Albion Press

Albion Press

This was an improvement on the Stanhope, and was invented by Mr. Hopkinson, of the firm of Hopkinson and Cope, about the year 1824. From the annexed illustration it will be seen that the works are supported on a frame consisting of two uprights and a cross-piece, a a called the staple; or sometimes only the frame. This, as well as the other parts, excepting some which will be named, is of iron. The staple stands on two sets of ornamented feet, c c, screwed to pieces of wood which stand on the floor. The top is sometimes called the frame head, b.

Bather more than half way down the frame there is a cross-piece, on which are laid the ribs, r. The latter are the rails on which the carriage travels. At the extremity of the ribs is the rib leg, s, which serves to steady them, and to support the weight of the carriage. Between the two ends of the ribs furthest from the staple there is the bolster, t, the object of which is to prevent the carriage running too far out, or off the rails or ribs.

The carriage is driven forward and backward by being attached by two girths, u, or strong bands of leather or cloth, to a wooden cylinder called the rounce, g. One of these girths is so fixed that it will pull the carriage in one direction, and the other so that it will pull it in the opposite, the cylinder being turned round first so that it will cause the carriage to be impelled towards the platen, and then so as to withdraw it, and send it to the end of the ribs. The rounce is turned by a handle, called the rounce handle.

The upper surface of the carriage is covered by a strong plate of iron, planed perfectly level, which is called the table, v, or the coffin or sole. The last two terms, however, were chiefly used in reference to the old wooden press, whose table was of stone, and somewhat different in construction.

Hinged to the end of the carriage farthest away from the frame of the press is the tympan, already referred to. In order, however, to break the force of the descending platen, and so prevent the type being injured by the impact, the tympan is utilised to contain a soft yielding material such as blanket or cloth, or paper, but which goes by the name of tlie blanket, whatever it consists of. This is effected by making the tympan to consist of two parts, respectively called the inner and outer tympans. The first is a lighter frame of metal than the latter, and fits into it. The two are fastened together by tympan hooks. At the end of the tympan frame a heavy weight is placed, as a sort of counterpoise. When the tympan is being lifted, this facilitates the operation very materially. At the side of the outer tympan frame are ” point screw ” grooves, in which are fixed points for ” registering ” bookwork. Their use will be described subsequently.

Above these parts will be seen the platen, p, which is perfectly smooth and level on its under surface, in order to give the whole of the type forme an equable pressure. It is strengthened by heavy radiating plates cast in the same piece with the platen, which prevent it from “giving” in any part. The spaces between these plates, on the upper side of the platen, are called the “tills.“  The parts which effect the working of the platen may be divided into two classes, one regulating its descending and ascending motion, and the other being that which causes the motion. The platen, as we have already stated, must always be in a plane parallel to that of the table. It must have no lateral motion whatever. The slightest vibration, too, would cause the impression to be duplicated, and destroy its clearness; or, as printers say, would cause a “slur.” Hence there are guide plates fixed into the frame, which correspond in shape with that part of the mechanism immediately over the platen. They con­sist of two projecting pieces of iron, wedge-shaped, to fit into the grooves of a projection on the piston.

The platen itself is pushed up and down by means of the piston, f. This is connected with a system of levers. The power is gained by causing an inclined piece of steel to become per­pendicular. In doing so, the platen is forced down, and the impression takes place at the moment the piece of steel occupies a vertical position. Â  This piece of steel is called the chill, and it is shaped like an elbow. At the other end it is fixed to the bar, which, on being pulled towards the operator, straightens the chill, or brings it into the vertical position, and sends down the platen.

Albion Chill Mechanism (Figs. 5 and 6)

The arrangement will be understood by reference to Figs. 5 and 6. In the first diagram the position of the chill is shown when the platen is raised ; in the second, when it is brought down on the forme. Â  The screw is altogether discarded in this press.

The chill is straightened by a lever, the end of which is fastened to one projection of the frame, and having the elbow shape hold­ing on its inside a connection with the chill; the opposite end being brought over thus straightens the chill.

That part of the frame against which the handle elbow is brought is called the cheek, o, Fig. 4. The term is, indeed, some­times applied to the two sides of the upright frame, to distinguish them from the head; The end of the bar is called the bar handle, n. The whole is hung upon the main bolt, e, running through the head of the frame.

In order to effect the return of the platen, that is, to raise it up again, there is a powerful helical spring, h, fixed at the top of the press in the spring-box, but obscured by the ornamental erection seen in the view. This spring is connected with the other part by links and steel bolts. It also brings back the handle after the pull is made.

The degree of pressure given is regulated by the pressure steel, k, which is wedge-shaped, and acts upon the chill, on being screwed by the pressure screws, m, more or less forward. This screw is also shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

From the 1892 Edition of Practical Printing by John Southward