_Slice_, he scrapes his _Slice_ clean with the _Ball-knife_, lest
some small parts of the Film should yet stick to, or remain on the
_Slice_: And then with the _Slice_ brings the body of _Inck_ into the
middle of the Plain of the _Inck-block_, and searches the sides of
the _Inck-block_, by thrusting the edge of the _Slice_ forwards along
them and all the angles of the _Inck-block_, and so scrapes off all
the _Inck_ as clean as he can, and gathers it to the whole mass of
_Inck_: Then with the _Slice_ he turns the whole mass about half a
score times over and over to mingle it well together, lest some part
of it should be more consolidated than the rest: And to mingle it yet
better, he then falls to _Rubbing_ it with the _Brayer_, grasping
the Handle of it in his Right Hand, he begins to _Rub_ with all his
strength at the hithermost side-boundings of the Body of _Inck_, and
keeping _Rubbing_ through the almost whole length of the _Inck-block_,
he gradually proceeds to the farther side of the Body of _Inck_. In
this manner of _Rubbing_ he bears hardest upon the farther edge of the
_Brayer_, because the hither sides of the _Inck-block_ are not fenced
in with Rails about them; and should he _Rub_ with the bottom of the
_Brayer_ flat upon the _Inck-block_, he might draw too great a body of
_Inck_ to the unfenced sides; so that the _Inck_ would be subject to
run off: This _Rubbing_ is only to spread the _Inck_ pretty equally
over the superfices of the _Inck-block_: Wherefore he now begins a
circular _Rubbing_, observing in the circulation of the _Brayer_ that
he always a little mounts the part of the edge of the bottom, which in
its progress is ready to approach a prominent body of _Inck_, that it
may somewhat slide over it, that the _Inck_ be not lickt up high on the
sides of the _Brayer_.
Then with the Handle of the _Slice_ in his Left Hand and the Handle
of the _Brayer_ in his Right, he joyns the bottom edge of the
_Slice_ to the side of the _Brayer_, holding the flat of the _Slice_
Horizontal, and the bottom of the _Brayer_ perpendicular both over the
_Inck-block_, and keeping his _Brayer_ and _Slice_ in this position,
by turning the _Handle_ of the _Brayer_ in his Right Hand, held pretty
stiff against the edge of the _Slice_, he scrapes off all the _Inck_
that the side of the _Brayer_ has lickt up: And setting down his
_Brayer_, he takes the _Slice_ in his Right Hand and lays what _Inck_
he scrapes off the side of the _Brayer_ again upon the _Inck-Block_,
and _Slices_ the whole mass of _Inck_ into the farthermost corner of
the _Inck-block_.
This _Rubbing_ of the _Inck_ may serve when the _Inck-block_ had _Inck_
on it before.
But if no _Inck_ were on the _Inck-block_ before, then he lays new
_Inck_ on the _Inck-block_: Wherefore he considers what Work he Works
on: whether it be small or great _Letter_: If it be small _Letter_, or
curious Work, the _Inck_ must be _Strong_ he Works with: But if it be
great _Letter_ or sleight Work, he makes _Soft Inck_ serve, or at least
mingles but a little _Hard Inck_ with it.
If the _Inck_ be too _Hard_, as sometimes in very frosty Weather it
will be, then, though his Work be curious, yet he must _Rub_ in a
little _Soft Inck_ to soften it; because it will not else _Destribute_
well upon the _Balls_; especially if the _Leathers_ be a little too
Wet, or a little Greasie: Besides, it may and many times does pull and
tear the Grain off the Skin; which not only spoils the Skin, but fills
the _Form_ full of _Picks_.
Sometimes when he finds the _Inck_ too pale, he _Rubs_ in _Blacking_,
but he first joults the bottom of the _Blacking Tub_ three or four
times against the ground, that if by chance any dirt or filth have
gotten into it, it may sink to the bottom of the _Tub_.
But when he either mingles _Strong_ and _Weak Inck_ together, or else
puts in _Blacking_, he applies himself again first to _Rubbing_ with
the _Brayer_, the length-way of the _Inck-block_, as before, and then
to a circular _Rubbing_, as before; and to cleansing his _Brayer_, as
before; and this long-ways _Rubbing_, circular _Rubbing_, and cleansing
his _Brayer_, he reiterates so oft, till he judge the whole mass of
Inck sufficiently _Rubbed_ and mingled, and the _Blacking_ perfectly
imbibed by the _Inck_: And then he _Slices_ the whole mass of _Inck_ to
the farthermost corner of the _Inck-block_, as before.
¶ 12. _Of_ Destributing _the_ Balls.
I shewed you in ¶ 10 of this § how he dabb’d the _Ball_ on the
_Inck-block_, to try if it would _Take_: And I shewed you in what
Posture he handled the _Balls_ when he tryed if the other _Ball_ would
_Take_: Therefore for _Taking Inck_ and Handling the _Balls_ I (to
avoid tautology) refer you to that ¶.
Having now _Taken Inck_, and gotten the _Balls_ in his Hands, in that
posture, he Works them side-ways upon one another to and from him,
and with a craft (acquired by use) in the Handling of the _Balls_, all
the while keeps the Handles, and consequently the whole _Ball-stocks_
(both) turning round in his Hands and in a motion contrary to each
other, _viz._ His under _Ball_ moving from the Left Hand to the Right,
and his upper _Ball_ moving from his Right Hand to to the Left; and
by and by in a second motion contrary to the first, _viz._ his under
_Ball_ moving from the Right Hand to the Left, and his upper _Ball_
moving from the Left Hand to the Right.
And these motions and Operations he continues so long till he judges,
and in part perceives the _Inck_ is equally _Destributed_ all over the
whole _Ball-Leathers_.
The first way of turning the _Ball Handles_, while the _Balls_ are
moved to and from him, is made by pressing the ends or Balls of the
fingers of both his Hands upon the _Ball-handles_ from-wards his Hands:
And the second way of turning them contrary to the first, is made by
gathering in the ends or Balls of of his fingers while they are in
their circular to and fro motion. But because in gathering in his
fingers, he does somewhat dis-ingage his grasp of the _Ball-Handles_,
therefore he lightly and almost insensibly, tosses the _Ball-stocks_
a little up, that when they are dis-ingaged from a close grasp, his
fingers ends may the easier draw the _Handles_ towards him. This is a
Hand-craft, which by continued use and practice, becomes familiar to
his Hands.
¶ 13. _Of_ Beating.
The _Press-man_ imagines, or by his eye judges the length of his _Form_
(be it what Volumne it will) devided into four equal parts or Rows,
which four Rows for distinction sake, I shall number from the Left Hand
to the right, with first Row, second Row, third Row, fourth Row, just
as an _Octavo Form_ is exactly devided by four Rows of _Pages_.
He places his Left Hand _Ball_ at the hither end of the first Row, so
that though the _Ball_ be round, yet the square encompassed within
that round shall sufficiently cover so much of the square of the
hither end of that Row as it is well capable to cover; and his Right
Hand _Ball_ he sets upon the hither end of the third Row: He sets his
_Balls_ close upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, with the _Handles_ of
the _Ball-stocks_ a little bending towards him: But as he presses them
upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, he mounts them perpendicular; and
lifting at once both the _Balls_ lightly just clear off the _Face_ of
the _Letter_, he removes them about the fifth part of the breadth of
the _Form_ upwards, _viz._ towards the farther side of the _Form_, and
again sets them close down upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, with the
Handles of the _Ball-stocks_ again bending a little towards him, as
before: and as he presses them upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, mounts
them perpendicular, as before: Thus in about four or five or six such
motions, or rather removes of the _Balls_, according to the breadth of
the _Form_, he _Beats_ over the first and third Rows. Thus _Beating_
from the hither towards the farther side, is in _Press-mens_ phrase
called _Going up the Form_.
The reason why he bends the _Handles_ of the _Ball-stocks_ a little
towards him, is, that the _Ball-leathers_ drag not upon the _Face_ of
the _Letter_; for then the edges of the hollows between the _Lines_
or _Words_, or the edges of the cavities below the _Face_ would
scrape _Inck_ off the _Balls_ to stop up or choak the _Form_. And the
reason why (before he removes them) he mounts the _Handles_ of the
_Ball-stocks_ a little perpendicular, is, that the _Balls_ may touch in
their greatest capacity upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_.
To _Come down the Form_, he skips his _Balls_ both at once from the
first and third Row to the second and fourth Row, and brings them down
as he carried them up; only, as before, he bended the _Handles_ of
the _Ball-stocks_ a little towards him, so now he bends them a little
from him: That the _Ball-leathers_ (now _Coming down_) drag not, as
aforesaid. Then in like manner he again skips the _Balls_ from the
second and fourth Row to the first and third Row, and again _Goes up
the Form_ with the _Balls_, as he did before. And then again skips, as
before, and _Comes down the Form_ again with the _Balls_.
