Chapter IV: Preface (1)

_The_ Printing-Press _that a_ Press-man _works at, is a Machine invented upon mature consideration of Mechanick Powers, deducted from Geometrick Principles; and therefore a_ Press-man _indowed with a competency of the Inventers Genius, will not only find great satisfaction in the contemplation of the harmonious design and Make of a_ Press, _but as often as any Member, or part of it is out of order, he will know how to remedy any deficiency in it. This alone will intitle him to be an Understanding_ Press-man: _But his care and serious industry in the Physical and Manual performance of his Task, must give him the Reputation of a good and curious Work-man_.

§. 24. ¶. 1. _Of the_ Press-mans _Trade_.

An understanding _Press-man_ therefore knows not only how to direct a Printers Joyner to Set up and Fasten a _Press_ when it is made, but also how to give a strange Joyner and Smith instructions how to make a _Press_, and all its parts, in a Symetrical proportion to any unwonted size, if in a strange place he shall have occasion to use it.

I have already at large insisted upon the dimensions of every particular Member of an ordinary siz’d _Press_ in § 10, 11. But in those Sections did omit shewing you how the _Press_ is Set up and Fastned; yet promised to do it when I came to the _Press-mans_ Trade: It being not only a care incumbent upon him, but a Curiosity he would assume to himself to direct and see the Joyner set and fasten it in a Steddy and practical position. We will suppose a strange Joyner, and not a Printers Joyner (as here in _London_ he may be furnisht with) who generally by their constant conversation in Printers work, do or ought to know as much of Setting up a _Press_ as the _Press-man_ himself.

The Joyner therefore having set together the Frame, _viz._ the _Cheeks_, _Feet_, _Cap_, _Head_, _Till_, _Winter_, _Hind-Posts_, _Ribs_, _Carriage_, _&c._ The _Press-man_ directs, and sees him perform as follows by and by. For I should have told you that before the _Head_ is put into its place, the _Press-man_ besmears the whole Tennanted ends and Tennants well with Soap or Grease, and also the Mortesses the _Head_ slides in, and so much of the _Cheeks_ as the ends of the _Head_ work against, that the _Head_ may the easier work up and down.

He also before the _Carriage_ is laid on the _Ribs_, besmears the two edges of the _Plank_ and the under side of the _Coffin_ well with Soap or Grease; and the like he does by the inside of the _Wooden Ribs_, that they may slide the easier beside each other.

Now to return to the Joyner. The _Press-man_, I say, directs and sees him perform as follows.

1. To place the _Feet_ upon an Horizontal Level Floor, as I shewed in the First Volume, Numb. 7. § 7. when I spoke of the Level that Carpenters use.

2. To erect the _Cheeks_ perpendicularly upright, as I shewed _Vol._ 1. _Numb._ 7. § 8. when I treated of the _Plumb-line_.

3. To place the _Stays_ or _Braces_ so as the _Press_ may be kept in the most Steddy and Stable position, as well to give a check to the force of the hardest _Pull_ he makes, as to the hardest Knock the _Bar_ shall make against the farther _Cheek_, if by chance (as sometimes it does) it slip out of the _Press-mans_ Hand.

This consideration may direct him to place one _Brace_ against the end of the _Cap_ that hangs over the hither _Cheek_, and in a range parallel with the fore and hind side of the _Cap_: For the more a _Brace_ stands aslope to the two parrallel sides, the less it resists a force offered to the end of them, _viz._ the hither end of the _Cap_, which is one main _Stay_ to the whole _Press_.

If he place another _Brace_ against the hinder corner of the farther end of the _Cap_, it will resist the _Spring_ of the _Bar_, if it slip out of the _Press-mans_ Hand.

And if he places two other _Braces_, one against the hither corner of the hind-side of the _Cap_, and the other against the farther corner of the fore-side of the _Cap_, the _Press_ will be sufficiently _Braced-up_, if the Room will afford convenience to place the farther end of the _Braces_ against.

By convenience I mean a firm solidity to place the end of the _Braces_ against, be it either a Stone-wall, Brick-wall, or some principal Post, or a Girder, _&c._ that will not start or tremble at the force of a _Pull_.

The _Braces_ ought to be straight, and of Substance strong enough proportionable to their Length: And if convenience will allow it to be fixed in such a position that they stand in the same straight Line with the upper Surface of the _Cap_, viz. that the farther end of the _Brace_ neither dips lower or mounts higher than the upper side of the _Cap_. Neither ought the _Brace_, though thus posited, to stand aslope or askew, _viz._ make unequal angles with the side of the _Cap_ it is fastned to, but it ought to stand Square, and make right angles with the respective side of the _Cap_; because in those Positions the _Braces_ best resists the force of continued _Pulls_.

But though this be by the Rules of Architecture, the strongest, firmest, and most concise method for _Bracing-up_ a _Press_, yet will not the Room the _Press_ is to stand in always admit of convenience to place the _Braces_ thus: Therefore the _Press-man_ ought to consider the conveniences of the Room, both for the places to fit the _Braces_ to, and the positions to set the _Braces_ in; placing his _Braces_ as correspondent as he can to these Rules.

If he doubt the crazy make of the _Winter_, he will cause two _Battens_ of three or four Inches broad, and a full Inch thick, to be nailed close to the outer sides of the Feet of the _Press_, which will both strengthen the _Winter_, and keep the lower part of the _Cheeks_ from flying out, and also hinder the _Press_ from working into a twisting Position.

And though I am loath to name the _Under-laying_ of the _Feet_, because at the best it is but a _Botch_, and Subjects the whole _Press_ to an unstable position yet because by accident it may happen, the aforesaid _Battens_ will also keep these Underlays from working out.

