US1838972A - Calculator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1931.

G. E. wElR CALCULATOR i Filed Sept. 26. 1927 -SheetS-Sheet ma ww WE IN O D R O G A TTO Dec. 29, 1931. G, E WE|R 1,838,972

CALCULATOR Filed Sept. 26. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGB.

Ich

Dec. 29, 1931. G. E. wm 1,838,972

CALCULATOR Filed sept. 2e. 1927 :s sheets-sheet s A FIG?.

Fm@ l 1N VEN TOR. GORDON EWEIR BY me# l Il l d A TTOR Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNIT-ED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE 1,

` GORDON EVERETT WEIRQO nnYs'IDn, NEW YORK, AssrGNoRfmo TYPOCALCULATOR, y

, i s i INC.,ACORPORATIN 0F NEW YORK ACALCULATOR Animation ma' september 26, 1927.l semi No. A221,923.

My invention" relates to calculators and is moreparticularly Concerned with calculators intended to used by persons engaged in typographical, advertising' and similar work.

The" typographical art is now reduced to an exact science. Beautiful medieval script and book titles have'been copied by modern type desi ners and adapted to American type scales. he advertiser .ofl today has at his w command the linest type styl-es of'all the ages. His medium of expression is without limit. In the choice of his type set-up hecan put behindhis message the exact atmosphere necessary tok make that message most effective.

lVhile there is no guess work in the cornposing roomiof modern printing` establishments,from the largest to the smallest, the advertiser copy-writer according to Hpresent day methods, continues' to guess at the amount ofcopy a specially `designed vehicle is to carry, ormore frequently, writeshis copy'rst and thereafter tries to fit it tothe Aallotted space. Or, if he is especially careful he will tedio'usly count the number of words per 2'5 copyy line; Vmultiply this byk the number of lines; figure the word capacity of the allotted space, and thereaftertrust to luc'k. This results sometimes inshortages, but more frequently in over-runsv andv auditors" corrections and revamping.

To quotefrom Carl Greers-authentic' and valuable work, The Buckeye Book'of Direct Advertising,l the only way at present of estimating the amountof copy necessary to fill a set or given space infa layout is: To estimate-the amount of printed space required for agiven amount ,of copy, or conversely, to ascertaintheamount of copy. required to fill a given type space, count the Words on one page of copy. Then count the Words on one page of thetypeftol'be used., To ascertain the numherof prin-ted pages required, multiply-thenumber of vwords fona page or copy by the Anumber of pages of copy and divide by the number of words on one printe'dpage. *f The result-s' givenv are, of course, ap-

roximate', butju'sually sufficiently accurate. ctwithstanding the above well recommended andmore or less frequently practiced'su'g- ,50 gestions, the fact remains thatv nine timesout of ten they prove to be absolutely inaccurate andv are often the cause of costly over-runs, not to mention the ftediousness of such a process and the prodigal waste of time required to complete the finished layout. Overruns,without question, cost large publishing houses hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, cachyear. ,y f y The calculator' of the present invention is designed to make it possible for the copy- 90 writer, with a minimum knowledge of type and typographical composition, to be as accurate as the compositor himself. The linotype and `monotype machines lare the instruments in the hands of the compositor. The typewriter', an equally exact machine, is the instrument in the hands of the copy-writer; and the calculator (as hereinafter more fully explained) `is the link or instrument bridging and connecting these two machines. Being mathematically accurate, the calculatoriif properly used, makes it possible for the copywriter to determine in advance the area required to be filled in on the typewriter for similarlyy filling a' given space allotted to' a given sizeV and styleA of type, or vice versa. The advantages Vof such adevice or instrument are obviously manifold. y l

VIn the drawings,4 wherein like reference characters denote like or corresponding' parts'. i

Fig. l is a plan view ofthe calculator com"- plete;

2 is a'longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. is ai transverse vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; l

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5 Vis a plan view of the so-called ydepth scale flattened out;

