IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGRAVING BY MACHINERY
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
ELDRED WALKER, of Melton Street, Euston Square, Middlesex, Engraver, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighteenth day of January, in the third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Arthur Eldred Walker, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said Arthur Eldred Walker, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Arthur Eldred Walker, my exors,
adñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGRAVING
BY MACHINERY;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I,
the said Arthur Eldred Walker, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court, of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Arthur Eldred Walker, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which, the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to a mode of engraving by machinery by the use of
what I call engraving or plate type, as will be hereafter fully described.
According to the means now pursued in engraving surfaces to be printed from,
where letters, figures, and small designs are required to be engraved, in
addition to the general engraving of the surface, such letters, figures,
and small designs have been heretofore and still are performed by hand
with an ordinary graver or pointed instrument, removing by degrees parts of
the substance of the surface to be printed from in like manner to the
engraving the general design on the copper plate or other metal surface.
Thus, supposing the general design which is engraved on a copper plate or
other metal surface to be a map, in such case the names of the towns and
places would have to be engraved, and there would probably require to
be many figures to indicate distances and for other purposes, and also many
other small designs or devices, such as trees, hills, churches, houses, bridges,
and many other small devices to give different indications in various localities
of the map; and according to the means now pursued, all such small designs
would be engraved by hand with a graver or pointed instrument, removing by
degrees parts of the metal surface, according to the letters, figures, or other
small devices desired to be engraved, and it is well known that such mode of
engraving is very slow, and requires skilful workmen or artists to perform,
and is consequently very costly if the work be well executed. Now, the object
of my Invention is a mode of employing hardened plate type, having the
letters, figures, or small designs (which it is desired to be engraved on
the printing surface) in such manner that such letters, figures, or other small
designs may be engraved on to the copper plate or other proper metal surface
for printing, whereby not only can much greater uniformity be obtained in
engraving such small designs in the localities or places where they are required
owing to the care which may be employed in. producing such type, as the cost
of care will be compensated for by the type lasting for a long time. And,
further, by the use of type, engravings will be performed at much greater
speed, and at a smaller cost than is the case at present, and inferior artists
or workmen will be able to execute the work as well, if not better, than well-
skilled artists or workmen when working by means of the graver or pointed

page_text: instrument. I would remark, that although I have selected the engraving of
maps as an example of the use to which my Invention is applicable, I do not
confine myself thereto, as it will be evident that where engraved writing,
printing, figures, or other small designs are required to be engraved on copper
or other suitable metallic surfaces for printing, the mode referred to as my
Invention, and hereafter more fully explained, will be equally applicable, and I
only mentioned a map as one instance where a great variety of such small
designs are required to be engraved in different parts or localities of the
printing surface.
Having thus called attention to the objects of my Invention, I will proceed
to explain the nature of the type, which may be said to constitute one of the
most important parts of the mechanical instruments employed, and the means
pursued by me in making the same, and I will then describe the mechanism
for holding and working with such type.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents the under surface of one of the engraving or plate type
on a magnified scale, having the letter B in relief thereon. Figure 2 is an
edge view thereof. The under or working surface of the type is slightly
convex, in order that when that surface is forced on to the printing surface of
copper or other metal, in order to sink therein the letter or other device which
is in relief on the type, that the edges of the plate type may not injure
or mark the printing surface, and it requires care in so rounding the surface
of the type that on the one hand the edges of the plate may not injure
the printing surfaces on which the letter or other device on the type is to
be engraved or impressed, and on the other hand not to have the under face
of the type so rounded as to sink the surface of the copper or other plate in
the act of impressing the letter or other device. And in order to accomplish
these objects, I first form dies such as Figure 3, each having a concave surface
the reverse of the working face of the type, by sinking the same, by means of
a carefully formed die, Figure 4, which is so formed, that supposing it to be
placed on a printing surface of copper or other proper metal, and were to
receive a blow equal to sink a letter into the face of the copper or other plate,
that the face of the punch should not indent the copper or other plate.
These dies are made by trial till the degree of flatness and rounding off the
edges required are obtained. Having formed these instruments, I have a die
of tempered steel, through which a square hole is formed of a wire just equal
to receive and allow the square blanks, Figure 3, to pass down it, and within
this die I have a filling piece of. tempered steel, on to which the blank,

