Chapter VI: Part 6

He places a Quadrat of the same _Body_, on the _Plain_ of the _Lining-stick_, and against the _Side-Ledge_ of it He sets up three or four old m’s of the same _Body_: Then sets up his _Proof-Letter_ or _Letters_, and after his _Proof-Letter_ three or four old m’s more of the same _Body_; and being very careful that the _Foot_ of the _Shanck_ of the Letter stands full down against the _Bottom-Ledge_ of the _Lining-stick_, He applies the edge of the _Liner_ to the _Faces_ of all these Letters: And if he finds that the edge of the _Liner_ just touch (and no more) as well all the parts of his _Proof-Letters_ as they do upon his old _Letters_, He concludes his _Matrice_ is _Sunk_ to a true _Height against Paper_.

But he seldom hopes for so good luck; but does more likely expect the _Matrice_ is _Sunk_ too deep or too shallow, and awry on the right and left-side, or on the top or bottom of the _Line_, for all or any of these Faults the _Liner_ will easily discover. Therefore I shall shew you how he _Justifies_ a _Matrice_ that is too _High against Paper_.

We will suppose the _Face_ of the _Punch_ is _Sunk_ flat and straight down into the _Matrice_; but yet it is a little too deep _Sunk_. Therefore he considers how much it is too deep: If it be but a little too deep, perhaps when the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ shall be made exactly flat (for yet it is but _Rough-Filed_) it may be wrought down to be just of an _Height against Paper_. But if the _Punch_ be _Sunk_ so much too deep that the smoothing the flat of the _Face_ on the _Using-File_ will not work it low enough; then with a _Bastard-cut flat-File_, he takes off (according to his Discretion) so much _Copper_ from the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ as will make it so much nearer as he thinks it wants to the _Face_ of the Letter. But yet considers that the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ is yet to smoothen on the _Using-File_, and therefore he is careful not to take too much off the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ with the _Rough-File_.

He is also very careful that when he is to _File_ upon the _Face_ of the _Matrice_, to _Screw_ the _Face_ of it Horizontally flat in the _Vice_: And that in _Filing_ upon it, he keeps his _File_ directly Horizontal, as was shewed, _Numb._ 1. _Fol._ 15, 16. _Vol._ 1. For if he let his right or left hand dip, the _File_ will in its Natural Progress take too much off the side it dips upon, and consequently the _Face_ of the Letter on that side will lie shallower from the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ then it will on the opposite side. The like caution he makes, in _Filing_ between the _Top_ and _Bottom_ of the _Matrice_ on the _Face_. For if he _Files_ away too much _Copper_ toward the _Top_ or _Bottom_, the _Face_ of the _Letter_ on its _Top_ or _Bottom-Line_, will lie on that end shallower from the _Face_ of the _Matrice_.

Then he considers by his _Proof-Letters_ how much too thick the right or left-side of the _Matrice_ is.

I told you in §. 11. ¶. 4. that the Angle the _Sholder_ made with the _Face_ of the _Letter_, is about 100 Degrees, which is 10 Degrees more then a _right Angle_ or _Square_. So that if a _Letter_ be _Cast_ and _Rub’d_ just so thick that the _Liner_ when applied to the _Shanck_ of the _Letter_ reaches just to the _Sholder_, there will be an _Angle_ of 10 Degrees, contained between the edge of the _Liner_ and the _Straight Line_ that proceeds from the _Sholder_ at the _Shanck_, to the outer-edge of the _Face_ of the _Letter_. And if two _Letters_ be thus _Cast_ and _Rub’d_ and _Set_ together, the _Angle_ contained between their _Shancks_, and the outer-edge of the _Face_ of the _Letter_ will be 20 Degrees, which is too wide by half for the _Faces_ of two _Letters_ to stand assunder. Therefore the sides of the _Matrice_ must be so _Justified_, that when the _Shancks_ of two _Letters_ stand close together, the _Angle_ between both the _Shancks_, and the adjacent outer-edges of the _Faces_ of the _Letters_ may both make an _Angle_ of about 10 Degrees as aforesaid, which is a convenient distance for two _Letters_ to stand assunder at the _Face_. But to do which, If the right-side be too thick, the _Register_ of the under-half of the _Mold_, being (as I said) hard screw’d, so as to stand about an n off the edge of the _Body_ towards the right hand; He places the _Foot_ of the _Matrice_ on the _Stool_, and the right-side of the _Matrice_ close against the _Register_, and observes how much too thick that side of the _Matrice_ is: For so much as the right-hand edge of the _Orifice_ of the _Matrice_ stands on the left-hand side of the _Body_, so much is the Right-side of the _Matrice_ too thick, and must by several offers be _Filed_ away with a _Bastard-Cut-File_, not all at once, least (ere he be aware) he makes that side of the _Matrice_ too thin, which will be a great dammage to the _Matrice_, and cannot be mended but with a _Botch_, as shall in proper place be shewed.

Having by several proffers wrought the right-side of the _Matrice_ thus near its thickness, he proceeds to _Justifie_ the left-side also. But this side must be _Justified_ by the upper half of the _Mold_; By turning the top of the _Matrice_ downwards, and placing the left-side of it (now the right-side) against the _Register_, and works away the left-side in all respects as he did the right-side; still being very cautious he takes not to much _Copper_ away at once.

To _Justifie_ the _Letter_ in _Line_ he examins the _Proof-Letter_ (yet standing in the _Lining-Stick_) and applies the _Liner_ to the _Foot-line_: And if the _Liner_ touch all the way upon the _Foot-line_ of the _Proof-Letter_ and the _Foot-Line_ of all the old m’s, that _Matrice_ is _Justified_ in _Line_. But this also very rarely happens at first, for by design it is generally made to stand too low in _Line_: Because the _Bottom_ of the _Matrice_ may by several proffers be _Filed_ away till the _Letter_ stand exactly in _Line_. But should he take too much off the _Bottom_ of the _Matrice_, it cannot be made to stand lower without another _Botch_.

