CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR 'COMPOSING' TYPE AND ALSO FOR DISTRIBUTING' TYPE SET
Year: 1865

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'
TYPE AND ALSO FOR DISTRIBUTING' TYPE."
OR SETTING
Sealed the 25th May 1866, and dated the 4th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Mackie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
December 1865.
I, ALEXANDER MACKIE, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster,
Newspaper Proprieter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING' OR
SETTING TYPE, AND ALSO FOR 'DISTRIBUTING TYPE," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to improvements upon a "certain
Invention for Machinery" for "Composing" or Setting Type for Printing,"
and for which Letters Patent have been previously granted to me, bearing
date the Eighth day of September, A.D. 1865, and numbered 2303 and
which Invention will be understood on reference to the Specification and
Drawings thereof.
My improvements consist, first, in the application and use of ribs, ridges,

page_text: or elevations on the bottom of the type cases therein mentioned, upon which
ribs the type passes downwards, the object of their use being to diminish the
friction of the type as it moves down the cases. In order to keep the type in
a proper position during this passing down (that is at right angles to its line
of descent) I apply and employ a weight either sliding or rolling upon or !
between the ribs, so as to press upon and follow up the type as it descends
and to keep it solid and in contact with the key lever at the bottom of the
.case.
A second part of the Invention relates to a novel means of gradually
depressing the "composing stick" or type receiver to make space for the
type as they gradually descend into it, and the improvements consist, in the
application and use of a rod furnished at its lower extremity with a toothed or
worm wheel gearing into a rack or worm on the "composing" stick holder,
so that as the rod rotates the said holder becomes lowered by the worm or
rack, and the movement of the rod is obtained at an by each depression of
any key used to liberate a type by means of pawls attached to the keys which
act upon ratchet wheels secured on the rod, so that as every type is liberated
from a case the "stick" is lowered exactly the thickness of the type to
receive it.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to a novel-method of retaining, the type. next
behind the one acted on by the key, and consists in the application and use
of a screw pin or peg to each case
case which may be adjusted so as to press upon
and retain the front type but one until the key liberates the front one from
its hold, the screw or pins being adjusted to the various thicknesses of type,
and so arranged as to press on the surface of the type uppermost when in
the case.
The former improvements are also applicable to further improvements in
apparatus for "composing" type which constitutes a fourth part of my
Invention, which relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus, and consists in
the use of a series of shelves arranged at an inclination one above another to
contain the type cases, and all extending diagonally from two inclined maid
channels, proceeding from the right and left hand of the operator and both
terminating in and supplying the central "composing stick," which if
necessary may also be supplied with certain type from cases in front of the
operator. Lettered keys are employed to act upon the type from beneath and
so liberate or supply the type from the cases into the two channels, down
which the type falls by its own weight into the "composing stick."
Lastly, my Invention relates to apparatus for distributing type and supply-
ing the aforesaid cases with it ready for use in straight lines, all the heads

page_text: being one way, and the improvement consists in the use of a "lift" or "host"
attached to the composing case, on which a moveable case like those aforesaid
is raised and lowered by means of cords and balance weights until it is on the
same level as any one of the aforesaid type cases wished.. When this hoist is
at rest, by means of a pawl or other equivalent the type or types is pushed
by means of a pawl or finger from the moveable case on to the fixed one, and
the same process is repeated throughout all the alphabet. The said plan may
be used either separately from the composing apparatus or in combination
therewith.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Mackie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MACKIE, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, Newspaper Proprietor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Пer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord Que thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alexander Mackie, Her special license that I, the said Alexander
Mackie, 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
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR 'COMPOSING OR SETTING TYPE,
AND ALSO FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPE," upon the condition (amongst others) that
1, the said Alexander Mackie, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their bands 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

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
The first part of my Invention relates to improvements upon a certain
Invention for machinery for "composing" or setting type for printing, and
for which Letters Patent have been previously granted to me, beating date
September 8th, A.D. 1865, No. 2808, and which Invention will be understood
on. reference to the Specification and Drawings thereof.
My improvements consist, first, in the application and use of ribs, ridges, or
elevations on the bottom of the type cases therein mentioned, upon which ribs
the type passes downwards, the object of their use being to diminish the friction
of the type as it moves down the cases. In order to keep the type in a proper
position during this passing down (i.e., at right angles to its line of descent) I
apply and employ a weight, either sliding or rolling upon or between the ribs,
so as to press upon and follow up the type as it descends, and to keep it solid
and in contact with the key lever at the bottom of the case.
A second part of the Invention relates to a novel means for gradually
depressing the "composing stick " or type receiver to make space for the
tyres as they gradually descend into it, and the improvements consist in the
application and use of a rod furnished at its lower extremity with a toothed
or worm wheel gearing into a rack or worm on the "composing stick" holder,
so that as the rod rotates the said holder becomes lowered by the worm or
rack, and the movement of the rod is obtained at and by each depression of
any key used to liberate the type by means of pawls attached to the keys,
which act upon ratchet wheels secured on the rod, so that as every type is
liberated from the case the "stick" is lowered exactly the thickness of the
type to receive it.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to a novel method of retaining the type next
behind the one acted upon by the key, and consists in the application and use
of a screw, pin, or peg to each case, which may be adjusted so as to press
upon and retain the front type but one until the key liberates the front one
from its hold, the screws or pins being adjusted to the various thicknesses of
type, and so arranged so as to press on the surface of the type uppermost when
in the case.
The former improvements are also applicable to further improvements in
apparatus for composing "type," which constitutes a fourth part of my
Invention, which relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus, and consists in
the use of a series of shelves arranged at an inclination one above another te
contain the type cases, and all extending diagonally from two inclined mai
channels proceeding from the right and left hand of the operator, and both

