IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF TYPES AND TYPOGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Greene, of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, in the County
of Middlesex, Typefounder and Printer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF TYPES AND TYPOGRAPHIC
APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Greene at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1880.
JOHN GREENE, of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, in the County of Middlesex,
Typefounder and Printer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANU-
FACTURE OF TYPES AND TYPOGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to types and typographic apparatus, and comprises
improvements in the manufacture of logotypes and phrasotypes as well as single
types, and in apparatus for facilitating the use of the same, as hereinafter set
forth.
One part of my Invention relates to improved legible types, that is to say,
types which have in addition to the letters or words on their face the same letter
or words reversed on the foot, and consists in means for obtaining a clear and
permanently visible surface upon the legible or sunken letters at the foot of the
said types when cast from the markers. For this purpose I use a paste of the
consistency of thick cream, which is a composition of asphaltum dissolved in
rectified spirits of turpentine or other well known solvent, and equal parts of
vegetable black and plaster of Paris well mixed together. I rub this composition
freshly made into the crevices of the sunken letters until the surface is felt to be
greasy under the touch when the paste will be found already setting and the
sunken letter will be filled up level with the surface of the metal. The general
surface must then be freed from any superfluity remaining by using a little of the
dry prepared black and plaster of Paris, which will give the general surface a fine
polish, and must be left for a short time to dry and harden.
Another part of my Invention relates to the manufacture and use of trays into
which types, under which term I include logotypes and phrasotypes as well as
single type, are distributed and composed from; also of the frames or cases into

page_text: '
which the trays are placed. A plate of brass, Muntz metal, wood, or other suitable
material is cast, planed, or grooved by a drunken saw, circular saw, or other well
known means with great accuracy into from 9 to 27 divisions or grooves for the
reception of the type-bodies, and with a depth of about two thirds of the height of
the types. The said divisions, when formed of wood, may be varnished. In some
cases I may use gutta percha trays made by pressure or casting in moulds.
I prefer to construct the trays with divisions of wood, vulcanite, or ebonite,
dovetailed, or cemented into a skeleton frame, the bottom of such frame or tray
being made of ebonite, or vulcanite, or other material whereon the types will slip
or slide freely. To permit the divisions to be made of very thin material, such as
thin vulcanite or sheet metal, and thereby economize space I arrange the divisions
or grooves in such a manner that the centre one of each three divisions is higher
than the adjacent divisions, so that the types in the centre division project about
two thirds of their height above the types in each adjacent division; the said
projecting type may therefore be readily taken out of the centre division. Moreover,
the said centre division should be shorter than the two adjacent divisions to
facilitate the taking out of the types from the latter. The cases or frames may be
made to contain any number of trays, from three to eighty, or even a larger
number.
The cases or frames are set on an incline for composition, and they can be let
down from the incline for distribution to take off the weight of the column of
types. A quadrat or piece of metal should be placed in each groove or division
before distributing types, as single types or small logotypes could not be distributed
without a support to prevent their falling down; it also facilitates the descending
of the types by the incline when only a few are remaining in the groove.
Another part of my Invention relates to means for economizing the manufacture
without impairing the durability of the matrices or markers employed for the
production of the logotypes or other types. Heretofore I have made these matrices
and markers by electro-typing entirely of copper or similarly hard and costly metal.
I have also made them with a backing of soft metal. But according to my present
Invention I make such backing of lead or other comparatively cheap metal, and
insert therein a piece of copper or other hard metal at the point whereon the
spring in the mould will act. I may insert this piece of hard metal by drilling and
tapping a hole in the lead and screwing the piece of copper into the same.
lead may be inter-cut, and the piece of copper dovetailed or otherwise fitted therein.
Or I may place the piece of copper in the mould, so that during the backing the
lead will surround the copper and secure it in place. Or I may employ any other
suitable means for securing the piece of hard metal in the soft metal backing. The
moulds used for making my improved types may have engraved on them any mark
or device which will be reproduced on all of the types."
Or the
Another part of my Invention relates to cases for type composition, and is
designed to facilitate the use of type cases and frames, and secure the greatest
attainable economy in the work of type composition. For this purpose I have the
cases or frames arranged and tabulated alphabetically, according to a peculiar design,
which will be made clear by the following explanation:-First, I set the cases at
such a measured inclination as will not allow the types to fall out, but will permit
them to slide down or descend the grooves or tubes by their own gravity, and thus
come opposite to the closed aperture, from which they may be easily taken so long
as any remain in the grooves. I then have spaces written, printed, or engraved
with the alphabet from A to Z, one vacant space being provided in addition for
any useful point or mark upon the face or ledge of each of three trays, each tray
being sub divided into nine compartments of three each. I also tabulate each other
set of three trays, each set having sub-divisions, as above described, with
combinations of letters, syllables, points, and other typographical marks to the
number of about eighteen hundred in large cases. The same arrangement is
applicable to figures, single and combined, the only difference being that in the case
of figures the divisions have an additional tray at the top of each set of trays for a

page_text: numerical indicator. These alphabetical combinations and marks constitute short-
band signs to indicate the names of the compartments and the types, logotypes
and phrasotypes, in each. They may be applied and adapted to any language, and
may embrace figures, names, technical scientific terms, musical signs, and the like,
and may be colored to indicate the compartment and the letters, combinations
of letters, figures, or other characters, so as to assist the compositor in committing
to memory the tabular headings on the ledges at the foot of the columns.
