CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR 'COMPOSING' OR 'SETTING' TYPE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Mackie, of Warrington, in the County
of Lancaster, Newspaper Proprietor, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR 'COMPOSING' OR 'SETTING'
TYPE"
of Lancaster, Newspaper Proprietor, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR 'COMPOSING' OR 'SETTING
TYPE"
Sealed the 19th February 1867, and dated the 7th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Mackie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th September 1866.
I, ALEXANDER MACKIE, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, News-
paper Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR 'COMPOSING' OR
'SETTING TYPE," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements upon certain Inventions for which
Letters Patent have been previously granted to me for "Improvements in
Machinery for Composing or Setting Type for Printing," bearing date the
Eighth day of September 1865, No. 2303, and the Fourth day of December,
A. D. 1865, No. 3104.
The present improvements consist in the use of an inclined channel or
trough supplying and terminating at its lower end the "composing stick,"
which is lowered to receive each successive type as described in the aforesaid
Specifications or by analogous means. On each side of this inclined channel
vertical type cases are arranged in diagonal grooves, such cases having two

page_text: sides and a front (which is adjustable) but no back, and the adjustable front
is sufficiently raised as to leave an opening at the bottom by which the type
escape one at a time into the channel, and are thereby conveyed by their own
weight into the "composing stick." The type are filled into the cases one
above another either simply by means of a wire in the operator's hands, or
spring plungers may be adapted terminating in lettered knobs, upon pressing
which a type is liberated, and when released it springs back and allows the
next type to fall. The apparatus is arranged in front of and inclining towards
the operator, so that he may press out the type with both hands.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Mackie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MACKIE, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, Newspaper Proprietor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Ter most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, ler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Mackie, Her special license that I, the said Alexander Mackio, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Mackie, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
¡MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING OR SETTING TYPE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Mackie, my executors or
administrators, 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 Alexander Mackie, do hereby declare
'the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to improvements upon certain Inventions for which
Letters Patent have been previously granted to me for improvements in
machinery for composing or setting type for printing, bearing date the Eighth
day of September, A.D. 1865, No. 2303, and the Fourth day of December,
A.D. 1865, No. 3104.
The present improvements consist in the use of an inclined channel or
trough supplying and terminating at its lower end in the." composing stick,"
which is lowered to receive each successive type as described in the aforesaid
Specification or by analogous means. On each side of this inclined channel
vertical type cases are arranged on diagonal grooves, such cases Laving two
sides and a front (which is adjustable) but no back, and the adjustable front
is sufficiently raised as to leavo an opening at the bottom, by which means the
type escape one at a time into the channel, and are thereby conveyed by their
own weight into the composing stick. The type are filled into the cases one
above another, and the bottom type is pushed through the aperture into tho
channel, either simply by means of a wire in the operator's hands, or spring
plungers may be adapted termining in lettered knobs, upon pressing which a
type is liberated, and when released it springs back and allows the next type to
fall. The apparatus is arranged in front of and inclining towards the operator,
so that he may press out the type with both hands.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of
about one inch and a half to the foot, similar letters of referenco being marked
upon corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the type setting or composing machine;
Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 represents an enlarged
detached plan view of the inclined table or bed, on the surface of which the
channels or grooves are formed which contain the type; Fig. 4 represents a
transverse section of the same shewing more particularly the arrangement of
the keys and apparatus for relieving and depressing the type; Fig. 5 represents
a front elevation of the same, and Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of the
slanting bed or table, upon which the type are received and accumulate
which is used instead of the composing stick, and which forms an elongated
composing stick, so as to set up and construct sentences previously to their
being placed in the printing machine.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a is the bed or table, on the surface of which
are formed the channels or grooves containing the type for the purpose of

page_text: keeping the machine compact, two or more tables of a similar description may
be arranged and placed one over the other, the channels or grooves of each
being constructed so as to terminate in a channel or trough 6, down which
the type as delivered by the depression of the keys c, c, slide into the receiving
or elongated composing stick d in a continuous line. This composing stick d,
seen more clearly in Fig. 6, is provided with a sliding plunger or pusher e,
which is caused with each depression of one of the keys f, which are secured
on to the diagonal shaft f', to slide forward in its bearings or table d' by
means of the gearing and rack g, the forward sliding action of which impels
the type as they are received down the incline of the elongated composing
stick d, and the plunger on receding leaves a space for the reception of the
next coming type, and such arrangement may also be applied to the ordinary
composing stick, one side of which is moveable in order to "justify" the type.
An indicator is provided for the purpose of enabling the type setter to
judge with precission the termination of each line, the finger of the indicator
is actuated by the accumulating type as they descend the inclined composing
stick through the medium of a connecting cord over the finger i.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with
the method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the novel construction, combination, and arrangement
of apparatus for setting and composing type, as herein-before described, set
forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Mackie, bave hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
ALEXANDER MACKIE. (L.S.)