Squatter sovereign., 1855-05-01

| REVOLUTION IN PRINTIEG.-hlfs w m.
Mitchell, brother of John Mitchell late of
The Citizen, has invented machine for
setting type, and with its aid has Just
finished the setting up of an octave
volume by Bancroft, the historian, to be
published in few days by the Harpers.
We copy the description of the apparatus
| from the Citizen:
The compositor presents the form of an
open grand piano, with keys having the
letters of the alphabet marked on each, and
a performer plays on the instrument from
the copy placed on frame corresponding
| to a music stand. When the finger strikes
a key the letter indicated leaps from its
depository near the key and sliding along
upon belt of tape is carried to another
belt, which runs at acute angles. and on
which the type is borne into a composing
stick of great length placed at the narrow
end of the instrument. The letter never
fails to come right side up and right side
front In consequence of the action of Pc
culiar wheel, almost like the water wheel
of mill. The merit of the invention con-
sists very much in this wheel, which over
comes an obstacle that stood IN the way of
every other inventor. The matter thus set
up in long line, is taken away and justi-
fed by hand into lines of the required
bredth. The tapes, which are endless
chains, are kept continually in motion by
means of very small amount of steam
power, applied by connecting strap from
a steam engine. The most economical
mode is not to employ steam engine spe-
cially for the machine, but to hire the pow
er when it is in the same building, or to
appropriate portion of the power when
it is used by printer for press work. The
instrument can be turned even by hand.
The tapes correspond in their relative
positions to each other with the strings of
a piano; and it is beautiful sight to see
all the letters of the alphabet running on
| these tapes together, yet the right letter
always reaching its proper destination first
though it haste travel far greater dis
lance than another letter started immedi-
ately after, the distance being compensa-
ted for by the increased speed by an ex-
act mathematical measurement. If two
keys are struck to gether, the two letters
will arrive together, and become iammed
in the narrow neck connecting with the
: composing stick, and neither of them can
pass into ii. If all keys could be struck
together, all the letters would arrive to-
gether, and Of course no result would be
produced The letter dispatched first al
ways reaches first, no matter how long OF
how short the distance. This to us APP
pears the most interesting feature in the
: whole instrument.
The machine, like all great inventions
! is exceedingly simple, and cannot well &c
out of order. Its takes perhaps may re-
l quire to be renewed once in the year, al
| cost of a few cents, and half an hours
time. 1t can tie performed on by girl
or boy, and it will do the work of four OF
: five men. Type Setting can be learned
rather quicker in this than in the old
r way.
: To the successful operation of the m ach-
inc another entirely detached from it
called distributor, is necessary. To suit
5 the composing machine, the distribution
cannot be performed in the ordinary mode
:. it must be done with view to the feel
5 ding of the compositor with the type, placed
l in particular order. One girl OF boy car
, distribute with this machine about as much
; as hand in an ordinary printing office
The saving is not, therefor, in the distribu.
/ ton but in the compositor.
Jones stepped up to a gentleman who
was engaged in conversation with about a
dozen others, and said:
sit seems to me / have seen your phys
| ioUnomv somewhere before hllt canno