This improved and tabulated arrangement will effectually answer as a primer
for teaching the English, French, or any other language to which it may be adapted,
upon a simplified principle, and so enable the learner to spell and read in the
language in a shorter time than by any of the present modes of teaching, and
without any special training, or instruction, or much extra tiine to become a
compositor and distributor of types, logotypes, and phrasotypes from iny tabulated
cases,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Greene in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd January
1881.
JOHN GREENE, of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, in the County of Middlesex,
Typefounder and Printer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANU-
FACTURE OF TYPES AND TYPOGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to types and typographic apparatus, and comprises
improvements in the manufacture of logotypes, phrasotypes, and single types, and
in apparatus for facilitating the use of the same, as hereinafter set forth.
.
One part of my Invention relates to improved legible types, that is to say,
types which have in addition to the letters, words, or characters on their face,
the same letters, words, or characters on their foot, but not reversed, so that
they are easily readable. These legible types are very advantageous for the
reason that the composition and distribution of the same can be effected by a
person unacquainted with the ordinary method of composition and distribution,
and who need only look at the legible foot-letters and not, as professional compositors
do, at the reversed face-letters. This part of my Invention consists in means for
producing a clear and permanently visible surface upon the legible or sunken letters
or characters at the foot of the said types when cast from the markers. For this
purpose I use a paste, which is preferably a composition of asphaltum dissolved in
rectified spirits of turpentine or other well-known solvent, and of vegetable black
and plaster of Paris, in about equal parts, well mixed. I use this composition or
paste, preferably of the consistency of thick cream, and rub it freshly made into
the crevices of the sunken letters or characters until the surface is felt to be greasy
under the touch, when the paste will be found already setting, and the sunken
letters or characters will be filled up level with the surface of the metal. The
surface must then be freed from any excess of the composition thereon by using a
small quantity of dry prepared black and plaster of Paris, which will give the
general surface a fine polish, and must be left for a short time to dry and harden.
In some cases I employ fine emery-powder or oilstone-powder for cleaning or
polishing the foot of the said types.
Another part of my Invention relates to the manufacture and use of trays, into
which types (under which term I include logotypes and phrasotypes as well as
single types) are distributed, and from which their composition is effected.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying
Drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a plan of one of my improved trays.
Figure 2 is a side view, and
Figure 3 a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1, of the said tray.
Figure 4 is a side view of a tray of reduced depth for legible types.
In carrying this part of my Invention into practice a plate of brass, wood, or
other suitable material has compartments or grooves cast, planed, or cut by a circular
saw or other well-known means with great accuracy therein for the reception of
the type-bodies. There must be from nine to twenty seven of these compartments
or grooves, and their depth is preferably equal to about two thirds of the height of
the types.
I prefer to construct the trays with divisions of wood, vulcanite, or ebonite
dovetailed or cemented into a skeleton frame, the bottom of such frame or tray
being made of ebonite, vulcanite, or other material upon whose surface the types
will slip or slide freely. This bottom is made separate from the divisions and
skeleton-frame and is attached thereto in any suitable manner. By thus forming
the said bottom separate from the divisions instead of in one piece with the same,
as heretofore, I am enabled to greatly reduce the cost of manufacture of these
trays.

page_text: To permit the divisions of such trays to be made of very thin material, such as
thin strips of vulcanite or sheet metal, and thereby economize the space occupied by
the trays, I construct the latter as shewn in the Drawing, that is to say, I arrange
the compartments or grooves for the reception of the types e in such a manner that
the bottom a of every alternate compartment b is higher than the bottom c of the
'adjacent compartments d, so that the types in the said compartment b project about
one third of their height above the types in each adjacent compartment d; the said
projecting types may therefore be readily taken out of the compartment b without
affecting the position of the types in the adjacent compartments d. Moreover the
said compartment b is made shorter than the two adjacent compartments a to
facilitate the taking out of the types separately from the latter, that is to say, the
ends of the compartiments b are at the rear of or behind the ends g of the
compartments b. When the divisions h are made of wood they may be varnished,
and in some cases the trays may consist of glass, gutta-percha, or vulcanite formed
by pressure or by casting in moulds. The case or frame for containing the said
trays may be made to contain any number of the latter, from three to eighty, or
even a larger number. The said case or frame is set on an incline for composition,
and is preferably adjusted from its inclined to a horizontal position for distribution,
thereby relieving the front types from the weight of the column of types at the
rear thereof. A quadrat or piece of metal should be placed in each groove or
division before commencing to distribute types, as single types or small logotypes
could not be distributed without a support to prevent their falling down; this
quadrat also facilitates the descent of the types along the inclined bottom of the
tray when only a few. of such types remain within a groove or compartment in the
same.
