Improvements in and connected with the Matrices of Linotype Machines,
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Matrices of Linotype
Machines,
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY LIMITED, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole Manufac-
turers, Licensors and Vendors under the "Linotype" Patents, and EDWIN LEWIS
BOOTY, Accountant, both of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, -do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with the
matrices of linotype machines.. It has been developed with special reference to
the well known Mergenthaler Linotype machine, so that the nature of it will be
fully understood from a description of it as applied to a matrix of that machine.
A matrix, of the machine in question, is, as far as the said invention is con-
cerned, a flat rectangular plate having two sides parallel with each other and one
In the said edge is the matrix proper, or
edge at right angles with them both.
formative cavity, being that part in which the actual type or printing face of the
respective letter of the linotype is formed.
The standard space between any two letters of a word is provided for in the
case of separable or movable (to use the more usual term) type, by a lateral
margin between each side of the printing face and the adjacent edge of the type
body. In a Mergenthaler matrix, it is provided for by a thin portion of the
material of the matrix, standing on each side of the formative cavity, after the
manner of a wall. These matrices are composed side by side with a proper com-
plement of space bars into a line; the line clamped between two suitable vice
jaws; held against a mould of the body of the linotype; and hot metal injected
into the mould.
The durability of the thin portions or walls above mentioned, is by reason of
their thinness, inconsiderable, especially as compared with that of the other or
body portion of the matrix-in fact, the shortness of their working lives is an
important factor in the cost of the up-keep of the machine.
The object of the present invention is to provide a better means than those
hitherto proposed for increasing the durability of the said walls
Hitherto it has been the practice to make the matrices of hard brass. Experi-
mental matrices in other metals have been made and tried, but the results have
not disclosed advantages sufficiently considerable to lead to a departure from the
practice stated. Each matrix has a notch in the edge of it, and the formative
cavity is punched into the metal at the end of the notch, such cavity then look-
ing, as it were, straight out of the notch through the matrix edge. The thickness
of the matrix bears such a relation to the width of the punch, that the latter
leaves a wall standing on each side of the cavity.
With reference to the notch just described, it should be borne in mind that it
is not essential to the present invention, the fact being that as far as the latter
is concerned, the end of the notch and the edge of the cut away portion of the
matrix, are the equivalents of each other,

page_text: During the act of composition of matrices and space bars into line, a matrix
is sent foot first, and in an oblique direction, towards the place of assemblage. It
is there turned up into a vertical position, and in that position presents one side
to the foot of the following matrix, which strikes a blow across such side, the
portion struck including one of the side walls described above. This wall is
indented and finally broken down. A further cause of damage to the side walls
is that due to the accidental adherence of small fragments of type metal to the
sides of the space bars. In the operation of clamping prior to the injection of the
molten metal, the presence of a small fragment of hard metal between a matrix
and a space bar, necessarily puts a severe pressure on the matrix at that point,
whereby the matrix is liable to be damaged; and in the event of the fragment
pressing against either side wall, the latter is liable to be broken down. Both
walls are, further, exposed to wear and tear. If any of the matrices in the com-
posed Ene are indented even, there is a space between the indentation
and the adjacent matrix or space bar, as the case may be, when the
line is clamped in the vice; and in the act of casting, molten metal is injected
into all such spaces, thereby forming fins upon the same edge of the linotype as
are the printing characters, which fins are high enough to take ink and will,
consequently, print lines between the printed letters.
It has been proposed to provide matrices with strong walls by substituting a
hard material such as steel for hard brass as a material, or by substituting steel
walls for the brass walls of the formative cavity, such substituted steel walls
being held to the matrix body by any suitable means; but there is still room in
the art for a matrix perfect in all respects and especially as regards the equal dura-
bility of all the parts of it.
It is obvious that the different requirements in the matter of matrix material
are divisible into two classes, one insisting on a hard and therefore durable
material, the other on a soft one.
The necessity for there being any soft material at all in the matrix, exists only
in connection with the formation of the formative cavity by engraving or
punching.
The subject matter of the present invention is a matrix having the body and
walls above described of as hard a material as can be worked, and a layer or
deposit of soft material to receive the formative cavity; the said body and walls
being of one and the same piece throughout by reason of material having been
cut away from between the walls.
