AN IMPROVED ELECTROTYPING PROCESS, AND APPARATUS USED THEREFOR
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED ELECTROTYPING PROCESS, AND APPARATUS USED THEREFOR”–
A communication from abroad by William Augustus Leggo, of
Montreal, Canada, Gentleman.
-
Sealed the 22nd August 1871, and dated the 25th February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th February 1871.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," South-
ampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED ELECTROTYPING PROCESS, AND APPARATUS USED
THEREFOR," a communication, to be as follows :-
-
This Invention relates to improvements in the art of electrotyping
whereby electrotypes are made not only clearer and better to print
from, but are produced with much less labour and more cheaply. Before
going further it would be as well to describe the ordinary method of.
producing electrotypes, explaining at each stage the nature of my
improvements on the process.

page_text: The ordinary way of obtaining wax moulds for electrotypes from
forms of type is as follows:-The form of type being ready is placed
upon the bed of the moulding press, planed, slightly dusted with
pluinhago, and brushed so as to give it a non-adhesive surface. A plate
of wax is then prepared by pouring melted wax into a shallow pan
where it is allowed to cool. It is dusted with plumbago and brushed,
and then inverted upon the form of type and subjected to pressure.
Having been pressed the wax is removed from the form of type, and
constitutes the mould for electrotyping. In very few instances is this
pressure all that is requisite, but it nearly always requires “building
up," that is, supplying extra wax to all the larger spaces of the form for
the purpose of getting sufficient depth for clear printing.
By my improvements the process of building up is entirely dispensed
with, and a type produced clearer and more or less depressed in the
spaces. According as they are larger or smaller I use a moulding pan
(preferably of cast iron) brought to a true and level surface on its lower
edge and provided at the ends with extensions pierced with holes.
Holes are also pierced at each corner of the bottom of the moulding
pan. The moulding chase for receiving the form of type is provided
with a ledge round it from which project pins arranged to correspond
and fit into the extension holes, and around these pins are placed strong
spiral springs. The workman places in the bottom of the moulding
pan a plate of any suitable metal, he then pours in the melted wax and
allows it to set. The form of type having been previously fitted in the
moulding chase is covered with one or more plies of wetted moleskin,
or some equivalent substance. While the wax is still soft and warm the
moulding pan containing it is inverted over the moleskin covered type,
the pins fitting into the corresponding holes, and the extensions of the
moulding pan resting on spiral springs. Pressure is now applied to the
required extent and regulated in any ordinary manner.
The pressure
having been removed and the moulding pan lifted up the moleskin is
next taken off, and the type having been dried is treated in the ordinary
way to give it a non-adhesive surface, and the embryo wax mould having
been operated upon in like manner the moulding pan is again placed on
the moulding chase in exactly the same position as in the first operation.
Pressure is now brought to bear sufficient only to force the face of the
type into the wax. The wax mould and plate upon which it rests may
be casily and safely removed from the mould by pressing through the
holes in the bottom of the moulding pan.

page_text: In the ordinary practice the face of the type being colder than the
wax chills that portion of the wax which immediately comes in contact
with it. The softer wax therefore yields to the pressure while that in
contact with the type retains a certain roughness. This is obviated in
my process by heating the bed of the moulding press, upon which the
type rests, by gas or in any other convenient manner, so that the tem-
perature of the type is a few degrees higher than that of the room in
which the work is being carried on, and the wax gives a perfectly sharp
clear mould upon which copper is deposited in the usual manner.
In the usual process of backing up the electrotype shells two kinds of
pans, the open and the close, are used. By the first or open pan sound
plates may be produced, but as it is impossible to produce the plates of
any required or uniform thickness a roughing machine has to be
employed to remove the superfluous metal, thus entailing great expense
and occupying a large amount of time. By the close pan plates of any
required thickness may be produced, but the metal cooling more rapidly
round the edge of the plate is very liable to shrink in the middle, an
uneven and unsound plate being the result.
By my improvements both these evils are obviated, a perfectly sound
plate of any required thickness being produced. I use an outer pan of
cast iron or other suitable metal for receiving the electrotype shell, and
provided with a ledge inside upon which the inner pan rests. This ledge
may be of any required height and serves to gauge the thickness of the
backing. The inner pan is constructed preferably of cast iron and has
its bottom pierced with any convenient number of small holes. The pans
having been prepared by heat in the ordinary manner, the electrotypo
shell is placed face downwards in the outer pan and a very little metal
poured upon it, the inner pan is then placed in position, the height of
the ledge gauging the thickness of backing required. The liquid metal
is then poured quickly into the inner pan and descends in a shower
through the holes upon the electrotype shell, pressing it down equally
and at every point, thus obviating the necessity of springs or weighted
wires. The metal nearest the face cooling first, and the constant supply
of liquid metal being kept up from the back, all danger of shrinkage or
distortion is avoided. The whole having been allowed to cool the inner
pan is detached and the electrotype plate is released.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Haseltine in the Great Seal Patcut Office
on the 24th August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, George
ILASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton Buildings,
London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said George Haseltine, Her
special licence, that I, the said George Haseltine, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Haseltine,
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 "An
IMPROVED ELECTROTYPING PROCESS, AND APPARATUS USED THEREFOR," a com-
nication to me from abroad by William Augustus Leggo, of Montreal,
Canada, Gentleman, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Haseltine, my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 George Haseltine, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention relates to improvements in the art of electrotyping,
whereby electrotypes are made not only clearer and better to print
from, but are produced with much less labour and more cheaply. Before

