US1341389A - Printer's cabinet - Google Patents

Description

Patented May 2 5, 1 920.

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PRINTERS CABINET. APPLICATION men JUNE 13. 1917.

' Patented May 25, 1920.

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F. J. SMITH.

PRINTERS CABINET. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1917.

Patented May 25, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- VE N T5. KNEE)? 1 l I I l l l l l l l I I l l ll UNITED OFFICE.

FRANK 3'. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PBINTERS CABINET.

Application filed June 13,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printers Cabinets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to printers cabinets, and is intended more particularly to provide a cabinet suitable for use in the larger newspaper printing offices. As is well known, in such offices the greater proportion of the printed matter is produced by automatic typecasting machines, but in some classes of work the old method of composing separate or individual type in hand sticks must be resorted to; and in either case, it is still necessary to make up the printing forms by hand preparatory to their use in the press or in the stereotyping process. This work of preparing the printing forms is diiiicult and tedious and requires a considerable amount of time, as it not only involves the use of many different type fonts but also a varied assortment of other material, such as quads and spaces of all sizes, leads and slugs ranging from ems to 51-; ems or more in length, border rules or designs of various descriptions, figure and fraction type, special or sorts type, etc.

hlany attempts have been made to devise a cabinet suitable for the purpose, but so far the practical requirements have not been successfully or satisfactorily met. Thus, it has already been proposed to provide a cabinet which may be used as a makeup table well as a place of storage for the type cases and some of the leads and slugs, but such cabinet falls far short of the practical needs of the larger ofices, not only in spect to the assortment of leads and slugs that must be employed, but also in respect to the various other requisite elements. Owing to these limitations, it has been necessary to store the extra material in further cabinets specially designed for that purpose and which are distributed about the composing room at whatever places are available. This practice gives rise to many delays and annoyainces, as a compositor is compelled to leave his place at the make-up table and go to some remote part of the composing room for the desired material, and it frequently happens that other compositors are there at Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

1917. Serial N0. 174,416.

the same time selecting their own material or else have taken away the very case or box which is needed. Many other objections might be pointed out, but they are so well known to all printers that further comment would be superfluous.

My invention, generally speaking, is intended to do away with all of these objections, and contemplates a cabinet which may contain a complete supply of the requisite material, and which may be said to be a complete printing office in itself, so that the compositor, in making up the printing forms, may have all the wanted material directly at hand and within easy reach. The manner in which this result is accomplished will be fully pointed out in the detailed description to follow.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of my improved cabinet;

Fig. 9. is a rear perspective view thereof and illustrating the use of another cabinet in conjunction therewith;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the upper portion of the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one of the main type cases;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the auxiliary type cases; and

Fig. (5 is a top plan view of the special or sorts type case.

My improved cabinet is designed particularly for the use of two compositors at the same time. It comprises a main casing A, open at the rear, and containing two similar series of primary type cases A and A which are supported upon suitable flanges or ledges A so as to he slid outwardly from the rear of the casing. These cases, one of which is shown in plan view in Fig. 4, are provided with the usual compartments to contain a complete font of type, each individual case ordinarily being equipped with a different font, so that as many dissimilar fonts are available as there are type cases in any one series, the number of which in the present instance is nineteen. For example, in Fig. 2 the four uppermost cases are marked or labeled respectively as containing 12 pt., 14 pt., 18 pt. and 2% pt. type fonts, which may or may not differ as to style or face. If desired, of course, the fonts or any of them might be of the same point or size and differ in style or face only.

At its top, the casing A is provided with a flat horizontally disposed make-up table B, which is of double length, so as to accommodate the two compositors, and of greater width than that of the casing so as to project beyond or overhang the forward or closed side thereof, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. The extent of the overhanging portion of the make-up table is such as to provide a clear working space for the compositors in the use of the cabinet, as well as to provide for the incorporation therein of other elements which are associated with the table. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the main casing A has projecting from its forward or closed side and at its opposite ends two supplemental casings C and D, respectively, of a width equal substantially to the extent of the overhanging portion of the makeup table B, and which are relatively short in length so as to take up only a small part of the space below the table, and hence in no way interfere with the work of the compositors. At their lower ends, the supplemental casings are cut away or formed with notches C and D to provide foot space for the compositors upon the rare occasions when they work at the extreme ends of the cabinet.