Joyners that Work to Printers have got a Custom to place a strong Piece of Timber between the middle of the _Cap_ and the Ceiling or Roof of the Room, which can do no service there, unless they intend to support the Roof: For the weight of the _Press_ alone will keep it close to the Floor, and the strength of Stuff between the Mortesses in the _Cheeks_ and the ends of them, are intended to be made strong enough to resist the Rising of the _Head_: For should that strength of Stuff start, neither their strong Piece of Timber, nor the strength of the Roof, would resist the Rising of the _Head_: but _Head_ and _Cap_, and Timber and Roof too, would all start together, as by experience I have seen. For indeed the strength of Stuff between the Mortesses that the Tennants of the _Head_ works in, and the upper ends of the _Cheeks_, and the Strength of Stuff between the Mortesses that the Tennants of the _Winter_ lyes in, and the lower ends of the _Cheeks_ resist the whole strength of the working of the _Spindle_ out of its _Nut_. So that the _Cap_ suffers no pressure upwards or the _Feet_ downwards, unless the force of the _Spindle_ break the strength of Stuff between the _Head_ and the upper ends of the _Cheeks_, or the strength of Stuff between the _Winter_ and the lower ends of the _Cheeks_.

The _Press_ being thus far fastned, the _Carriage_ is laid on; and if the Joyner performed his Work well in making the Wooden-work, it will at first lye exactly Horizontal; if not, it must be mended where it is amiss before the _Press-man_ can _Lay_ the _Stone_; and before the _Stay_ of the _Carriage_ can be fitted under the end of the _Ribs_.

¶ 2. _Of_ Laying _or_ Bedding _the_ Stone.

We will suppose the Wooden _Ribs_ to lye on the _Winter_ exactly, flat and Horizontal, therefore the _Press-man_ now _Lays_ the _Stone_: If the _Stone_ be a good thick Marble Stone, and all the way of an equal thickness between the _Face_ and the Bottom, he may _Bed_ or _Lay_ it upon so many large _Sheets_ of Brown Paper as will raise the _Face_ about a _Brevier_ above the Superficies of the _Coffin_, and the _Stone_ will do good service.

Or he may _Bed_ or _Lay_ it on Bran; which indeed the _Press-man_ most commonly does, if the _Stone_ be qualified as aforesaid.

The manner how he lays it on Bran is thus,

He grasps an handful of Bran and lays it down at the hither corner of the _Coffin_ on his Left Hand, and it will form it self into a small Hillock; then he takes another handful of Bran, and lays that down in the same manner near the first, towards the further side, and so a third, _&c._ towards the further side, till he have filled the whole breadth of the _Coffin_. Then he in like manner lays another row of Hillocks, beginning at the hither side of the _Coffin_; and so a third and fourth row, _&c._ till the length of the _Coffin_ is filled as well as the breadth: Then with a _Riglet_ he drives the tops of these Hillocks into the Valleys between them, to spread the Bran into an equal thickness in the whole _Coffin_. Which done, he lays the _Stone_ upon it.

But in this case he considers to lay so much Bran thus into the _Coffin_ as may make the _Face_ of the _Stone_ rise about a _Great Primer_ higher than the Superficies of the _Coffin_: For else he must take all his Bran out again, and new-lay his Hillocks, making them bigger or less, till he have fitted the _Face_ of the _Stone_, to lye about a _Great Primer_, as aforesaid, higher than the Superficies of the _Coffin_.

But if it be a thin _Stone_, or a _Purbeck_ or _Portland Stone_, it is great odds if it be thus _Laid_, but it breaks with the first _Pull_: Therefore these _Stones_ are generally _Laid_ or _Bedded_ with Plaister of _Paris_, which before it hardens, will of it self run into an Horizontal position.

This Plaister of _Paris_ is tempered with fair Water to the consistence of Batter for Pancakes, or somewhat thicker, and such a quantity is put into the _Coffin_ as may raise the _Face_ of the _Stone_ about a Scaboard higher than the Superficies of the _Coffin_.

The different matter the _Stone_ is _Laid_ on is the reason why the _Face_ is _Laid_ of different heights above the Superficies of the _Coffin_: For by the force of a _Pull_ about a dozen Sheets of Brown Paper may be squeez’d closer by a _Brevier Body_, which brings the _Face_ of the _Stone_ into the same Level with the Superficies of the _Coffin_. And Bran squeezes much more. But Plaister of _Paris_ not at all.

When he _Lays_ the _Stone_ on Bran, or on Plaister of Paris, he and his Companions slings the _Stone_ in two strong Packthreds, placing one towards either end of the _Stone_; and each of them taking an end of each String in each of their Hands, with the _Face_ of the _Stone_ upwards, and brought as near as they can into an Horizontal Position, they with great care and caution let it into the _Coffin_, and as near as they can, so as the whole bottom of the _Stone_ touch the _Bedding_ all at once; lest by raking the _Bedding_ with any part of the bottom of the _Stone_ first, the Horizontal form of the _Bedding_ be broken.

Having laid the _Stone_ down, they draw the Packthred from under it: And by squeezing a little Water out of a Spunge upon about the middle of the _Face_ of the _Stone_, try whether the _Stone_ lye truly Horizontal, which they know by the standing of the Water: For if the Water delate it self equally about the middle of the _Stone_, the _Stone_ lies Horizontal: But if it have a propensitude to one side more than another, the declivety is on that side, and the _Stone_ must be new _Laid_.

Having laid it Horizontal, they _Justifie_ it up with the _Justifiers_ I mentioned in § 11. ¶ 17.

¶ 3. _Of_ Setting _the_ Rounce.

The _Rounce_ being well _Set_ does not only ease a _Press-man_ in his Labour, but contributes much to Riddance in a train of Work.

In the old-fashioned _Presses_ used here in _England_, the _Press-man_ finds often great trouble and loss of Time in _Setting_ the _Rounce_: Because the _Girts_ being nailed to the _Carriage-board_ behind, and to the Frame of the _Coffin_ before, he cannot alter the position of the _Rounce_ without un-nailing and nailing the _Girts_ again, both before and behind. Nay, and sometimes though he thinks he has been very careful in _Winding_ the _Girts_ off or on the _Barrel_ of the _Rounce_, as he finds occasion requires; Yet by straining either of the _Girts_ too hard, or not hard enough, or by an accidental slip of either of the _Girts_, or by stirring the _Rounce_ out of a Set position, when he thinks he has _Set_ the _Rounce_, he has it to do again. Besides, The _Carriage-board_, _Frame_ of the _Coffin_, and the _Rounce-barrel_, all suffer tearing to pieces by often drawing out and driving in o Nails.

