IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of the Office for Patents, 68, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE
PURPOSE." A communication from abroad by the Viscount Alphonse Adolphe
de Calonne, of 17, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France.
Sealed the 16th March 1880, and dated the 19th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest de Pass at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1879.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for Patents, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION AND
IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE." A communication from abroad by
the Viscount Alphonse Adolphe de Callone, of 17, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris,
France.
This Invention has principally for object the construction of type composing
frames, in which the types, characters, or letters, single or multiple, are arranged
behind each other in compartments or grooves of inclined cases, and set perpen-
dicularly to the inclination of the bottoms of the said cases; the front of each of
these cases is chamfered so as to facilitate the ready removal therefrom of the type,
sign, or letter which is first presented, and the bottoms are rendered as slippery as
possible (by any suitable means) so that the types, signs, or letters can remain
when necessary, pressed against each other, by means of a heavy roller placed in
each groove of the said cases. These cases carry lateral ribs or tongues which
engage in corresponding grooves contrived in the vertical uprights of the frames.
In one arrangement the frames contain six compartments, four central and two
lateral, the cases of which receive the types, which, instead of being thrown into
the boxes pell-mell as heretofore are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the
plane of the cases; each of the four central compartments contains 20 cases, each
case containing 10 boxes, and each of the two lateral compartments contains 20
cases of 10 boxes, in all 1200 boxes..
The whole of the letters placed in the grooves of the cases are so arranged that
only one letter is presented in front, and all the others, which are placed behind
are pressed against the first one by a nickled leaden roller, for instance, capable of

page_text: rolling easily, and always pressing against the types remaining in the groove as
soon as one or more of them have been removed. This roller must be of such a
size that its centre of gravity shall be below the front of the case.
Each compartment of the frame carries inclined cases which are divided into as
many longitudinal spaces or grooves as is necessary, 5, 6, 10, or a greater number,
according to the requirements of the work.
The cases are moveable, and may be kept in place by catches, hooks, or other
suitable means.
The arrangement of the chamfer or recess allows of the first type being readily
taken by inclining it backwards, which releases it momentarily from the pressure
of the other types and from the leaden roller; the diameter of this latter is so
calculated that its centre of gravity and pressure is below the edge of the chamfered
case; in this way the compositor, when taking a type, does not throw the others
out of the groove, and the working is readily and quickly done.
By means of another arrangement about to be described a great saving of space
and cost of the first construction is the result, and the grooves of the cases can be
fed by hand either by a stick of suitable form or by a special guide-shoot or slide
whilst the cases are employed for composing.
The types are here placed in a series of grooves in the cases which are formed in
the intervals of the grooves of the case situated immediately above. By means of
these cases superimposed in convenient number a portion of the types stand up in
the recesses formed beneath the case immediately above. The front of the cases is
so arranged as to facilitate the picking up of the types.
By this arrangement of cases with alternate grooves a greater number of
grooved inclined type cases can be arranged at the same height; the advantage
being that one of the compartments of the first arrangement can be dispensed with,
and consequently the hinges which allowed of the two lateral compartments being
inclined for the purpose of occupying less space in width. The types previously
placed in the sixth lateral compartment can now be distributed in the upper part
of the compartments.
An incline of 29° to 30° is necessary for effecting the sliding of the types into
the grooves, but the inclination should never exceed 35°, not that the types would
not slide well, but because they might fall over the edge of the case on the
compositor taking out the first one in front. In order that the work should be
well done it is also necessary that a cavity or recess should be contrived in front at
the side of the types. This recess or cavity must be so formed that its upper edge
should extend above the middle of the type whilst its lower edge, which indicates
the point where the type touches the front, must be a little below the middle of
the type. Owing to this special arrangement the compositor can rock the type he
wishes to take out by releasing it from the pressure of the other types and from the
weighted roller.
I will now explain how the difficulty of distributing the types has been
overcome.
For the first distribution in the grooves of the cases a guide-shoot made of tin,
copper, or other suitable material is used, it is closed at one end and is open at the
other, which is bevelled, it is a little larger inwardly than the type to be distributed,
and a little narrower outwardly than the grooves into which it must be placed.