The supplemental casing C (Figs. 2 and 3) contains a series of auxiliary type cases C which are arranged to he slid outwardly from the end of the cabinet or in a direc tion at right angles to that ofthe main type cases. These auxiliary type cases 0 one of which is shown in plan view in Fig. 5, are provided with ten compartments 0 designed to contain an extra or surplus supply of the figure type which. are stored in the type cases, and also with ten smaller compartments 0 designed to contain a supply of fraction-type, which, however, are not contained in the main type cases. In other words, for each of the primary cases, there is provided a separate auxiliary type case containing an extra supply of figures, and furthermore a new or additional supply of fractiontype to supplement the primary font. It is pointed out that the type in the auxiliary cases correspond in size or face to the type ontained in the primary cases; 0. 9., in Fig. 2 the four uppermost auxiliary type cases are marked or labeled as containing 12 pt., 1d pt, 18 pt. and 2% pt. type, corresponding with the type fonts contained in the four uppermost primary type cases. A s a result of this arrangement, if the supply of the figure-type contained in the primary cases should become exhausted, there is still available to the compositors the extra supply contained in the auxiliary cases, so that no time need be lost in searching through the composing room for the cabinet containing the type of the corresponding font. Similarly, there is also immediately available to the compositors a. supply of fraction type of whatever font that is required.

The second supplemental casing D is provided with two series of open boxes or compartments D and D open at the right-hand end of the cabinet (Fig. 1). These boxes are adapted to contain linotype rules or borders of various designs or descriptions and such as are needed in advertising or display work, it being the purpose to store borders of different kinds in the difi'erent boxes, of which there are twenty in number.

It will thus be observed that while the two supplemental casings provide a considerable quantity and variety of wanted material, they do not in any way interfere with the work of the compositors at the make-up table, these parts being so combined and related as to afiord ample working space for the two men at the same time. it will also be noted that no waste or extra space is taken up by the use of the supplemental casings, due to their location in front of and within the end limits of themain casing and beneath the overhanging portion of the make-up table, and furthermore that the type cases of one supplemental casing and the open boxes or compartments of the other in nowise interfere with the type cases contained in the main casing.

Also associated with the makeup table B is a lead and slug rack E, which occupies part of the additional space provided at the rear of the table by extending it forwardly, as above described. That is to say, the reel: is disposed longitudinally of the main casing and is located upon a rear strip of the table just back of the effective portion thereof, via. at a distance from the forward edge of the table slightly greater than the length or height of a printing formto be placed thereon, the rack being supported upon the table by means of upstanding bracket plates E which are designed to hold it at a slight backward inclination. The rack is provided with three groups of compartments c 0 and 6 ea. 1 l

group comprising two superposed series of similar compartments, those of the upper series being designed to contain stacks of leads, and. those of the lower series stacks of slugs of similar lengths. The leads and slugs stacked in the groups 0" and e are intended to be .2t?.lf1-ll.(l longitudinally of the cabinet, and hence the compartments in these two groups are made of varying widths progressively to .accornrnor ate the different lengths of the leads and which they are adapted to contain. The compartments in group (2 are designed to contain leads and slugs ranging from ems to 121- ems in length, which in this group varies to an extent of one-half em in the respective compartments (Fig. 3). The compartments in group 6 are designed to contain leads and slugs ranging from letto 22 ems in length, which in this group varies to an extent of one whole em in the respective compartments. The compartments of the central group are intended to contain leads and slugs of the following lengths: 23,

23g, 24, 24-3, 25, 22c, 27 and as ems, it being proposed to store them in stacks arranged transversely of the -abinet or at right angles to the rack. Accordingly, the compartments 6 are made of uniform width equal to the height of the leads and slugs, and are i'leepened or extended rearwardly suiiiciently to receive them, it being noted, see Fig. 2, that the rack is offset, as at E for this purpose. This arrangement is not only advantageous in economixcing space, but in addition it locates the longer leads and slugs (which are used in double column work) centrally of the make-up table, where access may be freely had to them by both compositor-s working at the table and without requiring either to leave his place or to interfere with the other.

To provide for the use of even greater lengths of leads and slugs, there employed a further rack F also containing two similar series of superposed compartments f, which, like the compartments 6 and for similar reasons, are of uniform width equal to the height of the leads and slugs to be stacked therein. In this embodiment, the leads and slugs range from 2% to 51-;- ems in length, which for the most part varies according to one whole em but in several instances only according to a half em. The rack F (Figs. 1 and of a width equal substantially to that of the overhanging portion of the make-up table B and is supported directly beneath and centrally thereof upon a longitudinal bar or member F which is connected at its rear edge to the main casing A and at its opposite ends to the supplemental casings C and D respectively. The length of the rack F is less than that of the supporting bar F so that there is provided in connection with the other parts two compartments at the opposite ends of the rack. One of these compartments, F is left open to serve as a place of storage for any miscellaneous material, while the other is occupied by two drawers F and l1 arranged to he slid out from the front, the latter being sustained directly by the supporting bar F and the former by flanges or ledges F projecting inwardly from the supplemental casing D and the adjoining end of the rack F. The drawer as indicated in plan. view in Fig. 6, is divided into compartments to serve as a type case for sorts and other special characters, such as leaders, paragraph and per cent. marks, and dashes and parentheses, etc. The drawer F is intended to be used for holding copy and the like, or for any other purpose.

