Improvements in and relating to the Spacers of Linotype and similar Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Spacers of Linotype and
similar Machines.
I ROBERT ALFRED BLAKE, of No. 4 Unity Cottage, East Road, Enfield
Highway in the County of Middlesex Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to space bars for Linotype and simular machines and its
object is to diminish the large amount of space occupied by the ordinary space
bars now in use, thus allowing a greater number of words to occupy a line.
In carrying my invention into effect I dispense with the ordinary suspension
piece of the space bar and replace it with a simular suspension piece either straight
or tapered on one or both sides in the direction of one of its ends with the
character recessed or projecting therefrom at either one or both sides thus
converting it into a matrix as well as acting as a wedge thereby dispensing with
the space occupied by the ordinary suspension piece now in use.
Dated this 1st day of November 1892.
ROBERT ALFRED BLAKE.
ROBERT ALFRED BLAKE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Spacers of Linotype' and
similar Machines.
1, ROBERT ALFRED BLAKE, of No. 4 Unity Cottage, East Road, Enfield
Highway, in the County of Middlesex, Draughtsman 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 to improvements in space bars of Linotype and similar
machines. It is applicable to the space bars, justifiers or compound spaces, and the
type, matrices or type bars of all machines in which, through the medium of finger
keys, types or dies having individual letters or characters thereon or therein, are
assembled temporarily in line, either to form matrix impressions from which to
cast printing bars or linotypes, or to co-operate directly with a mold in which
printing bars or linotypes are formed.
I instance as representative of the classes of justifying devices and type
matrices or type bars to which the present invention is applicable, those which are
described in the Specifications of Patents 345526, July 13th 1886 (corresponding
British Patent 9115 July 13th 1886) granted to Mergenthaler, of 447134 and
447135 February 24th 1891 (corresponding British Patent 3361, February 24th
1891) granted, the former to Lee and Lebrun and the latter to Lee of 474306
May 3rd 1892 granted to Schuckers, of 437139, September 23rd 1890 granted to
Rogers, and of 437141, September 23rd 1890 granted to Bright (corresponding
British Patent to the last two numbers 15060 September 1890).
In the Mergenthaler, Lee and Lebrun, Lee and Schuckers Patents, the justifier
consists substantially of a double wedge in which two bars, tapered in opposite
directions and arranged to slide one upon the other, constitute jointly an extensible
justifier the outer and operative faces of which are always parallel, one of such
faces being moved away from the other of them by the sliding of one of the said
tapered bars upon the other tapered bar. In the Rogers and Bright Patents the
justifier consists substantially of two circular sections the adjacent faces of which
are respectively inclined reversely to each other, the two sections constituting
I Huis Q17

page_text: jointly an expansible justifier, the outer and operative faces of which are always
parallel, one of such faces being moved away from the other of them by the
sliding motion of one of the said circular sections upon the other circular
section.
In the Mergenthaler, Lee and Lebrun, Lee and Schuckers justifiers, the sliding
motion is rectilinear, while in the Rogers and Bright justifiers it is through an are
about the common axis of the sections as a centre.
The foregoing list of Specifications is not to be taken as defining all the
varieties of justifiers and matrices, type, type bars or character bars to which the
present invention is applicable. The Specifications quoted have been selected
as representative of the state of the art and for the purpose of demonstrating the
applicability of my invention to combinations differing as widely in the concrete
form which they take as do the Mergenthaler combination on the one hand and the
Rogers or Bright combination on the other.
All the justifying devices referred to above are separate and distinct from the
matrices, type bars or character bars in combination with which they are
respectively used. As a consequence, there must necessarily be provided, before
the desiderated expansion can be effected, a member to serve as
a base of
operation for the justifying member. In the rectilinearly sliding justifiers, this
base member is one of the tapered bars; in the arcual sliding justifiers, it is one of
the circular sections. But this same base member takes up room in the assembled
line of matrices, type bars or character bars and their complement of justifiers;
and, to that extent, limits the number of characters which it is possible to get into
a line of given length. How considerable this limitation is, or, in other words,
how many characters are excluded by the base members from a column of matter
will be seen from the following example. The Daily Telegraph, July 6th 1893,
page 5, column 5, has 215 lines spaced with 1,387 spaces. Putting the minimum
thickness of a base member at of an inch, their use means the loss of 1,387 ÷
32 or 43 inches; and as each line is 24 inches long, such use means 17 lines lost
for every 215 set up.
The object of the present invention is to prevent the loss described in the
preceding paragraph, and it is accomplished by tapering the matrix, type bar or
character bar on one side and in one direction, and combining with it in a special
manner, a bar tapered in the opposite direction, the latter being arranged to slide
upon the former, thus constituting an expansiable justifier in the same way as
described with reference to the above recited representative devices.
