IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OR LOCOTYDRG TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bartholomew Beniowski, of Bow Street, Covent
Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE
OR LOCOTYDRG TO BE USED THEREIN."
ealed the 8th August 1856, and dated the 10th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bartholomew Beniowski
at the, Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th May 1856.
-I, BARTHOLOMEW BENIOWSKI, of Bow Street, Covent Garden, in the County
of Middlesex, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION, AND THE MANUFACTURE OF
LOGOTYPES TO BE USED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
Suppose I have to manufacture the following logotypes; ba, ca, da, &c., or the,
war, peace, &c., or any number of each of these logotypés: I compose them into
lines and pages of any convenient size, exactly as for printing, with this differ-
ence, that after each logotype I put a space, which I call a separator, which is
of the same body and shape as the types and usual spaces, distinguished, how-
ever, from these last, either by a different nick or nicks or by color, and also.
by making their feet completely flat; i: e., without the usual groove therein.
I set up the type thus ba□, ca, da, &c., the, the, of, &c.
N.B. represents the above-mentioned separator.
2nd. Between each line and the next between I put what I call.a LAD,

page_text: 1
which is in every respect similar to an ordinary lead of about small pica
thickness.
3rd. Having thus composed a page or column, I justify the whole and lock
it up in chase, exactly as for printing. I take an impression, and make all the
necessary corrections.
4th. I transfer the whole into an air and water tight trough, of any desirable
depth, and unlock the type..
5th. I pour into the trough a thin solution of shellac in spirits of wine, or
any other similar varnish, and cover the whole air-tight to prevent evaporation.
6th. After a few hours I draw off the solution, either by a syringe or stop-
cock, or otherwise.
7th. I allow the whole to stand uncovered for about ten minutes in a dry
and warm atmosphere; I then lock up and put the page for a few seconds on
a sheet of blotting paper.
8th. I transfer the whole to the printing press and take off one or more im-
pressions without inking the type, blotting paper dipped in' spirits of wine being
employed to take the impression, which will carry away any varnish that may
exist on the faces of the types.
9th. At this period the outer surfaces of the page are completely dry, but
the liquid which has entered into the interstices is not yet dry; such drying will
take place after a few hours in a warm and dry atmosphere, and the whole
page or colunin is transformed into a solid block.
10th. I take a knife of metal or hard wood with a perfectly straight edge;
I put this knife between each two contiguous lines, so that the straight edge
meets the angle formed by the margin of the upper surface of. the LAD and
the surface of the adjoining types, and I give with a mallet a slight tap on the
back of the knife, thus the lad is split from the types.
11th. After a few hours or days I take up each line and press the point of
a penknife between the margin of the upper surface of each separator and the
adjoining logotype, by which the separator splits off and is removed.
12th. In this state the logotypes are ready for use, but the longer they are
allowed to dry the stronger they become.
N.B. 1st. For facilitating the splitting of the page into lines I make the
face of the LADS wedge-like, and also for facilitating the splitting of each
line into logotypes I make the faces of the separators wedge-like.
N.B. second. Any. totally illiterate person can split the lines into logo-
types, on account of the distinguishing nicks or colors and wedged faces of the
separators.
.
N.B. third. If before I fill the trough with the solution I rarify or ex-

page_text: haust the air, by means of heat or any other well-known means, and then admit
the solution, it will instantaneously and with great perfection penetrate all the
interstices, just as this takes place when wetting heaps of paper with the assist-
ance of vacuum.
N.B. fourth. The cleaning and washing of matter containing such logo-
types is not effected with lye, which would affect the varnish, but with turpen-
tine or naphtha. A thin solution of soap may be used without injury.
My improvement in typographical composition relates to what I call simul-
taneous double, treble, &c. composing, and consists in taking up simultaneously
two, three, or more similar letters or types and placing them in the composing
stick one above the other, so that I obtain a composition of the following
kind:-
The moon does or does not turn on her axis.
The moon does or does not turn on her axis.
The moon does or does not turn on her axis.
I next transfer each line to a separate galley, and by this means I obtain
more coverete compositions
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Bartholomew Beniowski in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BARTHOLOMEW
BENIOWSKI, of Bow Street, Covent Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Bartholomew Beniowski, Her special license that I, the said Bartholomew
Beniowski, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Bartholomew Beniowski, 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 TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
LOGOTYPES TO BE USED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the

