MENTS IN STEREOTYPING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Napier, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid-Lothian, North Britain. Machinist, for the Invention of
MENTS IN STEREOTYPING."
IMPROVE-
Sealed the 10th December 1861, and dated the 12th June 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Napier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
June 1861.
I, JOHN NAPIER, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid-Lothian, North
Britain, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOTYPING," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of obtaining stereotype plates,
which possesses many advantages over the plaster or paper processes. Under
one modification a planed cast-iron plate is prepared to receive the plaster or
stucco impression in the following manner-A piece of cartridge or other
paper is cut to the size of the plate, and pasted on the planed surface of the
plate. The upper surface of the paper is also pasted, and a mixture of plaster
of Paris and water prepared to the consistence of thick cream is poured on to
the paper. The surface of the plaster is levelled to the required thickness by
means of a straightedge, or other suitable tool. The form containing the
type. blocks, or pages to be stereotyped is "locked up" by quoins, in the usual
manner, to prevent the type from falling out, and the surface of the type is

page_text: oiled. The form is inverted, and the type laid with its face downwards upon
the freshly prepared plaster, and the form is allowed to remain until the
plaster has set. The form is lifted off, and the plaster dried completely from
the metal side; this may be conveniently done by means of an ordinary type
founder's furnace, arranged with a fire-clay or brick flue, fitted with an iron
plate, to facilitate the drying of the matrix. A flat cast-iron plate covered
with paper is provided; this plate has metal gauges to regulate the thickness
of the stereotype plate. The matrix plate is screwed or wedged to this plate,
and both are well heated; the molten metal is then poured in, and an exact
counterpart of the type or form is obtained. After allowing the stereo cast to
cool it is removed, and finished by planing or chipping, if necessary. This
mode of stereotyping is much more economical than the ordinary plaster or
stucco system, and is done much quicker; it is also much less injurious to the
type than the paper mode, as the beating brush is dispensed with, and the
process is effected in a shorter time.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Napier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
NAPIER, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June. in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Napier, Her special license that I, the said John Napier,
my executors, administrators. and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Napier, my
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEREOTYPING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I. the said
John Napier, my executors or administrators. by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: 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 John Napier, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to an improved mode of obtaining stereotype
plates, which possesses many advantages over the plaster or paper processes.
Under one modification a planed cast-iron plate is prepared to receive the
plaster or stucco impression in the following manner: A piece of cartridge
or other paper is cut to the size of the plate, and pasted on the planed surface
of the plate. The upper surface of the paper is also pasted, and a mixture of
plaster of Paris and water prepared to the consistence of thick cream is
poured on to the paper. The surface of the plaster is levelled to the required
thickness by means of a straight edge, or other suitable tool. The "form"
containing the type blocks or pages to be stereotyped is "locked up", by
quoins in the usual manner to prevent the type from falling out, and the
surface of the type is oiled. The form is inverted, and the type laid with its
face downwards upon the freshly prepared plaster. and the form is allowed to
remain until the plaster has set. The form is lifted off, and the plaster dried
completely from the metal side; this may be conveniently done by means of
an ordinary type founder's furnace, arranged with a fire-clay or brick flue,
fitted with an iron plate, to facilitate the drying of the matrix. A flat cast-
iron plate covered with paper is provided; this plate has metal gauges to
regulate the thickness of the stereotype plate. The matrix plate is screwed
or wedged to this plate, and both are well heated: the molten metal is then
poured in, and an exact counterpart of the type or form is obtained. After
allowing the stereo cast to cool, it is removed and finished by planing or
chipping if necessary. This mode of stereotyping is much more economical
than the ordinary plaster or stucco system, and is done much quicker; it is
also much less injurious to the type than the paper mode, as the beating
brush is dispensed with, and the process is effected in a shorter time.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in stereotyping may
be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe certain modifications
or modes of operation under which my Invention may be judiciously carried
out in practice, that is to say:
Under one modification or mode of proceeding, a cast-iron plate is prepared
for receiving the plaster or other suitable material used in the process. The

page_text: surface of the iron plate is rendered smooth by planing, or other equivalent
means, and a sheet of cartridge or other paper is pasted on to the surface of
the plate. A coating of paste is also laid on the surface of the paper, and the
operator having prepared a sufficient quantity of plaster of Paris, or other
suitable plastic material mixed with water or other fluid to the consistency of
thick cream, this mixture is poured on to the plate, and its surface is
levelled by means of a straightedge, or other suitable tool. The "form"
containing the matter to be stereotyped is properly "locked up" in the usual
way, and the surface of the type or the blocks is slightly oiled to prevent the
plastic material adhering thereto. The form is then inverted, and laid with
its face downwards upon the plaster, and is allowed to remain there until the
plastic material has completely solidified. When this is effected, the form is
removed from the plastic material, and the cast is dried by the application of
heat. This may be conveniently accomplished either by means of a large
sized type founder's furnace, or by an oven suitably arranged for the purpose.
A flat cast-iron plate is covered with paper, and is then screwed or otherwise
fastened to the plate which has the dried matrix upon it. The duplex plates
thus arranged form the mould for obtaining the metal stereo cast. And in
order to regulate the thickness of the metal forming the stereo cast, the second
plate is furnished with gauges, so as to keep the plates a proper distance
asunder, and so insure a suitable and uniform thickness of metal in the stereo-
type plates. The duplex plates forming the mould are well heated in the
oven, and the metal for casting the stereotype plate having been previously
melted, it is poured in between the plates by means of a lip, or other suitable
opening formed for the admission of the molten metal.
Another mode of effecting the process of stereotyping, which is suitable for
small-faced type and woodcuts, is to prepare a sufficient quantity of the
plaster or plastic material, and to fill the interstices between the letter with it,
so as to completely cover the surface. The plastic material is pressed down
either by means of a flat surface covered with a soft material, or it is done by
means of a roller. The prepared plate covered with paper is laid upon the
plaster, which is then allowed to solidify; the plate and form are then turned
over, and the form is lifted off. After the matrix has been dried, the top or
mould plate is fastened to the lower plate, and the two are heated prior to
pouring in the molten metal. In cases where the paper used for covering the
plates in these processes of stereotyping are subjected to a high temperature,
it is convenient to prepare the paper prior to using it for the plates in a saline
solution, so as to render it non-inflammable, or nearly incombustible. When
the metal which was poured into the mould has cooled, the stereo cast is

page_text: removed from the mould, and the plate is finished by planing or chipping
away, if necessary, any irregularities of surface. The plate when mounted upon
wood in the usual manner is ready for the printer. These modes of stereo-
typing are not injurious to the letter or the woodcuts, as the beating is
dispensed with, and the rough usage consequent thereon is avoided. The
processes are, moreover, more economical than the ordinary system of casting
in plaster, and effect a saving of time as well as wear and tear.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect. I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the system or mode of casting or
obtaining stereotype plates from letter-press or woodcuts, either singly or com-
bined, by means of the processes herein-before described, or
modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Napier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
JOHN NAPIER. (L.S.)