Nor does he reckon that this first Operation, or perhaps several more such, shall _Justifie_ the _Matrice_ in _Line_. But after bringing both the sides of the _Matrice_ thus near, and also bringing the _Matrice_ thus near the _Line_. He _Casts_ another _Proof-Letter_ or two, and _Rubbing_ all the sides of their _Shancks_, as before was shew’d, he tries by _Rubbing_ the _Letters_ how near he has brought the thickness of both the sides: For when the sides of the _Matrice_ are brought just to such a thickness, that the _Shanck_ of the _Letter_ (_Cast_ in the _Mold_) _Rubs_ flat half way up beyond the _Beard_ towards the _Face_ of the _Letter_, the _Matrice_ is of a convenient thickness, and there the _Angle_ from the _Beard_ of the _Shanck_, to the outer-edge of two _Letters_ set together, will make an _Angle_ of about 10 degrees as aforesaid, which being about one third part of a _thin Space_ is a convenient distance for the adjacent edges of two _Letters_ to stand assunder: But yet _Founders_ sometimes to _Get in_ or _drive-out_, _Cast_ the _Letters_ thinner or thicker, and consequently their _Faces_ stand closer or wider assunder, which is unseemly when the _Letter_ comes to be _Printed_.

Then he sets the _Proof-Letters_ in the _Lining-Stick_, between four or five old m’s as before, and with the _Liner_ examins again how well these _Proof-Letters_ stand in _Line_ with the old m’s, which if they do not, he Reiterates the former Operations so oft, till the sides and _Line_ of the _Matrice_ is _Justified_, and at every Operation _Casts_ new _Proof-Letters_ to examine the thickness of both the Sides, and how well the _Matrice_ is _Justified_ to _Stand in Line_.

The _Matrice_ being now _Justified_, he Files a _Leather-Groove_ round about it, _viz._ a _Notch_ (made properest with a three square _File_) within about a thick _Scaboard_ of the top of the _Matrice_, to tie the _Leather_ fast to.

He also _Files_ another _Notch_ in the back-side of the _Matrice_ athwart it, to rest the point of the _Wyer_ or _Spring_ in. But this _Notch_ must by no means be made before the _Matrice_ be _Justified_ to its true _Height against Paper_: Because when this _Notch_ is made, the _Punch_ cannot again be struck in the _Matrice_; For that the _Matrice_ will not lie solid on the _Stake_ in that place.

¶. 3. _Of_ Botching-Matrices, _to make them serve the better_.

_Matrices_ are sometimes either through a careless, or sometimes through an unlucky stroak or two of the _File_ made too thin. And sometimes the _Foot_ of the _Matrice_ is too much taken away, and the Letter by that means stands too high in _Line_: And sometimes the _Face_ of the _Matrices_ is too much taken away; So that the Letter will not stand _High enough against Paper_.

To remedy all or any part of these inconveniencies, _Founders_ are forced to make _Botches_ on the _Matrice_: As first, If the _Matrice_ be too thin on the right or left-side, or both; They prick up that side, by laying the _Matrice_ flat on the _Work-Bench_, with the thin side upwards, and holding the point of a _Punch-Graver_ aslope upon the thin side, with an _Hammer_ drive the point into the thin side of the _Matrice_, and so raise a _Bur_ upon that side; which _Bur_ (though it thicken not the _Matrice_, yet it) makes the side of the _Matrice_ stand off the _Register_, and consequently is equevalent to thickning it.

The higher this _Bur_ is raised, the better is the _Matrice Botcht_; because the thin fine points thus raised (if not pretty well flatted into the Substance of the _Bur_) will quickly either wear off by the pressure of the _Register_ against them, or else flatten into the _Body_ of the _Bur_, and both ways makes the _Matrice_ again too thin.

Sometimes they do not _Botch_ the _Matrice_ thus for this fault; but only Paste a piece of Paper, or a Card, (according as it may want thickness) against the thin side of the _Matrice_ and so thicken it.

But to mend the sides I use another Expedient, _viz._ by Soldering a piece of _Plate-Brass_ against its thin side or sides, which is much better than _Botching_ it.

_Secondly_, If the _Matrice_ be filed away too much at the _Foot_, they knock it up with the _Pen_ of the _Hammer_; and stretch it between the _Foot_ and the _Orifice_ of the _Matrice_, and then _Justifie_ it again in _Line_. Or a piece may be _Soldered_ under the _Foot_.

_Thirdly_, If the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ be too much taken away, and either the _Punch_ spoiled or the _Notch_ in the back of the _Matrice_ made so, as it cannot be _Sunken_ deeper, they raise a _Bur_ on the _Face_, as they did on the thin sides, to keep the _Matrice_ off the _Carriages_ and _Bodies_ which Lengthens the height of the Letter _against Paper_ so much as is the height of the raised _Bur_. But of all the _Botches_ this is the worst, because the _Beard_ lies now nearer the _Face_: And the hollow standing off of the _Face_ of the _Matrice_ from the _Carriages_ and _Bodies_, subjects the Mettal to run between them, and so pesters the Workman to get the Letter out of the _Mold_ and _Matrice_.

Sect. XVIII, _Of setting up the_ Furnance.

Having _Justified_ the _Mold_ and _Matrice_, we come now to _Casting_ of _Letters_: But yet we have neither _Furnance_, _Mettal_, or _Ladle_. Wherefore it is the _Founders_ care, first to provide these.

The _Furnance_ I have described in Plate 20. It is built of Brick upright, with four square sides and a Stone on the top, in which Stone is a wide round hole for the _Pan_ to stand in. _a b c d_ The square Stone at the top, covering the whole _Furnance_. This is indeed the _Furnance_. _a d_, _b c_ The breadth two Foot and one Inch. _a b_, _c d_ The Length two Foot three Inches. Into the Breadth and Length about the whole Stone, is let in even with the top of the Stone a square _Iron Band_ two Inches deep, and a quarter and half quarter of an Inch thick to preserve the Edges of the Stone from battering. _e_ The round hole the Pan stands in, which hath an _Iron Plate_ let into it eight Inches diameter, an Inch and half broad and one quarter of an Inch thick.

This _Iron_-Plate fits the _inside_ of the _Hole_ so far as it is Circular, and consequently is a _Segment_ of a _Circle_. But where the _Smoak-vent_ breaks off the Circularity of the Stone, there ends this Plate of _Iron_, that the Smoak may have the freer vent. Its Office also is to preserve the Edge of the _Hole_ from battering, with the oft taking out and putting in the _Iron Pan_.