Throughout this Specification the term matrix, type, type bar, character bar
and matrix bar must be understood as including all separable members having the
characters on their faces indented to form relief characters on the printing bar, or
having the characters in relief to indent matrices from which printing bars or
surfaces can be formed.
I believe myself to be the first to invent the combination in a single separate
and distinct member, or in two separate and distinct members, of a matrix, type
bar or character bar and justifier having their adjacent faces tapered but in
opposite directions and their respectively outer faces parallel, whereby the sliding
motion of one of the said adjacent faces over the other of them increases or
diminishes the distance between the said outer faces, according to the direction of
such motion; and this combination I claim broadly in any form the mechanical
equivalent of any of those herein shewn and irrespective of the direction of such
sliding motion.
In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 to 8 illustrate the application of my
invention to a Mergenthaler or Linotype (as it is generally called) matrix and
justifier or space bar to use Mergenthaler's own term. Figures 9 to 16 illustrate
the application of the same invention to a Lee and Lebrun, to a Lee or to a
Schuckers justifier. These inventors use the terms justifiers and justifying bar
respectively. Figures 17 to 20 to a Rogers or to a Bright justifier or compound
space as these inventors term it.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a Linotype matrix having one side or face vertical,
the opposite one tapered, and projecting from the latter a dovetail connection by
which it is held in operative combination with the justifier.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation corresponding with Figure 1.
Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of a Linotype matrix and space bar
combined according to the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, from the left hand, of Figure 3.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation from the right hand of Figure 3 or the right hand of
Figure 6.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation corresponding with the three preceding figures.
Fig. 7 is a front elevation of an assembled line of Linotype matrices and my
combined Linotype justifiers and matrices.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view shewing how my improved Linotype justifiers and
matrices and the ordinary Linotype matrices are redistributed to the magazine.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a Lee type bar and justifier combined according to
the present invention.
Fig. 10 is an inverted plan of Figure 9.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the type bar of the two preceding figures
detached from the justifier.
The three immediately preceding figures also illustrate the application of the
present invention to the Lee and Lebrun and the Schucker type bar and
justifier.
Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a modified application of my invention to a Lee
and Lebrun, Lee or a Schuckers type bar.
Fig. 13 is a sectional plan taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.
Fig. 14 is an inverted plan partly in section of Figure 13.
Fig. 15 is an inverted plan and Figure 16, a side elevation, of a modification of
the Schuckers justifier combined with a matrix according to the present
invention.
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of an improved Rogers or of a Bright character bar
or matrix. bar combined according to the present invention, shewing them in the
position they occupy in the assembled line after the act of justification.
Fig. 18 is a rear elevation of an assembled and justified line of Rogers or
Bright character bars and improved combined character bars and justifiers.
Fig. 19 is a rear elevation of an improved Rogers or Bright character bar
detached from its improved justifier.
Fig. 20 is a rear elevation of an improved justifier detached from its improved
character bar.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8 A is the improved Linotype matrix. It is of the
same construction as to the character a indented in a recess a¹ formed in its rear
vertical edge, its sustaining shoulders b, b, b, b¹, the central ✓ shaped notch c and
the teeth in the sides of the latter as well as to other minor details, as heretofore.
d is the tapered face of my improved matrix. The taper extends regularly from
the top edge of the matrix to the bottom of it, the latter being the thinner and the
former the thicker. The top of the matrix is the thicker portion because in the
Linotype machine the justifying motion is imparted to the justifier vertically from
underneath. The mechanism by which such motion is imparted is not illustrated
because it does not form any part of the present invention. e is a central projection
from the tapered faced and fast to it, having its bottom edge preferably in the
O same plane as the bottom edge of the matrix A. The two sides d', d' of the
projection are parallel and are dovetailed or undercut for a purpose to be explained
further on.
The tapered face d of the matrix A, per se, the combination with the
said tapered face of the device by which the matrix is held to the tapered bar f
next described and the combination of the tapered matrix, device and tapered bar
5 are the only features in this connection to which I lay claim.
fis the justifier. It is a bar tapered in the opposite direction to that in which
the faced already described is tapered, and at the same angle. f¹ is the tapered

page_text: face of this bar. is a central- longitudinal groove corresponding in cross section
with the dovetailed projection e which it is thereby adapted to receive. The dove-
tailed or undercut sides of the projection engage within the corresponding sides of the
grooves and by so doing, hold the matrix and the tapered bar f together, such
engagement permitting of a free sliding motion of the bar fupon the tapered face d
of the matrix. The groove stops short of the top of the bar f in order that the
latter shall not drop from the matrix but be supported by the top of the projection e.
