Improvements in Compositors' Type-cases and in the Type Held therein.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1892
.Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL NI MULTICATION.
Improvements in Compositors' Type-cases and in the Type Held
therein.
I, JOHN ANDREW TAYLOR, of 17, Bear Alley, Farringdon Street, in the City
of London, Type Founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates mainly to compositors' type-cases, the object being to
facilitate the placing of type and logotype in the case and their manipulation by the
compositor.
In carrying out my invention I construct the case with open sides and front and
divide it into a number of compartments inclined downwards from the back towards
the front, such compartments being advantageously made with two divisions for
two different sizes of type so that the compositor can quickly change from one size
type to another.
Trays are provided made with a number of divisions adapted to receive other
trays, preferably stamped out of sheet metal and divided into compartments
adapted to receive rows of different types. By making the last named trays of
sheet metal they are adapted to contain a reserve row of each type. The
composite trays thus formed can be easily slid into and out of the case through the
open sides thereof.
"
The logotypes are so arranged in groups as to facilitate their selection by the
compositor, for example, the logotypes consisting of the vowel a " and the various
e "and the
consonants are arranged in one group and those consisting of the vowel "
various consonants are arranged in another group and frequently-used words such
as "from
"when" and "other" in other groups and so on.
39
The front of the case is marked to correspond with the arrangement of the type
and the fronts of the compartments of the case are advantageously variously
coloured to assist the compositor in selecting the type.
The lower case letters, quads, spaces &c. are preferably arranged in a case
constructed similarly to an ordinary lower case and placed in a tray in front of the
hereinbefore described case.
I also provide a case of similar construction for containing single figures, signs,
combinations of figures and other types for facilitating the composition of such work
as price lists. The case is constructed so as to fit on an ordinary upper case or
stand. It may contain for example figures 1 to 99; the two and three, nullos in
one lift; single figures followed by a comma; single figures followed by a shilling
mark; single figures followed by a shilling mark and an em rule; the £.-s.―d. cast
on an em body to facilitate justification of column matter; the fractions; em rule
and leaders. For instance to set up 294,100,000 in the ordinary way would
comprise eleven lifts but I could by my arrangement set up these figures in five
lifts only, thus-29, 4, 1, 00, 000 thereby saving six lifts.
In order to facilitate the picking up of the types from my improved case I cast
them with a notch or niche in the right hand side close to the shoulder.
Dated the 5th day of March 1892
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compositors' Type-cases and in the Type Held
therein.
I, JOHN ANDREW TAYLOR, of 17, Bear Alley, Farringdon Street, in the City
of London, Type Founder, 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 mainly to compositors' type-cases, the object being to
facilitate the placing of type and logotype in the case and their manipulation by
the compositor.
In carrying out my invention I construct the case with open sides and front and
divide it into a number of compartments inclined downwards from the back towards
the front, such compartments being advantageously divided in two for receiving two
different sizes of type.
Trays are provided made with a number of divisions adapted to receive other
trays, preferably stamped out of sheet metal and divided into compartments or
channels adapted to receive rows of different types. By making the last named
trays of sheet metal they are adapted to contain a reserve row of each type. The
composite trays thus forined can be easily slid into and out of the case through the
open sides thereof
In order to facilitate the picking up of the types from my improved case I
cast them with a notch or niche in the right hand side close to the shoulder.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a front clevation of a compositor's type-case constructed according to
my invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.
Figure 3 is a section on the line A. B of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a view of part of Figure 2 drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is a plan, and
Figure 6 a front elevation of one of the trays first hereinbefore referred to.
Figure 7 is a section of the same on line CD of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a plan and,
Figure 9 is a front elevation of one of the sheet metal trays.
Figure 10 is a section of the same on line E F of Figure 8.
Figures 11 and 12 are elevations of a type made according to
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
my invention.
a is the outer frame of the type-case which is constructed with open sides and
front as shewn in Figures 1 to 4.
b, bare the inclined compartments into which the frame a is divided, such
compartments being again divided in two by division pieces c, c so as to enable
them each to receive two different sizes of type, so that the compositor can quickly
change from one size type to another. The front of each compartment b is
provided with a ledge d for retaining the trays of type in the front divisions.
e, e are the trays fitted with division pieces f, f and designed to be slid into and
out of the divisions of the compartments & through the open sides of the frame a.
99 are the trays stamped out of sheet metal and adapted to be placed in the
divisions of the trays e; h, indicate the compartments or channels into which
the trays are divided in order to adapt them to receive rows of different types; the
channels are designed to contain rows of type for immediate use, the front type
being always presented in such a position that it can be easily removed by the
compositor as shewn clearly in Figures 2 and 4 and the types sliding down the
inclined channels as each type is removed; the channels are for containing
reserve rows of type, the front ends of the said channels being provided with

page_text: stops i, i for preventing the reserve rows of type from sliding down to the front of
the case.
j is the notch or niche which I form in the right hand side of the type close to
the shoulder as clearly shewn in Figures 4, 11 and 12 the types being arranged in
the case with their notches or niches forward in order to facilitate the picking up
of the types from the case.
The logotypes are so arranged in groups as to facilitate their selection by the
compositor, for example, the logotypes consisting of the vowel " a "and the various
consonants are arranged in one group and those consisting of the vowel "e" and the
various consonants are arranged in another group and frequently-used words such
as "from " when and "other in other groups and so on.
"
The front of the case is marked to correspond with the arrangement of the type
and the fronts of the compartments of the case are advantageously variously
coloured to assist the compositor in selecting the type. The lower case letters,
quads, spaces, &c. are preferably arranged in a case constructed similarly to an
ordinary lower case and placed in a tray in front of the hereinbefore described
case.
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
claim is :-
1. A compositor's type-case consisting essentially of a frame with open sides and
front provided with a number of inclined compartments each divided into two parts
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. In a compositor's type case the composite trays herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The manufacture of sheet metal type trays substantially in the manner and
for the purpose set forth with reference to Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The improved compositor's type case hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
5. The improved type hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 4, 11
and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 5th day of December 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.