_f_ The _Funnel_ seven Inches high, and five Inches wide. _g_ The _Stoke-Hole_ four Inches wide, and six Inches long. _h h_ The height of the _Furnance_ two Foot ten Inches. _i_ The _Air-Hole_ just underneath the Hearth to let in Air that the Fire may burn the freer. _k_ The _Ash-Hole_ where the Ashes that fall from the Hearth are taken away. _l m n o_ The _Bench_ two Foot broad, three Foot long, and two Foot eight Inches high. The _Bench_ is to empty the Letters out of the _Mold_ upon, as the _Founder Casts_ them.

The _Hearth_ lies seven Inches below the top of the round _Hole_, and hath under it another round _Iron-Ring_ of the same demensions with the first, on which straight _Iron-Bars_ are fastened that the _Fire_ is laid on. In the round _Iron-Ring_ (or rather Segment) on the top of the _Furnance_ is set the _Pan_, which is either a _Plate Ladle_, or a small _Cast-Iron Kettle_ that sinks into it within two Inches of the _Brims_ of the _Pan_.

¶. 2. _Of making_ Mettal.

The Mettal _Founders_ make _Printing-Letters_ of, is _Lead_ hardned with _Iron_: Thus they chuse _stub-Nails_ for the best _Iron_ to Melt, as well because they are asured _stub-Nails_ are made of good soft and tough _Iron_, as because (they being in small pieces of _Iron_) will Melt the sooner.

To make the _Iron Run_, they mingle an equal weight of _Antimony_ (beaten in an Iron-Morter into small pieces) and _stub-Nails_ together. And preparing so many Earthen forty or fifty pounds _Melting-Pots_ (made for that purpose to endure the _Fire_) as they intend to use: They _Charge_ these Pots with the mingled _Iron_ and _Antimony_ as full as they will hold.

Every time they Melt _Mettal_, they build a new _Furnance_ to melt it in: This _Furnance_ is called an _Open Furnance_; because the Air blows in through all its sides to Fan the _Fire_: They make it of Bricks in a broad open place, as well because the Air may have free access to all its sides, as that the Vapours of the _Antimony_ (which are Obnoxious) may the less offend those that officiate at the _Making_ the _Mettal_: And also because the Violent Fire made in the _Furnance_ should not endanger the Firing any adjacent Houses.

They consider before they make the _Furnance_ how many Pots of _Mettal_ they intend to Melt, and make the _Furnance_ sizable to that number: We will suppose _five_ _Pots_. Therefore they first make a Circle on the Ground capable to hold these five _Pots_, and wider yet by three or four Inches round about: Then within this Circle they lay a Course of Bricks close to one another to fill the Plain of that Platform, with their broad or flat sides downwards, and their ends all one way, and on this Course of Bricks they lay another Course of Bricks as before, only the Lengths of this Course of Bricks lies athwart the Breadths of the other Course of Bricks: Then they lay a third Course of Bricks with their lengths cross the Breadth of the second Course of Bricks.

Having thus raised a Platform, they place these five _Pots_ in the middle of it close to one another, and then on the Foundation or Platform raise the _Furnance_ round about by laying the Bricks of the first _Lay_ end to end and flat, close to one another: On the second _Lay_, they place the middle of a Brick over a _Joynt_ (as _Brick-layers_ call it) that is where the ends of two Bricks joyn together, and so again lay Bricks end to end till they _Trim_ round the _Platform_. Then they lay a third _Lay_ of Bricks, covering the _Joynts_ of the second _Lay_ of Bricks as before: So is the Foundation finisht.

Then they raise the Walls to the _Furnance_ on this Foundation; But do not lay the ends of their Bricks close together. But lay the ends of each Brick about three Inches off each other, to serve for _Wind-holes_ till they _Trim_ round about: Then they lay another _Lay_ of Bricks leaving other such _Wind-holes_ over the middle of the last _Lay_ of Bricks, and so _Trim_ as they work round either with half Bricks or Bats that the _Wind-holes_ of the last _Lay_ may be covered: And in this manner and order they lay so many _Lays_ till the Walls of the _Furnance_ be raised about three Bricks higher than the _Mouths_ of the _Melting-Pots_, still observing to leave such _Wind-holes_ over the middle of every Brick that lies under each _Lay_.

Then they fill the sides of the _Furnance_ round about the _Melting-Pots_, and over them with _Charcoal_, and _Fire_ it at several _Wind-holes_ in the bottom till it burn up and all over the _Furnance_, which a moderate Wind in about an Hours time will do: And about half an Hours time after they lay their Ears near the Ground and listen to hear a _Bubling_ in the _Pots_; and this they do so often till they do hear it. When they hear this _Bubling_, they conclude the _Iron_ is melted: But yet they will let it stand, perhaps half an hour longer or more, according as they guess the Fire to be Hotter or Cooler, that they may be the more assured it is all throughly Melted. And when it is Melted the Melting _Pot_ will not be a quarter full.

And in or against that time they make another small _Furnance_ close to the first, (to set an _Iron-Pot_ in, in which they Melt _Lead_) on that side from whence the Wind blows; Because the Person that Lades the _Lead_ out of the _Iron-Pot_ (as shall be shewed by and by) may be the less annoyed with the Fumes of the _Mettal_, in both _Furnances_. This _Furnance_ is made of three or four _Course_ of Bricks open to the windward, and wide enough to contain the designed _Iron-Pot_, with room between it and the sides to hold a convenient quantity of _Charcoal_ under it, and about it.

Into this _Iron-Pot_ they put for every three Pound of _Iron_, about five and twenty pounds of _Lead_. And setting Fire to the _Coals_ in this little _Furnance_ they Melt and Heat this _Lead_ Red-hot.

Hitherto a Man (nay, a Boy) might officiate all this Work; But now comes Labour would make _Hercules_ sweat. Now they fall to pulling down so much of the side of the open _Furnance_ as stands above the Mouth of that _Melting-Pot_ next the _Iron-Pot_, And having a thick strong _Iron Ladle_, whose _Handle_ is about two Yards long, and the _Ladle_ big enough to hold about ten Pounds of _Lead_, and this _Ladle_ Red-hot that it chill not the _Mettal_, they now I say with this _Ladle_ fall to clearing this first _Melting-Pot_ of all the Coals or filth that lie on the top of the Melted _Mettal_: while another Man at the same time stands provided with a long strong round _Iron Stirring Poot_; the _Handle_ of which _Stirring Poot_ is also about two Yards long or more, and the _Poot_ it self almost twice the length of the depth of the Melting _Pot_. This _Poot_ is nothing but a piece of the same _Iron_ turned to a square with the Handle: And this _Poot_ is also in a readiness heated Red-hot.