But in these new-fashioned _Presses_ all these inconveniences are avoided, for the _Press-man_, without nailing or un-nailing, _Sets_ the _Rounce_ to what Position he will, only by lifting up the Iron _Clicker_ that stops the wheel: For then _Winding_ off so much _Girt_, and _Winding_ up so much _Girt_ at the opposite end of the _Carriage_, his _Rounce_ is _Set_, without hope or Hazzard.

He _Sets_ the _Rounce_ to such a position, that when the fore-end of the _Tympan_ will just lye down and rise free, without touching the fore-edge of the _Plattin_, then a line drawn or imagined from the Axis of the _Handle_ of the _Rounce_, to a Perpedicular or _Plumb-line_, let fall from the Axis of the _Spindle_ of the _Rounce_, these two lines shall make an angle of about 45 degrees, which is half the Elevation between an Horizontal line, or Line of Level, and a Perpendicular, or Plumb-line.

¶ 4. _Of_ Hanging _the_ Plattin.

When the _Press-man Hangs_ the _Plattin_, he lays a _Form_ upon the _Press_, and about a Quire of Paper doubled upon it (this Quire of _Paper_ thus doubled is called the _Cards_) then layes the _Plattin_ upon the _Cards_, and so _Runs_ the _Carriage_ and _Plattin_ in, till the middle of the _Plattin_ lye just under the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_: Then he puts the _Pan_ of the _Plattin_ in its place, and in part Justifies the _Head_, as shall be shewed in the next ¶. And he un-screws the _Hose-screws_, till the Spuares at the ends of the _Hose_ come down to about a quarter of an Inch of the Square of the Socket they are fitted into in the ends of the _Garter_, and when the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ is fitted into the _Nut_ in the _Pan_ of the _Plattin_, he examines by straining a Pack-thred against the two foresides of the _Cheeks_ of the _Press_, whether the fore-edge of the _Plattin_ is set in a parallel Range with the fore-sides of the _Cheeks_: If it be not, he twists the ends till the edge of the _Plattin_ stands parallel with the Pack-thred, and consequently with the _Cheeks_.

Then with the _Bar_ he _Pulls_ the _Spindle_ hard down upon the _Plattin_, and Sets the edges of a _Paper-board_ between the _Bar_ and the farther _Cheek_ of the _Press_, to keep the _Bar_ from starting back.

And having provided fine Whip-cord, he knots a Noose on one end and puts it over one of the _Hooks_ of the _Plattin_, lashing the Whip-cord also upon the farthermost _Notch_ of the _Hose-hook_, and again upon the _Plattin-hook_, and again upon the _Hose-hook_, and again upon the _Plattin-hook_: So that here is now three Lashes of whip-cord upon the _Plattin-hook_, and upon the farthermost _Notch_ of the _Hose-hook_. Wherefore he Lashes his fourth Lashing of whip-cord now upon the second _Notch_, viz. the middlemost _Notch_ of the _Hose-hook_, reiterating these Lashes on the middlemost _Notch_ and _Plattin-hook_ also three times. And thus in like manner Lashes also three Lashes upon the third and last _Notch_ of the _Hose-hook_ and also of the _Plattin-hook_, observing to draw every Lashing of an equal strength.

Then he begins to whip about these Lashings to draw them close together: He begins, I say, at at the bottom of the Lashings, _viz._ close above the _Plattin-hook_, and draws his whippings very tight and hard, and contiguous above one another, till he have whipt so near the top of the Lashings, _viz._ near the _Hose-hooks_ that he finds the Lashings (which now spread wide asunder because the _Notches_ of the _Hose-hooks_ stands far asunder) will yield no longer to to his whiping and pulling: So that now he fastens his whip-cord with two or three hard knots, and cuts it from the Coyl.

In like manner he begins at the opposite diagonal corner of the _Plattin_, and lashes and whips that: And also the two other corners of the _Plattin_ as he did the first, carefully observing to draw all his lashings and whippings of an equal strength, lest any corner of the _Plattin_ either mount or dip.

If he finds he strained the whip-cord not hard enough; or (when he is in his train of work) that the _Plattin-cords_ with long working work loose; or that the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ and the _Nut_ it works in, have worn one another; he by turning the _Screws_ at the upper ends of the _Hose_, draws up the _Nut_ of the _Plattin_ closer to the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_, and by consequence strains the _Plattin-cords_ tighter up; which is also a great convenience in these new-fashioned _Presses_: For, for any of these aforesaid accidents the _Press-man_ that works at our _English-Presses_ must new _Hang_ his _Plattin_: When (as aforesaid) in these new _Presses_ he only turns about a _Screw_.

¶ 5. _Of_ Justifying _the_ Head.

_Justifying_ the _Head_ is to put into the Mortesses in the _Cheeks_ between the upper sides of the Tennants of the _Head_, and the upper sides of the Mortesses in the _Cheeks_, an equal and convenient thickness of (either) square pieces of Felt, Pastboards, or Scaboards (some or all of them) that when the _Press-man Pulls_, the Tennants of the _Head_ shall have an equal Horizontal level Check.

In _Justifying_ the _Head_, the _Pull_ is to be made _Longer_ or _Shorter_.

If the _Press-man_ be tall and strong and his work be _Light_, that is, a small _Form_ and great _Letter_, which needs not so strong a _Pull_ as a Large _Form_ and small _Letter_, he covets to have a _Short-pull_; that is, that the _Spindle_ shall give an _Impression_ by that time the _Bar_ comes but about half way to the hither _Cheek_ (in Printers Language _Down_.)

