IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MOULDS OR MATRICES OF STEREOTYPE PLATES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR FORMING THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MOULDS OR MATRICES OF STEREOTYPE PLATES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR
FORMING THE SAME."-A communication from abroad by John Edson
Sweet, of Syracuse, New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd May 1866.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MOULDS OR MATRICES OF STEREOTYPE PLATES, AND IN MACHINERY
FOR FORMING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
The said Invention chiefly consists, first, in the employment in the production
of the said moulds or matrices of dry thick paper for receiving the impression
of the type; secondly, in the mode of supporting the type whereby the im-
pression of each type is produced separately at a given point upon the paper

page_text: or other surface; thirdly, in the.mechanism for operating the type to produce
the required impression; fourthly, in the means employed for supporting the
paper or other substance and for adjusting the same for receiving the impression
of each type in the proper position thereon; fifthly, in the devices for spacing
or "justifying" the lines; sixthly, in the general arrangement and combination
of the parts of the machinery.
The moulds or matrices are formed of thick paper resembling the
description now used in the manufacture of paper collars. This paper is
employed in a dry state in order to secure and retain a perfect impression of
each type. Several sheets are placed together to give the required depth to
the indentations. The machine corresponds in size and general appearance
with an ordinary melodeon or parlor organ, and has one or more banks or
rows of keys arranged along the front, the number and arrangement of the
said keys being regulated by the size of the machine and the kind of work to
be performed thereby. Levers pivoted near their centres extend from the
finger strips of the keys and terminate under the lower ends of small pegs or
pins placed at equal distances apart around and near the edge of a stationary
wheel. The upper ends of the said pins when at rest are about level with the
upper surface of the said wheel, but when either of the keys is depressed the
pin resting upon the opposite end of the lever extending from the said key
will thereby be elevated to a height governed by the distance the key is
depressed and the location of its fulcrum. In a strip located in the centre of
the stationary wheel stands an upright revolving shaft having another bearing
in a box in the framing of the machine. This shaft has an arm secured to
it n'ar its lower end, over which is a loose pulley. Above the said pulley is
a mortise extending from side to side of the shaft, the portion of which
above the said mortise is hollow. The upper end of this shaft also carries a
removable type wheel, and in the hollow portion of the said shaft is a piston
and cross piece passing through and playing freely up and down through the
mortise before mentioned. The arm secured to the lower end of the revolving
shaft carries a cam lever held up to a stop by a spring, and the said arm has
a hook spring at its lower end. The loose pulley, which receives motion by a
strap or band from any motive power, has two projections on its lower surface
to act on the cam of the cam lever. The said pulley has also two inclined
cams on its upper surface arranged to work under the ends of the cross piece.
The type wheel attached to the upper end of the revolving shaft carries in its
outer edge a series of metal types; these types are fitted in grooves in the edge
of the wheel so as to play freely up and down, and are secured in their places

page_text: and fitted to have the least possible side motion. Each type is provided with
a small pin projecting from its outer face or side, and that part of each of the
types which would form the back or left-hand side of the printed letters is
placed at an equal distance from the centre of motion. A vertical slide placed
over the front edge of the type wheel and operated by a toggle joint serves
to force down whichever type may be below it to a uniform distance, and a
hook secured to the vertical slide hooking under the pin in the types draws
them up when the slide returns to its place. The toggle joint and consequently
the vertical slide recieve their motion in one direction from the cams on the
upper surface of the pulley, and in the other direction from a curved spring.
A ratchet roller is placed along the front of the machine and over the keys, into
which roller a pawl from each of the keys works. One journal of this roller
is attached by a metal strap to a quadrant formed or fixed on one end of a
rocking shaft; this rocking shaft also carries two other quadrants (one at
each end), an index hand, and a handle by which the said shaft may be
operated. A horizontal slide attached by metal bands to the quadrant on the
rocking shaft has a parallel motion given to it whenever the latter is moved.
A platen corresponding in size with the column of printed matter resting on
the impression table of the machine is attached to the horizontal slide; this
platen is moved back and forth by the said table, and is yet free to be moved
endwise at the same time. The material which is to receive the impression of
the types is secured to this platen, which has two scries of grooves on its
under surface, one series running straight across corresponds with the lines
of the required work, the other series running at the proper angle to connect
one end of each of the straight grooves with the opposite end of the groove
next in succession; those grooves running straight across are the deepest at
one side of the platen, and those running diagonally are the deepest at the
other side thereof. A puppet is sunk in the impression table of the machine,
and has its upper end formed with a chisel edge fitted to work in the grooves
in the under side of the platen, and is held up to the said grooves by a
spring.
The material to receive the impression having been mado secure to the
platen and properly placed on the impression table, and the pulley of the
machine put in motion, the operation is as follows:-The cams on the upper
surface of the pulley coming in contact with the cross piece through the
mortise in the upright shaft cause the said shaft, the arm, and type wheel to
revolve with the said pulley until they are arrested as herein-after specified.
By depressing the key corresponding with a letter or other character the pawl