Now one Man with the _Ladle_ _Lades_ the _Lead_ out of the _Iron-Pot_ into the Melting _Pot_, while the other Man with the _Poot_ stirs and Labours the _Lead_ and _Mettal_ in the Melting _Pot_ together till they think the _Lead_ and _Mettal_ in the Melting _Pot_ be well incorporated: And thus they continue _Lading_ and _Stirring_ till they have near filled the Melting _Pot_.

Then they go to another next _Melting-Pot_, and successively to all, and Lade and stir _Lead_ into them as they did into the first. Which done the _Mettal_ is made: And they pull down the _Walls_ of the _Open Furnance_, and rake away the Fire that the _Mettal_ may cool in the _Pots_.

Now (according to Custom) is Half a Pint of Sack mingled with Sallad Oyl, provided for each Workman to Drink; intended for an Antidote against the Poysonous Fumes of the _Antimony_, and to restore the Spirits that so Violent a Fire and Hard Labour may have exhausted.

¶. 3. _Of_ Letter-Ladles.

_Letter-Ladles_ differ nothing from other common _Ladles_, save in the size: Yet I have given you a Draft of one in Plate 20 at A. Of these the _Caster_ has many at Hand, and many of several sizes that he may successively chuse one to fit the several sizes of _Letters_ he has to _Cast_; as well in _Bodies_ as in _Thicknesses_.

§. XIX. ¶. 1. _Of_ Casting, Breaking, Rubbing, Kerning, _and setting up of_ Letters.

Before the _Caster_ begins to _Cast_ he must kindle his _Fire_ in the _Furnance_, to _Melt_ the _Mettal_ in the _Pan_. Therefore he takes the _Pan_ out of the Hole in the Stone, and there lays in _Coals_ and kindles them. And when it is well kindled, he sets the _Pan_ in again, and puts _Mettal_ into it to _Melt_. If it be a small _Bodyed-Letter_ he _Casts_, or a thin _Letter_ of Great _Bodies_, his _Mettal_ must be very hot; nay, sometimes Red-hot to make the Letter _Come_. Then having chose a _Ladle_ that will hold about so much as the _Letter_ and _Break_ is, he lays it at the _Stoking-hole_, where the Flame bursts out to heat. Then he ties a thin Leather cut into such a Figure as is described in Plate 20 at B with its narrow end against the _Face_ to the _Leather-Groove_ of the _Matrice_, by whipping a Brown Thread twice about the _Leather-Groove_, and fastning the Thread with a Knot. Then he puts both Halves of the _Mold_ together, and puts the _Matrice_ into the _Matrice Cheek_, and places the _Foot_ of the _Matrice_ on the _Stool_ of the _Mold_, and the broad end of the _Leather_ upon the _Wood_ of the upper half of the _Mold_, but not tight up, lest it might hinder the _Foot_ of the _Matrice_ from _Sinking_ close down upon the _Stool_ in a train of Work. Then laying a little Rosin on the upper _Wood_ of the _Mold_, and having his _Casting Ladle_ hot, he with the bolling side of it Melts the Rosin; And when it is yet _Melted_ presses the broad end of the _Leather_ hard down on the _Wood_, and so fastens it to the _Wood_. All this is Preparation.

Now he comes to _Casting_. Wherefore placing the under-half of the _Mold_ in his left hand, with the _Hook_ or _Hag_ forward, he clutches the ends of its _Wood_ between the lower part of the _Ball_ of his Thumb and his three hind-Fingers. Then he lays the upper half the _Mold_ upon the under-half, so as the _Male-Gages_ may fall into the _Female-Gages_, and at the same time the _Foot_ of the _Matrice_ place it self upon the _Stool_. And clasping his left-hand Thumb strong over the upper half of the _Mold_, he nimbly catches hold of the _Bow_ or _Spring_ with his right-hand Fingers at the top of it, and his Thumb under it, and places the point of it against the middle of the _Notch_ in the back-side of the _Matrice_, pressing it as well forwards towards the _Mold_, as downwards by the _Sholder_ of the _Notch_ close upon the _Stool_, while at the same time with his hinder-Fingers as aforesaid, he draws the under-half of the _Mold_ towards the _Ball_ of his Thumb, and thrusts by the _Ball_ of his Thumb the upper part towards his Fingers, that both the _Registers_ of the _Mold_ may press against both sides of the _Matrice_, and his Thumb and Fingers press both Halves of the _Mold_ close together.

Then he takes the Handle of his _Ladle_ in his right Hand, and with the _Boll_ of it gives a stroak two or three outwards upon the _Surface_ of the _Melted Mettal_ to scum or clear it from the Film or Dust that may swim upon it. Then takes up the _Ladle_ full of _Mettal_, and having his _Mold_ as aforesaid in his left hand, he a little twists the left-side of his _Body_ from the _Furnance_, and brings the _Geat_ of his _Ladle_ (full of _Mettal_) to the _Mouth_ of the _Mold_, and twists the upper part of his right-hand towards him to turn the _Mettal_ into it, while at the same moment of Time he Jilts the _Mold_ in his left hand forwards to receive the _Mettal_ with a strong _Shake_ (as it is call’d) not only into the _Bodies_ of the _Mold_, but while the _Mettal_ is yet hot, running swift and strongly into the very _Face_ of the _Matrice_ to receive its perfect Form there, as well as in the _Shanck_.

Then he takes the upper half of the _Mold_ off the under-half, by placing his right-Hand Thumb on the end of the _Wood_ next his left-Hand Thumb, and his two middle-Fingers at the other end of the _Wood_, and finding the Letter and _Break_ lie in the under-Half of the _Mold_ (as most commonly by reason of its weight it does) he throws or tosses the Letter _Break_ and all upon a Sheet of Waste-Paper laid for that purpose on the _Bench_ just a little beyond his left-hand, and is then ready to _Cast_ another Letter as before, and also the whole number that is to be _Cast_ with that _Matrice_.

