IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRINTING TYPE
Year: 1864

page_text: 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRINTING
TYPE. A communication from abroad by John Joseph Charles Smith,
of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
-
Sealed the 10th February 1865, and dated the 11th August 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th August 1864.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PRINTING TYPE," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the production of printing type from
materials harder and more durable than type cast from the well-known type
metal. This is effected by cutting the type with a cutting machine adapted
to the purpose from strips of metal, each having a row of type heads on one
edge. The type heads are made of copper by the electrotype process, the
following being the mode of proceeding :-A complete font of type is set up
in rows with a blank intervening between each type equal in thickness to a
saw cut; between the first row of type set up in the manner described and,
the next row a ruler is placed, the top edge of which is about one-eighth of an

page_text: inch below the faces of the type beads. In this manner a form of sufficient
size is produced, and from it moulds are taken to be used in electrotyping the
heads. As soon as the electrotyped plates produced in such a mould are of
the required thickness they are removed from the moulds, and the cavities on
the reverse of the plates are filled with soft solder or tin. The electrotyped
plate of type heads is then cut into strips, each strip forming a connected row
of type heads of copper, by means of a machine, which consists of a table
fitted with an adjustable guide bar, and with a circular saw that projects up
through the table. To the side of the fixed guide bar a shorter guide bar is
pivotted, so that its free end may be raised or lowered as desired. Permanently
secured to a projection of the pivotted bar is a plate which forms the actual
guide for the plate to be sawn, as it stands in exact line with the saw and in
front of it. The saw and guide plate are each of the same thickness as that
of each of the spaces between the rows of type heads in the plate to be sawn.
When the sawing operation is to be performed the pivotted bar is raised, and
the plate of type heads is placed under the guide plate, which fitting the
spaces between the rows of type heads adjusts the electrotyped plate in exact
line with the saw. The plate is fed up to the saw by hand.
The bodies of the type may be made in several ways, one of which consists
in casting a strip of type metal on to each of the rows of type heads above
described. In casting the bodies a mould may be conveniently used, consisting
of two cast-iron bars, each about 15 inches long, and 2 inches wide, and con-
nected by a hinge in such manner that they may be closed on each other as
the jaws of a clamp, or opened at will. A strip of brass or steel is fastened to
the inner face of one bar, and in thickness equal to the desired thickness of the
type bodies intended to be cast. The jaws of the clamp or mould are grooved
longitudinally to receive a bar of cast iron with a longitudinal groove on a
middle line along one side thereof, the groove being about one-eighth of an inch
in depth, and in width equal to the desired width of the type intended to be
produced. In the groove of this bar a row of the above-described type heads
is laid face downwards, and the bar is then placed in the clamp or mould,
which, when closed is filled with melted type metal that unites with the row
of type heads. These strips are afterwards cut up into single type by means
of a cutting machine.
Another way of making the type bodies consists in soldering strips of rolled
metal to the rows of type heads above described, which strips are afterwards
cut up into single type by means of the cutting machine to be now described.
This machine consists of a bed plate provided with two V-shaped grooves, on
which a sliding carriage is mounted for the purpose of bringing the strips to

