IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE CASES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TYPE CASES" communicated to him by La Société de typographie.par procédés
rapides resident at Paris in the Republic of France represented by Martin de
Gibergues also residing at Paris Managing Director of the said Société
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1883.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE CASES" a communication to me from
abroad by La Societe de typographic par procédés rapides resident at Paris in the
Republic of France represented by Martin de Gibergues also residing at Paris
Managing Director of the said Société
This Invention relates to improvements in Type Cases or frames constructed
with inclined trays and grooves for the reception of the type as described in
the Specification to Letters Patent granted to Ernest de Pass and dated the
19th September A.D. 1879 N° 3770 as a communication from the Viscount Alphonse
Adolphe de Calonne of Paris and it has for its object rendering the Type composing
frame or case described in the said Specification more convenient to handle and
facilitating the operations of distributing and composing
According to the present Invention the case containing the type is divided in a
plane parallel with the trays into two halves or divisions for the purpose of
enabling it to be handled and carried with greater facility-It has been found
that by the employment of logotypes or combinations of letters it is possible to
reduce the number of trays to about forty with advantage this number being
sufficient to contain all the required combinations or logotypes and single letters
This result is obtained by arranging in each tray say twelve rows of type amounting
to about four hundred and eighty different combinations or signs
It having been found however that forty trays filled with type constitute a mass
somewhat heavy to handle the type case is divided according to this Invention

page_text: into two parts which when combined form the complete case; each part being
convenient to carry and capable of being placed under the working table thus
placing at the disposal of the Compositor two series of cases containing different
sets of Type
Each half or division of the improved Case is divided into a convenient number
say five compartments each of such compartments being subdivided into trays
constructed with suitable grooves or receptacles for the type Each tray is
composed of a zinc or other metal bottom to the upper side of which are affixed
strips of wood so arranged that the type may be placed between these strips in a
position perpendicular to the shelf-The type are pushed down to the lower part
of the tray by a weighted roller or springs or other suitable means and are
supported at this part by a ledge; the upper angle of the ledges may be rounded
off in order to enable the Compositor to take hold of the type more conveniently
The trays are maintained in position by means of two grooves in the body of the
case into which grooves the zinc plates which project slightly at the sides are
caused to slide
In order to provide a firm base for the type case the bottom of the lower half is
made horizontal or square but the base of the upper half or division is inclined at
the same angle as the trays-The said upper half or division is firmly supported
by means of lateral boards of sufficient strength to be capable of supporting the
weight of one half or division of the case-The lower edges of these boards are
square or horizontal and rest upon boards attached to the lower division of the
case Each division of the case is provided with handles to facilitate its
manipulation.
The case is closed on all sides except the front-The back is entirely closed and
when distributing the type the latter is introduced at the front of the case without
difficulty as the metallic bottom of each shelf enables the type to slide readily
thereon small ledges are provided for the purpose of preventing the trays from
slipping down by their own weight

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th October 1883.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex.
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE CASES" a communication to me from "La
Société de typographie par procédés rapides" resident at Paris in the Republic of
France represented by Martin de Gibergues also residing at Paris Managing
Director of the said Société
This Invention relates to improvements in type cases or frames constructed
with inclined trays and grooves or cells for the reception of the type as desired in
the Specification to Letters Patent granted to Ernest de Pass and dated the
nineteenth September in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine N° 3770 as a communication from the Viscount Adolphe de Calonne
of Paris and it has for its object rendering the type composing frame or case
described in the said Specification more convenient to handle and facilitating the
operations of distributing and composing as hereinafter described.
According to the present Invention the improved type case is divided in a plane
parallel with the trays into two halves or divisions for the purpose of enabling it
to be handled and carried with greater facility. It has been found that by the
employment of logotypes or combinations of letters it is possible to reduce the
number of trays to about forty with advantage this number being sufficient to
contain all the required combinations or logotypes and single letters. This result
is obtained by arranging in each tray say twelve rows of type amounting to about
four hundred and eighty different combinations or signs,
It having been found however that forty trays filled with type constitute a mass
somewhat heavy and inconvenient to handle, the type case is divided according to
this Invention into two parts which when combined form the complete case, each
part being convenient to carry and capable of being placed under the working table,
thus placing at the disposal of the compositor two series of cases containing
different sets of type.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a front elevation figure 2 an end
elevation and figure 3 a transverse section of the improved type case.
Figures 4 and 5 represent details hereinafter described.
The improved type case as illustrated in the drawing is made in two separable
halves or sections A, B, the upper section A being supported by the lower section B.
Each half or division of the improved case is divided by partitions k into five
compartments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in the example illustrated, each of such compartments
being subdivided into four inclined trays a constructed with suitable grooves or
receptacles b in which the types are placed as shewn at c figures 3 and 5. Each
tray is composed as shewn in the detail figure 5 of a zinc or sheet metal bottom z to
the upper side of which are affixed strips of wood e so arranged that the type may
be placed between these strips in a position perpendicular to the tray. The types c
are pushed down to the lower part of the tray by a weighted roller f (figure 5) or
by springs or by other suitable means and are supported at the lower part by a
ledge g, the strips e and ledges g may be shaped as shewn in order to enable the
compositor to take hold of the type more conveniently. Each tray is maintained

page_text: in position by means of grooves h in the body of the case into which grooves the
zinc plates (which project slightly at the sides) are slidden.
In order to provide a firm base for the type case the bottom of the lower half B
is made horizontal or square as shewn in figures 2 and 3, but the base of the upper
balf or division A is inclined at the same angle as the trays a.
The said upper
half or division is firmly supported by means of lateral boards A¹ of sufficient
strength to support the weight of one half or division of the case. The lower
edges of the boards A' are square or horizontal and rest upon corresponding boards
or ledges B' attached to the lower division B. Each division of the case is provided
with handles, C, to facilitate its manipulation.
The case is closed on all sides except the front. The back is entirely closed, and
during "distributing" the type is introduced into the case at the front thereof
without difficulty, as the metallic bottoms of the shelves enable the type to slide
readily thereon. Stops /³ figures 5 and 6 are provided for the purpose of preventing
the trays from slipping down by their own weight. This arrangement enables the
filling pieces heretofore employed when the type is introduced at the back of the
case to be dispensed with.
By means of the improved type case constructed and arranged as herein before
described the operations of distributing and composing are facilitated and expedited
and the type case can be moved to any part of the room without difficulty. It is s
evident that the number of partitions, trays and subdivisions may be modified
according to circumstances without departing from the nature of the Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is :-
First The improvement in type cases of the class described in the Specification
of Letters Patent N° 3770 and dated the nineteenth September in the year of Our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine the said improvement
consisting in forming the said type cases in two separable sections capable of being
united so as to form a complete case substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second-The improved type case constructed in two parts A and B subdivided
by the vertical partitions k and by the inclined trays a in combination with the 3
cells or grooves b and the means for supporting the section A upon the section B
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Third The employment in combination with type cases of the class hereinbefore
described of the inclined trays a subdivided by slips e of wood into cells or grooves b. 4
having smooth sheet metal bottoms & for facilitating the descent of the type the
said type being introduced into the said cells at the front of the case all
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my Specification 4
set my hand and seal this first day of September One thousand eight hundred and
eighty three.