But if the _Press-man_ be low, and not very strong, he will require a _Longer Pull_, especially if the work be _Heavy_, viz. a Large _Form_ and small _Letter_: Because the heighth of the _Bar_ is generally made to lye at the command of a reasonable Tall man, and therefore a Low man cannot Pull the Handle of the _Bar_ at so great a force at Arms-end as a Tall man; but will require the swinging of his whole Body backwards to add force to the _Pull_: So that if the _Pull_ be not _Longer_, he cannot fall enough backwards to get the _Handle_ of the _Bar_ within his command and force. And therefore a Low man and _Heavy Work_ requires a long and _Soaking Pull_.

A long or a _Soaking_ or _Easie Pull_, is when the _Form_ feels the force of the _Spindle_ by degrees, till the _Bar_ comes almost to the hither _Cheek_ of the _Press_, and this is also call’d a _Soft Pull_; because it comes Soft and Soakingly and easily down: And for the contrary reason the _Short Pull_ is call’d an _Hard Pull_, because it is suddenly perform’d.

That which makes a _Hard Pull_, is putting into the Mortesses in the _Cheeks_ solid Blocks of Wood, which will scarce Squeeze by the Strength of a _Pull_: And that which causes a _Soft Pull_ is putting in pieces of Felt or Pastboard (as aforesaid) which being Soft will Squeeze and retain their Spring for a considerable time, yet will at length grow hard with Working, and then the _Pull_ grows _Longer_; which the _Press-man_ mends, by putting in another Felt or Pastboard into each Mortess.

The _Head_ cannot be conveniently and well _Justifyed_ soon after the laying of the _Stone_, if it be _Laid_ on Bran, because though the Force of the _Spindle_ will at the immediate time of the _Pull_ Squeeze the Bran in the _Coffin_ close, yet so soon as the force of the _Spindle_ is off the Bran, all its dry parts, by their several irregular positions, will like so many Springs, at the same moment of time endeavour to recover their Natural tendency, and heaves the _Stone_ upwards again: So that generally for a day or two Working the _Stone_ will not lye Solid, though at length through the often and constant Squeezing the Bran it will. But if the _Stone_ be _Laid_ on Brown Paper, or Plaister of Paris, it quickly finds a Solid Foundation.

When the _Press-man Justifies_ the _Head_, he unscrews the _Female Screws_ of the _Head Screws_, that the weight of the _Head_ may draw it down, to make room to put the _Justifyers_ into the Mortesses in the _Cheeks_; and when he has put in so many as he thinks convenient, he _Screws_ up the _Head_ again as hard as he can. Then lays the _Cards_ on the _Form_, on the _Press_, and _Runs in_ the _Carriage_ under the _Plattin_, and _Pulls_ hard upon it, while his _Companion Screws_ up the _Head_ as hard and tight as he can, that the _Carriage, Tympan_, &c. may _Run_ the freelier under the _Plattin_.

¶ 6. _Of_ Oyling _the Iron Work of the_ Press.

The _Ribs_, the _Tympan Joynts_, the _Frisket Joynts_, the _Garters_, both ends of the _Rounce-Spindle_, the _Nut_ and _Spindle_, and the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_, are all to be well Oyl’d; that they may all perform their several offices the easier, lightlier and nimbler; both _Upper_ and _Under hand_.

All but the _Nut_ and _Spindle_, and _Toe_ of the _Spindle_, are Oyl’d with a Feather dipt in a spoonful, or little Pot, or Oyster-shell, _&c._ of Sallad Oyl; and that feather dabb’d upon so much of the _Ribs_ as he can come at, at either end of the _Press_: For then by _Running_ the _Carriage_ three or four times quick _Out_ and _In_, it desperses the Oyl equally the whole length of the _Ribs_, and at the same time Oyls the _Cramp-Irons._

And for Oyling the _Joynts_, he commonly takes out the _Pins_ and Oyls them, and puts them in again; and with the edge of a Feather dabs a little Oyl between the Crevices of the _Joynts_.

He thrusts the Feather in between the _Spindle_ of the _Rounce_ and its _Collers_.

To Oyl the _Nut_ and _Spindle_, he pours a good quantity of Oyl in at the _Hole_ in the _Head_, and with a Cork stops the hole again to keep out dust and filth: Then drawing the _Bar_ quick to and fro about half a score times, he works the Oyl equally about the _Nut_ and _Spindle_.

To Oyl the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_, he pours about a Spoonful of Oyl into the _Plattin-pan_.

¶ 7. _Of_ Making Register, _and_ Making Ready _a_ Form.

A curious _Press-man_ will take care that against the _Compositer_ brings a _Form_ to the _Press_ his _Press-stone_ be wip’d very clean; for if any (though small) hard extuberant matter lye on it, the _Letter_ that lyes on that extuberant matter will, with _Pulling_, quickly _Rise_, and not only Print harder than the rest of the _Form_, but bear the force of the _Plattin_ off of the _Letters_ adjacent to it. And therefore many times a _Press-man_ will receive the _Form_ from the _Compositer_ when he has only Set the _Form_ on the side of its _Chase_ upon the _Press-stone_, that he may be the Surer the _Face_ of the _Stone_ is clean when he layes the _Form_ down; as also that he may carefully examine that the backside of the _Form_ is clean before he goes about to make _Register_, or otherwise make ready his _Form_.

_Making Register_ is to _Quoin_ up a _Form_ and otherwise alter _Whites_ (if need be) between the _Crosses_ and _Pages_: So as that when a second _Form_ of the same _Volumne_, _Measure_ and _Whites_, is plac’d in the same position, all the Sides of each _Page_ shall fall exactly upon all the Sides of the _Pages_ of the first _Form_.

The first process a _Press-man_ makes towards this Operation, is the chusing and placing of his _Points_: For to large Paper he chuses _Short Shanked Points_, and to small Paper _Long Shanked Points_, and proportionable to intermediate sizes of Paper: For his _Points_ ought to be placed so as that when he is in his Train of work, they prick the _Point-holes_ within the grasp of the hollow between his hand, Thumb, and Fore-finger; because when he shall Work the _Reteration_ he may the better manage and Command the sheet he lays on the _Tympan_ and _Points_.

