Means for Enabling Arabic and analogous Languages to be Written by Type-writers, and to Facilitate the Printing thereof.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
Means for Enabling Arabic and analogous Languages to be Written
by Type-writers, and to Facilitate the Printing thereof.
I, SPENCER CHAPMAN, of 36, Mark Lane, in the City of London, Chemical
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Arthur Rhuvon Guest and Ernest Tatham
Richmond, both of the Egyptian Civil Service, of Cairo, Egypt) to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby type-writing machines
can be used to produce type-writing in what is known as the Arabic alphabet,
which includes the characters usually employed in Hindustani, Persian, and
other Oriental and African languages, and also to facilitate printing in such
lanuages by the printing press.
The practical accomplishment of type-writing in such languages, has hitherto
been prevented because the letters of the Arabic alphabet, and the like, are of
varying breadth at the base, and the junction of the letters to one another is not
made in one straight line with. the direction of the writing, but on two, or more,
lines. Moreover the letters are written in varying forms, viz.: initial, medial,
and final, according to their position in a word. It has therefore been a tedious
and expensive matter to set up type for printing in the said languages.
My foreign correspondents have designed a form of alphabet of the said
languages whereof type can be cast of a description fit for use in type-writing
machines, or for printing purposes, the said alphabet being so contrived that,
for type-writers, all the types are of equal width at their bases, whilst for printing
they are of equal depth. For type-writers the base width of those letters which
are not joined to the letters which follow them, that is which lie to the left;
includes the necessary space for their separation, so that all the types can be
struck from blocks of equal size. The form given to the characters is arranged
so that the junction of all characters, which, in writing, are joined to others,
takes place upon one horizontal line in the direction of the writing. The medial
and initial letters are of the same shape and the final letters are type-written, or
printed, from separate types, and they can be employed in type-writers upon
the principle in which, in such machines, either capital, or small, letters can be
printed from the same key.
The type-writing machine will have its motion reversed, as Arabic, and like
languages, are written from right to left, so that a motion from left to right
must be given to the paper relatively to the type and, as the types are equal in
breadth, for type-writers, the lateral movement of the paper will be the same
for all the characters, which will effect the junction of the characters in their
proper places where they are required to be joined. In all the characters required
to be joined, the common horizontal line will be in the same relative position
on all the types, both for type-writers and for printing. The keys for the various
characters are arranged in the position and order most convenient, say for
For Persian there will be four
Arabic there are 32 keys arranged in four rows.
more kers and for Hindustani eight more keys,

page_text: As an alternative, when the types are used for a type writer, the characters may
be of the same shape, whether medial, initial, or final, (except "ha" and "he")
the final letters being distinguished, when required, by strokes called tails,
which, in common with certain other signs, (such as diacritical points and dots)
which are added to characters to distinguish them from others of the same form,
are made as separate types and can be type-written in proper position, to the
letter, or character, they supplement, by an arrangement that does not actuate
the motion of the paper on which the writing is being done, so that the "tail,"
or the like, is applied in its proper place, to complete the writing of the letter,
or character. This can be effected by slotting the lever the striking of which
causes the actuation of the type and the motion of the paper also in actuating
the ordinary types.
Dated this 1st day of March 1809
Means for Enabling Arabic and analogous Languages to be Written
by Type-writers, and to Facilitate the Printing thereof.
I, SPENCER CHAPMAN, of 36, Mark Lane, in the City of London, Chemical
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Arthur Rhuvon Guest, and Ernest Tatham
Richmond, both of the Egyptian Civil Service, of Cairo, Egypt) and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby type-writing machines
can be used to produce type-writing in what is known as the Arabic alphabet.
which includes the characters usually employed in Hindustani, Persian, and
other Oriental and African, languages, and also to facilitate printing in such
languages by the printing press.
The practical accomplishment of type-writing in such languages, in a simple
and practically available manner, has hitherto been prevented because the letters
of the Arabic alphabet, and the like, are of varying breadth at the base, and the
junction of the letters to one another is not made on one straight line with the
direction of the writing, but on two, or more, lines. Moreover the letters are
written in varying forms; viz.: initial, medial, and final, according to their
position in a word. Printing in the said languages will also be facilitated by
the use of type made in accordance with this invention.
