Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-12-07
Art Of Printing - Cincinnati Type
Foundry.


Among the most useful and successful
manufacturer that have been established in
the weat is the Cincinnati Type Foundry
The founders Of this establishment, Oliver
Wells a. Co, commenced business at No. IA
Lower Market street. Cincinnati, in 1870
and the firm was then composed Of Oliver
Wells, and Elibu White Of New York
Mr. Wells was the active manager, and his
descendants, Horace, William, i. T., and
Charles Wells, have owned or controlled il
nearly ever since, Mr. White having disposed
Of his stock number Of years ago, at the
decease Of his partner
When the Foundry was first established
there was no other in the West, except a
small one at Pittsburgh, which was soon af'
ter removed and the Cincinnati Type
Foundry is consequently the pioneer in this
business in the Mississippi Valley. At first
eight casters and two machinists were all the
hands employed; but as the business in
creased, larger building was required, and
the Foundry was first removed to Walnut
street, between Third and Fourth streets,
and in 1891 to the large brick bull ling cor
ner of Longworth and Vine streets, where it
has remained ever since. The present build
ing has front of 1870 feet, running back 60
feet, and is Eve stories high. In this build
ing is TO be found one Of the most extensive
manufactures of type and presses in the
Union, and perhaps in tho world Printers
can here be supplied with every new style
of type, presses, cases. stands, chascs, com
posing sticks, brass rule, electrotypes, and in
fact anything required iu printing Office,
from bodkin 10 power press. The pro-
prietors Of the Cincinnati Type Foundry
have spared no pains or expense to keep up
with the times, and accommodate the print
ers Of the Great West
The Messrs. Wells are all practical and
ingenious mechanics. Oliver Wells was the
first to successfully overcome the difficulties
of casting type by machinery, and he COM
menced making machine type three months
before the inventor perfected his machine in |
New. Y ork. l.. 7. Wells, his SON. conceived |
the plan of electrotyping, or of giving the |
type copper face. This discovery was at
first thought to have been made in Europe,
where the inventor took out letters patent,
and then came to the United States to se-
cure a patent here, but found his discovery
had long been known by Mr.. Wells A
compromise was Effected and Mr.. w. now
has the exclusive right to manufacture cop-
per'faced type west of the mountains.
Mr. W., some twenty years ago tried the
experiment Of electrotyping on wood, by
conducting copper, by aid of galvanc bat
terry, upon wooden moulds. Ia this he par
tally succeeded, and was particularly suo-
cessful in conducting copper on silver plate
and other metals. lie now has some plates
which he thus prepared twenty years ago
This discovery has been of immense value to
the trade. He has also invented a power
press for job work, that is cheap, durable,
expeditions, and equal to any other press
now in use. Recently the Messrs Wells
have slso commenced the manufacture of
large cylinder presses They are an i'm
proved Hoe press, and give general salts
faction
Since the establishment of the Cincinnati;
Type Foundry, all the states west of the
Allegheny mountains have been supplied
with large portion of their printing mate
rial from this source The founders have I
contributed as much towards building IN
the newsp pers that now disseminate intelli.
gence daily in the West as the people Of the |
communities in which they are published
One great reason why the western people
have made such rapid strides in civilization,
morality, and wealth, is that they have had y
'ho aid of that great lever tue press; and t
newspapers abound, there the pco, y
pie are always found to be intelligent, moral
industrious, and prosperous. Those who .
patronize the press are justly considered
public benefactors, and the men engaged in
furnishing material by which the "types
and shadows of thi- wonderful age are dis,
perpetuated, and handed down !
to posterity, may justly come in for their .
Iull share of national gratitude. !
The invention of printing, it is generally
acknowledged, has done more for civilization 2
han all the theologies, lawyers, and gene Q
rails in the world 1t first shed its light in "
Germany; and since then it has lighted ali !,
,iyilizcd nations. The Reformation never y
could have been successfully carried on with. b
'ut it. Men are taught by it to think for i
themselves; and all the great men of the 3
world are indebted to the Art preservative Il
'f all Arts for the rich stores of knowledge p
hat they have acquired. The press illumi.
mates the world, and without it there would
be neither light or knowledge When all
he knowledge worthy Of the consideration
'f an immortal mind was monopolized by =
ew of the rich and highly favored, the mass =
# mankind were kept in the most abjeot ig
loranee and mental slavery; but as soon as
light shone upon the world through the
'ress, men began to think for themselves, y
md ask, Are these things SO p 1t was the k
larbinger of political and religious hbel ty b,
: disseminated a knowledge of the arts. and ~
ciences fteneouraged men Of genius-no v
natterh how obscure-to hope eif,suecesA, in y
my laudable Undertaking Ii introduoedl
hem into the society of the most learned I
nd greatest minds of past ages !. apd all r
rho read, became familiar with their acts L
U aristocracy Of wealth could no longer Y u
=