page_text: said Bartholomew Beniowski, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 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 Bartholomew Beniowski, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 Drawing hereunto annexed;
and to the letters and figures inarked thereon (that is to say) :-
Suppose I have to manufacture a number of such logotypes as the the follow-
ing; the, of, and, ba, ca, da, &c. I take types and spaces and compose them
into logotypes, arranged into lines and pages; I do this in the usual manner,
exactly as for printing, with this difference, that after each logotype I put a
space, which I call a "separator," which is of the same body and thickness as
the usual thick spaces, distinguished, however, from these last, either by
a different nick or by color, and also by making their feet completely flat,
(i. e.) without the usual grooves therein, set up thus:-
66
the 12, the 12, the 12, &c.
of 12, of 12, of 12, of 12, &c.
ba 2, ba 2, ba 2, ba 2, &c.
The Figures 1 represent the usual space," the Figurés 2 represent the
separators." Between each line and the next below I put what I call a "lad,"
which is in every respect similar to an ordinary lead of about small pica thick-
ness. Having thus composed a page or column, I justify the whole and lock
it up in a chase, exactly as for printing. I transfer the whole into an air and
water tight trough of any desirable depth, and unlock the type. I pour into
the trough a thin solution of shell-lac in spirits of wine, such as used for varnish-
ing maps, or any other similar varnish, and cover the whole air-tight to prevent
evaporation. After a few hours I draw off the solution, either by a syringe or
stop-cock, or otherwise. I allow the whole to stand uncovered for about ten
minutes in a dry and warm atmosphere; I then lock up and put the page on
a sheet of blotting paper. After a few seconds I transfer the whole to the print-
ing press and take off one or more impressions without inking the type, blotting
paper dipped in spirits of wine being employed to take the impression, which
will carry away any varnish that may exist on the faces of the types. At this
period, the outer surfaces of the page are completely dry, but the liquid which
bas entered into the interstices is not yet dry; such drying will take place
after some hours in a warm and dry atmosphere, and the whole page or column

page_text: is transformed into a solid block. I, unlock, and take a knife of metal or hard
wood with a perfectly straight edge; I put this knife between each two con-
tiguous lines, so that the straight edge meets the angle formed by the margin
of the upper surface of the "lad" and the surfaces of the adjoining types, and
I give with a mallet a slight tap on the back of the, knife; thus the "lad "
is split from the types. After a few hours or days I take up each line and
press the point of a penknife between the margin of the upper surface of each
"separator" and the adjoining logotype, by which the "separator" splits off
and.is removed. In this state the logotypes are ready for use, but the longer
they are allowed to dry the stronger they become.
N.B. For facilitating the splitting of the page into lines I make the, face
of the "lads" wedge-like; and also for facilitating the splitting of each line
into logotypes I make the face, of the separators" wedge-like.
..N.B. second. Any totally illiterate person can split the lines into logotypes,
en account of the distinguishing, nicks or colors and wedged faces of the sepa=
rators.
N:B.. third. If before I fill the trough with the solution I rarefy or ex-
haust the air, by means of heat or any other well-known means, and then admit
the solution, it will instantaneously and with greater perfection penetrate all
the interstices, just as this takes place when wetting heaps of paper, with the
assistance.of vacuum.
"
N.B.. fourth. The cleaning and washing of matter containing such logo-
types is not effectual with lye, but with turpentine or naphtha. A. thin solution
of soap,may be used without injury:
The above processes have achieved the agglutinating together the types of
each logotype, so that the faces are perfectly in line and in one plane; but
such agglutination is liable to be broken by the repeated operations of"" planing
down" and "locking up," and this inconvenience increases with the number of
types constitutive, of each logotype. I remedy this as follows, viz:-
. First mode of strengthening the logotypes. Having split the pages into
lines, as above described, and well dried, I lay each line flat upon a setting-up
stick with nicks upwards, and cover the whole line with a film of shell-lac
varnish, and when it is dry I repeat the operation two or three times; next,
I turn each line with nicks downwards and repeat the same varnishing. Such
repeated varnishing will in a trifling degree increase the body of the types
which constitutes the logotypes, and may cause their not standing in line with
the single types with, which these logotypes are destined to work. When I
compose a page for printing I remedy this by the following means, viz*:-

