
the upper part of the frame to work to and fro in a horizontal position; its
end forms a pointer to an index in front of the keyboard showing at what part
of the line the letter will be printed. This lever handle is connected with an
arm upon a vertical shaft which transmits the movements by another arm
and connecting rod to a forked arm jointed to the upper rail frame; the fork
of this arm acts upon the friction clutch to lift it slightly, and this allows the

page_text: continued movement given through the levers to be freely communicated to the
upper rail frame.
The arrangement for giving the movements for the spaces between the
lines forms another feature of the Invention A bar placed parallel to the
lines to be printed is arranged to slide at right angles to its length, and it is
connected with the frame carrying the paper to be printed .upon so as to
move it in the direction giving the spaces between the lines, but to permit the
frame to move in the direction of the lines to be printed. This bar is con-
nected by rods with arms upon a horizontal shaft which receives movements
from a rod or handle coming to the keyboard arranged like an organ "stop,"
but with an index and notches corresponding to the distance the lines are to
be apart. The type do not strike directly upon the paper but upon a piece of
inked silk stretched slightly above the paper, the inked side of the silk being
towards the paper upon which the impression is to be made; this silk may be
made to pass in the form of an endless band over rollers carried at each side
of the framing or carried by the upper rail frame and working in contact with
ink supplying rollers; the band in the latter case may be moved before the com-
mencement of each line.
Another feature of the Invention consists in placing a ring, pad, or cushion
to mitigate the force of the blow of the levers when striking down the type,
and also cushions to receive the blow caused by the recoil of each lever after
printing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nathaniel Hubbard Loomis in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEL
HUBBARD LOOMIS, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, temporarily residing at the City of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Nathaniel Ilubbard Loomis, Her special license that I, the said
Nathaniel Hubbard Loomis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such other as I, the said Nathaniel Hubbard I-90mis, my executors, adminis-

page_text: trators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR COMPOSING AND
PRINTING," a communication from Thomas Hall, of Bergen, in the State of
New Jersey, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Nathaniel Hubbard Loomis, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 Nathaniel Hubbard Loomis, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to machines where by depressing keys corresponding
letters or characters are printed or impressed upon paper or other suitable
material, so that by operating upon the keys composition and printing is carried
on simultaneously.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the improvements.
Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 is a plan. Some of the
parts of the machine are omitted so that other parts may be more clearly
represented. The other Figures of the Drawings will be described herein-
after.
The Invention consists of an improved arrangement and combination of
mechanism having peculiarities described as follows:-The stem part of each
letter or character (a) to be used in the machine is of circular form, so that
it can be fitted into a socket or holder (a) and turned so as to be adjusted;
this socket or holder is formed upon the end of a lever (a³), which has its
fulcrum secured to a horizontal ring (b), which is suspended from the framing
of the machine by the stays (b¹).
Fig. 3 represents a sectional elevation, and Fig. 4 a plan view of one lover
(a) and other parts..
The type (a) may be made with two shoulders and secured by a set screw
as shewn; or it may be placed in a socket (a) and secured by a set screw as
shewn detached in Fig. 5 a side and Fig. 6 a plan view. There is a separate
lever (a) for each character, and these levers are placed at equal distances

page_text: all round the ring (b) (only two are shewn in Figs. 1 and 2), and when not
depressed they stand at an angle or nearly vertical, but when depressed they
are brought to a horizontal position or thereabouts (in which one of the
levers is shewn in Figs. 1 and 2), where they strike upon the surface of the
material upon which the impression is to be made, each lever (a) being of such
length as to strike its type downward at the same point, that is to say,
immediately under the centre of the ring (b) except that commas or stops and
such like characters which are not in the centre of the line to be printed are
made to strike the line a little above or below the line as required. The
levers (a) may be formed by rods secured to a fulcrum part (a") by screws
(as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4), so as to be adjustable in length, and each
lever (a) has a counterbalance weight (a) attached to its fulcrum, as shewn,
and heavy enough to lift the lever after it has been depressed to its upright
position (shewn in dotted line Fig. 3), the weight being so arranged as to be
nearly horizontal when the lever is up and vertical when the lever is down in
relation to the fulcrum of the lever (see Figs. 3 and 4). Each type lever is
connected by an ascending rod (a³) with a horizontal key lever (c) having its
fulcrum (c) between its two ends (see Figs. 1 and 2), the outer end of each
key lever having a stem (c) secured to it with a knob at its upper end which
is pressed upon when the letter or character is to be printed. The keys (c)
may be arranged to pass in a line from the ends of the rods (a), which are
connected to the type levers (a) to the keyboard, so that those keys at the
greatest distance from the centre of the keyboard will gradually become
oblique in relation to those keys in the centre; but the keys may be kept
parallel to each other by allowing each rod (a) connecting the type levers and
keys to ascend in a more or less oblique direction according to the position in
which they are situated in relation to their keys. Where the rods (a) for the
type levers may be found too oblique in their ascent intermediate levers (c³)
shewn in pecular dotted line Fig. 2 may be used having their fulcrums (c)
upon the framing 3 or 4 inches below the key levers (c) and connected therewith
by short rods. Another method is by arranging the key levers in two tiers one
over the other, the stems (c³) of the lower tier being jointed to the keys and
passing up through the spaces between the upper tier through guides (c), and
the connections herein-after to be described pass downwards through the spaces
between the lower tier of keys.
This arrangement is illustrated by the plan diagram, Fig. 7, representing
half the circle (b) and the sectional elevation, Fig. 8. The lower tier of key
levers actuate the type levers upon that side of the circle (b) nearest the key
board; the upper tier of keys (shewn broken away upon one side of the