page_text: terminating in and supplying the central "composing stick," which, if
necessary, may also be supplied with certain type from cases in front of
the operator. Lettered keys are employed to act upon the type from
beneath, and to liberate or supply the type from the cases into two
channels down which the type falls by its own weight into the "composing
stick."
Lastly, my Invention relates to apparatus for distributing type and
supplying the aforesaid cases with it ready for use in straight lines, all the
heads being one way, and the improvements consist in the use of a "lift" or
"hoist" attached to the composing case, on which a moveable case like those
aforesaid is raised and lowered by means of cords, balance weights, or springs
until it is on the same level as any one of the aforesaid type cases wished.
When this hoist is at rest the type is pushed by means of a pawl or finger
from the moveable case on to the fixed one, and the same process is
repeated throughout all the alphabet." The same plan may be used
either separately from the composing apparatus or in combination therewith.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail I have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings, Sheet 1 being made
about full size, and Sheet 2 about two inches to the foot.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 represents a detached view of one of the keys shewing
the apparatus by which the type is released and allowed to slide into the
"composing stick," also the arrangement of mechanism whereby the said
"composing stick" is caused gradually to lower so as to receive the type as
delivered on the same level; Fig. 2 represents a plan view of a number of
the channels or grooves in which the type are placed, shewing more par-
ticularly their position in connection with the keys and lifting plates; Fig. 3
represents an end view of the same through the line A, B, shewing the
arrangement of bars and adjustable screws for retaining the remaining type
in the channels or grooves at the time the first type is being released; Fig. 4
represents a plan view of the composing stick and its connection with the key
ratchet shaft; Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of the same; and Figs. 6
represents the side and front elevation of the sliding distributor from and by
means of which the type are placed in their cases ready again for
composing.
.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, a, a, represents 'the table or bed in which the
channels or grooves containing the type are situated; these cases are provided
with parallel ribs or elevations 6, 6, upon and down which the type move. In
order to keep the type down, as seen in Fig. 2, I apply and employ the rolling
weight c, which presses upon and follows up the type as it descends, thereby

page_text: g
keeping the type solid and pressed up against the ridge or abutment d in the
channel e leading to the composing stick. The type as they are passed
downwards are received on to the moveable spring plate f, which is arranged
so as to terminate in the channel or grooves (leading to the composing stick)
a little below its surface, so as to form an abutment or stop, against which
the type rests; this plate f is acted upon when the key 9 is depressed by the
finger or rod in such a manner that the front type is raised on a level with
the groove e, and being thus released slides down the conducting channel or
groove e, and is received by the composing stick. At the time the front type
is released the type immediately behind are retained in position by their being
raised by the rod h, so as to bring the first one into contact with the fixed
and adjustable stud or screw i, which is adjusted in the bar k to the varying
thickness of type immediately the spring plate f is lowered, the type being no
longer retained by the screw i pass downwards, and rest against the abut-
ment d in the channel e. The keys 9, 9, are placed opposite each groove or
channel down which the type move, and are caused to rest upon the shaft 1,
which thereby forms the fulcra of all the keys or levers. Upon the shaft 1,
and embraced by each key, ratchet wheels m are secured, which are caused
with each and every depression of the keys g to revolve partially by means of
the pawl n; this revolving motion is transmitted to the shaft o and wheel p
(seen in Figs. 4 and 5), and the wheel p as it revolves actuates the rack and
slide g; this slide forms the holder or support for the composing stick, which
as it becomes gradually depressed makes space for each type as it is delivered
from the groove e, to the amount of depression given to the stick during the
action of any one particular key being exactly the thickness of the type it
receives.
In Fig. 6 the lift or holder r is placed between the uprights s, s, so as to
slide freely or move up and down; this holder is provided with a groove or
channel, in which the type are placed in such a position as to slide therefrom
on either sides, all their heads or type faces being turned towards the operator.
This moveable holder as it rises and falls passes over the space occupied by
the entrance to the series of cases provided to receive the type as they are
delivered from the moveable holder. When the operator ascertains the letter
next to be delivered from the platform he moves it opposite to the case in
which it is to be delivered. Thus by turning a handle u, or pressing a plunger
the type is forced from the platform and placed in its respective case or
receptacle, the same process being repeated throughout all the alphabet, a
spring being employed inside the lift to keep the type always at the same
elevation and at the top of the case.

page_text: In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 represents the front elevation of a novel arrangement
and construction of apparatus for composing type, in which a, a, a, are a
series of shelves arranged at an inclination one above another to contain the
type cases, all of which extend diagonally from the two inclined main
channels b, b, proceeding from the right and left hand of the operator, and
both terminating in and supplying the central "composing stick" c, which, if
necessary, may also be supplied with certain type from cases in front of the
operator. Lettered keys similar to those already described are employed to
act upon the type from beneath, so as to liberate and supply them from the
cases into the two channels b, b, down which the type falls by its own weight
into the composing stick, which is depressed to receive the type, as before
described.
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,-
First, the application and use of ridges or ribs in the type cases and the
sliding or rolling weights employed behind the type.
Secondly, the method and means of depressing the composing stick, and
the method of retaining the back type as the front one is liberated.
Thirdly, I claim the arrangement and construction of apparatus for "dis-
tributing" type.
And, lastly, I claim the general arrangement, construction, and combination
of the apparatus as herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in
the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Mackie, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES, C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Manchester.
ALEXANDER MACKIE. (L.B.)