Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1889
Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
A communication from abroad by THE WILLIAM H. PAGE WOOD TYPE COMPANY
of Norwich, State of Connecticut, United States of America.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 dies of that class used for forming wood type, by pressing
back the wood on the parts of the block surrounding and bordering on the form of
the letter, leaving the letter raised on the face of the block
This mode of making type has been improved to such an extent that it is largely
superseding the manufacture of such type by the old process of the pantograph
But
as in this mode of producing type, a set of dies is required for every size of type,
the outfit of a shop, for the manufacture of type by impression, must be very large,
and must include a complete set of dies for every set of type
Further, in the making of the dies for such type ordinarily, a pantograph machine
18 used, in which the rotary engraving tool is not fitted to work in the sharp angles,
and while it may perform the greater part of the engraving required in the manu-
facture of the die, it cannot perform all the work, nor finish accurately such dies in
every part.
These defects it is sought to remedy by the construction hereinafter explained.
Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification.
Figure 1 represents a die for the letter "B" shewing on the left hand a letter
with the parts placed together, and on the right hand the same with the parts
separated.
Figure 2 shows the letter "1" in like manner.
Figure 3 is a similar representation of the letter "E.”
Figure 4 shows the dies for the letters O, C and G with the parts common

page_text: Figure 5 further illustrates the invention in reference to the letters U and J.
Figure 6 is a perspective view representing the dies of the letter "L" with the
details of construction.
Figure 7 shows views similar to figure 1 of the letter X in another style, and
Figure 8 in like manner illustrates the form and parts of the die for the letter M
in the same style as figure 7
Figure 9 is a side view of part of the die.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section on line y figure 7
Figure 11 shows in plan a group of type on one block as formed by a group of
dies.
Figure 12 shows the same in end view.
The raised portions of the dies are represented plain, while the sunken portions are
shown by hatching, it being understood that the dies are, in respect to the raised
and sunken portions, the reverse of the type which they are used to form. It will
also be understood that it is not attempted in these drawings to show the application
of the principle of the invention to every letter of the alphabet, but only to illustrate
it so far as to enable any workman to apply it to every letter of the alphabet and to
every style of letter
In figure 1 the letter B represented by the die, is composed of three parts, the
left hand part of the figure being divided on the lines X and Z to form the parts
A, B, C, represented in the right hand figure In these figures "a" represents
raised portions of all the parts, these portions being of sufficient height to form raised
surfaces about them of the height required in type.
In figure 2 is shown in the same manner the letter D, on the left hand the parts
being placed together with the divisional lines represented at x and 2, leaving the
parts A, B and D), as shown separated on the right hand of said figure. In the type
for this letter as shown, the parts A, B, are identical with the parts so marked in the
letter B
In Figure 3 we have the same parts A, B, and the part E, which is special to the
letter E. In each one therefore of these three letters one half more or less, according
to the style of letter, is common to all, and one-half, more or less according to the
style of letter, is special to each, and as the dies are used in the press, singly or in
small groups, the parts A, B, for example, may serve as approximately one half the
die for every letter of the alphabet to which they are applicable.
In Figure 4 is illustrated the application of the principle to letters of any general.
character though of the same style. In these letters the part G which forms the left
hand portion of O, C and G is the same in all, and the right hand parts are special :
F to O, and H, to C and I to G, and one piece G is sufficient for all these letters, thus
saving in labour and stock, one-third.
Figure 5 shews the same principle applied, for example, to the letters U and J.
Here the right hand part K of both letters, shown in one figure, is the same, the
parts L and M being special to the two letters The line here represents the line
of separation between the two parts.
In Figure 6 the parts O and P are special to the letter L while the part B is the
same as that shown in Figure and 2 and 3. This figure 6 being in perspective,
shows the groove or bevel h, arranged symmetrically in all the sections so that they may
be clamped and held with even surfaces, and all are pressed upon the wood to equal
depth.
In Figure 7 is shown a die for the letter X in another style of type, which
illustrates better the other feature of the invention, namely that in which the sectional
character of the dies renders it easier to supplement the work of the pantograph in
forming the angles and corners.
In this figure the left hand portion shows the parts placed together; they consist of
pieces of two kinds, of which the central piece A is special to the letter X and in fact
forms substantially the whole of it without the marginal pieces. These pieces are
marked g, and are both alike. The parts of the die being made separate can be
finished on the interior faces by means of a file, from the fact that the side walls or

