The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-26

TYPEwRITER RIssoNs.
Their Manufacture a Large Industry W hicEa
Has Not Yet Reached Perfection

Their Manufacture a Large Industry Which
Has Not Yet Reached Perfection
The manufacture of ribbons for type
writing machines is an industry which
gives employment to a large number Of
people. On nearly all first class ty 1.s-
writers these linked ribbons are used
There are at least 40 different styles OF
American typewriters, and more than
400, 600 machines are in actual use. As
the average life of a ribbon is from four
to six weeks, the number Of concerns
which seek to supply the market with
this article is surprising
They make ribbons OF every conceiv-
able color and variety, from to 10
yards in length and capable Of writing
with copying or noncopying ink. Some
ribbons are made which print IN one
color and show an entirely different col
or when the manuscript Is copied by
means Of the letter press. For instance,
a ribbon which writes black may copy
blue or green, making the record much
more 1egible on certain qualities Of pa
per. The manager Of a concern in this
city which turns out several hundred
ribbons daily said to a Sun reporter that,
at low estimate, 90 plants engaged in
the manufacture of these ribbons have
been established in the United States
this year.
Each manufacturer has a secret proc
ess for making his particular style Of
ribbon, and the secret is guarded with
the greatest possible care. One maker IN
this city has each box and jar contain
ing powder or pigment for making the
ink distinctly numbered, and even the
employee who mixes it is obliged to fol-
low his printed instructions mechanic
ally and remains entirely ignorant Of
the composition he is using One may
witness the whole process and go away
as ignorant as before.
The best ribbons have selvaged edges,
which prevent their travelling and curl
ing when in use They are nearly uni
form in thickness though one ribbon is
made of very thin texture to be used
when an extra large number Of carbon
copies are desired, and the imprint of
the type must be as clear as possible and
free from blurs. The greatest care must
be taken in selecting the cloth from
which the ribbons are made If the tex
ture is woven too closely. it viii not hold
sufficient ink, and If woven too loosely
it viii become clogged with ink and
smirch the paper Moreover such a rib
Don Will fill the tyne of the machine and
greatly annoy the operator
A prime difficulty encountered by
man uIdcC ure1S Is now 10 prevent oNsapO-
ration of ink from the ribbon when it IS
In use and exposed to the air. This has
been largely overcome in the last two or
three years
The man IN charge Of a large New
York house which makes writing inks
and typewriter ribbons said recently
that the most noticeable thing in his
trade was the great decrease IN the sale
Of ordinary copying ink. Tt is being al
most entirely supplanted by the copying
typewriter ribbon which gives far bet
ter results. Despite the great number ce
ribbons iii the market and the constant
efforts of expert chemists everywhere ID
produce one that viii satisfy everybody,
those giving all round satisfaction ara
not easy to find, and dealers in supplies
Of this nature often have extreme diff
Guilty in furnishing what is wanted
This country furnishes practically all
the typewriter ribbons IN use both hero
and abroad New ork Sun.