page_text: been prevously fitted in the moulding chase c is covered with one or
more plies of wetted moleskin or some equivalent substance. While the
wax is still soft and warm the moulding pan a containing it is inverted
over the moleskin covered type, the pins e fitting into the corresponding
holes &', and the extensions 6 of the moulding pan resting on the spiral
springs d. Pressure is now applied to the required extent and regulated
in any ordinary manner. The pressure having been removed, and the
moulding pan lifted up, the moleskin is next taken off, and the type
having been dried is treated in the ordinary way to give it a non-
adhesive surface, and the embryo wax mould having been operated upon
in like manner the moulding pan a is again placed on the moulding
chase c, the pins c and holes &' keeping it in exactly the same position
as in the first operation. Pressure is now brought to bear suflicient only
to force the face of the type into the wax, the requisite depths in the
open spaces having been secured by the first impression. The wax
mould and plate upon which it rests may be easily and safely removed
from the mould by pressing through the holes & in the bottom of the
moulding pan. In many cases the moulding chase will not be needed,
and then any suitable contrivance may be used to keep the wax mould
in the proper position during the second impression.
In the ordinary practice the face of the type being colder than the
wax chills that portion of the wax which comes immediately in contact
with it, rendering it harder than that part which does not meet the face
of the type. The softer wax therefore yields to the pressure, while that
in contact with the type retains a certain roughness hurtful to the
resulting electrotype.
This difficulty is obviated in this improved process by heating the
bed of the moulding press upon which the type rests by gas, or in any
other convenient manner, so that the temperature of the type is a few
degrees higher than that of the room in which the work is being carried
on, and the wax in contact with the slightly warmed face of the typo
therefore yields readily to the pressure, and gives a perfectly sharp,
clear mould, upon which copper is deposited in the usual manner.
In the usual process of backing up the electrotype shells two kinds of
pans, the open and the close, are used. By the first or open pau sound
plates may be produced, but as it is impossible to produce the plates of
any required or uniform thickness, a roughing machine has to be
employed to remove the superfluous metal, thus entailing great expence

page_text: and occupying a large amount of time. By the close pan plates of any
required thickness may be produced, but the metal cooling more rapidly
round the edge of the plate is very liable to shrink in the middle, an
uneven and unsound plate being the result.
By my improvements both these evils are obviated, a perfectly sound
plate of any required thickness being produced, the apparatus being
shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6. e is the outer pan of cast iron or other
suitable metal for receiving the electrotype shell, and provided with a
ledge e' inside, upon which the inner pan frests. This ledge e¹ may be
of any required height, and serves to gauge the thickness of the backing.
The inner pan f is constructed as shewn, preferably of cast iron, having
its bottom pierced with any convenient number of small holes f¹.
The process of backing up is performed as follows:-The pans having
been prepared by heat in the ordinary manner the electrotype shell is
placed face downwards in the outer pan e, and a very little metal poured
upon it.
The inner pan f is then placed in the position shown, the
height of the ledge el gauging the thickness of backing required. The
liquid metal is then poured quickly into the inner pan f, and descends
in a shower through the holes f' upon the clectrotype shell, pressing
it down equally and at every point (thus obviating the necessity of
springs or weighted wires). The metal nearest the face cooling first,
and the constant supply of liquid metal being kept up from the back,
all danger of shrinkage or distortion is avoided. The whole having been
allowed to cool the inner pan is detached, and the electrotype plate is
released. By this means an electrotype plate is produced perfectly even
on the face, equal in thickness all over, and sound in texture.
Having thus fully described the nature of the said Invention as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I
claim,―
First. The use of moleskin or its equivalent, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose described.
Second. The application of heat to the type form, substantially in
the manner and for the purpose described.
Third. The construction of the moulding pan a, extensions b, holes 6',
moulding chase c, ledge c³, pins c², spiral springs d, or equivalent devices,

page_text: all working together, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
.described.
.
Fourth. The perforations
of the inner pan f, working substantially
in the manner and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and soventy-one.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)