page_text: on the said key is brought down on the ratchet roller a certain number of
notches, and the key is thereby retained in a depressed position; this number
always depends on the size or width of the letter or other character. The
operation of depressing the key elevates one of the pins in the stationary wheel,
against which the end of the arm attached to the revolving shaft strikes; tho
said arm is thereby brought to rest, the hook spring at the same instant
catching over the pin prevents recoil. The stopping of this arm stops the
upright shaft, the cross piece, piston, and type wheel bringing the type cor-
responding with the depressed key directly and with certainty beneath the
vertical slide. The pulley continuing its motion the cams working- under
the ends of the cross piece elevate the piston. The connection of the said
piston with the bent lever and knuckle joint overcomes the power of the
curved spring and forces down the vertical slide and type under it with great
force and to a positive distance. While this last movement is taking place
the pulley has travelled about one-fourth of a revolution, and the cross piece
having reached the summit of the cams passes over the back thereof and is
free to return to its original position. The curved spring then returns or
forces the knuckle joint, bent lever, piston, and vertical slide back, and the
hook, as before mentioned, brings the type back also. While the said pulley
moves forward another one-fourth of a revolution one of the projections on its
lower side working over the cam on the cam lever forces the latter down.
The said lever acting on the pin against which the arm is held removes it
and returns pin, key, and pawl to their original positions; this causes the
ratchet roller to turn a part of a revolution, or as many notches as the pawl
was previously depressed; this roller also acting on the horizontal slide
through the connection of metal straps, quadrants, and rocking shaft moves
the platen and matrix formed the proper distance to recieve the next impression
from the type. The cams on the upper side of the pulley at this instant come
in contact with the the cross piece, causing the shaft and other parts attached
thereto to revolve as before.
To more fully explain the method of spacing or "justifying" the
lines let it be supposed that the length of each line be two and one-eighth
inches, and this distance divided into one hundred and twenty-eight aliquot parts,
the horizontal slide in the machine is to have a movement of two and one
eighth inches when the ratchet roller has been turned until one hundred and
twenty-eight notches have passed a given point, the index hand having also
moved through the arc of a circle, the dial of which is graduated into on
hundred and twenty-eight equal parts and numbered accordingly, commencing

page_text: at the top with the highest number and ending at zero. The operator knowing
how many aliquot parts each character will occupy, and what allowance would
be proper for space between words, can from the "copy" determine by simple
mental calculation how many words the line will contain, and how much to
contract or increase the spaces to make the proper adjustment. While a line
of printing is being worked by the machine the chisel edge of the puppet is
held by its spring in one of the straight channels of the platen, but just as the
last impression of the line is taken the puppet slips from the shallow end of
the straight channel into the deep end of the adjoining diagonal channel. The
operator by applying sufficient power to the handle of the rocking shaft to
overcome the friction connection between the ratchet roller and quadrant can
bring the horizontal slide back to its original position, and the chisel edge of
the puppet working in the diagonal channel will move the platen along
endwise the proper distance to bring it in position for the next line. The
puppet slipping from the shallow end of the diagonal channel to the deep end
of the succeeding straight channel will keep it there while the next line is being
printed.
Other substances may be employed instead of paper to receive the impression
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Haseltine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Haseltine, Her special licence that I, the said George Haseltine, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term herein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MOULDS OR
MATRICES OF STEREOTYPE PLATES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR FORMING THE SAME,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Haseltine, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
forming a part of this Specification :―
The said Invention chiefly consists, first, in the employment in the pro-
duction of the said moulds or matrices of dry thick paper prepared in a
peculiar manner for receiving the impression of the type; second, in the mode
of supporting the said type, whereby the impression of each type is produced
separately at a given point upon the prepared paper or other surface; third, in
the mechanism for operating the type to obtain the required impressions;
fourth, in the means employed for supporting the prepared paper or other sub-
stance, and for adjusting the same for receiving the impression of each type in
the proper position; fifth, in the devices for spacing or "justifying" the
lines; sixth, in the general arrangement and combination of the parts of the