Fig. 6 is a plan view'of the so-called width scale liattened out; l y Figi? is a diagram of a layout in which the actual type and illustration space for the required set-np are clearly elfiown,-` and .'Fig. 8 is a diagram of the same layout, the area allotted to typewritten matter having been determined by means ofthe ealculat'of; 100

which area, it will be noted, is different from that indicated in Fig. 7

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration only the preferred form of the invention is shown. Preferably the calculator comprises a body portion A of wood or other vsuitable material in which two parallel longitudinally extending grooves B and B1 are formed. ....hese grooves B and B1 extend throughout substantially the full length of said body portion and are open at the top thereof to expose or render visible the d-epth and width scales C and D which are housed respectively within said grooves.

v The scales, in cross-section, are cylindrical,

and in the operation of the calculator, are adapted to be rotated as well as moved back and forth longitudinally of said grooves. The scale C adjacent to the top edge of Fig. l will be hereinafter referred to as the depth scale, whereas the scale D adjacent to the bottom edge of said ligure will be hereinafter referred to as the width scale. Except for the exterior markings upon them the scales C and D are the same.

Atene end of the body portion A an end plate E is provided. Said plate E has formed therein suitable openings EL thru which the scales C and D extend. Flach scale at its extended end has formed thereon a knob F b v means of which it may be conveniently 'asped and either rotated or slid. Preferably the scales C and D are hollow throughout. Each (see Fig. il) is mounted on a suitable guide or core G which at one end is carried beyond the corresponding end of its associated scale to enter an end casing H fastened to that end of the body portion A remote from the end plate E. The cores (l, tho incapable of sliding movement, are rotatable with said scales. By forming the cores G of polygonal section and providin at the inner end of each scale a similarly shaped openin G (thru which the cores extend) any turning movement given the scales will be directly imparted to said cores. To hold the cores G against sliding movement, bushings H1 mounted on the cores and engaging in seats H2 formed in the casing H. are provided.

As it is intended that the scales C and D shall be rotated in one direction only, suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism is provided at one end of each scale. The ratchets l. in each instance, are mounted on the cores (l. between the lnishings H1 and within the end casing H. The pawls Il are likewise mounted within the end casing H and are adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth. The pawls are gravity actuated and are mounted for vertical sliding movement in suitable guides I2 positioned one each, at opposite sides of the pawls. Since the pawls l1 are at all times in engagement with the ratchet teeth, and since the ratchets l are thus held against rotation in a reverse direction, obviously accidental or unintentional rotation of the scales C and D is prevented.

In addition to the grooves B and B1 in which the scales C and D are housed, there is provided also a center groove K. This groove K, however, does not extend throughout the full length of the body. Vithin said groove K a tongue K1, fastened on the underside of a slide L, is fitted to slide back and forth; the cross-sectional shape of the tongue and groove being such that the slide is held in place. Said slide L is adapted to overhang the Width scale D and has formed therein an opening L1 thru which the markings on said scale can be seen. It is provided also with a second and larger opening L2 thru which the markings on the top face of the body can be seen and with which an indicator or pointer L3, formed on the margin of said opening, is adapted to register. The purpose and nature of the markings on the scales and body as well as the relationship existing between said markings and the slide L, will be hereinafter pointed out. If desired, a magnifying glass L4 may be fitted and held within the opening L1 to better visualize the scale marking= which are of necessity exceedingly small.

The great scale markings, which are the markings along the opposite longitudinal edges of the body portion A, are designated as M and M1. These markings indicate inches and fractions thereof and are preferably carried in extent throughout the full length of the instrument which may or may not be 1L long.