lVhile the above leads and slugs will answer most purposes, there may he need for employing others of even greater length or of some special length not provided for in the particular assortment described. As a suitable and convenient place of storage for such extra leads and slugs, the rack E is formed at its top with an upstanding flange extending along its rear side and end portions, thus providing in conjunction with the top face of the rack a long inclined tray open at the front and offset at the middle corresponding to the outline of the rack. Such traymay not only be used to hold the aforesaid leads and slugs, but if desired, any other special material, pick-ups, corners, ornaments, etcl, all of which may be kept in plain view and within easy reach.

In the space between the two supplemental casings C and D and extending from one to the other, there is also located an inclined shelfG which may be used. as a galle or rule case support or for any other purpose, it being noted that this shelf is located high enough to avoid any interference with the compositors.

The space upon the make-up table B remaining behind the rack E is occupied by a longtray H supported upon the bracket plates E and which is recessed at H to re ceive the offset portion E of the rack. This tray is divided into a series of compartments 7b, which are adapted to contain an extra or surplus supply of quads or spaces such as are stored in the main type cases.

While the table B is employed chiefly in making up the printing forms, it is fre quently desirable to place thereon a type case from which some special matter is to be composed. Heretofore, in such circumstances, it has been necessary to remove the form before placing the case on the table so as to avoid injury to or displacement of the type in the form. T o obviate this necessity, in the present instance, the makeup table is provided with two pairs of upstanding lugs or posts J which are arranged just in front of the rack E and at the rear of the makeup table. These posts may thus be used as supports or props for the type cases, not only to hold them in inclined position, desirec, but also to maintain them free and cl rar of the type forms which lie flatly on the table, see Fig. 2.

In use, the cabinets are arranged one be hind another in a straight row, as illus trated in Fig. 2, with the rear side of one facing the front side of another, the idea being to enable the compositors at a forward cabinet to have at their disposal the primary type cases and the quads and spaces contained in the next cabinet to the rear. The element of time is an important factor in the composing room, both in regard to the expense of operation and the output of the work. This is especially true in the large newspaper ofiices which employ hundreds of men and turn out numerous editions each day. The present cabinet has been organized with all of these considera tions in mind, and in practical use it has been found to meet the demands in a most efiioient manner, resulting in a greatly increased saving of time, labor and expense.

For lighting purposes, each cabinet is equipped with two electric lamps O supported by brackets O projecting from the rack E and which may be switched on or off by means of a push button O at the side. lwo further lamps O are arranged at the rear of the casing above the primary type cases to enable the compositors to select any one of the cases or to set type therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown my invention merely in preferred form and by way of example, and it will be understood that many modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from its spirit. Generally speale ing, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any specific form or embodiment except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A printers cabinet comprising, in combination, a main casing containing two similar series of primary type cases arranged to he slid. outwardly from the rear, a double length make-up table supported on the top of said casing and projecting forwardly beyond the front or closed side thereof, and two supplemental casings projecting forwardly to a substantially equal extent from the front or closed side of the main casing and located at the opposite ends thereof below said table, one of said supplemental casings containing a series of auxiliary type cases arranged to be slid outwardly in a direction at right angles to that of the primary type cases, and the other of said casings containing a series of open boxes or compartments.

2. A printers cabinet comprising, in combination, a main casing containing two similar series of primary type cases arranged to be slid outwardly from the rear, a double length make-up table supported on the top of said casing and projecting forwardly beyond the front or closed side thereof, two supplemental casings projecting forwardly to a substantially equal GX- tent from the front or closed side of the main casing and located at the opposite ends thereof below said table and constructed to contain additional type elements, a supporting member extending longitudinally from one supplemental casing to the other at a given distance from the overhanging portion of the make-up table, and a lead and slug rack located in the space between the supporting member and the make-up table.