Having thus gone twice upwards and twice downwards with the _Balls_,
the _Form_ is sufficiently _Beaten_ in a train of Work, when the _Face_
of the _Letter Takes_ well.
But if he _Beats_ the first Sheet of a fresh _Form_, or after a _Form_
is _Washed_, or he makes a _Proof_, he _Goes_ three four or five times
_Upwards_ and _Downwards_: Least the _Face_ of the _Letter_ should
happen to be Wet or moist, and consequently un-apt to take _Inck_,
without reiterated _Beatings_.
¶ 15. _Of_ Pulling.
We will suppose now two _Press-men_ going in the Morning to their train
of Work: The one they distinguish by the name of _First_, the other his
_Second_, these call one another _Companions_: The _First_ is he that
has wrought longest at that _Press_, except an Apprentice, for he must
allow any Journey-man though new-come that stile: Generally the Master
Printer reposes the greatest trust upon his care and curiosity for good
Work; although both are equally liable to perform it.
All the priviledge that the _First_ has above the _Second_ is, that the
_First_ takes his choice to _Pull_ or _Beat_ the agreed stint first:
And that the _Second Knocks up the Balls_, _Washes the Forms_, _Teizes
Wooll_, and does the other more servile Work, while the _First_ is
imploid about making _Register_, ordering the _Tympan_, _Frisket_, and
_Points_, &c. or otherwise _Making Ready_ the _Form_, &c.
The _First_ now takes his spell at _Pulling_: For the _First_ and
_Second_ take their spell of _Pulling_ and _Beating_ an agreed number
of _Tokens_: Sometimes they agree to change every three _Tokens_, which
is three Hours work, and sometimes every six _Tokens_; that they may
both _Pull_ and _Beat_ a like number of _Tokens_ in one day.
Under the general notion of _Pulling_ and _Beating_ is comprised all
the operations that is in a train of work performed by the _Puller_
and the _Beater_: For though the _Puller Lays on Sheets_, Lays down
the _Frisket_, Lays down the _Tympans_ and _Frisket_, _Runs in_
the _Carriage_, _Runs out_ the _Carriage_, takes up the _Tympans_,
Takes up the _Frisket_, _Picks_ the _Form_, Takes off the Sheet, and
Lays it on the _Heap_, yet all these Operations are in the general
mingled and lost in the name of _Pulling_. And as in _Pulling_, so in
_Beating_; for though the _Beater Rubs_ out his _Inck_, _Slices_ it
up, _Destribute_ the _Balls_, peruses the _Heap_, &c. yet all these
Operations are lost in the general name of _Beating_. Thus they say the
_First_ or the _Second_ is _Pulling_; or, the _First_ or the _Second_
is _Beating_; though they are performing the different Operations
aforesaid: unless upon particular occasions the respective Operations
are particularly nam’d.
As there are many Operations conjunct to _Pulling_, and _Beating_, so
the _Press-man_ performs them with various Set and Formal Postures and
Gestures of the Body. For,
To take a Sheet off the _Heap_, He places his Body almost straight
before the hither side of the _Tympan_: I say almost straight, Because
it is more straight before the side of the _Tympan_ than it is before
the angle made by the _Paper-bench_ and the side of the _Tympan_:
But he nimbly twists the upper part of his Body a little backwards
towards the _Heap_, the better to see he takes but one Sheet off, which
he loosens from the rest of the _Heap_ (as I have shewed before) by
drawing the back-side of the Nail of his right Thumb on his Right Hand
nimbly over almost the whole length of the _Heap_, and receiving the
hither end of the Sheet with the inside of his Left Hand fingers and
Thumb catches with his Right Hand about two inches within the farther
edge of the Sheet near the upper corner, and about the length of his
Thumb below the hither edge of the Sheet, and brings it nimbly to the
_Tympan_: And at the same time twists his Body again straight before
the _Tympan_, only a very little moving his right Foot from its first
Station a little forwards under the _Carriage Plank_: And as the Sheet
is coming to the _Tympan_ (we suppose now he Works upon _White Paper_)
he nimbly disposes the fingers of his Right Hand under the farther
edge of the Sheet near the upper corner; and having the Sheet thus in
both his Hands, lays the farther side and two extream corners of the
Sheet down even upon the farther side and extream farther corners of
the _Tympan-sheet_, but he is careful the upper corner of the Sheet
be first laid even, upon the upper corner of the _Tympan-sheet_; that
he may the sooner disingage his Right Hand: And if by the nimble
casting his eye, he perceive the sides of the Sheet lye un-even upon
the _Tympan-sheet_, he with his Left Hand at the bottom corner of the
Sheet, either draws it backwards, or pulls it forwards, as the Sheet
may lye higher or lower on the hither corners of the _Tympan-sheet_,
while his Right Hand being disingaged, as aforesaid, is removed to the
backside the _Ear_ of the _Frisket_, and with it gives it a light touch
to double it down upon the _Tympan_. And by this time his Left Hand is
also disingaged, and slipt to the hither under corner of the _Frisket_,
to receive it, that it fall neither too hard or too quick down upon the
_Tympan_: For hard falling may shake the loose Sheet on the _Tympan_
out of its place; and so may the quick pressure of the Air between
the _Tympan_ and _Frisket_, after the Sheet is well laid: and while
his Left Hand receives the _Frisket_ his right is disingaged from the
_Ear_ of the _Frisket_, and removed to the middle of the back-side the
_Tympan_; which he grasps between the Balls of his Fingers and Thumb,
to lift it off the _Gallows_, and double it and the _Frisket_ together
on the _Form_. And while the _Tympan_ is coming, he slips his Left Hand
Fingers from under the _Frisket_ to the hither outer corner of it, as
well to keep the Sheet close to the _Tympan_ in its position, as to
avoid the jobbing of the lower side of the _Frisket_ against any small
square shoulder, either of the _Furniture_, _Quoins_, _Chase_, or the
corners that may stand higher than their common Plain.
Then nimbly slipping his Left Hand, he with it grasps the _Rounce_,
and with a moderate strength, nimbly gives its _Winch_ about one Turn
round; I say about, because the first _Pull_ will generally fall out
to be made about the middle of the _Carriage_; (as was shewed in § 11.
¶ 16.) but perhaps not just in the middle: yet to regulate his _Runing
in_, he made a mark before on the farther Rail of the _Tympan_, (as I
shewed in ¶ 3. of this §) to which mark he _Runs_ the _Carriage in_,
till he bring the mark in a Range with the fore-edge of the _Plattin_;
and as it is coming, skips his Hand to within an Inch or two of the end
of the _Bar_, and then at once gently leans his Body back, that his
Arm as he _Pulls_ the _Bar_ towards him may keep a straight posture;
because in a _Pull_ it has then the greatest strength. And he also
slips his right Foot upon the _Foot-step_, while his Left Hand holds
fast by the _Rounce_; as well to rest on the _Foot-step_ and _Rounce_,
as to enable his Body to make a stronger _Pull_; which will prove
_Longer_ or _Shorter_, according to the strength put to it, and also
the _Hard_ or _Soft Justifying_ of the _Head_, (as was shewed in ¶ 5.
of this §.)
Then disingaging his Right Hand again from the _Handle_ of the _Bar_,
he slips it to the _Bow_ of the _Bar_, before the Handle fly quite back
to the _Cheek_ of the _Press_: For should the _Bar_ by its forcible
Spring knock hard against the _Cheek_ of the _Press_, it might not only
shake some of its Parts or circumstantial appurtenances out of order,
but subject the whole Machine with oft reiteration to an unstable
position. Besides, the farther the _Bar_ flyes back, the more he
hinders quick riddance in recovering it again. But yet he must let the
_Bar_ fly so far back as that the _Tympan_ may just rise clear off the
_Plattin_; lest when he _Runs in_ his _Second Pull_, the _Face_ of the
_Plattin_ rub upon the _Tympan_, and shoves the Sheet upon the _Face_
of the _Letter_, and sometimes _Slurs_, and sometimes _Doubles_ it upon
the _Face_ of the _Letter_.
