TYPEWRITER AND

TYPEWRITING
IDENTIFICATION
FUNDAMENTALS OF TYPEWRITING IDENTIFICATION
DEFINITION OF TYPEWRITER

 It is a writing machine with a keyboard for reproducing

letters, figures, symbols and other resembling printed
ones; a machine that can reproduce printed characters on
papers or that can produce printed letters and figures on
paper; a machine designed to print or impress type
characters on paper, as a speedier and more legible
substitute for handwriting.
SIGNIFICANT TERMS
 ALIGNMENT – Alignment defects include characters which write improperly in the
following respects: A twisted letter, horizontal mal-alignment, and a character “Off its
feet”.
 ALIGNMENT DEFECT – Include character which write improperly in the following
respects; A twisted letter, horizontal mal-alignment, vertical, mal-alignment and a
character special adjustment to the types block.
 CARBON IMPRESSION – Any typewriting which is placed on the paper by the action of
the type faces striking thought carbon paper is classed as a carbon impression.
Generally, carbon impressions are “carbon copies”, but sometime original typewriting is
made directly through a carbon ribbon.
 CHARACTER - In connection with typewriting identification, the term “character” is
used to include letters, symbols, numerals, or points of punctuation.
 CLOGGED (DIRTY) TYPEFACES – With use the type faces becomes filled with lint,
dirty and ink, particularly in enclosed letters such as the o, e, p, and g.
 DEFECTS – The term defect describes any abnormality or maladjustment in a
typewriter which is reflected in its works and which leads to its individualization and
identification.
 NATURAL VARIATIONS – These are normal or usual deviations found between
repeated specimens of any individuals handwriting or in the product of any typewriters.
SIGNIFICANT TERMS
 OFF ITS FEET – The condition of a typeface printing heavier on one side or corner than over
the remainder of its outline.
 PERMANENT DEFECT – Any identifying characteristics of a type-writer which cannot be
corrected by simply cleaning the type face or replacing the ribbon.
 PLATEN – The cylinder which serve as the backing of the paper and which absorbs the blow
on the type face.
 PROPORTIONAL SPACING TYPEWRITING – A modern form of typewriting which
resembles typewriting in that all of the horizontal space as they do with the conventional
typewriter.
 REBOUND – A defect in which a character prints a double impression with the lighter one
slightly offset to the right or left.
 RIBBON IMPRESSIONS – Typewriting which is made directly through a cloth ribbon.
 RIBBON CONDITION – Typewriter ribbons gradually deteriorate with use and the degree of
determination is a measure of the ribbon condition.
 TRANSITORY DEFECT – Any identifying typewriter characteristics which can be eliminated
by cleaning the machine or replacing the ribbon is described as a transitory defects. Clogged
type is the common defects in this class.
 TWISTED LETTER – Each letter and character is designed to print a certain fixed angle to
the base line, due to wear, and damage to the bars and the type block, some letters become
twisted so that they lean to the right or left of their correct slant.
SIGNIFICANT TERMS
 TRANSITORY DEFECT – Any identifying typewriter characteristics which can be
eliminated by cleaning the machine or replacing the ribbon is described as a
transitory defects. Clogged type is the common defects in this class.
 TWISTED LETTER – Each letter and character is designed to print a certain fixed
angle to the base line, due to wear, and damage to the bars and the type block,
some letters become twisted so that they lean to the right or left of their correct
slant.
 TYPE FACE – The printing surface of the type block is known as the type face.
With most modern typewriter this block is attached at the end of a movable arm or
type bar which propels the type face against the ribbon and paper to make the
typewriter impression.
 TYPE FACE DEFECTS – Any peculiarity of typewriting caused by actual damage
to the type face metal is known a type face defect. These defects may be actual
breaks in the outline of the letter where the metal has been chipped away
sometimes referred to as broken type, or they may be distorted outlines of the
letter where the type face metal has become bent or smashed, they can only be
corrected by replacing the type block.
PHOTO MECHANICAL
PRINTING PROCESS
METHODS OF PRINTING
A. RELIEF PRINTING (LETTERPRESS)
- In this method of printing, the image characters are raised above
the level of the non-printing areas. The ink is applied to a raised surface that
in turn is applied to paper. The letterpress process is the oldest of all printing
procedures. It prints with cleaner and sharper letters.
B. INTAGLIO (GRAVURE PRINTING)
1. GRAVURE – This is a process in which the ink in recessed or sunken
letters is drawn out or sucked out under pressure .
2. ENGRAVING – The paper here is forced into the sunken areas of a metal
plate where the ink is.
3. PLANOGRAPHIC – Lithography is the most well known printing process
which employs the principle of putting ink on a chemically treated surface.
The commercial application of lithography is known as offset.
4. STENCIL – Stencil sheets in which the copy is typed or drawn are made
of porous lease tissue, covered with a coating which is impervious to ink .
C. PLANOGRAPHIC (LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING) – In planographic printing,
the image characters are in the same general plane as the non-printing ideas.
The ink is applied to a dead level plate which has been chemically treated such
as lithograph and offset.

D. STENCIL – It is a process where the letters or image are holes cut in a

sheet, or a sheet made more porous in the area of the letters and ink is applied
to paper through the holes or porous areas such as mimeograph.

E. HALFTONE BLOCK PRINTING – This is offset-related and is used for the

reproduction of pictures and illustrations in little covers. To prepare a halftone
block, the model is photograph and is its image is transferred to a metal surface
by photo-printing.
IDENTIYING CHARACTERISTICS OF
PRINTING
A. LETTERPRESS
1. Study of this printing shows that the edges of the letters are more sharply define
than offset printing.
2. Careful microscopic study and measurement may reveal different “runs” of
letterpress printing which have been made from the same set-up; the “y” type may
exhibit evidence of damage and the spacing and alignment may be different due to
pressure applied by the frame.

B. OFFSET
3. The edges of the letters are more irregular than in letterpress;
4. The middle portion and the edges of the letters are more or less of the same
density;
5. There is no identification of the paper in the area of the printed letters as is
sometimes found in letterpress printing.
IDENTIFICATION OF PRINTING – The identification of printing is based on the
general principles which consider the existence of an adequate combination of class
and individual characteristics exceeding the limits of an accidental coincidence.

A.CLASS CHARACTERISTICS – maybe grouped under body size and type face
designs.
1. Body size of a type
2. Unit measurement
3. The body size in metallic type
4. According to the type face

B. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS –These come into existence as a result of:

1. Defective setting in relative space positioning, slant and weight of type
faces.
2. Due to mutilations and imperfections in the type faces.