page_text: Figure 3, is received; and then I, by means of the die, Figure 4, being
pressed on by a fly press, I cause the blank to be sunk into the figure shewn
at Figure 3, which is a section through the centre. I then cause the. sunk
steel blank, Figure 3, to be engraved in the centre with a letter or figure, a
tree or other small device, which it is intended the type produced therefrom
should engrave on to copper or other printing surface of metal, and then the
engraved die, Figure 3, is to be hardened in the following manner:-I take
several such dies, Figure 3, and by means of thin iron wire I bind them one
beyond the other on to a strip of woven wire cloth, the wire cloth being at the
back of the dies, Figure 3. I then dip the dies into a crucible having melted
salt (common or table salt) therein, and the dies are to remain therein till they
are at a bright red heat, which will readily be seen, as the salt, when, in a
melted state, is sufficiently transparent to admit of the degree of heat of the
dies therein being seen. The dies are then to be withdrawn and thrown into
water to cool. When the dies are taken from the water and removed from
the wire cloth to which they were bound, they will sometimes require cleaning,
which operation I perform by means of turpentine and a camel's hair brush,
cut close, and if there be anything in the sunk or engraved part, I remove it
by means of a needle point.
Having prepared the dies as above explained, they are suitable to produce
type therefrom, which operation is performed by having first produced
the steel blank. The parts being properly prepared, are then to be used
as is shewn in the Drawing, wherein all the parts are in the die, and
their nature and character written thereon, and pressure is to be exerted
thereon by a fly press, or other such means, and the die or type, Figure 3*,
will be obtained with the letter, figure, or other small design in relief on the
centre, and whilst in the soft state I place it in a lathe and turn the back to
a guage, in order to make all the type of the same thickness; and in order
to facilitate the use of such type, I form a groove on the upper edge of each
type, in order to ascertain when the type is the right way upwards. It
should be stated that in making the dies I employ steel, and therefore they
only require hardening, but in making the plate type I use decarbonized
steel, and therefore, when the type has been correctly produced, it requires
to go through a process to recarbonize the steel, and this I-perform by placing
the type with bone dust into a crucible, and cover and lute down the crucible,
and submit it to heat for about two hours, during which time I keep the
crucible and its contents to a bright red heat, and then remove the crucible
from the furnace and permit it to cool. I then uncover the crucible and
take out the type, and then submit the type to a like process of hardening

page_text: to what I have described in respect to the dies, and then the type will be
ready for use.
I have been thus particular in describing the mode of preparing the type
as pursued by me; at the same time I make no claim thereto, steel for
engraving purposes having been subjected to like processes before; and
I would remark that I do not confine myself thereto, provided plate, type,
such as above explained, be produced, proper for carrying out my Invention.
It will be evident that great care will be requisite for forming the type all of
the same size and thickness, in order to their. all filling the same instrument
by which they are used; by such means evenness of work will be obtained
with greater certainty.
I will now proceed to describe Figure 5, which shews a perspective view of
a table or bench, having suitable machinery thereon for working with the
type above described. A is the machine, the nature of which will be better.
understood when I come to describe the other Figures of the Drawings, which
shew the parts full size. B is a weight which rests on the upper part of
the frame of the machine. This weight is carried by two arms C, C, which.
move on axes at C', and the weight can readily be raised by the workman by:
placing his foot on to the treadle D, which moves on axes at D', there being.
a cord E connected to the treadle and to the weight B, such cord passing.
over a pulley, above, The machine stands on three feet, as hereafter.
explained; and when the weight D is raised, the workman can readily move
the machine in any direction, and when correctly placed by lowering the
weight on to the top of the frame, the machine will be kept secure from
movement till the letters, figures, or devices in succession have, or a single
letter, figure, or device has been engraved on to the copper or other plate
printing surface. F is a copper plate placed on to the table, to have engraved
or impressed thereon letters, figures, or other devices, by means of the
machine and the type before described.
I will now describe the machine for holding and working with the type.
Figure 6 is a front view of the machine. Figure 7 is a transverse section
thereof, with the parts in the position they would appear after having just
caused the device to be engraved on the surface of the copper plate. Figure 6
representing the parts in the position they would be in just before impressing
the device on the type into the surface of tho copper plate. Figure 8 shews
a plan of the machine, with the upper part of the frame removed, the other
Figures shewing some of the parts separately. In each of these Figures the
same letters indicate similar parts wherever they occur, a, a, being the upright
framing of the machine, at the upper part of which there is a cross head a'.