Having _Pull’d_ the _First Pull_, and having the _Rounce_ still in his
Left Hand, He turns the _Rounce_ about again, till the _Carriage Runs
in_ so far, as that the second mark on the Rail of the _Tympan_ comes
into a Range with the hither edge of the _Plattin_, as before the first
mark did; and then _Pulls_ his second _Pull_, as he did his first;
and slips his Right Hand again off the _Handle_ of the _Bar_ to the
_Bow_, (as before) and guides the _Bar_ up to its _Catch_ leisurely,
that coming now near the _Cheek_ it knock not against it: and just as
he has _Pulled_ his _Second Pull_, he gives a pretty quick and strong
pressure upon the _Rounce_, to turn it back, and the _Carriage_ out
again: And so soon as he has given that one pressure, (as aforesaid) he
desingages his Left Hand from the _Rounce_, and claps the fingers of it
under the middle of the _Tympan_, and on the _Ear_ of the _Frisket_:
and while this is doing, removes his Right Hand to the now upper, but
immediately it will be the under-side of the _Tympan Rail_, within
four or five Inches of the upper end of it, to receive the _Tympan_,
as it is lifted up off the _Form_ by his Left Hand. And having thus
received it, lets it descend gently down on the _Gallows_. And as it
is descending, slips his Left Hand fingers under the hither lower
corner of the _Frisket_, and gives the _Frisket_ a toss up; while by
this time his Right Hand being disingaged from the _Tympan_, is ready
to catch the _Frisket_ by the _Ear_, and convey it quick and gently
to its _Stay_: And while the _Frisket_ is going up; he slips the end
of the middle finger of his Left Hand, or sometimes the ends of his
two middle fingers with their Balls upwards, under the hither lower
corner of the _Pulled off Sheet_, and at the instant he has got them
under, he nimbly bows his Joynts upwards, to throw up the corner of the
Sheet, to make it mount a little, for him to gather about two Inches
hold of it between the Balls of his Thumb and fore-finger. And heaving
the whole Sheet by this corner a little upwards, He at the same time
lifts it off the _Points_, and draws it somewhat towards him; and as
it comes, catches it near the upper corner of the same side of the
Sheet, between the foremost Joynts of his fore-fingers and Ball of the
Thumb of his Right Hand, and nimbly twisting about his Body towards
the _Paper-bench_ carries the Sheet over the _Heap_ of _White-paper_
to a _Paper-board_, which before he placed beyond that _Heap_ on his
Right Hand, (as aforesaid in ¶ 14.) and lays it down upon a Waste-sheet
laid for that purpose on that _Paper-board_; but while it is coming
over the _White-paper Heap_, though he have the Sheet between both
his fore-fingers and Thumbs, yet he holds the Sheet so loosly that
it may move between them as on two Centers, as his Body twists about
(as aforesaid) from the side of the _Tympan_ towards the side of the
_Paper-bench_.
Thus you see both the _Press-mans_ Hands at the same time alternatively
ingaged in different Operations: For while his Right Hand is imployed
in one Action his left is busie about another, and these exercises so
suddenly varied, that they seem to slide into one another; one Posture
beginning when the former is but half performed.
Having thus _Pulled_ one Sheet, and laid it down: He turns his Body
towards the _Tympan_ again, and as he is turning gives the next Sheet
on the _White-paper Heap_ a Touch with the backside of the Nail of his
Right Thumb, as before, to draw it a little over the hither edge of
the _Heap_, and lays it on the _Tympan_, &c. as he did the first; and
so successively every Sheet till the whole _Heap_ of _White-paper_ be
_Wrought off_.
As he comes to a _Token-sheet_, he un-doubles that, and smooths out the
Crease with the back-side of the Nails of his Right Hand, that the
_Face_ of the _Letter_ may Print upon smooth Paper. And being Printed
off, he folds it again, as before, for a _Token-sheet_ when he works
the _Reiteration_.
Having _Wrought off_ the _White-paper_, he turns the _Heap_ thus:
He takes the _Paper-board_ that his _White-paper_ lay on, and sets it
down on the ground: Then removes the _Heap_ to his Left Hand; then
takes up the _Paper-board_, and lays it on his Right Hand: And if it
be _Twelves_, or any _Form Imposed_ like _Twelves_, as _Twenty fours_,
&c. he turns it from one long side of the Paper to the other, that
is, the long side of the Paper that stands on his Right Hand when the
Printed side lies upwards, he turns over to his Left Hand, and lays
the un-printed side upwards. In performing this, he grasps off of
the _Wrought off Heap_ so much at once between both his Hands as he
can well govern, without disordering the eveness of the sides of the
_Heap_, viz. a _Token_, or more, and lays that upon the _Paper-board_;
then takes another grasp in like manner, and lays that on the first
grasp, and so successively, till he have turned the whole _Heap_, grasp
by grasp. Then removes the _Heap_ near the _Tympan_, and lays the other
_Paper-board_ beyond it, as the first _Paper-board_ stood before;
always remembring to lay a Waste-sheet first on the _Paper-board_.
Having now turned the _Heap_, and made _Register_ on the _Reteration
Form_ (as was shewed in ¶ 7. of this §) he Works off the _Reteration_:
But he somewhat varies his posture in the _Laying on his Sheets_: For
as before, when he wrought _White Paper_, he catcht the Sheet by the
upper farther corner with his Right Hand, he now having heaved up the
Sheet (as aforesaid) catches it as near the farther side of the farther
_Point-hole_ as he can, with the Ball of his Right Hand Thumb above the
Sheet, and the Ball of his fore-finger under the Sheet, the readier to
lay the _Point-hole_ over its respective _Point_: which having done,
he slips his Body a little backwards, and both his Hands with it, his
Right Hand towards the hither _Point-hole_, with the back-sides of the
Nails of his fingers to draw or stroak it over the _Point_: and the
fingers of his Left Hand, as they come from the farther corner, nimbly
slipping along the bottom edge of the Sheet, till they come to the
hither corner; and then with his fore-finger and Thumb, layes hold of
it, to help guide the _Point-hole_ on that _Point_ also: Then _Pulls_
that Sheet, as before, as he did the _White Paper_, and so successively
all the rest of the _Reteration_. Only, the _Token-sheets_, as he meets
with them, he Folds not down again, as he did the _White Paper_.
If a _Press-man_ have no _Companion_, but works alone; he has a little
oblong Square _Form_ or Bench made to stand so high as the _Face_ of
the _Letter_ upon the _Press-stone_, and so long as to contain the
_Balls_ when set upon the _Ball-leathers_.
This Form or Bench some Work-men will place on the hither side the
hither _Cheek_, within about half an Inch of the foreside of the
_Cheek_: And other Work-men will place it on the farther side of the
_Carriage_; each sort of Work-men supposing that in the place he sets
it, the _Balls_ stand most commodious for his quick taking up and
setting down: I shall not plead the convenience of either, but in short
speak to the inconveniences of both.
The inconvenience of placing it on the hither side the hither _Cheek_,
is, that the _Press-man_ must twist his Body somewhat about to take up
the _Balls_. And the inconvenience of placing it on the further side
the _Carriage_, is, that the _Press-man_ must thrust his Body over the
_Form_ to take up the _Balls_: both ways strain the Body, and hinder
riddance.
Those that place it on the hither side the _Cheek_, begin and end their
_Beating_ as has already been shewed, _viz._ on the hither side the
_Form_: But those that place it on the farther side the _Carriage_,
begin and end their _Beating_ on the Rows on the farther side the
_Form_.
One _Press-man_ in his train of Work will _Beat_ so soon as he has
laid the _Tympan_ on the _Gallows_ after _Pulling_: Another will not
_Beat_ till he has laid his Sheet on the _Tympan_, and doubled the
_Frisket_ down on it: both sorts fancying their own way most quick and
commodious: For these conveniences are the purposes they both drive at.
¶ 16. _Of Printing_ Red, _or other Colours with_ Black.
When _Red_ and _Black_ are to be Printed upon the same Sheet, the
_Press-man_ first _Makes Register_, as was shewed ¶ 7. and _Makes
Ready_ his _Form_ as was shewed ¶ 14. of this §. Then having a new
_Frisket Drawn_, as was shewed ¶ 8. He Prints upon his new _Frisket_
with _Black_. And having before a _Proof-sheet_ Printed _Black_, with
the Words to be Printed _Red_ under-lined on that _Proof-sheet_; He
takes off his _Frisket_, and lays it flat on a _Paper-board_, and with
a sharp-pointed Pen-knife neatly cuts out those words on the _Frisket_,
and about half a Scaboard _Margin_ round about the words, that he finds
under-lined on the _Proof-sheet_: Then sets the _Frisket_ by till he
has wrought off his _Heap_ with _Black_, and puts his common _Frisket_
on the _Joynts_ of the _Tympan_ again.
While the _Press-man_ is _Cutting_ the _Frisket_, the _Compositer_
takes those _Words_ out of the _Form_ that are _Under-lin’d_ on the
_Proof-sheet_, and in their place puts _Quadrats_, m-_Quadrats_,
_Spaces_, &c. to _Justifie_ the _Lines_ up again.
Then _Locking up_ the _Form_, the _Press-man_ Works off the _Heap_
Black, as was shewed in the last ¶.
Having wrought off his _Heap_ Black, he takes off the common _Frisket_,
and puts on his new cut _Frisket_: Then taking a piece of thick
Scaboard he cuts it into so many small slips as there are _Whites_
in the _Form_ to be Printed with _Red_; These small slips he cuts
exactly to the length of the _Quadrats_, &c. the _Compositer_ put in,
and to the breadth of the _Body_; but rather a small matter less than
bigger, lest they bind at the bottom of the _Shank_ of the _Letter_:
for when the _Compositer_ takes out the _Quadrats_, &c. he put in
before the _Form_ was _Wrought off_ Black, these slips of Scaboards
the _Press-man_ pricks on the Point of a _Bodkin_ and puts them into
their respective holes: And being loosen’d off the Point of the
_Bodkin_ with the blunt Point of another _Bodkin_, are laid down flat
on the _Press-stone_; These slips are called _Underlays_, and are
described in ¶ 14. of this §. Upon these _Underlays_ the _Compositer_
puts in again the _Words_ or _Letters_ he took out before the _Form_
was _Wrought off Black_: So that these _Words_ now stand higher than
the other _Matter_ of the _Form_, and therefore will Print when the
other _Matter_ will not. But yet for the more assurance that the other
_Matter_ Print not, the _New-cut Frisket_ was prepar’d, which hinders
any thing to Print but what Prints through the Holes cut in it; which
Holes these _Underlaid Words_ fall exactly through.
Having mingled the Red, or any other intended Colour with _Varnish_, as
shall be shew’d in the next ¶, he _Beats_ the _Form_ as with _Black_;
and _Pulls_ it very lightly, lest these _Underlaid Words_ standing
higher than the rest of the _Matter_, Print too _Hard_.
¶ 17. _Of mixing and Grinding Colours with_ Varnish.
_Varnish_ is the common _Menstruum_ for all Colours that are to be used
in Printing.
_Red_ is the chief Colour that is used with _Black_ in Book-Printing:
of _Reds_ there are two sorts in general use, _viz._ _Vermillion_ and
_Red-Lead_; _Vermillion_ is the deepest and purest Red, and always used
to Books of Price. _Red-Lead_ is much more faint and foul, and though
more used than _Vermillion_, yet used only to Books of Vulgar Sale and
Low price, as Almanacks, _&c._
Yet may other Colours also be used to Print withal; yea, any Colours
that are used in Oyl-Painting, as _Lake_ and _Russet_, which are _Reds_
deeper than _Vermillion_; _Virditur Indico_ and _Bice_ for Blews;
_Orpment_, _Pinck_, _Yellow Oaker_, for Yellow: _Virdigreace_, and
Green _Virditur_, for Greens: or what other Colours may be fancied.
But all Colours for Printing must be Ground with _Soft Varnish_;
especially those Colours that are of themselves Dryers; as _Red-Lead_,
_Vermillion_, _Orpment_, _Verdigrease_; For should they be Ground
with _Hard Varnish_ the Colour’d _Inck_ would dry and harden so quick
and fast upon the _Form_, that it would soon be choaked up, and
consequently want _Washing_ e’re the _Form_ be _Wrought off_; which
would be very troublesome to the _Press-man_, because he must expect
to have all his _Underlays_ to new fit to their places: And besides,
it will so Dry and Harden upon the _Balls_, that the Grain of the
_Leathers_ would quickly tear off, and fill the _Form_ full of _Picks_.
The fittest Colours therefore for Printing, are such as are of the
lightest Body and Brightest Colour.
They are to be Ground with a Mullar on a smooth Marble Stone, so long
that the Colour becomes impalpable, and is throughly mingled with the
_Varnish_.
¶ 18. _Of Printing with Gold and Silver._
This Operation is seldom used but for Printing Names; and therefore
rarely drest in a _Form_ to the _Press_; but is usually Printed in the
_Stick_: And then the _Compositer Justifies_ his Stick very _Hard_, as
well that the _Letters_ fall not out when the _Back_ of the _Stick_ is
turned upwards, as that the strength of the _Hard Varnish_ the _Face_
of the _Letter_ is _Beat_ with, pulls not the _Letter_ out of the
_Stick_.
Therefore the _Press-man_ makes two little _Balls_, by tying about an
Handful of Wooll in new clean Leather, and dabs one of his _Balls_
upon the Hardest _Varnish_ he has, and with the other destributes his
_Varnish_ to a convenient Fatness, as he did his _Balls_ in ¶ 12. With
one of these _Balls_ he _Beats_ the _Name_; and having his Paper _Wet_,
he lays a single _Blanket_ on the _Correcting-stone_, and his Paper on
the _Blanket_; and with a _Riglet_ fitted to the _Stick_, he presses
the _Letter_ to keep it straight in _Line_: Then places the _Face_ of
the _Letter_ exactly flat down upon the Paper, and with the force of
both his Hands presses the _Letter_ hard and even down upon the Paper,
to receive an Impression: But he takes care not to wriggle the _Letter_
in the _Stick_ backwards or forwards, lest either the _Beard_ Print, or
the sides of the _Letter_ be more or less besmeared with the _Varnish_:
Because the Gold or Silver will stick to the least Sully that the
_Varnish_ may chance to make.
Then cutting his Gold or Silver to a size full big enough to cover the
Printed _Name_ or _Matter_, he lays his Gold or Silver on what was
Printed, and with a little White Cotton gently presses the Gold or
Silver upon the Printed _Matter_, and lets the Paper lye by a while;
as well that it may dry, as the _Varnish_ Harden, (which will quickly
be) he with his Handkerchief gently wipes over the Printed _Matter_. So
shall all the Gold or Silver that was toucht by the _Varnish_, stick
to the _Varnish_ on the Paper, and the other will wipe away.
If he lifts to Polish it, he uses a Tooth or the Ivory Handle of a
Knife.
¶ 19. _Rules observed; and Remedies to the Inconveniences the_
Press-man _may meet with in a Train of Work_.
1. The _Press-man_ is to make a _Proof_ so oft as occasion requires: If
he takes off his _Form_ to make a _Proof_, he _Un-locks_ and lays the
_Quoins_, as shall be shewed when I come to _Washing_ of the _Form_:
but many _Printing-houses_ have an empty _Press_ stands by to make
_Proves_ on.
The _Compositer_ having brought the _Form_ to the _Press_, lays it
down on the _Press-stone_, and the _Press-man_ places it even under
the _Plattin_, that the _Plattin Bear_ not harder on the hither or
farther side of the _Form_: Then he _Pulls_ the _Cards_ upon the
_Form_, to press it into a flat position: Then _Beats_ the _Form_
four or five times over, that he may be sure it _Take_: Then he lays
the _Proof-sheet_ on the _Form_, so as by his Judgement it shall have
an equal _Margin_ on all its opposite sides, and a double _Blanket_
on the _Proof-sheet_; and _Running in_ the _Carriage_, _Pulls_ the
_Proof-sheet_: Having _Pull’d_ it, he _Runs-out_ the _Carriage_ again,
and takes the _Proof-sheet_ off the _Form_. Then with the _Ly-brush_
dipt in _Ly_, he _Rubs over_ the _Face_ of the _Letter_ three or four
times, to Wash off what _Inck_ may remain on it, and carries the _Form_
again to the _Correcting-stone_ and lays it down: And the _Proof_ he
carries to the _Compositers Case_.
2. If the _Form_ he Works on be _Small-letter_, or _Old Letter_,
he uses _Strong Inck_; and _Beats Lean_: For _Weak Inck_ and _Fat
Beating_, will quickly Choak up the _Face_ of the _Letter_. But to
fetch off _Hard Inck_ thin _Beat_ on the _Face_ of the _Letter_, he
_Pulls Hard_. But if the _Form_ be great _Letter_ or _Black English
Letter_, it will allow _Fatter Beating_.
3. He keeps a constant and methodical posture and gesture in every
action of _Pulling_ and _Beating_, which in a train of Work becomes
habitual to him, and eases his Body, by not running into unnecessary
divertions of Postures or Gestures in his Labour, and it eases his mind
from much of its care, for the same causes have constantly the same
effects. And a _Pull_ of the same strength upon the same _Form_, with
the same _Beating_, and with the same _Blankets_, &c. will give the
same Colour and Impression.
4. That every two Sheets, if the _Form_ be small _Letter_ (rarely
three, unless _Great Letter_) he _Takes Inck_; and so soon as he comes
off the _Form_, viz. has _Beat_ it, he falls to _Destributing_ his
_Balls_. And that Sheet which he _Takes_ not _Inck_ he steps to the
_Heap_ to overlook the Colour, _viz._ whether he has _Taken_ too much
or too little _Inck_; and to see if no accidents have befallen the
_Form_, viz. that no _Letters_, _Quadrats_ or _Furniture_, &c. Rise,
that no _Letters_ are _Batter’d_; That _Bearers_ fail not, _viz._
grow so thin with long _Pulling_ on, as not to perform the office of
_Bearers_; that the _Register_ keep good; that no _Pick_ be got into
the _Form_, or any other accident that may deface the beauty of the
Work, but all this while still keeps his _Balls Destributing_.