The bar constructed as above described does not, per se, form any part of the
present invention. The well known head or plate with its suspending shoulders, of
the Linotype space bar, and which head or plate serves as the base member for the
barf to slide upon, is omitted because the present invention does not require it, its
exclusion being, as already explained, the main feature of the said invention. The
base member for the bar to slide upon is, according to the present invention, the
tapered face d of the matrix A.
The exclusion of the Linotype space head or plate is clearly indicated in Figure 7
in which there are shewn eight of my improved compound justifiers and matrices.
If the eight space bars and the forty-two matrices there shewn were all-35 of
them g are of the ordinary Linotype construction, the length of the assembled line
would be increased by the combined thickness of the eight heads or plates excluded
and dispensed with by the present invention.
The mechanism for assembling the ordinary Linotype matrices and spaces is not
affected by the present invention neither are those for casting the linotypes and
redistributing the ordinary matrices and spaces and my improved Linotype justifiers
and matrices. In Figure 8, the dotted lines shew three ordinary matrices g and
one of my improved justifiers and matrices still suspended from the distributor
rail and two of the latter dropping therefrom into their respective tubes i of the
magazine.
Referring to Figures 9 to 11, is the improved Lee, Lee and Lebrun or
Schuckers matrix. The character is carried by the bottom face of an extension j'
of the bottom edge of the matrix, and is formed in relief thereupon or indented in it
according as to whether a stereotype strip or sheet, or a printing bar, is to be
formed. The extension is in the plane of the matrix j. k is its tapered face.
The taper extends regularly from the front end of the matrix to its rear end, the
latter being the thinner and the former the thicker. The front end of the matrix
is the thicker portion because in the Lee, Lee and Lebrun and Schuckers Patents
the justifying motion is imparted to the justifying device horizontally (or nearly
so) from the rear. The mechanism by which such motion is imparted is not
illustrated because it does not form any part of the present invention.
7 is the improved justifier. It is a bar tapered in the opposite direction to that
in which the face k already described is tapered. Its outer face is always parallel
with that of the matrix j. is the tapered face of this bar. is a central longi-
tudinal groove cut in the face . is a rearward continuation of the tapered bar
and is the part by which the improved justifier and matrix is connected to the
assembling mechanism. The matrix j is held with its tapered face k to the tapered
face of the bar by any suitable device provided that one face can slide freely
and smootlily upon the other. The device illustrated consists of a tongue m which
is made fast by one of its ends to the matrix, the body of the tongue lying within
the groove, while its opposite or rear end is provided with a head m', having a
cap piece m², adapted to slide in a longitudinal slot m³ in the rearward con-
tinuation The length of this slot limits the sliding motion of the matrix j and
the tapered bar upon each other in either direction. The cap piece m² is of such
a width in the direction lengthwise of the continuation 13 that it can be passed
through the slot m when the tongue m is held at about right angles therewith, and
is of such a length.in a. direction crosswise of the slot that when the tongue is
returned to its normal position-tbe one illustrated-the ends or points of the cap
piece project on each side beyoud the respective sides of the slot and bear upon the
continuation so as to hold the rear end of the tongue-piece. securely thereto.

page_text: The tongue mis given a certain amount of spring outward, so that it presses
against the cap piece m³ for the purpose of holding the tongue and the con-
tinuation together until the justifying motion moves the justifier upon the
matrix j. n is a cap plate fast to the rear end of the tapered bar and serves to
hold and guide the tongue m in the groove 2. n' is a shoulder on the bottom edge
of the cap plate n and is provided to receive and transfer the justifying motion
above mentioned to the bar 1. The extension j¹ already referred to is adapted to
engage with, by abutting against it, a fixed bar for the purpose of holding the
matrix stationary during the justifying motion. The tapered face of the
matrix the combination of the matrix having a tapered face with the tapered bar /
and the combination with them both are the only features of the mechanism
illustrated in the three figures last described, to which I lay claim. The bar l
with its tapered face l', its groove 12, its rearward combination, the tongue m,
head m', cap piece m2, the slot m³ the cap plate n and the shoulder n do not
considered as a whole and in their nutual co-operation, form any part of this
present invention. Neither does the mechanism for assembling and operating the
justifiers and for that reason it is omitted from the figures.
In the Lee and Lebrun, Lee or Schuckers justifier, it is the wedge plate-to use
the name given to the piece in question in their Specifications-that serves as the
base member for the justifier-the tapered bar 1 of Figures 9 to 11-to slide over.
