JAMES MITCHELL. 



153 



nomical. Eoth were formed from hollow moulds. The 

 pasteboard was first moistened, then laid on the mould. In 

 making the one, a layer of fine sand was placed above it, 

 and over that the weight intended to produce the impression. 

 In making the other, the thin pasteboard was carefully forced 

 into the hollow lines of the mould with a paper-folder ; small 

 quantities of moist paper were then stuffed into the cavity to 

 fill it, and over this the weight was laid till it was dried. A 

 subsequent improvement has occurred, for which I am in- 

 debted to the ingenuity of Mr John Ruthven (the inventor 

 of the Ruthven jrHnting-press), who is now executing in brass 

 a set of types adapted to this object. This consists in form- 

 ing hollow moulds, of the size and shape of letter now fixed 

 upon, and also letters in relief corresponding to them, by which 

 the moistened paper or pasteboard may be forced into the 

 moulds. This method produces an impression in a most cor- 

 rect and speedy manner, and any word in one entire piece 

 may be conveniently formed. The nature of these materials 

 is such as to enable any person, when in possession of sepa- 

 rate letters, to fix them together extemporaneously, so as to 

 form words which can either be kept in that state or taken to 

 pieces at pleasure. The separate letters may be introduced in 

 their proper order into a running case formed of paper or 

 pasteboard, and the word will then have this appearance. 



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Vol. VIII. P. L 



