_The_ Printing-Press _that a_ Press-man _works at, is a Machine
invented upon mature consideration of Mechanick Powers, deducted
from Geometrick Principles; and therefore a_ Press-man _indowed
with a competency of the Inventers Genius, will not only find great
satisfaction in the contemplation of the harmonious design and Make
of a_ Press, _but as often as any Member, or part of it is out of
order, he will know how to remedy any deficiency in it. This alone
will intitle him to be an Understanding_ Press-man: _But his care and
serious industry in the Physical and Manual performance of his Task,
must give him the Reputation of a good and curious Work-man_.
§. 24. ¶. 1. _Of the_ Press-mans _Trade_.
An understanding _Press-man_ therefore knows not only how to direct a
Printers Joyner to Set up and Fasten a _Press_ when it is made, but
also how to give a strange Joyner and Smith instructions how to make a
_Press_, and all its parts, in a Symetrical proportion to any unwonted
size, if in a strange place he shall have occasion to use it.
I have already at large insisted upon the dimensions of every
particular Member of an ordinary siz’d _Press_ in § 10, 11. But in
those Sections did omit shewing you how the _Press_ is Set up and
Fastned; yet promised to do it when I came to the _Press-mans_ Trade:
It being not only a care incumbent upon him, but a Curiosity he would
assume to himself to direct and see the Joyner set and fasten it in a
Steddy and practical position. We will suppose a strange Joyner, and
not a Printers Joyner (as here in _London_ he may be furnisht with) who
generally by their constant conversation in Printers work, do or ought
to know as much of Setting up a _Press_ as the _Press-man_ himself.
The Joyner therefore having set together the Frame, _viz._ the
_Cheeks_, _Feet_, _Cap_, _Head_, _Till_, _Winter_, _Hind-Posts_,
_Ribs_, _Carriage_, _&c._ The _Press-man_ directs, and sees him
perform as follows by and by. For I should have told you that before
the _Head_ is put into its place, the _Press-man_ besmears the whole
Tennanted ends and Tennants well with Soap or Grease, and also the
Mortesses the _Head_ slides in, and so much of the _Cheeks_ as the ends
of the _Head_ work against, that the _Head_ may the easier work up and
down.
He also before the _Carriage_ is laid on the _Ribs_, besmears the two
edges of the _Plank_ and the under side of the _Coffin_ well with Soap
or Grease; and the like he does by the inside of the _Wooden Ribs_,
that they may slide the easier beside each other.
Now to return to the Joyner. The _Press-man_, I say, directs and sees
him perform as follows.
1. To place the _Feet_ upon an Horizontal Level Floor, as I shewed
in the First Volume, Numb. 7. § 7. when I spoke of the Level that
Carpenters use.
2. To erect the _Cheeks_ perpendicularly upright, as I shewed _Vol._ 1.
_Numb._ 7. § 8. when I treated of the _Plumb-line_.
3. To place the _Stays_ or _Braces_ so as the _Press_ may be kept in
the most Steddy and Stable position, as well to give a check to the
force of the hardest _Pull_ he makes, as to the hardest Knock the _Bar_
shall make against the farther _Cheek_, if by chance (as sometimes it
does) it slip out of the _Press-mans_ Hand.
This consideration may direct him to place one _Brace_ against the
end of the _Cap_ that hangs over the hither _Cheek_, and in a range
parallel with the fore and hind side of the _Cap_: For the more a
_Brace_ stands aslope to the two parrallel sides, the less it resists
a force offered to the end of them, _viz._ the hither end of the _Cap_,
which is one main _Stay_ to the whole _Press_.
If he place another _Brace_ against the hinder corner of the farther
end of the _Cap_, it will resist the _Spring_ of the _Bar_, if it slip
out of the _Press-mans_ Hand.
And if he places two other _Braces_, one against the hither corner
of the hind-side of the _Cap_, and the other against the farther
corner of the fore-side of the _Cap_, the _Press_ will be sufficiently
_Braced-up_, if the Room will afford convenience to place the farther
end of the _Braces_ against.
By convenience I mean a firm solidity to place the end of the _Braces_
against, be it either a Stone-wall, Brick-wall, or some principal Post,
or a Girder, _&c._ that will not start or tremble at the force of a
_Pull_.
The _Braces_ ought to be straight, and of Substance strong enough
proportionable to their Length: And if convenience will allow it to
be fixed in such a position that they stand in the same straight Line
with the upper Surface of the _Cap_, viz. that the farther end of the
_Brace_ neither dips lower or mounts higher than the upper side of
the _Cap_. Neither ought the _Brace_, though thus posited, to stand
aslope or askew, _viz._ make unequal angles with the side of the _Cap_
it is fastned to, but it ought to stand Square, and make right angles
with the respective side of the _Cap_; because in those Positions the
_Braces_ best resists the force of continued _Pulls_.
But though this be by the Rules of Architecture, the strongest,
firmest, and most concise method for _Bracing-up_ a _Press_, yet will
not the Room the _Press_ is to stand in always admit of convenience to
place the _Braces_ thus: Therefore the _Press-man_ ought to consider
the conveniences of the Room, both for the places to fit the _Braces_
to, and the positions to set the _Braces_ in; placing his _Braces_ as
correspondent as he can to these Rules.
If he doubt the crazy make of the _Winter_, he will cause two _Battens_
of three or four Inches broad, and a full Inch thick, to be nailed
close to the outer sides of the Feet of the _Press_, which will both
strengthen the _Winter_, and keep the lower part of the _Cheeks_ from
flying out, and also hinder the _Press_ from working into a twisting
Position.
And though I am loath to name the _Under-laying_ of the _Feet_, because
at the best it is but a _Botch_, and Subjects the whole _Press_ to an
unstable position yet because by accident it may happen, the aforesaid
_Battens_ will also keep these Underlays from working out.
Joyners that Work to Printers have got a Custom to place a strong Piece
of Timber between the middle of the _Cap_ and the Ceiling or Roof of
the Room, which can do no service there, unless they intend to support
the Roof: For the weight of the _Press_ alone will keep it close to
the Floor, and the strength of Stuff between the Mortesses in the
_Cheeks_ and the ends of them, are intended to be made strong enough
to resist the Rising of the _Head_: For should that strength of Stuff
start, neither their strong Piece of Timber, nor the strength of the
Roof, would resist the Rising of the _Head_: but _Head_ and _Cap_, and
Timber and Roof too, would all start together, as by experience I have
seen. For indeed the strength of Stuff between the Mortesses that the
Tennants of the _Head_ works in, and the upper ends of the _Cheeks_,
and the Strength of Stuff between the Mortesses that the Tennants of
the _Winter_ lyes in, and the lower ends of the _Cheeks_ resist the
whole strength of the working of the _Spindle_ out of its _Nut_. So
that the _Cap_ suffers no pressure upwards or the _Feet_ downwards,
unless the force of the _Spindle_ break the strength of Stuff between
the _Head_ and the upper ends of the _Cheeks_, or the strength of Stuff
between the _Winter_ and the lower ends of the _Cheeks_.
The _Press_ being thus far fastned, the _Carriage_ is laid on; and if
the Joyner performed his Work well in making the Wooden-work, it will
at first lye exactly Horizontal; if not, it must be mended where it
is amiss before the _Press-man_ can _Lay_ the _Stone_; and before the
_Stay_ of the _Carriage_ can be fitted under the end of the _Ribs_.
¶ 2. _Of_ Laying _or_ Bedding _the_ Stone.
We will suppose the Wooden _Ribs_ to lye on the _Winter_ exactly, flat
and Horizontal, therefore the _Press-man_ now _Lays_ the _Stone_: If
the _Stone_ be a good thick Marble Stone, and all the way of an equal
thickness between the _Face_ and the Bottom, he may _Bed_ or _Lay_ it
upon so many large _Sheets_ of Brown Paper as will raise the _Face_
about a _Brevier_ above the Superficies of the _Coffin_, and the
_Stone_ will do good service.
Or he may _Bed_ or _Lay_ it on Bran; which indeed the _Press-man_ most
commonly does, if the _Stone_ be qualified as aforesaid.
The manner how he lays it on Bran is thus,
He grasps an handful of Bran and lays it down at the hither corner of
the _Coffin_ on his Left Hand, and it will form it self into a small
Hillock; then he takes another handful of Bran, and lays that down in
the same manner near the first, towards the further side, and so a
third, _&c._ towards the further side, till he have filled the whole
breadth of the _Coffin_. Then he in like manner lays another row of
Hillocks, beginning at the hither side of the _Coffin_; and so a third
and fourth row, _&c._ till the length of the _Coffin_ is filled as
well as the breadth: Then with a _Riglet_ he drives the tops of these
Hillocks into the Valleys between them, to spread the Bran into an
equal thickness in the whole _Coffin_. Which done, he lays the _Stone_
upon it.