If he have taken too much _Inck_, which sometimes may happen (but
seldom for want of carelessness) he will not _Take Inck_ again, till
he have wrought his _Balls_ to a good and moderate Colour. But if the
Sheet already _Pull’d_, be so _Black_ that it may not tolerably pass,
he Doubles or Folds it in the middle and lays it cross the _Heap_, that
the _Gatherer_ may take or leave it, in case the _Heap_ falls Short.
If he foresee the next Sheet will also be too _Black_, he takes a Dry
Sheet of Waste Paper between his _Balls_ and _Destributes_ upon that
Dry Sheet, that it may take off the _Inck_.
If in doing this, the strength of the _Inck_ have _Pull’d_ the
_Paper_ to pieces, so that small rowl’d-up bits may stick upon the
_Ball-leathers_, if they be but a few he picks them off with his
Fore-finger and Thumb, but if there be many he makes his _Balls_ clean
by _Scraping_ them (as I shewed in ¶ 10. of this §) for else these
small rowl’d-up bits of Paper will be apt to fill the _Form_ full of
_Picks_.
If _Letters_, _Quadrats_ or _Furniture Rise_, he puts them down, the
_Letters_ and _Quadrats_ with his _Bodkin_, and the _Furniture_ with
his _Hammer_, and _Locks_ the _Quarter_ they are in, a little Harder.
If any _Letters_ are _Batter’d_, he _Unlocks_ the _Quarter_ they are
in, and desires the _Compositer_ to put in others in their room.
If _Bearers_ Fail, that is, Squeeze thinner with long _Pulling_ on, he
takes those _Bearers_ off, if they are on the _Frisket_, and puts on
thicker: But if the _Furniture_, were _Under-laid_ (as I shewed in ¶
7. of this §) he _Unlocks_ the _Quarter_ they are in, and _Underlays_
them according to his Judgement.
If _Register_ be _Out_, which sometimes happens by the starting of the
_Quoins_, he mends it, as I shewed in ¶ 7. of this §.
If a few _Picks_ are got into the _Form_, that is, little bits of
Paper, Skin or Film of _Inck_, Grease or other filth which may stick to
the _Face_, or get into the hollows of the _Letter_, he with the point
of a Needle picks them out: But if many be gotten in, he takes off the
_Form_ and Washes it, as shall hereafter be shewed.
And though he every other Sheet overlook the _Heap_ (as was said
before) yet his _Companion_ that _Pulls_, by an habitual use casts his
eye upon every single Sheet; Yet rarely hinders his riddance by it,
for while he is taking the Sheet off the _Tympan_, he gives a quick
spreading glance upon it, and lays it down, as was shewed ¶ 15. of this
§, unless he perceive somewhat to mend: For then he lets it lye on the
_Tympan_ till he has mended what was amiss.
And that he may _Take Inck_ more equally, to keep the _Balls_ of an
equal Fatness, he keeps the _Rubb’d out Inck_ on the _Inck-block_ of an
equal Fatness; which to do, he with the under-edge of the bottom of the
_Brayer_, draws often from the mass of _Inck_ a small, (and as near as
he can guess) an equal quantity of _Inck_, viz. about the quantity of a
Pea, and with the _Brayer_ Rubs and disperses that _Inck_ of an equal
thickness, all over the hither corner of the _Inck-block_. While this
is doing he holds the _Balls_ upright on one another in his Left Hand,
leaning the Handle of the uppermost _Ball-stock_ against his Breast.
The equal and often _Taking_ of _Inck_ in a small quantity, and
constant _Destributing_ of the _Balls_, is the onliest means to keep
the _Heap_ throughout of an equal Colour, and to avoid _Beating_ of
_Fryers_.
5. If he meets with naughty Sheets in his Work; as torn, or stain’d,
_&c._ he Prints them not, but throws them under the _Paper-bench_; and
if any crease or wrinkles be in any Sheet, he laying the backs of his
four Left Hand fingers upon a smooth place in the Sheet, rubs with the
backs of the Nails of his Right Hand Fingers from-wards him upon the
wrinckles, till he have smoothened them.
6. And though his constant care is to Lay every particular Sheet even
upon the _Heap_, yet it often happens either through _White Pages_ that
may come in the _Form_, which because not Printed lye solid on one
another, the unequal pressing of one side or end of the Paper, or the
unequal Bearing of the _Plattin_ on one side or end of the _Form_; I
say it often happens by these accidents, that the _Heap_, as it grows
higher is on one part of the Sheet raised above, and on another part
sunk below an Horizontal level: It is raised higher on that side or end
of the _Heap_ most prest in the _Tympan_, and by consequence makes the
Paper there more Huffie; Because deep pressure of the _Letter_ into
the Paper below the common level of the Sheet bears the Paper off from
the _Heap_, on the underside the Sheet; and the greater the number of
Sheets are thus Printed off and laid on the _Heap_, the more that side
or end of the _Heap_ shall Rise: And by the Rule of Contraries, when
_White Pages_ come in the _Form_, the greater number of Sheets laid on
the _Heap_, shall where those _White Pages_ lye, make the _Heap_ lower
in that place, because they clap solider together, for want of Printing
the Paper through the backside level of each Sheet: So that the small
un-level lying of every Sheet, though unperceptable, in a small number
of Sheets, makes each Sheet incline to the lowest side of the _Heap_,
and as the _Heap_ accumulates heighth, throws the _Heap_ more or less
towards the dripping side, or end over the bottom of the _Heap_.
To remedy which, he claps the insides of both his Hands against both
the ends of the _Heap_, but more forcibly against the Hanging over end
towards the other end, till he has drove the _Heap_ into an upright
position.
If either of the sides hang over, he with the inside of his Left Hand
commonly against the farther side of the _Heap_, and the outside of
his Right Hand fingers on the hither side the _Heap_, either draws the
hanging over side towards him with his Left Hand, or thrusts it from
him with his Right Hand fingers, as aforesaid, while his opposite Hand
does the office of a stop, that it be not drawn too forward, or thrust
too much backward. Then where the _Heap_ rises above the Level, he with
the inside flats of one or both of his Hands presses it down into an
Horizontal Plain.
7. If it be a _Reteration_ he Works, and a great Number is laid
on, he uses a _Tympan-cloath_ instead of a _Tympan-sheet_: This
_Tympan-cloath_ is a Fine and even Linnen Cloath, about an Inch or two
larger on every side than the Paper he Works on: He Wets this Cloath
and wrings the Water out again, so that it remains only moist: Then
lays his Cloath instead of his _Tympan-sheet_, and Pastes the corners
of the under side of it to the _Tympan_, and Works upon it as on a
_Tympan-sheet_.
One reason why he uses a Cloath to Work the _Reteration_ on rather
than a Sheet of Paper, is, because a Sheet of Paper quickly wears out,
which a Cloath will not do. Another reason is, that when the _Inck_
that wrought off the _White Paper_ Sets off upon the _Tympan Cloath_,
it may in clean _Ly_ be washt clean again: For a good _Press-man_ will
not Work on a foul _Tympan Cloath_ or (if he use no Cloath) on a foul
_Tympan-sheet_, because as the _Inck_ of the _White-paper_ aforesaid,
set off on the _Tympan Cloath_, so the more the _Tympan Cloath_ has
gathered _Inck_ from the _White-Paper_, the more it will Return or give
back again, towards the besmearing of every Sheet that is Printed on it.
The reason why the _Press-man_ does not use a Cloath to Work the _White
Paper_ with, is, because in Working the _White-Paper_, the use of the
_Tympan-Sheet_ is principally to lay all the Sheets of the _Heap_ even
by, as being of the exact size with all the rest of the _Heap_, which a
_Tympan-Cloath_ is not, nor could it, without great trouble, be reduced
to that size by the _Press-man_, or if reduced to that size, without
much difficulty be laid even or square on the _Tympan_: Because the
_Cloath_ when _Wet_, will be hard to be kept straight and square, but
every side will naturally run into irregularities, which a Sheet of
_White Paper_ will not do.
8. Sometimes, through the loose _Hanging_ of the _Plattin_ on its
_Cords_, or through the much wearing of the _Hose_, or the _Garter_, or
the _Worms_ in the _Nut_ and _Spindle_, or the irregular wearing of the
_Toe_ of the _Spindle_ in its _Nut_, or too much play of the Tennants
of the _Head_ in their Mortesses, or the irregular dryness of the
_Tympan_, or through irregular _Runing in_ of the _Carriage_, It will
happen that the _Letter_ will _Double_ upon the Sheets, that is, Print
double.