The types are placed therein in an upright direction as they must be when in the
grooves, and they are kept in place at the open end of the guide-shoot by the
finger; when this open end has been placed in one of the grooves from the lower
part of the case it is kept in a horizontal position, and the finger is then withdrawn,
and is then placed at the back of the types, which are then pushed gently so that
they slide and ascend in the groove. The guide-shoot is thus emptied in the
groove, and the operation commences again with another letter and another
groove.
This work can also be effected in an inverse direction, that is to say, from the
back of the frames. For this purpose it is sufficient to dispense with the back

page_text: wall of the frames, and to fit in the lower end of the guide-shoot one or two large
quadrants in front of of the types. The contents of the guide-shoot are then caused
to slide into the groove, and the types being held by the quadrat or quadrats
cannot fall forward.
This last manner of effecting the distribution from the back of the frame has led
to the cases themselves being improved, so that a compositor can be in front while
a distributor can be at back, who can feed the different grooves of the cases with
types by means of the stick above mentioned for pushing the said types in front.
In this arrangement the bottom of the case is made of a sheet of zinc or of any
other suitable material, and is bent up at back in the form of an inclined plane or
border. On this sheet are fixed partitions, the upper ends of which are cut off
or rounded, and have notches formed therein, into which the edge of the
border engages. The empty spaces between the partitions form the grooves for the
types. Greater lightness, an easier mode of manufacture, and a lower cost price
are thus obtained for these cases than for those first hereinbefore described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th March
1880.
'
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for Patents, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION, AND
IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE." A communication from abroad by
the Viscount Alphonse Adolphe de Calonne, of 17, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris,
France.
This Invention has principally for object the construction of type composing
frames, in which the types, characters, or letters (single types or logotypes) are
arranged behind each other in the compartments or grooves of inclined cases or
trays, and are set perpendicularly to the inclination of the bottoms of such cases or
trays. The front of each of these cases or trays is chamfered so as to facilitate the
ready removal of the type, sign, or letter which is first presented, and the bottoms
of these cases are rendered as slippery as possible by any suitable means (for
instance they may be of wood, black-leaded or varnished, or they may be of glass),
so that the types, signs, or letters can remain, when necessary, pressed against each
other by means of a heavy roller placed in each groove of the said cases or trays.
These cases or trays carry lateral ribs or tongues which engage in corresponding
inclined grooves contrived in the vertical uprights of the frames.
And in order that the Invention may be readily understood I now proceed to
describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying Drawings, which
represent, by way of example, certain special arrangements of apparatus constructed
according to the said Invention.
In the first of these arrangements Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents in elevation type
composing frames containing central and lateral compartments, the cases or trays
of which receive the types, characters, or letters, which are arranged perpendicularly
to the plane of the cases or trays. There are 4 central compartments of 20 cases,

page_text: each case or tray containing 10 boxes, and 2 lateral compartments of cases or 10
boxes, making in all a total of 1200 boxes.
Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a transverse sectional elevation, showing the arrangement of
the inclined cases or trays.
Fig. 3, Sheet 1, shows in plan the arrangement of a complete system, with
central frames of 800 lateral boxes, and frames arranged with 200 boxes each, in
all 1200 boxes, for single or multiple letters, types, or characters. One of these
frames shows in plan the arrangements of a case or tray with its compartments or
grooves.
Fig. 4, Sheet 1, shows in detail 4 compartments of a type composing frame con-
taining types, the compartment C having its case or tray removed.
Fig. 5, Sheet 1, represents in section, full size, the front end of a case or tray,
showing the position of the types or characters in the groove, with a leaden roller
for pressing against the said types or characters, also the chamfer or recess, which
permits the ready removal of the types by hand.
The types, characters, or letters a are arranged, as shewn in Fig. 5, one behind
the other, and perpendicularly to the inclined plane of the groove b of the case or
tray, whilst in the generality of type composing frames now employed the types
are thrown in pell mell in a horizontal position, which necessitates on the part of
the compositor picking-up the same with great dexterity and great practical skill.