page_text: be cut under the action of a circular saw, and after each complete cut with-
drawing the strips from the saw before moving them up for another cut.
Fitted on the carriage is á channel in depth equal to the height of the type
bodies, and formed by two guide bars divided transversely in the line of the
saw. In this channel the lines of type to be cut are placed, and they are
propelled forward by means of a sliding bar which slides in a dovetailed
groove on top of one of the guide bars. This sliding bar has a hinge joint
and a small angular hook which enters the spaces between the types, and it is
connected with a lever, by which a traverse motion is given thereto. The
loose end of the bar is raised by a spring when the bar is relieved from the
pressure of the lever. As soon as the strips in the channel are moved so far
forward as to bring the spaces between the type heads in a line with the saw
a transverse finger is pushed forward through the spaces between the type
heads, so that the finger enters the cut made in the guide bars that form the
channel, as before mentioned; by this means the type heads are accurately
adjusted in the position necessary for them to hold while the type are being
cut off.
A block which moves in the box that guides the finger projects about half
an inch beyond each end of the box, and is connected with a lever having its
fulcrum on the carriage. This block acts as a gripping jaw, and serves to
hold the strips and the type being cut therefrom firmly in their true positions
while the cutting operation is going on. As soon as the person operating the
machine has closed the gripping jaw he withdraws the guage finger and
moves the carriage up to the saw, the rotation of which severs the end types
from the strips. These loose types aro kept in position when released from
the gripping jaw by a block of metal, which fits into and is capable of being
moved along the channel by the feed motion before mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF PRINTING TYPE," being com-
munication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The object of this Invention, as communicated to me from abroad, is the
production of printing type from materials harder and more durable than type
cast from the well-known type metal. This object is attained by cutting the
type in a machine adapted to the purpose from strips of metal, each having a
row of type heads on one edge.
I will now proceed to describe the several processes for producing the strips,
and afterwards the machine used for cutting up such strips into single type,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings.
The type heads are made of copper by the electrotype process in the follow-
ing manner-A complete font of type is set up in rows with blanks inter-
posed between the types, each blank being of a thickness exactly equal to
the thickness of the saw or cutter of the cutting machine above mentioned.
A row of type set up in this manner is represented in Fig. 1. Between the
first row of type set up in the manner described and the next row a ruler is
placed, the top edge of which is about one eighth of an inch below the faces
of the type heads as shewn at a, Fig. 1. Proceeding in this manner a form of
sufficient size is produced, and from it moulds are taken in any well-known or
approved way, which moulds are to be used in electrotyping the heads. As
soon as the electrotyped plates produced in such a mould are of the required

page_text: thickness they are removed from the moulds, and the cavities on the reverse of
the plates are filled with soft solder or tin; I then cut the electrotyped plate of
type heads into strips, each strip forming a connected row of type heads, by
means of a machine which I will now describe.
+
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a machine for cutting up the electrotypes
into strips, the table legs and the gearing for operating the saw not being
represented. A is the table, fitted with an adjustable guide bar B, which is
secured to the table A by screws or pins C, C, inserted through slotted plates
attached to the bar.; D is a circular saw projecting up through the table,
and mounted parallel to the bar B; E is a guide bar secure to the bar B
near one end by means of a pivot, screw, or pin in such manner that
the free end of the guide bar may be raised or lowered as desired; F is
a short guide bar or plate permanently secured to a projection f of the
pivotted bar E. The plate F forms the actual guide for the plate to be sawn
as it stands in exact line with the saw, and in front of it. The saw D and
guide plate F correspond in thickness with the spaces between the rows of
type heads in the plate to be sawn. When the sawing operation is to be per-
formed, the bar E is raised on its pivot e, and the plate of type heads is
placed under the guide plate F, which exactly fitting the spaces between the
rows of type heads adjusts the electrotyped plate in line with the saw. The
plate is fed up to the saw by hand.
The bodies of the type may be made in several ways, one of which consists
in casting a strip of type metal on to each of the rows of type heads abovė
described. In casting the bodies a mould, such as is represented in Fig. 3, is
used. This mould consists of two cast-iron bars G and H, each about fifteen
inches long, and two-and-a-half inches wide, and connected by a hinge 'g in
such manner that they may be closed on each other as the jaws of a clamp,
and opened at will. I is a strip of brass or steel fastened to the inner face of
the bar G, and in thickness equal to the desired thickness of the type bodies
intended to be cast; J is a bar of cast iron with a longitudinal groove on a
middle line along one side, as shewn, the groove being about one-eighth of an
inch in depth, and in width equal to the desired width of the type intended to be
produced. In this groove a row of the above-described type heads is laid face
downwards. The bar J is then placed in a recess formed by the grooves h
and cut in the inner faces of the hinged bars G, H; the mould is then
closed, and melted type metal being poured therein unites with the row of
type heads. These strips are afterwards cut up into single types by means of
the cutting machine herein-after described.

