Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-06-27
plates ad mGnitum may be prepared from
the copies now Yielded

plates al WUntuW may NC pVePd'eu HUN
the copies now Yielded |
" The invent ion is equally successful in
application to the earliest printing-we have
seen several transfers from books century
DID,"
The principal merit claimed by the pro-
prietors of this patent is, in the hrst place,
their method of repeating in low relhf (some-
thing like photographic printing suriace) the
tracery Of an engraved wood-block or cop
perplate from cut or engraving from such
block or plate, in such manner as immedl-
ately 10 yield impressions which are not in
any to be distinguished FROM those drawn
from the original engraved surface. This is
effected by means of acids, diluted to various
degrees of strength which act upon those
parts of the plates remaining unprotected by
the ink, and so leave the printing surface We
ny slightly in relief. Another chief merit Of
the invention is the successiulproviso against
the spreading of the ink under any degree OF
pressure, whereby the finest lines and sharp
est edges are repeated with singular precis-
ion. Another extraordinary result Of the in
vention is the restoration Of the ancient or
injured engravngs or etchings-that is, II an
engraving has been inurcd-not, be it I'M.
derstood, as regards the paper, bu, faded
through carelessness, or defaced by accident
such engraving can be perfectly restored by
having every line and touch refreshed with
new ink, so as to give the work, with all its
details, as if fresh from the wood or coppel.
To describe briefly the preparation of "a
plate or cylinder, let us suppose newspaper
about to be reprinted by this means. The
sheet IS first moistened with diluted acid, and
placed between sheets of blotting paper, in
order that the superb jus moisture may be abb
sorbed. The ink neutralizes the acid, which
is pressed out from the blank space only, and
etches them away. In all cases where the
Letter-Press is of recent date, or not per-
haps older than half year, few minutes
suffice for this purpose. The paper is then
carefully placed upon the plate, with which
the Lelter-Press to be transferred is in inn
mediate contact, and the whole passed under
press, on removal from which, and on care
fully disengaglng the paper, the letters are
found TO reverse on the plate, which is then
rubbed with preparation of gum; after
which the letters receive an addition of ink
/
by which they are already formed. These
operations ale effected IN few minutes
The surface Of the plate around the letters is
bitten in very slight degree by the acid
and on application of the ink it is rejected BY
the zinc, and received only by the letters
which are charged with ink BY the common
roller used in manipulating. Each letleI
came from the press as if had been imprint
ed by type metal aud the copies are fac
SMILES which cannot be distinguished from
the original sheet.
. Thus far it may be necessary to describe
the process, that il may be understood b.
those of Our readers who are no. conversan
: with photographic manipulation those win
, are, will recognize some similarity in tn
; method of preparing the stone and the zinc
as far as regards the gum, sc. The practi
4, cabllty of transferring Leiter-Press, especi
+, ally prepared or quite recent, TO stone o
j zinc, has long been known. A main Ivan
Y tage, however, and most important one
y possessed by the zinc over the stone, as
= mere material to work from, is its portability
o and being easily formed into cylinder; fol
I although we have only spoken of plate {
zinc in relation with the results we have wi,
= messed, it is to be understood that in the ex
II tensive operations cylinders will be employ
" ed"
d " 1t is not our purpose TO enter more m
!, nutey into the scientific rationale OF this pa
y tent, but it is our business TO consider j
: prospective utilities. Ii cannot be receive
" otherwise, by stock booksellers, than as a
l. estimable boon, since it will at once supe
2, scde the necessity of warchousing tons ofst'
it reotype and paper. There may hencefo
y ward be printed only short editions of hea'
al works, or of others of questionable sales; :
Of for if such work ego off" beyond the e'
r, dance may be effected from single remai
r, ing copy, at an expedient interval. And Il
Of advantage TO the public must follow, in Il
C. reprinling at cheap rate of valuable work
a. the republication Of which, according TO Il
OF ordinary method, wond be hazardous, as b
I'd ing extremely expensive. Again, for boo
he illustration, nothing could be better, the lee
pc ing of the original drawing being entire
ch preserved, since the work of the artist pass
an Immediately from his own hand to the pa
lie which it is intended to adorn. Thus il
e, seen that the work is not brought forward a
~ cording to the taste of the eugraver, but wi
" character soever il receives from the arti
s. it's ultimately Distinguished by the same
'al the paper. We may hope that the fin
cd line-engravings may also be reproduced a
. trifling expense.
"s "What treasures, therefore, Of fine
ea may common enterprise call forth for the r
W rGcation Of public taste 1t will be und'
~ stood that we speak of the system from I
~ tual inspection, having seen, IN five minut
~. -, lelter-press and drawings transferred to
'r zinc and forthwith printed off,"
ief This looks like complete revolution
full the trade, we are not sure even that {
lot branch, Newspaper making, may not
come within lis range, and instead Of we
~ ing out types we shall print from Anasta
CIV plates
"a. OREGoN.-The party that came in with ca
go, Finch state that The whole trace from 10 mi