It
As a material for the matrix body, steel is contemplated as a typical one.
will be fashioned and machined to shape by practically the same methods as those
followed in the case of the brass matrices at present in use.
The material to receive the formative cavity, being in fact that in which the
type face is to stand, may be any, metallic or otherwise, capable of being immove-
ably combined with the matrix body and also of receiving and maintaining the in-
taglio counterpart of the type face.
The selection of a material for the purpose from amongst otherwise suitable ones,
is limited by the process selected for effecting the combination just referred to.
So also is the process modified by the nature and practicability of the material
selected for combination with the matrix body. The present invention imposes
no limit on either selection or process beyond the necessity of the combination
being immoveable when the matrix is in use.
One of the processes by which such combination can be effected, is by enclosing
the material in a suitable recess or cavity in the matrix body, close to the two
side walls.
A recess may be cut at the end of the notch, thereby producing the two walls,
and further, be undercut under the matrix edge in both directions; or a hole
may be drilled through the matrix body immediately behind the side walls and
opening into the recess between them, such hole being of increased diameter
either at mid length or at both ends.

page_text: A. cement or plastic material may be poured into the recess and left to harden.
A soft metal, such as brass or copper, may be inserted cold and in the form of
a plug, being afterwards forced into the extension of the recess by being punched
or otherwise suitably compressed thereinto. The formative cavity may, under
those circumstance, be produced in the face of the plug, by punching or
engraving.
When the material is to be inserted in a plastic or fluid condition, as for
instance, cement or molten metal, a punch or cameo letter of suitable material may
be presented to the recess in a plane adjacent to the bases of the walls already
described, so as to form one side of a mould, and held there. The shape of the
recess maust, however, be of a proper shape to provide a pouring gate.
When the material renders electro deposition practicable, it may be deposited
from a suitable solution. The punch or cameo and matrix are made fast to each
other by any suitable means and as much of the surface of both as must be sub-
merged, are coated with suitable insulating material. This electro deposition
involves the presence of suitable access for the molecules to be deposited, to the
undercut surfaces of the recess and the face of the punch.
1337
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and connected with the Matrices of Linotype
Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY LIMITED, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole Manufac-
turers under the "Linotype" Patents, and EDWIN LEWIS BOOTY, Accountant, both
of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with the
matrices of linotype machines. These machines are too well known for a de-
tailed description of their nature to be necessary. It is desirable however, that
the reader should clearly understand that the presence of the proper amount of
white between any two adjoining letters in the printed line, is secured by a thin
wall incorporate with a matrix and standing on each side of the formative cavity
thereof, the two adjoining thin walls establishing a proper distance between the
two type faces on the linotype.
A perfect material for the matrices of a linotype machine should unite in itself,
two characteristics apparently the opposite of each other. It should be soft
enough to allow of the formative cavity (that being the mould in which the print-
ing face is cast) being easily punched or engraved in it, and hard enough for
the thin wall on each side of that cavity to be strong against the blows and
squeezes to which they are more or less liable.
two
The present invention has been developed with special reference to the matrices
of the well known Mergenthaler machine. A matrix of that machine is, as far
as the said invention is concerned, a flat rectangular plate having two sides
parallel with each other and
edges likewise parallel with each
other and at right angles with those sides. The formative cavity
is in one of the edges. The matrices are composed side by side into a
line, with a proper complement of spaces. The line is then clamped between two

page_text: suitable vice jaws and held against a mould of the body of the linotype and hot
metal is then injected into that mould.
The necessity of the matrix material being soft to a certain degree, has already
been explained. The necessity of the material of a Mergenthaler matrix being
hard as well as the degree of hardness which that material must possess, will be
best understood from a description of the blows and squeezes to which such a
matrix is subjected more or less as it passes through the machine.
During the act of composing matrices and space bars into a line, a matrix
is sent foot first, and in an oblique direction, towards the place of assemblage.
