This picture shows the machine with part of the magazine top and
side removed. We can thus see how the matrices are arranged in their
respective grooves in the magazine. When one of the keys of the
keyboard is pressed down the first matrix in the corresponding grove in
the magazine escapes and drops upon a conveyor belt and is carried in
its proper order to an assembler, which answers much the same purpose
as a printer’s stick. The correct spacing or justification of the line
of matrices is accomplished by means of spacebands, which are assembled
automatically between the words in the line by the touch of a lever at
the left of the keyboard.]
[Illustration: LINOTYPE SLUGS.
Instead of producing single type characters, the Linotype machine casts
metal bars, or slugs, of any length desired up to 36 ems, each complete
in one piece and having on the upper edge, properly justified, the
characters to print a line. These slugs are automatically assembled
in proper order as they are delivered from the machine, when they are
immediately available either for printing from direct or for making
electrotype or stereotype plates. They answer the same purpose and are
used in the same manner as composed type matter.]
[Illustration: CASTING THE SLUGS OF SOLID METAL