page_text: Figure) actuate the type levers upon the other half of the circle. The
fulcrum of each key lever is placed in such position between its two ends that
all the keys will have the same or nearly the same extent of movement at the
keyboard.
The fulcrum of the lower key levers may be carried upon a
board (d) below the keys (c), and those of the upper key levers may be
carried by a board (d) above the levers (see Fig. 8). In using the machine
only one key (c) must be depressed at the same time, and one feature of
the Invention is a peculiar arrangement which after one key is depressed or
partly depressed prevents any other key from being depressed until the one
in use has ascended. Descending from each key is a stem (e¹) with a
peculiar shaped end (see Fig. 1) which comes against the inclined edge of a
rocking bar (e) suspended in centres, and extending under all the keys, and
causes it to turn slightly on one side and bring another edge of the rocking
bar immediately under the stems (e) from the other keys, so as to prevent
them from being depressed until the key lifts again and allows the rocking
bar to assume its first position. As each type strikes at the same place the
surface or material to be printed upon must be moved after each impression
and the completion of each line, and this requires two movements, one in
the direction of the lines to be printed to give the space for and between
each letter and between each word, and another movement at a right angle
to the former to give the spaces between the lines. The paper surface or
material to be printed upon is mounted in a frame (s) and secured by
clips (f) which press upon its top and bottom edges, and this frame (f)
has grooves or guides which slide upon V-edged rails formed into a frame (g),
and this arrangement allows of the movement for the spaces between the
lines. The rail frame (g), called the upper rail frame, slides upon another
rail frame (h) below and at a right angle to it, and this allows of the
movement for the spaces between the letters and the words.
lower rail frame (h) a horizontal rod (k) is placed, and it is arranged in
bearings so that it can oscillate to and fro in the direction of its length, which
is parallel to the lines to be printed. One end of this rod (k) is jointed with
an arm (k) at the lower end of a vertical shaft (³) having bearings upon
the framing of the machine, and to another arm (³) At the upper end of this
shaft () another rod (k) is jointed, which connects it with an arm (k³) on a
rocking shaft (k) that extends under all the keys (c), being carried in screw
centres (k). To the rocking shaft (k) there is a separate arm (k³) secured
by a set screw for each key (c), and to each arm (k) a rod (k) is jointed
which ascends through suitable guides to come in contact with the under side
of the key immediately above it. It will thus be seen that whichever key is
Under the