But sometimes it happens that by a _Shake_, or too big a _Ladle_, the Mettal may spill or slabber over the _Mouth_ of the upper Half of the _Mold_, so that the spilt _Mettal_ sticking about the outsides of the _Mouth_, may lift the Letter off the under-half of the _Mold_, and keep it in the upper half. Therefore he with the point of the _Hag_ in the Wood of the under-half of the _Mold_, picks at the hollow in the fore part of the _Break_ made by the _Shaking_ out of the _Mettal_, and draws _Break_ and _Letter_ both out. It sometimes sticks in the under Half of the _Mold_ by the same cause, and then he uses the point of the _Hag_ in the upper half of the _Mold_, to pick or hale it out, as before.

It also sometimes sticks when any of the Joynts of the _Mold_ open never so little, the _Mettal_ thus getting in between those Joynts: But this fault is not to be indured, for before he can _Cast_ any more, this fault must be mended.

But besides _Letters_, there is to be _Cast_ for a perfect _Fount_ (properly a Fund) _Spaces_ Thick and Thin, n _Quadrats_, m _Quadrats_ and _Quadrats_. These are not _Cast_ with _Matrices_ but with _Stops_ (as we may call them) Because when these are _Cast_ they are all shorter than the _Shanck_ of the Letter, that they may not _Print_. Therefore they take off the _Register_ of the under-Half _Mold_, and fit a piece of _Plate-Brass_ about a _Brevier_ Thick and a _Brevier_ longer than to reach to the edge of the _Body_ in the place of the _Register_, and drill a hole in this _Plate-Brass_ right against the Hole in the _Carriage_ that the _Female-Screw_ lies in: This Hole is made so wide that the _Male-Screw_ which screwed the _Register_ close to the _Carriage_ and _Body_ may enter in at it, and screw this _Plate-Brass_ close to them, as it did the _Register_: Then they make a mark with the point of a _Needle_ on the _Plate-Brass_ just against the side of the Edge of the _Body_, and at this mark they double down the end of the _Plate-Brass_ inwards to make a perfect _Square_ with the _inside_ of the whole _Plate_. This doubling down is called the _Stop_ aforesaid, and must be made just so thick as they design the Thin or Thick _Space_ to be, and must have its Upper and Under-Edges filed so exactly to the _Body_, that it may lie close upon the Under-_Carriage_, and just even so high as the upper-side of the _Body_. So that when the Upper half of the _Mold_ is placed on the under-Half, and _Mettal Cast_ in at the _Mouth_ (as before) the _Mettal_ shall descend no deeper between the two _Bodies_ then just to his _Stop_: You must note that this _Stop_ must be filed exactly true as to _Body_ and _Thickness_: For if it be never so little too big in _Body_, the _Carriage_ of the _Mold_ will ride upon it and make the _Body_ of the _Space_ bigger. Or if the _Body_ be never so little too little, the Hot _Mettal_ will run beyond the _Stop_; both which Miscarriages in making the _Stop_, spoil the _Space_.

If the _Space_ be too short, they File the end of the _Stop_ shorter.

This _Brevier_ thick _Plate_ will be thick enough for _Stops_ for the Thin or Thick _Spaces_ of any Body though of _Great-Cannon_, and for the n _Quadrat Stop_ of any Body under a _Great-Primmer_. And for the m _Quadrat Stop_ of all to a _Brevier_ and all Bodies under it. But for _Stops_ that require to be Thicker then a _Brevier_, instead of doubling the _Stop_ inwards on the _Plate_, I _Solder_ on the inside of that end of the _Plate_ a _Stop_ full big enough in Body, and big enough in Thickness for the _Quadrat_ I intend to make, and afterwards file and fit the _Stop_ exactly as before.

When they _Cast_ these _Spaces_ or _Quadrats_, this _Stop_ is always screwed fast upon the _Carriage_ of the under-Half _Mold_ as aforesaid. So that they only fit the upper half _Mold_ on the under, and _Cast_ their Number almost twice as quick as they do the Letters in _Matrices_.

It is generally observed by _Work-men_ as a Rule, That when they _Cast Quadrats_ they _Cast_ them exactly to the Thickness of a set Number of m’s or _Body_, _viz._ two m’s thick, three m’s thick, four m’s thick, _&c._ And therefore the _Stops_ aforesaid must all be filed exactly to their several intended thicknesses, The reason is, that when the _Compositer_ Indents any Number of Lines, he may have _Quadrats_ so exactly _Cast_ that he shall not need to _Justifie_ them either with _Spaces_ or other helps.

¶. 2. _Some Rules and Circumstances to be observed in_ Casting.

1. If the Letter be a small _Body_, it requires a Harder _Shake_ than a great _Body_ does: Or if it be a thin Letter though of a greater _Body_, especially small _i_, being a thin Letter its Tittle will hardly _Come_; So that sometimes the _Caster_ is forced to put a little _Block-Tin_ into his Mettal, which makes the Mettal Thinner, and consequently have a freer flux to the _Face_ of the _Matrice_.

2. He often examines the _Registers_ of the _Mold_, by often _Rubbing_ a _Cast_ Letter: For notwithstanding the _Registers_ were carefully _Justified_ before, and hard screwed up; yet the constant thrusting of both _Registers_ against the sides of the _Matrice_, may and often do force them more or less to drive backwards. Or a fall of one half or both Halfs of the _Mold_, may drive them backwards or forwards: Therefore he examins, as I said, how they _Rub_, whether too Thick or too Thin. And if he see Cause, mends the _Registers_, as I shew’d §. 5. ¶. 2.

Or if the _Matrice_ be _Botcht_, as I shew’d you §. 5. ¶. 3. then those _Botches_ (being only so many fine points rising out of the Body of the _Copper_ of the _Matrice_) may with so many reiterated pressures of the _Registers_ against them, flatten more and more, and press towards the Body of the _Matrice_, and consequently make the Letter Thinner: Which if it do, this must be mended in the _Matrice_ by re-raising it to its due Thickness.

3. He pretty often examins, as I shew’d in §. 5. ¶. 2. how the Letters stand in _Line_: For when great Numbers are _Cast_ with one _Matrice_, partly by pressing the point of the _Wyer_ against the _Bottom-Sholder_ of the _Notch_ in the back-side of the _Matrice_, and partly by the softness of the matter of his _Matrice_ and hardness of the _Iron-stool_, the _Foot_ of the _Matrice_ (if it wear not) may batter so much as to put the Letter out of Line. This must be mended with a _Botch_, _viz._ by knocking up the _Foot_ of the _Matrice_, as I shew’d §. 5. ¶. 3.

