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cast on the automatic perfecting machines. Moreover, the pe1‘fc(?ti11g machine casts one-
third more type tha11 the steam-casting machine, the face of the type is n1ucl1 sharper,
there is more regularity in thickness and body, and more general uniformity.
Equally complete and finished in its results is the automatic space a11d quadrat
machine, invented in this establishment, and acknowledged to be the best device for
the purpose in existence. It has an average output of seventy-five pounds, as against
forty pounds on the hand space and quadrat machine. The spaces and quadrats coming
from this machine are made and finished with a mathematical nicety equal to the
type, and have long since acquired an established reputation wherever used.
The automatic perfecting machines and the space and quadrat machines in their
every part, as well as other machines used, are built in the large Machine-Construet-
ing Department connected with the establishment. This branch of the business, which
is located 011 the fourth floor, is equipped with the latest improved machinery necessary
to meet the demands made upon it. It gives employment to a large force of skilled
mechanics, who are kept busy adding to the already large number of machines and
tools in use, and repairing such others as get out of order from continual wear.
The effort to bring about uniformity in the size of type bodies in all the type
foundries of the United States has resulted in the adoption of a uniform system of
point bodies, known as the American Point System. In this system one point equals
one-twelfth of a Pica, therefore Pica measures twelve points and Nonpareil six points.
The value of the system gradually dawned upon the mind of the intelligent printer,
and met with general recognition and approval.
Taking into consideration the daily association of printers with type, it is to be
supposed that they would become intimately acquainted with all its distinguishing
characteristics. Such, however, is not the case.
Different parts of a type are designated as the face, the counter, the beard, the
shoulder, the shank or body, the kern, the pin-mark, the nick, the groove and the
feet.
to names applied to the human frame. The face is the part from which an impression
The
straight flat stroke of a letter is the stem; the fine li11es at the top and bottom of a
It is worthy of note that a considerable portion of this nomenclature is similar
is taken, and various portions of its surface are called stem, ceriph and kern.
letter are ceriphs, and a projection over the shank or body, like that at the top of the
letter f, is a kern. The counter is the space between the lines of the face. The lower
portion of a type, on which it is supported whenever it is doing service as part of
composed matter,'is divided by a groove, made by the type-dresser, and, probably on
account of this division, is called the feet instead of the foot. The nick is a hollow
cast iii the shank or body of the type, one or more nicks being inserted i11 various
fonts, and their position being varied. XVhile the nick i11 all American and English
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