Nor will he place his _Points_ too near the edge of the _Paper_, because when he Works the _Reteration_, he would be forc’d to carry his furthermost _Point-hole_ the further from him, which in a long train of Work loses Time: For the _Laying Sheets_ quickly on their _Point-holes_ adds much to riddance. So also the less distance between the further and hither _Point-hole_ makes more riddance than if they are far distant; because he must draw his Body so much the further back to place that _Hole_ on its _Point_. Therefore he places the hither _Point_ farther into the Paper than the farther _Point_, if it be _Folio_, _Quarto_ or _Octavo_, but to _Twelves_ equally distant from both edges of the Paper.

By placing the _Points_ unequally from the edges of the Paper, as in _Folio’s_, _Quarto’s_ and _Octavo’s_ (as aforesaid) he also secures himself the more from a _Turn’d Heap_ when he works the _Reteration_; because without very much altering the _Quoins_, he shall not be able to make _Register_: And _Press-men_ (especially if they Work upon the same sort of Work) seldom or never remove the _Quoins_ on the further side the _Carriage_, nor on the right hand end of the _Carriage_, but let them lye as gages for the next _Form_: For thrusting the _Chase_ close against these _Quoins_, the _Register_ is almost (if not quite) made: The _Compositer_ having before, according to his Task, chosen the _Chases_ exactly of an equal size, and made strait and equal _Whites_ between the _Crosses_, &c.

Having chosen his _Points_, he places them so that they may both stand in a straight line parallel with the top and bottom sides of the _Tympan_; which to know, he strains a Packthred cross the whole _Tympan_, laying it at once upon the middle of the _Heads_ of both the _Point-Screws_, (for we will suppose the Joyner hath made the Mortesses into which the _Point Screws_ are Let, parrallel with both the ends of the _Tympan_) then if both the _Points_ stand in that straight line they are parrallel, if not, he moves one or both of them upwards or downwards till they do, and then _Screws_ them fast.

Then he layes the _Tympan_ down upon the _Form_, holding the _Frisket-end_ of it in his Left-hand, about an Inch or an Inch and a half above the _Face_ of the _Letter_, and Sinks his Body downwards till he can see between the _Form_ and _Tympan_, and with the Ball of the middle finger of his Right-hand presses a little gently upon the _Tympan_ just over the _Point-ends_ of each _Point_ successively, to see if the _Points_ fall in or near the middle of the _Slits_ in the _Short-Cross_. If they fall exactly in the middle of those _Slits_, the _Form_ lyes right between the middle of both the ends: If they fall not exactly in the middle of both these _Slits_, he moves the _Form_ between the ends of the _Carriage_, till they do, and then _Quoins_ up the two ends of the _Chase_.

Then laying the _Tympan_ flat down upon the _Form_, he layes the _Blankets_ in it: (They are call’d the _Blankets_ though generally it is but one _Blanket_ doubled:) Then he puts the _Iron-Pins_, fastned through the hither side of the Inner _Tympan_ into the Holes made through the hither side of the outer _Tympan_ for Gages: And turning about the Tongues of the _Iron-Buttons_, that are fitted into the outer Side of the outer _Tympan_ over the upper Side of the _Inner-Tympan_, he _Screws_ the _Button_ fast down. He also _Screws_ down the _Iron-Button_ at the end of the _Tympan_. These _Buttons_ thus Screwed down are to keep the _Inner-Tympan_ fast in, that it Spring not upwards.

Then he Folds a sheet of the Paper he is to Work long-ways, and broad-ways, and lays the long Crease of it upon the middle of the _Long-Cross_; and the Short Crease over the middle of the _Gutters_ of the _Short-Cross_, if the _Short-Cross_ lye in the middle of the _Form_, (for in _Twelves_ it does not, but then he guesses at the middle;) then wetting his _Tympan_ (as shall in proper place be shewed) he turns it down upon the Paper, and _Running in_ the _Carriage_, _Pulls_ that Sheet, which with the force of the _Pull_ now the _Tympan_ is wet, will stick to the _Tympan_; and turning up the _Tympan_ again sees how well the Sheet was laid; that is, how even it was Laid: For if it was laid even on the _Form_, the _Margin_ about the out sides of all the outer _Pages_ will be equal; But if the Sheet be not laid even, he lifts it up Side by Side till he have loosen’d it from the _Tympan_, and removes it by his discretion till it be laid even: And then _Pulls_ again upon it to fasten it to the _Tympan_. This Sheet is call’d the _Tympan-sheet_.

Then he lays another Sheet even upon the _Tympan-sheet_, for a Register Sheet, and a Waste Sheet over that to keep it clean from any filth the _Face_ of the _Letter_ may have contracted and imprint upon it, and _Pulls_ these two Sheets. Then he _Runs out_ the _Carriage_, and takes up the _Tympan_, and takes off the two Sheets, laying the waste Sheet by: But turns the other Side of the _Register-Sheet_ the proper way his Volumne requires, _viz._ end-ways if it be _Octavo_ or _Folio_; or Side-ways if _Twelves_ or _Quarto_, _&c._ as at large you see in the Section of _Imposing_. And laying the _Point-holes_ in the _Register-Sheet_ over the _Points_, lays his waste Sheet on again, _Runs-in_ the _Carriage_, and _Pulls_ upon that the Second side of the _Register-sheet_, to try how well the Impression of the Sides of all the _Pages_ agree, and lye upon the Impression in the first _Pull’d_ Side. If he finds they agree perfectly well, _Register_ is made. But if the Impression of the last _Pull’d_ Side of the _Register-sheet_ stand be-hither the Impression of the first _Pull’d_ side, either the whole length of the Sheet or part, he observes how much it stands be-hither: If the thickness of a _Scaboard_, a _Nomparell_, a _Long-Primmer_, &c. he loosens the _Quoin_ or _Quoins_ on the farther side of the _Carriage_, and opens one or both of them, _viz._ removes them backwards till they stand a _Scaboard_, a _Nomparell_, a _Long Primmer_, &c. off the sides of their respective Corners: Then _Knocks_ up one or both the opposite _Quoins_, till he have removed the _Chase_, and the _Chase_ by consequence has forc’d the opened _Quoin_ or _Quoins_ close against their Corners. Or if the Impression of the last _Pulled Side_, stands within the Impression of the first _Pulled Side_; he observes how much also; and Loosning the hither _Quoin_ or _Quoins_, and _Knocking up_ the opposite as before, makes _Register_, for the Sides of the Sheet.