The markings on the depth scale C are based on the type point system now generally employed. In Fig. 5 is illustrated the eight scales comprising said depth scale. These scales, are designated respectively as O, O, Ot, O3, O7, OG, 5 and O1. For an understanding of the units used in the marking of the several scales, the following table is given:

Scales0-1' -6pt.sca1e Scales OU-Z'z'- 30 pt. scalo 42 pt. rule Scales 04-1/ -8 pt. and 24 pt. scales Scales 05-1/3" 9 pt. and 1S pt. scales Scales 0*-1/1' 16 pt. scale Scales 01-56 -10 pt. and 14 pt. scales- The 72, 60, 48 and 42 point types are the large display types (sizes) and will rarely be found except in single line captions. lt' called for, the letter depth of these large display types can be conveniently measured by an ordinary rule. Any scale, therefore, the unit of which is the actual or closely approximate depth of a given line of this point size, becomes for such size simply a line depth rule instead of column depth scale. Hence the use of the terms point scale and point rule in the table. For example, the scale O (whose unit is 1) acts as a plain rule for TQ point type, which is l deep per line. It

-12 pt. and 72 pt. rules A-60 pt. rule likewise acts asia'column depth'rulefforilQ point type,i since the depth of` 12. peinti type isidentical withthat1 of' the` typewriter. rlyperwriterI type areinvai-'iahly in 12 point size.

point# size, .divide that :pointe size into 72, e.'y g., 12poii1ttypeis 72 dividedY by 12er sixlines tothe. inch; 81point type: is 72-divided by 8 pointstype-is 72 divided by 7 orxtenand two-r Sevenths lines to the inch (for-'all practical purposes Avfi ,'ured 1'as an even 10.) 9 pointitype is 72 divided by 9=or eight: lines-to the inch) 14 pointtype is 72 divided by 14 or. five and onefsevent-h lines to Athe inch (for all i practicalpurposesy igured asa-ng` even 5).; and so on.- rllo-eliminate the use of fourextra scales, the practical figureV instead of the actual mathematical figure isused-in the case'of 7 10, yand v141a5nd30 point'sizes,` as in actual vpractice, this will work no `inaccuracy inthe copy column dept-h; Any slight variation encountered is taken care of in theactual set-up by aislight-ly wider kspacing betweenlines.V

The 6, 7, 8, 9andf10-point types are smallerv inv size than thes12 point or typewriter' type size. These: point type therefore have more lines tothe inclrthan six: which is the number'.

of lines-per inch fory typewriter type. The

scales therefore markedfor 6, 7 `8, 9 and 10iy pointftypea-re addingv scales,.i. e., .scales to be used in ascertainingthe column depth where set-up type smaller in sizey than typewriter typeare speciiied.J Where type larger than typew-liter typeare specified, the scales marked for' 14, 16,18',- 24, 30 and'-pomt sizesare used. Here'ho'wever, the scales in-` stead ofbeing adding; scales are subtracting scales, since vthe: linesV per inch: of` column depth'zare-.less (where the point size is greater: than 12),I than six linesto the inch, the num` bei' of lines per inch in 12 pointer typewriter size;` For example: take the 1/2 ,scale O4 with the 8V point/(add) and 24e-point (subtract)-v scale. On a 1 copy depth there wouldbe six lines for 12 point (typewriter)` size, nine lines for 8 point size; or three lines for 24 point size. V8 pointconverted into 12- point would be 1.1/2 (6 plus 3). point convertedinto 12 point would bel/2- (6 less);

The width scale D; tho similar to they depth i i scale', isbasedon the decimal system. Its

scales (13 in number), designated respectively as P, P1, P2, P3, P4, P2P, P7, P8, P, P1, 1311,13, are, with the exception of the sca-'le P12, in units respectively of 117, 1.3,

1.2,.1-,.9, .8, .7, .6, .5, .4, .3, and .2 inches reading from left to right, Fig. 6. The scale P12 is' markedy in 1/6 units for converting from standard typewriter (ten characters toY the inch) to Elite typewriter (twelve charA acters to the inch) After the:y required lwidth i-n standard is found, the. scale "Pzis'zmerely used to Ysubtract l: of. the standard width, thus kconverting standard width' into Elite-` Mathematically lthis would be i'guredfas-foll lows :It -10 standard equals 12-El-ite, All sta-nd-` 'llo find thenumber: of lines vper inch of any i ard equals-1% Elite or, viceversa,'1L Elite equals standard. Hence standard. minus l/G standard equa-ls Elite.

