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Patent Model of a Type-composing Machine

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Fraser, Alexander
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a type composing apparatus which was granted patent number 224166. Patentee Alexander Fraser's composer was designed to work with his type-distributing machine. Type, stored in horizontal trays at the top of the machine, was nudged forward at the touch of a key to fall down assembling channels and into a continuous line. The operator would break off line lengths manually and space out the words as needed. Alexander Fraser was from Edinburgh, Scotland, where his composers were used successfully for several years. Elements of his typesetting and distributing machines were patented in Britain in 1872, 1875, and 1877, before the American patents were taken out.
Location
Currently not on view
ca 1880
patent date
1880-02-03
ID Number
GA.89797.224166
patent number
224166
catalog number
GA*89797.224166
Object Name
patent model
apparatus, type distributing
Object Type
Patent Model
Other Terms
apparatus, type distributing; patent model; type distributing apparatus; patent model; type composing machine, Fraser
Composing Machine; Composing; Type Setting
Physical Description
metal (overall material)
wood (overall material)
string (parts material)
Measurements
overall: 37.5 cm x 14.5 cm x 29 cm; 14 3/4 in x 5 11/16 in x 11 7/16 in
See more items in
Work and Industry: Graphic Arts
Patent Models, Graphic Arts
Work
Communications
Industry & Manufacturing
Patent Models
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_790075
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-becc-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • Patent Models: Graphic Arts

    American History Museum
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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