A New and Useful Device for Gauging Printers' Composing Sticks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Useful Device for Gauging Printers' Composing Sticks.
We, HERBERT ALFRED BEATTY, residing at 1 Spencer Avenue, in the City
of Toronto, in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Commercial
Traveller, and GEORGE HILL WHEELER, residing at 214 Gerrard Street, in
the said City of Toronto, Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a certain new and useful device or devices for ganging
printers' composing sticks. and the object of the invention is to provide a gauge for
the stick, by means of which the adjustable head can be accurately and quickly
set, and a saving effected both in time and labor; and the invention consists
essentially of the device hereinafter more fully set forth, and more particularly
pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printers' composing stick.
Fig. 2 is a view of the same stick looking at it from the obverse side.
Fig. 3 is a view of the old style of composing stick, and a gauge for adjusting
the same.
Fig. 4 is a view of the moveable head partially in section to illustrate the
pivoted dog, and the engagement of the teeth of the dog with the notches of
the gauge.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pivoted dog.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and
drawings.
A represents the bottom of the composing stick, B represents the back, and C
the fixed head or end of the stick. The top edge of the back B is divided by
notches D to indicate one system employed by printers for the measurement of
matter, whilst the lower edge is similarly divided by notches E, to represent a
second system employed by printers for the measurement of matter. These
systems are commonly known as "point-ems" and "non-point-ems." The distance
from the centre of one notch to the centre of the next adjacent notch of the point
system is equal to the width of a point-em, whilst the distance from the centre of
one of the notches to the centre of the next adjacent notch to the non-point system
is equal to the width of a non-point-em. The notches in both systemis are arranged
preferably in groups of five, and numbered in that case 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,
40, 45 and 50. F represents the moveable head. This movable head is provided
with an upwardly and leftwardly extending flange G, which projects slightly
above the top of the back B, and slightly to the left of the head F. H represents
a stay connected to the flange G and to the back of the moveable head F, for the
purpose of bracing that end of the head remote from the back B. I represents a
lock connected to the flange G, for the purpose of holding the head F in any set
position. The lock I consists of a block i, the lower part of the inner face of
which is milled out to form a recess J to receive the back B of the composing
stick, and a dog K pivoted within the block 1 having two teeth k, k¹ to enter
respectively the notches D, E, to permit of the moveable head being set to either
the gauge of the point or non-point system. The teeth k, k¹ are wedge-shaped, in
order that the point will readily enter the notch without difficulty or opposition

page_text: and when the tooth has been pressed into the notch the broader part of the tooth
will accurately fit the notch and prevent any side movement of the moveable head.
In using our gauge (which we prefer to call a self-gauging composing stick)
we hold the composing stick in the left hand, and slide the moveable head to
the point on the gauge indicating the number of ems or measure desired, the
point of measurement being the centre of the notch, with which the head must
register when the dog is locked in the notch.
For point measurement we slide the moveable head into the required position
and insert the dog k into the notch D opposed to it. For non-point measurement
we slide the moveable head into the required position as before and insert the
dog into the opposed.notch E.
As there are a large number of composing sticks in use now, unprovided with
a gauge, and as it would entail a considerable loss upon the owners of these sticks
to throw them aside, we have provided a gauge constructed on the same principle
as the gauge herein before described, but separable from the composing stick
(which we prefer to call a composing-stick setter). This gauge consists of a
bar B notched on both edges to correspond respectively with the notches D, E, and
the point and nou-point systems or other measurements, herein before described.
Connected to the end of the bar B' is a fixed head C, and sliding on the bar is a
moveable head F, having a lock consisting of a dog K pivoted within the head F,
and having two wedge-shaped teeth k-k adapted to engage respectively the
notches D, E. The notches D, E correspond in all particulars. with the
notches D, E, herein before 'described, and are arranged in similar groups of five
notches in each group, and numbered by fives from 5 to 50.