page_text: depressed a movement will be given to the rocking shaft (k), which will be
transmitted to the rod (k) passing under the lower rail frame (h); jointed
to a bracket (g¹) from the upper rail frame (g) there is a friction catch or
clutch (which surrounds the rod (k) under the lower rail frame (h),
(see enlarged detached Fig. 9), and this clutch (which is a hoop with two sharp
edges upon opposite sides) permits the rod (k) to move freely one way, but
"bites" upon it so as to cause the upper rail frame (g) to be carried with
the rod (k) when moved in the opposite way, that is, in the direction in
which the paper or surface to be printer must move after each letter or word
has been printed.
The friction clutch above described forms another peculiar feature of this
Invention. Each letter or character requires a different length of space,
and this is obtained by adjusting the arms (k) upon the rocking shaft ()
at varying lengths from its axis according to the space required by each
letter or character. This adjustment of the space for each letter or character
may be accomplished by having all the arms (5) from the rocking shaft of
the same length, and by making the rods (k) of different lengths, some to
extend close to the under side of the keys when not depressed, and others to
terminate at varying distances below the keys; by this means some keys will
give their entire movement to the rocking shaft (k), and others will not
come in contact with the rods (k) until partly depressed, and consequently
will give a portion only of their entire movement to the rocking shaft. It
may be here remarked that the rocking shaft may be made with a web or
flange passing from end to end having a separate slot for adjusting in place
of a separate arm (k) for each key. It may be also remarked that besides
keys for letters or characters there are keys or stems (c³) for spaces of
different lengths between words, which keys act directly upon arms secured
to the rocking shaft (k). When the leverage or action of each key upon
the rocking shaft is adjusted for each letter or character the spaces for each or
between each letter can be increased or diminished, and the spaces may be
adjusted for larger or smaller type (without adjusting the leverage for each
separate letter or character), by making the junctions of the connecting rods
with the arms with which they are connected at a greater or less distance from
the axis of the arms. The adjustment will be most readily effected by
slotting the arm (k) and jointing the rod (k) to a stud which can be moved
in the slot to and from the rocking shaft (k). By jointing the rods (k) to
the keys (c), adding a descending projection (c) to each key, and an
arm (k) from the rocking shaft (k) for each key, as shewn in peculiar
dotted line in Fig. 1, the rocking shaft (k) will be prevented from being

page_text: carried too far by momentum as the arms (k) will pass under the projec-
tions (c) from the keys undepressed, but the arm (k) of the key depressed
will come in contact with the projection (c) which is placed to limit its
movement The arms (k*) may be shortened by arranging the rocking shaft
nearer the keys. The above-described mode of varying the spaces between
each letter and between words, and of varying the spaces while keeping the
ratio between the letters the same, forms another peculiar feature of the
Invention.
Another peculiar feature of the Invention consists in an arrangement
which will prevent the keys (c) from being depressed after the line has been
completed until the paper is moved back for another line, and this is
accomplished by causing an incline (the bevel of one of the rails in this
case) upon the upper rail frame (g), when it arrives at one end of its move-
ment to strike upon the lower end of a rod (g) connected with an arm upon
the rocking bar (e). so that the rod (0³) is lifted and the rocking bar (e) is
turned, and thus the keys are prevented from being depressed. The rod (9³)
is arranged to slide vertically through a guide at its lower end.
Arrangements are required for moving the paper backwards and forwards
in the lengthway of the line for a new line and for adjustments, which
arrangements form another feather of the Invention. A lever (1) is jointed
to the upper part of the framing on a fulcrum at (1) so as to work to and fro
in a horizontal position; its end forms a pointer to an index in front of the
keyboard, shewing at what part of the line the letter will be printed; this
lever (1), besides being a pointer, is a handle, and it is connected by a rod (1)
with arm () upon the upper end of a vertical shaft (1") having bearings upon
the framing, which has another arm (1) upon it that transmits movement by
another rod (1) to a forked arm (17) jointed to the upper rail frame (g). The
prongs of the forked arm (see Fig. 9) pass one upon each side of the friction
clutch (), so that when the handle (1) is moved in one direction one prong
of the fork (1) will come in contact with the clutch and lift it slightly, so as
to release its hold upon the rod (k), and will thus allow the continued
movement given through the levers to be freely communicated to the upper
rail frame (g).
The arrangement for giving the movements for the spaces between the
lines forms another feature of the Invention. A bar (m) placed parallel to
the lines to be printed is arranged to slide in guides (m³) at right angles to
its length, and it is connected with the frame (f) carrying the paper or other
material to be printed upon, so as to move it in the direction giving the
spaces between the lines, but at the same time to permit the frame to move

