Improvements in or relating to Block Letters or Type for Printing Posters, Placards, or the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
Improvements in or relating to Block Letters or Type for Printing
Posters, Placards, or the like.
A communication from abroad by PAUL JULIUS LAMP'L, of No. 1, Noordstraat,
Nieuwer Amstel, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, Photozincographor.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the making of block lettors for printing placards or
the like in two parts, of which the actual letter or crown is formed of vulcanised
indiarubber and is fastened on the lower part or foot formed of cement or other
suitable material.
As is well known the block letters hitherto used in the printing press are entirely
cut out of wood. Both the mode of production and the faultless raw material render
them expensive.
By the partial damping during cleaning, the letters expand
unequally, they shrink or warp and not infrequently spring out of the forme when
they pass in this condition through the pressure cylinders and this can very easily
cause damage to the printing press.
The letter forming the subject of this invention is unaffected by damp and changes
of temperature and therefore cannot shrink or warp in the forme; it requires less care
in setting up; it is easy and convenient to clean and does not in use rapidly wear
away as is the case with wood letters. The contours remain also sharp and faultless
during a long period of use.
The figure on the annexed drawing represents a block letter in perspective.
The actual letter or crown E is made from best vulcanised indiarubber (of a
specially hard grade) and of a thickness of from 3-millimetres, according to the
size of the letter. The foundation or foot B on which the letter is attached consists
of cement or any other suitable material. Its dimensions correspond in length and
breadth to those of the letter whilst the height of the base relatively to the thickness
of the letter can be made to suit any required height of type.
Caoutchouc is employed for affixing the letter to the base, and in some cases- the
whole surface of the underside of the lotter may have a thin coating of gum.
The rubber lolters are made in suitable moulds in the usual manner. The base is
also cast in suitable moulds.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
The construction of blocks, letters, or type for printing posters, placards or the
like, in which the actual letter or crown E is made of hest vulcanised indiarubber of
a specially hard grade, and is connected with a foundation or foot B of cement or
other suitable material, whereby a durable letter or type impervious to damp, and
unaffected by fluctuations of temperature is produced, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of November 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.