IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINERY
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gray, of Bonally Tower, Colinton, near Edin-
burgh, Newspaper Proprietor and Publisher of the North British
Advertiser, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINERY."
Sealed the 6th April 1858, and dated the 2nd February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents with his Petition, on the 2nd February
1858.
I, JOHN GRAY, of Bonally Tower, Colinton, near Edinburgh, Newspaper
Proprietor and Publisher of the North British Advertiser, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINERY," to
be as follows:-
The improvements in letter-press, and particularly in newspaper printing
machinery, consist of the total separation of the type table (the table on
which the types are placed during the process of printing) from the machine
for the purpose of making up the forms of types thereon, instead of making
them up as at present in "chesses or on turtles" (technically so called) .to
be afterwards conveyed to the type tables.
.
In previous printing, machines the type table is a fixed portion of the
machine; whereas, in my case, the type table is moveable ad libitum. The type
table being removed from the machine, the workmen can get all round it, and

page_text: thus make up a form of types thereon of any size it will hold with facility,
and without the slightest risk of breaking the form in going to press.
The type table of each machine consists of two distinct parts; the one the
type carriage, and the other the type table. The type carriage is fixed within
the framework of the machine in the usual way, and is to constitute a very
strong iron frame, for the reception of the type table, which it is to fit exactly
on every side.
The type table, on which the types rest, consists below of chequer work,
four inches square, from centre to centre, whilst its upper surface is to be
perfectly true for the reception of the types. This table fits exactly on every
side into the type carriage above described.
On the sides of the type table are fixed the inking roller bearers, the cylinder
bearers, and two strong. bars (being substitutes for the sides of the chesses
commonly used), whilst two other bars, one of which is moveable, and the
other fixed, will substitute the usual chesses at the head and feet of the pages.
The type table has four small but very strong-steel wheels below it for the
purpose of elevating itself and contents to the extent of three-eighths of an
inch above the type carriage, until when rolled thereon it reaches its destina-
tion, when the wheels are to be let down into the type carriage in manner
after mentioned, thus bringing the type table, together with its weighty con-
tents, down upon the carriage, on every part of which it is to bear equally.
Corresponding with the type carriage above described, each machine is
supplied with an imposing table, three feet high, on which the types are to be
made up into form on the type table. Each imposing table runs to and from
its machine on a railway, and whenever the form of types is ready, the
imposing table containing it is drawn from its place up to the edge of the
machine. To allow of which, one side of each machine is entirely clear of
works below the top surface of the framework. The table, with the form of
types thereon, is then drawn upon the machine, and the empty imposing table
returned to its place. Hence the top of the imposing table, the framework
of the machine, and the type carriage are of perfectly equal height, and three
feet will be the best height. In like manner, when the printing is over, the
form of types and type table will be raised three-eighths of an inch, drawn
back upon the imposing table, and returned to the place from whence they
came.
The raising and lowering the type table to the extent of three-eighths of an
inch only is effected on the imposing table by means of four male and female
screws, the latter being fixtures. These screws have polished ends, and when

page_text: .
up they will be flush with and form a part of the level surface of the imposing
table, the entire weight of the type table now being on its own wheels, but
when the screws are let down the type table and its contents will fall three-
eighths of an inch, thus relieving the wheels, and throwing the whole weight
upon the imposing table. In like manner, four female screws are placed
in corresponding situations in the type carriage, whilst the ends of the male
screws therein when up will be flush with the top surface of the carriage for
the reception of the four wheels supporting the type table, which being brought
to rest upon the ends of the screws the screws are then to be lowered, thus
relieving the wheels and bringing down the type table upon the carriage.
Suitable stops are applied on the type carriages and imposing tables brought
up, to which the wheels below the type table will stand on the exact centre
of the ends of the screws.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Gray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th July
1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN GRAY,
of Bonally Tower, Colinton, near Edinburgh, Newspaper Proprietor and
Públisher of the North British Advertiser, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Gray; Her special licence that I, the said John Gray, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or 'such others as I, the said John Gray, 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 therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINERY," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Gray, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Gray, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
.
1
My improvements in printing machinery consists of the total separation of
the type table (the table on which the types are placed during the process of
printing) from the machine for the purpose of making up the forms of types
thereon instead of making them up as at present in "chesses or on turtles,"
(technically so called) to be afterwards conveyed to the type table.
In all previously existing printing machines the type table is a fixed portion
of the machine. It is never removed or separated from the other parts of the
machine, except for some important purpose, such as repairs, or the removal of
the machine itself from one place to another. Whereas in my case the type
table is removeable ad libitum, and that at almost no cost of either time or
labour, and hence the advantage, that the type table being removed from
the machine, the workmen can get all round it, and thus make up a form of
types thereon of any size it will hold, with unexampled facility and without the
slightest risk of breaking the form in going to press, an advantage, and
especially in the case of a very large and consequently very heavy form of
types, of the utmost importance.
The manner in which the machinery is constructed so as to admit of this
improvement may be thus described:-
The type table then of each machine consists of two distinct parts, which I
distinguish by calling the one the type carriage, and the other the type table.
The type carriage is fixed within the framework of the machine in the usual
way, and consists of a very strong iron platform for the reception of the type
table, which exactly fits into it on every side. The upper surface of this
carriage is three feet high from the ground.
The type table again on which the types rest, consists, the under part
thereof of chequer work, four inches square from centre to centre, while its
upper surface is perfectly level for the reception of the types. This table, as
already stated, fits exactly on every side, into the type carriage above
described.
On the sides of the type table are fixed, by means of screws, inking roller
bearers, and cylinder bearers, of the kind in common use, as also two strong
bars (being substitutes for the sides of the chesses commonly used), whilst
two other bars substitute the usual chesses at the heads and feet of
the pages.