A Workman will _Cast_ about four thousand of these Letters ordinarily in one day.

¶. 3. _Of_ Breaking _off_ Letters.

_Breaking_ off is commonly Boys-work: It is only to _Break_ the _Break_ from the _Shanck_ of the _Letter_. All the care in it is, that he take up the _Letter_ by its Thickness, not its _Body_ (unless its Thickness be equal to its Body) with the fore-Finger and Thumb of his right Hand as close to the _Break_ as he can, lest if when the _Break_ be between the fore-Finger and Thumb of his left hand, the force of _Breaking_ off the _Break_ should bow the _Shanck_ of the _Letter_.

¶. 4. _Of_ Rubbing _of_ Letters.

_Rubbing_ of _Letters_ is also most commonly Boys-work: But when they do it, they provide _Finger-stalls_ for the two fore-Fingers of the right-Hand: For else the Skin of their Fingers would quickly rub off with the sharp greet of the Stone. These _Finger-stalls_ are made of old _Ball-Leather_ or _Pelts_ that _Printers_ have done with: Then having an heap of one sort of _Letters_ lying upon the Stone before them, with the left hand they pick up the _Letter_ to be _Rub’d_, and lay it down in the _Rubbing_ place with one of its sides upwards they clap the Balls of the fore-Finger and middle-Finger upon the fore and hinder-ends of the _Letter_, and _Rubbing_ the _Letter_ pretty lightly backwards about eight or nine Inches, they bring it forwards again with an hard pressing _Rub_ upon the _Stone_; where the fore-Finger and Thumb of the left hand is ready to receive it, and quickly turn the opposite side of the _Letter_, to take such a _Rub_ as the other side had.

But in _Rubbing_ they are very careful that they press the Balls of their Fingers equally hard on the _Head_ and _Foot_ of the _Letter_. For if the _Head_ and _Foot_ be not equally prest on the _Stone_, either the _Head_ or _Foot_ will _drive-out_ when the _Letters_ come to be _Composed_ in the _Stick_; So that without _Rubbing_ over again they cannot be _Drest_.

¶. 5. _Of_ Kerning _of_ Letters.

Amongst the _Italick-Letters_ many are to be _Kern’d_, some only on one side, and some both sides. The _Kern’d-Letters_ are such as have part of their _Face_ hanging over one side or both sides of their _Shanck_: These cannot be _Rub’d_, because part of the _Face_ would _Rub_ away when the whole side of the _Shanck_ is toucht by the _Stone_: Therefore they must be _Kern’d_, as _Founders_ call it: Which to do, they provide a small Stick bigger or less, according as the _Body_ of the _Letter_ that is to be _Kern’d_. This _Kerning-stick_ is somewhat more than an Handful long, and it matters not whether it be square or round: But if it be square the Edges of it must be pretty well rounded away, lest with long usage and hard Cutting they Gall the Hand. The upper-side of this _Kerning-Stick_ is flatted away somewhat more than the length of the _Letter_, and on that flat part is cut away a flat bottom with two square sides like the _Sides_ or _Ledges_ of the _Lining-stick_ to serve for two _Sholders_. That side to be _Kern’d_ and _scrap’d_, is laid upwards, and its opposite side on the bottom of the _Kerning-stick_ with the _Foot_ of the _Letter_ against the bottom _Sholder_, and the side of the _Letter_ against the side _Sholder_ of the _Kerning-stick_.

He also provides a _Kerning-Knife_: This is a pretty strong piece of a broken Knife, about three Inches long, which he fits into a Wooden-Handle: But first he breaks off the Back of the Knife towards the Point, so as the whole edge lying in a straight line the piece broken off from the back to the edge may leave an angle at the point of about 45 Degrees, which irregular breaking (for so we must suppose it) he either _Grinds_ or _Rubs_ off on a _Grind-stone_. Then he takes a piece of a Broom-stick for his Handle, and splits one end of it about two Inches long towards the other end, and the split part he either Cuts or Rasps away about a _Brevier_ deep round about that end of the Handle. Then he puts about an Inch and an half of his broken blade into the split or slit in the Handle, and ties a four or five doubled Paper a little below the Rasped part of the Handle round about it, to either a _Pica_ or _Long-Primmer_ thick of the slit end of the Handle. This _Paper_ is so ordered that all its sides round about shall stand equally distant from all the Rasped part of the Handle: For then setting the other end of the Handle in Clay, or otherwise fastening it upright, when _Mettal_ is poured in between the Rasped part of the Handle and the Paper about it, that _Mettal_ will make a strong _Ferril_ to the _Handle_ of the _Knife_. The irregularities that may happen in _Casting_ this _Ferril_ may be Rasped away to make it more handy and Handsome.

Now to return again where I left off. Holding the Handle of the _Kerning-stick_ in his left hand, He lays the side of the _Letter_ to be _Kern’d_ upwards with the _Face_ of the _Letter_ towards the end of the _Kerning-stick_: the side of the _Letter_ against the side _Sholder_ of the _Kerning-stick_, and the _Foot_ of the _Letter_ against the bottom _Sholder_ of the _Kerning-stick_, and laying the end of the Ball of his left-Hand Thumb hard upon the _Shanck_ of the _Letter_ to keep its _Side_ and _Foot_ steddy against the _Sholders_ of the _Kerning-stick_, he with the _Kerning-Knife_ in his right-Hand cuts off about one quarter of the _Mettal_ between the _Beard_ of the _Shanck_ and the _Face_ of the _Letter_. Then turning his _Knife_ so as the back of it may lean towards him, he scrapes towards him with the edge of the _Knife_ about half the length of that upper-side, _viz._ about so much as his Thumb does not cover: Then he turns the _Face_ of the _Letter_ against the lower _Sholder_ of the _Kerning-stick_, and scraping fromwards him with a stroak or two of his _Knife_ smoothens that end of the _Letter_ also.

