IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTERS' 'RULES' FOR CURVED, CIRCULAR, OR STRAIGHT LINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Cropper, of Cheapside, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTERS' 'RULES'
FOR CURVED, CIRCULAR, OR STRAIGHT LINES."-A communication from
abroad by Charles N. Morris, of Cincinnati, in the State of Ohio,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Cropper at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st April 1871.
I, SAMUEL CROPPER, of Cheapside, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTERS'
' RULES' FOR CURVED, CIRCULAR, OR STRAIGHT LINES," a communication to
me from abroad by Charles N. Morris, of Cincinnati, in the State of
Ohio, United States of America, to be as follows:-
The Invention has for its object to furnish improved rules for type,
in printing curved, circular, and straight lines, which shall be so con-
structed and arranged as to support the type upon a true curve or in

page_text: a straight line, and at the same time greatly diminish the time and
labor heretofore required for printing such lines.
These improved rules are made of brass or any other suitable metal,
and in the exact curve or form of the desired line. The ends of the
rule are turned inward to form shoulders or catches against which the
end type of the line rests. In the case of scroll or double-curved lines
the edges of the catches may be again turned inward to form a double
catch to more securely support the types. The rules having the
catches at the ends are distinguished as "exteriors." Each " exterior"
has its accompanying brace or "interior " which is made without
catches or end flanges, and its ends correspond with the edges of the
flanges or catches of the ends of the "exterior" so that both sides.
of the line of type may be fully supported. The construction of these
curves is such that types of different size bodies can be used to good
advantage inside the channel of the same curved rules, and to compensate
for any gain by inserting a smaller type, a "space" ог quadrat”
can be placed between the end catch and the "interior" brace which
is all that will be required, and which will render the curves adjustable
and self-locking. If desired the catches or end flanges of the exterior
rule may be bent upon a curve instead of being bent at right angles,
but I prefer to bend them at an angle as first described.
"
66
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Cropper in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL 2
CROPPER, of Cheapside, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, 3
give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Cropper, Her special licence
that I, the said Samuel Cropper, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Cropper, 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 3

page_text: 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 PRINTERS'
RULES FOR CURVED, CIRCULAR, OR STRAIGHT LINES," a communication to
me from abroad by Charles N. Morris, of Cincinnati, in the State of.
Ohio, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others),
that I, the said Samuel Cropper, my executors or administrators, by an.
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and.
scals, 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 Scal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Cropper, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
The Invention has for its object to furnish improved rules for type,
in printing curved, circular, and straight lines which shall be so con-
structed and arranged as to support the type upon a true curve or in a
straight line and at the same time greatly diminish the time and labor
heretofore required for printing such lines.
These improved rules are made of brass or any other suitable metal
and in the exact curve or form of the desired line. The ends of the
rule are turned inward to form shoulders or catches against which the
end type of the line rests. In the case of scroll or double-curved
lines the edges of the catches may be again turned inward to form a
double catch to more securely support the types. The rules having the
catches at the ends are distinguished as "exteriors." Each "exterior"
has its accompanying brace or "interior" which is made without
catches or end flanges, and its ends correspond with the edges of the
flanges or catches of the ends of the "exterior so that both sides of
the line of type may be fully supported. The construction of these
curves is such that types of different size bodies can be used to good
advantage inside the channel of the same curved rules, and to com-
pensate for any gain by inserting a smaller type, a "space" or "quadrat,”
can be placed between the end catch and the interior brace, which is
all that will be required, and which will render the curves adjustable

page_text: and self-locking. If desired the catches or end flanges of the exterior
rule may be bent upon a curve, instead of being bent at right angles,
but I prefer to bend them at an angle as first described.
and ready carried fato CHIC I Win proceed, arded by the accompanying
Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of a "rule" made in the form of a scroll or double
curve; Figure 2 is a plan of a "rule" made up of three curves;
Figure 3 is a plan of a "rule" composed of a single curve; and Figure 4
is a plan of a "rule" made in a straight line. In Figures 1, 2, and 3
I have shown the "rule" to consist of two parts, an "exterior" a, and
an "interior" or brace b, whilst in Figure 4 the "rule" is shown without
a brace or "interior," as it is not required.
On reference to the various Figures it will be seen that the end of
cach "exterior" a is turned inward, to form shoulders or catches a'
against which the end type of the line rests. In the case of single
curve or straight "rule" the catches a will be all that is required to
hold the line of type in correct position, but in the case of double curve
or scroll rule, the catches a' may be again turned inwards as at a³.
The construction of these curves is such that type of different size bodies
can be used to good advantage inside the channel of the same curved
'rules," and to compensate for any gain by inserting a smaller type,
"space" or quadrat" can be placed between the catches a² and
the braces or ct
'interiors," suitable spaces, quadrats, or filling pieces
being also employed as may be required between the catches a' and the
end type and between the type where the curve would render it
necessary.
"
a
"
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode
in which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim is,
First. The printers' rule formed with catches or flanges, single or
double, round square, or other forms upon its ends for the purpose of
closing the channel for the support of the line of types after being
tightened substantially as shewn and described and for the purpose set
forth.

page_text: Second. The combination of the interior rule or brace with the
exterior "rule" having flanges or catches upon its ends substantially
as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Cropper, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twentieth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
onc.