The Graphotype article is spread over three pages:
Page 1, Page 2, Page 3.
Many thanks to Robin Kenworthy for sending in this article, originally published in a book called "Typographical Printing Surfaces" shortly after 1907. The Graphotype was an early rival to the Monotype system, but had the keyboard and casting system in the one machine.
Robin has a museum-worthy collection of machines, type and matrices as well as an extensive library on the subject of letterpress.
Graphotype (new model) composing and casting machine; view of right-hand side from the back
A further improvement introduced is to make the unit for justification also equal to one-sixteenth of the full set, or body measurement, and to provide for the distribution of from one to sixty-four of these units, by which the line may be short when measured, over the spaces in such manner that no one justifying space shall differ by more than one unit from any other in the line.
That is to say, the method adopted is to cast spaces each a multiple of the unit, but not necessarily equal to each other; it is furthermore arranged that where inequality occurs the wider spaces are cast first in one line and last in the next line, so as to keep the appearance of the justification more uniform.
The perforated ribbon has guide-holes at one side only, as in the Goodson machine, and two sets of perforations, each in one of the fifteen positions available, are used for the production of each character; two sizes of hole are used, a large one for determining the row, and a small one for defining the individual character in the row selected.
The fifteenth or last perforation of one set is devoted to the trip, and of the other is devoted to the spaces; these holes are large and small respectively.
In this form of the Graphotype the composing mechanism or keyboard perforates the paper strip which is then rolled up and is worked backwards in the casting machine in the same manner as the Monotype.
The perforating and selecting devices as well as the other mechanical movements of the Graphotype keyboard and casting machines are electrically operated; the current for operating can be obtained from any ordinary continuous-current electric lighting or power supply.
A new model of the Graphotype machine has been produced which is a one-man machine, for the whole work of composing and casting is performed on it; this machine contains several novel and original features.
A small selection of Letterpress Ebay listings appear below. A much bigger selection appears here. Linotype-related Ebay listings are here.