I have designed a form of alphabet of the said languages whereof type can be
cast of a descrption fit for use in type-writing machines, or for printing purposes,
the said alphabet being so contrived that all the types are of equal width at
their bases. The base-width which are not joined to the letters which follow
them, that is which lie to the left, includes the necessary space for their separa-
tion, so that all the types can be struck from blocks of equal size. The form
given to the characters is arranged so that the junction of all characters which
in writing are joined to others takes place upon one horizontal line in the direction.
of the writing. The medial and initial letters are made of the same shape
which is, in the majority of cases, a compromise between the medial and initial
forms as hitherto used; and the final letters are type-written, or printed, from
separate types, and in type-writers in which, in ordinary writing, either capital,

page_text: or small, letters can be printed from the same key, the final letters are usually
printed from the same key as those from which the initial and medial letters
are printed.
The type-writing machine will have its motion reversed, as Arabic and like
languages are written from right to left, so that a motion from left to right must
be given to the paper relatively to the type, and, as the types are equal in breadth,
the amount of lateral movement of the paper will be the same for all the
characters and will effect the junction of the characters in their proper places
where they are required to be joined. In all the characters required to be
joined, the common horizontal line will be in the same relative position on all
the types both for type-writers and for printing. The keys for the various
characters are arranged in the type-writer in the positions and order most con-
venient, say for example for Arabic, and where two characters are printed from
one key as aforesaid, there are thirty-two keys arranged in four rows. For
Persian there will be four more keys, and for Hindustani eight more keys.
In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated ordinary forms of Arabic
characters in the Naskhi alphabet which is one of the oldest forms, and similar
to that ordinarily used in printing, and I have also illustrated the characters as
used on types in accordance with this invention.
It will be seen that all the types, made in accordance with this invention, are
on blocks of equal width, and that the character on cach type commences from
a point at the right-hand side which point is the same in all the types, and is
herein referred to as the "point of alignment," the line extending horizontally
across the type from this point being referred to as "the alignment."
Ordinary forms of "Alif" are shewn at 1, 2, and at 3 is shewn an "Alif"
type formed in accordance with this invention; it commences at the point. of
alignment, and does not occupy the breadth of the type, as it has not to join
letters following it.
Ordinary forms of "Ba" are shewn at 4, 5, 7 and 8. The initial and medial
form of the "Ba" type in accordance with this invention is shewn at 6. It
commences at the point of alignment and terminates on the alignment on the
left-hand edge of the type. The up-stroke should be as near as possible to the
right-hand edge of the type and should be of a length which will answer suffi-
ciently well for use both as an initial and a medial. The final form of "Ba" in
accordance with this invention is shewn at 9. It starts from the point of align-
ment but need not extend to the left hand side of the type.
Ordinary initial and medial forms of "Ha" are shewn at 10 and 11. The
type "Ha" according to this invention for these forms is shewn at 12. Its nose,
or bend, is at the point of alignment, and its base extends along the alignment
the breadth of the type, but its upper member does not extend quite to the left-
hand edge of the type.
'
The "Ha" final is formed in accordance with this invention as shewn at 18,
whilst two ordinary forms are shewn at 17 and 13. In the type according to
this invention the nose, or bend, of the letter is on the point of alignment.
Ordinary forms of "Dal" are shewn at 19 and 20. The form of type according
to this invention is shewn at 21-the lower right-hand stroke starting from the
point of alignment and the upstroke being near to the right-hand edge of the
type. The letter does not extend to the left-hand edge of the type.
Ordinary forms of "Ra" are shewn at 22 and 23 and the form according to this
invention is shewn at 24. It commences at the point of alignment and terminates
below the alignment.
Ordinary forms of the letter "Sin" are shewn at 25, 26. 28 and 29. The
forms according to this invention are shewn at 27 and 30, the first being the
form for use as a medial, or initial, letter and the second being the final form.
They both commence at the point of alignment but the first extends along the
alignment the breadth of the type whilst the second need not extend across the
breadth of the type,

page_text: Ordinary forms of "Sad" are shewn at 31, 32, 34 and 35. The forms according
to this invention are shewn at 33 and 36, the former, being 'the initial and
medial form, starting from the point of alignment and extending across the
type on the alignment, the latter being the final form and starting from the
point of alignment, but it need not extend to the left-hand side of the type.