But in this case he considers to lay so much Bran thus into the
_Coffin_ as may make the _Face_ of the _Stone_ rise about a _Great
Primer_ higher than the Superficies of the _Coffin_: For else he must
take all his Bran out again, and new-lay his Hillocks, making them
bigger or less, till he have fitted the _Face_ of the _Stone_, to lye
about a _Great Primer_, as aforesaid, higher than the Superficies of
the _Coffin_.
But if it be a thin _Stone_, or a _Purbeck_ or _Portland Stone_, it
is great odds if it be thus _Laid_, but it breaks with the first
_Pull_: Therefore these _Stones_ are generally _Laid_ or _Bedded_ with
Plaister of _Paris_, which before it hardens, will of it self run into
an Horizontal position.
This Plaister of _Paris_ is tempered with fair Water to the consistence
of Batter for Pancakes, or somewhat thicker, and such a quantity is
put into the _Coffin_ as may raise the _Face_ of the _Stone_ about a
Scaboard higher than the Superficies of the _Coffin_.
The different matter the _Stone_ is _Laid_ on is the reason why the
_Face_ is _Laid_ of different heights above the Superficies of the
_Coffin_: For by the force of a _Pull_ about a dozen Sheets of Brown
Paper may be squeez’d closer by a _Brevier Body_, which brings the
_Face_ of the _Stone_ into the same Level with the Superficies of the
_Coffin_. And Bran squeezes much more. But Plaister of _Paris_ not at
all.
When he _Lays_ the _Stone_ on Bran, or on Plaister of Paris, he and
his Companions slings the _Stone_ in two strong Packthreds, placing
one towards either end of the _Stone_; and each of them taking an end
of each String in each of their Hands, with the _Face_ of the _Stone_
upwards, and brought as near as they can into an Horizontal Position,
they with great care and caution let it into the _Coffin_, and as near
as they can, so as the whole bottom of the _Stone_ touch the _Bedding_
all at once; lest by raking the _Bedding_ with any part of the bottom
of the _Stone_ first, the Horizontal form of the _Bedding_ be broken.
Having laid the _Stone_ down, they draw the Packthred from under it:
And by squeezing a little Water out of a Spunge upon about the middle
of the _Face_ of the _Stone_, try whether the _Stone_ lye truly
Horizontal, which they know by the standing of the Water: For if the
Water delate it self equally about the middle of the _Stone_, the
_Stone_ lies Horizontal: But if it have a propensitude to one side more
than another, the declivety is on that side, and the _Stone_ must be
new _Laid_.
Having laid it Horizontal, they _Justifie_ it up with the _Justifiers_
I mentioned in § 11. ¶ 17.
¶ 3. _Of_ Setting _the_ Rounce.
The _Rounce_ being well _Set_ does not only ease a _Press-man_ in his
Labour, but contributes much to Riddance in a train of Work.
In the old-fashioned _Presses_ used here in _England_, the _Press-man_
finds often great trouble and loss of Time in _Setting_ the _Rounce_:
Because the _Girts_ being nailed to the _Carriage-board_ behind, and
to the Frame of the _Coffin_ before, he cannot alter the position of
the _Rounce_ without un-nailing and nailing the _Girts_ again, both
before and behind. Nay, and sometimes though he thinks he has been
very careful in _Winding_ the _Girts_ off or on the _Barrel_ of the
_Rounce_, as he finds occasion requires; Yet by straining either of
the _Girts_ too hard, or not hard enough, or by an accidental slip
of either of the _Girts_, or by stirring the _Rounce_ out of a Set
position, when he thinks he has _Set_ the _Rounce_, he has it to do
again. Besides, The _Carriage-board_, _Frame_ of the _Coffin_, and the
_Rounce-barrel_, all suffer tearing to pieces by often drawing out and
driving in o Nails.
But in these new-fashioned _Presses_ all these inconveniences are
avoided, for the _Press-man_, without nailing or un-nailing, _Sets_
the _Rounce_ to what Position he will, only by lifting up the Iron
_Clicker_ that stops the wheel: For then _Winding_ off so much _Girt_,
and _Winding_ up so much _Girt_ at the opposite end of the _Carriage_,
his _Rounce_ is _Set_, without hope or Hazzard.
He _Sets_ the _Rounce_ to such a position, that when the fore-end of
the _Tympan_ will just lye down and rise free, without touching the
fore-edge of the _Plattin_, then a line drawn or imagined from the Axis
of the _Handle_ of the _Rounce_, to a Perpedicular or _Plumb-line_, let
fall from the Axis of the _Spindle_ of the _Rounce_, these two lines
shall make an angle of about 45 degrees, which is half the Elevation
between an Horizontal line, or Line of Level, and a Perpendicular, or
Plumb-line.
¶ 4. _Of_ Hanging _the_ Plattin.
When the _Press-man Hangs_ the _Plattin_, he lays a _Form_ upon the
_Press_, and about a Quire of Paper doubled upon it (this Quire of
_Paper_ thus doubled is called the _Cards_) then layes the _Plattin_
upon the _Cards_, and so _Runs_ the _Carriage_ and _Plattin_ in,
till the middle of the _Plattin_ lye just under the _Toe_ of the
_Spindle_: Then he puts the _Pan_ of the _Plattin_ in its place, and
in part Justifies the _Head_, as shall be shewed in the next ¶. And he
un-screws the _Hose-screws_, till the Spuares at the ends of the _Hose_
come down to about a quarter of an Inch of the Square of the Socket
they are fitted into in the ends of the _Garter_, and when the _Toe_ of
the _Spindle_ is fitted into the _Nut_ in the _Pan_ of the _Plattin_,
he examines by straining a Pack-thred against the two foresides of the
_Cheeks_ of the _Press_, whether the fore-edge of the _Plattin_ is set
in a parallel Range with the fore-sides of the _Cheeks_: If it be not,
he twists the ends till the edge of the _Plattin_ stands parallel with
the Pack-thred, and consequently with the _Cheeks_.
Then with the _Bar_ he _Pulls_ the _Spindle_ hard down upon the
_Plattin_, and Sets the edges of a _Paper-board_ between the _Bar_ and
the farther _Cheek_ of the _Press_, to keep the _Bar_ from starting
back.
And having provided fine Whip-cord, he knots a Noose on one end and
puts it over one of the _Hooks_ of the _Plattin_, lashing the Whip-cord
also upon the farthermost _Notch_ of the _Hose-hook_, and again upon
the _Plattin-hook_, and again upon the _Hose-hook_, and again upon the
_Plattin-hook_: So that here is now three Lashes of whip-cord upon the
_Plattin-hook_, and upon the farthermost _Notch_ of the _Hose-hook_.
Wherefore he Lashes his fourth Lashing of whip-cord now upon the second
_Notch_, viz. the middlemost _Notch_ of the _Hose-hook_, reiterating
these Lashes on the middlemost _Notch_ and _Plattin-hook_ also three
times. And thus in like manner Lashes also three Lashes upon the third
and last _Notch_ of the _Hose-hook_ and also of the _Plattin-hook_,
observing to draw every Lashing of an equal strength.
Then he begins to whip about these Lashings to draw them close
together: He begins, I say, at at the bottom of the Lashings, _viz._
close above the _Plattin-hook_, and draws his whippings very tight and
hard, and contiguous above one another, till he have whipt so near the
top of the Lashings, _viz._ near the _Hose-hooks_ that he finds the
Lashings (which now spread wide asunder because the _Notches_ of the
_Hose-hooks_ stands far asunder) will yield no longer to to his whiping
and pulling: So that now he fastens his whip-cord with two or three
hard knots, and cuts it from the Coyl.
In like manner he begins at the opposite diagonal corner of the
_Plattin_, and lashes and whips that: And also the two other corners
of the _Plattin_ as he did the first, carefully observing to draw all
his lashings and whippings of an equal strength, lest any corner of the
_Plattin_ either mount or dip.
If he finds he strained the whip-cord not hard enough; or (when he is
in his train of work) that the _Plattin-cords_ with long working work
loose; or that the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ and the _Nut_ it works in,
have worn one another; he by turning the _Screws_ at the upper ends of
the _Hose_, draws up the _Nut_ of the _Plattin_ closer to the _Toe_ of
the _Spindle_, and by consequence strains the _Plattin-cords_ tighter
up; which is also a great convenience in these new-fashioned _Presses_:
For, for any of these aforesaid accidents the _Press-man_ that works
at our _English-Presses_ must new _Hang_ his _Plattin_: When (as
aforesaid) in these new _Presses_ he only turns about a _Screw_.