page_text: each of the Figures.
The machine represented in the Drawings corresponds nearly in size and
general appearance with an ordinary melodeon or parlor organ, and has two
banks or rows of keys arranged along its front. A is the frame of the said
machine which is made of cast iron or other suitable material, and is mounted
upon the legs a; the said legs may be varied in length to bring the key
boards to a proper height for the operator to assume either a standing or
sitting posture. B and B are the levers of the lower and upper key boards
(more clearly shown in Figure 7). The said levers are provided with the
finger strips or keys 6 and the pawls 6. Thin metal strips are also pro-
vided to retain the levers B, B', in position, the said levers being supported
at or near their centres upon the fulcrum pins 6. C is a stationary wheel or
disc which is secured to the frame A and has a step c in its centre. The
disc C carries a series of pegs or pins c¹, which are arranged at equal distances
apart in a circle near the periphery of the said disc. The levers B and B¹
extend from the finger strips or keys 6 into the proper position to come in
contact with the lower ends of the pegs or pins c¹; the upper ends of the said
pegs when in their normal position are about level with the upper surface of
the disc or wheel C, but when either of the keys 6 is depressed the lever
carrying the said key raises the pin c¹ resting on the opposite end of the said
lever to a height depending upon the extent of the depression of the said key.
The step c carries an upright revolving shaft D which has another bearing d
secured to the framing A; the shaft D carries the arm or cross piece E,
which is firmly secured to the said shaft near the lower end thereof. The
lever e, provided with the spring e¹ (Figure 9), is pivotted to the arm E at e³.
Upon the shaft D over the arm E the loose pulley F is fitted, which is pro-
vided on its under side with the cams or projections f, and on its upper side
with cams or projections f¹; the upper portion of the shaft D is hollow,
and a mortise is formed through the same immediately above the pulley F.
A cross head G is secured to the mandril g, the cross head being fitted to slide
freely up and down in the mortise, and the mandril to slide in the hollow
portion of the shaft D. The type wheel E is secured to the upper end of the
said shaft, and carries the types h in grooves formed at its outer edge; the said
types are kept in the proper position in their grooves by the bands h' and are
fitted into the said grooves in such a manner as to slide freely up and down
therein. Each type is provided with a small pin h³ which projects from its
outer face or side, and that part of ach type which produces the back or left

page_text: hand of the printed letters or other characters is placed at an equal distance
from the centre of motion or axis of the wheel H. The bent lever I is
supported upon the fulcrum pin 1¹ which is fixed in the frame A.
One arm
of the lever I is connected to the rod i, whose lower end is fitted to the upper
end of the mandril 9; the said arm is kept in contact with the rod i by the
spring the other arm of the lever I is connected by the link to the
vertical slide J which is arranged to operate immediately over the upper ends
of the types in the front edge of the type wheel H. When therefore this
slide is operated in the proper direction it will force down that one of the
types h, which is then immediately under the said slide J; the said slide is pro-
vided with a cavity in its lower end, which is formed to fit the upper ends of
the types h. The friction spring at the front of the catch or hook j² serves
to keep the latter in the desired contact with the slide J; the lower end of
the said catch is formed to hook under the pins 2 in the types h, and draw
them up with the slide J when the required impression of the said type has
been produced. A ratchet roller K is arranged along the front of the machine
over levers B and B', and is supported on a pivot or journal at each end.
The grooves in this roller extend nearly its entire length; one end of the said
roller carries the disc or collar k, the other end thereof being provided with a
friction device, shown more clearly in Figure 13; the said device consists
mainly of two pieces ³, 1, clamped together by screws and carrying a stud
provided with a coil spring k³. L is a rocking shaft which carries the double
quadrant, l', and the index hand and handle (Figure 10); this shaft also
carries at its other end a single quadrant P. M is a thin metal strap, one end of
which is attached to the quadrant 7 at the point m; this strap passes round the
collar k, its other end being made fast to the sliding block m², and is provided
with the tightening screw m³. N is a borizontal travelling carriage or frame
fitted to slide freely in grooves formed in the end plates of the machine; the
movement of .the said carriage in either direction is limited by the required
length of the lines of printed matter. The carriage N is attached to the
quadrant by thin metal straps (Figure 10). The strap n connects the
point n¹ of the said quadrant to the sliding block n³, and the strap n³ connects
the point n* of the former to another sliding block n°. The screws nº, n',
are provided to tighten the said straps when required. By means of these
connections between the shaft L and slide N the latter is moved back and forth
when the said shaft is rotated in either direction. O is a segmental dial
graduated in equal divisions or spaces which are so proportioned that the index
hand when moved by the ratchet roller K indicates on the dial Othe
2¹