page_text: First means. Those types of my fonnt which are destined to be used as
single types, when composing for printing I set up in setting-up sticks with a
"separator" between each; I cover the nick surface and also the opposite
surface with the same varnish and in the same manner as I have done for the
logotypes, until I bring them to be of the same body as these last, and then I
split off the separators.
Second means. I make on the types destined to be turned into logotypes a
broad nick on the surface which usually bears nicks, and also, if preferred, a
similar nick on the opposite side. The depth of these nicks need not be
greater than the thickness of tissue paper.
Fig. 1 represents such a type with the depth of the nick exaggerated, for
visibility sake. Instead of one broad nick I may make any number of
narrower nicks, provided the relief portions which are between them be a trifle
lower than the general surface of the type, as seen in Fig. 2, exaggerated; such
nicks upon both surfaces of the types will be produced either by casting or by
planing them out in types already cast; both modes will be understood by
type-founders. In varnishing the sides of logotypes composed of such nicked
types, I take care to cover with varnish the nicks only, and thus avoid
increasing the size of the body, and therefore spare the necessity of making
up the single types to the same body, as described in means first.
press
Second mode of strengthening the logotypes.-Having split the block into
lines and logotypes, as described in the beginning portion of this Specification,
I remove the "separators," and put in their place fresh separators which are of
a trifling greater body than the types, so that these "separators" will protrude
a trifle above the general surface of the logotypes when set up with them on a
setting-up stick; I then cover the whole line of logotypes (thus set up with
separators "between them, with a film of stick-lac varnish, and before this is
dry I put a slip of very thin tinfoil or any other thin sheet metal, which I
down with a soft rag. After about an hour the tinfoil or other metal will firmly
adhere. Next, I cut with the point of a strong penknife the tinfoil or other
metal at the angle formed by the protruding portion of each "separator" and
the adjoining logotype; next, I turn the whole line into another setting-up
stick, with the tinfoiled side downwards, and cover the other side with tinfoil,
and cut it in the manner just described; I remove the separators, and the
logotypes are fit for use. The width of the slips of tinfoil I make equal to
about three-fourths of the height of type.
N.B. The object of making the separators of a stronger body than the
types is to indicate where the cutting is to be performed, and also to facilitate
the cutting.

page_text: By such covering with tinfoil or any other thin sheet metal, the body of the
logotypes becomes bigger than that of the single letters with which they are to
work in composing; I remedy this by covering the letters of the fount which
are to be used as such in a similar manner with tinfoil or other metal, as just
described for the logotypes. When I have before me types with nicks on both
sides, as described above, I spare the covering with tinfoil or any other thin sheet
metal the single types, because the slip will be lodged in the nicks, and cannot
increase the body of the logotypes. In such case also the "separators" need
not be of a stronger body than the types, because they, having no such nicks,
will sufficiently indicate where to execute the cutting, and facilitate the
operation.
.
Everybody that attempts using logotypes in typographical composition meets
with difficulty in justifying the lines, on account of many of them having spaces
attached to them, and therefore these last cannot be taken out and replaced by
thinner or thicker ones as required. To remedy this, I manufacture a far
greater number of sorts of justifying spaces thinner than any that is usually
cast, and differing from each other by barely perceptible degrees of thickness.
I make such spaces by cutting sheets of rolled metals, (such as brass, copper,
german silver, &c.) into slips and proper length, so as to be of the same body as
that of the types. Such spaces are easily distinguished from each other by the
color of the metal, and the compositor, having familiarized himself with their
thicknesses, will easily justify, although he cannot change the spaces attached
to the logotypes.
Another difficulty in the way of using logotypes is, that the comma, full stop,
and m-rules coming after a logotype that has a space attached to it, will appear
in print at a greater distance from the preceding letter than pleases the taste of
printers. To remedy this, I cast the comma, full stop, and m-rule in the
manner of kerned letters, (i. e.) the face overhanging towards the final space
that precedes it in composition, as Fig. 3 or Fig. 4. The cases in which I
locate the types and logotypes are represented in the annexed Diagrams.
Fig. 5 represents such cases as composed of any number of columns; each
column is composed of sets of twenty-seven compartments; each such set is
Such
differently colored, and I call it an alphabet or an "authoriton."
compartments may be of any suitable length, width, and depth, but I prefer the
arrangement and dimensions which I shall describe when I come to double,
treble, &c. composing. On the horizontal partitions of each "authoriton
written the letters of the alphabet; the last compartment of each "authoriton"
is marked with a dash. These letters are to be the names of the compartments
are

