New-York tribune., 1886-06-09
DEATH OF RICHARD NJ. HOE.
THE INVENTORS LAST DAYS IN ITALY
CAREER OF Tun MAN WHO aEvoLurioMzED THE

PRINTING PREss.
Colonel Richard u. Hoe. whose death occurred on
Monday in Florence. Italy. of the most prac-
tca OF American inventors. The history Of the de-
veopment Of the printing-press is in part Colonel
Hoes personal history. At the time of his death he
was the senior member OF the firm of K Hoe & Co ,
whose establishments in this city and in London
SO widely known. Last autumn he went abroad, as he
had frequently done during the last twenty years He
went for rest and recreation. His wife and eldest
daughter Anne at that time unmarried accompanied
him. They lived in Paris and in Florence during the
winter, aad about six weeks ago Miss Hoe quietly
married in the latter city Charles Patt the artist
Colonel Hoe was apparently we'll until few hours be-
fore his death, which occurred in the evening He
stricken down with heart disease.
Colonel Hoe was the of Robert Hoe, English
man OF mechanical skill and enterprise who to
this country Just as the present century opened He
made his home in this city and started Machine shop
III lsO3. This is the establishment which has been
continuously maintained by himself aud his until
now and which has been known for than half
century as T. Hoe & Co. Robert Hoe improved aud
adapted the of cast steel the manufacture of
saws. He is also said to have been the FIRST American
machinist who emp Dyed steam motor for his
chinery. lie connected all the instruments in his
establishment with his engine and the entire place
by steam. He began to manufacture printing machines
in 1905. The press was then in its infancy Twenty
two years later great stride taken ID the making
OF press, by the cylinder movement invented by Mr..
Hoe, which is briefly described the running Of the
paper upon which impressions to be made the
solid and immovable forms locked upon bed.
Robert Hoe had three sons, Richard March, Robert.
jr., and Peter. The first born in New York
September II, 1872 He received meagre common
school education the advantages of which, small
they were, he enjoyed only until he fifteen years
old Then his father took him into the workship just
about the time he turned out his first cylinder press.
The boy acquired thorough knowledge of practical
mechanics ana developed noticeable talent for i'm
proving little details about press. He
stantly at work experimenting upon patents which he
thought would add speed and to the operations Of
the Ten years after he tered t fathers shop
he invented his doube-cyinder press by which nearly
twice many copies OF paper could be worked Oft in
the time by his fathers invention. Robert
Hoe only fifty three years old when he died. and
his three sons az the head of whom Richard,
ceeded him. This change was made in 1876 In the
same year Colonel Hoe perfected his famous rotary
press which the basis of all the better presses. 1t
did its work with such rapdity that known
as the Lightning" AS originally manufactured it
made possible the printing of 10000 copies an hour.
Now every press made on the rotary plan can print
from 20. 900 to % 600 cOples
This invention made Colonel foe famous. Ii was
an greater stride toward the perfection Of the
press than that taken by his father IN the enon of
the cylindrical system. Ii created revolution III
newspaper printing. But the rotary press Is now
largely superseded by the greatest OF all Colonel Hoes
works. the web periectng press. In this invention
the originality and bold ideas OF Mr. Hoe assisted
and supplemented by the mechanical skill and lndg
ment of ha partner and friend ;. ID Tucker who is
still a member OF the firm. This machine prints. cuts
and folds about 10 600 copies an hour OF an eight
page paper like THE TRBu\F 1t was possible Tor
the rotary with its ten cylinders to print an even
larger number of papers III hour but only on one
side By the perf citing press both sides are printed at
The problem thus mastered was 80 serious a. to
be appreciated only by machinst. The press IA a
combination of the most delicate and intricate devices
roll of paper, five miles long IA put through the
machine ct the of 800 feet minute, passing
fi At through one tyne cylinder with an impression
cylinder to print side and then through another
pair OF cylinders to print the other side. AZ me
sheets out they are passed over KNIFE whlch
them apart and then they are acc1naIed on the
Yer " and six taken down at time. lhen they
through an apparatus winch iods them ior .ne
folded naners are delivered "A quickly as the eye can
follow About twenty entirely new devices we're In
vented by Colonel Hoe and Mr.. Tucker betcie they
finally perfected this press. which Is widely used IN
ne snaner offices both in America an in Europe, and
mas supersed d ds triumph of speed, accuracy and
ingenuity all other machines for printing newspapers.
As a business man Colonel Hoe fully success
fu a. uventng Up to bis death ne retained the DOM
mating influence in his firm. and was as yigllant
not active ever in the management OF its busi-
ness He n man OF public spirit and OF a warmly
charitable disposition Nearly thirty years ago lie
bi-hed an evening school for the apprentices IN Is
factories where free instruction given in those
branches of study likely prove of the most beneht 70
them in the development OF their minds. he gave his
personal to this school for many years and
never lost interest in It,
Colonel Hoe was twice married. His trst ne was
Lucy Gilbert of the old Westchester village of South
salem. They had two daughters. VINO married
brotners The elder Emily. became the wife OF Slas
Lawrence. and Ada married To hls prother
Dewitt Lawrence The COlonels second wife was
Miss Mary Gay Corbin, of Philadelphia a. Three
daughters were born to them. Tie eldest mas lust
Mary Is he wife of John Henry Harper and Fannie OF
John Harper.
The present members OF the firm of X. Hoe N Co. are
Peter Hoe brother of the Colonel and surviving son OF
rhe founder of the firm Robert Hoe, son OF ROBERT
Hoe the second son of the founder whose death two
wears ago was severe shock to the Colonel B. ID.
Tucker and TheoC Meat. Robert Hoe s now Ill at
his home No. IL East Thirty-siXth-st. lie has not
been informed OF his unces death lest 1t should nave
an unfortunate effect upon him. -
Bright.ide IN WestChester County, just above liar-
lem was the New-York residence of Colonel Hoe 1t
Is a handsome home furnished in exquisite taste Ills
art gallery is filed with many valuable paintings ana
marbles and bis private library - one OF the largest
ana richest in New YORK Tie ColonePs title came
from an earlT service the National Guard. he was
me nber of the Union League Club. ana during the
war a warm patriot. ln personal appear ance ne was
handsome His kindly ace was surrounded with
white never lost its vigor The body OF Colonel Hoe
will be brought to this country.
THOMAS ~ JACKSON.
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