¶ 5. _Of_ Justifying _the_ Head.
_Justifying_ the _Head_ is to put into the Mortesses in the _Cheeks_
between the upper sides of the Tennants of the _Head_, and the upper
sides of the Mortesses in the _Cheeks_, an equal and convenient
thickness of (either) square pieces of Felt, Pastboards, or Scaboards
(some or all of them) that when the _Press-man Pulls_, the Tennants of
the _Head_ shall have an equal Horizontal level Check.
In _Justifying_ the _Head_, the _Pull_ is to be made _Longer_ or
_Shorter_.
If the _Press-man_ be tall and strong and his work be _Light_, that is,
a small _Form_ and great _Letter_, which needs not so strong a _Pull_
as a Large _Form_ and small _Letter_, he covets to have a _Short-pull_;
that is, that the _Spindle_ shall give an _Impression_ by that time
the _Bar_ comes but about half way to the hither _Cheek_ (in Printers
Language _Down_.)
But if the _Press-man_ be low, and not very strong, he will require a
_Longer Pull_, especially if the work be _Heavy_, viz. a Large _Form_
and small _Letter_: Because the heighth of the _Bar_ is generally made
to lye at the command of a reasonable Tall man, and therefore a Low man
cannot Pull the Handle of the _Bar_ at so great a force at Arms-end as
a Tall man; but will require the swinging of his whole Body backwards
to add force to the _Pull_: So that if the _Pull_ be not _Longer_,
he cannot fall enough backwards to get the _Handle_ of the _Bar_
within his command and force. And therefore a Low man and _Heavy Work_
requires a long and _Soaking Pull_.
A long or a _Soaking_ or _Easie Pull_, is when the _Form_ feels the
force of the _Spindle_ by degrees, till the _Bar_ comes almost to the
hither _Cheek_ of the _Press_, and this is also call’d a _Soft Pull_;
because it comes Soft and Soakingly and easily down: And for the
contrary reason the _Short Pull_ is call’d an _Hard Pull_, because it
is suddenly perform’d.
That which makes a _Hard Pull_, is putting into the Mortesses in
the _Cheeks_ solid Blocks of Wood, which will scarce Squeeze by the
Strength of a _Pull_: And that which causes a _Soft Pull_ is putting
in pieces of Felt or Pastboard (as aforesaid) which being Soft will
Squeeze and retain their Spring for a considerable time, yet will at
length grow hard with Working, and then the _Pull_ grows _Longer_;
which the _Press-man_ mends, by putting in another Felt or Pastboard
into each Mortess.
The _Head_ cannot be conveniently and well _Justifyed_ soon after
the laying of the _Stone_, if it be _Laid_ on Bran, because though
the Force of the _Spindle_ will at the immediate time of the _Pull_
Squeeze the Bran in the _Coffin_ close, yet so soon as the force of
the _Spindle_ is off the Bran, all its dry parts, by their several
irregular positions, will like so many Springs, at the same moment
of time endeavour to recover their Natural tendency, and heaves the
_Stone_ upwards again: So that generally for a day or two Working the
_Stone_ will not lye Solid, though at length through the often and
constant Squeezing the Bran it will. But if the _Stone_ be _Laid_ on
Brown Paper, or Plaister of Paris, it quickly finds a Solid Foundation.
When the _Press-man Justifies_ the _Head_, he unscrews the _Female
Screws_ of the _Head Screws_, that the weight of the _Head_ may draw it
down, to make room to put the _Justifyers_ into the Mortesses in the
_Cheeks_; and when he has put in so many as he thinks convenient, he
_Screws_ up the _Head_ again as hard as he can. Then lays the _Cards_
on the _Form_, on the _Press_, and _Runs in_ the _Carriage_ under the
_Plattin_, and _Pulls_ hard upon it, while his _Companion Screws_ up
the _Head_ as hard and tight as he can, that the _Carriage, Tympan_,
&c. may _Run_ the freelier under the _Plattin_.
¶ 6. _Of_ Oyling _the Iron Work of the_ Press.
The _Ribs_, the _Tympan Joynts_, the _Frisket Joynts_, the _Garters_,
both ends of the _Rounce-Spindle_, the _Nut_ and _Spindle_, and the
_Toe_ of the _Spindle_, are all to be well Oyl’d; that they may all
perform their several offices the easier, lightlier and nimbler; both
_Upper_ and _Under hand_.
All but the _Nut_ and _Spindle_, and _Toe_ of the _Spindle_, are Oyl’d
with a Feather dipt in a spoonful, or little Pot, or Oyster-shell,
_&c._ of Sallad Oyl; and that feather dabb’d upon so much of the _Ribs_
as he can come at, at either end of the _Press_: For then by _Running_
the _Carriage_ three or four times quick _Out_ and _In_, it desperses
the Oyl equally the whole length of the _Ribs_, and at the same time
Oyls the _Cramp-Irons._
And for Oyling the _Joynts_, he commonly takes out the _Pins_ and Oyls
them, and puts them in again; and with the edge of a Feather dabs a
little Oyl between the Crevices of the _Joynts_.
He thrusts the Feather in between the _Spindle_ of the _Rounce_ and its
_Collers_.
To Oyl the _Nut_ and _Spindle_, he pours a good quantity of Oyl in at
the _Hole_ in the _Head_, and with a Cork stops the hole again to keep
out dust and filth: Then drawing the _Bar_ quick to and fro about half
a score times, he works the Oyl equally about the _Nut_ and _Spindle_.
To Oyl the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_, he pours about a Spoonful of Oyl
into the _Plattin-pan_.
¶ 7. _Of_ Making Register, _and_ Making Ready _a_ Form.
A curious _Press-man_ will take care that against the _Compositer_
brings a _Form_ to the _Press_ his _Press-stone_ be wip’d very clean;
for if any (though small) hard extuberant matter lye on it, the
_Letter_ that lyes on that extuberant matter will, with _Pulling_,
quickly _Rise_, and not only Print harder than the rest of the _Form_,
but bear the force of the _Plattin_ off of the _Letters_ adjacent to
it. And therefore many times a _Press-man_ will receive the _Form_ from
the _Compositer_ when he has only Set the _Form_ on the side of its
_Chase_ upon the _Press-stone_, that he may be the Surer the _Face_ of
the _Stone_ is clean when he layes the _Form_ down; as also that he may
carefully examine that the backside of the _Form_ is clean before he
goes about to make _Register_, or otherwise make ready his _Form_.
_Making Register_ is to _Quoin_ up a _Form_ and otherwise alter
_Whites_ (if need be) between the _Crosses_ and _Pages_: So as that
when a second _Form_ of the same _Volumne_, _Measure_ and _Whites_, is
plac’d in the same position, all the Sides of each _Page_ shall fall
exactly upon all the Sides of the _Pages_ of the first _Form_.
The first process a _Press-man_ makes towards this Operation, is the
chusing and placing of his _Points_: For to large Paper he chuses
_Short Shanked Points_, and to small Paper _Long Shanked Points_, and
proportionable to intermediate sizes of Paper: For his _Points_ ought
to be placed so as that when he is in his Train of work, they prick the
_Point-holes_ within the grasp of the hollow between his hand, Thumb,
and Fore-finger; because when he shall Work the _Reteration_ he may
the better manage and Command the sheet he lays on the _Tympan_ and
_Points_.
Nor will he place his _Points_ too near the edge of the _Paper_,
because when he Works the _Reteration_, he would be forc’d to carry
his furthermost _Point-hole_ the further from him, which in a long
train of Work loses Time: For the _Laying Sheets_ quickly on their
_Point-holes_ adds much to riddance. So also the less distance between
the further and hither _Point-hole_ makes more riddance than if they
are far distant; because he must draw his Body so much the further back
to place that _Hole_ on its _Point_. Therefore he places the hither
_Point_ farther into the Paper than the farther _Point_, if it be
_Folio_, _Quarto_ or _Octavo_, but to _Twelves_ equally distant from
both edges of the Paper.
By placing the _Points_ unequally from the edges of the Paper, as in
_Folio’s_, _Quarto’s_ and _Octavo’s_ (as aforesaid) he also secures
himself the more from a _Turn’d Heap_ when he works the _Reteration_;
because without very much altering the _Quoins_, he shall not be able
to make _Register_: And _Press-men_ (especially if they Work upon the
same sort of Work) seldom or never remove the _Quoins_ on the further
side the _Carriage_, nor on the right hand end of the _Carriage_, but
let them lye as gages for the next _Form_: For thrusting the _Chase_
close against these _Quoins_, the _Register_ is almost (if not quite)
made: The _Compositer_ having before, according to his Task, chosen the
_Chases_ exactly of an equal size, and made strait and equal _Whites_
between the _Crosses_, &c.