If the loose Hanging of the _Plattin_ be the cause, it is easily mended
by turning about the _Female Screws_ fitted to the tops of the _Hose_,
as was shewed ¶ 4. of this §.
If the _Hose_ be worn, or the square holes the _Hose_ Works in, it may
for the present be botcht up by putting Scaboards between the _Hose_
and the square holes of the _Till_; but to mend it perfectly either
another _Till_ must be made, or a new _Hose_, or both.
If the _Garter_ be worn too wide; the Smith must either mend the Old,
or make a new one.
If the _Worms_ of the _Nut_ or _Spindle_ be worn, the _Spindle_ must be
examin’d by the Smith, and made true, and have a new _Nut_ Cast on it.
If the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ and its _Nut_, or either of them be worn
irregularly, it is Smiths Work to mend.
If the Tennants in the _Head_ have too much Play in their Mortesses;
which though it seldom happens, yet if the _Head_ were not made of well
seasoned Stuff, the Tennants may be subject to shrink, and so have too
much play. There is no substantial remedying this fault, but by making
a new _Head_.
If an unproper temperature of the _Tympan_ be the cause; that is, when
it is dry in one place and moist in another, the dryed place may by
its spring force the Paper against the _Face_ of the _Letter_, and in
part Print it before it come to feel the force of the _Plattin_; (but
this is rather slurring than _Doubling_) and when the force of the
_Plattin_ does come, the spring in the dryed part will again remove the
Paper, and the force of the _Plattin_ gives its full Impression where
the Paper is thus removed, but when it is real _Doubling_, it happens
generally on the whole Sheet.
This _Doubling_ or _Slurring_ is mended, by reducing the dryest part of
the _Tympan_ to an equal moist temperature with the moistest.
_Doubling_ often happens in the middle of the _Form_, and the reason
is, because the foreside of the _Plattin_ Prints beyond the middle of
the _Form_ at the first _Pull_, and the hindside of the _Plattin_ by
the _Second Pull_ reprints part of the _First Pull_: So that a Spring
in the _Tympan_ removes the Paper in this interval of Time.
This fault is mended by exact observing the _Runing in_ of the
_Carriage_.
_Doubling_ may also happen by the too loose and flapping straining of
the _Tympan_, when it was first _Drawn_.
This cannot be mended without taking the _Tympan_ off, and _Drawing_ on
a new one.
A _Press-man_ having _Pull’d_ a Sheet, may by some accident (either of
Object or Discourse) let it ly on the _Form_ after he has _Run-out_
the _Carriage_, and afterwards forget it was _Pull’d_, yet may perhaps
lift the _Tympan_ a little off the _Form_, which lifting off (if the
_Joynts_ are not very good) will remove the Sheet, if then he _Pull_ it
again, it will _Double_.
This fault because it is but an accident I shall pass by, and only say,
If the _Joynts_ are so faulty (as sometimes Old _Joynts_ are) that the
_Press-man_ cannot keep _Register_ with them, the Smith must make new
or mend the Old.
9. When the _Press-man_ leaves Work at Noon, he draws half the Nails
out of the Balls, and takes the Wooll out: Then doubles the loose half
of the _Leather_ over the remaining Nail’d-on half, with the _Incky
sides_ of each half next each other, and Rowls up the _Leathers_ close,
and laies them in a Bowl or Pan of Water to Soak till he has Din’d.
He also covers the _Form_ with the _Tympan_, to keep it from dust
or filth that may fall on it: And takes out the _Blankets_ and lays
them on the _Heaps_: And with a _Spunge_ Wet in Water besprinkles the
backside of the _Tympan_, to Soak it whiles he is at Dinner.
Coming again to his Work afternoon, he takes the _Handles_ of the
_Ball-stocks_ between his Thighs, (being seated as before, when he
knockt up the _Balls_, ¶ 10.) to hold them fast, and he takes the
turn’d down backsides of the _Ball-leathers_ in both his hands, (for
the other side being all over Black, would black his Hands) and rubs
them between his Fingers very well, to supple them. Then squeezes and
Wrings the Water well out again; and _Teizes_ his Wooll, by opening
all the hard and almost matted knots he finds in it: but he does not
pull the Wooll or hardned knots in it assunder from the whole mass
of Wooll: But endeavours to keep the Wooll of each _Ball_ intirely
connected in the same mass, and only opened, to Loosen and Soften it:
For pulling the knots to pieces, would tear the Wooll, and soon make it
unfit for use. Having _Teazed_ the _Wooll_ he _Knocks up_ his _Balls_
again, as I shewed in ¶ 10.
Then he goes to the _Tympan_, and squeezing his _Spunge_ as dry as
he can, he rubs it over the backside of the _Tympan_, to Suck up the
Water, that may lye on it.
Then taking the _Blankets_, he rubs them between both his Hands to
soften them; for we must suppose that the Mornings _Pulling_ on them
has compacted and hardned them: being well Rub’d, he lays them in the
_Tympan_ again, as was shewed before in ¶ 7. and falls again to his
Afternoons train of Work.
Having wrought all day, though his _Form_ be not _Wrought off_, it
may yet be _Foul_, so that he must _Wash_ it: Nay, in small _Letter_
a good _Press-man_ will _Wash_ his _Form_ twice a day: Wherefore he
calls to the Boy to Heat the _Ly_, somewhat before he is ready for it,
about a Heating time: And having a _Shooting-stick_ lying by him on the
_Till_ or some other convenient place, drives every _Quoin_ between
the _Furniture_ and the _Chase_ fast up; least they may have somewhat
shrunk, or else started back: Then with a piece of Chalk he makes a
score on the two farthermost _Corners_ of the _Carriage_; and through
the _Quoins_ droven against them, and upon the two _Corners_ of the
_Carriage_ of the _Tympan_ and their _Quoins_, and lets the _Quoins_
ly; but he _Unlocks_ all the opposite _Quoins_, and takes them out of
their places; laying those _Quoins_ that he takes from between the
fore-end of the _Carriage_ and the _Chase_ on the hithermost upper long
side of the _Plattin_, the hithermost _Quoin_ on the hithermost side of
the _Plattin_, and the farthermost _Quoin_ on the farthermost side of
the _Plattin_; with their small ends towards him, and fromwards him as
they lay on the _Carriage_. The _Quoins_ that he takes from the hither
side of the _Carriage_, he lays on the hithermost Return side or end
of the _Plattin_; that on his Left Hand on the _Carriage_, towards the
farther Corner of the _Plattin_, and that _Quoin_ on the Right Hand on
the _Carriage_, towards the hither corner of the _Plattin_, with their
small ends towards the Hand they lay on, on the _Carriage_.
Having taken out and placed these four _Quoins_, he tryes if the
_Form_ will _Rise_, as was shewed § 22. ¶ 7. then takes up the _Form_,
and carries it to the _Ly-Trough_, and lays it in it, even as the
_Compositer_ brought the _Form_ to the _Press_, and laid it on the
_Press-stone_. § 22. ¶ 7. and taking the _Ly Kettle_, or _Chafer_,
in his Left Hand pours the _Ly_ Scalding hot place by place over the
whole _Form_: And then with the ends of the Hair of the _Ly Brush_ rubs
gently over the whole _Form_: And as he thus _Rubs_ with his Right Hand
Rocks the _Ly-Trough_ a little on its Axis, that the Body of _Ly_ may
accompany the _Ly-Brush_ in its progress from the hither to the farther
side of the _Form_: And thus he _Washes_ the _Form_ still on, till he
perceive the _Face_ of the _Letter_ purely clean.
Then he lets the _Ly_ out again into the _Ly-Kettle_ at the Hole and
Pipe in the Left Hand hither corner of the _Ly-Trough_: and stopping
the hole again, sets by the _Ly-Kettle_. Then with a Dish or two of
fair Water he _Rinces off_ the Laver of the _Ly_ that may ly on the
_Face_ of the _Letter_, and rears up the _Form_ and throws a Dishful or
two of fair Water on the backside of it, to _Rince_ it also. Then takes
the _Form_ out of the _Ly-Trough_, and sets it by, shelving with its
_Face_ against the Wall, to Dry.
If the _Heap_ be _Wrought off_, he lets the _Compositer_ know it, to
take Charge of it.
Having _Wrought off_ his _Heap_, he takes it off the _Paper-bench_,
and sets it by on the floor, covering it with a Waste-sheet: And gives
notice to the Boy, or to the _Ware-house-keeper_, to fetch it away and
_Hang it up_ to Dry.
Then he draws the _Balls_, and takes the _Blankets_ out of the _Tympan_
(as at Noon:) And if he have Paper to _Wet_, _Wets_ it as was shewed ¶
9. of this §.
§ 25. _The Office of the_ Warehouse-keeper.
¶ 1. _Of_ Hanging up _Paper_.
