The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-11-06

Transferring the Copy to Metal
PIatcs-The Engraving OF the Title.
Press Work.
The way TO cook u rabbit IS to first catch
rabbit etc, applies fOrcibly to the initial
process Of producing a musical composition III
sheet form, and it may be further added that
manuscripts worth publishing are as hard to
secure rs the traditional rabbit. rs all largo
music publishing concerns arc constantly il
receipt of manuscripts sent for examination
and sale, It becomes necessary 10 inspect each
composition rs soon as possible, otherwise
they would accumulate 70 such an extent that
a separate examination would be next to I'M
possible.
For this purpose is employed thoroughly
educated and practical InUsician-oar who not
only performs mt sight, but who is also q
master of harmony and composition. After
carefully trying over each piece, and noting
his opinion thereon. tie result may hc the So
lection of one o- two manuscripts out of per-
haps fifty, the balance being returned TO their
respective authors marked rejected
TIT SONG "PUT ~ HAND
We will suppose that ono az the pieces
recommended by tho inspector is a song. The
publisher now holds a manu- rip- which in
the opinion of lis Inspector Is worth publish
ing, that Is, it has some point Of excellence
that might result in the piece becoming popC-
lar. The next step Is to read the letter sent
by the writer Of the song, and if the authors
demands are deemed reasonable his terms are
accepted and the song j, Put in hand, not,
however, before the publisher has first salts
fed himself that the words arc correct and
suitable, ami that IN. title Is not already in
use.
The manuscript Is then taken 10y the en-
graver who, seated at his table. begins tho
work of transferring 10 metal plates the
"copy' before him. For this purpose lie ou!-
ployS a hammer and uWulutuic of small steel
dies each on. Of which represents character of
music, III fact everything from brace to a
double bar, a.-l from grace NOTE tpa sixty
fourth, besides rests, -iur-, Cg,~rvuies, and q
full SGT of the alphabet ia various sizes, such
rs agate, UuuIaIc!l, PRIMER, ,t-. Upon the
table before him rests n slab oi iron about two
feet square Ly two inches thici,. This IS the
anvil % which is laid the IIcual plate aforc-
mentioned. The latter is composed of white
metal and Is ogr-siVtegIth Of au inch in thick
| ness. The -u,farc Is highly polished and re-
| semblcs Iurui-heI silver. Eith the aid of
compass, rules am other peculiar tools, the
lines, bars, yt"-. are IliJ ont, after which the
| engraver proceeds g. uI in the music and
words, ami thus 100. 20 plate Is treated until the
song is finished
TuE ENGRAVING uF The TITLE
While tn" music yuGrayer Is busy with his
manuscript ana dies. the till ougravcr is not
| idle. BY process exactly similar 20 bank
note or ,ta.i engraving this individual pre-
| pares the title which, as an obvious necessity,
| must Lc entirely original in design, both in
| lettering and oru8mytItion. The II, tai plates
used for ti,lc- are - Saue as those used for
| music.
The music plates and title being finished
| proofs are taken from them and submitted e.
| the music Inspector, who carefully examines
/ each PAGE AMI mg,.- til" necessary c1rrec-
| tons, after which . ~ ar. returned to tine on
| graver. Ihr latter individual hsvja. made
| the designated changes or additions, passes
| tho plates to the sur.riufa alcut OF the pres
| room, where they are lu ,Uru given To press
| man.
| The pres used IS the same as employed IN
| steel plate printing, ana can therefore only
| be worked ty band. This process j, nccgs
sarily slow AMI tedious, bat i. is the only
| method by which first class Sheet music car
| be made. After the music Is printed the
| music sheets, which are still wet, are hung
| upon racks 10 dry. The drying process con
sumes about two or three hours. when they
| ara taken down, folded and put in 4 press
| where they are usually left over night. T.
the morning they are taken out and We have
before Us n pile OF elegant plate music, "ths
| latest song of the season" PLATE edition:
viii always be preferred ~ all who appre
Ciate music that can he easily read; II fact, ty
those accustomed % plate work type ur.-i.'
| seems like no mJI~ic.-lIusisal journal