The National tribune., 1882-03-18

The engraving which appears in this issue
represents the new Scott machine upon
which the TRIBUNE is now printed, and the
following description will enable our readers
to form some idea of how the paper is now
produced:
THE CoMPOsING-ROoM.
Asthe types for each edition are set up in the
composing-room the matter is classified into
pages. Each page is placed in a steel frame
or chase" and the type is made fast by
steel side-stieks, presenting successive sur
faces of inclined planes, which are driven
into their places by the application of the
screw and wrench. The forms" having
been sent to the
sTEREoTYPING DEPARTMENT
in the machinery room, are taken in hand
by the stereotyper, who has previously made
ready couple of sheets of papier mache by
pasting them together to the thickness of
card board. The face of the type is slightly
oiled with brush to prevent the paper
from adhering, and the prepared material
is laid on the face of the type and beaten
briskly with hard bristle brushes. The
form with the ."matrix" into which the
pGpier mache has now been manipulated is
slid on to steam drying table, at the end of
which is "platen" shaped like letter
copying press; the form is pushed under
the platen, the screw turned down closely,
and the matrix" is dried ready for casting.
The matrix having been removed from the
surface of the type, is taken to the casting
box" semi-cylinder, whose interior cir
cumference exactly represents one page of
the paper. This is provided with handles
and universal joint, which permits it re-
ceiving two motions, lateral and vertical.
The mstrix is deity fitted in, workmen dip
out of the melting pot near by huge ladle
full of molten type metal, pour it into the
casting-box, wait a second, then open the
mould and take out stereotype plate, re-
quiring but few touches to fit it for the
press.
THE SHAVING MACHINE.
After being taken from the mould the
plate is placed in the shaving and trimming
machine, where revolving knife shaves the
inside or back of the plate, to render the
whole plate of uniform thickness, and at the
same time cuts off the end of the plate the
proper length, leaving its edges bevelled, so
that the clamps in the printing cylinder will
hold it thereto. The plate is then placed on
cylinder dressing stand where the deft-
handed workman with his sharp ehisel gouges
out the larger portions of the plate, which
represents the blank space on the page, IN
order that they may not receive the ink from
the rollers and thus produce an unsightly
blot on the printed page. The plate is now
ready for the pressman. 1t has been but six
minutes from the time the matrix had
reached the casters hands till it is ready for
the press and it takes less than minute to
pl ace it on the printing cylinder of the Scott
press and have it turn off the printed sheets
faster than the eye can follow them. The pro-
cess of stereotyping is rendered imperatively
by the necessities of modern Jour
nalism. 1t is absolutely necessary that the |
lat shape of the form" as it lies on the
makeup" Of the composing room shall be |
to the cylindrical form of the press,
and it is as imperatively necessary in the
interest of economy.
MILES OF "TRIBUNEs."
A roll of paper, weighing 600 or 800
pounds, and about three miles in length. is
placed at the receiving end of the machine,
md slides into position easily, without re-
Iuiring to be raised up. When the edge of
he web sheet thus placed is fed into the
,ress, it passes through the whole machine
Without any handling, the devices for con-
rolling the web being very convenient and
omplete. The paper receives its first i'm
ression before the main impression cylinder
rovided with set-off sheet is reached.
Ifter receiving the first impression it passes
Underneath the first impression cylinder and
yer the second, thus presenting the clean
lde of the web of paper to the second plate
r type cylinder, from which it receives the
econd and final impression. AS the me-
hanical observer views the Scott machine
arefully he will notice that the ink is con-
iined in fountain, in which fountain
'ller" works, giving ink to "doctor"
oller, which transmits it to the first dis
1buting cylinder, the vibrators and the
ther parts unnecessary to detail at length,
'hich work together to place upon the sur
'ce of the stereotype plates just a sufficient
uantity Of ink at each revolution to print
NO pages of the paper. The process Of cut .
ng and folding now commences. A knife 1
laced In longitudinal slot in the face of !
lie cutting cylinder ,
CUTS THE PAPER TRANsvERsELY, I
he leading end of the cut web passing around ,
le cylinder by the pressure of the atnos- ,
aere-and in this movement the Scott nress ,