According to my invention this wedge plate is discarded and its place taken by the
combination of the matrix j with the tapered bar 1, so that the space saved in an
assembled line of these inventors', type bars spaced and justified by justifiers and
matrices constructed according to the present invention, will be the thickness of a
wedge plate multiplied by the number of justifiers in the assembled line, I have not
introduced into the drawings a figure in which is indicated the effect of the
exclusion of the base member because of the substantial similarity of that effect
with the effect upon a line of assembled Linotype matrices spaced and justified by
my invention.
The modification illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 11 consists in applying my
invention to the type bar illustrated, in exactly the same way as illustrated in
Figures to 8 and described therewith. A' is the type and B the bar which
carries it as an extension on one of its ends. Neither of these members form any
part of the present invention. For the rest, the same reference letters are used as in
Figures 1 to 8 because of the identity of their construction and relationship.
d is the tapered face formed on one side of the type A. The taper extends
regularly from the front edge of the type rearwards, the latter being the thinner
and the former the thicker. The front edge of the type is the thicker portion
because the justifying motion is, in the Lee and Lebrun, Lee and Schuckers
e is the central
Patents, imparted to the justifier from the rear towards the front.
projection from the tapered face d and fast to it. d', d' are the two undercut sides
thereof. is the tapered bar, tapered in the opposite direction to the face d and at
the same angle. is the central longitudinal groove in the bar f.
In the Lee and Lebrun, Lee and Schuckers Patents, because the bars B stand
in planes which are at right angles with the line of assemblage, the bars being
radial to the said line, the type on the bar at one side of the frame will have its
character face parallel with the edges of the bar, while the bar on the opposite side
of the same frame is cranked so as to stand at an angle with the character face of
the type, the angles varying according to the position of the type and its bar in the
frame. I have chosen for illustration a cranked bar. The smaller the angle the
nearer will the tapered bar be parallel with the respective bar B.
Fig. 37 of the Schuckers Patent illustrates a modification of his justifier according
to which the wedge plates are lengthened so as to be substantially duplicates of
the justifying wedges (the tapered bars of Figures 9 and 10) and are provided
with suitable connections by which they can be advanced in the same way and for
the same purpose as the justifying wedges. It is this modification of Schuckers'
combined with a matrix that is illustrated in the accompanying Figures 15 and 16.

page_text: o, o are a pair of bars of equal size, each tapered on one of its side faces but in
opposite directions. Their outer and opposite faces are always parallel. 0², o³ are
the connections by which the bars can be advanced in suitable guides which are not
shewn in the figures for the reason that they do not form any part of the present
invention. These guides are so positioned that the leading edge of of each tapered
bar is exactly opposite not the fellow edge of the opposite bar, but about the half
distance of the opposite taper. This relative position is made clear by Figure 15.
o is the matrix. It is shewn as an extension of the tapered bar o'. Whether the
matrices are on the left hand series or the right hand series of the tapered bare is
of no moment as far as present invention is concerned, but depends entirely upon
the general construction of the machine in which my invention is used and the most
convenient positions of the mechanism for actuating the type bars. They are
always combined with the tapered bars which are on the same side of the machine
as the type bars. The tapered bar o, that which does not carry a matrix, is the
base member for the other of them to slide upon and the space saved in an assembled
line of Schuckers type bars spaced and justified by justifiers and matrices constructed
according to the present invention will be the thickness of one of the tapered
bars o oro multiplied by the number of justifiers in the assembled line. In this
connection I have to point out that it is only the combination of the matrix in one
piece with one of the tapered bars adapted to cooperate with its fellow bar in the
way described above that I lay claim to.
Referring to Figures 17 to 20, pp are the improved character bars or matrix
bar. They are rectangular in cross section, their opposite faces p', p² being
parallel (with the exception of the tapered face described further on) and vertical
when the bars are assembled in line, as shewn in Figure 18. Their upper portions
are broken off because they are not affected by the present invention. p³, 1³ are
shoulders provided for.the purpose of being engaged by an aligning plate. Each
bar has a character p* formed in its front edge, all the characters being at the same
distance from the feet of their, respective bars. It is only the tapered face above
mentioned that forms any part of the present invention. In other respects the.bars
are as described in the Rogers and Bright Patents above mentioned.
In the character bars of these last mentioned Patents, the two side faces are
parallel for the whole of their length, and it is between them-the bars-that the
outer and operative faces of the justifier act. The construction of this latter has
been already described. It is one of the two circular sections of which the device
consists the wing-section it is called by the inventors-that serves as the base
member for the justifying member the other circular section-to slide over and
the present invention as applied to the Rogers and Bright character bar and justifier
consists in discarding this base member and combining the justifying member with
the character bar after modifying the latter so as to adapt a portion of it to serve
as the base member.
