The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-23
From TIC RnsroN RkrrRroaY.

X
To Mr.. Samuel Brooks Engraver, &C. Richmond.
SIR,
AM not Duplicated TO find that the invention
OF Stereotype plates, for the imprellion of bank
paper, has excited 70 much notice from thepub-
lie. twas an object of fo:ne Importance with
me, that every objection and anticipated ma
ny from gentlemen OF your protection ihould
be fairly and publicly tated, that by thefe means
the merits of the plan might De completely in
veftigated. There have aireadyappeared many
beiide thofe, which you have advanced but
like yours either founded on plitaken idea of
the principle of this invention, or a total igno-
rance of the general laws of mechanics. Tho
wholly macquainted with you, am willing 70
believe, that a miftake has originated what, with
more thorough knowledge OF the plan, you
would ave been ATTAINED to acknowledge.
am confident, from the whole tenor of your OBJ
fervations, that you have undertaken to con-
dernn the project without compromising the
principle you viii be Convinced that the plate
which YOU condemn, 9ttheie are as different in
their contraction and operation asthe proccfs of
ginning cotton from your mode of making s'fteres
almanacks." IF your " wife projects" fail by
thouiands, . it does not follow by any rules Of
logic that Others mutt.
Your hrft objection is that tine impref1ions on
the feel rollers cannot be transferred tothe plate
without extending it, and that different plates
will DC differently extended in proportion 70
their bartinefs, and that cCnicqueutly, they will
not gcaSe with each other nor with the roller.
This, on your plan OF making " perpetual al
rnanscks," IL true. Where the whole width of
1,lrtace OF the plate is at once mpreiicd between
rollers, III the ufual manner, if the depth of the
let indented or the rollers is not iiuf:ccnt 10
contain the quantity of metal removed or (epa-
rated by the force of the iInpreiiion, the plate
matt inevitably be extended in fone fhape or
other. But ON the plan which have propofed,
and long practiied uponWith unavaifng fucCeis,
the various parts of the bill leparateIy trauf-
ferred from the roller TO the plate, and the re-
hifsHce from the unimprefied parts, together
with the quantity Of metal RATED for letters, in
t-rieeting lines &c. is more than Efficient TO
ccunteTad the force of the imprefi:on and leave
the plate without the leaf extenfon. In the u
fual mode of rolling, the plate pafTes between
two rollers. It would have been wonderful in
deed 1t your Almanacks had fucceeded on this
plan, which IS the not powerful known proCei5
Tor extending metals. The itereotyt,c plates
receive the imprciIion by very different opera
ton. The plate tfelf jnftead of Knowing between
two rollers, is fixed and one roller paIes over
it By means of double jiointed, movable, hori-
Zonta lever being new application of that
mechanical power and firf defgned for this
pupoie. In order TO raife the letters, interiec-
ing lines sc. fuficiently by this operation, it is
neceiiary that the roller lhoud pats backward
and forward over the plate ten or twelve fines
The plate then was extended ever f. little by
the fr't time pahng, the fucceeding itnpreflions
would be different and the plate, of courfe
wholly FOOLED. Or as you correctly f}ate ] if
tine plate were extended the letters &c. on the
roller would not guage with thofc on the plate.
lhy experience in all the plates have yet made
land they are manyJ has totally 'contradi6ed
and confuted your theory. / have unforrnv
pafed the roller feveral times over the plate, &
have always found the letters on tie one &c
correipond preeifcIy with thofe on the Other
This objection therefore vanihes.
You further fay thatthe Gcreotypc plate car
not DC eahiy printed, nor made to pro luce clea
work. at the letter or common type prefs the,
cannot, but It is never attempted in this way
They are printed or the copper plate preis wit
wooden rollers, CLOTHS, papers, &c. They ar
pot e1iily charged with ink, and the furface O.
Ely cleared, but the procefs is as fimple ard i |
rs executed With as m ich facility as on engrav
Ell plates There are no letters in relieve o.