page_text: "
Another way of making the type bodies consists in soldering strips of
rolled metal to the rows of type heads above described. From a sheet of rolled
brass or zinc, equal in thickness to the desired thickness of the type to be pro:
duced, strips about seven-eighths of an inch wide are cut, which strips are
made straight and smooth on their edges. The strips are also each provided
with two or more shallow grooves on one side, which grooves form the notches
in the single type eventually to be produced from these strips. A cast-iron
plate is then provided with a number of grooves on one surface, about three-
eighths of an inch in depth, and in width equal to the desired thickness of the
type to be made. In each of the grooves a row of the above-mentioned copper
type head faces is laid down, and on top of each row of heads one of the
above-mentioned brass or zinc strips is placed, each strip being moistened on
one edge with soldering acid. The whole is then exposed to heat sufficient to
melt the solder or tin which fills the cavities of the type heads, when the
plate is withdrawn from the heat, and as soon as the solder or tin cools
sufficiently the united strips and heads are removed from the grooves.
The strips are afterwards cut up into single types by means of the cutting
machine to be now described.
Fig. 4 is a plan, in quarter size, of the cutting machine last referred
to; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 6 is an end view of
the carriage; and Fig. 7 is another end view of the carriage drawn
at half size. K is the bed plate provided with two V-shaped grooves i,
in which a sliding carriage L is mounted for the purpose of bringing
the strips to be cut under the action of a circular saw M, and after
each complete cut withdrawing the strips from the saw before moving them
up for another cut. To this carriage most parts of the machine are attached.
The circular saw M is keyed to a shaft which carries a driving pulley M'.
The saw shaft turns in socket bearings carried by bearing blocks fixed to the
bed plate K. N is a transverse channel in depth equal to the height of the
type bodies, and formed by two guide bars 0, 0, and P, P¹, of which the bars
P, P¹, are adjustable. The channel N is divided by the cut n, as is shewn in
Figures 4 and 7, into two sections, one of which holds the strips while being
eut, and the other receives the types as they are cut off. Qis a sliding bar
shaped as shewn in Fig. 4; this bar slides in a dovetail groove on the top
of the bar P; it has a hinge joint m, Figures 4 and 7, and a small angular
hook p, shewn in Fig. 7. The sliding bar Q is connected with a lever R by
By means of the bar Q and lever R the number of
strips placed in the channel are together moved forward before the saw into the
a link 9 and pivot joint r.

page_text: -
position proper for them to hold while being cut, the hook. p. facilitating the
motion of the strips in the channel by catching into the spaces between the
type heads. S, Figures 4 and 7 is a spring which raises the loose end of the
bar when this bar is relieved from the pressure of the lever R. As soon
as the strips in the channel are moved so far forward as to bring the spaces
between the type heads in a line straight with the saw and the cut n, a small
bar T sliding in the box t is pushed forward through the spaces between the
type heads so that the end of the bar enters the cut n as is shown in Figures
4 and 7. By this means the type heads are accurately adjusted in the
position necessary for them to hold while the types are being cut off in order
that the cutting may be performed without injury to the face of the 'type.
The gauge bar T brings the types as they are cut from the strips to the
outside of the bar T, so that they stand upright and enter the section O¹, P¹,
of the channel M, as shewn at u, Fig. 4. This guage bar T also enables the
machine to cut letters of various sizes consecutively or in alphabetical order.
without altering the adjustment of the machine; one strip may therefore,
contain all the letters of the alphabet. U, Figures 4 and 5, is a block which
moves in the box t; it projects about half an inch beyond each end of the
box t, and is connected with a lever V by a link and pin; the lever V has its
fulcrum at W. The block U, in connection with the lever V, makes a gripping
jaw, the office of which is to hold the strips and the type being cut therefrom
firmly in their true positions while the cutting operation is going on.
As.
soon as the person operating the machine has closed the gripping jaw he
withdraws the gauge bar T, and moves the carriage up to the saw. X,
Fig. 4, is a moveable block of metal fitting into the section O¹, P¹, of the
channel N; its function is to keep the cut-off types in an upright position,.
after each cut is completed. When the strips are moved forward into a
proper position preparatory to a fresh cut they press against the cut-off type
and force them against the block X, which yielding to the pressure so applied.
moves towards the outer end of the channel a distance equal to the thickness
of the type being cut off. The operation of cutting is carried on until this
last-named section of the transverse channel is filled with cut-off types. The
types are then pushed out into a galley in a composed condition ready for
packing or printers' use.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of the "Improvements
in the Manufacture of Printing Type," as communicated to me from abroad,.
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First, the mode of producing type as above described.

page_text: And, secondly, the arrangements of mechanism above described for effect-
ing the separation of the type so formed;
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set, my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)