The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-06-11
EXTENSIVE PATTERNS.
COLLECTIONS THAT MANUFACTURE
ING CONCERNS HOARD.


orAPiecs of Ornamental Ironwork Costs
Many Times More Than Subsequent Du-
pllcate. Government Plates.
Fortunes are invested in models and
patterns used in various branches Of
manufactures The pattern room of any
OF the large iron molders or machine
shops that have been long in operation
presents an array Of woodwork that has
cost good deal of money. Take, for in
stance, the iron front Of building. The
various columns, panels, carnices, sills
and ornaments have all been made in
wood. which is used to mold the sand in
which the iron IS cast
Generally tine cost of the patterns is
paid for on the first order. Subsequent
orders for castings Of the same patterns
are executed more cheaply because the
patterns are ready malc, Sometimes the
foundry owns the patterns and supplies
duplicates to all customers, hnt in many
cases owners of buildings prefer TO own
their own patterns. 50 that no other
building may look like theirs.
The preservation and duplication OF
patterns is feature and source of great
profit in many manufacturing opera
tions. 1t Is characteristic Of all kinds
of printing. The type founder procures
matrices Of various fonts of type ut great
cost Int having once secured his mold
he can 90 on producing any number Of
duplicates at trifling cost. The first cost
Of the mold is the main cost, compared
with which the cost Of metal and casting
is triflng. The same Is true Of al pro-
cesses of printing pictures.
The wood engraving, the photographic
stone, the steel plate, all cost much at
the outset, but, being once produced,
they may be duplicated by various pro
cesScs at comparatively triflius cost
Thus picture may be sold for a profit
mt a penny, although to produce the first
one may have cost thousands Of dollars,
GOVERNMENTAL PATTERNS,
The application of duplicating process
ses to the building trade has worked an
industrial revolution. Ii is true that one
result is to produce buildings much
alike. The designs for doors, Windows.
stairways, stoops, yestihules, taWer5.
locks, bolts, mantels. sideboards, pier
glasses, cornices, and, in fact iil parts
of IA building are used over AMI over
again, and the cost of building is there
fore much cheapened. The fact is that
many parts Of buildings may be pur-
chased ready made and in any desired
quantities, and buildings constructed u
such material are put up very chaaply
But when new designs are needed. odd
shapes, fancy styles. novel Ornamental
ton, the cost is greatly increased.
Before the war all the paper money IN
the United States was printed by private
companies, who ownedall tue pilates and
patterns Even the United Suites gov
ernmeut dill not own the plates from
which lis notes were printed. and in one
famous case tire couutericter, by aubtnr
fuge, procured from hose private parties.
for nomnally honest purpose, taa Use
of the devices used in printing nited
States treasury note; and the devices
thus irauduently obtained were actual
ly used to produce Il spurious treasury
note, which was in many respects IL tx
act duplicate Of the original. That risk
led to the adoption Of a new plau by
which, when the government got any
notes printed the contractors were com
PEELED to surrender all the a. igus pat.
terms, dies and pltts u~d Ia produce
the issue, So thattbny could mot hy any
possibility be- used for ans but lesin- /
mate purposes.
Ultimately that led To tbar-tabli-h. +
meut of the b8reau Of engraving and +
printing. and the government nov clu- T
trols all the patterusoG its paper money +
in the sumo way thatlt controls tine dies /
of its metal coinage. The expense If /
steel engraving Is so ersot that 1T Is only /
by duplicating and u=iu, tHs same de- /
sign asun and asain thar 1T Ia made
profitable to use such beautiful designs
as are used in commercial work, rs notes.
bonds, bills Of exchange, etc.
ABOUT DUPLICATES.
M l..