page_text: which connects the two uprights a, which supports the weight as above
described; and it will be seen that the lower ends of the uprights a are affixed
into the frame c, the nature of which is clearly shewn in the Drawings. bis
one of the type in what I call the type holder, the nature of which will be
hereafter explained. The frame c, c, is carried by three feet d, d, and at the
under part of the frame c, c, the sliding bar e is carried; and such bar has
thereon the uprights f and g, which respectively carry the magnifying glass h
and the spring hammer i, as will be hereafter explained; and this bar e slides
on the under part of the frame c, such bar being bevelled off at the under
edges, and is supported by the bevelled edged plates e', affixed to the frame c.
On the upper surface of the sliding bar e is affixed the block or nut f¹, which
has a female screw formed therein, through which the screw g' moves, and by
which the bar e is slided to and fro under the frame c, the screw g turning
on two screws g² as axes, and on one end of the screw g₁ is affixed a bevelled
toothed wheel g³, which takes into and is driven by the bevelled toothed
wheel g, which moves on an axis affixed in the frame c, and the wheel g'is
affixed to a milled head or handle, by which the workman can readily turn the
wheel, and consequently the screw 7', and by such means move the bar e to
and fro, in order to adjust the position of the type that it may give off its
impression in a proper place. On the bar e is affixed a plate j, by means
of screws, and the plate j has projections j', which carry the axis j2 of the
lever type holder k, which moves on the axis j, as will readily be understood
on examining the Drawing; and such will be the case in respect to the
nature and shape of the type holder k, when the various views thereof in.
the Drawing are carefully examined. The holder is suitably formed at the
under surface to receive and work with one type at a time, there being a
guage plate affixed on the under surface of the holder, in the angle of
which two sides of the type are received, the back or upper surface of the
type resting against the under surface of the holder k, and the type is held in
its place by the spring lever stop 2, which, resting against the opposite angle
of the type to where it is supported by the guage plate, forces it against the
sides of the guage plate k', and the type is held securely between the spring
stop and the two sides of the guage plate . The opposite end of the lever
type holder k, beyond its axis, is turned downwards, and has a pointing plate l
hinged thereto. This pointing plate is constantly pressed downwards by a
spring. This plate has a mark or line correctly made to indicate the correct
position of the letter or design, and the plate being capable of adjustment, its
pointing may be set correctly in respect to the type held in the holder. m is
a set screw by which the distance the type holder can be raised is adjusted,

page_text: and when raised the pointing plate will be forced outward, so as to come to
the position where the type has left, and by moving the screw g' the type
holder and the pointing plate will be moved until it is adjusted to the correct
position for giving another impression, the type being changed from time to
time according to the letter or other device it is desired next to engrave or
impress on the copper or other surface, and the correct placing of the pointing
plate will be readily ascertained by the aid of the magnifying glass h, which is
capable of movement over the position where the pointing plate is situated, and
having a spring, the magnifying glass is forced out of the way as soon as the
hand leaves go of the glass. i is a small hammer by which the requisite blow
to the projection on the upper surface of the type holder is given, by which
the impression in relief of the type will be engraved on to the copper or other
metal printing surface. This hammer is actuated by a spring in the box or
case o, such spring being attached to the axis p, to which the handle of the
hammer is affixed, the other end of the spring being affixed to the interior
of the toothed wheel or ring 9, which fits within the case o; and r is a set
screw, by which the ring 7 can be secured in any position in respect to the
case o, by which means the extent to which the elasticity of the spring will be
exerted may be regulated. s is a pinion which turns with its axis in the
frame o, the pinion s taking into and driving the toothed wheel or ring 9 when
permitted so to do by the screw r being removed, and thus may the spring
be wound up to the degree of tension desired, and then retained by inserting
the screw 7, the axis of the pinion having a square or other head, to be
actuated by a key inserted into the opening through the case for that purpose;
and it will be seen that there is a train of wheels, and a dial plate and hands
to indicate the number of letters, figures, or other designs which the machine
has engraved, thus rendering counting unnecessary; the train of wheels being
put in motion by a catch or tooth affixed on the axis of the hammer, such
tooth actuating a spring bar w, which has a tooth on its upper and under
surface, one to be actuated by the tooth w¹, and the other to actuate the ratchet
wheel; and from the axis of the ratchet wheel motion is obtained to the
train of wheels, all which is similar to ordinary counting apparatus, and is
clearly shewn in the Drawing.
It should be stated that I do not claim the engraving of plates of steel by
another surface of steel generally, that having been long known, and was first
invented by Mr. Perkins, who took out Letters Patent for his Invention in
this country, my Invention being only for a mode of engraving by such means,
and consists, as herein explained, in the using what I have called plate type by
machinery.

page_text: And it should be further stated, that I do not confine myself to the precise
arrangement of the mechanism shown and described for holding and engraving
with the plate type, though I believe it to be the best for the purpose, the
great object and end of the mechanism, when conjoined with proper type formed
as herein described, being correctly to hold the type, in order to ensure
accuracy of placing of the letter, figure, or other small design in relief thereon
when being engraved on the copper plate or other proper metallic printing
surface;
and so long as such holding and directing of the type correctly to the
proper point or locality is obtained, variations of the mechanism above
described will for the purposes of my Invention remain substantially the
same.
And I would have it understood that what I claim as my Invention is the
mode of engraving by means of what I have called engraving plate type,
combined with other suitable mechanism, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Eldred Walker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventeenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1840, the aforesaid Arthur Eldred Walker came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One 2
thousand eight hundred and forty.