page_text: -The type table has four small, but very strong, steel wheels below it, of about
one inch and a quarter in diameter, for the purpose of elevating itself and
contents to the extent of three-eighths of an inch above the type carriage, until
when rolled thereon it reaches its destination, when the wheels are let down
into recesses in the type carriage in manner after mentioned, thus bringing
the type table, together with its weighty contents, down upon the carriage, on
every part of which it bears equally. Corresponding with the type carriage
above described the machine is supplied with an imposing table precisely three
feet high, on which the types are made up into form on the type table. This
imposing table runs to and from the machine on a railway, so that whenever
the form of types is ready the imposing table containing it is drawn from its
place in the office close up to the edge of the machine; to allow passage
room for which a sufficient space on one side of the machine is entirely clear
of works outside of the frame for three feet above the ground; the type
table with the form of types thereon is then raised three-eighths of an inch, and
drawn upon the machine, and then the empty imposing table is returned to its
place. Hence the top of the imposing table, the framework of the machine,
and the type carriage, are and must all be of perfectly equal height, and
three feet is found to be a very convenient height. In like manner, when the
printing is over, the type table with the form of types thereon is raised
three-eighths of an inch, drawn back upon the imposing table, and then
returned to the place from whence it came.
Raising and Lowering the Type Table on the Imposing Table.-This operation
is required to the extent of three-eighths of an inch only, and is easily effected
on the imposing table by means of four strong male and female screws, the
latter being fixtures passing nearly through the imposing table itself, whilst the
former work within them from below the table. In each of four recesses
in the imposing table, immediately above these screws; is placed a small piece
of iron of an oblong shape, square or hexagonal: would do as well, namely,
about an inch and a quarter long, by one inch wide, and five-eighths of an
inch thick, and when the screws are up, these small pieces of iron are flush
with and form a part of the level surface of the imposing table, the entire
weight of the type table now being on its four wheels which stand upon the
said four pieces of iron; but when the screws are let down, the four, wheels
sink into the four recesses, so that the type table and its contents fall
three-eighths of an inch, thus relieving the wheels, and throwing the whole
weight upon the imposing table.
Raising and Lowering the Type Table on the Type Carriage.-In like manner

page_text: four female screws of the above description, also fixed, are placed in corre-
sponding situations in the type carriage, whilst the male screws therein covered
as above by four oblong iron plates of the size mentioned, bring up the plates
flush with the top surface of the type carriage, in which position they are
ready for the reception of the four wheels which carry the type table, which
wheels being brought to rest upon the said plates, the screws are then lowered,
thus relieving the wheels (which fall down into the recesses) and bringing down
the type table and its contents upon the type carriage. The use of the small iron
plates above described, and which come immediately between the ends of the
screws (in both the imposing table and type carriage) and the small wheels
which carry the type table, is to prevent the friction which would ensue were
the ends of the screws to come into direct contact with the wheels. The iron
plates being oblong and filling oblong recesses cannot be turned round by the
pressure of the screws below them, so that the wheels carrying the type table
are lifted up and lowered perpendicularly, whilst in the absence of these
intervening plates the direct action of the screws: against. the wheels would
have a tendency to twist and thereby to injure the latter.
There is nothing left to care or skill in pulling or pushing the type table
on and off the imposing table and type carriage, suitable stops and marks
being placed on both the type carriage and imposing table,, brought up to
which the four wheels below the type table stand on the exact centre of the
small moveable plates which are placed on the ends of the screws by means of
which they are raised and lowered. The type table, as already mentioned, is
made to fit the type carriage very exactly on all sides so as to require no
wedging in or fastening down of any kind. But three strong iron pins of
about three quarters of an inch in diameter and the like height are fixed
triangularly on the type carriage, whilst three exactly corresponding holes are
made in the under part of the type table, so that whenever the type table is
lowered down upon the type carriage these three pins receive the former and
help to keep it fast.
The imposing tables are of great strength, the framework is of wood strongly
bound together by means of screwed bolts with corresponding receivers, their
tops consist of strong cast-iron plates about an inch and a half thick, and of
perfectly equal upper surface, and the whole is mounted on wheels suitable
for the railway on which they run, whilst the railway itself consists of a double
line of small wrought-iron bars firmly fixed to the floor.
The foregoing is a general description of the. manner in which the Invention
has been successfully carried into effect, but the specific improvement of which

page_text: I claim to be the inventor consists of my having rendered the type table a quite
easily removable instead of a fixed portion of the printing machine, however
large or cumbrous it may be, the two tables already in use being each each five
feet ten inches long by three feet six inches wide.
And I also claim the exclusive right of raising, lowering, and conveying the
type table with or without the types thereon from the machine to the imposing
table, and vice versa, in the manner above defined.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gray, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
W. CARPMAEL, Jun".
JOHN GRAY (L.S.)