page_text: of any "authoriton" of any column, so that the following expressions will
'perfectly point to any desired compartment:-
In column second, authoriton red, compartment.d, I have put the logo-
-type-of."
In column first, authoriton white, compartment.p. I have put; the logotype
from, &c. &c."
Besides the above letters of the alphabet, which are the names, as I have
just said, of the 'compartment, I write also the real letters which constitute
the logotypes contained in each compartment, as can be seen in authoriton
yellow, column second. Under the words' first column, second column, &c.,
are certain lines and points, which I appoint to be short-hand signs of these
words.
Figures 6 represent logotypes bearing on their side, the above short-hand
signs painted in different colors; tlic-shape of the mark: indicates to which
column the logotype belongs, the color indicates the authoriton to which it
belongs, and the-additional letter of the alphabet indicates the individual com-
partment where it is to be placed. It will be easily..understood that any
ignoramus having before-him any-number of logotypes and types thus marked
will easily distribute them by merely looking to the marks... And it does not
matter to what language-these types and. logotypes belong; and they may.be
any technical terms of-any-science; they may be belonging, to types and logo-
types used for printing music; they may be names; in fact, they may...be
anything. The shape of the marks indicates the column, the colour indicates
the authoriton, the letter indicates the compartment.
So far enough for the distributor. The compositor must commit to memory
the whole arrangement, whatever it may be, alphabetical..or otherwise; the
colours, however, will assist him immensely, and I assist him farther. by
-making on the liořizontal partitions-various patterns and drawings of familiar
objects, as seen in column third, authoriton yellow.
Fig: 7 shews the short-hand 'signs for the columns up to. 12. The reason
why I prefer such marks to any other that might be devised is that they are
the most easily executed. The horizontal strokes are produced by one stroke
upon any long line of sorts laying on a setting-up stick. with a camel hair
brush dipped into paint of the proper colour; the dots and, letters, are added,
and the whole is covered with a film of shellac varnish.
My next improvement in typographical composition relates to what I call
"sim ltaneous double,-treble, &c. composing, and consists .in. taking up, simul-
taneously two; three, or more identical letters or logotypes, and placing them

page_text: the following kind:
*
The moon does or does not turn on her 'axis.
The moon does or does not turn on her axis.
The moon does or does not turn on her axis, &c.
Having in this manner composed a page, I transfer each line to a separate
galley, and I obtain two, three, or more compositions of one and the same
text:
For the purpose of enabling the compositor to pick up two letters simul
taneously, and deposit them by one movement into the composing stick so that
they lay in the required position, one above the other; the types and logotypes
are deposited in cases of the following description:-
Fig. 8 is for single types. It represents a grooved board; the depth of each
groove is equal to about two-thirds of the height of the type, the width is a
trifle wider than the thickness of the type which it is to contain. Both, ends
of the groove are closed.
Fig. 9 shows, in section, how the types a are arranged, standing vertically,
with a piece of metal rule 6 at the upper end; this last causes the types
to slide regularly. A number of such grooved boards I put. into a carcass b;
the left and right sides of which have grooves in which the above boards can
slide. The boards filled with types are arranged as seen in Figures 10
and 11, so that each board c protrudes by two types beyond the boards next
above it. The hooks d; Fig. 10, prevent the drawers from falling out when
the whole carcass is placed at an inclination of about forty-five degrees.
From such arrangement I pick easily. two types simultaneously, and deposit
them into the composing stick as required.
Fig. 12 is for logotypes; it is in every respect similar to the one just de-
scribed, merely that the width of each groove is equal to a trifle more than
two "m's." The logotypes are arranged as seen in the cross section, Fig. 13,
viz, each groove contains two rows of the same logotypes, and I very easily
pick two logotypes simultaneously and deposit them in the composing stick one
above the other, as required. It is evident that after each lift the rows in the
groove slide down, and fresh types and logotypes present themselves ready for
being picked up by the compositor. The short-hand marks on the top of the
columns, the colouring, and writings on the ledges is exactly. similar to those
described in a former part of this Specification.
For distributing, I put before me the 'two compositions of one and the
same text; I transfer line after line into a galley until I have a page of the
kind described above, and marked *; next I put back the sorts into their

page_text: respective grooves. I also can distribute separately a portion of one composi-
tion, then a similar portion of the second composition, and repeat the operation
until the whole is distributed.
It will be easily understood how the types are to be arranged for treble, &c.
compositions.
Such shape and arrangement of the cases I prefer to any other for simple
usual single composing, although it is not indispensable.
Having now described my Invention of "improvements in typographical
composition, and in the manufacture of logotypes" to be used therein, and
the means of carrying the same into effect, I claim,―
First, the mode of manufacturing the logotypes, and strengthening them,
as above described.
Second, the modes described for avoiding the difficulty of the logotypes
being of a greater body than the single types that work with them.
Third, the manufacture of spaces from rolled metals of various colours.
Fourth, the casting of commas, full stops, and m-rules with their faces
kerned or overhanging, as described.
Fifth, the marking of the sorts with marks indicative of the column, authori-
ton, and compartment, which enable the ignoramus distributor to distribute
types and logotypes of any language or science, and without the necessity of
first committing to memory the arrangement and collocation of the sorts, and
without looking to the faces.
Sixth, the mode of arranging the types for double, treble, &c. composing.
Seventh, the ornamenting the authoritons with various patterns and familiar
objects for the purpose of facilitating the compositor's committing to memory
the whole arrangement of the cases.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bartholomew Beniowski, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the First day of November, in the year of our"
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
BARTHOLOMEW BENIOWSKI.
(L.S.)..
66, Chancery Lane..