The _Warehouse-keeper_ takes the _Heap_ out of the _Press-room_, and
carries it into the _Warehouse_, or other _Drying-place_, and setting
it upon a Form or Bench of convenient heighth, with an end of the
_Heap_ from him, he takes the _Handle_ of the _Peel_ in his Left Hand,
and lays the _Board_ flat down upon the _Heap_, with the Left Hand side
of the _Board_ towards the Left Hand side of the _Heap_, and so as
its upper edge may reach to almost three quarters of the length of the
Sheet, and that the Right Hand end of the _Peel_ may ly on the middle
of the _Heap_: Then with his Right Hand he doubles over so much of the
_Heap_ as he thinks good, perhaps about a _Quire_, or half a _Quire_,
or about seventeen Sheets, more or less, either as he can allow them
time to _Dry_, or have room on his _Racks_ to _Hang_ them on. Having
thus doubled his first _Doubling_ on the _Heap_, he removes the Left
Hand half of the _Peel_ almost off the _Heap_, viz. to about two Inches
within the Left Hand side of the _Heap_, and doubles, as before, a
second _Doubling_ to hang over the first _Doubling_, towards the Left
Hand about two Inches, as aforesaid, on the _Peel_, and as near as he
can guess, the same number of Sheets. And having these two _Doublings_
on his _Peel_, he takes the _Peel_ off the _Heap_, and holding the
_Handle_ a little aslope, that the _Shorter Folding-over_ of the Sheets
may open from the _Peel_, he lifts it up, and places it at one end of
his first _Rack_, and lets it hang on it, by drawing the _Peel_ from
under the Paper. In like manner he Loads and unloads his _Peel_ again
successively, till he have _Hung up_ the whole _Heap_. See Plate 31.
[Illustration: _Plate 31_]
Note, that the sides of the Sheets do not hang against one another,
but lap over one another, as you may see by Plate 31. Nor are they
_Hung up_ to _Hang_ with their edges against the side of the former
_Hanging-up_, but to lap over, so as every Right Hand _Doubling_ may
lap about two Inches over the Left Hand _Doubling_; that when the
_Books_ are taken down, the _Warehouse-keeper_ clapping the flat
side of his _Peel_ against the Right Hand edge of the Paper, slides
several _Doublings_ over one another (perhaps three or four:) And
putting the _Peel_ under them, takes them off the _Racks_, and lays
them on the _Heap_ again, on a clean Waste Paper, and sets the _Heap_
orderly by, till it comes to be _Gather’d_.
The _Warehouse-keeper_ is also very careful to lay all the Sheets, so
as the respective _Signatures_ of every Sheet may ly exactly over the
respective _Signature_ of the first Sheet, lest when the _Books_ come
to be _Gathered_, some Sheets may be _Turned_, which will give him a
great deal of trouble to _Turn_ them right when he _Colations_ the
_Books_.
[Illustration: _Plate 32._]
¶ 2. _Of_ Laying the Heaps.
_Laying the Heaps_ is to place them on Benches or Forms of a convenient
Heighth, in an orderly _Signatural_ Succession. By an orderly
_Signatural_ succession, I mean the first _Signature_, which most
commonly is A (and therefore shall be so accepted) be placed on the
Left Hand of the Bench, with either the Side or Foot of the _Page_, as
the _Volumn_ requires, that hath the single _Signature_ A at the bottom
of it upwards, and towards the hither side of the Bench. On the Right
Hand side of the _Heap_ A is B, and next it C, in like order D E F, &c.
¶ 3. _Of_ Gathering of Books.
_Gathering of Books_ is to take one Sheet off every _Heap_, beginning
at the last _Heap_ first, _viz._ at the Left Hand end of the Range. The
_Gatherer_ takes it off with his Right Hand, and disposes the hither
end of the Sheet into his Left Hand, clapping his Left Hand Thumb upon
the middle of the Sheet, to hold it fast. Then he takes a second Sheet
off the second _Heap_ from the Left Hand, _viz._ towards the Right;
and lays the second Sheet on the first, and so successively a third, a
fourth, a fifth, &c. till he has _Gathered_ the last Sheet on his Right
Hand; still observing to lay the middle of each Sheet under his Thumb,
and all the single _Signatures_ on each Sheet orderly and successively
on one another.
Thus he _Gathers_ on, till one of all the _Heaps Comes off_; which when
it does, he Doubles or Quires up all the other _Heaps_, and lays them
by till he can _Bundle_ and Tye them up; which when he has also done,
he writes upon them _Imperfections_ of (the _Title_ of the _Book_) and
Writes on it the _Signature_ of the Sheet that is Wanting, and sets it
by in a convenient place of the _Warehouse_, that he may have recourse
to it on any occasion.
Though I shewed how he _Gathered_ the _Books_, yet shewed not how he
_Knocks them up_ and _Folds_ them: Wherefore,
Having thus _Gathered_ one _Book_, he _Knocks it up_, that is, he
carries it to a Table provided on purpose near him; and taking the
ends of the _Book_ between the two Bows of the Thumb and Fore-finger
of each Hand, he grasps the ends loosly between them, and placing the
hither long side or edge of the _Book_ on the plain of the Table, he
lifts the whole _Book_ a little above the plain of the Table, (about an
Inch or two, more or less) and while the whole _Book_ is held loosly
by its ends, lets it fall gently down on the Table, that the edges of
such Sheets as may stand out, or lower than the rest, may be drove even
with the rest of the edges of the _Book_, and also that the edges of
such Sheets as may lye above the edges of the _Book_ may be joulted
downwards, and lye even in the same Range with the rest of the edges.
And as he is _Knocking up_ the lower edge of the _Book_, he at the same
time evens the two ends of the _Book_, by thrusting the Bows of his
Thumbs and Fingers against the ends of the _Book_, which being loosely
grasp’d, and the Bows of his Thumbs and Fingers bearing pretty stiff
towards each other; will drive in the ends of such Sheets as may stick
out at either end; and so even the ends of the _Book_ at the same time.
Having thus even’d all the edges, he lays the _Book_ flat down on the
Table, and holding one end of it stiff and tight in his Left Hand, he
rubs the whole flat of his Right Hand hard upon the upper Sheet, to
press it and all the other Sheets as close together as he can; then
takes it up, and gives the edges another or two gentle _Knocks_, as
before; and then _Folds up_, or _Doubles_ the _Book_, according to its
respective _Volumn_.
If it be _Folio_, _Quarto_, _Octavo_ or _Sixteens_, he _Folds_ it in
the _Short Cross_; but if it be _Twelves_, _Eighteens_, _Twenty-fours_,
he _Folds_ it in the _Long Cross_.
But most times before he _Folds_ the _Books_ he will _Colation_ them:
(as shall be shewed by and by:) therefore having _Gathered_ the _Book_,
he lays it by on a Sheet of Waste Paper, and _Gathers_ a second _Book_
as he did the first, and lays that flat open on the first, then
_Gathers_ a third, fourth, fifth _Book_, &c. as before, and lays them
successively on each other, till he have raised an _Heap_ of _Books_ so
high, that he grows cautious of laying more on, lest its heighth should
exceed his management. Then _Gathers_ on, and raises another _Heap_ or
_Heaps_ till one of the _Signatures_ comes off.
¶ 4. _Of_ Colationing Books.
The _Colationing of Books_, is,
First, To examine whether the whole number of Sheets that belong to a
_Book_ are _Gathered_ in the _Book_.
Secondly, To examine that two Sheets of one sort are not _Gathered_.
Thirdly, To examine whether the proper _Signature_ of every Sheet lye
on its proper corner of the _Gathered Book_.
To do this, The _Colationer_ provides himself with a _Bodkin_; which
is nothing else than a pretty thick Sowing Needle, (most commonly
broken-eyed,) having its thick end thrust fast into a round piece of
Wood, about the thickness of a Tobacco-Pipe, and about three or four
Inches long.
Now having the _Heap_ of _Gathered Books_ before him, with the single
_Signature_ A lying upwards on his Right Hand, and his Left Arm cross
the _Heap_, and his Hand near the _Signature_ corner, with his _Bodkin_
in his Right Hand, he pricks up the corner of the first Sheet A,
and at the same moment he pricks it up, slips the Balls of his two
Fore-fingers of his Left Hand, and secures it from falling back again
on the _Gathered Heap_ of _Books_ between his Thumb and hinder Joynt of
his Fore-finger, and immediately pricks into the Sheet B, casting his
Eye upon the _Signature_, as well to see that it is B, as to see that
it is singly B, and not B 2, B 3, _&c._ For if the single _Signature_
lye not on the same corner of the _Heap_, the Sheet must be turned
till it do. In like manner he picks up and receives C D, _&c._ still
casting his Eye that it be the right _Letter_, and single _Signature_,
as aforesaid.