If the other side of the _Letter_ be not to be _Kern’d_ it was before _Rub’d_ on the _Stone_, as was shewed in the last ¶: But if it be to be _Kern’d_, then he makes a little hole in his _Kerning-stick_, close to the lower _Sholder_ of it and full deep enough to receive all that part of the _Face_ of the _Letter_ that hangs over the _Shanck_, that the _Shanck_ of the _Letter_ may lie flat and solid on the bottom of the _Kerning-stick_, and that so the _Shanck_ of the _Letter_ bow not when the weight of the hand presses the edge of the _Kerning-Knife_ hard upon it. Into this hole he puts (as before said) so much of the _Face_ of the _Letter_ as hangs over the side of the _Shanck_, and so scrapes the lower end of the _Letter_ and _Kerns_ the upper end, as he did the former side of the _Letter_.

¶. 6. _Of_ Setting up, _or_ Composing Letters.

I described in §. 5. ¶. 2. the _Lining-stick_, But now we are come to _Setting up_, or _Composing_ of _Letters_. The _Founder_ must provide many _Composing-Sticks_; five or six dozen at the least. These _Composing-sticks_ are indeed but long _Lining-sticks_, about seven or eight and twenty Inches long _Handle_ and all: Whereof the _Handle_ is about three Inches and an half long: But as the _Lining-stick_ I described was made of _Brass_: So these _Composing-sticks_ are made of _Beech-Wood_.

When the Boy _Sets_ up _Letters_ (for it is commonly Boys-Work) The _Caster Casts_ about an hundred _Quadrats_ of the same _Body_ about half an Inch broad at least, let the _Body_ be what it will, and of the length of the whole _Carriage_, only by placing a flat _Brass_ or _Iron Plate_ upon the _Stool_ of the _Mold_ close against the _Carriage_ and _Body_, to stop the _Mettal_ from running farther.

The Boy (I say) takes the _Composing-stick_ by the _Handle_ in his left hand, clasping it about with his four Fingers, and puts the _Quadrat_ first into the _Composing-stick_, and lays the Ball of his Thumb upon it, and with the fore-Finger and Thumb of his right-Hand, assisted by his middle-finger to turn the _Letter_ to a proper position, with its _Nick_ upwards towards the bottom side of the _Composing-stick_; while it is coming to the _Stick_, he at the same time lifts up the Thumb of his left hand, and with it receives and holds the _Letter_ against the fore-side of the _Quadrat_, and after it, all the _Letters_ of the same sort, if the _Stick_ will hold them, If not he _Sets_ them in so many _Sticks_ as will hold them: Observing to _Set_ all the _Nicks_ of them upwards, as aforesaid. And as he _Set_ a _Quadrat_ at the beginning of the _Composing-stick_, so he fills not his _Stick_ so full, but that he may _Set_ another such _Quadrat_ at the end of it.

¶. 7. _Some Rules and Circumstances to be observed in_ Setting _up_ Letters.

1. If they _Drive_ a little out at _Head_ or _Foot_, so little as not to require new _Rubbing_ again, then he holds his Thumb harder against the _Head_ or _Foot_, so as to draw the _Driving_ end inward: For else when they come to _Scraping_, and _Dressing_ the _Hook_ of the _Dressing-Hook_ drawing Square, will endanger the middle or some other part of _Letters_ in the _Stick_ to _Spring_ out: And when they come into the _Dressing-block_, the _Knots_ of the _Blocks_ drawing also square subject them to the same inconvenience. And if they _Drive_ out at the _Head_, the _Feet_ will more or less stand off one another: So that when the _Tooth_ of the _Plow_ comes to _Dress_ the _Feet_, it will more or less job against every _Letter_, and be apt to make a bowing at the _Feet_, or at least make a _Bur_ on their sides at the _Feet_.

2. When _Short-Letters_ are begun to be _Set_ up in a _Stick_, the whole _Stick_ must be fill’d with _Short-Letters_: Because when they are _Dressing_, the _Short-Letters_ must be _Bearded_ on both sides the _Body_: And should _Short-Letters_ or _Ascending_ or _Descending_ or _Long_ stand together, the _Short_ cannot be _Bearded_ because the _Stems_ of the _Ascending_ or _Descending_ or _Long-Letters_ reach upon the _Body_ to the _Beard_: So that the _Short-Letters_ cannot be _Bearded_, unless the _Stems_ of the other _Letters_ should be scraped off.

3. When _Long-Letters_ are begun to be _Set_ up in the _Stick_, none but such must fill it, for the reason aforesaid.

4. If any _Letters Kern’d_ on one side be to be _Set_ up, and the _Stems_ of the same _Letters_ reach not to the opposite _Beard_ as s or f, in _Setting_ up these or such like _Letters_, every next _Letter_ is turned with its _Nick_ downwards, that the _Kern_ of each _Letter_ may lie over the _Beard_ of its next. But then they must be all _Set_ up again with a _Short-Letter_ between each, that they may be _Bearded_.

As every _Stick-full_ is set up, he sets them by upon the _Racks_, ready for the _Dresser_ to _Dress_, as shall be shewed in the next §.

The _Racks_ are described in _Plate 21._ at A. They are made of Square _Deal Battens_ about seven Inches and an half long, as at _a b a b a b_, and are at the ends _b b b_ let into two upright _Stiles_, standing about sixteen Inches and an half assunder, and the fore-ends of the _Racks_ mounting a little, that when _Sticks_ of _Letters_ is _Set_ by on any two parallel _Racks_, there may be no danger that the _Letters_ in them shall slide off forward; but their _Feet_ rest against the _Bottom-Ledges_ of the _Composing-sticks_. They set by as many of these _Sticks_ with _Letter_ in them, as will stand upon one another between every two _Rails_, and then set another pile of _Sticks_ with _Letter_ in them before the first, till the length of the _Rail_ be also filled with _Sticks_ of _Letter_ before one another. They set all the _Sticks_ of _Letters_ with their ends even to one another with the _Faces_ of the _Letter_ forwards.

This _Frame of Racks_ is always placed near the _Dressing-Bench_, that it may stand convenient to the _Letter-Dressers_ Hand.

§. 20. ¶. 1. _Of_ Dressing _of_ Letters.

There be several Tools and Machines used to the _Dressing_ of _Letters_: And unless I should describe them to you first, you might perhaps in my following discourse not well understand me: Wherefore I shall begin with them: They are as follows.

1. The _Dressing-Sticks_.
2. The _Bench_, _Blocks_ and its Appurtenances.
3. The _Dressing-Hook_.
4. The _Dressing-Knife_.
5. The _Plow_.
6. The _Mallet_.