Then he observes how the _Register_ of the _Head_ and _Foot_ agrees. And if he finds it agrees on both sides the _Short Cross_, he has good _Register_; supposing the _Compositer_ has performed his Office, _viz._ made all his _Pages_ of an equal Length, &c.

If the Impression of the Last _Pulled Sheet_, lye without the Impression of the first _Pulled Sheet_, towards the upper or lower end of the _Tympan_, he opens the _Quoins_ at the respective end, and _Knocks-up_ the opposite till he have made _Register_: Which to try he _Pulls_ another clean _Register-sheet_ as before. And if he finds _Register_ agree on all the Sides of the _Form_ the Task is performed: If not, he mends as aforesaid till it do.

But it sometimes happens that the _Compositer_ has not made an exact equal _White_ between all the sides of the _Crosses_: In this case, altering the _Quoins_ will not make good _Register_; wherefore the _Press-man_ observes which side has too much or too little _White_; and unlocking the _Form_ takes out or puts in such a number of _Scaboards_ as he thinks will make good _Register_: which he tryes by _Pulling_ a Sheet, and if need be, mending as before, till he have _Pull’d_ a Sheet with good _Register_.

Although the _Press-man_ have made _Register_, yet he must further _Make Ready_ the _Form_ before he can go to Work upon it. Under this phrase of _Making Ready the Form_ is comprehended many Considerations, leading to several various Operations; For first, The _Frisket_ must be _Cut_: which to perform, the _Press-man_ fits the _Match-Joynts_ of the _Frisket_ into the _Match-Joynts_ of the _Tympan_, and pins them in with the _Frisket-pins_: And having _Beaten_ the _Form_, turns down the _Frisket_ and _Tympan_ on the _Form_. And having also Rubbed the _Blankets_ to soften them, lays them smooth and even in the _Outer-Tympan_, and _Pins_ the _Inner Tympan_ in upon them, as was shewed in the beginning of this ¶, and _Pulls_ as before, and as shall farther be shewed in ¶ 15. upon the bare _Frisket_.

Then he _Runs out_ the _Carriage_, and takes up the _Tympan_ and _Frisket_ together off the _Form_ and lays them on the _Gallows_; Then takes the _Frisket-pins_ out again, and takes off the _Frisket_: And laying it flat on a _Paper-board_, with the point of a Pen-knife cuts through the _Frisket_ about all the Sides of each _Page_, allowing to each _Page_ he thus cuts out of the _Friket_ about a _Nomparil Margin_ on all the sides of the cut cut _Pages_: Then he puts and pins his _Frisket_ again on the _Tympan_, as before.

_2dly_, He takes care that the _Tympan_ be well _Wet_; which he does by squeezing Water out of a _Spunge_ on the backside of it, till it be well Wet all over, and well soak’d and limber.

_3dly_, That the _Form_ be well and fast _Lock’d up_.

_4thly_, That no _Letters_ or _Spaces_ lye in the _White-lines_ of the _Form_; which may happen if the _Compositer_ have _Corrected_ any thing since the _Form_ was laid on the _Press_, and the _Compositer_ through oversight pickt them not all up.

_5thly_, If any _Wooden Letters_ or other _Cuts_ be in the _Form_, that they be exactly _Letter-high_: If not, (for it seldom happens they are) he must make them so; If they are too _Low_, (as they generally be) he _Under-lays_ them: But first He examines how much they are too _Low_, by laying one Card or one Scaboard or two Scaboards, or a Scaboard and a Card, _&c._ upon the Face of the _Wooden Cut_, and gently feeling with the Balls of the Fingers of his right Hand if the intended _Under-lay_, viz. the Scaboard, Card, _&c._ lye exactly even with the _Face_ of the _Letter_, If it do not, he tries thicker or thinner _Under-lays_ till he have evened the _Under-lay_ with the _Face_ of the _Letter_: For then the Balls of his Fingers will go smoothly and equally over the _Under-lay_ and the _Face_ of the _Letter_, as if they were one and the same Superficies.

Having evened his _Under-lay_, he _Unlocks_ that _Quarter_ it is in, and takes the _Wooden Cut_ out of the _Form_, and cutting a Scaboard or Card or what it wants a little smaller than the bottom of his _Wooden Cut_, he lays it into the place he took the _Wooden Cut_ out of, or else he Pasts the _Under-lay_ on the bottom of the _Wooden Cut_, and puts the _Wooden Cut_ into its place again upon the _Under-lay_. But yet he trusts not to his Judgment altogether for the thickness of the _Underlay_: But _Locking up_ the _Form_ again, _Pulls_ the _Cards_ upon it to sink it as low as it will go, and _Beats_ and _Pulls_ a Sheet to see how it pleases him. If it be too low, which he finds by the Pale Printing of it, he _Underlays_ it a little more, and again trys by Printing till it pleases him. But by no means he lets the _Cut_ stand too high, though but a small matter, For then it will Print too _Hard_ and too _Black_, and deface the beauty and fairness of the _Cut_; So that it may better stand about half a Card too low, than in the least too high.

If the _Wooden Cut_ be too high, he causes a Joyner to Plain off some at the bottom.

_6thly_, If a _White Page_ or _Pages_ happen in a _Form_, and he uses a _New-drawn Frisket_, then he does not _Cut out_ that _Page_: But if he Work with an _Old Frisket_, and that _Page_ is already _Cut out_, he Sews, or sometimes Pastes on a Scaboard, if the _Page_ be not too broad, or a strong Pasteboard to the _Sides_ and _Crosses_, to cover the _White-page_ in the _Form_, that it Print not Black.

