A NEW AND IMPROVED METHOD FOR PREPARING STEREOTYPE PLATES FOR PRINTING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Griffin, 15, Birmingham Road, Walsall, Stafford.
shire, for the Invention of "A NEW AND IMPROVED METHOD FOR PREPARING
STEREOTYPE PLATES FOR PRINTING."
Sealed the 7th November 1876, and dated the 9th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Griffin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1876.
THOMAS GRIFFIN, 15, Birmingham Road, Walsall, Staffordshire.
IMPROVED METHOD FOR PREPARING STEREOTYPE PLATES FOR PRINTING."
"A NEW AND
The paper mould is prepared and taken in the ordinary way, and the casting is
done in the ordinary casting boxes now in usc. To produce my plates cast and
mounted by the one operation I first make incisions in the wood by sawing, I then
place the wood and mould in the casting box and pour in the molten metal, the
metal then finds its way into the holes sawn in the block and so secures it.
With the usual trimming the plate, ready mounted, is fit for the press. In this
way I also cast metal surfaces for engravers' use, and large metal faced printing
types, or when there are a number of plates, to save room in storing, I cast the the
plate one-eighth of an inch, more or less, in thickness, with flexible flanges in the
sides thereof made of paper and cloth, leather, or some other strong substance.
By my methods I can use less metal in the production, secure the plate more
firmly to the block, and do away with what is termed blocking in the modes now
in use, thus saving valuable time.
or less, in
At present stereotype plates are cast one-eighth of inch, more
thickness and then mounted on wood blocks to the proper height of type, secured
by tacks and screws or mounted on blocks of iron or wood secured by a system of
metal flanges and screws, or the plate is cast wholly of metal the proper height of
type.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Griffin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th November
1876.
"A NEW AND
THOMAS GRIFFIN, 15, Birmingham Road, Walsall, Staffordshire.
IMPROVED METHOD OF PREPARING STEREOTYPE PLATES FOR PRINTING."
I take the moulds in the same manner as now in common use, and also use the
same apparatus for casting as is now ordinary used; but instead of casting my
plates type high, with a solid body of metal, or of casting a thin plate and then
mounting the same on a piece of wood secured by tacks or screws so as to be type
high, which latter method is two distinct operations, by my new method I mount
and cast thin plates of metal by one operation type high, or where great quantities
of plates are required, and the having of so many of such a thickness would be
inconvenient storing away, and also to save expense in producing the same, I
cast the thin plate in such a manner as this can be done.
In casting a thin plate of metal and mounting it type high with a back of wood
at one operation I proceed as follows:-I first of all cut the wood block of the
required size, I then groove, as is shewn in Drawing A 1 (the heavy black lines
running along the top, and at the end showing the groove), I then take the mould,
place thereon the guage (to regulate the thickness of metal I require on the
surface), and then place on the top of said guage the block of prepared wood, then
place in the casting box, close down the lid, and then pour the molten metal between
the mould and the wood block. The metal thus forces itself into the grooves, holes,
or whatever kind of instertice inay me made, and in whatever shape it may be
made, thus securing the metal plate to the block, and when it is taken out of the
casting box it is as represented in my Drawing A 2. The black rim running
round the top, and the two black lines at the end representing the metal on the
wood. As the apertures or grooves can be made in numerous other ways to hold
the metal on the wood besides the one represented in my Drawings A1 and A2
this Specification covers every such way which casts and mounts the plate type
high, or if used for other purposes, whatever heigth required on wood or other
substance at one operation.
In cases where large numbers are required I cast the plate of metal one-eighth
of an inch, more or less, in thickness, with a flexible flange made of linen, paper,
cloth, parchment, or other strong substance cast in the side thereof, as shewn in iny
Drawing B2, or cast the plate with a groove down the side, as shewn by the black
line in my Drawing B 1, using a metal flange when printing.
The flexible flange, as in Drawing B2, and the groove, as in Drawing B 1, in
these plates, are cast in the same manner by inserting in the centre of the split
iron guage either the flexible substance (if the plate is required with the flanges) or
if with the groove a projecting piece of metal, then laying the said guage on the
mould place in the casting box, shutting down the lid and pouring in the molten
metal.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Griflin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of November One thousand eight hundred and
THOMAS CRIFFIN. (L.S.)