The composing stick bereinbefore in use has been provided with a moveable
head having a slot in the rearwardly extending flange, through which passes a
set-screw fastening it to the back. When this gauge is employed in connection
with a composing stick without a gauge, the moveable head F is set to the required
position, and locked by means of the insertion of one of the teeth of the dog K into
one of the notches. The moveable head is then placed against the inner side of
the fixed head of the composing stick, and the moveable head of the composing
stick is moved until it comes into contact with the fixed head C of the gauge, and
is then locked in position by the tightening of the set screw. It night here be
stated that in order to securely lock the moveable head F of the composing stick,
shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, in any position, we have provided the
moveable head with a set-screw, which passes through the upper part of the
flange G and through the upper part of the block I, clamping together the block
and flange. By means of these gauges the moveable bead of the composing stick
can be rapidly and accurately set in position; thus effecting a saving both in labor
and time.
We do not coufine ourselves to making the gauge to any particular system or
systems, as we propose making the gauge to meet the requirements of the systems
of measurement in any country, in which the composing stick or gauge may
be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, we hereby declare that what we claim is:
1. A device for gauging composing sticks consisting of a bar, having a scale
marked thereon, a fixed head at one end of the bar, a moveable head adapted to
slide on the bar, and a means for locking the moveable head, substantially as
specified.
2. A device for gauging composing sticks consisting of a bar, having a scale
representing one system marked along one edge thereof, and a scale representing
another system marked along the other edge, a head fixed at one end of the bar,
a moveable head adapted to slide on the bar, and means for locking the moveable
head, substantially as specified.
3. A device for gauging composing sticks, comprising a bar, having a scale or

page_text: scales marked thereon, a fixed head for the bar, a moveable head, a lock having:
a pivoted tooth adapted to engage the scale, and lock the moveable head in any
set position, substantially as specified.
4. A device for gauging composing sticks, comprising a bar having a scale..
marked thereon, a fixed head, a moveable head, a lock having a pivoted wedge-
shaped tooth, adapted to engage the said scale, substantially as specified.
5. A device for gauging composing sticks, comprising a bar having a scale or
scales marked along one edge thereof, to correspond with one system of measure-
ment, a scale similarly marked along the other edge to represent a second system
of measurement, a fixed head, a moveable head, a lock for the moveable head,
having a pivoted wedge-shaped tooth to engage the said scale, substantially as...
specified.
6. A printers' composing stick, comprised of a bottom, a fixed head for the
bottom, a fixed back for the bottom, a scale marked along one edge of the back
representing one system of measurement, a moveable head, a lock for the moveable
head sliding on the said back, and a pivoted dog to engage the said scale,.
substantially as specified.
7. A printers' composing stick consisting of a bottom, a fixed head and back
for the bottom, a moveable head, a lock connected to the moveable head, having
a pivoted dog provided with wedge-shaped teeth, a notched scale along one edge.
representing one system of measurement, and a similarly notched scale along the
other edge representing a second system of measurement, the said teeth adapted
to engage with the said notches, substantially as specified.
8. A printers' composing stick, comprised of a bottom, a fixed head for the
bottom, a fixed back for the bottom, a scale marked along one edge of the back.
representing one system of measurement, a moveable head, a lock for the moveable
head sliding on the said back, a pivoted dog to engage the said scale, and a
clamp to bind the lock and moveable head to the said back, substantially as-
specified.
9. A printers' composing stick consisting of a bottom, a fixed head and back.
for the bottom, a moveable head, a lock connected to the moveable head, having:
a pivoted dog provided with wedge-shaped teeth, a notched scale along one edge
representing one system of measurement, and a similarly notched scale along the
other edge representing a second system of measurement, the said teeth adapted
to engage with the said notches,, and a clamp to bind the lock and moveable.
head to the said back, substantially as specified.
10. The gauging composing stick hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
11. The gauge for printers' composing sticks, herein before described and.
illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.
Dated the 1st day of December 1896
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants..