Chapter V: Part 5

When he uses it, he chuses an Hole to fit the Size of the _Punch_; and putting the Shank of the _Punch_ into that Hole, Sinks it down so low, till the Face of the _Punch_, stands just Level, or rather, above the Face of the _Joynt-Flat-Gage_: Then with a piece of an Hone, wet in Water, rubs upon the Face of the _Punch_, till he have wrought off the Scurf. At last, with a Stick and Dry _Putty_, Polishes it.

I like my own way better than either of the former: For, to take off the Scurf with Small Files spoils the Files; the Face of the _Punch_ being Hard, and the Scurf yet Harder: And besides, endangers the wronging the Face of the _Punch_.

The _Joynt-Flat-Gage_ is very troublesome to use, because it is difficult to fit the Face of the _Punch_, to lie in the Plain of the Face of the _Gage_; especially, if, in making the Letter, the Shank be Filed Tapering, as it most times is. For then the Hammer-end of the _Punch_ being bigger than the Face-end, it will indeed Pinch at the Hammer-end, whilst the Face-end stands unsteady to Work on. But when the _Punch_ is fitted in, it is no way more advantagious for Use, than the Chaps of the _Hand-Vice_ I mentioned in ¶. 3. of this §.

Wherefore, I fit the _Punch_ into the Chaps of the _Hand-Vice_, as I shewed in the aforesaid ¶. and with a fine smooth Whet-stone and Water, take the Scurf lightly off the Face of the _Punch_; and afterwards, with a fine smooth Hone and Water, work down to the bare bright Steel. At last, drying the _Punch_ and Chaps of the _Hand-Vice_ with a dry Rag, I pollish the Face of the _Punch_ with Powder of Dry _Brick_ and a Stick, as with _Putty_.

¶. 5. _Some Rules he considers in using the_ Gravers, Sculptors, Small Files, _&c._

1. When he is Graving on the Inside of the Stroak, either to make it Finer or Smoother, he takes an especial care that he place his Graver or Sculptor so, as that neither of its Edges may wrong another Stroak of the Letter, if they chance (as they often do) to slip over, or off an extuberant part of the Stroak he is Graving upon. And therefore, I say, he well considers how he is to manage the edges of his Graver. For there is no great danger of the point of his Graver after the inside Stroaks are form’d, and the Hollows of the Letter somewhat deepned; but in the edges there is: For the point in working lies always below the Face of the Letter, and therefore can, at most, but slip below the Face, against the side of the next Stroak; but the edges lying above the Face of the Letter, may, in a slip, touch upon the Side and Face of the next Stroak, and wrong that more or less, according as the force of the Slip was greater or smaller. And if that Stroak it jobs against were before wholly finished, by that job the whole Letter is in danger to be spoiled; at the best, it cannot, without Filing the Letter lower, be wrought out; which sometimes is a great part of doing the Letter anew: For he takes special care that neither any dawk, or the least extuberant bunching out be upon the inside of the Face of the Stroak, but that the inside of the Stroak (whether it be Fat or Lean) have its proper Shape and Proportion, and be purely smooth and clean all the way.

If on the inside of the Stroak the Graver or Sculptor have not run straight and smooth on the Stroak, but that an Extuberance lies on the Side, that Extuberance cannot easily be taken off, by beginning to Cut with the Edge of the Graver or Sculptor just where the Extuberance begins: Therefore he fixes the Point of his Graver or Sculptor in the Bottom of the Hollow, just under the Stroak where the Extuberance is, and leans the Edge of his Graver or Sculptor upwards; so as in forcing the Point of the Graver or Sculptor forwards, at the Bottom of the Hollow, the Edge of the Graver or Sculptor may slide tenderly along, and take along with it a very small, nay, invisible Chip of the most Prominent Part of the Extuberance; and so, by this Process reitterated often, he, by small Degrees, Cuts away the Extuberant part of the Stroak.

2. He is careful to keep his Gravers and Sculptors always Sharp, by often Sharpning them on the Oyl-Stone, which for that purpose he keeps ready at hand, standing on the Bench: For if a Graver or Sculptor be not sharp, it will neither make riddance, or Cut smooth; but instead of Cutting off a small Extuberancy, it will rather stick at it, and dig into the Side of the Stroak.

3. He Files very tenderly with the Small Files, especially with the Knife-Files, as well because they are Thin and Hard, not Temper’d, and therefore would snap to pieces with small violence; as also, lest with an heavy hand he should take away too much at once of that Stroak he is working upon.

§. 14. ¶. 1. _Some Rules to be observed by the_ Letter-Cutter, _in the Cutting_ Roman, Italick, _and the_ Black English Letter.

1. The Stem and other Fat Stroaks of Capital _Romans_ is five Parts of forty and two (the whole Body:) Or, (which is all one) one sixth part of the Heighth of an Ascending Letter (as all Capitals are Ascendents) as has been said before. _Albertus Dürer_ took his Measure from the Heighth of Capitals, and assigned but one tenth part for the Stem.

2. The Stem, and other Fat Stroaks of Capitals _Italick_, is four parts of forty and two, (the Body.)

3. The Stem, and other Fat Stroaks of Lower-Case _Roman_, is three and an half parts of forty and two, (the Body.)

4. The Stem, and other Fat Stroaks of Lower-Case _Italick_, is three parts of forty and two, (the Body.)

5. Of _English_, the Short-Letters stand between nine parts of the Bottom-Line, and nine parts from the Top-Line; _viz._ upon three and thirty parts of forty and two, (the Body.)

6. The Stem of _English_ Capitals is six parts of forty and two, (the Body.)

7. The Stem of _English_ Lower-Case Letters is four parts of forty and two, (the Body.)

¶. 2. _Of Terms relating to the Face of Letters, and their Explanation._

The Parts of a _Punch_ are already described in §. 13. ¶. 1. of this Volumne; and so is the Body: But the several Terms that relate to the Face of Letters are not yet defined. Now therefore you must note, that the Body of a Letter hath four principal Lines passing through it (or at least imagined to pass through it) at Right Angles to the Body; _viz._ The Top-Line, The Head-Line, The Foot-Line, and The Bottom-Line.

Between two of these Lines is contained the Heighth of all Letters.

These are called _Lines_, because the Tops, the Heads, the Feet and the Bottoms of all Letters (when Complicated by the _Compositor_) stand ranging in these imagin’d Lines, according as the Heighth and Depth of each respective Letter properly requires.

The Long-Letters are (as I told you in §. 13. ¶. 1. of this Volumne) contained between the Top and Bottom-Lines, The Ascending Letters are contained between the Top and Foot-Lines, The Descending Letters are contained between the Head and Bottom-Lines, and The Short-Letters are contained between the Head and Foot-Lines.

Through what Parts of the Body all these Lines pass, you may see by the Drafts of Letters, and the following Descriptions.

What the Long-Letters, Ascending Letters, and Short-Letters are, I shewed in the afore-cited ¶. Therefore I shall now proceed to particular Terms relating to the Face. As,

1. The Topping, is the straight fine Stroak or Stroaks that lie in the Top-Line of Ascending Letters: In _Roman_ Letters they pass at Right Angles through the Stems; but in _Italicks_, at Oblique Angles to the Stems; as you may see in the Drafts of Letters, B, _B_, H, _H_, I, _I_, _&c._

2. The Footing, is the straight fine Stroak or Stroaks that lie in the Foot-Line of Letters, either Ascending or Descending. In _Romans_ they pass at Right Angles through the Stem, but in _Italicks_, at Oblique Angles; as you may see in B, _B_, H, _H_, I, _I_, _&c._

3. The Bottom-Footing, is the straight fine Stroaks that lie in the Bottom-Line of Descending Letters. In _Romans_ they pass at Right Angles through the Stem; but in _Italicks_ at Oblique Angles; as you may see p, _p_, q, _q_.

4. The Stem is the straight Fat Stroak of the Letter: as in B, _B_, the straight Stroak on the Left-Hand is the Stem; and I, _I_, is all Stem, except the Footing and Topping.

5. Fat Stroaks. The Stem or broad Stroak in a Letter is called Fat; as the Right Hand Stroak in A, and part of the great Arch in B, are Fat Stroaks.

6. Lean Stroaks, are the narrow fine Stroaks in a Letter; as the Left Hand Stroak of A, and the Right Hand Stroak of V are Lean.

7. Beak of Letters, is the fine Stroak or Touch that stands on the Left Hand of the Stem, either in the Top-Line, as b d h, _&c._ or in the Head-Line, as i, m, n, _&c._ Yet f, g, [s], _f_, _g_, [_s_] have Beaks on the Right Hand of the Stem.

8. Tails of Letters, is a Stroak proceeding from the Right-Hand Side of the Stem, in the Foot-Line; as a d t u: and most _Italick_ Lower-Case Letters have Tails: As also have most Swash-Letters. But several of their Tails reach down to the Bottom-Line.

9. Swash-Letters are _Italick_ Capitals; as you see in _Plate_ 15.

Thus much of _Letter-Cutting_. The next _Exercises_ shall (God willing) be upon _Making Matrices_, _Making Molds_, _Casting and Dressing of Letters_, &c.

_FINIS._

ADVERTISEMENT.

NUmb. 4. _of the Second Volumne_ of Collections of Letters for Improvement of Husbandry and Trade, _is now extant_; _being_ Enquiries relating to Husbandry and Trade: _drawn up by the Learned_ Robert Plot, L. L. D. _Keeper of the_ Ashmolean Musæum, _and Professor of_ Chymistry _in the University of_ Oxford, _and Secretary of the_ Royal Society _of_ London. _An Account of the manner of making_ Brunswick-Mum. _An Account of a great Improvement of Mossy Land by Burning and Liming; from Mr._ Adam Martindale _of_ Cheshire.

* * * * *

To be had at the _Angel_ in _Cornhil_, and several other Booksellers.

_MECHANICK EXERCISES:_
Or, the Doctrine of
=Handy-works.=
Applied to the ART of
_Mold-Making_, Sinking the _Matrices_,
Casting and Dressing of
=Printing-Letters.=

§. 15. ¶. 1. _Of making the_ Mold.

THe _Steel-Punches_ being thus finish’d, as afore was shewed, they are to be sunk or struck into pieces of _Copper_, about an Inch and an half long, and one quarter of an Inch deep; but the thickness not assignable, because of the different thicknesses in Letters, as was shewed in §. 2. and shall further be shewed, when I come to the sinking and justifying of _Matrices_. But before these _Punches_ are sunk into _Copper_, the _Letter-Founder_ must provide a _Mold_ to justifie the _Matrices_ by: And therefore it is proper that I describe this _Mold_ to you before I proceed any farther.

I have given you in Plate 18. at A, the Draft of one side or half of the _Mold_; and in Plate 19. at B, its Match, or other half, which I shall in general thus describe.

Every _Mold_ is made of two parts, an under, and an upper Part; the under part is delineated at A, in Plate 18, the upper part is marked B, in Plate 19, and is in all respects made like the under part, excepting the _Stool_ behind, and the _Bow_, or _Spring_ also behind; and excepting a small roundish _Wyer_ between the _Body_ and _Carriage_, near the _Break_, where the under part hath a small rounding _Groove_ made in the Body. This _Wyer_, or rather _Half-Wyer_ in the upper part makes the _Nick_ in the _Shank_ of the Letter, when part of it is received into the Grove in the under part.

These two parts are so exactly fitted and gaged into one another, (_viz._ the _Male-Gage_, marked C in Plate 19, into the _Female-Gage_ marked g, in Plate 18.) that when the upper part of the _Mold_ is properly placed on, and in the under part of the _Mold_ both together, makes the entire _Mold_, and may be slid backwards for Use so far, till the Edge of either of the Bodies on the middle of either _Carriage_ comes just to the Edge of the _Female-Gages_, cut in each _Carriage_: And they may be slid forwards so far, till the Bodies on either _Carriage_ touch each other. And the sliding of these two parts of the _Mold_ backwards, makes the _Shank_ of the Letter thicker, because the Bodies in each part stand wider asunder; and the sliding them forwards makes the _Shank_ of the Letter thinner, because the Bodies on each part of the _Mold_ stand closer together.

This is a general Description of the _Mold_; I come now to a more particular Description of its parts.

a The _Carriage_.
b The _Body_.
c The _Male-Gage_.
d e The _Mouth-Piece_.
f i The _Register_.
g The _Female-Gage_.
h The _Hag_.
_a a a a_ The _Bottom-Plate_.
_b b b_ The _Wood_ the _Bottom-Plate_ lies on.
_c c e_ The _Mouth_.
_d d_ The _Throat_.
_e d d_ The _Pallat_.
_f_ The _Nick_.
_g g_ The _Stool_.
_h h g_ The _Spring_ or _Bow_.

I have here given you only the Names of the parts of the _Mold_, because at present I purpose no other Use of it, than what relates to the sinking the _Punches_ into the _Matrices_: And when I come to the casting of Letters, You will find the Use and Necessity of all these Parts.

¶. 2. _Of the_ Bottom-Plate.

The _Bottom-Plate_ is made of _Iron_, about two Inches and three quarters long, and about the same breadth; its thickness about a _Brevier_: It is planisht exactly flat and straight: It hath two of its _Fore-Angles_, as _a a_ cut off either straight or rounding, according to the pleasure of the Workman.

About the place where the middle of the _Carriage_ lies, is made a Hole about a _Great-Primmer_ square, into which is rivetted on the upper-side a Pin with a Sholder to it, which reaches about half an Inch through the under-side of the _Bottom-Plate_. This _Pin_ on the under side the _Bottom-Plate_ is round, and hath a _Male-Screw_ on its end. This _Pin_ is let through a Hole made in the Wood of the _Mold_ to fit it; so that when a square _Nut_, with a _Female-Screw_ in it, is turned on the _Male-Screw_, it may draw and fasten the _Half Mold_ firm to the Wood.

The Hind side of the _Carriage_ lies on this _Bottom-Plate_, parallel to the Hind side of it, and about a _Two-Lin’d-English_ within the Hind Edge of it; and so much of this _Bottom-Plate_ as is between the _Register_ and the left-hand end of the _Carriage_ (as it is posited in the Figure) is called the _Stool_, as _g g_ in the under-half of the _Mold_, because on it the lower end of the _Matrice_ rests; but on the upper half of the _Mold_ is made a square Notch behind in the _Bottom-Plate_, rather within than without the Edge of the _Carriage_, to reach from the _Register_, and half an Inch towards the left hand (as it is posited in the Figure) that the upper part of the fore-side of the _Matrice_ may stand close to the _Carriage_ and _Body_.

¶. 3. _Of the_ Carriage.

On the _Bottom-Plate_ is fitted a _Carriage_, (as _a_) This _Carriage_ is almost the length of the _Bottom-Plate_, and about a _Double-Pica_ thick, and its Breadth the length of the Shank of the Letter to be cast.

This _Carriage_ is made of _Iron_, and hath its upper-side, and its two narrow sides filed and rubed upon the using _File_, exactly straight, square and smooth, and the two opposite narrow sides exactly parallel to each other.

On one end of the _Carriage_, as at g, is made a long _Notch_ or _Slit_, which I call the _Female-Gage_: It is about a _Double-Pica_ wide, and is made for the _Male-Gage_ of the other part of the _Mold_ to fit into, and to slide forwards or backwards as the thickness of the Letter to be cast may require.

¶. 4. _Of the_ Body.

Upon the _Carriage_ is fitted the _Body_, as at b. This _Body_ is also made of _Iron_, and is half the length of the _Carriage_, and the exact breadth of the _Carriage_; but its thickness is alterable, and particularly made for every intended _Body_.

About the middle of this _Body_ is made a square Hole, about a _Great Primmer_, or _Double-Pica_ square; and directly under it is made through the _Carriage_ such another Hole exactly of the same size.

¶. 5. _Of the_ Male-Gage.

Through these two Holes, _viz._ That in the _Body_, and that in the _Carriage_, is fitted a square _Iron Shank_ with a _Male-Screw_ on one End, and on the other End an Head turning square from the square _Shanck_ to the farther end of the _Body_, as is described at c; but is more particularly described apart at B in the same Plate, where B may be called the _Male-Gage_: For I know no distinct Name that _Founders_ have for it, and do therefore coyn this:

_a_ The _square Shanck_.
_b_ The _Male-Screw_.

This _square Shanck_ is just so long within half a _Scaboard_ thick as to reach through the _Body_, _Carriage_, and another square Hole made through the _Bottom-Plate_, that so when a _square Nut_ with a _Female-Screw_ in it is turned on that _Pin_, the _Nut_ shall draw and fasten the _Body_ and _Carriage_ down to the _Bottom-Plate_.

The Office of the _Male-Gage_ is to fit into, and slide along the _Female-Gage_.

¶. 6. _Of the_ Mouth-Piece.

Close to the _Carriage_ and _Body_ is fitted a _Mouth-Piece_ marked _d e_. _Letter-Founders_ call this altogether a _Mouth-Piece_: But that I may be the better understood in this present purpose, I must more nicely distinguish its parts, and take the Freedom to elect Terms for them, as first,

_c c e_ The _Mouth_.
_d_ The _Palate_.
_c c_ e _d_ The _Jaws_.
_d d_ The _Throat_.

Altogether (as aforesaid) the _Mouth-Piece_.

The _Mouth-Piece_ hath its _Side_ returning from the _Throat_ filed and rubb’d on the _Using-File_ exactly straight and square to its _Bottom-side_, because it is to joyn close to the Side of the _Carriage_ and _Body_; but its upper-Side, _viz._ the _Palate_ is not parallel to the _Bottom_, but from the Side _d d_, _viz._ the _Throat_ falls away to the _Mouth_ e, making an _Angle_ greater or smaller, as the _Body_ that the _Mold_ is made for is bigger or less: For small _Bodies_ require but a small _Mouth_, because small _Ladles_ will hold Metal enough for small Letters; and the smaller the _Ladle_, the finer the _Geat_ of the _Ladle_ is; and fine _Geats_ will easier hit the _Mouth_ (in a Train of Work) than the course _Geats_ of Great _Ladles_: Therefore it is that the _Mouth_ must be made to such a convenient Width, that the _Ladle_ to be used and its _Geat_, may readily, and without slabbering, receive the Metal thrown into the _Mold_.

But again, if the _Mouth-Piece_ be made too wide, _viz._ the _Jaws_ too deep at the _Mouth_, though the _Geat_ of the _Ladle_ does the readier find it, yet the _Body_ of the _Break_ of the _Letter_ will be so great, that first it heats the _Mold_ a great deal faster and hotter; and secondly, it empties the _Pan_ a great deal sooner of its Metal, and subjects the Workman sometime to stand still while other Metal is melted and hot: Therefore Judgment is to be used in the width of the _Mouth_; and though there be no Rule for the width of it; yet this in general for such _Molds_ as I make, I observe that the _Orifice_ of the _Throat_ may be about one quarter of the Body for small Bodies; but for great Bodies less, according to Discretion, and the _Palate_ about an Inch and a quarter long from the _Body_ and _Carriage_. The reason that the _Orifice_ of the _Throat_ is so small, is, because the Substance at the end of the _Shanck_ of the Letter ought also to be small, that the _Break_ may easier break from the _Shanck_ of the Letter, and the less subject the _Shanck_ to bowing; for the bowing of a Letter spoils it; and the reason why the _Palate_ is so long, is, that the _Break_ being long, may be the easier finger’d and manag’d in the breaking.

If it be objected, that since the smalness of the _Break_ at the end of the _Shanck_ of the Letter is so approvable and necessary for the reason aforesaid, then why may not the _Break_ be made much more smaller yet? The Answer will be, No; because if it be much smaller than one quarter of the Body, Metal enough will not pass through the _Throat_, to fill both the _Face_ and _Shanck_ of the Letter, especially if the Letter to be cast prove thin.

Near the _Throat_ and _Jaw_ is made straight down through the _Palate_ a square Hole (as at _k_.) This square Hole hath all its Sides on the _Upper-Plain_ of the _Palate_ opened to a _Bevel_ of about 45 Degrees, and about the depth of a thick _Scaboard_. Into this square _Hole_ is fitted a square _Pin_ to reach through it; and within half a _Scaboard_ through a square _Hole_, made just under it in the _Bottom-Plate_ which the _Mouth-Piece_ lies upon. On the upper end of this square _Pin_ is made a square _Sholder_, whose under-sides are filed _Bevil_ away, so as to comply and fall just into the _Bevil_ made on the _Palate_ aforesaid, and on the under end of the _Pin_ is made a _Male-screw_ long enough to contain a square _Nut_, with a _Female-screw_ in it about a _Pica_ or _English_ thick, which _Nut_ being twisted about the _Pin_ of the _Male-screw_, draws and fastens the _Mouth-piece_ close down to the _Bottom-Plate_, and also close to the _Carriage_ and _Body_ of the _Mold_.

Note, that the square _Hole_ made in the _Bottom-Plate_ to receive the square _Shanck_ of the _Pin_, must be made a little wider than just to fit the square _Shanck_ of the _Pin_, because the _Mouth-piece_ must be so placed, that the end of the _Jaw_ next the _Throat_ must lie just even with the _Body_ it is to be joyned to; and also that the _Throat_ of the _Mouth-piece_ may be thrust perfectly close to the Sides of the _Carriage_ and _Body_: And when Occasion requires the _Shanck_ of the Letter to be lengthned, it may be set farther off the _Carriage_, that an _Asidue_, or sometimes a thin _Plate_ of _Brass_ may be fitted in between the _Carriage_ and the _Throat_ of the _Mouth-piece_, as shall farther be shewed when I come to justifie the _Mold_.

¶. 7. _Of the_ Register.

Behind the _Mold_ is placed the _Register_, as at _f i h_, which I have also placed apart in the aforesaid Plate, as at C, that it may the more perspicuously be discerned, and a more particular account of its parts be given, which are as follows:

C _a a b c d e_ The _Register_.
_a a_ The _Sholders_.
_b c_ The _Neck_.
_d_ The _Cheek_ returning square from the Plate of the
_Register_, and is about an _English_ thick.
_e_ The _Screw Hole_.

It is made of an _Iron_ Plate about a _Brevier_ thick; its upper-Side is straight, but its under Side is not: For at _a a_ projects downwards a small piece of the same Plate, which we may call the _Sholders_, of the Form you see in the Figure. These _Sholders_ have two small _Notches_ (as at _b c_) filed in them below the _Range_ on the under side of the _Register_, which we will call the _Neck_, and is just so wide as the _Bottom-Plate_ is thick. This _Neck_ is set into a square _Notch_, filed so far into the _Bottom-Plate_, that the flat inside of the _Register_ may stand close against the hind side of the _Carriage_ and _Body_; and this _Notch_ is filed so wide on the left-Hand, that when the side _b_ of the _Neck_ stands close against the left-hand Side of this _Notch_ (as it is posited in the Figure) the _Cheek_ of the _Register_ stands just even with the Edge of the _Body_. And this _Notch_ is also filed so wide on the right-Hand Side, that when the _Neck_ at _c_ stands close against the right-hand Side of the _Notch_, the _Cheek_ of the _Register_ may remove an m, or an m and an n from the edge of the _Body_ towards the right hand: And the _Sholders a a_ are made so long, that when either Side of the _Neck_ is thrust close against its corresponding side in the _Notch_ of the _Bottom-Plate_, the upper Edge of the opposite _Sholder_ shall hook or bear against the under-side of the _Bottom-Plate_, and keep the whole _Register_ steady, and directly upright to the Surface of the _Bottom-Plate_.

In the Plate of the _Register_, is made a long square Hole, as at _e_, just wide enough to receive the _Pin_ of a _Male-screw_, with a _Sholder_ to it, which is to fit into a _Female-screw_, made in the Edge of the _Carriage_, that when the _Male-screw_ is turned about in the _Female-screw_ in the _Carriage_, it shall draw the _Sholder_ of the said _Male-screw_ hard against the upper and under Sides of the square Hole in the Plate of the _Register_, close to the side of the _Carriage_ and _Body_.

The reason why the Hole in the Plate of the _Register_ is made so long, is that the _Cheek_ of the _Register_ may be slid forwards or backwards as occasion requires; as shall be shewn when I come to justifying the _Mold_.

¶. 8. _Of the_ Nick.

In the upper half of the _Mold_, at about a _Pica_ distance from the _Throat_, is fitted into the under-side of the _Body_ the _Nick_: It is made of a piece of _Wyer_ filed flat a little more than half away. This _Nick_ is bigger or less, as the Body the _Mold_ is made for is bigger or less; but its length is about two _m_’s. It is with round _Sculptors_ let exactly into the under-side of the _Body_.

In the under-half of the _Mold_, is made at the same distance from the _Throat_, on the upper-side of the _Body_, a round _Groove_, just fit to receive the _Nick_ in the upper half.

¶. 9. _Of the_ Bow _or Spring_.

This is a long piece of hard _Iron Wyer_, whose Diameter is about a _Brevier_ thick, and hath one end fastned into the Wood of the under half of the _Mold_, as at _h_; but it is so fastned, that it may turn about in the Hole of the Wood it is put into: For the end of it being batter’d flat, a small Hole is drilled through it, into which small Hole the end of fine _Lute-string Wyer_, or somewhat bigger is put, and fastned by twisting about half an Inch of the end of the _Lute-string_ to the rest of the _Lute-string_: For then a considerable Bundle of that _Wyer_, of about the Size of a Doublet Button, being wound behind the Hole, about the end of the _Spring_, will become a _Sholder_ to it, and keep the end of the _Spring_ from slipping through the Hole in the Wood: But this _Button_ or _Sholder_ must also be kept on by thrusting another piece of _Wyer_ stiff into the Hole made on the end of the _Spring_, and crooking that _Wyer_ into the Form of an S, that it slip not out of the Hole.

The manner how the _Spring_ is bowed, you may see in the Figure: But just without the Wood is twisted upon another _Wyer_ about an _English_ thick five or six turns of the _Wyer_ of the _Spring_, to make the whole _Spring_ bear the stronger at its point: For the Office of the _Spring_ is with its Point at _g_, to thrust the _Matrice_ close against the _Carriage_ and _Body_.

¶. 10. _Of the_ Hooks, _or_ Haggs.

These are _Iron Wyers_ about a _Long-Primmer_ thick: Their Shape you may see in the Figure: They are so fastned into the Wood of the _Mold_, that they may not hinder the _Ladle_ hitting the _Mouth_. Their Office is to pick and draw with their Points the _Break_ and _Letter_ out of the _Mold_ when they may chance to stick.

¶. 11. _Of the_ Woods _of the_ Mold.

All the _Iron_ Work aforesaid of the _Mold_ is fitted and fastned on two Woods, _viz._ each half one, and each Wood about an Inch thick, and of the shape of each respective _Bottom-Plate_. The Wood hath all its Sides except the hind-side, about a _Pica_ longer than the _Bottom-Plate_; but the hind-side lies even with the _Bottom-Plate_. The _Bottom-Plate_, as afore was said in ¶. 2. of this §. hath an _Iron Pin_ on its under-side, about half an Inch long, with a _Male-screw_ on its end, which _Pin_ being let fit into an Hole in the Wood does by a _Nut_ with a _Female-screw_ in it draw, all the _Iron_ Work close and fast to the Wood.

But because the Wood is an Inch thick, and the _Pin_ in the _Bottom-Plate_ but half an Inch long, therefore the outer or under-side of the Wood (as posited in the Figure) hath a wide round Hole made in it flat at the Bottom, to reach within an _English_, or a _Great Primmer_ of the upper-side of the Wood. This round Hole is wide enough to receive the _Nut_ with the _Female-screw_ in it; and the _Pin_ being now long enough to receive the _Female-screw_ at the wide Hole, the _Female-screw_ may with _round nosed Plyers_ be turned about the _Male-screw_ on the _Pin_ aforesaid, till it draw all the _Iron_ Work close to the Wood.

The Wood behind on the upper half is cut away as the _Bottom-Plate_ of that half is; and into the thickness of the Wood, close by the right and left-hand side of this _Notch_ is a small square _Wyer-staple_ driven, which we may call the _Matrice-Check_; for its Office is only to keep the _Shanck_ of the _Matrice_ from flying out of this _Notch_ of the _Mold_ when the _Caster_ is at Work. And the _Nuts_ and _Screws_ of the _Carriage_ and _Mouth-piece_, &c. that lie under the _Bottom-Plate_, are with small _Chissels_ let into the upper-side of the Wood, that the _Bottom-plates_ may lie flat on it.

Sect. XVI. _Of justifying the_ Mold.

Although the _Mold_ be now made; nay, very well and Workman-like made, yet is it not imagin’d to be fit to go to work withal; as well because it will doubtless Rag (as _Founders_ call it; for which Explanation see the Table) as because the Body, Thickness, Straightness, and length of the _Shanck_ must be finisht with such great Nicety, that without several Proofs and Tryings, it cannot be expected to be perfectly true.

Therefore before the sinking and justifying the _Matrices_, the _Mold_ must first be _Justified_: And first, he justifies the _Body_, which to do, he casts about twenty _Proofs_ or Letters, as they are called, though it matters not whether the _Shancks_ have yet Letters on them or no. These _Proofs_ he sets up in a _Composing-stick_, as is described in §. 17. ¶. 2. Plate 19. at G, with all their _Nicks_ towards the right Hand, and then sets up so many Letters of the same _Body_, (which for Distinction sake we will call _Patterns_) that he will justifie his _Body_ too, upon the _Proofs_, with all their _Nicks_ also to the right Hand, to try if they agree in length with the same Number of Letters that he uses for his _Pattern_; which if they do not, for very seldom they do, but by the Workman’s fore-cast are generally somewhat too big in the _Body_, that there may be Substance left to _Justifie_ the _Mold_, and clear it from _Ragging_. Therefore the _Proofs_ may drive-out somewhat, either half a Line (which in _Founders_ and _Printers_ Language is half a _Body_) or a whole Line. (more or less.)

He also tries if the two sides of the _Body_ are parallel, _viz._ That the _Body_ be no bigger at the _Head_ than at the _Foot_; and that he tries by taking half the number of his _Proofs_, and turning the Heads of them lays them upon the other half of his _Proofs_, so that if then the _Heads_ and _Feet_ be exactly even upon each other, and that the Heads and Feet neither _drive-out_, nor _get in_, (_Founders_ and _Printers_ Language, for which see the Table) the two sides of the _Body_ are parallel; but if either the _Head_ or _Foot drives out_, the two sides of the _Body_ are not parallel, and must therefore be mended.

And as he has examin’d the Sides of the _Body_ so also he examines the thickness of the Letter, and tries if the two Sides of the thickness be also parallel, which to do, he sets up his _Prooves_ in the _Composing-stick_ with their _Nicks_ upwards. Then taking half of the _Prooves_, he turns the _Heads_ and lay the _Heads_ upon the _Feet_ of the other half of his _Prooves_, and if the _Heads_ and _Feet_ lies exactly upon each other and neither _drive out_ or _get in_ the two Sides of the thicknesses are parallel. But if either the _Head_ or _Foot_ _drive-out_ the two Sides of the thicknesses are not parallel; and must therefore be mended.

Next, he considers whether the sides of the _Body_ be straight, first by laying two Letters with their _Nicks_ upwards upon one another, and holding them up in his Fingers, between his Eye and the Light, tries if he can see Light between them: For if the least Light appear between them, the _Carriage_ is not straight. Then he lays the _Nicks_ against one another, and holds them also against the Light, as before: Then he lays both the _Nicks_ outward, and examines them that way, that he may find whether either or both of the _Carriages_ are out of straight.

But we will suppose now the _Body_ somewhat too big, and that it drives out at the _Head_ or _Foot_; and that the thickness _drives out_ at the _Head_ or _Foot_ and that the Sides of the _Body_ are not straight. These are Faults enough to take the _Mold_ asunder: but yet if there were but one of these Faults it must be taken asunder for that; by unscrewing the _Male-Gage_, to take the _Body off_ the _Carriage_, and the _Carriage_ off the _Bottom-Plate_.

Having found where the Fault of one or both sides of the _Body_ is, he lays the _Body_ down upon the _Using-File_; and if the Fault be extuberant, he rubs the Extuberancy down, by pressing his Finger or Fingers hard upon the opposite side of the Body, just over the extuberant part; and so rubbing the Body hard forwards on the _Using-File_, and drawing it lightly backwards, he rubs till he has wrought down the extuberancy, which he examins by applying the _Lyner_ to that side of the Body, and holding it so up between his Eye and the Light, tries whether or not the _Lyner_ ride upon the part that was extuberant; which if it do, the extuberancy is not sufficiently rub’d off, and the former Process must again begin and be continued till the extuberancy be rub’d off. And if the Body were too big, he by this Operation works it down: Because the extuberancy of the _Body_ rid upon the _Carriage_, and bore it up.

And if the fault be a _Dawk_, or Hollow in the _Body_, then he Works the rest of that side of the _Body_ down to the bottom of the _Dawk_, which by applying the _Lyner_ (as afore) he tryes, and this also lessens the _Body_.

If the _Body_ drive-out at _Head_ or _Foot_, he lays the weight of his Fingers heavy at that side or end of the _Body_ which is too thick, and so rubs that down harder.

If the thickness of the Letter, drive-out at _Head_, or _Foot_, he Screws the _Body_ into the _Vice_, and with a flat sharp _File_, files the _Side_ down at the _Head_, or _Foot_. At the same time, if the _Shanck_ of the Letter be not Square, he mends that also, and smooth-files it very well.

Then he puts the _Mold_ together again: And melting, (or laying aside) his first _Proofs_, lest they should make him mistake, he again _Casts_ about twenty New _Proofs_, and examins by them as before, how well he has mended the _Body_, and how near he has brought the _Body_ to the size of the _Pattern_: For he does not expect to do it the _First_, _Second_, or _Seventh_ time; but mends on, on, on, by a little at a time, till at last it is so finisht.

If the _Body_ prove too small, it is underlaid with a thick or a thin _Asidue_; or sometimes a thin _Plate_ of _Brass_.

Then he examins the _Mouth-piece_, and sees that the _Jaws_ slide exactly true, upon every part of the _Pallat_ without riding.

If the _Throat_ of the _Mouth-piece_ lie too low, as most commonly it is designed so to do; Then a _Plate_ of _Brass_ of a proper thickness is laid under it to raise it higher.

He also Justifies the _Registers_, making their _Cheeks_ truly Square. And Screwing them about an n from the Corner of the _Body_.

He tryes that the _Male_ and _Female-Gages_ fit each other exactly, and lie directly straight along, and parallel to both the Sides of the _Carriage_.

All this thus performed he needs not (perhaps) take the _Mold_ assunder again. But not having yet consider’d, or examin’d the length of the _Shanck_ of the Letter, he now does; and if it be somewhat too long (as we will suppose by forecast it is) then the _Body_ and _Carriage_ being Screwed together, and both the Halves fitted in their _Gages_, the Edges of the _Carriage_ and _Body_ are thus together rub’d upon the _Using-File_, till the _Carriage_ be brought to an exact length.

Having thus (as he hopes) finisht the justifying of the _Mold_; and put it together, and Screwed it fast up, he puts the two Halves together, and then Rubs or Slides them hard against one another, to try if he can perceive any little part of the _Body_ Ride upon the _Carriage_, or _Carriage_ ride upon the _Body_: To know which of them it is that Rides, or is extuberant, he uses the _Liner_; applying it to both the Places, as well of the _Body_ as the _Carriage_: where he sees they have Rub’d or bore upon one another: And which of them that is extuberant, the Edge of the _Liner_ will shew, by Riding upon it: And that part he Files upon with a small flat and very fine _File_, by little and little, taking off the extuberancy, till the _Bodies_ and _Carriages_ lie exactly flat upon, and close to one another: Which if they do not, the _Mold_ will be sure to _Rag_.

§. XVII. ¶. 1. _Of Sinking the_ Punches _into the_ Matrices.

That the _Matrice_, and all its parts may be the better understood, as I shall have Occasion to Name them, I have given you a _Draft_ of the _Matrice_ in Plate, 18 at E. and shall here explain its parts.

_E_ The _Matrice_, wherein is Punched E, the _Face_ of
the _Letter_.
_a_ The _Bottom_ of the _Matrice_.
_b_ The _Top_ of the _Matrice_.
_c_ The _Right-side_ of the _Matrice_.
_d_ The _Left-Side_ of the _Matrice_.
_f g_ The _Face_ of the _Matrice_.
_h i_ The _Leather Grove_ of the _Matrice_.

In the _Back_ or _Side_ behind the _Matrice_, just behind E is filed in athwart the _Back_, from the right to the left-Side a _Notch_, to settle and hold the point of the _Spring_ or _Wyer_ of the _Mold_ in, that the _Matrice_ fly or start not back when it is at Work.

As I told you (in §. 11. ¶. 1.) that the _Punches_ are to be made of several Thicknesses, for reasons there shewed; and that therefore the _Letter-Cutter_ makes _Wooden Patterns_ for his several Sizes of Thicknesses as well as Heights; so now I am come to the _Sinking_ of the _Punches_ into the _Matrices_, I must tell you again that the _Letter-Cutter_ or else the _Founder_, (either of which that _Sinks_ them; for sometimes it is a Task Incumbent on each of them) considers the Thicknesses of all the _Punches_ he has to _Sink_, though Heighth he need not consider in _Sinking_ the _Matrices_: For the _Matrices_, by reason of their length in _Copper_ upwards and downwards, have Substance enough and to spare, for the longest Letters to be _Sunk_ into them: Therefore I say, he only considers the several Thicknesses of all the _Punches_, and makes _Wooden Patterns_ for them, marking with a Pen and Inck the number of each size, on the _Pattern_ as before he did for the _Steel-Punches_: But the _Patterns_ he made for the _Steel-Punches_ will be too Thin for the _Copper Matrices_: Because the _Steel-Punches_ by _Sinking_ into the _Matrices_, stretch and force the Sides of the _Copper_ out, and sometimes crack them for want of Substance; and at other times carry or force the Substance of the _Matrice_ so low with their _Sholder_ if the _Letter_ be broad, that it creates a great Trouble to rub them _Flat_, (as it is called) because it is done upon the _Using-File_.

Therefore he makes _Wooden Patterns_ for every of the former siz’d _Punches_, so thick or rather an n thicker at the least, then he made the _Wooden_ _Patterns_, that the _Steel-Punches_ were made to be _Forged_ by, that there may be Substance enough on each side the _Copper_ to bear the dilating that the sinking of the _Punch_ into it will make, because the _Counter-Puncht-Letters_ are Thicker by their _Stems_ and _Footing_ or _Topping_ than the _Counter-Punches_ made for them need be.

Therefore (as before) for three sizes of _Punches_ to be _Counter-Puncht_, he made three several siz’d _Patterns_; so now for the several siz’d _Punches_ that are to be _Sunk_ into _Matrices_, he makes three several siz’d _Patterns_ of _Wood_ for the _Copper-Smith_ to draw out _Rods_ of _Copper_ of those several Sizes by, and each of them (as aforesaid) an n, and for the Thick _Letters_ an m (at least) Thicker than the _Patterns_ were made, for the _Steel-Punches_ to be Forged to a size by.

In the Forging of these _Copper-Rods_, he instructs the _Copper-Smith_ to make Choice of the softest _Copper_ he can get, that the _Steel-Punches_ may run the less hazzard of breaking; and sometimes (if too soft Temper’d) battering their Stroaks.

The _Rose Copper_ is commonly accounted the softest: But yet I have many times _Sunk Punches_ indifferently into every sort of _Copper_. Nay, even cast _Copper_, which is generally accounted the Hardest: Because _Copper_, as well (as some other Mettals) Hardens with Melting.

These _Rods_ of _Copper_ are (as I told you in §. III. ¶. 1.) to be Cut into small Lengths, each about an Inch and an half long, and a _Great-Primmer_ or _Double-Pica_ deep; and for great Bodyed _Letters_ a _Two-lin’d-English_ deep; But their Thickness not assignable, because of the Different Thicknesses in _Letters_, both of the same and other _Bodies_, as in part I shewed, in §. II. and more fully in this present §. and ¶.

The reason why the _Copper-Rods_ are Forg’d so deep, is, That the more substance of _Copper_ may lie under the _Face_ of the _Punch_: For if the _Rod_ have not a convenient depth, the _Face_ of the _Punch_ in _Sinking_, does the sooner ingage with the Hardness of the _Face_ of the _Stake_ it is _Sunk_ upon: And having with a few Blows of the _Hammer_, soon hardned the _Copper_ just under the _Face_ of the _Punch_, as well the hardness of the small (thus hardned) _Body_ of _Copper_ just under the _Face_ of the _Punch_, as the Hardness of the _Face_ of the _Stake_ contribute a complycated assistance to the breaking or battering the _Face_ of the _Punch_. But if the _Rod_ be deep, the Substance of _Copper_ between the _Face_ of the _Punch_ and the _Stake_ is less hardned, and consequently the _Punch_ will _Sink_ the easier, and deeper with less Violence.

But sometimes it has happ’ned that for the _Sinking_ one _Matrice_ or two, I have been loath to trouble my self to go to the _Copper-Smiths_, to get one Forg’d: and therefore I have made shift with such _Copper_ as I have had by me. But when it has not been so deep as I could have wisht it, I have just entred the _Punch_ into the _Matrice_ upon the _Stake_, and to _Sink_ it deep enough, I have laid it upon a good thick piece of _Lead_, which by reason of its softness has not hardned the _Copper_ just under the _Face_ of the _Punch_; but suffered the _Punch_ to do its _Office_ with good Success.

Having cut the _Copper-Rods_, into fit Lengths with a Cold _Chissel_, He files the end that is to stand upon the _Stool_ of the _Mold_ exactly square, and the Right-side of the _Matrice_, that stands against the _Carriage_ and _Body_, also exactly Square and smooth upon the _Using-File_. Then he places the filed end, or _Bottom_ upon the _Stool_, with the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ towards the _Carriage_ and _Body_, and the Right-side of the _Matrice_, close against the _Register_: Then if the _Punch_ to be sunck be an ascending Letter. He with a fine pointed _Needle_, makes a small Race by the upper-side of the _Carriage_ upon the _Face_ of the _Matrice_, and that Race is a mark for him, to set the top of the Ascending _Letter_ at, when he _Sinks_ it into the _Matrice_: So that then placing the _Punch_ upright upon the middle of the Thickness of the _Matrice_, the _Matrice_ lying solid on the _Stake_: He with the _Face_ of an _Hammer_ sizable to the bigness of his _Punch_, cautiously knocks upon the _Hammer-end_ of the _Punch_, with reiterated Blows, till he have driven the _Punch_ deep enough into the _Matrice_.

But if it be a short _Letter_, or a Descending _Letter_, and not Ascending also: Then he elects any _Cast-Letter_ of the Thickness of the _Beard_, (as _Founders_ and _Printers_ call it) For which Explanation see the Table, and he lays that _Letter_ upon the _Surface_ of the _Carriage_, and then placing the _Bottom_ of the _Matrice_ to be _Sunk_ as before, on the _Stool_, and against the _Register_, He draws with a _Needle_ as before, a race above the _Surface_ of that _Letter_, against the _Face_ of the _Matrice_, and that race is a Mark for him to place the _Head_ of the _Letter_ by. Then managing the _Punch_ and _Hammer_ as before was shewed, he _Sinks_ the _Punch_ into the _Matrice_.

But here arises a Question, _viz._ How deep the _Punches_ are to be _Sunk_ into the _Matrices_? The Answer is, a Thick _Space_ deep, though deeper even to an n would be yet better: Because the deeper the _Punches_ are _Sunk_, the lower does the _Beards_ stand below the _Face_, and those _Beards_ when the _Cast-Letter_ comes into the _Printers_ Hands to be used, are the less subject to _Print_, as too oft they do both at _Head_ or _Foot_ of a _Page_, than when they lie so high that the softness of the _Blankets_, and Hardness of a _Pull_, or else carelesness of Running the _Carriage_ of the _Press_ to a considered Mark they would be. But they are seldom _Sunk_ any deeper then a thick Space: and the reason is, because the breaking or battering the _Face_ of the _Punch_ should not be too much hazarded.

The many _Punches_ to be _Sunk_ into _Matrices_ for the same _Body_, are difficult to be _Sunk_ of an equal depth. Therefore I always make a _Beard-Gage_, as is described in _Plate_ 19 at F, where _a b_ is a _Sholder_ that rests upon the _Face_ of the _Matrice_, _c_ is the _Point_ or _Gage_ that measures the depth of the _Sunken Punch_. So that when the _Point_ _c_ just touches the _Bottom_, and both the _Sholders_ _a b_ the _Face_ of the _Matrice_, the _Punch_ may be accounted well Sunk as to depth.

But though it be accounted well _Sunk_ for a first Essay, yet can it not be reasonably imagined it is well _Sunk_ for good and all; as well because in _Sinking_ the _Punches_ it has carryed some part of the _Surface_ of the _Matrice_ down below the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ into the _Body_ of the _Copper_, as because both the _Sides_ are doubtless extorted, and one Side or Part of the _Punch Sunk_ more or less deeper than the other. Wherefore I now come to

¶. 2. _Justifying the_ Matrices.

_Justifying_ of _Matrices_ is, 1. to make the _Face_ of the _Sunken_ Letter, lie an exact designed depth below the _Face_ of the _Matrice_, and on all its sides equally deep from the _Face_ of the _Matrice_. 2. It is to set or _Justifie_ the _Foot-line_ of the Letter exactly in _Line_. 3. It is to _Justifie_ both the sides, _viz._ the Right and left-sides of a _Matrice_ to an exact thickness.

Therefore to proceed Methodically, he first slightly Files down the _Bunchings_ out that the _Punch_ made in the Sides of the _Matrice_; And then slightly Files down all the _Copper_, on the _Face_ of the _Matrice_, till the Hollow the _Punch_ made becomes even with the whole _Face_ of the _Matrice_.

Then he _Casts_ a _Proof-Letter_ or two, and _Rubs_ them: And with the Edge of a Knife cuts out what may remain in the bottom of the _Shanck_ by reason of the un-even breaking, off of the _Break_ that the square bottom of the _Shanck_ may not be born off the _Bottom-Ledge_ of the _Lining-Stick_.

But having till now said nothing of the _Lining-Stick_, it is proper before I proceed, to give a Description of it: It is delineated in _Plate_ 19 at G. Where G is the _Plain_, _a_ the _Side-Ledge_, _b_ the _Bottom-Ledge_, _c_ the _Stilt_, all made of _Brass_.

The _Plain_ is exactly flat, Straight, and Smooth, that the _Shancks_ of the _Letter_ being likewise so, may lie flat and solidly on it. Its depth between the _Bottom-Ledge_, and the fore edge is about the length of the _Shanck_ of the Letter: But the whole _Plain_ of _Brass_ is yet deeper; Because the _Bottom-Ledge_ is fastned on it. The _Lining-Stick_ is about two _Inches_ long for small Letters; but longer for Big-_Bodyed_ _Letters_.

Both _Bottom_ and _Side-Ledge_, is a thin piece of _Brass_, from a _Scaboard_ to a _Pica_ thick, according as the _Body_ whose _Face_ and _Foot-line_ is to be _Justified_ in it is bigger or less. These two _Ledges_ is an Inside Square exactly wrought, and with small _Rivets_ fastned on the _Side_ edge, and on the _Bottom_ edge.

The _Stilt_ is a thin flat piece of _Brass-Plate_ about a _Scaboard_ thick, and a _Double-Pica_ broad: One of its edges is _Soldered_ to the under-side of the _Plain_, about a _Double-Pica_ within the fore-edge of the _Plain_, that the _Lining-Stick_ (when set by with _Proof-Letters_ in it) may not lie flat on its _Bottom_; but have its fore edge _Tilted_ up, that the _Letters_ in it may rest against the _Bottom-Ledge_.

Having cut the _Notch_ in the _Break_ of the _Letters_ as aforesaid, He _Rubs_ every side of them on the _Stone_, with two or three hard _Rubs_, to take off the small _Rags_ that may happen on the _Shanck_ of the _Letter_, notwithstanding the _Mold_ is imagined to be very truly made and _Justified_.

The _Stone_ is commonly a whole _Grind-Stone_, about eighteen Inches diameter, having both its sides truly _Rub’d_ flat and smooth, by _Jostling_ it (as _Masons_ call it) upon another broad long and flat Stone with _Sand_ and _Water_. It must have a fine, but very sharp _Greet_. Now to return.