If he finds two Sheets of the same _Signature_, he takes one out and
lays it by, or else on the _Heap_, if they be not all _Gathered_.
If he finds one Sheet wanting, he fetches that Sheet from the _Heap_;
or if he want it at the _Heap_ the _Book_ is laid by as _Unperfect_
till he have _Colationed_ the whole _Impression_ of _Books_, to see if
he can make it _Perfect_ with some other _Book_, that may have two of
the same Sheets _Gathered_ in it.
Having examined that his _Book_ is _Perfect_, he _Knocks_ and _Folds it
up_, as was shewed in the last ¶.
Having _Gathered_, _Colationed_ and _Folded_ these _Books_, he _Tells_
them, to see how the _Impression Holds out_; and as he _Tells_ them,
he lays a set number of _Books_ (if the _Books_ be _Thick_, five, if
Thinner, Ten, if very Thin, twenty five or fifty) with the _Folded
Side_ or _Back_ one way, and the same _Number_ of _Books_, with the
_Folded_ or _Back-side_ the other way, _viz._ the edges of the latter
number of _Books_ upon the _Backs_ of the former _Number_: As well to
distinguish and Count the _Number_ of _Books_ readily, as to keep the
Bundle in a flat and Horizontal position. For if the _Backs_ of the
_Quired Books_ in a Bundle, should lye all one way, the _Fold_ of the
_Back_ being more or less hollow in the middle of each _Book_, will
in a _Number_ of _Books_, by springing upwards, mount the _Backs_;
and consequently the edges of the _Books_ in the _Bundle_ will be
depressed, so that in a great _Bundle_ the _Books_ will be subject to
slide off one another.
These _Books_ being thus Counted, he sets them by on Waste Paper in
convenient Piles, _viz._ Piles of about three or four Reams high
(according as the Paper may be thicker or thinner) he sets them by
(I say) in Piles of equal Numbers, Range by Range, till the whole
_Impression_ is set by.
And before he Tyes them up, he puts them into the _Standing Press_,
placing in it so many _Books_ as the _Press_ will hold, both in width
and Heighth; observing to set in every _Pile_ he puts Range by Range
into the _Press_, an equal number of _Books_, that each _Pile_ may
equally feel the force of the Screw.
Then with a strong Iron Bar he turns about the _Spindle_ as oft he can,
with his main Strength to Squeeze and _Press_ the _Books_ as close and
tight as he can together: and so lets them stand in _Press_ about a
Day and a Night. Then takes them out, and in like manner puts in more
_Books_, till the whole Impression is _Prest_. See Plate 32.
As he takes each number of _Books_, he Tyes them up with Packthred,
lays a Waste Paper under and upon each _Bundle_; and if the
_Master-Printer_ Printed the _Impression_ for Himself, he writes the
_Title_ of the _Book_, and number of the _Books_ on the uppermost
Waste Paper, and sets them by square and orderly on the Shelves in the
_Warehouse_, to deliver them out according to the _Master-Printers_
order. But if the _Impression_ were Printed for an Author, or a
Book-seller, he sends them to the Authors or Book-sellers, without
writing on the uppermost Waste Paper.
[Illustration: _Plate 33_]
¶ 5. _Of_ Setting out _Paper_, _and_ Culling _the_ Cording Quires.
Each Ream of Paper contains twenty Quires: These twenty Quires are by
the Paper-makers so disposed that the Back or Doubling of each Quire
lyes upon the opening or edges of the next Quire: For reasons given in
the last ¶.
Two of the twenty Quires in a Ream are called _Cording Quires_, viz.
the two _Out-side Quires_; because the whole Ream is Corded or Tyed up
between them. They are also called _Cassie Quires_, because they serve
for Cases to the Ream. These Quires are by the Paper-maker made up of
torn, wrinckled, stained, and otherwise naughty Sheets; yet does not
perhaps the whole Quire consist of such Sheets, but commonly some good
Sheets are in _Culling_ found among them, as shall be farther shewed by
and by.
The _Warehouse-keeper_ therefore when he _Sets out_ Paper, lays by the
uppermost _Cording Quire_, and then nimbly snatches with his Right Hand
at the back of the next Quire, and if the back lys towards him, draws
it into his Left Hand with the edges of the Quire towards his Fingers;
but if the back lye from him, nimbly turns it while it is coming to his
Left Hand, and so again nimbly snatches at the back of the succeeding
Quires, placing their backs all one way on the First Quire in his
Left Hand, till he have Counted or taken off of the Ream a _Token_;
which _Token_, if it be set out for _Half_ a _Press_, viz. a _Single
Press-man_, is generally but five Quires, and is indeed often called
_Half_ a _Token_: But if it be for an _Whole Press_, it contains Ten
Quires. This _Token_ he lays by near him, upon a Waste Sheet of Paper,
and again applies himself to _Set out_ the next _Token_ in the same
manner, but lays the next _Token_ with the backs of the Quires over the
edges of the former _Token_, and thus _Sets out_ so many _Tokens_ as
his _Heap_ requires, yet always considers how his Paper _Holds out_,
whether five and twenties, or but four and twenties: If it _Holds out_
five and twenties, he _Sets out_ in every Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth
_Token_ Eleven Quires, to secure the _Impression_ to _Hold out_. If
but four and twenties, he _Sets out_ Eleven Quires, in every second
_Token_, and at last a Quire more to the whole _Heap_ to make good
the wanting Sheets of every Quire, and to make _Proves_, _Revises_,
_Register-Sheets_, _Tympan-Sheets_, and to supply other accidents
that may happen at the _Press_, either by naughty Sheets, or Faults
committed in _Beating_, _Pulling_, _Bad Register_, &c. for all or any
of these accidents that happens to a Sheet, the _Press-man_ doubles it,
and lays by in the _Heap_ as Waste, as I shewed § 24. ¶ 18. (4) and
still he remembers, as aforesaid to lay by the two _out-side Quires_
of every Ream; and at last lays on the _Heap_ another Waste Sheet of
Paper, and so brings it to the _Press_ to be _Wet_.
The _Culling the Cording Quires_, is, to examine every Sheet one
by one. To do it, he lays the _Cording Quires_, or many _Cording
Quires_ open before him against the Light, and takes up every Sheet
successively and observes the goodness of it: Such Sheets as he finds
good, he lays on his Right Hand, and the Bad on his Left. If a Sheet
have but a little corner torn off, _viz._ so much as he judges the
_Book-binder_ would take off with his _Plow_, to make the _Leaf_ square
with other _Leaves_, he accounts that a good Sheet: But if more be torn
off, he lays it by for Bad; and so he does Wrinckled and stain’d Sheets.
Having thus _Cull’d_ all the _Cording Quires_, he tells out the good
Paper into Quires, allowing five and twenty to the Quire, if the Quires
of the Ream hold out five and twenty; or else but into four and twenty.
And the good Paper thus _Cull’d_, he tells into an _Heap_ or _Heaps_,
as far as it will go.
But yet the careful _Warehouse-keeper_ will not give the _Press-man_
this _Culd_ Paper to Print at the begining or end of a _Book_, but
disposes that _Heap_ or _Heaps_ so as they may be used about the middle
of the _Book_: For though we call’d it good Paper, yet it very rarely
happens to be so beautiful as the _Inside Quires_.
The Bad Paper he also _Tells out_ into Quires, but allows no more than
four and twenty Sheets to the Quire, because it is commonly set by in
the _Warehouse_ to be sold.
It is also the Office of the _Warehouse-keeper_ to keep a Day Book, and
in it to set down what Books he Sells, and for how much, and to whom,
and whom by order of the _Master-Printer_ he Trusts with Books, and for
how long Time; that so the _Master-Printer_ may as oft as he pleases
have an account how the _Impression_, or part of it, is disposed of.
(_As an Appendix._) _Ancient Customs used in a_ Printing-house.
Every _Printing-house_ is by the Custom of Time out of mind, called
a _Chappel_; and all the Workmen that belong to it are _Members of
the Chappel_: and the Oldest Freeman is _Father of the Chappel_. I
suppose the stile was originally conferred upon it by the courtesie of
some great Churchman, or men, (doubtless when Chappels were in more
veneration than of late years they have been here in _England_) who for
the Books of Divinity that proceeded from a _Printing-house_, gave it
the Reverend Title of _Chappel_.
There have been formerly Customs and By-Laws made and intended for the
well and good Government of the _Chappel_, and for the more Civil and
orderly deportment of all its Members while in the _Chappel_; and the
Penalty for the breach of any of these Laws and Customs is in Printers
Language called a _Solace_.
And the Judges of these _Solaces_, and other Controversies relating to
the _Chappel_, or any of its Members, was plurality of Votes in the
_Chappel_. It being asserted as a Maxim, _That the Chappel cannot Err_.
But when any Controversie is thus decided, it always ends in the Good
of the _Chappel_.