Having chosen his _Points_, he places them so that they may both
stand in a straight line parallel with the top and bottom sides of
the _Tympan_; which to know, he strains a Packthred cross the whole
_Tympan_, laying it at once upon the middle of the _Heads_ of both the
_Point-Screws_, (for we will suppose the Joyner hath made the Mortesses
into which the _Point Screws_ are Let, parrallel with both the ends of
the _Tympan_) then if both the _Points_ stand in that straight line
they are parrallel, if not, he moves one or both of them upwards or
downwards till they do, and then _Screws_ them fast.
Then he layes the _Tympan_ down upon the _Form_, holding the
_Frisket-end_ of it in his Left-hand, about an Inch or an Inch and a
half above the _Face_ of the _Letter_, and Sinks his Body downwards
till he can see between the _Form_ and _Tympan_, and with the Ball of
the middle finger of his Right-hand presses a little gently upon the
_Tympan_ just over the _Point-ends_ of each _Point_ successively, to
see if the _Points_ fall in or near the middle of the _Slits_ in the
_Short-Cross_. If they fall exactly in the middle of those _Slits_,
the _Form_ lyes right between the middle of both the ends: If they fall
not exactly in the middle of both these _Slits_, he moves the _Form_
between the ends of the _Carriage_, till they do, and then _Quoins_ up
the two ends of the _Chase_.
Then laying the _Tympan_ flat down upon the _Form_, he layes the
_Blankets_ in it: (They are call’d the _Blankets_ though generally it
is but one _Blanket_ doubled:) Then he puts the _Iron-Pins_, fastned
through the hither side of the Inner _Tympan_ into the Holes made
through the hither side of the outer _Tympan_ for Gages: And turning
about the Tongues of the _Iron-Buttons_, that are fitted into the outer
Side of the outer _Tympan_ over the upper Side of the _Inner-Tympan_,
he _Screws_ the _Button_ fast down. He also _Screws_ down the
_Iron-Button_ at the end of the _Tympan_. These _Buttons_ thus Screwed
down are to keep the _Inner-Tympan_ fast in, that it Spring not upwards.
Then he Folds a sheet of the Paper he is to Work long-ways, and
broad-ways, and lays the long Crease of it upon the middle of the
_Long-Cross_; and the Short Crease over the middle of the _Gutters_
of the _Short-Cross_, if the _Short-Cross_ lye in the middle of the
_Form_, (for in _Twelves_ it does not, but then he guesses at the
middle;) then wetting his _Tympan_ (as shall in proper place be shewed)
he turns it down upon the Paper, and _Running in_ the _Carriage_,
_Pulls_ that Sheet, which with the force of the _Pull_ now the _Tympan_
is wet, will stick to the _Tympan_; and turning up the _Tympan_ again
sees how well the Sheet was laid; that is, how even it was Laid: For
if it was laid even on the _Form_, the _Margin_ about the out sides of
all the outer _Pages_ will be equal; But if the Sheet be not laid even,
he lifts it up Side by Side till he have loosen’d it from the _Tympan_,
and removes it by his discretion till it be laid even: And then _Pulls_
again upon it to fasten it to the _Tympan_. This Sheet is call’d the
_Tympan-sheet_.
Then he lays another Sheet even upon the _Tympan-sheet_, for a Register
Sheet, and a Waste Sheet over that to keep it clean from any filth
the _Face_ of the _Letter_ may have contracted and imprint upon it,
and _Pulls_ these two Sheets. Then he _Runs out_ the _Carriage_,
and takes up the _Tympan_, and takes off the two Sheets, laying the
waste Sheet by: But turns the other Side of the _Register-Sheet_ the
proper way his Volumne requires, _viz._ end-ways if it be _Octavo_ or
_Folio_; or Side-ways if _Twelves_ or _Quarto_, _&c._ as at large you
see in the Section of _Imposing_. And laying the _Point-holes_ in the
_Register-Sheet_ over the _Points_, lays his waste Sheet on again,
_Runs-in_ the _Carriage_, and _Pulls_ upon that the Second side of the
_Register-sheet_, to try how well the Impression of the Sides of all
the _Pages_ agree, and lye upon the Impression in the first _Pull’d_
Side. If he finds they agree perfectly well, _Register_ is made. But
if the Impression of the last _Pull’d_ Side of the _Register-sheet_
stand be-hither the Impression of the first _Pull’d_ side, either
the whole length of the Sheet or part, he observes how much it
stands be-hither: If the thickness of a _Scaboard_, a _Nomparell_, a
_Long-Primmer_, &c. he loosens the _Quoin_ or _Quoins_ on the farther
side of the _Carriage_, and opens one or both of them, _viz._ removes
them backwards till they stand a _Scaboard_, a _Nomparell_, a _Long
Primmer_, &c. off the sides of their respective Corners: Then _Knocks_
up one or both the opposite _Quoins_, till he have removed the _Chase_,
and the _Chase_ by consequence has forc’d the opened _Quoin_ or
_Quoins_ close against their Corners. Or if the Impression of the last
_Pulled Side_, stands within the Impression of the first _Pulled Side_;
he observes how much also; and Loosning the hither _Quoin_ or _Quoins_,
and _Knocking up_ the opposite as before, makes _Register_, for the
Sides of the Sheet.
Then he observes how the _Register_ of the _Head_ and _Foot_ agrees.
And if he finds it agrees on both sides the _Short Cross_, he has good
_Register_; supposing the _Compositer_ has performed his Office, _viz._
made all his _Pages_ of an equal Length, &c.
If the Impression of the Last _Pulled Sheet_, lye without the
Impression of the first _Pulled Sheet_, towards the upper or lower
end of the _Tympan_, he opens the _Quoins_ at the respective end, and
_Knocks-up_ the opposite till he have made _Register_: Which to try
he _Pulls_ another clean _Register-sheet_ as before. And if he finds
_Register_ agree on all the Sides of the _Form_ the Task is performed:
If not, he mends as aforesaid till it do.
But it sometimes happens that the _Compositer_ has not made an exact
equal _White_ between all the sides of the _Crosses_: In this case,
altering the _Quoins_ will not make good _Register_; wherefore the
_Press-man_ observes which side has too much or too little _White_; and
unlocking the _Form_ takes out or puts in such a number of _Scaboards_
as he thinks will make good _Register_: which he tryes by _Pulling_ a
Sheet, and if need be, mending as before, till he have _Pull’d_ a Sheet
with good _Register_.
Although the _Press-man_ have made _Register_, yet he must further
_Make Ready_ the _Form_ before he can go to Work upon it. Under this
phrase of _Making Ready the Form_ is comprehended many Considerations,
leading to several various Operations; For first, The _Frisket_ must
be _Cut_: which to perform, the _Press-man_ fits the _Match-Joynts_
of the _Frisket_ into the _Match-Joynts_ of the _Tympan_, and pins
them in with the _Frisket-pins_: And having _Beaten_ the _Form_,
turns down the _Frisket_ and _Tympan_ on the _Form_. And having also
Rubbed the _Blankets_ to soften them, lays them smooth and even in the
_Outer-Tympan_, and _Pins_ the _Inner Tympan_ in upon them, as was
shewed in the beginning of this ¶, and _Pulls_ as before, and as shall
farther be shewed in ¶ 15. upon the bare _Frisket_.
Then he _Runs out_ the _Carriage_, and takes up the _Tympan_ and
_Frisket_ together off the _Form_ and lays them on the _Gallows_; Then
takes the _Frisket-pins_ out again, and takes off the _Frisket_: And
laying it flat on a _Paper-board_, with the point of a Pen-knife cuts
through the _Frisket_ about all the Sides of each _Page_, allowing to
each _Page_ he thus cuts out of the _Friket_ about a _Nomparil Margin_
on all the sides of the cut cut _Pages_: Then he puts and pins his
_Frisket_ again on the _Tympan_, as before.
_2dly_, He takes care that the _Tympan_ be well _Wet_; which he does
by squeezing Water out of a _Spunge_ on the backside of it, till it be
well Wet all over, and well soak’d and limber.
_3dly_, That the _Form_ be well and fast _Lock’d up_.
_4thly_, That no _Letters_ or _Spaces_ lye in the _White-lines_ of the
_Form_; which may happen if the _Compositer_ have _Corrected_ any thing
since the _Form_ was laid on the _Press_, and the _Compositer_ through
oversight pickt them not all up.
_5thly_, If any _Wooden Letters_ or other _Cuts_ be in the _Form_, that
they be exactly _Letter-high_: If not, (for it seldom happens they are)
he must make them so; If they are too _Low_, (as they generally be) he
_Under-lays_ them: But first He examines how much they are too _Low_,
by laying one Card or one Scaboard or two Scaboards, or a Scaboard and
a Card, _&c._ upon the Face of the _Wooden Cut_, and gently feeling
with the Balls of the Fingers of his right Hand if the intended
_Under-lay_, viz. the Scaboard, Card, _&c._ lye exactly even with the
_Face_ of the _Letter_, If it do not, he tries thicker or thinner
_Under-lays_ till he have evened the _Under-lay_ with the _Face_ of
the _Letter_: For then the Balls of his Fingers will go smoothly and
equally over the _Under-lay_ and the _Face_ of the _Letter_, as if they
were one and the same Superficies.
Having evened his _Under-lay_, he _Unlocks_ that _Quarter_ it is in,
and takes the _Wooden Cut_ out of the _Form_, and cutting a Scaboard or
Card or what it wants a little smaller than the bottom of his _Wooden
Cut_, he lays it into the place he took the _Wooden Cut_ out of, or
else he Pasts the _Under-lay_ on the bottom of the _Wooden Cut_, and
puts the _Wooden Cut_ into its place again upon the _Under-lay_. But
yet he trusts not to his Judgment altogether for the thickness of the
_Underlay_: But _Locking up_ the _Form_ again, _Pulls_ the _Cards_ upon
it to sink it as low as it will go, and _Beats_ and _Pulls_ a Sheet to
see how it pleases him. If it be too low, which he finds by the Pale
Printing of it, he _Underlays_ it a little more, and again trys by
Printing till it pleases him. But by no means he lets the _Cut_ stand
too high, though but a small matter, For then it will Print too _Hard_
and too _Black_, and deface the beauty and fairness of the _Cut_; So
that it may better stand about half a Card too low, than in the least
too high.
If the _Wooden Cut_ be too high, he causes a Joyner to Plain off some
at the bottom.
_6thly_, If a _White Page_ or _Pages_ happen in a _Form_, and he uses
a _New-drawn Frisket_, then he does not _Cut out_ that _Page_: But if
he Work with an _Old Frisket_, and that _Page_ is already _Cut out_,
he Sews, or sometimes Pastes on a Scaboard, if the _Page_ be not too
broad, or a strong Pasteboard to the _Sides_ and _Crosses_, to cover
the _White-page_ in the _Form_, that it Print not Black.
If the sides of the _Pages_ adjacent to the _White-page_ Print _Hard_,
as most commonly they do, because the _White-page_ is generally lower
than _Letter_ high, so that the force of the _Spindle_ squeezes the
yielding _Paper_, _Tympan_ and _Blankets_ below the Plain of the
_Face_ of the _Letter_; and besides the force of the _Spindle_ falling
upon the center of the _Plattin_, and the Plain of the _Plattin_ not
finding resistance to entertain it equally, presses lower down upon the
low _White-page_, than upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_; so that the
_Press-man_ either _Underlays_ the _White-page_, as he does _Wooden
Cuts_, or else he fits a _Bearer_ on the _Frisket_.
The _Bearer_ is a _Riglet_ of a convenient thickness: and this
convenient thickness the _Press-man_ finds as I shewed you how he
found the thickness of his _Under-lays_ for _Wooden Cuts_; only
with this difference, that as then he made his _Wooden Cut_ exactly
_Letter-high_, so now he maks his _Bearer_ and the _Furniture_ his
_Bearer_ bears on _Letter-high_: Wherefore he Pasts one side of his
_Bearer_, and lays it as he would have it on the _Furniture_, with the
Pasted side upwards; and laying his _Tympan_ and _Frisket_ down upon
the _Form_, with his Fingers presses on the outside the _Inner-Tympan
Frisket_ and all, upon the place where the _Beares_ lies; So that with
the Paste the _Bearer_ sticks to the side of the _Frisket_, which he
takes up again: and if he thinks the Paste not strong enough to hold it
till the _Form_ is wrought off, he sews it to the _Frisket_ by pricking
his Needle on both sides the _Bearer_, and lashing the Thred over it so
often till he thinks it fast enough sew’d on.
_7thly_, He examines whether the _Frisket_ _Bites_ not: That is,
whether no part of it Print upon any of the sides of any of the
_Pages_: if they do he cuts away so much and about a _Nomparel_ more
off the _Frisket_ where it _Bites_.
_8thly._ He examines if the _Beards_ of the _Letter_ Print at the Feet
of the _Pages_: If they do, He considers whether the too short or too
far _Running_ in of the _Carriage_ causes it. Or whether it be only the
_Beard_ of a short _Page_ that Prints; If it be the _Beard_ of a short
_Page_ that Prints, he remedies it with an _Under-lay_ as I shewed he
did in the _White Page_.
If the _Carriage_ be _Run_ in too short, and the _Feet_ of the _Pages_
stand towards the _Plattin_, the _Hind-side_ of the _Plattin_ will
press strong upon the _Feet_ of those _Pages_: And if the _Carriage_
be _Run_ in too far, the _Feet_ of the _Pages_ that stand towards the
hinder _Rail_ of the _Tympan_ will most feell the force of _Plattin_,
and according to a greater or less proportion of that force, and to
the softness or yielding of the _Paper_, _Tympan_, and _Blankets_, and
all other _Springs_ in the _Press_, mentioned in §. 11. ¶ 1. of this
_Volumne_, the _Feet_ of the _Pages_ and _Beard_ of the _Letter_ will
more or less Print _Hard_.
Wherefore in this case he _Runs_ the _Carriage_ under the _Plattin_,
till the farther Edge of the _Plattin_ just cover the _Feet_ of those
_Pages_, and with a piece of Chalk makes a White stroke over the
_Board_ of the hither side of the _Carriage_ behind, and the upper side
of the _Rail_ of the _Ribs_: Then he _Runs_ in the _Carriage_ again,
till the Foreside of the _Plattin_ just cover the _Feet_ of the _Pages_
next the _Hind Rail_ of the _Tympan_, and makes another mark with Chalk
on the _Rail_ of the _Ribs_ to joyn with the mark he first made on the
_Board_ of the _Carriage_. Then he _Runs_ out the _Carriage_, and lays
the _Tympan_ down on the _Form_; and _Runs_ in the _Carriage_ again
till he joyn the mark or line he made first on the _Carriage-board_ and
_Rail_ of the _Ribs_, and makes a mark with Chalk on the farther _Rail_
of the _Tympan_ just range with the Foreside of the _Plattin_. This
mark on the _Tympan_ shews him how far he must _Run_ the _Carriage_ in
against the Fore-edge of the _Plattin_ for the _First Pull_. Then he
_Runs_ in the _Carriage_ farther, till he joyn the same Mark or Line
on the _Carriage-board_ to the second Mark he made on the _Rail_ of the
_Ribs_, and makes another Mark on the further _Rail_ of the _Tympan_
just range with the Fore-side of the _Plattin_, for the Mark he is no
_Run_ the _Carriage_ in to against the Fore-edge of the _Plattin_, for
his _Second Pull_.
_9thly_, He Examines if the _Catch_ of the _Bar_ will hold the _Bar_
when the _Spindle_ makes a small Spring, _viz._ When the _Bar_ flies
but a little way back from the pressure of the _Form_: If it will not,
he knocks up the _Catch_ a little higher till it will, and then Screws
the _Screw_ on the _Shank_, and consequently the _Catch_ close and firm
against the _Cheek_ of the _Press_.
But if the _Catch_ stand too high, so that it will not without a great
Spring, (_viz._ when the _Bar_ is _Pull’d_ hard from the farther
_Cheek_) fly up; He then knocks upon the top of the _Catch_ to sink it
lower; And when it is well fitted Screws it up again, as before.
If the _Catch_ of the _Bar_ stand too Low, it will not hold the _Bar_;
But it will _Come down_ again of it self when he is in his train of
Work: For if, as it often happens, he lets the _Bar_ fly harder than
ordinary back, or if it slip out of his Hand, it will knock hard
against the _Cheek_, and Spring back again.
If the _Catch_ of the _Bar_ stand but a little too High, the Violence
of the _Bars_ flying back to make it stick on the _Catch_ will soon
Loosen the Square of the _Bar_ in the _Eye_ of the _Spindle_; and
indeed subject the whole _Press_ to an unstable condition.
