Unusual Linecaster Mats

[Dave Hughes]

Dave Seat recently took to Facebook to ask about some mysterious mats, but so far, no one has figured out what they're for.

Anyone seen one before?

[Dave Hughes]

There has been no definitive answer to this puzzle on Dave's Facebook post yet, but a suggestion has been made that they may be Linograph mats.


Linograph mat to the left, Lino/Inter right

Looking at the photograph above I would rule that out. The top lugs are much smaller on this Linograph mat.

[Mark K. Digre]

I have not seen these before, I would guess that these are low-quad mats, similar in concept if not in detail to the mats shown in U. S. Patent Number 1,332,824 issued to Herman R. Freund on March 2, 1920.

[Dave Hughes]

Thanks for that Mark, I have posted a link to this reply on Dave's Facebook appeal.

[Dave Hughes]

For the sake of completeness here are the full patent details:



Description
(1) HERM~AN R. FREUND, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK A.
(2) DALEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
(3) APPARATUS FOR CASTING TYPE-BARS.
(4) Specification of Letters Patent.
(5) Patented Mar. 2, 1920.
(6) Application filed January 14, 1919. Serial No. 271,014.
(7) To (d/ thoin -it mfay/ (concern:
( Be it known that I, HEnrtiAN iR. FRUlJND, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New- York, have invrentedl new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Casting Type-Bars, of which the following is a specification.
(9) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for casting type i o bars, and pertains mocre particularly to the matrices employed in the above operation.
(10) Heretofore the type bars as formed were not sufficiently low to prevent contact of the blank portion of the slug with the paper printed, thus causing at the ends of the lines, black and unsightly blots of ink which are particularily objectionable w here large headt lines are used as in newspaper work.
(11) It is the primary object of the present in- veution to p~rovide at matrix for use in connection with all types of type bar casting mnachincs by which the above objectionable feature is entirely eliminated.
(12) Referring to the drawings:
(13) Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of the mold box of a linotype machine and showing in section a matrix constructed in accordance with the present invention.
(14) Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the oper- .30 ating parts ofi the matrix in the initial step of operation.
(15) Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the operation has been completed.
(16) Fig. 4 is an edge view of the matrix, and Fig. 5 is a. detail view of one of the operating members in a modified form.
(17) Referring more particularly to the draw- ings, the reference character 10 designates the mold box ordinarily employed in type bar casting machines, and 11 designates the slug fornming chamber thereof.
(18) The front wall of the mold box 10 is cut out as at 12 and 13 to form a projecting lug or the like member 14 which lies below the slug forming chamber 11.
(19) Trhe matrix is designated by the reference character 1, and is provided with two passages 15 and 16, the passage 16 being reduced as at 17. The rear edge of the matrix is cut out as at 18, said cut out portion extending throughout only a portion of the length of the matrix.
(20) Mounted in the passage 16 is a plunger 4 which is provided with a squared head 19, adapted to be received within the enlarged portion of the passage 16 as shown.
(21) Mounted for sliding movement in the passage 15 is a slotted lever 20, this lever 20 being retained in the passage 15 by means of a pmn 7 projecting through the slot 22 in said lever. The bottom edge 21 of this slotted lever is angular as shown in the drawings which provides a slight space 21' between the bottoni edge of the said lever and the bottom wall of the passage 15. By this construction, it will be seen that the slotted lever 20 is capable of a pivotal movement about the pin 7 for the purpose of permitting the reduced end of the slotted lever 20 to move into engagement with the bottom wall of the passage 15 where it will be positioned behind the lugs of the matrix to prevent interference of the slotted lever 20 with the distributing mechanism of the machine.
(22) Extending transversely through the matrix 1, near the rear edge thereof, and also projecting through the cut out portion 18, is a pin 6, and mounted behind said pin 6, is a fiat resilient mnemnber 3, the said resilient member 3 being bent around the pin 6 as shown at 23.
(23) The lower end of this resilient member 3 is adapted to engage with the inner end of the slotted lever 20, the uipper end of said resilient -member 3 engaging in a cut out portioni 24 in the inner end of the plunger 4.
(24) The matrix is also cut out as at 25, and mounted in said cut out portion 25 is a coil spring '26, the free end of which engages wvith the inner face of the resilient niember 3.
(25) Having thus described the invention, the operation is as follows:
(26) When the matrices have been properly positioned the mold box is moved toward the first elevator to properly position the ,,ype casting portions thereof opposite the slug formning chamber 11 thereof. With this operation, the slotted lever 20 engages the projection 14 of the mold box 10 and moves the said lever 20 longitudinally of the recess 15. This movement of the lever 20 rocks the resilient member 3 about its pivot 6, and owing to engagement of its upper end with the plunger 4, the head 19 of said plunger 4 is forced into the slug forming chamber 11 of the mold box 10 as shown in Fig. 3. With the parts in this position, the spring 26 is placed under compression, and said spring serves to return the several 11c 1,332,824.
(27) parts to their normal position shown in Fig.
(28) 1 when the mold box 10 is moved away from the lines of matrices.
(29) Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the plunger 4 may be formed in two separate members 30 and 31 the member 30 being cut away as at 32 and provided with a shoulder 33 with which the shoulder 34 of the member 31 is adapted to engage to limit io longitudinal movement of the members 30 and 31 with relation to each other. M~ounted in the cut out portion 32 is a coil spring 34 which serves to keep the member 31 moved forwardly at all tinmes.
(30) 1n These two mnenmbers 30 and 31 are provided with head sections 35 and 36 respectively and the sliding contact of the head sections is on an angular line as shown at 37.
(31) By this construction, it will be apparent that should the plunger member fail to exactly register w ith the sing forming chain- ber 11 of the mold box 10, movement of the members 30 and 31 will permit of the head sections 35 and 30 moving to coim- pletely close the slug forming chamber opening.
(32) From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides means by which the slug surface which is not formed with printing characters is so formed as 3 to be sufficiently low to prevent any possibility of the same printing when the type bars are placed in the press and the usual printing operation carried out.
(33) Having thus described the invention what 3 is claimed is :
(34) 1. A matrix having a plunger mounted for rectilinear miovement therein, a sliding member carried thereby and means connecting said sliding memiber and said plunger 4( to actuate said plunger upon movement of the sliding member.
(35) 2. A matrix having a yielding plunger mounted for rectilinear movement therein, a inember carried thereby having an oscillatory sliding moveinent and means operable upon movement of said miember to actuate said plunger.
(36) 3. A matrix having a plunger niounted for rectilinear movement therein, a sliding member, and pivoted resilient means connecting said sliding member and said plunger for moving said plunger upon movement of the sliding member.
(37) In testimiony whereof I have affixed my signature.
(38) HERMAN R. FREUND.
(39) r'

[Mechanic]

After reading the reasoning behind this invention I can see why it was not in general use.

No compositor printer, worth his or her salt would have found inking and printing the blank portion of the slug, difficult to overcome.

On the other hand English matrices are punched deeper than American. Maybe it was a problem when the Linotype was first introduced and that is reasoning behind the invention.

The patent is dated 1920, over 30 years after the first machines were installed.

When I was working for Linotype we were told to make a note of any modifications a customer has made to a machine for evaluation.

I never saw any. I did read that the hinged long delivery finger, was a invented by man in Perth Western Australia.