Ordinary forms of the letter "Ta" are shewn at 37, 38, 40 and 41 whilst at 39
is shewn the form of type according to this invention. The base extends along
the alignment and the upper part is formed upon the base as indicated.
Ordinary, forms of the initial and medial Ain are shewn at 42 and 43. The
form for these for the purposes of this invention is shewn at 44. It generally
resembles the usual medial form but the two ends are on the alignment at both
sides of the type.
Ordinary final forms of "Ain" are shewn at 45 and 46-whilst the form for.
the purposes of this invention (shewn at 47) should generally resemble the final
joined form shewn at 46 but it is placed on the type so that it commences at
the point of alignment.
Ordinary forms of "Fa" are shewn at 48, 49, 51 and 52-The forms of type
according to this invention are shewn at 50 and 53. They both start from the
point of the alignment and the initial and medial form (50) extends across the
type on the alignment.
Ordinary forms of the letter "Lam" are shewn at 54, 55. 57 and 58. The
initial and medial form of this letter according to this invention is shewn at 56.
The initial and medial form of this letter according to this invention is shewn
at 56. The vertical member is. placed near to the right hand edge of the type,
the first stroke starting from the point of alignment; and the termination extends
in the alignment to the left-hand side of the type. The final form, shewn at 59,
according to this invention starts from the point of alignment.
Ordinary initial and medial forms of "Min" are shewn at 60, 61, 62 and 63,
and the form in accordance with this invention is shewn at 64. It extends
across the alignment of the type and the main part of the character is placed
close to the right-hand edge of the type. Ordinary final forms of this latter are
shewn at 65, 66 and 67 whilst that in accordance with this invention is s
at 68. it starts from the point of alignment.
shewn
Ordinary forms of the letter " He" are shewn at 69, 70, 72 and 73 and the
initial and medial form, for the purposes of this invention, is shewn at 71. it
commences at the point of alignment, is situated near to the right-hand edge
of the type and ends by extending along the alignment to the left-hand edge
of the type. The final form of this letter, according to this invention, is shewn
at 74. It commences at the point of alignment.
Ordinary forms of the letter "Kaf" are shewn at 75, 76, 78 and 79. The initial
and medial forms of type according to this invention are shewn at 77. It com-
mences at the point of alignment and ends in the alignment at the left-hand edge
of the type.
The final form, according to this invention, is shewn at 80. It commences
at the point of alignment.
Ordinary forms of Lam-alifare shewn at 81 and 82. The type according
to this invention is shewn at 83. It commences at the point of alignment.
The foregoing deals with the characters of letters of the Arabic alphabet. To
avoid useless repetition those which are differentiated from those illustrated
merely by dots are not separately illustrated. It is however well to illustrate
the type, according to this invention for final "Nun," final "Ya" (ordinary forms
of these two are shewn at 14, 15 and 16), and final "Qaf," and the letter "Waw"
and I have shewn these respectively at 84, 85, 86 and 87. They, in common with
all the others according to this invention start from the point of alignment.
In the foregoing reference to the left, and right, hand edges of the type, it
will be understood that the type is regarded from above, in the position in which
it is printing, so that by the right-hand edge is meant the commencement of

page_text: the letter, and by the left-hand edge is meant the edge at, or towards, which the
letter terminates.
. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise forms of the
characters illustrated in the examples shewn because they may be somewhat varied
provided that they be arranged for alignment as hereinbefore explained for
example when the types are used for a type-writer the characters may be of the
same shape for medial initial and final (except "ya" and "he") the final letters
being distinguished when required, by strokes called tails which tails, as well
as certain other signs (such as diacritical points and dots) which are added to
the characters to distinguish them from others of the same form, are made of
separate types and can be type-written in proper position to the character they
supplement by an arrangement that does not actuate the motion of the paper on
which the writing is being done, so that the "tail" or other sign is applied, in
its proper place to complete the writing of the letter. This can be effected by
slotting the lever, the, striking of which, in actuating the ordinary types, causes
the actuation of the type and the motion of the paper carriage also, so that.when
the said tails or other signs are being applied the paper carriage is not moved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is: -
.
As new articles of manufacture the types for type-writers, or for printing
purposes, in languages in which the Arabic characters are used; the said types
being of the same width at the base, and having the parts thereof which are
be joined to another letter, or to other letters so arranged that there is one.
common alignment for all the types; substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 19th day of September 1899.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincolns Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.