National Republican., 1883-08-04
INsrANrANEoUs ENGRAVING.
Tho Latest Use 10 which Electricity Can
He Put-wonderfuI Discovery by Her

Tho Latest Use 20 which Electricity Can
He Put-wonderfuI Discovery by Herr
man Lautcn.
Forty-eight years ago Mr.. Joel B. Suther-
land, member of congress from Pennsyl-
vania, introduced in the house Of representa-
tiyes a resolution requesting the secretary Of
the treasury to report to the house the pro-
priety Of establishing system of telegraph
for the United States. The secretary adj
dressed circular letter Of inquiry to many
scientific and practical gentlemen in different
sections Of the country inviting their atten-
tion to the resolution of congress.
The results of this inquiry brought forth
many useful and practical suggestions, and
urged the necessity of a system of telegraph
for public and private purposes. Tho idea Of
using electricity as means of communica-
tion between parties many miles apart
seemed ridiculous even to many learned
statesmen at that time and it was then
characterized as a twin brother to mesmerism
and millerism.
In the house, when an appropriation of
$4,000 was asked to enable Prof. Morse to
continue his experiment with the magnetic
telegraph, it was moved to divide the amount
between Prof. Morse and Mr.. Fish, to enable
the latter, who was an expert in mosmerism,
art.
When it came to the attention Of the Hon.
Thomas II. Benton, in the United States
senate said he: &C. rejoice at the invention
of the magnetic telegraph and look forward
to the time when it will be of great value to
the business interests and commerce of the
country, and do not doubt that the time will
come when electricity will be extensively
applied in the arts and commerce of tho
world"
In the forty-eight years that have elapsed
since congress began discussing the electric
problem marvellous progress has been made
in electrical invention. The subtle fluid has
been put to practical uso in tho arts and
manufactures in thousands of ways. One of
the most important results ofexperimentation
in this line is the discovery of the applica-
tion of electricity in engraving. The dis
covery is of recent date, but 1t is destined to
supersede hand engraving in great measure.
Under this process of which Mr.. Herman
Lauten, of this city, is the inventor, discov-
erer, or father, raised plates of ordinary form
and plates "intaglio," for plate press
printing, are produced in which the lines en-
graved are as clean and sharply defined as it
is possible for them to be under the old pro-
cess. Fac SMILES of fine steel engravings are
made that cannot be distinguished from prints
from original plates. These plates can be made
of any ordinary size, and are especially
adapted to map work or large illustrations,
such as reproductions of engravings, fine pen
drawings, and the like. The process is also
admirably suited to the making of plates in
relief for type press work in the reproduction
of wood cut prints and cuts for newspaper and
mercantile work, as well as for colored plates.
The depth of lines can be regulated at will,
making most valuable feature in the lines of
newspaper cuts and the coarser kinds of
work. The plates made by the Lauten pro-
cess are all copper faced, the same as ordinary
electrOtypes. The impressions are taken by
an instantaneous process as in photographing,
electricity being used instead of solar rays.
The process is the inventors secret. He
has not and will not patent it, feeling more
secure in his rights without the protection of
patent laws. To obtain patent he would
have to explain the process fully, and as he
could not tell its product from the product Of
other processes, he would have no means of
protecting himself from pirates except by
placing detective in every establishment in
the land
The Lauten Engraving company has estab-
lished itself in No. 1926 New York avenue,
with all the necessary appliances and equip
ments for an extensive business The
machinery is propelled by powerful Otto
gas engine, and two large dynamic machines
are used to generate the electricity needed
and to furnish light for the enormous camera
used by Mr.. Lauten, who attends to this part
of the work in person. The business man
agement of the company is in charge
of Mr.. Edward Coverly, one of the
proprietors. The owners are thoroughly con-
vinced that the Lauten process of engraving
will take tho place Of -lithographing
and many of the processes now known for
picture making. By it relief plate of any
drawing can be made in twenty-four hours at
% per cent. of the cost of plates made by
hand, and intaglio plates can be produced in
from ten to fourteen days that would take
from four months to three years if made by
hand.
The success of the company in the receipt
of numerous orders from the government and
from private parties is evidence that new
and useful branch OF industry has been
inaugurated in this city through the ingenu-
ity, perseverance, and enterprise of parties
hitherto unknown to fame
THE CoRCoRAN RIFLES.