THE WORLD'S ADVANCE 



31 



A Typical Newspaper Composing Room, in which a Number of Linotype Machines are being Used to 

 Set up the Reading Matter. Many Linotypes are required by Every Daily Newspaper, Because of the 

 Vast Amount of Type Matter that Must be set up within a Limited Time. 



the words are inserted the spacing blocks 

 of proper width, the size of these having 

 been determined by the keyboard. 



The mechanism of the monotype caster 

 is not difficult to understand. Its moulds 

 are quite different from the matrices of 

 the linotype, for they are square blocks 

 of brass with the intaglio letter at one 

 end and a cone-shaped hole at the other. 

 The moulds are assembled in a frame- 

 work which is so mounted that it can be 

 moved right or left and forward or back- 

 ward. In all there are 225 matrices fif- 

 teen on a side held in the frame. Au- 

 tomatically the mechanism moves the 

 matrices to bring the desired one in posi- 

 tion above the mould, and then clamps it 

 firmly over the mould ; a pointed plunger 

 pressing down in the cone-shaped recess 

 of the matrix centers the mould and 

 holds it in place. Compressed air passing 

 through the holes in the perforated paper 

 ribbon is the agent that moves the matrix 

 frame, just as the same force operates 

 the different trammers in a player-piano. 

 When once the matrix is in position, 

 the width of the mould is adjusted and 

 molten metal then forced in from the 

 bottom. It soon cools and is delivered 

 on a brass tray in the form of a perfect 

 type, along with its companions and 

 spacing blocks that form the line. 



The remarkable feature of the mono- 

 type machine is that the paper ribbon is 

 a permanent piece of work, good for all 

 time. It may be kept any number of 

 years and then passed through the cast- 

 ing machine if the type is desired. Like- 

 wise, any number of times the type may 



Matrices or Moulds of the Monotype Caster, Show- 

 ing the Method of Holding Them in a Frame. 



be set up in any size and style of type 

 face by passing the ribbon through the 

 caster as many times. And again, the 

 keyboard, which occupies but a trifle 

 more room than the conventional type- 

 writer, may be used in any office or 

 home, if need be, and the caster installed 

 in a distant printing office. The records 

 can be sent any distance through the 

 mails and the type set up at some far-off 

 point. 



