An Improved Key for Securing Stereotype Plates to their Base Blocks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Key for Securing Stereotype Plates to their Base
Blocks.
I, DAVID REID, of No. 143 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria,
Publisher, 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 consists of an improved key for securing stereotype plates to their
base blocks.
The key is made in two parts an upper and a lower, each in the shape of channel
iron, placed back to back and so rivetted together as to allow of a slight lateral play.
The flanges or sides of these channels may be pressed outward so as to make a more
obtuse angle with their bottom or they may be pressed inwards so as to form a less
obtuse angle therewith, the object of this adjustment being to make it possible to
widen or contract the key if necessary in order to make it accurately fit into the
grooves in the base block and stereotype plate respectively. These keys I prefer to
make in comparatively short lengths and so that the upper and the lower parts break
joint with each other.
The upper and lower parts of the key are tightly held together vertically by the
rivets but have a slight lateral play so that the upper part can slide side-wise to the
right or left upon the lower part. The object of rivetting the two parts of the key
tightly together vertically is that the key may have a tendency to hold the stereotype
plate and base block securely together acting upon them like a spring and pressing
them firmly one upon the other and the object of giving to the upper part of the key
a sliding motion sidewise is that the key when being pushed into its place may the
more readily adjust itself to the grooves in the base block and stereotype plate, even
if the grooves do not exactly correspond the one to the other. The lower face of the
stereotype plate and the upper face of the base block are planed true each to each,
so that when placed in position and held tightly together by means of the spring like
action of the key the whole forms one solid compact stereotype block exactly type
high and can be printed with type with little or no trouble in making ready. In
order however that my invention may be more perfectly understood, I will now refer
to my drawings in which,-
Figures 1 and 2, show respectively a side and end elevation of a stereotype plate
and its base block secured together by one of my improved keys.
Figure 3 is a top view of the base block showing my improved key.
Figures 4 and 5 show respectively on an enlarged scale side and end views of one
of my improved keys with the flanges or sides in their medium or standard position.
Figures 6 and 7 show side and end views of sane when the sides or flanges have
been pressed outwards so as to form a more obtuse angle with the bottom of the
channel metal, while,
Figures 8 and 9 shew similar views but with the flanges pressed inwards so as to
form a less obtuse angle with the bottom than is shown in the standard shape.
A is the base block, B the stereotype plate, and C is my improved key composed
of an upper and a lower part as most clearly shown in Figures 5, 7, and 9, the
flanges or sides of which are marked c, and the rivets for connecting the upper with
the lower part are marked c. The enlargement in the hole for the rivets c¹ and the
lateral play thereby allowed is shewn by dotted lines in Figure 9.
I do not confine myself to any special metal in the construction of my key but
I believe that it is best to make them of zinc, brass or steel and to connect their
upper and lower parts together by means of brass rivets. These keys are in every

page_text: case to be so made as to fit the dove-tailed grooves made respectively in the lower
face of the stereotype plate and in the upper face of its base block as clearly shown
in Figure 2.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
1 claim is :-
My improved key for securing stereotype plates to their base blocks consisting
essentially of two lengths of thin flexible channelled metal placed back to back and
connected together by any suitable means such as brass rivets, said upper and lower
parts being preferably of short lengths and each breaking joint with the other all
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in my drawings.
Dated this Eighteenth day of September One thousand eight hundred and
eighty-nine.
DAVID REID