IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE CASTING OF METAL TYPES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas White Smith, of the Caslon Type Foundry,
Chiswell Street, in the County of Middlesex, Type Founder, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE CASTING OF METAL
TYPES"
Sealed the 18th July 1879, and dated the 24th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas White Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April 1879.
THOMAS WHITE SMITH, of the Caslon Type Foundry, Chiswell Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Type Founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN THE CASTING OF METAL TYPE."
In the casting of metal type the letter or representation is formed by punching in
a copper matrix, and the effect of the operation of the punch is to produce inclined
or bevilled sides to the letter or other representation therein and to the moulded
type. The consequence is that the type as formed has a burr on its sides at the
junction of the matrix with the mould, which defect increases with use of the
matrix. This burr has to be removed by "rubbing," a process requiring the
exercise of considerable delicacy and skill in manipulation, and involving consequent
additional cost of manufacture to the type.
The object of the Invention is to render unnecessary this operation of "rubbing,"
whilst the matrix is rendered more durable and the appearance of the type is
improved.
For this purpose after punching the letter or representation in the copper I reduce
such copper in breadth to the width of the face of the letter, or representation punched
therein, so as to remove the bevilling from the sides thereof, and I apply to such sides
other hard metal, by preference, hardened steel, which is formed to fit close to the
copper part of the matrix, which is thus made of three pieces of metal instead of one.
By these means a clean casting is obtained of greatly increased durability without
burr or inclined sides to the type, and the necessity for the "rubbing" process is
avoided, and great economy in manufacture with superiority of metal type produced
is secured.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas White Smith in the. Great Seal Patent Office on the. 22nd
October 1879..
THOMAS WHITE SMITH, of the Caslon Type Foundry, Chiswell Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Type Founder. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN THE CASTING OF METAL TYPE."
In the casting of metal type the letter or representation is formed by punching
in a copper matrix, and the effect of the operation of the punch is to produce inclined
or bevilled sides to the letter or other representation therein and to the moulded
type. The consequence is that the type as formed has a burr on its side at the
junction of the matrix with the mould, which defect increases with use of the
matrix. This burr has to be removed by "rubbing," a process requiring the exercise
of considerable delicacy and skill in manipulation, and involving consequent
additional cost of manufacture to the type.
The object of the Invention is to render unnecessary this operation of "rubbing,"
whilst the matrix is rendered more durable and the appearance of the type is
improved.
For this purpose after punching the letter or representation in the copper I reduce
such copper in breadth to the width of the face of the letter or representation
punched therein so as to remove the bevilling from the sides thereof, and I apply to
such sides other hard metal, by preference, hardened steel, which is formed to fit
close to the copper part of the matrix, which is thus made of three pieces of metal
instead of one.
By these means a clean casting is obtained of greatly increased durability without
burr or inclined sides to the type, and the necessity for the "rubbing" process is
avoided and great economy in manufacture with superiority of metal type produced
is secured.
But that the Invention may be more fully understood, I will by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings proceed to describe means pursued by me in carrying the
Figure 1 shows an upper surface view, Figure 2 a transverse section, and Figure 3
an end view of a matrix produced according to my Invention; Figure 4 shows by
an upper surface view the piece of copper reduced to the width of the face of the
letter and the hard metal side pieces; Figure 5 shows a piece of copper of the form
and character generally employed in the production of such matrix. In this and
the other surface Figures the indentation at represents the position of the letter or
representation in the matrix a.
In proceeding according to my Invention this indentation is effected in the usual
way by the forcible application thereto of a steel punch, but when the desired impres-
sion has been effected in the copper piece a the sides of such copper piece are then
removed to the extent of about that on each side indicated by Figure 4 and by the
dotted lines b, b, in Figure 5, or so as to remove the whole of the bevel from the
sides of the letter as obtained by the action of the punch, and I then apply corre-
sponding side pieces of hard metal, by preference hardened steel, such as repre-
sented by c, c.
I then secure the three pieces together by a couple of rivets, one near each end, or
otherwise.
Having thus described my Invention and means which I adopt in carrying the

page_text: same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is the formation of
matrices used in the casting of metal type of several pieces.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas White Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine..
Witness,
ALFRED G. BROOKES,
37, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
London.
THO³. W. SMITH (L.S.)