PRINTING AND MAKING OF BOOKS 



the die from which is cast the letter, and at the upper 

 end are a series of nicks or teeth for distributing pur- 

 poses, and every character possesses a different combi- 

 nation. Each magazine contains a number of matrices 

 for each letter, and all the usual characters required 

 by a complete font of type, together with spaces, quads, 

 etc., of varying thicknesses. In addition there are also 

 flat, elongated, wedge-shaped spaces which are inserted 

 between words and employed for justifying each line 

 as it is cast. 



"The magazine containing the matrices is an inclined 

 receptacle two feet six inches high, the top being about 

 six feet from the floor. Within this magazine are 

 channels in which the matrices for the different letters 

 are stored, and through which they pass. The machine 

 is so adjusted that as the keyboard is manipulated the 

 matrices are selected in the order in which they are to 

 appear in the slug or casting. When a key is depressed, 

 the matrix to which it corresponds emerges from its 

 channel, is caught upon an inclined traveling belt, and 

 is then carried to the assembler, or stick. As each word 

 is completed, a stroke of the space-key inserts the wedge- 

 shaped space used between each two words. When 

 the line is completed the operator can correct errors 

 by extracting matrices or substituting other for those 

 which are in the line. The wedge-shaped spaces are now 

 pushed up through the line, securing instantaneous and 

 complete justification. The completed line is then 

 transferred automatically to the front of a mold ex- 

 tending through a mold wheel at the left. Behind the 

 mold is a melting-pot, heated by gas or gasoline, and 



[143] ' 