It is there turned up into a vertical position, and in that position presents one
of its sides to the foot of the following matrix, which strikes a blow across such
side, the portion struck including the thin wall on that side. The wall so struck
becomes indented and is finally broken down. A further cause of damage to the
walls is the accidental adherence of small fragments of type metal to the sides.
of the space bars. In the operation of clamping the composed line previous to
the injection of the molten metal, the presence of a small fragment of type metal
between a matrix and a space bar, necessarily puts a severe pressure on the
matrix at that point, and in the event of the fragment pressing against either
side wall, the latter will be indented or broken down. Both walls are, further,
exposed to wear and tear generally. If there are any indentations in the matrices
in the composed line, there will be a space between each indented matrix and the
adjacent matrix or space bar, as the case may be, when the line is clamped in
the vice and in the act of casting, molten metal will be injected into all such
spaces, thereby forming fins upon the same edge of the linotype as are the print-
ing characters, which fins are high enough to take ink and will, consequently,
print lines between the printed letters.
As far as softness of material is concerned, brass has answered very well, but
the thin walls of brass matrices have not always proved themselves to be as strong
as is desirable. It has been proposed to provide brass matrices with strong walls
by substituting a hard material such as steel for brass as a material, or by substi-
tuting steel walls for brass walls, such substituted steel walls being held to the
matrix body Y by any suitable means.
The present invention consists in the combination of a layer or deposit of
material soft enough to have the formative cavity made in it, with a matrix body
and walls of as hard a material as can be worked, the said body and walls being in
one and the same piece throughout by reason of material having been cut out
of the edge of the matrix body to produce those walls as well as a recess to receive
the said layer. or deposit.
Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith;
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a Mergenthaler matrix, made according to the
present invention:
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1:
Figure 3 is a part side elevation of a modified form of the invention:
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a matrix made according to another modified
form of the invention;, and
Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.
Y is the body of the matrix: y, a notch in the rear edge of that body; y, the
formative cavity at the bottom of that notch; and y8, the thin wall on each side
of the said cavity. The formative cavities illustrated are to be taken as for "A."
29 is the layer or deposit.
The notch y above described is really part of the mould of the body of the
linotype. As far as the present invention is concerned, it might be absent, in
which case the mouth of the formative cavity and the edges of the walls y³, y³,
would be flush with the rear edge of the matrix body Y.
.
Hard steel is proposed as a typical material for the matrix body Y and side.

page_text: walls y, y, and copper as a typical material for the layer or deposit y. But
the present invention does not limit us in respect of either material. The only
things which it requires are hardness in the material for the matrix body up to
the point of sufficient strength in the side walls y³, y; and softness in the mate-
rial for the layer or deposit down to a suitable one for yielding to the punch or
cutter. The latter material must also be capable of imparting a good ink-taking
surface to the type.
Any convenient or suitable process or means may be employed for holding the
layer or deposit of soft material to the matrix body Y.
Figures 1 and 2 shew the recess as cup-shaped.
Figure 3 shews it as undercut upwards and downwards. The object of the
undercutting is to lock the layer or deposit y29 fast to the matrix body Y. Such
undercutting must obviously be upwards and downwards for there is not thickness
of matrix material for it to be lateral.
Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative means for locking, the layer or deposit y
fast to the matrix body. The recess is T-shaped. That portion of it which
corresponds with the body stroke of the T is cut into the matrix body Y in a
direction parallel with the walls y8, ys, while the portion that corresponds with the
top stroke, is bored transversely through the said body so as to communicate with
the other.
A cement or plastic material may be poured into the recess and left to harden.
A soft metal, such as brass or copper, may be inserted cold and in the form
of a plug, being afterwards forced into the undercut extension of the recess, if
the latter has one, by being punched or otherwise suitably compressed thereinto.
When the material is to be inserted in a plastic or fluid condition, as for in-
stance, when cement or molten metal is used, a punch or cameo letter of suitable
material may bo presented to the recess in a plane adjacent to the bases of the
walls already described, so as to form one side of a mould, and held there. The
shape of the recess must, however, be of a proper shape to provide a pouring gate.
There are numerous other known means of holding such a layer or deposit as
the one above described in a recess in a matrix body, but as the particular means
do not form any part of the present invention, it is not considered necessary to
go into further detail in connection therewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
-
The herein before described combination in a matrix, of a body and thin walls
of hard material and a deposit of soft material, the two materials possessing the
respective properties specified.
1000