of
Another part of my Invention relates to means for economizing the manufacture
of the matrices employed in the production of logotypes or other types
without impairing the durability of such matrices. This part of my Invention is
illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawing, Figure 5 being a rear view and
Figure 6 a top view of one of my improved matrices. Heretofore I have made these
matrices by depositing copper upon a block containing the types or characters in
relief for printing, and the legible types or characters in intaglio, and in some
cases in order to reduce the cost of the metal and the time occupied in the
manufacture of such matrices I have applied to them a backing of comparatively
soft and cheap metal. But, in some instances, inconvenience has arisen by reason
of the action of the spring in the mould upon this soft metal. Therefore,
according to my present Invention, I provide a matrix i which has a backing j
of lead or other comparatively cheap metal, and insert therein a piece
copper or other hard metal at the point whereon the spring in the mould will
act. I may insert this piece of hard. metal by drilling and tapping a hole in the
lead and screwing the piece of copper into the same. Or the lead may be
undercut and the piece of copper dovetailed or otherwise fitted therein. Or I may
place the piece of copper in the mould, so that in applying the backing the lead
will surround the copper and secure it in place; or the said mould may be
provided with a projection of steel or other suitable hard metal, around which the
soft metal constituting the backing of the matrix will flow in moulding, so that on
the removal of such matrix from the mould a recess will be left in the backing for
the reception of the copper piece k; or I may employ any other suitable means
for securing the piece of hard metal in the soft metal backing. The moulds used
for making my improved types may have engraved on them any mark or device
which will be reproduced on all of the types.
To facilitate the use of the cases and frames and secure the greatest attainable
economy in the work of type-composition, I set the said cases and the trays
contained thereby at such an inclination as will not allow the types to fall out, but
will permit them to slide down or descend the grooves or compartments in the trays
by their own gravity as above stated, and thus come opposite to the enclosed
aperture at the front end of the tray, from which aperture they may be easily taken

page_text: so long as any remain in, the grooves, and I have the said cases or frames arranged
and tabulated alphabetically according to a peculiar design, which will be made
clear by the following explanation, that is to say, I provide in front of the spaces
or compartments of the trays a face or ledge which has written, printed, cast, or
engraved thereon and in line with the types in such compartments the letters of
the alphabet, one vacant space being provided in addition for any useful point or
mark upon the said face or ledge of the trays; each tray is subdivided into nine
compartments containing three characters each. I also tabulate each tray or the
set of three trays (each set having subdivisions as above described) with com-
binations of letters, syllables, points, and other typographical or shorthand marks,
to the number of about eighteen hundred in large cases. The same arrangement is
applicable to figures single and combined, the only difference being that in the
case of figures the divisions have an additional tray at the top of each set of trays
to serve as a numerical indicator. These alphabetical combinations and marks,
constitute shorthand signs or indices to denote the types, logotypes, or phrasotypes
contained in each compartment. They may be applied and adapted to any
language, and may embrace figures, names, technical or scientific terms, musical
signs, and the like; they may be so colored as to indicate the compartment and
the letters, combinations of letters, figures, or other characters, and to assist the
compositor in committing to memory the tabular headings on the ledges at the foot
of the columns.
My improved trays containing single types, logotypes, and phrasotypes (which
are preferably legible), and the arrangement of such trays in their cases, enable a
compositor to readily set up or compose from shorthand notes, thereby avoiding the
necessity of transcribing such shorthand into long-hand. Moreover, he is enabled to
compose at the rate of 10,000 or more letters per hour, and can also translate
French and other foreign languages direct from the said cases into English, or English
direct into French or other foreign languages with great facility.
This improved and tabulated arrangement will effectually serve as a primer for
teaching upon a simplified principle the English, French, or any other language to
which it may be adapted, and will enable the learner to spell and read in the
language in a shorter time than is practicable by any of the present modes of
teaching, and will enable any person without any special training or instruction in
a short time to become a compositor and distributor of types, logotypes, and
phrasotypes from my tabulated cases.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The means for imparting a clear and permanent visible surface to the
legible or sunken letters or characters at the foot of single types, logotypes, or
phrasotypes, substantially as above set forth.
Second. A tray in whose construction the bottom is made separate from the
strips of material constituting the divisions, and the frame containing the said
strips or divisions, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Third. A tray with its alternate compartments made shorter than, and of a
different depth to, the two adjacent compartments, substantially as above set forth
and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. A matrix having a backing of soft metal, with a piece of copper or other
hard metal therein, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Greene, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.