Improvements in and relating to Type-line Justifiers.
Year: 1896

page_text: being date of first Foreign Application (in (30th Nov., 1896
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 23rd Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 23rd Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1898
Improvements in and relating to Type-line Justifiers.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON SHERER, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 224 North Horsman Street, in the City of Rockford, County of
Winnebago and State of Illinois, United States of America, Printer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to an improved font of justifying-spaces for type; and it
consists of a series of thin sheet-metal spaces of various sizes body wise, according
to the point system, and of uniform thickness or size runningwise.
The accompanying drawing shows isometrical representations of series of different-
size line-spaces which constitutes a font.
With every font of type thore are spaces which are of uniform size bodywise,
but vary in size runningwise from the "five-om" or "hair-space" to the three-em
quad.
In composing type it frequently happens that the line cannot be justified by any
of the font-spaces or a combination of such spaces, and in such event cardboard is
usually resorted to as a justifying medium. This is particularly true of advertising
matter and display-lines, as it rarely ever happens that the lines, and particularly
display-lines, make an accurate fit in the composing-stick. These card-board
spaces, or if leads are used, as they sometimes are, must be cut to the proper size
by the type-setter, and their use is objectionable in that it not only takes time to
make these spaces, but the spaces after being once used are, as a rule thrown aside.
Now while the cardboard spaces when properly shaped, temporarily answer the
purpose for which they were intended, they are more or less unreliable, owing to
the fact that they are yielding, and hence do not hold the type solidly in place.
Again, if the form be laid aside for future use, the lye-bath to which the type
must be subjected before subsequent use, dampens the cardboard spaces, and
causing them to swell, renders them useless, and necessitates rejustifying before the
form can be again used.
In the manufacture of type the width or bodywise is made according to the point
system, the body of the type being known as so many points, as five, ten, twelve,
eighteen, twenty-four, thirty-six, forty-eight, and sixty pointe, as shown in the
drawing.
My improved spaces, which are made of sheet metal, preferably copper-plate, are
also constructed ou the point system bodywise, the spaces running wise, however,
all being of the same thickness. From this it will be seen that when the lines
cannot be justified by the ordinary spaces and leads or combinations of spaces, that
the filling in can be readily and quickly accomplished by the thin pliable spaces

page_text: above described, which are as permanent when once in the frame, as the type
themselves.
My spaces are in fonts and correspond in size bodywise with their respective type.
Hence with them it is a simple matter to justify and line without inconvenience or
the loss of time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
olaim, is―
A font of justifying-spaces, consisting of a series of thin sheet-metal spaces of
various sizes the size of the spaces being the same running-wise but varying
bodywise according to the point system.
11 1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.