The whole of the types placed in the grooves of the cases or trays is so arranged
that only one of them is presented in front, and all the others are placed behind,
and pressed against the first one by a roller e of lead, for instance. The use of a
leaden roller, nickled, will be found to answer the purpose best in practice, because
rolling easily it will always press against the types remaining in the groove as soon
as one or more of them have been removed.
Each compartment G of the frame carries inclined cases or trays d, which are
divided into as many longitudinal spaces or grooves b as is necessary, 5, 6, 10, or a
greater number, according to the various requirements of the work.
The cases are moveable, and may be kept in place by catches or books h, as shewn
in Fig. 4, or by other suitable means.
The arrangement of the chamfer or recess g allows of the front type being readily
picked up or taken out by inclining it backwards, which momentarily releases it
from the pressure of the other types and of the leaden roller. The diameter of this
roller is so calculated that its centre of gravity and pressure is a little below the
edge of the chamfered case or tray, so that the compositor on taking out a type
does not throw the others out of the groove, and the working is readily and quickly
done.
Figs. 6 to 10, Sheet 2, show a second special arrangement, from which result a
great saving of space and cost of first construction, as well as the feeding of the
grooves or compartments of the cases or trays by hand, either by means of a stick
of suitable form, or a special guide shoot or slide, whilst the cases or trays are
employed for composing."
Figs. 6 and 7 are front and side views of a type composing frame, in which the
types or characters are arranged in a series of grooves in the cases or trays, which
are formed in the intervals of the grooves of the case or tray.situated immediately
above.
Fig. 8 shows in section on the line T, U, of Fig. 9, and about full size, the detail
of this arrangement, the importance of which will be readily understood, as by the
use of these two kinds of cases or trays C and D, superimposed in convenient
number, a portion of the types stand up in the recesses formed beneath the case or
tray immediately above.
Fig. 9 is a section of the cases or trays taken on the line V, X, of Fig. 10, and
showing the arrangement of the front part for facilitating the removal of the types
or characters; and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the front face of the cases or
trays.
By means of this arrangement of cases of trays with alternate grooves, or, so to

page_text: say, imbricated grooves, a greater number of grooved inclined type cases or trays can
be arranged at the same height, the advantage being that one of the compartments
of the first herein described arrangement can be dispensed with, and likewise the.
hinges which allowed of the two lateral compartments being inclined in order to
occupy less space in width. Thus it is that Figs. 6 and 7 show an improved type
composing frame according to this Invention, with five compartments only, without
any compartment either inclined or hinged, which is of great practical importance.
The types which were previously placed in the sixth lateral compartment can in
this manner be distributed in the upper part of the compartments.
In order that the sliding of the types a be effected in the grooves or compart-
ments 6 an incline of at least 29° to 30° is necessary, but this inclination should never
exceed 35°, not that the types would not slide well, but because they might chance
to fall over the edge of the case or tray on the compositor taking out the one' first
in front. In order that the work be well done it is also necessary that a cavity or
recess g.should be contrived in front at the side of the types, as shewn in Fig. 9,
which represents in section two superimposed type cases or trays C, D. This
recess or cavity g must be so formed that its upper edge extends above the line x, y,
which indicates the centre of the types, whilst the lower line, which indicates the
point where the type touches the front, must be a little below the said line x, y.
Owing to this special arrangement the compositor can rock the type he wishes to
take out by releasing it from the pressure of the other types; and from the weighted
roller e, which rolls on the sliding plane of the grooves, in always pressing the types
against each other, and the first one of all against the front of the type case or tray.
It should be remarked that the leaden roller must be of such size that its centre of
gravity is below the front of the case or tray.
I will now explain how the difficulty of distributing the types has been
overcome.
:
For the first distribution in the grooves of the cases or trays a guide shoot inade'
of tin, copper, or other suitable material, and shewn in perspective view, Fig 11,
sheet 1, is used, This shoot is closed at one end and is open at the other, which is
bevelled; it is a little larger inwardly than the type to be distributed, and a little
narrower outwardly than the grooves into which it is to enter. The types are
placed herein in an upright direction,' as they must be when in the grooves, and
they are kept in place at the open end by the finger; when this open end is placed.
in one of the grooves from the lower part of the case the shoot or slide is kept in
a horizontal position and the finger then withdrawn and placed behind the types
which are gently pushed so that they slide and ascend in the groove.
