IMPROVED MEANS FOR SECURING STEREOTYPE PLATES TO THEIR BASE BLOCKS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ROBERT WICKHAM NELSON a citizen of the United States and residing in the
City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America,
Printer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS
FOR SECURING STEREOTYPE PLATES TO THEIR BASE BLOCKS," 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 my Invention is to provide simple and economical means for
mounting and securing separable plates or blocks for use in the columns of
newspapers, in book work or for other purposes.
This I accomplish as follows:-I cast the plate and block separately and provide
them with plain surfaces at their line of contact. In the plate I cut an inclined
longitudinal groove or grooves near the centre of its underside. In the base or
block I either cut a similar groove or grooves for the insertion of a key or lug over
which the grooved plate falls, or cast a key or lug on the base for the purpose
stated. Fitting the lug into the grooves brings the plain surfaces of plate and
base together, and when thus fitted the plate and base are locked in the form by
any suitable means and are ready for.use.
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the base having an inclined groove with a lug
applied to the same.
Fig. 2 a similar view with base and plate united by the key and
Fig. 3 a view of a modification of the form of key or clasp, and base and plate
grooved to receive the same.
A represents an ordinary block or base having an inclined key or lug 6 running,
preferably, longitudinally and centrally over its face, and made of a strip of metal
or other material inserted in a correspondingly inclined groove, in, or cast in one
piece with the block A. B, is the plate provided with a groove formed on its
underside and at an angle of inclination corresponding with the key b.
In order to fasten the plate to the base the groove in the plate is drooped over
the lug in the direction of the incline of said lug and then obliquely downwards
until the contiguous plain surfaces of the plate B, and block A, meet. The whole
device is then locked in the form and the plate is rigidly held in place by the
surrounding furniture.

page_text: In Fig. 3, the clasp D, is simply a modification of the lug "b," being provided
with two inclined sides instead of one and the base and plate being grooved to
meet this modified form. The operation and results are substantially the same
with both forms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A base block and a stereotype plate the two parts meeting each other on one
plane in combination with an inclined key or lug extending from the meeting face
of one part into an inclined recess in the meeting face of the other part and thus
securing the plate to the block.
2. The base provided with the inclined key or lug projecting from the upper side
thereof, substantially as described.
3. The plate having a plain underside provided with an inclined groove or
grooves in said side for the reception of a key or lug.
4. The combination of the base with key or lug the latter removably inserted in
an inclined groove, or grooves in the upper side of and projecting above said base.
5. The combination of the base having an inclined groove or grooves in its
upper side, the key or lug and the plate provided in its underside with an inclined
groove or grooves.
1004

page_text: FIG. 2.
-B
A