page_text: number of teeth in the said roner WHICH Have passed a given pont. 100
platen P (corresponding in size with the column of printed matter on the
impression table) is attached to the travelling carriage N by means of the hooks
p; this platen, which is shown detached in Figures 11 and 12, may be made in
a single piece, or more conveniently in two pieces P, P'; the lower side of the
said platen is provided with two series of sharp channels or grooves. One series
of these channels or grooves p¹ runs square across the platen, the other series
being formed diagonally and at such an angle with the grooves of the first
series as to connect one end of each groove of the said first series with the
opposite end of the following parallel groove. The depth of the channels or
grooves of the first series is greatest at the front edge of the said grooves,
while the depth of those in the second or diagonal series is greatest at the
back edge. A poppet Q is sunk in a hole formed in the impression table A¹,
and has a chisel edge Q' on its upper end fitted to work in the sharp channels
or grooves p¹ formed in the under side of the platen P. The said poppet is
held up by a coil spring 2, and has an arm q by which it can be depressed
when desired by the operator. The levers R, R¹, R³, R³, having blank keys
R³, are supported upon the fulcrum or pivot r, and are provided with the
pawls, which act on the roller K; the said levers are also furnished with
the stops, which are arranged to strike the said roller and so govern the
depression of these blank keys and their levers; thus the stop on the lever
R may be arranged at such a distance from the roller K that when the key
of the said lever is depressed the said roller will be turned one notch while
the stop on the lever R¹ may be so arranged with regard to the rollor K
that the latter will be turned two notehes by the depression of the said lever.
The turning of the ratchet roller K in the wrong direction is prevented by the
pawl S. The impression paper or material used for making the matrices is
fixed to the upper surface of the platen P by inserting the ends in suitable
grooves and securing them by wedges as shown, or in any convenient manner.
This substance for the matrix may be of various materials, but what I prefer
to use is one or more layers of thick soft paper or such paper faced with one
or more sheets of thin tough paper. Where it is desired to make deep
impressions between the lines in the stereotype plate ridges may be formed on
the impression paper. The impression paper or other material forming the
matrices being secured to the platen P the said platen is placed on the
impression table A¹ attached to the sliding carriage N, and located in whatever
position may be required to commence the work. The pulley F is put in
motion in the direction indicated by the arrow (Figure 1) by a band from any

page_text: convenient motive power. The cams f¹ come in contact with the ends of the
cross piece G, and carry the said cross piece, the shaft D, arm E, and type
wheel H around together.
The operator by depressing the key of the letter or character required will
bring down the corresponding pawl 6' a certain number of notches on the
ratchet roller K, which number depends on the width of that letter or
character. The lever B of the said key turning upon the fulcrum b will
elevate one of the pins e¹ above the surface of the disc C. The arm E passes
around over the disc C, and coming in contact with this elevated pin c¹ is
brought to rest, while the spring e' catching over the pin, as shown in Figure 9,
will prevent recoil. This operation of stopping the arm E also stops the shaft
D and cross piece G, and arrests the type wheel H in such a position that the
type corresponding with the key depressed stops directly under the vertical
slide J. The pulley F continuing its motion the cams f¹act under the ends
of the cross piece G and elevate the said cross piece together with the mandril
g and rod i, at the same time turning the bent lever I from the position shown
in Figure 7 to that shown in Figure 8, and forcing down the vertical slide J
and the type beneath it the proper distance to make the required impression
of the said type in the impression paper. While this operation is being
performed the pulley F has travelled forward about one-fourth of a revolution,
and the cross-piece G having reached the summit of the cams f¹ passes over
the same and is free to return. The spring turning the bent lever I forces
down the rodi, the mandril 9, and cross piece G, and at the same time returns
the vertical slide J and type h to their normal positions. While the pulley F
moves forward another fourth of a revolution one of the cams f on its lower
surface coming in contact with the lever e forces it down and the pin c¹ beneath
it. The said pin when depressed forces down the same end of the lever B,
which turning upon the fulcrum 63 brings the opposite end of the said lever
and the pawl 6¹ back to their original positions. The said pawl acting on the
ratchet roller K overcomes the power of the spring and the friction of the
friction device k, k, and turns the said roller in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 13. By means of the metal straps M, n, n³, the quadrants I, l', rock-
ing shaft L, and horizontal slide N, the platen and matrix will be moved
along the proper distance to receive the next impression of the type in the
required position. The pulley F being kept in motion and the cams f¹ carry-
ing the shaft around as already described, an impression of whatever letter
or character may be next required can be produced by depressing the cor-
responding key, thus letter succeeding letter will produce a word. The