3. A printers cabinet comprising, in combination, a main easing containing two similar series of primary type cases arranged to be slid outwardly from the rear, a double length make-up table supported on the top of said casing and projecting forwardly beyond the front or closed side thereof, two supplemental casings projecting forwardly to a substantially equal extent from the front or closed side of the main casing and located at the opposite ends thereof below said table and constructed to contain additional type elements, a supporting member extending longitudinally from one supplemental casing to the other at a given distance from the oven hanging portion of the make-up table, and a lead and slug rack located in the space between the supporting member and the makeup table, said rack being of less length than'that of the supporting member so as to provide in conjunction with the other parts compartments at its opposite ends.

4. A printers cabinet comprising, in combination, a main casing containing two similar series of primary type cases arranged to be slid outwardly from the rear, a double length make-up table supported on the top of said casing and projecting forwardly beyond the front or closed side thereof, two supplemental casings projecting forwardly to a substantially equal extent from the front or closed side of the main casing and located at the opposite ends thereof below said table and con structed to contain additional type elements. a supporting member extending longitudinally from one supplemental casing to the other at a given distance from the overhanging portion of the make-up table, a lead and slug rack located in the space be tween the supporting member and the makeup table, said rack being of less length than that of the supporting member so as to provide in conjunction with the other parts compartments at its opposite ends, flanges projecting into one of said compartments from one end of the rack and the rear wall of the adjacent supplemental casing, and a type case supported upon said flanges and arranged to be slid forwardly away from the main casing.

55. A printers cabinet comprising, in combination, a main casing containing two similar series of primary type cases arranged to be slid outwardly from the rear, a double length make-up table supported on the top of said casing and projecting forwardly beyond the front or closed side thereof so as to leave at the rear of the casing a strip of the table back of its effective portion, and a lead and slug rack extending longitudinally of the main casing and supported upon the rear strip of the table, said rack being formed with compartments arranged in groups, one disposed centrally of the table and the other two on opposite sides of the central group, and the compartments of the two end groups being of a depth equal to the height of the leads and slugs to be inserted therein and varying in width progressively to correspond with the different lengths of said leads and slugs, and the compartments of the central group being of uniform width equal to the height of the leads and slugs and of greater depth than the compartments of the other groups, in the manner and for the purpose described.

6. A printers cabinet comprising, in combination, a main casing containing two similar series of primary type cases arranged to be slid outwardly from the rear, a double length make-up table supported 011 the top of said casing and projecting forwardly beyond the front or closed side thereof so as to leave at the rear of the casing a strip of the table back of its effective portion, a lead and slug rack extending longitudinally of the main casing and supported upon the rear strip of the table, said rack being formed with three groups of compartments, those of one group being located centrally of the make-up table and designed to hold the leads and slugs in stacks arranged transversely of the table or at right angles to the rack, and those of the other two groups being disposed at opposite sides of the central group and designed to hold the leads and slugs in stacks arranged longitudinally of the table, and a further lead and slug rack supported beneath the overhanging portion of the make-up table and formed with compartments designed to contain leads and slugs of greater length than those contained in the other rack.

7. A printers cabinet comprising, in combination, a main casing containing two similar series of primary type cases arranged to be slid outwardly from the rear, a double length make-up table supported on the top of said casing and projecting forwardly beyond the front or closed side thereof so as to leave at the rear of the casing a strip of the table back of its effective portion, a lead and slug rack extending longitudinally of the main casing and supported upon the rear strip of the table, said racli being formed with compartments arranged in groups, one disposed centrally of the table and the other two on opposite sides of the central group, and the compartments of the two end groups being of a depth equal to the height of the leads and slugs to be inserted therein and varying in width progressively to correspond with the different lengths of said leads and slugs, and the compartments of the central group being of uniform width equal to the height of the leads and slugs and of greater depth than the compartments of the other groups, and a further rack supported beneath the overhanging portion of the make-up table and formed with compartments of uniform width equal to the height of the leads and slugs and of a depth equal substantially to the extent of the overhanging portion of the table.

8. A printers cabinet comprising, in combination, a main casing containing two similar series of primary type cases arranged to he slid outwardly from the rear, a double length make-up table supported on the top of said casing and projecting forwardly beyond the front or closed side thereof, two supplemental casings projecting to a substantially equal extent from the front side of the main casing and located at the opposite ends thereof, one of said supplemental casings containing a series of auxiliary type cases and the other a series of open boxes or compartments, a lead and slug rack supported upon the make-up table and located at the rear thereof back of its effective portion, and a second lead and slug rack supported beneath the overhanging portion of the make-up table between the two supplemental casings.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature.

FRANK J. SMITH.

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