Of each of these in order.

¶. 2. _Of the_ Dressing-Sticks.

I need give no other Description of the _Dressing-sticks_, than I did in the last §. and ¶. of the _Composing-Sticks_: Only they are made of hard Wood, and of greater Substance, as well because hard Wood will work smoother than soft Wood, as because greater Substance is less Subject to warp or shake than smaller Substance is. And also because hard Wood is less Subject to be penetrated by the sharpness of the _Bur_ of the _Mettal_ on the _Letters_ than the soft.

¶. 3. _Of the_ Block-Grove, _and its_ Appurtenances.

The _Block-Grove_ is described in _Plate 21. a b_. The _Groove_ in which the _Blocks_ are laid, two Inches deep, and seven Inches and an half wide at one end, and seven Inches wide at the other end: One of the _Cheeks_ as _c_ is three Inches and an half broad at one end, and three Inches broad at the other end, and the other _Cheek_ three Inches broad the whole Length: The Length of these _Cheeks_ are two and twenty Inches.

The _Wedge_ _e f_ is seven and twenty Inches and an half long, two Inches broad at one end, and three Inches and an half broad at the other end; And two Inches deep.

_g g g g_ The _Bench_ on which the _Dressing-Blocks_ are placed, are about sixteen Inches broad, and two Foot ten Inches high from the Floor. The _Bench_ hath its farther Side, and both ends, railed about with slit Deal about two Inches high, that the _Hook_, the _Knife_, and _Plow_, &c. fall not off when the Workman is at Work.

The _Blocks_ are described in _Plate 21_ at a b: They are made of hard Wood. These _Blocks_ are six and twenty Inches long, and each two Inches square. They are _Male_ and _Female_, a the _Male_, b the _Female_: Through the whole Length of the _Male-Block_ runs a _Tongue_ as at _a b_, and a _Groove_ as at _c d_, for the _Tongue_ of the _Plow_ to run in; This _Tongue_ is about half an Inch thick, and stands out square from the upper and under-sides of the _Block_. About three Inches within the ends of the _Block_ is placed a _Knot_ as at _c c_: These _Knots_ are small square pieces of _Box-wood_, the one above, and the other below the _Tongue_.

The _Female- Block_ is such another _Block_ as the _Male-Block_, only, instead of a _Tongue_ running through the length of it a _Groove_ is made to receive the _Tongue_ of the _Male-Block_, and the _Knots_ in this _Block_ are made at the contrary ends, that when the _Face_ of a _Stick_ of _Letter_ is placed on the _Tongue_ the _Knot_ in the _Male-Block_ stops the _Stick_ of _Letter_ from sliding forwards, while the other _Knot_ in the _Female-Block_ at the other end, by the knocking of a _Mallet_ on the end of the _Block_ forces the _Letter_ between the _Blocks_ forwards, and so the whole _Stick_ of _Letters_ between these two _Knots_ are screwzed together, and by the _Wedge_ _e f_ in _Plate 21_ (also with the force of a _Mallet_) _Wedges_ the two _Blocks_ and the _Stick_ of _Letter_ in them also tight, and close between the sides of the two _Blocks_; that afterwards the _Plow_ may more certainly do its Office upon the _Foot_ of the _Letter_; as shall be shewed hereafter.1

¶. 3. _Of the_ Dressing-Hook.

The _Dressing-Hook_ is described in _Plate 21_ at c. This is a long square _Rod_ of _Iron_, about two Foot long and a _Great-Primmer_ square: Its end _a_ is about a _two-Lin’d-English_ thick, and hath a small _Return_ piece of _Iron_ made square to the under-side of the _Rod_, that when the whole _Dressing-Hook_ is laid along a _Stick_ of _Letter_, this _Return piece_ or _Hook_ may, when the _Rod_ is drawn with the _Ball_ of the Thumb, by the _Knot_ on the upper-side of it at c, draw all the _Letter_ in the _Stick_ tight and close up together, that the _Stick_ of _Letter_ may be _Scraped_, as shall be shewed.

¶. 4. _Of the_ Dressing-Knife.

The _Dressing-Knife_ is delineated at d in _Plate 21_. It is only a short piece of a _Knife_ broken off about two Inches from the _Sholder_: But its Edge is _Basil’d_ away from the back to the point pretty suddenly to make it the stronger: The _Sprig_ or _Pin_ of the _Handle_ is commonly let into an Hole drilled into a piece of the Tip of an Harts-horn, as in the Figure and is fastned in with _Rosen_, as other _Knives_ are into their _Handles_.

¶. 5. _Of the_ Plow.

The _Plow_ is delineated in _Plate 21_ at e: It is almost a common _Plain_ (which I have already described in _Vol._ 1. _Numb._ 4. _Plate 4_. and §. 2 to 9.) only with this distinction, that through the length of the _Sole_ runs such a _Tongue_, as does through the _Male-Block_ to slide tight and yet easily through the _Groove_ made on the top of the _Male-block_: Its _Blade_ makes an _Angle_ of 60 Degrees with the _Sole_ of it.

§. 21. ¶. 1. _Of_ Dressing _of_ Letters.

The _Letter-Dresser_ hath (as I told you before) his _Letter Set_ up in _Composing-sticks_, with their _Nicks_ upwards, and those _Sticks_ set upon the _Racks_: Therefore he takes one _Stick_ off the _Racks_, and placing the _Handle_ of the _Composing-stick_ in his left hand, he takes the contrary end of the _Dressing-stick_ in his right-hand, and laying the Back of the _Dressing-stick_ even upon or rather a little hanging over the Back of the _Composing-stick_, that the _Feet_ of the _Letter_ may fall within the _Bottom-Ledge_ of the _Dressing-stick_; He at the same time fits the _Side-Ledge_ of the _Dressing-stick_ against the farther end of the _Line_ of _Letters_ in the _Composing-stick_: And holding then both _Sticks_ together, his left hand at the _Handle_-end of the _Composing-stick_, and his right-Hand within about two Handfuls of the _Handle_-end of the _Dressing-stick_, He turns his Hands, _Sticks_ and all, outward from his left hand, till the _Composing-stick_ lies flat upon the _Dressing-stick_, and consequently the _Letters_ in the _Composing-stick_ is turned and laid upon the _Dressing-stick_.