page_text: the parts of the dies represented by qq which would depress the wood on the sides,
for example, of the parts r, are removable, the engraving tool being circular and
revolving can finish the interior faces 1, for example and as the slots 2 are open on
the sides, a file may be introduced and run through these open slots to finish the
margin and points easily and accurately. The pieces q, q, placed one on each side,
occupy the space between the type, less the saw kerf, when more than one is formed
on the same block. At the same time they serve to give outline to the lower and
upper parts of this letter, for example, as they would in any other letter having parts
lying with similar margins, or to speak more accurately in a die having similar
open sides
The parts between the ends of the raised portions a a and the ends of the block
being open at the sides as above described, if this central block A were used alone the
side of the type would need to be formed after the impression, whether the type were
formed separately or in groups on a single block. The side of the type would be
determined by the side of the block, and not by the line x which is the correct line
of margin of the letter. Further, if the type were formed in groups, on a single
block, the parts of the letter would be continuous, with the spaces left between the
letters, for example, the raised part "a." of the letter X would be continuous with the
surface of the block between this letter and the next on the same block. To form
this margin, and to give shape to the letter the intermediate pieces q are provided
and are as above described straight and plain pieces as wide, or a little wider than the
space required between the type when they are formed, on the same block, and as
deep as the other part of the dies. The strips q, may be used for the purpose of
leaving the die pieces open, on the sides for facility of finishing, as wide exactly as
the saw kerf, which divides the block, but it is desirable to leave a shoulder on the
side of the type, which equals one-half the space between the type, when set and
thus forms half the spacing block or spaces The shoulder on each side equals the
whole width of the strip g, less the saw kerf. In Figure 8 1 have shown a die for the
letter M in which the letter die is composed of three pieces, the central piece D being
special to the letter and adapted to be finished as above described, and the side
pieces d, d, being interchangeable. These pieces dd have open sides also, as shown at e,
and these are bounded by the strips 9, as in the previous figures, and with the effect
heretofore described The sections and interposed strips are formed with bevelled
notches in the ends, which register when all the pieces are in the same plane and which
receive corresponding ribs on the clamp. The narrow or thin parts of the raised
surface as at 5 Figures 7 to 10 are of less height than the other parts in order to
prevent breakage.
It will be apparent that the invention may be applied to a greater or less extent
throughout the whole alphabet the extent varying somewhat in the style of type and
with the divisions, and it is not desired to limit the invention to the special forms
shown, nor to such characters as the letters of the alphabet, the invention being
applicable to similar characters or forms required to be pressed on wood in the manner
required in this type. In letters of the alphabet the interchangeability of the parts
is of course limited to groups of letters for the most parts and is mainly applicable
to such groups
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim 15 :-
1. A die for impressing wood composed of detachably connected sections each
section forming a part of the working face of the die, substantially as described.
2. A group or set of dies for forming characters by impression, with interchangeable
parts, substantially as described.
3. A group of dies for letters of the alphabet formed in sections, and having one
pirt special to each letter of the group, and another part common to all letters of the
group, substantially as described

page_text: 4. A die for forming type by impression having parts of its sides raised and parts
depressed and open substantially as described.
5. A die for forming type by impression having parts of its sides raised and parts
depressed and open in combination with the strip 9, adapted to close the open side.
6. Combined with the die having parts of its sides raised and parts depressed, the
strip 9, for closing the open side of a width greater than the required distance'
between the type, substantially as described.
7. A die for forming type by impression formed in sections and with portions of
the depressed surface of the outer sections extending to the sides combined with the
strip q, for closing the open side substantially as described.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.