7 is a tapered face formed upon the side of the bar p. The figures shew it as
formed upon the sides p² that is upon the side which is left exposed when the final
character bar of a word has been assembled. This face extends upwards from the
foot of the bar in a plane trending towards the opposite face thereof. q¹ is the
improved circular justifying member or justifier. It consists of a disc upon one side
of which there is formed a central strengthening boss q* as well as a circular con-
centric tapered face g³. The latter is inclined at the same angle with the opposite
and untapered face 9 of the justifier as the face q is with the opposite face p¹ of a
character bar, but the two faces are tapered in opposite directions. q' is a
centrul square hole at a right angle with the face g³ and of the same size as the
horizontal justifier shaft L upon which all the justifiers can move freely in the
direction of its length. They are not connected with the character bars but are
separate and distinct therefrom, and are delivered on to the bar L one by one as
they are wanted, by means of any suitable mechanism which is not included within
the present invention, and may be such as forms part of the above mentioned Rogers
and Bright Patents. The justifiers therefore stand upon the said bar with their

page_text: faces in planes parallel with the untapered faces p' and the untapered portions of
the faces of the character bars P
Further, they are delivered on to the justifier
bar L with their tapered faces next to the tapered faces of the respective
character bars. When the process of assembling the line of bars and justifiers is
complete, the maxima or thickest parts of the tapers q, as well as the minima or
thinnest parts, are directly under the bar L. Both begin at the respective
extremities of the horizontal surface 6.
The mechanisms for assembling and redistributing the type bars and justifying
devices which are the subject of the present invention do not form any part thereof
and may therefore be of any respectively suitable construction and operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is
. 1. A matrix having one of its faces tapered being adapted thereby to serve both
as matrix and base member for the justifier.
2. The combination of matrix having one of its faces tapered in one direction and
a justifier having one of its faces tapered in the opposite direction.
3. The combination of matrix having one of its faces tapered, a justifier having
one of its faces tapered in the opposite direction to that in which the said face of
the matrix is tapered and means for holding the said faces together and for
allowing the one face to slide upon the other face in either of two opposite
directions.
°
4. The combination of justifier being a bar having one face tapered in the
direction of its length and adapted by reason of its length to receive through its
thickest end the justifying motion, shoulders by which it can be suspended, a longi-
tudinal slot stopping short of the thinner end of the bar undercut on both its sides, a
matrix having one face tapered at the same angle as the said bar but in the opposite
direction and a projection fast to the said tapered side undercut on both its sides
and engaging and capable of sliding freely in the said longitudinal slot and holding
the two tapered faces in contact with each other.
5. The combination of justifier being a bar having one face tapered in the
direction of its length, a rearward extension by which it is connected to the
assembling mechanism, a longitudinal groove in the said tapered face, a longitudinal
slot to the rear of the said groove, a matrix, an extension of one edge of the matrix
adapted to abut against a fixed bar, a face upon the said matrix tapered at the
same angle as the tapered face of the justifier but in the opposite direction, a tongue
fast by one end to the tapered face of the matrix and lying in the said groove and
carrying a head and cap piece on its opposite end adapted to slide in the said slot,
and a cap plate fast to the said tongue and provided with a shoulder for receiving
and transferring the justifying motion to the justifier.
6. The combination of bar carrying a type or matrix on one end of it, a tapered
face on one side of the type or matrix and the adjacent portion of the bar, a pro-
jection fast to the said tapered face and undercut on both of its sides, a justifier
being a bar having one face tapered in the direction of its length at the same angle
as the tapered face on the type but in the opposite direction and adapted by reason
of its length to receive through its rear end the justifying motion and a longitudinal
slot stopping short of its front end undercut on both its sides, engaging and sliding
freely over the projection and holding the two tapered faces together.
7. The combination of a justifier being a bar having one face tapered in the
direction of its length, a rearward extension by which it is connected to the
assembling mechanism, a duplicate of the said bar and extension the two standing
in the same plane with their noses opposite to each other but sufficiently to one side
of each other for the two tapered faces to engage and slide the one over the other
during the process of being assembled, and a matrix on the edge of one of the
said bars.
8. The combination of character bar, a tapered face formed in one side of it and

page_text: a justifier being a circular plate having one face tapered to the same angle as the
tapered face on the character bar but in the opposite direction and adapted by being
brought into contact with the said tapered face and moved over it in a certain
direction to move the bar and itself from each other.
Dated this 1st day of August 1893.
ROBERT ALFRED BLAKE.