If the sides of the _Pages_ adjacent to the _White-page_ Print _Hard_, as most commonly they do, because the _White-page_ is generally lower than _Letter_ high, so that the force of the _Spindle_ squeezes the yielding _Paper_, _Tympan_ and _Blankets_ below the Plain of the _Face_ of the _Letter_; and besides the force of the _Spindle_ falling upon the center of the _Plattin_, and the Plain of the _Plattin_ not finding resistance to entertain it equally, presses lower down upon the low _White-page_, than upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_; so that the _Press-man_ either _Underlays_ the _White-page_, as he does _Wooden Cuts_, or else he fits a _Bearer_ on the _Frisket_.

The _Bearer_ is a _Riglet_ of a convenient thickness: and this convenient thickness the _Press-man_ finds as I shewed you how he found the thickness of his _Under-lays_ for _Wooden Cuts_; only with this difference, that as then he made his _Wooden Cut_ exactly _Letter-high_, so now he maks his _Bearer_ and the _Furniture_ his _Bearer_ bears on _Letter-high_: Wherefore he Pasts one side of his _Bearer_, and lays it as he would have it on the _Furniture_, with the Pasted side upwards; and laying his _Tympan_ and _Frisket_ down upon the _Form_, with his Fingers presses on the outside the _Inner-Tympan Frisket_ and all, upon the place where the _Beares_ lies; So that with the Paste the _Bearer_ sticks to the side of the _Frisket_, which he takes up again: and if he thinks the Paste not strong enough to hold it till the _Form_ is wrought off, he sews it to the _Frisket_ by pricking his Needle on both sides the _Bearer_, and lashing the Thred over it so often till he thinks it fast enough sew’d on.

_7thly_, He examines whether the _Frisket_ _Bites_ not: That is, whether no part of it Print upon any of the sides of any of the _Pages_: if they do he cuts away so much and about a _Nomparel_ more off the _Frisket_ where it _Bites_.

_8thly._ He examines if the _Beards_ of the _Letter_ Print at the Feet of the _Pages_: If they do, He considers whether the too short or too far _Running_ in of the _Carriage_ causes it. Or whether it be only the _Beard_ of a short _Page_ that Prints; If it be the _Beard_ of a short _Page_ that Prints, he remedies it with an _Under-lay_ as I shewed he did in the _White Page_.

If the _Carriage_ be _Run_ in too short, and the _Feet_ of the _Pages_ stand towards the _Plattin_, the _Hind-side_ of the _Plattin_ will press strong upon the _Feet_ of those _Pages_: And if the _Carriage_ be _Run_ in too far, the _Feet_ of the _Pages_ that stand towards the hinder _Rail_ of the _Tympan_ will most feell the force of _Plattin_, and according to a greater or less proportion of that force, and to the softness or yielding of the _Paper_, _Tympan_, and _Blankets_, and all other _Springs_ in the _Press_, mentioned in §. 11. ¶ 1. of this _Volumne_, the _Feet_ of the _Pages_ and _Beard_ of the _Letter_ will more or less Print _Hard_.

Wherefore in this case he _Runs_ the _Carriage_ under the _Plattin_, till the farther Edge of the _Plattin_ just cover the _Feet_ of those _Pages_, and with a piece of Chalk makes a White stroke over the _Board_ of the hither side of the _Carriage_ behind, and the upper side of the _Rail_ of the _Ribs_: Then he _Runs_ in the _Carriage_ again, till the Foreside of the _Plattin_ just cover the _Feet_ of the _Pages_ next the _Hind Rail_ of the _Tympan_, and makes another mark with Chalk on the _Rail_ of the _Ribs_ to joyn with the mark he first made on the _Board_ of the _Carriage_. Then he _Runs_ out the _Carriage_, and lays the _Tympan_ down on the _Form_; and _Runs_ in the _Carriage_ again till he joyn the mark or line he made first on the _Carriage-board_ and _Rail_ of the _Ribs_, and makes a mark with Chalk on the farther _Rail_ of the _Tympan_ just range with the Foreside of the _Plattin_. This mark on the _Tympan_ shews him how far he must _Run_ the _Carriage_ in against the Fore-edge of the _Plattin_ for the _First Pull_. Then he _Runs_ in the _Carriage_ farther, till he joyn the same Mark or Line on the _Carriage-board_ to the second Mark he made on the _Rail_ of the _Ribs_, and makes another Mark on the further _Rail_ of the _Tympan_ just range with the Fore-side of the _Plattin_, for the Mark he is no _Run_ the _Carriage_ in to against the Fore-edge of the _Plattin_, for his _Second Pull_.

_9thly_, He Examines if the _Catch_ of the _Bar_ will hold the _Bar_ when the _Spindle_ makes a small Spring, _viz._ When the _Bar_ flies but a little way back from the pressure of the _Form_: If it will not, he knocks up the _Catch_ a little higher till it will, and then Screws the _Screw_ on the _Shank_, and consequently the _Catch_ close and firm against the _Cheek_ of the _Press_.

But if the _Catch_ stand too high, so that it will not without a great Spring, (_viz._ when the _Bar_ is _Pull’d_ hard from the farther _Cheek_) fly up; He then knocks upon the top of the _Catch_ to sink it lower; And when it is well fitted Screws it up again, as before.

If the _Catch_ of the _Bar_ stand too Low, it will not hold the _Bar_; But it will _Come down_ again of it self when he is in his train of Work: For if, as it often happens, he lets the _Bar_ fly harder than ordinary back, or if it slip out of his Hand, it will knock hard against the _Cheek_, and Spring back again.

If the _Catch_ of the _Bar_ stand but a little too High, the Violence of the _Bars_ flying back to make it stick on the _Catch_ will soon Loosen the Square of the _Bar_ in the _Eye_ of the _Spindle_; and indeed subject the whole _Press_ to an unstable condition.

