Improvements in the Manufacture of Flongs for Producing Matrices or Moulds for Stereotyping.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1893.
Complete. Specification Left, 27th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in the Manufacture of Flongs for Producing Matrices
or Moulds for Stereotyping.
I, GEORGE EASTWOOD, of 37 Mount Pleasant, Norwich, and 158 Fleet Street,
London, Newspaper Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The flongs hitherto employed for the production of matrices or moulds for
stereotyping have generally been made of two or more thin sheets of blotting
paper or other bibulous paper with a facing composed of one or more sheets of
tissue paper and a backing composed of one or more sheets of thick blotting paper
and sometimes a layer of muslin behind this. The whole of this flong is
impregnated with the usual composition or paste, the nature of which somewhat
varies but is generally a mixture of glue or gum, flour, starch, whiting and
borax.
0
When it is required to produce a matrix or mould with one of these flongs, the
moist flong is put upon the type-forme, beaten into the type with a brush and then
rolled; or sometimes the beating is dispensed with, in which case the rolling bas
to be effected under great pressure. Then the matrix thus taken, is put (together
with the type forme) into a hot press in order to dry, and it is necessary to cover
the back of the matrix with one or more layers of blanket in order to absorb the
moisture. Or, if the type is not heated, the matrix is stripped off it and instead of
being put into a hot press it is put into an oven, or box of hot sand, to dry. All
these operations are slow and the resulting matrix or mould is often more or less
imperfect, besides which the flong must be made just before it has to be used.
Now according to my invention, I make a flong of one sheet of thick blotting
paper or other bibulous paper which when dry I face with the composition or
paste; I preferably apply this by means of a brush. I allow the composition on
the paper to dry and when it is dry the flong is ready for use and can be kept in
stock for practically any length of time.
When this flong is to be used the face is preferably smoothed with sand paper
but this is not essential; the face is then slightly damped with water by means of
a sponge or otherwise or it may be covered with a damp sheet of tissue paper, then
it is preferably rubbed with French chalk or other suitable material which will
absorb superfluous moisture. The flong thus prepared is placed upon the type or
in a frisket or frame and is then surrounded by heated air for a few seconds so as
to just soften the composition and render it plastic. When in this state it is
pressed upon the forme by means of a press; the mould is thus taken and becomes
at once fixed.
The composition or paste I preferably employ contains treacle or other
saccharine matter in addition to the usual ingredients namely glue or gum, flour,
whiting and borax..
Dated this 27th day of November 1802
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Flongs for Producing Matrices
or Moulds for Stereotyping.
I, GEORGE EASTWOOD formerly of 37 Mount Pleasant, Norwich and 158 Fleet
Street, London, Newspaper Manager, but now of 36 and 37 Cow Cross Street,
London, E.C., Patentee of the Presto Stereotype Matrix Machine, 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:-
The flongs hitherto employed for the production of matrices or moulds for
stereotyping have generally been made of two or more thin sheets of blotting
paper or other bibulous paper with a facing composed of one or more sheets of
tissue paper and a backing composed of one or more thick sheets of blotting paper
and sometimes a layer of muslin behind this. The whole of this flong
impregnated with the usual composition or paste the nature of which somewhat
varies but is generally a mixture of glue or gum, flour, starch, whiting and
.borax.
When it is required to produce a matrix or mould with one of these flongs,
the moist flong is put upon the type forme, beaten into the type with a brush and
then rolled; or sometimes the beating is dispensed with, in which case the rolling
has to be effected under great pressure.
Then the matrix thus taken is put
(together with the type forme) into a hot press in order to dry, and it is necessary
to cover the back of the matrix with one or more layers of blanket in order to
absorb the moisture. Or if the type is not heated, the matrix is stripped off it,
and instead of being put into a hot press it is put into an oven or box of hot sand
to dry. All these operations are slow, and the resulting matrix or mould is often
more or less imperfect, besides which the flong must be kept in a damp condition
some time before it can be used.
Now according to my invention I make a flong of one thick sheet of blotting
paper or other bibulous paper which when dry I face with the composition or
paste I preferably apply this by means of a brush. I allow the composition on
the paper to dry, and when it is dry the flong is complete and can be kept in stock
in the dry state for practically any length of time. In practice I find it desirable
to face both sides of the paper with the composition because by so doing I avoid
any tendency of the paper to warp while drying.
When this flong is to be used the face upon which the mould is to be produced
is preferably smoothed with sand paper but this is not essential; this face is then
slightly damped with water or paste by means of a sponge or otherwise, and it
may then be covered with one or more sheets of tissue or other suitable paper,
damp or dry; then it is preferably rubbed with French chalk or other suitable
material which will absorb superfluous moisture. The flong thus prepared is
placed upon the type or in a frisket or frame and is then surrounded by heated air
for a few seconds so as to just soften the composition and render it plastic. When
in this state it is pressed upon the forme by means of a press; the mould is thus
taken and becomes at once fixed.
The flongs made as herein before described are particularly adapted for use in
machines such as those described in the Specification of my Patent dated
14th January 1893 No. 888 as such machines will not only effect the softening
of the composition and render it plastic by surrounding it with heated air, but
they will also press the flong upon the forme so as to take the mould.
It will be understood from the foregoing description that my flong is a dry flong
with the composition or paste on the face. When the flong is used the blotting or
other paper does not contain moisture, but the composition or paste, after being

page_text: slightly damped, becomes sufficiently softened by the heated air to enable a perfect
mould to be taken by the press.
The composition or paste I preferably employ contains treacle or other saccharine
matter, say about 5 per cent. in addition to the usual ingredients, namely glue or
gum, flour, whiting and borak.
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 I
claim is :-
The manufacture of flongs for producing matrices or moulds for stereotyping
by taking a thick sheet of bibulous paper and facing it when dry with a suitable
composition or paste, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 27th day of Avant 1001
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.