Chapter III: Part 3

It is confirm’d upon good consideration and Reason as well as constant experience, that in a whole Revolution of the _Spindle_, in the _Nut_, the _Toe_ does and ought to come down two Inches and an half; but the _Spindle_ in work seldom makes above one quarter of a Revolution at one _Pull_, in which sweep it comes down but half an Inch and half a quarter of an Inch; and the reason to be given for this coming down, is the squeezing of the several parts in the _Press_, subject to squeeze between the Mortesses of the _Winter_ and the Mortesses the _Head_ works in; and every Joynt between these are subject to squeeze by the force of a _Pull_. As first, The _Winter_ may squeeze down into its Mortess one third part of the thickness of a _Scabbord_. (Allowing a _Scabbord_ to be half a _Nomparel_ thick.) Secondly, The _Ribs_ squeeze closer to the _Winter_ one _Scabbord_. Thirdly, The _Iron-Ribs_ to the Wooden _Ribs_ one _Scabbord_. Fourthly, The _Cramp-Irons_ to the _Planck_ of the _Coffin_ one _Scabbord_. Fifthly, The _Planck_ it self half a _Scabbord_. Sixthly, The _Stone_ to the _Planck_ one _Scabbord_. Seventhly, The _Form_ to the _Stone_ half a _Scabbord_. Eighthly, The _Justifyers_ in the Mortess of the _Head_ three _Scabbords_. Ninthly, The _Nut_ in the _Head_ one _Scabbord_. Tenthly, The _Paper_, _Tympans_ and _Blankets_ two _Scabbords_. Eleventhly, Play for the Irons of the _Tympans_ four _Scabbords_. Altogether make fifteen _Scabbords_ and one third part of a _Scabbord_ thick, which (as aforesaid) by allowing two _Scabbords_ to make a _Nomparel_, and as I shewed in _Vol._ 2. _Numb._ 2. §. 2. One hundred and fifty _Nomparels_ to make one Foot, gives twelve and an half _Nomparels_ for an Inch, and consequently twenty five _Scabbords_ for an Inch; so by proportion, fifteen _Scabbords_ and one third part of a _Scabbord_, gives five eighth parts of an Inch, and a very small matter more, which is just so much as the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ comes down in a quarter of a Revolution.

This is the Reason that the coming down of the _Toe_ ought to be just thus much; for should it be less, the natural Spring that all these Joynts have, when they are unsqueez’d, would mount the Irons of the _Tympans_ so high, that it would be troublesom and tedious for the _Press-man_ to _Run_ them under the _Plattin_, unless the _Cheeks_ stood wider assunder, and consequently every sweep of the _Bar_ in a _Pull_ exceed a quarter of a Revolution, which would be both laborious for the _Press-man_, and would hinder his usual riddance of Work.

I shew’d in _Numb._ 2. _fol._ 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. the manner of making a Screw in general; but assigned it no particular Rise; which for the aforesaid reason, these _Printing-Press Screws_ are strictly bound to have: Therefore its assigned Rise being two Inches and an half in a Revolution, This measure must be set off upon the Cilindrick Shank, from the top towards the Cube of the _Spindle_, on any part of the _Cilinder_, and there make a small mark with a fine _Prick-Punch_, and in an exact Perpendicular to this mark make another small mark on the top of the Cilinder, and laying a straight _Ruler_ on these two marks, draw a straight line through them, and continue that line almost as low as the Cube of the _Spindle_. Then devide that portion of the straight line contained between the two marks into eight equal parts, and set off those equal parts from the two Inch and half mark upwards, and then downwards in the line so oft as you can: Devide also the Circumference of the Shank of the Cilinder into eight equal parts, and draw straight lines through each devision, parallel to the first upright line; and describe the _Screw_ as you were directed in the afore-quoted place; so will you find that the revolution of every line so carried on about the Shank of the Cilinder, will be just two Inches and an half off the top of the Shank: which measure and manner of working may be continued downward to within an Inch and an half of the Cube of the _Spindle_. This is the Rule and Measure that ought to be observ’d for ordinary _Presses_: But if for some by-reasons the aforesaid Measure of two Inches and an half must be varied, then the varied Measure must be set off from the top of the Cilinder, and working with that varied Measure as hath been directed, the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ will come down lower in a revolution if the varied Measure be longer, or not so low if the varied Measure be shorter.

There is a Notion vulgarly accepted among Workmen, that the _Spindle_ will Rise more or less for the number of _Worms_ winding about the Cilinder; for they think, or at least by tradition are taught to say, that a _Three-Worm’d Spindle_ comes faster and lower down than a _four-Worm’d Spindle_: But the opinion is false; for if a _Spindle_ were made but with a _Single-Worm_, and should have this Measure, _viz._ Two Inches and an half set off from the top, and a _Worm_ cut to make a Revolution to this Measure, it would come down just as fast, and as low, as if there were two, three, four, five or six _Worms_, &c. cut in the same Measure: For indeed, the numbers of _Worms_ are only made to preserve the _Worms_ of the _Spindle_ and _Nut_ from wearing each other out the faster; for if the whole stress of a _Pull_ should bear against the Sholder of a single _Worm_, it would wear and shake in the _Nut_ sooner by half than if the stress should be borne by the Sholders of two _Worms_; and so proportionably for three, four, five _Worms_, _&c._

But the reason why four _Worms_ are generally made upon the _Spindle_, is because the Diameters of the _Spindle_ are generally of this propos’d size; and therefore a convenient strength of Mettal may be had on this size for four _Worms_; But should the Diameter of the _Spindle_ be smaller, as they sometimes are when the _Press_ is designed for small Work, only three _Worms_ will be a properer number than four; because when the Diameter is small, the thickness of the _Worms_ would also prove small, and by the stress of a _Pull_ would be more subject to break or tear the _Worms_ either of the _Spindle_ or _Nut_.

And thus I hope I have performed the promise here I made at the latter end of _Numb._ 2. Whither I refer you for the breadth, and reason of the breadth of the _Worm_.

¶. 13. _Of the_ Bar _marked_ B _in_ Plate 8.

This _Bar_ is Iron, containing in length about two Foot eight Inches and an half, from _a_ to _b_, and its greatest thickness, except the Sholder, an Inch and a quarter; The end _a_ hath a Male-Screw about an Inch Diameter and an Inch long, to which a _Nut_ with a Female-Screw in it as at C is fitted. The Iron _Nut_ in which this Female-Screw is made, must be very strong, _viz._ at least an Inch thick, and an Inch and three quarters in Diameter; in two opposite sides of it is made two Ears, which must also be very strong, because they must with heavy blows be knock’t upon to draw the Sholder of the square shank on the _Bar_, when the square Pin is in the _Eye_ of the _Spindle_ close and steddy up to the Cube on the _Spindle_. The square Pin of the _Bar_ marked _c_ is made to fit just into the _Eye_, through the middle of the Cube of the _Spindle_, on the hither end of this square Pin is made a Sholder or stop to this square Pin, as at _d_. This Sholder must be Filed exactly Flat on all its four insides, that they may be drawn close and tight up to any flat side of the Cube on the _Spindle_; It is two Inches square, that it may be drawn the firmer, and stop the steddyer against any of the flat sides of the said Cube, when it is hard drawn by the strength of the Female-Screw in the aforesaid _Nut_ at C. The thickness from _d_ to _e_ of this Sholder is about three quarters of an Inch, and is Bevil’d off towards the _Handle_ of the _Bar_ with a small Molding.

The substance of this _Bar_, as aforesaid, is about an Inch and a quarter; but its Corners are all the way slatted down till within five Inches of the end: And from these five Inches to the end, it is taper’d away, that the _Wooden-Handle_ may be the stronger forced and fastned upon it.

About four Inches off the Sholder, the _Bar_ is bowed beyond a right Angle, yet not with an Angle, but a Bow, which therefore lies ready to the _Press-man_’s Hand, that he may Catch at it to draw the _Wooden-Handle_ of the _Bar_ within his reach.

This _Wooden-Handle_ with long Working grows oft loose; but then it is with hard blows on the end of it forced on again, which oft splits the _Wooden-Handle_ and loosens the square Pin at the other end of the _Bar_, in the _Eye_ of the _Spindle_: To remedy which inconvenience, I used this Help, _viz._ To weld a piece of a Curtain-Rod as long as the _Wooden-Handle_ of the _Bar_, to the end of the Iron _Bar_, and made a Male-screw at the other end with a Female-screw to fit it; Then I bored an hole quite through the _Wooden-Handle_, and Turn’d the very end of the _Wooden-Handle_ with a small hollow in it flat at the bottom, and deep enough to bury the Iron-_Nut_ on the end of the Curtain-Rod, and when this Curtain-Rod was put through the Hollow in the _Wooden-Handle_ and Screwed fast to it at the end, it kept the _Wooden-Handle_, from flying off; Or if it loosened, by twisting the _Nut_ once or twice more about, it was fastned again.

¶. 14. _Of the_ Hose, Garter, _and_ Hose-Hooks.

The _Hose_ are the upright Irons in Plate 8. at _a a_, They are about three quarters of an Inch square, both their ends have Male-screws on them; The lower end is fitted into a square Hole made at the parting of the _Hose-Hooks_, which by a square _Nut_ with a Female-screw in it, is Screwed tight up to them; Their upper ends are let into square Holes made at the ends of the _Garter_, and by _Nuts_ with Female-Screws in them, and Ears to turn them about as at _l l_ are drawn up higher, if the _Plattin-Cords_ are too loose; or else let down lower if they are too tight: These upper Screws are called the _Hose-Screws_.

The _Garter_ (but more properly the _Coller_) marked _b b_, is the round Hoop incompassing the flat Groove or Neck in the Shank of the _Spindle_ at _e e_; This round Hoop is made of two half-round Hoops, having in a Diametrical-line without the Hoop square Irons of the same piece proceeding from them, and standing out as far as _g g_, These Irons are so let into each other, that they comply and run Range with the square Sholders at both ends, wherein square Holes are made at the ends of the _Hose_. They are Screwed together with two small Screws, as at _h h_.

The four _Hose-Hooks_ are marked _i i i i_, They proceed from two Branches of an Iron Hoop at _k_ encompassing the lower end of the _Spindle_, on either Corner of the Branch, and have notches filled in their outer-sides as in the Figure, which notches are to contain several Turns of _Whip-cord_ in each notch, which _Whip-cord_ being also fastned to the _Hooks_ on the _Plattin_, holds the _Plattin_ tight to the _Hooks_ of the _Hose_.

¶. 15. _Of the_ Ribs, _and_ Cramp-Irons.

The _Ribs_ are delineated in Plate 8. at E, they are made of four square Irons the length of the _Wooden-Ribs_ and _End-Rails_, _viz._ four Foot five Inches long, and three quarters of an Inch square, only one end is batter’d to about a quarter of an Inch thick, and about two Inches and an half broad, in which battering four or five holes are Punch’t for the nailing it down to the _Hind-Rail_ of the _Wooden-Ribs_. The Fore-end is also batter’d down as the Hind-end, but bound downwards to a square, that it may be nailed down on the outer-side of the _Fore-Rail_ of the _Wooden-Ribs_.

Into the bottom of these _Ribs_, within nine Inches of the middle, on either side is made two Female-Duftails about three quarters of an Inch broad, and half a quarter of an Inch thick, which Female-Duftails have Male-Duftails as at _a a a a_ fitted stiff into them, about an Inch and three quarters long; and these Male-Duftails have an hole punched at either end, that when they are fitted into the Female-Duftails in the _Ribs_, they may in these Holes be Nailed down the firmer to the _Wooden-Ribs_.

These _Ribs_ are to be between the upper and the under-side exactly of an equal thickness, and both to lye exactly Horizontal in straight lines; For irregularities will both Mount and Sink the _Cramp-Irons_, and make them _Run_ rumbling upon the _Ribs_.

The upper-sides of these _Ribs_ must be purely Smooth-fil’d and Pollish’d, and the edges a little Bevil’d roundish away, that they may be somewhat Arching at the top; because then the _Cramp-Irons_ _Run_ more easily and ticklishly over them.

The _Cramp-Irons_ are marked F in Plate 8. They are an Inch and an half long besides the Battering down at both ends as the _Ribs_ were; They have three holes Punched in each Battering down, to Nail them to the _Planck_ of the _Coffin_; They are about half an Inch deep, and one quarter and an half thick; their upper-sides are smoothed and rounded away as the _Ribs_.

¶. 16. _Of the_ Spindle _for the_ Rounce, _described in Plate_ 9. _at_ a.

The _Axis_ or _Spindle_ is a straight Bar of Iron about three quarters of an Inch square, and is about three Inches longer than the whole breadth of the Frame of the _Ribs_, _viz._ two Foot two Inches: The farther end of it is Filed to a round Pin (as at _a_) three quarters of an Inch long, and three quarters of an Inch in Diameter; the hither end is filed away to such another round Pin, but is two Inches and a quarter long (as at _b_); at an Inch and a quarter from this end is Filed a Square Pin three quarters of an Inch long, and within half an Inch of the end is Filed another round Pin, which hath another Male-Screw on it, to which is fitted a square Iron _Nut_ with a Female-Screw in it.

On the Square Pin is fitted a _Winch_ somewhat in form like a Jack-winch, but much stronger; the _Eye_ of which is fitted upon the Square aforesaid, and Screwed up tight with a Female-Screw. On the straight Shank of this Winch is fitted the _Rounce_, marked _e_.

The round ends of this _Axis_ are hung up in two Iron-Sockets (as at _c c_) fastned with Nails (but more properly with Screws) on the outside the Wooden Frame of the _Ribs_.

The _Girt-Barrel_ marked _d_ is Turned of a Piece of Maple or Alder-wood, of such a length, that it may play easily between the two Wooden _Ribs_; and of such a diameter, that in one revolution of it, such a length of _Girt_ may wind about it as shall be equal to half the length contained between the fore-end Iron of the _Tympan_, and the inside of the Rail of the _Inner-Tympan_; because two Revolutions of this _Barrel_ must move the _Carriage_ this length of space.

This _Barrel_ is fitted and fastned upon the Iron _Axis_, at such a distance from either end, that it may move round between the Wooden _Ribs_ aforesaid.

¶. 17. _Of the_ Press-Stone.

The _Press-Stone_ should be Marble, though sometimes Master _Printers_ make shift with Purbeck, either because they can buy them cheaper, or else because they can neither distinguish them by their appearance, or know their different worths.

Its thickness must be all the way throughout equal, and ought to be within one half quarter of an Inch the depth of the inside of the _Coffin_; because the matter it is _Bedded_ in will raise it high enough. Its length and breadth must be about half an Inch less than the length and breadth of the inside of the _Coffin_: Because _Justifiers_ of Wood, the length of every side, and almost the depth of the _Stone_, must be thrust between the insides of the _Coffin_ and the outsides of the _Stone_, to Wedge it tight and steddy in its place, after the _Press-man_ has _Bedded_ it. Its upper-side, or Face must be exactly straight and smooth.

I have given you this description of the _Press-Stone_, because they are thus generally used in all _Printing-Houses_: But I have had so much trouble, charge and vexation with the often breaking of _Stones_, either through the carelesness or unskilfulness (or both) of _Press-men_, that necessity compell’d me to consider how I might leave them off; and now by long experience I have found, that a piece of _Lignum-vitæ_ of the same size, and truly wrought, performs the office of a _Stone_ in all respects as well as a _Stone_, and eases my mind, of the trouble, charge and vexation aforesaid, though the first cost of it be greater.

¶. 18. _Of the_ Plattin _marked_ d _in Plate_ 9.

The _Plattin_ is commonly made of Beechen-Planck, two Inches and an half thick, its length about fourteen Inches, and its breadth about nine Inches. Its sides are Tryed Square, and the Face or under-side of the _Plattin_ Plained exactly straight and smooth. Near the four Corners on the upper-side, it hath four Iron _Hooks_ as at _a a a a_, whose Shanks are Wormed in.

In the middle of the upper-side is let in and fastned an Iron Plate called the _Plattin-Plate_, as _b b b b_, a quarter of an Inch thick, six Inches long, and four Inches broad; in the middle of this Plate is made a square Iron Frame about half an Inch high, and half an Inch broad, as at _c_. Into this square Frame is fitted the _Stud_ of the _Plattin Pan_, so as it may stand steddy, and yet to be taken out and put in as occasion may require.

The _Stud_ marked _d_, is about an Inch thick, and then spreads wider and wider to the top (at _e e e e_) of it, till it becomes about two Inches and an half wide; and the sides of this spreading being but about half a quarter of an Inch thick makes the _Pan_. In the middle of the bottom of this _Pan_ is a small Center hole Punch’d for the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ to work in.

¶. 19. _Of the_ Points _and_ Point-Screws.

The Points are made of Iron Plates about the thickness of a Queen _Elizabeth_ Shilling: It is delineated at e in Plate 9. which is sufficient to shew the shape of it, at the end of this Plate, as at _a_, stands upright the Point. This _Point_ is made of a piece of small Wyer about a quarter and half quarter of an Inch high, and hath its lower end Filed away to a small Shank about twice the length of the thickness of the Plate; so that a Sholder may remain. This small Shank is fitted into a small Hole made near the end of the Plate, and Revetted on the other side, as was taught _Numb._ 2. _Fol._ 24. At the other end of the Plate is filed a long square notch in the Plate as at _b c_ quarter and half quarter Inch wide, to receive the square shank of the _Point-Screws_.

The _Point-Screw_ marked f is made of Iron; It hath a thin Head about an Inch square, And a square Shank just under the Head, an Inch deep, and almost quarter and half quarter Inch square, that the square Notch in the hinder end of the Plate may slide on it from end to end of the Notch; Under this square Shank is a round Pin filed with a Male-Screw upon it, to which is fitted a _Nut_ with a Female-Screw in it, and Ears on its outside to twist about, and draw the Head of the Shank close down to the _Tympan_, and so hold the _Point-Plate_ fast in its Place.

¶. 20. _Of the_ Hammer, _described at_ h, _and_ Sheeps-Foot _described at_ i _in Plate_ 9.

The _Hammer_ is a common _Hammer_ about a quarter of a Pound weight; It hath no _Claws_ but a _Pen_, which stands the _Press-man_ instead when the _Chase_ proves so big, that he is forced to use small _Quoins_.

The Figure of the _Sheeps-Foot_ is description sufficient. Its use is to nail and un-nail the _Balls_.

The _Sheeps-Foot_ is all made of Iron, with an Hammer-head at one end, to drive the _Ball-Nails_ into the _Ball-Stocks_, and a Claw at the other end, to draw the _Ball-Nails_ out of the _Ball-Stocks_.

¶. 21. _Of the_ Foot-step, Girts, Stay _of the_ Carriage, Stay _of the_ Frisket, Ball-Stocks, Paper-Bench, Lye-Trough, Lye-Brush, Lye-Kettle, Tray _to_ wet Paper _in_, Weights to Press Paper, Pelts, _or_ Leather, Wool _or_ Hair, Ball-Nails _or_ Pumping-Nails.

The _Foot-Step_ is an Inch-Board about a Foot broad, and sixteen Inches long. This Board is nailed upon a piece of Timber about seven or eight Inches high, and is Bevil’d away on its upper-side, as is also the Board on its under-side at its hither end, that the Board may stand aslope upon the Floor. It is placed fast on the Floor under the Carriage of the Press. Its Office shall be shewed when we come to treat of Exercise of the _Press-man_.

_Girts_ are Thongs of Leather, cut out of the Back of an Horse-hide, or a Bulls hide, sometimes an Hogs-hide. They are about an Inch and an half, or an Inch and three quarters broad. Two of them are used to carry the _Carriage_ out and in. These two have each of them one of their ends nailed to the _Barrel_ on the _Spindle_ of the _Rounce_, and the other ends nailed to the _Barrel_ behind the _Carriage_ in the _Planck_ of the _Coffin_, and to the _Barrel_ on the fore-end of the Frame of the _Coffin_.

The _Stay_ of the _Carriage_ is sometimes a piece of the same _Girt_ fastned to the outside of the further _Cheek_, and to the further hinder side of the Frame of the _Carriage_. It is fastned at such a length by the _Press-man_, that the _Carriage_ may ride so far out, as that the Irons of the _Tympan_ may just rise free and clear off the fore-side of the _Plattin_.

Another way to stay the _Carriage_ is to let an Iron Pin into the upper-side of the further Rail of the Frame of the _Ribs_, just in the place where the further hinder Rail of the _Carriage_ stands projecting over the _Rib-Rail_, when the Iron of the _Tympan_ may just rise free from the Fore-side of the _Plattin_; for then that projecting will stop against the Iron Pin.

The _Stay_ of the _Frisket_ is made by fastning a Batten upon the middle of the Top-side of the _Cap_, and by fastning a Batten to the former Batten perpendicularly downwards, just at such a distance, that the upper-side of the _Frisket_ may stop against it when it is turned up just a little beyond a Perpendicular. When a _Press_ stands at a convenient distance from a Wall, that Wall performs the office of the aforesaid _Stay_.

_Ball-Stocks_ are Turn’d of _Alder_ or _Maple_. Their Shape is delineated in Plate 9. at g: They are about seven Inches in Diameter, and have their under-side Turned hollow, to contain the greater quantity of _Wool_ or _Hair_, to keep the _Ball-Leathers_ plump the longer.

The _Lye-Trough_ (delineated in Plate 9. at k) is a Square Trough made of Inch-Boards, about four Inches deep, two Foot four Inches long, and one Foot nine Inches broad, and flat in the Bottom. Its inside is Leaded with Sheet-Lead, which reaches up over the upper Edges of the _Trough_. In the middle of the two ends (for so I call the shortest sides) on the outer-sides as _a a_, is fastned a round Iron Pin, which moves in a round hole made in an Iron Stud with a square Sprig under it, to be drove and fastned into a _Wooden Horse_, which _Horse_ I need not describe, because in Plate aforesaid I have given you the Figure of it.

The _Paper-Bench_ is only a common Bench about three Foot eight Inches long, one Foot eight Inches broad, and three Foot four Inches high.

The _Lye-Brush_ is made of _Hogs-Bristles_ fastned into a Board with Brass-Wyer, for durance sake: Its Board is commonly about nine Inches long, and four and an half Inches broad; and the length of the Bristles about three Inches.

To perform the Office of a _Lye-Kettle_ (which commonly holds about three Gallons) the old-fashion’d _Chafers_ are most commodious, as well because they are more handy and manageable than _Kettles_ with Bails, as also because they keep _Lye_ longer hot.

The _Tray_ to _Wet Paper_ in is only a common Butchers Tray, large enough to _Wet_ the largest _Paper_ in.

The _Weight_ to _Press Paper_ with, is either Mettal, or Stone, flat on the Bottom, to ly steddy on the _Paper-Board_: It must be about 50 or 60 pound weight.

For _Pelts_ or _Leather_, _Ball-Nails_ or _Pumping-Nails_, _Wool_ or _Hair_, _Vellom_ or _Parchment_ or _Forrel_, the _Press-man_

generally eases the _Master-Printer_ of the trouble of choosing, though not the charge of paying for them: And for _Paste_, _Sallad Oyl_, and such accidental Requisites as the _Press-man_ in his work may want, the _Devil_ commonly fetches for him.

¶. 22. _Of_ Racks _to Hang_ Paper _on, and of the_ Peel.

Our Master-_Printer_ must provide _Racks_ to hang _Paper_ on to _Dry_. They are made of Deal-board Battens, square, an Inch thick, and an Inch and an half deep, and the length the whole length of the Deal, which is commonly about ten or eleven Foot long, or else so long as the convenience of the Room will allow: The two upper corners of these _Rails_ are rounded off that they may not mark the _Paper_.

These _Racks_ are Hung over Head, either in the _Printing-House_, or _Ware-house_, or both, or any other Room that is most convenient to _Dry Paper_ in; they are hung athwart two _Rails_ an Inch thick, and about three or four Inches deep, which _Rails_ are fastned to some Joysts or other Timber in the Ceiling by Stiles perpendicular to the Ceiling; These _Rails_ stand so wide assunder, that each end of the _Racks_ may hang beyond them about the distance of two Foot, and have on their upper edge at ten Inches distance from one another, so many square Notches cut into them as the whole length of the _Rail_ will bear; Into these square notches the _Racks_ are laid parallel to each other with the flat side downwards, and the Rounded off side upwards.

The _Peel_ is described in Plate 9. at l, which Figure sufficiently shews what it is; And therefore I shall need say no more to it, only its Handle may be longer or shorter according as the height of the Room it is to be used in may require.

¶. 23. _Of_ Inck.

The providing of good _Inck_, or rather good _Varnish_ for _Inck_, is none of the least incumbent cares upon our _Master-Printer_, though Custom has almost made it so here in _England_; for the process of making _Inck_ being as well laborious to the Body, as noysom and ungrateful to the Sence, and by several odd accidents dangerous of Firing the Place it is made in, Our _English Master-Printers_ do generally discharge themselves of that trouble; and instead of having good _Inck_, content themselves that they pay an _Inck-maker_ for good _Inck_, which may yet be better or worse according to the Conscience of the _Inck-maker_.

That our Neighbours the _Hollanders_ who exhibit Patterns of good _Printing_ to all the World, are careful and industrious in all the circumstances of good _Printing_, is very notorious to all Book-men; yet should they content themselves with such _Inck_ as we do, their Work would appear notwithstanding the other circumstances they observe, far less graceful than it does, as well as ours would appear more beautiful if we used such _Inck_ as they do: for there is many Reasons, considering how the _Inck_ is made with us and with them, why their _Inck_ must needs be better than ours. As _First_, They make theirs all of good old _Linseed-Oyl_ alone, and perhaps a little _Rosin_ in it sometimes, when as our _Inck-makers_ to save charges mingle many times _Trane-Oyl_ among theirs, and a great deal of _Rosin_; which _Trane-Oyl_ by its grossness, Furs and Choaks up a _Form_, and by its fatness hinders the _Inck_ from drying; so that when the Work comes to the _Binders_, it _Sets off_; and besides is dull, smeary and unpleasant to the Eye. And the _Rosin_ if too great a quantity be put in, and the _Form_ be not very _Lean Beaten_, makes the _Inck_ turn yellow: And the same does New _Linseed-Oyl_.

_Secondly_, They seldom _Boyl_ or _Burn_ it to that consistence the _Hollanders_ do, because they not only save labour and Fewel, but have a greater weight of _Inck_ out of the same quantity of _Oyl_ when less _Burnt_ away than when more _Burnt_ away; which want of Burning makes the _Inck_ also, though made of good old _Linseed-Oyl_ Fat and Smeary, and hinders its _Drying_; so that when it comes to the _Binders_ it also _Sets off_.

_Thirdly_, They do not use that way of clearing their _Inck_ the _Hollanders_ do, or indeed any other way than meer Burning it, whereby the _Inck_ remains more _Oyly_ and _Greasie_ than if it were well clarified.

_Fourthly_, They to save the _Press-man_ the labour of _Rubbing_ the _Blacking_ into _Varnish_ on the _Inck-Block_, _Boyl_ the _Blacking_ in the _Varnish_, or at least put the _Blacking_ in whilst the _Varnish_ is yet _Boyling-hot_, which so _Burns_ and _Rubifies_ the _Blacking_, that it loses much of its brisk and vivid black complexion.

_Fifthly_, Because _Blacking_ is dear, and adds little to the weight of _Inck_, they stint themselves to a quantity which they exceed not; so that sometimes the _Inck_ proves so unsufferable _Pale_, that the _Press-man_ is forc’d to _Rub_ in more _Blacking_ upon the _Block_; yet this he is often so loth to do, that he will rather hazard the content the Colour shall give, than take the pains to amend it: satisfying himself that he can lay the blame upon the _Inck-maker_.

Having thus hinted at the difference between the _Dutch_ and _English Inck_, I shall now give you the Receipt and manner of making the _Dutch-Varnish_.

They provide a _Kettle_ or a _Caldron_, but a _Caldron_ is more proper, such an one as is described in Plate 9. at m. This Vessel should hold twice so much _Oyl_ as they intend to _Boyl_, that the _Scum_ may be some considerable time a _Rising_ from the top of the _Oyl_ to the top of the Vessel to prevent danger. This _Caldron_ hath a Copper Cover to fit the Mouth of it, and this Cover hath an Handle at the top of it to take it off and put it on by. This _Caldron_ is set upon a good strong Iron _Trevet_, and fill’d half full of old _Linseed-Oyl_, the older the better, and hath a good Fire made under it of solid matter, either _Sea Coal_, _Charcoal_ or pretty big Chumps of Wood that will burn well without much Flame; for should the Flame rise too high, and the _Oyl_ be very hot at the taking off the Cover of the _Caldron_, the fume of the _Oyl_ might be apt to take Fire at the Flame, and endanger the loss of the _Oyl_ and Firing the House: Thus they let _Oyl_ heat in the _Caldron_ till they think it is Boyling-hot; which to know, they peel the outer Films of an _Oynion_ off it, and prick the _Oynion_ fast upon the end of a small long Stick, and so put it into the heating _Oyl_: If it be Boyling-hot, or almost Boyling-hot, the _Oynion_ will put the _Oyl_ into a Fermentation, so that a Scum will gather on the top of the _Oyl_, and rise by degrees, and that more or less according as it is more or less Hot: But if it be so very Hot that the Scum rises apace, they quickly take the _Oynion_ out, and by degrees the Scum will fall. But if the _Oyl_ be Hot enough, and they intend to put any _Rosin_ in, the quantity is to every Gallon of _Oyl_ half a Pound, or rarely a whole Pound. The _Rosin_ they beat small in a _Mortar_, and with an Iron Ladle, or else by an Handful at a time strew it in gently into the _Oyl_ lest it make the Scum rise too fast; but every Ladle-full or Handful they put in so leasurely after one another, that the first must be wholly dissolv’d before they put any more in; for else the Scum will Rise too fast, as aforesaid: So that you may perceive a great care is to keep the Scum down: For if it Boyl over into the Fire never so little, the whole Body of _Oyl_ will take Fire immediately.

If the _Oyl_ be Hot enough to _Burn_, they _Burn_ it, and that so often till it be _Hard_ enough, which sometimes is six, seven, eight times, or more.

To _Burn_ it they take a long small Stick, or double up half a Sheet of Paper, and light one end to set Fire to the _Oyl_; It will presently Take if the _Oyl_ be Hot enough, if not, they Boyl it longer, till it be.

To try if it be _Hard_ enough, they put the end of a Stick into the _Oyl_, which will lick up about three or four drops, which they put upon an Oyster-shell, or some such thing, and set it by to cool, and when it is cold they touch it with their Fore or Middle-Finger and Thumb, and try its consistence by sticking together of their Finger and Thumb; for if it draw stiff like strong _Turpentine_ it is Hard enough, if not, they Boyl it longer, or _Burn_ it again till it be so consolidated.

When it is well Boyled they throw in an Ounce of Letharge of Silver to every four Gallons of _Oyl_ to Clarifie it, and Boyl it gently once again, and then take it off the Fire to stand and cool, and when it is cool enough to put their Hand in, they Strain it through a Linnen Cloath, and with their Hands wring all the _Varnish_ out into a Leaded Stone Pot or Pan, and keeping it covered, set it by for their use; The longer it stands by the better, because it is less subject to turn Yellow on the Paper that is Printed with it.

This is the _Dutch_ way of making _Varnish_, and the way the English _Inck-makers_ ought to use.

_Note_, _First_, That the _Varnish_ may be made without _Burning_ the _Oyl_, _viz._ only with well and long Boyling it; for _Burning_ is but a violent way of Boyling, to consolidate it the sooner.

_Secondly_, That an _Apple_ or a _Crust_ of _Bread_, _&c._ stuck upon the end of a Stick instead of an _Oynion_ will also make the Scum of the _Oyl_ rise: For it is only the Air contained in the Pores of the _Apple_, _Crust_ or _Oynion_, &c. pressed or forced out by the violent heat of the _Oyl_, that raises the many Bubbles on the top of the _Oyl_: And the connection of those Bubbles are vulgarly called _Scum_.

_Thirdly_, The English _Inck-makers_ that often make _Inck_, and that in great quantities, because one Man may serve all _England_, instead of setting a _Caldron_ on a _Trevet_, build a _Furnace_ under a great _Caldron_, and Trim it about so with Brick, that it Boyls far sooner and more securely than on a _Trevet_; because if the _Oyl_ should chance to Boyl over, yet can it not run into the Fire, being Fenced round about with Brick as aforesaid, and the _Stoking-hole_ lying far under the _Caldron_.

_Fourthly_, When for want of a _Caldron_ the _Master-Printer_ makes _Varnish_ in a _Kettle_, He provides a great piece of thick _Canvass_, big enough when three or four double to cover the _Kettle_, and also to hang half round the sides of the _Kettle_: This _Canvass_ (to make it more soluble) is wet in Water, and the Water well wrung out again, so that the _Canvass_ remains only moist: Its use is to throw flat over the Mouth of the _Kettle_ when the _Oyl_ is _Burning_, to keep the smoak in, that it may stifle the Flame when they see cause to put it out. But the Water as was said before, must be very well wrung out of the _Canvass_, for should but a drop or two fall from the sides of it into the _Oyl_ when it is Burning, it will so enrage the _Oyl_, and raise the Scum, that it might endanger the working over the top of the _Kettle_.

* * * * *

Having shewn you the _Master-Printers_ Office, I account it suitable to proper Method, to let you know how the _Letter-Founder_ Cuts the _Punches_, how the _Molds_ are made, the _Matrices_ Sunck, and the _Letter Cast_ and _Drest_, for all these Operations precede the _Compositers_ Trade, as the _Compositers_ does the _Press-mans_; wherefore the next _Exercises_ shall be (God willing) upon _Cutting_ of the _Steel-Punches_.

_MECHANICK EXERCISES:_
Or, the Doctrine of
=Handy-works.=
Applied to the Art of
=Letter-Cutting.=

_PREFACE._

LEtter-Cutting _is a Handy-Work hitherto kept so conceal’d among the Artificers of it, that I cannot learn any one hath taught it any other; But every one that has used it, Learnt it of his own Genuine Inclination. Therefore, though I cannot (as in other Trades) describe the general Practice of Work-men, yet the Rules I follow I shall shew here, and have as good an Opinion of these Rules, as those have that are shyest of discovering theirs. For, indeed, by the appearance of some Work done, a judicious Eye may doubt whether they go by any Rule at all, though Geometrick Rules, in no Practice whatever, ought to be more nicely or exactly observed than in this._

§. 12. ¶. 1. _Of Letter-Cutters Tools._

The making of _Steel-Punches_ is a Branch of the _Smith_’s Trade: For, as I told you in the Preface to _Numb._ 1. The _Black-Smith_’s Trade comprehends all Trades that use either Forge or File, from the _Anchor-Smith_, to the _Watch-maker_: They all working by the same Rules, though not with equal exactness; and all using the same Tools, though of different Sizes from those the Common _Black-Smith_ uses; and that according to the various purposes they are applied, _&c._ Therefore, indeed, a _Letter-Cutter_ should have a Forge set up, as by _Numb._ 1. But some _Letter-Cutters_ may seem to scorn to use a Forge, as accounting it too hard Labour, and Ungenteel for themselves to officiate at. Yet they all well know, that though they may have a common _Black-Smith_ perform their much and heavy Work, that many times a Forge of their own at Hand would be very commodious for them in several accidental little and light Jobs, which (in a Train of Work) they must meet withal.

But if our _Letter-Cutter_ will have no Forge, yet he must of necessity accommodate himself with a _Vice_, _Hand-Vice_, _Hammers_, _Files_, _Small_ and _Fine Files_ (commonly called _Watch-makers Files_) of these he saves all, as they wear out, to smooth and burnish the Sides and Face of his Letter with, as shall be shewed; _Gravers_, and _Sculpters_ of all sorts, an _Anvil_, or a _Stake_, an _Oyl-stone_, _&c._ And of these, such as are suitable and sizable to the several Letters he is to Cut. These, or many of these Tools, being described in _Numb._ 1. I refer my Reader thither, and proceed to give an account of some Tools peculiar to the _Letter-Cutter_, though not of particular use to the Common _Black-Smith_.

¶. 2. _Of the_ Using-File.

This _File_ is about nine or ten Inches long, and three or four Inches broad, and three quarters of an Inch thick: The two broad sides must be exactly flat and straight: And the one side is commonly cut with a _Bastard-Cut_, the other with a _Fine_ or _Smooth Cut_. (See _Numb._ 1. _Fol._ 14, 15.) Its use is to _Rub_ a piece of Steel, Iron, or Brass, _&c._ flat and straight upon, as shall be shewed hereafter.

In chusing it, you must see it be exactly Flat and Straight all its Length and Breadth: For if it in any part Belly out, or be Hollow inwards, what is Rubbed upon it will be Hollow, Rubbing on the Bellying part; and Bellying, Rubbing on the Hollow part. You must also see that it be very Hard; and therefore the thickest _Using-Files_ are likeliest to prove best, because the thin commonly Warp in Hardning.

¶. 3. _Of the_ Flat-Gage.

The _Flat-Gage_ is described in _Plate_ 10. at A. It is made of a flat piece of Box, or other Hard Wood. Its Length is three Inches and an half, its Breadth two Inches and an half, and its Thickness one Inch and an half. This is on the Flat, first made Square, but afterwards hath one of its Corners (as _h_) a little rounded off, that it may the easier comply with the Ball of the Hand. Out of one of its longest Sides, _viz._ that not rounded off, is Cut through the thickness of it an exact Square, whose one side _b f_, _c g_ is about an Inch and three quarters long; and its other side _b d_, _c e_ about half an Inch long. The Depth of these Sides and their Angle is exactly Square to the top and bottom of the upper and under Superficies of the _Flat-Gage_.

Its Use is to hold a Rod of Steel, or Body of a _Mold_, _&c._ exactly perpendicular to the Flat of the _Using-File_, that the end of it may rub upon the _Using-File_, and be Filed away exactly Square, and that to the Shank; as shall more at large be shewed in §. 2. ¶. 3.

¶. 4. _Of the_ Sliding-Gage.

The _Sliding-Gage_ is described in _Plate_ 10. at _Fig._ B. It is a Tool commonly used by _Mathematical Instrument-Makers_, and I have found it of great use in _Letter-Cutting_, and making of _Molds_, _&c._ _a a_ the Beam, _b_ the Tooth, _c c_ the Sliding Socket, _d d d d_ the Shoulder of the Socket.

Its Use is to measure and set off Distances between the Sholder and the Tooth, and to mark it off from the end, or else from the edge of your Work.

I always use two or three of these _Gages_, that I need not remove the Sholder when it is set to a Distance which I may have after-use for; as shall in Working be shewed more fully.

¶. 5. _Of the_ Face-Gages, _marked_ C _in Plate 10._

The _Face-Gage_ is a Square Notch cut with a File into the edge of a thin Plate of Steel, Iron, or Brass, the thickness of a piece of common Latton, and the Notch about an _English_ deep. There be three of these Gages made, for the Letters to be cut on one Body; but they may be all made upon one thin Plate, the readier to be found, as at D. As first, for the Long-Letters; Secondly, for the Assending Letters; And Thirdly, for the Short-Letters. The Length of these several Notches, or Gages, have their Proportions to the Body they are cut to, and are as follows. We shall imagine (for in Practice it cannot well be perform’d, unless in very large Bodies) that the Length of the whole Body is divided into forty and two equal Parts.

The _Gage_ for the Long-Letters are the length of the whole Body, _viz._ forty and two equal Parts. The _Gage_ for the Assending Letters, _Roman_ and _Italica_, are five Seventh Parts of the Body, _viz._ thirty Parts of forty-two, and thirty and three Parts for _English_ Face. The _Gage_ for the Short-Letters are three Seventh Parts of the whole Body, _viz._ eighteen Parts of forty-two for the _Roman_ and _Italica_, and twenty two Parts for the _English_ Face.

It may indeed be thought impossible to divide a Body into seven equal Parts, and much more difficult to divide each of those seven equal Parts into six equal Parts, which are forty-two, as aforesaid, especially if the Body be but small; but yet it is possible with curious Working: For seven thin Spaces may be Cast and Rubb’d to do it. And for dividing each of the thin Spaces into six equal Parts, you may Cast and Rub Full Point . to be of the thickness of one thin Space, and one sixth part of a thin Space: And you may Cast and Rub : to be the thickness of one thin Space, and two sixth parts of a thin Space: And you may Cast and Rub , to be the thickness of one thin Space, and three sixth parts of a thin Space: And you may Cast and Rub - to be the thickness of one thin Space, and four sixth parts of a thin Space: And you may Cast and Rub ; to be the thickness of one thin Space, and five sixth parts of a thin Space.

The reason why I propose . to be Cast and Rubb’d one sixth part thicker than a thin Space, is only that it may be readily distinguished from : , - ; which are two sixth parts, three sixth parts, four sixth parts, five sixth parts thicker than a thin Space. And for six sixth parts thicker than a thin Space, two thin Spaces does it.

The manner of adjusting these several Sixth Parts of Thicknesses is as follows. You may try if six . exactly agree, and be even with seven thin Spaces; (or, which is all one, a Body) for then is each of those six . one sixth part thicker than a thin Space, because it drives out a thin Space in six thin Spaces. And you may try if six : be equal to a Body and one thin Space; for then is each : two sixth parts thicker than a thin Space. If six , be equal to nine thin Spaces, then each , is three sixth parts of a thin Space thicker than a thin Space. If six - be equal to ten thin Spaces, then each - is four sixth parts of a thin Space thicker than a thin Space. If six ; be equal to eleven thin Spaces, then each ; is five sixth parts of a thin Space thicker than a thin Space.

Now, as aforesaid, a thin Space being one seventh part of the Body, and the thin Space thus divided, you have the whole Body actually divided into forty and two equal parts, as I have divided them in my Drafts of Letters down the Sides, and in the Bottom-Line.

Though I have thus shewed how to divide a thin Space into six equal Parts, yet when the Letter to be Cut proves of a small Body, the thin Space divided into two equal Parts may serve: If it prove bigger, into three or four equal Parts: And of the largest Bodies, they may be divided into six, as aforesaid.

If now you would make a _Gage_ for any number of thin Spaces and Sixth Parts of a thin Space, you must take one thin Space less than the number of thin Spaces proposed, and add . : , - ; according as the number of sixth Parts of a thin Space require; and to those complicated Thicknesses you may file a square Notch on the edge of the thin Plate aforesaid, which shall be a standing Gage or Measure for that number of thin Spaces and sixth Parts of a thin Space.

All the Exception against this way of Measuring is, that thin Spaces cast in Metal may be subject to bow, and so their Thicknesses may prove deceitful. But, in Answer to that, I say, you may, if you will, Cast I for two thin Spaces thick, e for three thin Spaces thick, S for four thin Spaces thick, L for five thin Spaces thick, D for six thin Spaces thick, or any other Letters near these several Thicknesses, as you think fit; only remember, or rather, make a Table of the number of thin Spaces that each Letter on the Shank is Cast for. And by complicating the Letters and Points, as aforesaid, you will have any Thickness, either to make a Gage by, or to use otherwise.

On the other Edge of the _Face-Gage_ you may file three other Notches, of the same Width with those on the former Edge, for the Long, the Assending, and Short-Letters. But though the two sides of each of these Notches are parallel to each other, yet is not the third side square to them, but hath the same Slope the _Italick_ hath from the _Roman_; as you may see in the Figure at _b b b_.

¶. 6. _Of_ Italick, _and other_ Standing Gages.

These _Gages_ are to measure (as aforesaid) the Slope of the _Italick_ Stems, by applying the Top and Bottom of the _Gage_ to the Top and Bottom-Lines of the Letters, and the other Side of the _Gage_ to the Stem: for when the Letter complies with these three sides of the _Gage_ that Letter hath its true Slope.

The manner of making these _Gages_ (and indeed all other _Angular Gages_) is thus.

Place one Point of a Pair of Steel _Dividers_ upon the thin Plate aforesaid, at the Point _c_ or _d_ (in _Fig._ D in _Plate_ 10.) and with the other Point describe a small fine Arch of a Circle; as, _e f_ or _g h_. In this Arch of the Circle must be set off on the _Gage_ _a_ 110 Degrees, and on the _Gage_ _b_ 70 Degrees, and draw from the Centres _c_ and _d_ two straight Lines through those numbers of Degrees: Then Filing away the Plate between the two Lines, the _Gages_ are finished.

To find the Measure of this, or any other number of Degrees, do thus; Describe a Circle on a piece of Plate-Brass of any Radius (but the larger the better) draw a straight Line exactly through the Centre of this Circle, and another straight Line to cut this straight Line at right Angles in the Centre, through the Circle; so shall the Circle be divided into four Quadrants: Then fix one Foot of your Compasses (being yet unstirr’d) in one of the Points where any of the straight Lines cuts the Circle, and extend the moving Foot of your Compasses where it will fall in the Circle, and make there a Mark, which is 60 Degrees from the fixed Foot of the Compasses: Then fix again one Foot of your Compasses in the Intersection of the straight Line and Circle that is next the Mark that was made before, and extend the moving Foot in the same Quadrant towards the straight Line where you first pitch’d the Foot of your Compasses, and with the moving Foot make another Mark in the Circle. These two Marks divide the Quadrant into three equal Parts: The same way you may divide the other three Quadrants; so shall the whole Circle be divided into twelve equal Parts; and each of these twelve equal parts contain an Arch of thirty Degrees: Then with your Dividers divide each of these 30 Degrees into three equal Parts, and each of these three equal Parts into two equal Parts, and each of these two equal Parts into five equal Parts, so shall the Circle be divided into 360 equal Parts, for your use.