page_text: operator then depressing one or more of the blank keys R, R1, R2, R³, the
pawl acts on the ratchet roller K and moves the horizontal slide N and the
platen without in any way affecting the type wheel E, thus leaving a blank
space on the matrix before commencing the next word. Word thus succeed-
ing word will complete a line, when the operator can by elevating the handle
on the index hand overcome the friction of the strap M and force the platen
back ready to commence another line. While the platen P is moving forward
the chisel edge of the poppet resting in one of the first series of channels on
the under side of the said platen causes the latter to move straight across the
machine till the said chisel edge of the poppet is in the shallow end of the said
channel. The poppet then slips from this channel into the deep end of
the adjacent diagonal groove. When the platten is forced back the edge of
the poppet resting in the said diagonal groove will move the said platen end-
wise on the impression table the proper distance to bring the second line
formed in the matrix in the required position below the first line.
The method adopted for spacing or justifying the lines is as follows:-The
width required for each line consists in a certain number of aliquot parts; for
example, if the width of space required for the letter W is divided into, say,
nine equal parts, the width of the letter A may be equal, say, to seven of these
parts, and that of an a to five of the said parts. It may be taken for illustra-
tion that one of these parts is equal to one-sixtieth part of an inch, and the
length of the line to be printed equals two and one-sixth inches j it follows,
that one hundred and thirty aliquot parts are contained in the said line. Tho
number of parts occupied by each letter in a word being added together, and
the number of parts occupied by each word in the line being also added
together, and the whole amount subtracted from one hundred and thirty (which
number represents the total capacity of the line) the remainder would show
the amount or number of parts to be divided to form the necessary spaces
between the words. This mathematical calculation may be made either by
the person preparing the copy, and the result noted thereon by perpendicular
dividing lines by a person specially employed for that part of the business or
by the operator, and the calculation may be made before the line is commenced
or when the same is partly completed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practise, I claim,-
First, the employment of paper to receive the impressions of the type when
the said paper is prepared substantially in the manuer herein described.

page_text: Second, the type wheel H provided with the grooves or channels h³ across
its periphery and the bands for supporting the types h substantially as set
forth.
Third, the employment of the pulley F with the cams or projections f, f¹,
formed, arranged, and operating for the purposes and substantially in the
manner described.
Fourth, the key levers B, B', pawls 6', ratchet roller K, pins c, cross piece
E, arm e, pulley F, slotted shaft D, cross head G, mandril 9, rod i, lever I,
link j, and slide J, arranged, combined, and operating together for the purpose
and substantially in the manner set forth.
Fifth, providing the cross piece E with the hook spring e to prevent the
recoil of the said cross piece when the same is stopped by the pins c, the said
spring being formed and arranged upon the cross piece E, substantially in the
manner set forth.
Sixth, the lever I, link i, and slide J, arranged together and in relation
with the types h and platen P, to ensure the impressions of the said types
being produced to the required uniform depth in the matrix, substantially in
the manner set forth.
Seventh, the hook employed. in combination with the slide J and attached
to the said slide by the friction spring for the purpose and substantially in
the manner set forth.
Eighth, the metal strap M provided with the screw n³ or other suitable
adjusting device and employed in combination with the roller K and
quadrant and shaft L for the purposes and substantially in the manner
set forth.
Ninth, the metal straps n and provided with the adjusting screws
or other equivalent device and employed in combination with quadrant,
shaft L, and travelling carriage N, for the purposes and substantially in the
manner set forth.
Tenth, constructing the platon P with the channels or grooves p formed and
arranged to operate in combination with the poppet Q for the purpose and
substantially in the manner set forth.
Eleventh, the key levers R, R1, R2, R3, provided with the pawls rand stops
operating in combination with the ratchet roller K for the purpose and
substantially in the manner set forth.
Twelfth, the friction device k, k', provided with the spring /³ and employed
in combination with the ratchet roller K for the purpose and substantially in
the manner set forth.

page_text: Thirteenth, the general arrangement and combination of parts in
machine for forming the moulds or matrices of stereotype plates substantially
as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ilaseltine, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)
Witness,
Wч. RT. LAKE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.