This is another ease and convenience these New-fashioned _Presses_
gives the _Press-man_: For in the Old make of the _Press_, when the
_Catch_ of the _Bar_ holds too hard, or too soft, he is troubled to
Raise or Sink the _Catch_ with the thickness of _Scaboards_, which
being indevisable, does not without trouble or luck justen it to an
exact Heighth. And besides, These _Under-lays_ being but put under the
_Catch_ upon the _Wooden Bearer_ without any Fastning, are very subject
to work out by the constant disturbance the motion of the several Parts
of the _Press_ (when at work) gives it: Or else (which is worse) he
many times is forced to batter the _Cheek_ of the _Press_, with drawing
and driving of Nails out and in it, to fit on another _Catch_ bigger
or lesser, whereas here with a softer or an harder knock of the Hammer
(as aforesaid) he Raises or Sinks the _Catch_, and afterwards Screws it
firmly up.
_10thly_, He considers whether the _Stay_ of the _Frisket_ stands
neither too forwards or too backwards. The _Stay_ may stand too
forwards, though when it is leisurely turn’d up it stays the _Frisket_:
Because, when the _Press-man_ is in a Train of Work, though he
generally throws the _Frisket_ quick up with an accustomed, and as he
intends, equal strength; yet if his guess at strength in throwing it
up varies, and it comes (though but a little) harder up, the _Batten_
fastned on the _Cap_, and the Perpendicular _Batten_ fastned to the
aforesaid _Batten_ (as is described in §. 11. ¶ 21. of this Volumne)
will by their shaking cause a Spring, which will throw the _Frisket_
back again upon the _Tympan_: Nay, though (as sometimes it happens) a
solid Wall serves to do the Office of a _Stay_ for the _Frisket_; yet
with a little too hard throwing it up, the _Frisket_ it self will so
shake and tremble (its Frame being made of thin Iron) from end to end,
that e’re it recover rest, its own Motion will by the quick running of
a Spring through it beat it back again.
If the _Stay_ stand too backward, then after he has given the _Frisket_
a Touch to bring it down, it will be too long e’re it come down, and so
hinder his Riddance.
Therefore he places the _Stay_ so, that the _Frisket_ may stand but
a little beyond a Perpendicular backwards, that with a near-guess’d
strength in the tossing it up it may just Stand, and not come back; For
then with a small Touch behind, it will again quickly come down upon
the _Tympan_.
_11thly_, He considers the Scituation of the _Foot-step_, and that he
places so as may best suit with his own Stature; For a Tall man may
allow the _Foot-step_ to stand farther off and lower than a Short,
because his Legs reach farther under the _Carriage_, and can tread hard
to add strength to his _Pull_; when a Short man must strain his Legs to
feel the _Foot-step_, and consequently diminish the force of his _Pull_.
_12thly_, He fits the _Gallows_, so that the _Tympan_ may stand as
much towards an upright as he can: Because it is the sooner clapt
down upon the _Form_ and lifted up again. But yet he will not place
it so upright, but that the White Sheets of Paper he lays on it may
lye securely from sliding downwards: And for _Reteration_ Sheets their
lying upon the _Points_ secures them.
In these New-fashioned _Presses_ there is no trouble to place the
_Gallows_, so as it may mount the _Tympan_ to any Position: For
sliding the _Male-duftails_ made on the _Feet_ of the _Gallows_ through
the _Female Duftails_ fastned on the _Planck_ of the _Carriage_,
performs this great trouble that in our English _Presses_ requires
Un-nailing the Studs of the _Gallows_ and Nailing them again; and many
times tearing them and the _Carriage-Planck_ to pieces: And that so oft
as the fancy of the _Press-man_ alters, or another Work-man comes to
Work at that _Press_.
_13thly_, Few _Press-men_ will Set the range of the _Paper Bench_ to
stand at right angles with the _Plank_ of the _Carriage_: But draws
the farther end of the _Paper Bench_ so as the hither side may make
an Angle of about 75 Degrees (more or less) with the hither side
of the _Carriage_: The reason is, if the hither side of the _Paper
Bench_ stand at right Angles with the hither side of the _Carriage_,
he must carry his Hand farther when he _Lays out Sheets_ which would
hinder riddance: Besides his _Companion_ has a nearer access to it, to
look over the _Heap_; which he frequently does, to see the constant
Complexion of the Work.
_14thly_, The _Press-man_ brings his _Heap_ and Sets it on the hither
end of the _Paper Bench_ as near the _Tympan_ as he can, yet not to
touch it, lest it stop the _Tympan_ in a train of Work: and he places
an end of the _Heap_ towards him. Then taking off the _Paper-board_
that cover’d it when it was Prest, he lays the long sides of it
parallel to the sides of the _Paper Bench_: Then he takes the uppermost
Sheet (which as you may Remember is a Waste-sheet) and lays it on
the empty _Paper-board_; And taking Three or Four or Five Quires off
his _Heap_ in both his Hands, he lifts it a pretty height above his
Head, and claps it as hard as he can down upon the rest of the _Heap_,
to loosen the Sheets that with Pressing stick close together: And
not thinking them yet loose enough, he thrusts them long-ways and
side-ways, heaving and huffing them till he think he has pretty well
loosen’d or hollow’d that quantity of Paper.
Then with the nail of his Right Hand Thumb, sloaping from his
Thumbward, he draws or slides forwards the upper Sheet, and two or
three more commonly follows gradually with it, over the hither edge the
_Heap_, to prepare those Sheets ready for him to snatch off the _Heap_.
_15thly_, He considers if the _Face_ of the _Tympan_ be moist enough,
for a _Tympan-sheet_ to stick to, for though he Wet the back-side of it
before to supple it, yet if the _Tympan_ be strong, the Water will not
soak quite through to moisten the _Face_, So that he wets the Spunge in
fair Water, and besprinkles the upper side or _Face_ of the _Tympan_
all over: And squeezing the Water that is left in the Spunge well out
again, rubs it quickly and gently all over the _Face_ of the _Tympan_,
to drink up or lick off the body of Water that he besprinkles on, and
only leaves moisture on the _Face_ of the _Tympan_ to hold the Sheet.
Here accrews now a benefit by the make of these New-fashioned _Presses_
to the Master _Printer_: For these _Presses_ having a _Gutter_ fastned
to the _Hind-rail_ of the _Carriage_ (as was described in § 10. ¶ 9. of
this Volumne) to receive the Water that falls from the _Tympan_, and to
convey it beyond the farther side of the _Press_, secures the _Blank_
of the _Carriage_ from Wet and moisture, and consequently from that
cause of Rotting.
Then he takes a Sheet of Paper off the _Heap_ for a _Tympan-sheet_,
and Folds it exactly into four quarters, and lays the Creases of the
Sheet exactly upon the middle of the _Short_ and _Long Crosses_, if
the Volumn of the _Form_ allows them both to be in their respective
middles of the _Chase_; if not, he lays the Creases exactly against the
Notches in the _Chase_ that are made for them respectively: And if his
_Frisket_ be Blackt with former Work, he lays a Sheet of Waste-Paper
upon the Creast-sheet: Then lays the _Tympan_ down on the _Form_, and
_Pulls_ on these two Sheets, and takes up his _Tympan_ again, and lays
by the Waste-Sheet; but the Creast-Sheet he lays on the _Tympan_. But
first presses the _Tympan_ downwards, from under the Shank of each
_Point_ successively, puts the two opposite sides of the Sheet under
the _Shancks_ of the _Points_, and the _Holes_ the _Points_ prickt with
_Pulling_ exactly under the bottom Revits of the _Points_: Then taking
a little Paste on the Ball of one of his fingers, a little besmears the
under corners of that Sheet, and claps them down close on the _Tympan_,
that the Sheet may stick: But the bottom corner of that side the Sheet
that is next to him, he besmears within the Matter of the Sheet, _viz._
within the Impression the _Form_ made. For when he has fastned that
corner down, he tears off the _Margin_, (by guess) in a straight line
athwart the very corner, that it may not lye in his way to catch at as
he _Takes off Sheets_, when he is in his train of Work.
This Sheet is called the _Tympan-sheet_; and is only as a standing
mark to lay all the other Sheets exactly even upon, while he Works upon
_White-paper_.
The _Press-man_ does now suppose he has _Made Ready_: Yet for assurance
he will try his _Register_ once more, lest some of the _Quoins_ should
have slipt. How he made _Register_ I shewed you before, wherefore if
his _Register_ be not good, he mends it as I there shewed. But we will
suppose it now good, wherefore he gently _Knocks_ up all the _Quoins_
in the corners, with an equal force to fasten them.
Though I have in Numerical order set down these Operations,
Circumstances and Confederations in this ¶: yet does not the
_Press-man_ oblige himself to observe them in this or any other orderly
succession: Because it often happens that some of these Operations may
more readily be performed out of this or any other prescribed Order.
¶ 8. _Of_ Drawing _the_ Tympans _and_ Frisket.
_Drawing_ the _Tympans_ or _Frisket_ is the Covering and Pasting on
of Vellom, Forrels or Parchment upon the _Frames_. To each _Tympan_
and _Frisket_ is chose a Skin large enough to cover and lap about the
Frames.
These Skins the _Press-man_ rumples up together, and puts them into
a Pail of fair Water to soak; and if he thinks they do not soak fast
enough, he takes them and rubs them between his Hands, as Women wash
Cloaths, to supple them, that the Water may Soak the faster in. And
being throughly Soakt he wrings the Water as well out as he can.
Then the Boy having provided a Brush and about a Pint of Paste, made
of fine Wheaten Flower, well boiled in fair Water to the consistency
of Hasty-pudding, he spreads the Skin flat upon a Table; and first
Pastes the under Side of the _Tympan_; then lays it on the middle of
the Skin, and rearing each side successively up, Pastes the Skin also
from the insides the _Tympan_ to the outer edges of the Skin, and
lays the _Tympan_ down flat again: Then he Pastes all the other sides
of the _Tympan_, and wraps the Skin about the two long Sides first,
Cutting the Sides of the Skin away so much, till he leaves only enough
to reach almost quite through the under-sides of the _Tympan_ again:
Then drawing and straining the Skin tighter, he drives in the points
of two-penny or three-penny Nails about six Inches distant from one
another, to keep the Skin from starting as it Dries.
Having thus Drawn the sides, he with the Point of a Pen-knife cuts
square holes in the Skin, just where the _Iron-Joynts_ fall, for the
Joynts to fall into, and Draws and Strains the ends of the _Tympan_ as
he did the Sides; wrapping the ends of the Skin under the under-sides
of the _Tympan_, and where Wood is, drives in the points of Nails, as
before.
Then setting it by to dry; when it is dry, he draws the Nails.
As he Drew this _Tympan_, so he Draws the other: and the _Frisket_
also: only, because he cannot drive in Nails, (the _Frisket_ being all
made of Iron) he doubles the Skin over the sides of the _Frisket_, and
being well Pasted, as aforesaid; he Sews the sides that Lap over down
upon the whole Skin, to keep it from starting while it drys: And he
Pastes a Sheet or two Thick of Paper all over the inside of it; as
well to strengthen as to thicken it.
[Illustration: _Plate 29._]
¶ 9. _Of Wetting Paper._
Paper is commonly _Wet_ in a Tray full of fair Water. The _Press-man_
places the length of the Tray before him; his dry _Heap_ on the Left
Hand the Tray, and a _Paper-Board_ with its Breadth before him on his
Right Hand of the Tray: He lays first a Waste Sheet of Paper on the
_Paper-board_, lest the Board might Soyl or foul the first Sheet of
the _Heap_. Then he takes up the first _Token_, and lays it in such a
position that the backs of the Quires lye towards his Right Hand, that
he may the readier catch at the Back of each Quire with his Right Hand,
when he is to _Wet_ it: And he lays that _Token_ athwart, or somewhat
Crossing the rest of the _Heap_, that he may the easier know when he
has _Wet_ that _Token_.
Then taking the first Quire of the _Heap_ with the back of it in his
Right Hand, and edge of the Quire in his Left, he lays the Quire down
upon the Waste Sheet, so, as that the back of the Quire lye upon the
middle crease of the Waste Sheet, and consequently one half of the
Quire already laid even down upon one half of the Waste Sheet. If the
Paper be Strong, he opens about half the Quire, and turns it over dry
upon the other half of the Waste Sheet: But if the Paper be Weak and
Spungy, he opens the whole Quire, and lays that down Dry.
The reason why he lays the first Laying-down Dry, is, because it lying
under the rest of the _Heap_ will sufficiently imbibe the moisture
that Soaks from it: And the reason why he leaves but half a Quire Dry
for strong Paper, and an whole for Spungy, is, Because Spungy Paper
Soaks in moisture faster than Strong.
Having laid down his Dry Laying, he takes another Quire off the Dry
_Heap_, with the back of the Quire in his Right Hand, and the edge of
the Quire in his Left, (as before,) and closing his Hand a little,
that the Quire may bow a little downwards between his Hands, he Dips
the back of the Quire into his Left Hand side of the Tray of Water:
And discharging his Left Hand of the Quire, Draws the Quire through
the Water with his Right; but as the Quire comes out at the Right Hand
side of the Tray, he nimbly catches the edge of the Quire again in his
Left Hand, and brings it to the _Heap_, but by lifting up his Left Hand
bears the under side of the Quire off the Dry Paper, laid down before,
lest the Dry Sheet should stick to the Wet, before he have plac’d the
Quire in an even position, and so perhaps wrinkles a Sheet or two, or
else put a Dry Sheet or two out of their even position, on the sides or
ends.
But this Drawing the Quire through the Water he performs either nimbly
or slowly: If the Paper be Weak and Spungy, he performs it quickly; if
Strong and Stubborn, slowly.
To place this Quire in an even position, he lays the back of the
Quire exactly upon the opening crease of the former Quire, and then
lets the side of the Quire in his Left Hand fall flat down upon the
_Heap_; and discharging his Right Hand, brings it to the edge of the
Quire; and with the assistance of his Left Hand Thumb (still in its
first position) opens or divides either a third or half of the whole
Quire, according to the quality of the Paper, (as was said before,) and
spreading the Fingers of his Right Hand as much as he can through the
length of the Quire, turns over his opened division of the Quire upon
his Right Hand side of the _Heap_.
The reason why he spreads the Fingers of his Right Hand as much as he
can through the Length of the Quire; is, because the outside Half Sheet
is Wet, and consequently quickly Limber, so that if the Paper be Weak,
it would fall Down before the rest of his Opening, and double into
wrinkles, which thus spreading his Fingers prevents.
In the same manner he Wets all the Quires of his Dry _Heap_. _See Plate
29._
But having Wet his first _Token_, he doubles down a great corner of
the upper Sheet of it on his Right Hand, so as the farther corner may
lye a little towards the Left Hand of the crease in the middle of
the _Heap_, and so as the hither corner may Hang out on the hither
side of the _Heap_ about an Inch and an half: This Sheet is called
the _Token-Sheet_, as being a mark for the _Press-man_ when he is at
Work to know how many _Tokens_ of that _Heap_ is _Wrought-off_, and
consequently to know how many is to Work.
When he has Wet the first _Token_, he removes the next uppermost Dry
_Token_ askew on the Dry _Heap_, and successively all the rest, as I
shewed in the beginning of this ¶.
Having Wet the whole _Heap_, he lays a Waste Sheet of Paper upon it,
that the _Paper-Board_ to be laid on, Soyl not the last Sheet of the
_Heap_: Then three or four times takes up as much Water as he can
in the hollow of his Hand, and throws and sprinkles it all over the
Waste-sheet that it may moisten and Soak downwards into the un-wet
upper part of the last Division of the Quire.
The Paper being thus Wet, he takes up the whole _Heap_ upon the
_Paper-board_, and sets it by in a convenient place of the Room,
and lays another _Paper-board_ upon it: And upon the middle of the
_Paper-board_, sets about Half an Hundred Weight, and lets it stand by
to press, commonly till next Morning: For _Press-men_ generally Wet
their Paper after they have left Work at Night.
The manner how Paper is _Set out_, shall be shewed when I come to the
Office of the _Warehouse-keeper_.
¶ 10. _Of_ Knocking up _the_ Balls.
_Ball Leathers_ (as I said before in § 11. ¶ 21.) are either _Pelts_ or
_Sheep-skins_: If _Pelts_, they are chosen such as have a strong Grain,
and the Grease well Wrought out of them: They are either Wet or Dry
before they come to the _Press-mans_ use: If Wet, he having before-hand
provided a round Board, of about Nine inches and an half Diameter:
Supposing the _Ball-stocks_ to be six Inches diameter, lays the Round
Board upon the whole _Pelt_, and cuts by the out-side of the Board so
many round pieces as he can out of the _Pelt_, reserving two for his
present Use.
And hanging the rest up (commonly upon the _Braces_ of the _Press_) to
dry, that they may not Stink or Mould before he have occasion to use
them.
But if his _Pelts_ are Dry, he lays them to Soak (by choice in
Chamber-ly) but I never heard, or by my experience could find why it is
preferred before Fair Water: For the purpose of Soaking them is only to
supple them.
If he Work with Leather, It is chosen with a Strong and close grain:
Wherefore by experience it is found that the Neck-piece, and indeed all
along the back of the Skin is best; but it is commonly subject to be
greasie, which gives the _Press-man_ sometimes a great deal of trouble,
to make his _Balls Take_. He also lays the _Ball Leathers_ in _Soak_ to
supple them.
When they (either _Pelts_ or _Leathers_) are well _Soaked_, he Rubs
them well with both his Hands, and then twists and wrings them (as
Women do Cloaths) to get the Water out again.