page_text: in the direction of the lines to be printed; this bar (m) is connected by
rods (m) with arms (m³) upon a horizontal shaft (m) which receives
movements from a rod or handle connected with one of the arms (m³), this
rod coming to the keyboard being arranged like an "organ stop" but with
an index and notches corresponding to the distance the lines are to be apart.
The rod giving movement to the arm (m³) may be jointed on a stud
adjustible in a slot in the arm (m³), this slot being a radial slot struck to
the length of the actuating rod. By this means the spaces between the
lines can be varied without change in the length between the notches upon the
rod.
Another feature of the Invention consists in using a ring, pad, or cushion
to mitigate the force of the blows of the levers (a) when striking down the
type, and also a ring or cushion to receive the blow caused by the recoil of
each type lever after printing; this is illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4. n is a
ring placed in the centre of the ring (b); it is suspended above the surface
to be acted upon by the type by three or more rods or stays (n²), as shown,
cach rod being provided with an adjusting screw (n³), so that the ring (n)
can be regulated to the required height above the surface to be printed, and
so as to regulate the depth of the impression made by the type when
preparing moulds for stereotyping. The ring (n³) to receive the recoil of the
type levers is sustained upon stays (n) from the lever ring (b). The
rings n and n may either be covered with soft material to form a cushion,
or each type lever may have such material wrapped round it where it comes
in contact with the said rings. In making moulds for stereotyping the
material is put in a shallow box or frame, and secured upon the frame (f),
and the type strike upon the prepared flat surface of the material; but in
printing ink impressions upon paper or other material the type do not strike
immediately upon the surface to be printed, but upon a piece of inked silk
stretched upon a frame so as to be slightly above the surface to be printed
upon, the inked side of the silk being towards the paper. This silk for
inking may be made to pass in the form of an endless tape over rollers in
bearings attached at each side of the framing, the tape working in contact
with ink supplying rollers. One side of the endless tape is above the surface
to be printed, and the other side passes below the rail framing 9. In the
former arrangement the endless tape would require motion to be imparted to
it by a cord working over pulleys loose upon the axes of the pulleys for the
endless silk tape, but connected to their axes by ratchet clicks carried by the
loose pulleys and kept in gear by springs with the teeth of ratchet wheels
fast upon the axes of the tape pulleys. Each end of the cord is connected

page_text: with the frame (p) so that the movements of the frame in the direction
when printing will be imparted to the inked tape. In the second arrangement
of the inked tape, that is, when the endless tape is carried by the frame, it
only requires moving at intervals. Two or more copies may be printed at
the same time by first placing a piece of paper, then a sheet of inked silk
stretched upon a frame, then a piece of tissue paper above the silk on the
frame, then another piece of paper, which will be printed upon by an endless
inked tape or sheet of inked silked, and the impression will pass through to
the lower piece of paper, upon which the second copy will be made.
I have now particularly described the Invention communicated to me, and
'the manner of carrying the same into effect, and claim as the improvements
secured to me by the said Letters Patent,-
Firstly, the forming of type for machines of the character herein-before de-
scribed with 'the stem part round so as to be adjustable in a socket or 'holder,
substantially as described.
Secondly, the arrangement of the type levers to strike the type downwards
upon the surface to be printed or impressed, substantially as herein-before
described.
Thirdly, the use of a counterbalance weight upon each type lever, arranged
so as to be horizontal when the type lever is up and coming towards the
vertical position in relation to the fulcrum of the lever when the type lever is
down, such weight lifting the type lever to its upright position after each
impression, substantially as herein-before described.
Fourthly, the use of the rings or cushions (n and n³) for the purpose and in
the manner herein-before described.
Fifthly, actuating the type levers by keys (c) and connections (a), substantially
as herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Sixthly, the arrangement of mechanism for preventing the use of other keys
while one key is operating, as herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawings.
Seventhly, the system or mode of stopping the action of the keys (c) at the end
of a line in the manner herein-before explained and illustrated by the
Drawings.
Eighthly, the arrangement of the surfaces to be printed upon sliding
frames (f, g, and h), substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by
the Drawings.
Ninthly, the use of a friction clutch or catch for giving movement in the direc-
tion of the lines to be printed, substantially as herein-before described and illuş-
trated by the Drawings,

page_text: Tenthly, the system or mode of giving a proportionate movement for each
letter or character, and for giving varying spaces between letters or words, and
for increasing or decreasing the movement for all the letters or characters with-
out altering the relative proportion of the spaces between the letters or characters,
as herein-before described.
Eleventhly, the use of an arm or lever as a pointer to an index in front of the
keyboard, and the arm and connected mechanism to move and adjust the
frame (g) in the direction of the lines to be printed, as herein-before described
and shown by the Drawings.
Twelfthly, the arrangement for moving the frame (f). and for adjusting the
spaces between the lines to be printed, and varying the spaces without altering
the notches, as herein-before described and illustrated by the Draw-
ings.
Thirteenthly, the general combination and arrangement of the machinery,
as herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I. the said Nathaniel Hubbard Loomis, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
NATHL. II. LOOMIS. (L.S.)