Toillustrate the VfunctionY of the remaining scales comprising the width scaleDthe fols typewriter for 54,characters.-u Similarly for 48 point (the .6 .scale or sealePl) 1, 48point" layout width equalsl less-'.6 or-2/5\, ostafndard,` as 48-pointr Cloister hus-four'characters to the inch. Regardless not the scale used' (it may be a scaleof the depth sea-le- C) the vread# ing obtained therefrom, when 4properlyadded to or subtracted from (as-the case may be). oneor the other of the great sci ileslldlV or will indicate accurately the l area variation required|` in the conyersionfof layout areas to` copy areasor viceversa:` For. addition, the zero endol'` the great yscale is placed'at one edge (or at the top)r ot'- the type layout space' with the scalev extending across the space--` The Zero end of the slidingscaletobe used is then slid to the' other edge ofthe layout space and alignedl with the reading onfthe great scale which indicates the width (or: depth) 'of the type layout space; The reading onthe sliding scale correspondingltothe indicated reading on the great seale is-natural' ly aligned with a higherreading-onthe greatl scale. This higher reading on the great-scale isthe width or depth (as the casemay, be)l-` of the requiredtypewriter copyspace. `For subtraction` the sliding scaleused isslid-2un' tilthe reading cnv the greatrscale andthe corresponding readingonthe sliding.. scale are together. Thevr desired width then the sliding scale zero.4

As -a means `tor quickly and accurately 'de-- certainvdefinite relationship. Since various styles oftype,'while standard, (thepointsys-` tem). as to dptl1,f-vary greatly in--width of( (or depth.) is

character, they (the various stylesha've been grouped alphabetically. The designations Sa idw which are the alphabetical grouping designations, are shown for one style type only, to wit, f. This showing is carried out for the major groupings T also- The major groupings are preferably made for lower case, italics7 Bold and caps; each major grouping having its associated alil'ihabetical grouping spaced from the next adjacent major group. For each major grouping, as weil as for each alphabetical grouping, a column or line of ligures of 'the saine order as the column f are provided. lVith these desig nations l, S and T, the slide L is used.

To explain the utility of the designations R, S and T, it may be assumed that a layout copy is made or received by the copywriter, such copy having indicated thereon the style and point size type to be used in the finished piece. For example: Cloister-G pointlower case. The copy-writer then by shifting the slide L along the groove K to the alphabetical column f, lower case, can, by turning the scale D until the G point designation appears beneath the magnifying glass L*, ascertain which scale of the vertical scale D should be used in calculating or computing the column width. This computation having been made, the depth computation can be similarly made by manipulating the (3 point scale of the scale C. The indicator L3 within the opening L2 when brought into co incidence with the alphabetical. designation desired, will invariably line up the magnifv ing glass with the character designation R. For convenience, add and subtract indications may be associated with 'the designad tions R if desired.

.Between the conceived idea and the printed product resulting therefrom, there are ordinarily three steps (l) the layout; (Q) the copy; and (3) the finished piece. The use of the calculator calls for no additional steps. It simply converts by areas, from the desired type size and style (which vary greatly) to a known constant, i. e., that of the typewriter. In other words, it takes care of the variable factor of type variations and converts from the fixed space allotted on the layout to the other or invariable quantitythe typcwritten copy necessary to fill that allotted space with the selected type size and style. Being based on character widths and point column depths, it is essentially and nnfailingly accurate when properly used.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated, an actual layout (step l) and in Fig. 8 is illustrated a page of copy (step 2). The layout usually consists of a pencil sketch of the actual type space V and illustration space V1. The latter Y may or may not be required. "Where there is an initial letter, the initial letter space can be blocked oli7V as indicated at V2. To convert the layout areas V, V1 and V2 (Fig. 7) to the areas required for the copy (assumi ing that a typewriter having standard or l2 point type is used in making the copy) it is only necessary for the layout to specify what style and type point size are to be used in the set-up of the linished piece. W'itli the calculator, these unknown or converted areas can be quickly ascertained. Fig. S shows clearly the area required to be filled in on the typewriter when the layout copy s pecilies, for instance: Type style- GOudy-Garaniond; type size-l2 point. In Fig. 8 the areas corresponding with the area V, Vl and V2 of Fig. 7 are designated respectively as lV, TV1 and VE. In this particular instance only the width area is varied, since the type size (l2 point) corresponds in depth with Atypev/riter size type.

From the above, taken in. connection with the accompanying drawings, it is obvious that with a given layout, made either before the copy is written or vice versa, and by means of the calculator, the depth and width of each section of copy (or the whole if not using many diversiiied types) in the desired type point size may be instantly converted into either standard or Elite typewriter type and with this new or computed area drawn out in its new proportions on a blank sheet inserted in a typewriter and the copy typed in the space outlined, such typed matter will exactly tit the copy on 'the layout. The type copy then is an exact specimen of the type a. it will finally appear in the linished piece. The first proofs therefore will always be final proofs and much time and labor, as well as cost. thereby saved.

lVhile l have described my invention in de" tail in its present preferred embodiment, il will be obvious to those skilled in the art alter understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made t in without departing from the spirit or thereof.

se() )c I aim in the appended claims lio cover all such modilications and changes.

Vslhat l claim is: l. lin instrumeia 1t of the character spec' lied comprising a body, a rotatable member carried by id body, characters designating type stv indicated on said body, circ-lun entially spaced characters designating dil"- ferent type point sizes indicated on said inember, said type style ce@ 'gnatiens and said type point designations being so relatively arranged that in turning said member the circumferentially spaced designations will he made to successively coincide with the characters designating type styles.

2. ln an instrument of the character specilied, an elongated body having formed thereu in a longitudinally extending substantially cylindrical groove, a rotatable and longitudiwilly slidable substantially cylindrical hollow member engaging :in said groove, a cori` of polygonal section engi ging in the hollow of said member, said core being rotatable in one direction only, means engaging said core llt to 'prevent its sliding movement with said member, and means engaging said core to restrict its rotation as aforesaid.

3. Apparatus for accurately and quickly determining a required dimension of typewritten copy which, when converted into print of any one of a plurality of diiferent sizes and kinds of type will exactly lill ya corresponding given dimension of the print space, comprising a rule for measuring the` corresponding dimension of the desired print page, a reference point indicated on said rule, a scale also indicated on said rule, and means for cooperating with said scale and forming a part of said rule for indicating the points on said rule located the exact distances from the reference point thereof corresponding to the dilii'erent dimensions of typewritten copy required for different sizes and kinds of type.

and means for rotating and sliding the hollow member within the elongated body.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ailix my signature.

` GORDON EVERETT WEIR.

4. Apparatus for determining a dimension' of an area required to be filled in on a typewriter to exactly lill a given space allotted to a given size and style of type which comprises, means for measuring the linear dimension of said given space, and means cooperating with said first named means for ascertaining the corresponding dimension of the area to be filled on the typewriter, one said means being capable of movement both longitudinally and rotatably in its relation to the other.

5. Apparatus for accurately and quickly determining a required dimension ofthe print space which a given amount of typewritten copy when converted into print of any one of a plurality and different sizes and kinds of type will exactly fill, comprising a rule for measuring the dimension of the given typewritten copy, a reference point indicated on said rule, a scale also indicated on said rule, and means for cooperating with said scale and forming a partof said rule for indicating the points on said rule located the exact distances from the reference point thereof corresponding to the different resultant dimensions of print space for different sizes and kinds of type.

6. A slide rule, comprising an elongated Y body having formed therein a longitudinally ing the member at any one of. a plurality of selected positions, scales indicated on the elongated body, and on the hollow member,

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