Part 11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¶. 2. _Justifying the_ Matrices.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.