Care of Matrices, Spacebands and Magazine.
It is essential that these parts receive the most careful attention. Matrices should be washed only when absolutely necessary, which would be if oil should collect on them. This will not happen if machine is properly cleaned and oiled.
Matrices that have been used a long time will sometimes show slight burrs, caused by walls of matrices being crushed. If they are not washed these small cavities will become filled up with dirt and metal so that print will look clear. Washing would, of course, take this dirt and metal away and burrs would show worse than before.
Instead of washing matrices, rub the sides on a piece of felt; then lock them up in a galley and clean the face and front so the operator can read the lines in the assembling elevator.
When a letter sticks in the magazine, take it out and, after making sure that ears are not burred, polish the ears with graphite and wipe them clean.
If a new set of matrices is treated in this way before putting them into the machine there will be little or no trouble with them sticking in the magazine.
Any burrs on the ears should be filed off, or they also will cause the letters to stick.
In cleaning the magazine, do not use benzine unless oil should have collected there by some means.
Be sure to lift up matrix guards at the lower end of magazine 2-2-2-2 (Fig. 36) and clean the channels on under side of these guards; also the channels A (Fig. 36).
Fig. 36.
The spacebands should be carefully inspected and metal should never be allowed to collect on the slide. Metal on the spaceband slides will destroy a set of matrices in a very few hours.
When cleaning spacebands, never use emery cloth, as this polishes the slide and causes the metal to adhere to it. The best way to clean spacebands is to rub them in graphite on a board or piece of felt nailed on a board.