When they are well wrung, he Sits down upon a Seat about fourteen or
fifteen Inches high, commonly a _Heap_ of _White Paper_, if it stand
conveniently for him; but not upon a _Printed Heap_, least his Weight
pressing it cause the un-dryed _Inck_ to _Set-off_: He sits down, I
say, and lays the _Ball-stock_ upon his a little opened Thighs near
his Knees, that with closing his Thighs he may hold it in a Steddy
position, and with the Handle of the _Ball-stock_ towards his Belly.
Then taking the _Ball-Leather_, he laps or Folds about three quarters
of an Inch of one part of it over so much of it towards his Left Hand
into a Plaight, and laying the edges of that Plaight towards him, an
Inch above the edge of the _Ball-stock_, he with the Head of the
_Sheeps-foot_ drives a _Ball-nail_ into the middle of the Plaight, a
little more than half an Inch above the the edge of the _Ball-stock_:
But he Drives the _Ball-nail_ not quite up to the Head, but leaves
about almost a quarter of an Inch of the Nail out; that with the _Claw_
of the _Sheeps-foot_ he may Draw the Nail again when occasion serves.
Having driven the first Nail, he turns about the _Ball-stock_, till the
opposite side, and as near as he can guess, point of the edge of the
_Ball-stock_ lyes directly upwards between his Thighs, (as before,)
and then taking as near as he can guess the opposite edge of the
_Ball-leather_ between his Fore-fingers and Thumb of his Left Hand, he
holds the edge of the _Ball-leather_ upright, and having his Wooll or
Hair _Teized_, lying by him on his right Hand on the Floor, he grasps
at once as near as he can guess, so much as may just serve to fill his
_Ball-leather_ and the hollow of the _Ball stock_; which bringing to
the hollow of the _Ball-stock_, he draws the _Ball-leather_ over it;
and lapping the edges of the _Ball-leather_ over, as before, makes
another Plaight, and Drives another Nail, as before: So that here is
now the two opposite Sides of the Leather Nailed on. Then he takes up
the _Ball_ by the Handle in his Left Hand, and observes whether the
Wooll tend more to one than the other open half: If it do, he thrusts
it with the ends of his Fingers of his Right Hand into the middle, or
else over to the other Half, till the Wooll lyes equally on both the
Halfs.
If he have put too much or too little Wooll into the _Ball_, he either
takes some out, or adds more to, as the respective Half may require.
Then lays it down again between his Thighs, as before, and lays another
Plaight in the middle of the _Ball-leather_ on one of the open Halves,
and as near as he can guess, between the middle of the two opposite
Nails; and Nails that Plaight down to the _Ball-stock_, as before.
[Illustration: _Plate 30_]
In the like manner he Nails down the other open sides, (now Quarters,)
and then again takes a View how the Wooll is disposed into the middle
of the _Ball_; and where he finds it tend most to any of the open
Quarters, he Drives the Wooll with the ends of his fingers, as before,
or sometimes when the _Balls_ have been Wrought with, and blackt with
_Inck_, with the _Head_ of the _Sheeps-foot_ into the middle, and then
Nails down as before all the open Quarters as near as he can guess;
between the middle of his former driven Nails, and then again, takes
another View as before, to see how the whole _Ball_ pleases him.
If he finds any of the Plaights laid too near one another, he draws
that Nail, and alters that Plaight, to lay it as near as he can by
guess, in the middle between the next two Plaights.
Then he considers if his _Ball_ be round: If it be not, he thrusts the
Wooll from the bunching-out side, towards the wanting side, either with
the ends of his Fingers, or the Balls of one of his Hands; while the
Wooll is yet loose in the _Ball-stock_: For when the _Ball_ has been
Wrought withal, it will grow so hard, that the Wooll will not move out
of its place.
Having _Knockt up_ one _Ball_ well, he _Knocks up_ the other, as the
first.
The _Balls_ are well _Knockt up_, when the Wooll is equally dispersed
about all the Sides, and the middle smoothly covered with the
_Leather_, viz. not rising in Hillocks, or falling into Dales, not
having too much Wooll in them, for that will subject them to soon
hardning, and quickly be uneasie for the _Press-man_ to Work with; or
too little, for that will make the _Leathers_, as the Wooll settles
with Working soon flap, and wrap over it self into Wrinkles. So that
he cannot so well destribute his _Balls_: But the _Balls_ ought to be
indifferently plump, to feel like an Hard stuft Bed-pillow, or a strong
Spunge a little moistned with Water.
Having Knockt up the _Balls_, and Rub’d out the _Inck_, as shall be
shewed in the next ¶, he trys if his _Balls_ will _Take_, that is, he
Dabs the top of one of them three or four times lightly upon the hither
part of the _Inck-block_; If he finds the _Inck_ sticks to it equally
all about, and that so much as has toucht the _Inck-block_ is Black,
it _Takes_: But if scarce any of the _Leather_ is Black, or that it
be Black and White in Splotches, then the _Balls_ does not _Take_:
Wherefore he considers whether his _Ball_ be too Wet, or else Greasie,
for each of these inconveniences will hinder the _Taking_ of the _Ball_.
If it be too Wet, he burns half a Sheet or an whole Sheet of Waste
Paper, and waves his _Ball_ to and fro over the flame of it; but so
quick and cautiously that he neither shrinks the _Leather_ or Dryes it
too much: In Winter time when a fire is at Hand, he dryes it gently by
the fire.
If it be Greasie, he with the edge of the _Ball-knife_ scrapes off
the thick Oyl, that Works down out of the _Nut_ and _Spindle_ of
the _Press_, or else with the point of his Knife takes a convenient
quaintity of Oyl out of the _Plattin-pan_, or for want of either
takes fresh Sallad Oyl and smears and spreads it well all over the
whole _Ball-leather_; and then holding the _Ball-knife_ in his Right
Hand, with its edge a little sloping downwards that it cut not the
_Ball-leather_, and the handle of the _Ball-Stock_ in his Left Hand,
he joyns the bottom of the _Ball-leather_, viz. as near the outer
edge of the _Leather_ as he can, for the _Ball Nails_ to the edge
of the _Ball-knife_, and turning the _Ball_ about by its Handle,
presses it hard against the sloapt edge of the _Ball-knife_, and at
once drives the laid on Oyl and Grease too before the sloapt edge of
the _Ball-knife_; but he keeps the Handle of the _Ball-Stock_, and
consequently the whole _Ball_ too, constantly turning, that the whole
circumference of the _Ball_ may be _Scraped_: And as the _Ball_ has
performed a Revolution against the sloapt edge of the _Ball-knife_, he
draws gradually his Left Hand a little backish, that the sloapt edge
of the _Ball-knife_ may by several Spiral revolutions of the _Ball_,
scrape up to the very top of the _Ball_, and carries before it the Oyl
and Grease thither: Which having there, he gathers up upon the _Blade_
of his _Ball-knife_ and disposes of it, as of so much Dirt and Filth.
After a due process of either of these Operations respectively, his
_Ball_ will _Take_, and he again dabs gently the top of his _Ball_
three or four times on the _Inck-block_ (as before) and finding it
_Take_, he takes the Handle of it into the clutched Fingers of his Left
Hand, holding the _Ball-stock_ just a little above the circle of his
Fore-finger and Thumb, and grasps the Handle of the other _Ball-stock_
into his Right Hand, with the circle of his Finger and Thumb upwards,
and the now bottom of his Right Hand downwards, but not resting upon
the _Ball-stock_; and trys if that _Ball_ will _Take_, by dabbing the
Leather of it three or four times upon the other _Ball_; If it do not
_Take_ with dabbing, he twists the _Balls_ in either Hand close and
hard, contrary to one another, to besmear the upper with the under
_Ball_. If after this, the upper _Ball_ do not _Take_, he considers the
cause, and remedies it, as he did the first _Ball_.
¶ 11. _Of_ Rubbing out Inck.
Before the _Press-man_ goes to Work, he Rubs out his _Inck_.
If the _Inck_ have lain long on the _Inck-block_ since it was _Rubbed
out_, the Superficies of it generally is dryed and hardened into a Film
or Skin, wherefore the _Press-man_ carefully takes this Film quite off
with the _Slice_ before he disturb the Body of the _Inck_: For should
any, though never so little of it, mingle into the _Inck_, when the
_Ball_ happens to take up that little particle of Filin, and delivers
it again upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, it will be a _Pick_, and
Print black, and deface the Work: And if it get between the _Face_ of
two or more _Letters_, or the _Hollows_ of them, it will obliterate all
it covers. And if it be _Pull’d_ upon, and the _Press-man_ not careful
to over-look his Work, it may run through the whole _Heap_.