Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-02-08

by Timothy Alden:
| The Alden Machane.-On the op
posite page we publish an illustration
which very faithfully represents the
Alden type-setting and type-distrib
uting machine-an invention from
which our facilities for the diffusion
of intelligence and education must
take a new point Of departure-its
completion forming, in the estimate
of its proprietor, an era in literature
only second to the original discovery
of printing by type. This machine
enables single hand to do-and the
hand may be that either of man OF
woman-all the type-setting work
for which, at present, eight ordinary
compositors would be required; while,
in the matter of distributing type,
the machine is all but an automaton,
requiring only the very slightest SUI
pervision of human agency, and SO
perfect in mechanism as to prevent
physical impossibilities against the
occurrence of any mistake. 1t has
now triumphantly stood the severest
test of practical experiment in the
Tribune office, in this city-the
Judges certainly not being prejudiced
in its favor, if not absolutely hostile ;
and the result is SO complete a tri
umph, that so soon as the requisite
number of machines can be supplied,
it is supposed, all the "great dailies"
of this city will be set up by the AL
den machine, and, of course, the minor
and country press will follow suit as
rapidly as possible. 1t has been
carefully examined by the leading
mechanical and other progressive
minds Of the age, and is pronounced
a most marvellous triumph of human
ingenuity. Mr.. Theodore Tilton, in
the Independent, pronouncing it "the
eighth wonder of the world )" and
Col. Halpine, in the Citizen, declar-
ing, in regard to its automatical
power of distributing type, that "the
fingers of steel and brass would seem
to have not only eyes in their busy
tips with which to read the letters,
but brains to comprehend their spell
ing and meaning, and to direct their
redistribution, when used, in their
proper places"
The original discoverer or inventor
of this machine was Timothy Alden,
a young printer of Massachusetts,,
who gave his life in devotion to the
discovery, and died before accom-
plishing its completion for practical
use. The machine was bequeathed
by him to his cousin, Henry W. AL
den, who expended large amount
of money upon it without attaining
any satisfactory Or practical result. |
1t was, in fact, a slough of despond,
in which all capital embarked was
swallowed up without return, until |
finally, it fell under the eyes of Mr.. |
Charles @. Yeaton Of Brooklyn, who |
commanding the confidence of such |
gentlemen Of intelligence, public
spirit, and capital as Josiah o. Low,
G. Richards, Charles f.
Livermore, and various others, organ
zed company for its further devel-
opment and completion. By the
taith and resources of these men, act
ng through the industry and talent
If Mr.. Yeaton, and an able corps of
and mechanics, the imper-
ect and imperative discovery of
Timothy Alen-valuable as a curl.
'sity, but in go other light-has
low been carried forward to a splen-
lid success as a great triumph of the
abor-saving machinery of the age
md already the present company is
lbout being merged into another
the American and foreign
capital Of three mil
ion dollars, to start factory that
will be commensurate to supply five
perfect machines per diem.
The discovery is already protected
y patents in all European countries,
btained through the Scientific
American Patent Agency, and the
Alden machine will, perhaps, soon
'e accepted abroad as one of the last
nd highest triumphs Of that Cyan
zee ingenuity" whose benefits the
vorld has already to acknowledge in
onnection with the names of Morse
nd Fulton.
To give any detailed account Of
he modus operomdi Of machine so
intricate and yet so simple in its ac-
ion, would be not merely an impos-
ible, but an absurd attempt in such
mits as are at our disposal. 1t
aust be not only seen, but thoroughly