30 



THE WORLD'S ADVANCE 



matrices and space bands. It is not un- 

 common for a machine to have one line 

 of matrices in the act of being assem- 

 bled, one line being cast and the matrices 

 of a third line being distributed, all at 

 one time. Each of the steps is indepen- 

 dent from the others. 



Two questions now remain to be an- 

 swered : How are the lines automatically 

 justified, and what causes the matrices 

 to drop back in the proper channels? 

 Here are the answers: 



The brass matrices have a V-shaped 

 notch, the sides of which are toothed. 

 No two matrices have the same arrange- 

 ment of teeth, for these correspond to 

 the combination of ridges that run above 

 the screw conveyor at the rear of the 

 linotype. As the matrix with a certain 

 combination of teeth reaches the corres- 

 ponding combination of ridges, it is re- 

 leased and falls into the mouth of the 

 channel below. 



On the other hand, the automatic jus- 

 tification is even a more simple mechan- 



A Diagrammatic View of the Main Parts of the Linotype 



Machine, Showing the Various Steps in One Complete Cycle 



of its Operation. 



ical application, although strange to say 

 it was the last problem to be solved in 

 perfecting the linotype. The secret of 

 automatic justification is found in the 

 space bands, each of which consists of 

 two wedge-shaped pieces held together. 

 The wedge sides slope in opposite direc- 

 tions so that upon pressing the movable 

 member upward the device spreads and 

 becomes wider. The two outer sides are 

 straight and parallel. Thus, when the 

 matrices and space bands are assembled 

 the pressing upward of the movable 

 members of the space bands causes the 

 spaces between the groups of matrices to 

 be equally adjusted and to fill out the 

 line. 



As wonderful as the linotype machine 

 is, it has a competitor in the monotype 

 system which vies with it in mechanical 

 ingenuity. The latter consists of two 

 separate units a keyboard and a caster 

 and its operation is as follows. 



An operator presses the different keys 

 of a keyboard in much the same way 

 as in typewriting, causing a 

 paper ribbon to be perforated 

 with a series of holes, giving 

 it the appearance of a piano- 

 player record. The flashing 

 and ringing of a lamp and bell 

 inform the operator when the 

 end of a line has been reached, 

 whereupon he or she glances 

 at the indicators on the ma- 

 chine, which indicate what 

 keys to press in order to jus- 

 tify the line. After the oper- 

 ator has finished with his 

 work, the paper ribbon is re- 

 moved and brought to the 

 caster. 



The monotype caster is a 

 type foundry in miniature, 

 with its melting pot, moulds 

 and smokestack for carrying 

 away the lead fumes. As the 

 paper ribbon passes through 

 the mechanism of the caster 

 the different pieces of type 

 are cast and assembled on a 

 brass tray in the proper order, 

 line by line. Each type face 

 is a separate block of metal 

 as in handsetting. Between 

 the groups of type forming 