The guide
shoot or slide is thus emptied in the groove, and the operation commences afresh
with another letter and another groove.
This work can also be effected in an inverse direction, that is to say, from the
back of the frames. For this purpose it is sufficient to dispense with the back
wall of the frames, and to fit in the lower end of the guide-shoot one or two
large quadrats in front of the types. The contents of the guide shoot are then
caused to slide into the groove and the types being held by the quadrat, or
quadrats, cannot fall forward.
This last manner of effecting the "distribution" from the back of the frames has
further led to the cases or trays being improved as well from this point of view as
from others, and thus rendering the cases or trays capable of being used by a
compositor in front and a distributor at back, who can then feed the different
grooves of such cases or trays with the types, by means of the stick above
imentioned for pushing the said types in front. A portion of the case so improved
is shewn in Figs. 12, 13, and 14, sheet 1, which are respectively a sectional
elevation, a plan, and a transverse section on the line Y, Z, of Fig. 13, as shewn
by these Figures; the bottom of the case or tray c is made of sheet zinc or other
suitable material, bent up at back in the form of an inclined plane or border
c. On this zinc sheet are fixed wooden partitions e, e, e, the upper ends of which
are cut off or rounded, and have notches formed therein into which the bent up
་
:

page_text: edge of the border c¹ engages. The empty spaces b, b, b, between the partitions.
e, e, e, form the grooves for the types.
The partitions e, e, e, may be of pear wood or other appropriate material, and may
be fixed to the zinc sheet by rivets or by other suitable means.
Greater lightness,
an easier mode of manufacture, and a lower cost price are thus obtained for these
type cases or trays than for those first hereinbefore described.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
carrying same into effect, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
declare that I claim, .
First. The construction of type composing frames in which the types, characters,
or signs, are arranged behind each other in the grooves or compartments of a type
case or tray set at an angle of less than 35°, and perpendicularly to the inclination
of the said grooves or compartments of the case or tray, so as to present the types,
one by one, in a nearly vertical position and within reach of the hand of the
compositor, who can by means of a recess or chamfer in the front of the case
readily remove the first type presented, the other types being always fed forward
by pressure from a metal roller which advances the types on the inclined plane of
tne grooves or compartments which are for this purpose rendered as slippery as
possible, substantially as set forth.
Second. The special arrangement of type composing frames constructed according
to this system in which the type cases or trays, set at an angle of less than 35° are
furnished with compartments or grooves, the bottoms of which are of wood
blackleaded or varnished, or of glass, so as to render them slippery, and on which
the types are arranged one by one and are constantly pressed by a leaden roller
against the chamfered edge of the case or tray, in a position perpendicular to the
bottom of such compartment or groove, as herein described.
Third. The means as herein set forth for carrying the Invention into practical
effect and as shown in the Drawings.
Fourth. The mode of pressure employed for keeping the types pressed against
each other, the use of a leaden roller (nickeled or otherwise coated as a protection
against atmospheric influence) whose diameter is such that while pressing the types
against each other, it does not hinder the withdrawal of the foremost one when
taken and gently rocked by the compositor as specified.
Fifth. The arrangement at the front portion of the type cases or trays containing
the type, and set at an angle of less than 35° of a recess or chamfer, the upper
part of which is a little above the centre of the types, and the lower part a little
below such centre, as described and illustrated.
Sixth. The arrangement of inclined type cases or trays in which the types are
placed perpendicularly to the plane of inclination of the grooves or compartments
of such cases or trays, the said grooves or compartments being so arranged, that
from one case to the other they are alternated, spaced off, or imbricated in such a
way as to permit the upper portion of the types to extend into the spaces or
intervals, as described and as shown in Fig. 8 of the Drawings.
Seventh. The arrangements of type composing frames with inclined cases or
trays open behind in order that the feeding or charging of the types can be effected
at back without hindering the removal of the types in front by the compositor as
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest de Pass, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Eighth day of March. in the year One thousand eight hundred
ERNEST DE PASS (L.S.)