This is another ease and convenience these New-fashioned _Presses_ gives the _Press-man_: For in the Old make of the _Press_, when the _Catch_ of the _Bar_ holds too hard, or too soft, he is troubled to Raise or Sink the _Catch_ with the thickness of _Scaboards_, which being indevisable, does not without trouble or luck justen it to an exact Heighth. And besides, These _Under-lays_ being but put under the _Catch_ upon the _Wooden Bearer_ without any Fastning, are very subject to work out by the constant disturbance the motion of the several Parts of the _Press_ (when at work) gives it: Or else (which is worse) he many times is forced to batter the _Cheek_ of the _Press_, with drawing and driving of Nails out and in it, to fit on another _Catch_ bigger or lesser, whereas here with a softer or an harder knock of the Hammer (as aforesaid) he Raises or Sinks the _Catch_, and afterwards Screws it firmly up.

_10thly_, He considers whether the _Stay_ of the _Frisket_ stands neither too forwards or too backwards. The _Stay_ may stand too forwards, though when it is leisurely turn’d up it stays the _Frisket_: Because, when the _Press-man_ is in a Train of Work, though he generally throws the _Frisket_ quick up with an accustomed, and as he intends, equal strength; yet if his guess at strength in throwing it up varies, and it comes (though but a little) harder up, the _Batten_ fastned on the _Cap_, and the Perpendicular _Batten_ fastned to the aforesaid _Batten_ (as is described in §. 11. ¶ 21. of this Volumne) will by their shaking cause a Spring, which will throw the _Frisket_ back again upon the _Tympan_: Nay, though (as sometimes it happens) a solid Wall serves to do the Office of a _Stay_ for the _Frisket_; yet with a little too hard throwing it up, the _Frisket_ it self will so shake and tremble (its Frame being made of thin Iron) from end to end, that e’re it recover rest, its own Motion will by the quick running of a Spring through it beat it back again.

If the _Stay_ stand too backward, then after he has given the _Frisket_ a Touch to bring it down, it will be too long e’re it come down, and so hinder his Riddance.

Therefore he places the _Stay_ so, that the _Frisket_ may stand but a little beyond a Perpendicular backwards, that with a near-guess’d strength in the tossing it up it may just Stand, and not come back; For then with a small Touch behind, it will again quickly come down upon the _Tympan_.

_11thly_, He considers the Scituation of the _Foot-step_, and that he places so as may best suit with his own Stature; For a Tall man may allow the _Foot-step_ to stand farther off and lower than a Short, because his Legs reach farther under the _Carriage_, and can tread hard to add strength to his _Pull_; when a Short man must strain his Legs to feel the _Foot-step_, and consequently diminish the force of his _Pull_.

_12thly_, He fits the _Gallows_, so that the _Tympan_ may stand as much towards an upright as he can: Because it is the sooner clapt down upon the _Form_ and lifted up again. But yet he will not place it so upright, but that the White Sheets of Paper he lays on it may lye securely from sliding downwards: And for _Reteration_ Sheets their lying upon the _Points_ secures them.

In these New-fashioned _Presses_ there is no trouble to place the _Gallows_, so as it may mount the _Tympan_ to any Position: For sliding the _Male-duftails_ made on the _Feet_ of the _Gallows_ through the _Female Duftails_ fastned on the _Planck_ of the _Carriage_, performs this great trouble that in our English _Presses_ requires Un-nailing the Studs of the _Gallows_ and Nailing them again; and many times tearing them and the _Carriage-Planck_ to pieces: And that so oft as the fancy of the _Press-man_ alters, or another Work-man comes to Work at that _Press_.

_13thly_, Few _Press-men_ will Set the range of the _Paper Bench_ to stand at right angles with the _Plank_ of the _Carriage_: But draws the farther end of the _Paper Bench_ so as the hither side may make an Angle of about 75 Degrees (more or less) with the hither side of the _Carriage_: The reason is, if the hither side of the _Paper Bench_ stand at right Angles with the hither side of the _Carriage_, he must carry his Hand farther when he _Lays out Sheets_ which would hinder riddance: Besides his _Companion_ has a nearer access to it, to look over the _Heap_; which he frequently does, to see the constant Complexion of the Work.

_14thly_, The _Press-man_ brings his _Heap_ and Sets it on the hither end of the _Paper Bench_ as near the _Tympan_ as he can, yet not to touch it, lest it stop the _Tympan_ in a train of Work: and he places an end of the _Heap_ towards him. Then taking off the _Paper-board_ that cover’d it when it was Prest, he lays the long sides of it parallel to the sides of the _Paper Bench_: Then he takes the uppermost Sheet (which as you may Remember is a Waste-sheet) and lays it on the empty _Paper-board_; And taking Three or Four or Five Quires off his _Heap_ in both his Hands, he lifts it a pretty height above his Head, and claps it as hard as he can down upon the rest of the _Heap_, to loosen the Sheets that with Pressing stick close together: And not thinking them yet loose enough, he thrusts them long-ways and side-ways, heaving and huffing them till he think he has pretty well loosen’d or hollow’d that quantity of Paper.

Then with the nail of his Right Hand Thumb, sloaping from his Thumbward, he draws or slides forwards the upper Sheet, and two or three more commonly follows gradually with it, over the hither edge the _Heap_, to prepare those Sheets ready for him to snatch off the _Heap_.

_15thly_, He considers if the _Face_ of the _Tympan_ be moist enough, for a _Tympan-sheet_ to stick to, for though he Wet the back-side of it before to supple it, yet if the _Tympan_ be strong, the Water will not soak quite through to moisten the _Face_, So that he wets the Spunge in fair Water, and besprinkles the upper side or _Face_ of the _Tympan_ all over: And squeezing the Water that is left in the Spunge well out again, rubs it quickly and gently all over the _Face_ of the _Tympan_, to drink up or lick off the body of Water that he besprinkles on, and only leaves moisture on the _Face_ of the _Tympan_ to hold the Sheet.

Here accrews now a benefit by the make of these New-fashioned _Presses_ to the Master _Printer_: For these _Presses_ having a _Gutter_ fastned to the _Hind-rail_ of the _Carriage_ (as was described in § 10. ¶ 9. of this Volumne) to receive the Water that falls from the _Tympan_, and to convey it beyond the farther side of the _Press_, secures the _Blank_ of the _Carriage_ from Wet and moisture, and consequently from that cause of Rotting.