3-008-829 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The International Exhibition: Besley's type-casting machine - from a photograph by the London Stereoscopic Company, 1862. Machine '...exhibited by Messrs. Charles Reed and Benjamin Fox [and] engaged...in casting type used in this number of the "Illustrated London News"...The popular idea is that print-types are made of lead, but, when the extreme pressure to which the metal has to be subjected is considered, it is manifest that a composition of a much greater resisting power is required for the purpose of producing impressions on paper...The machine consists of a pan for holding the [hard] metal, with a well and piston, the latter with a side lever, connecting-rod, and cross-bar attached to the piston-rod and worked with a cam. To the pan is fixed a "jobber", used to prevent the return of the metal after it is pumped into the mould, which is fixed to the front of the machine, and held to the pan whilst the type is being cast. When the type is cast the mould is drawn back by means of a spiral spring, and the mould is opened by a bar and rod, which are also used for delivering the matrix. Other arms and plates are adapted for fixing and lowering the mould. The machine is driven by a lever and motion-crank'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.