Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-03
COMFORTS WONDERFUL COLOR PRESS.
Machine Located in Augusta That Does the
Work OF 48 Flat Bed Presses. 7 org Fold
ing Machines. and Small Army Of Men
and Boys.

What would Benjamin franklin say If
he could be called back to life and per-
mitted to look upon the work of the mar.
velous machine upon which Mr.. W. Il.
Gannett is now printing, in five bright
photographic colors, the million and a
quarter issue of the July number of Com
fort.
This popular monthly as now made up
consists of "a pages the size of Harper's
Weekly, and is printed in five bright col
ors, pasted, folded and delivered, ready
Tor the mailer, at the rate of 5000 copies
an hour. In reality the Comfort press is five
huge perfecting presses and a very skillful-
~ made and almost human folder, working
as one machine. The city of Augusta
enjoys the proud distinction of having To-
Gated here the only color press in the
world that is capable of performing work
OF this quality, and such q marvellous
amount OF it. 1t was certainly an Allad-
in like sight to look at the great rolls of
white paper that were being unwound on
this press yesterday and coming out at
such short notice completely transformed
Into bright colored and artistic looking
magazines.
In speaking Of this wonderful achieve
ment Mr.. Gannett said that 1t was
great innovation in the printing art. He
remarked that some seven years ago when
getting out the first number of Comfort,
he conceived the idea Of having it printed
in bright colors, but finding there were no
printing presses then made capable of
doing the work, and knowing that the
process Of photography was altogether too
expensive, he abandoned the idea. 1t
was not until three years ago that he
found a press builder who was competent
and willing to undertake the work of
making such color press as he desired.
AS the Comfort press was to be the first
one to be delivered, and the manufactur-
ers. Messrs. r. Hoe & Co, of New York,
not having 1t ready to deliver at the time
specified in the contract the matter was
carried into court and the case finally
settled few months since In Mr.. Gan
nett favor. Several metropolitan dailies
have lately added presses patterned some
what after the Comfort press, for printing
the outsides of their Sunday editions but
there Is no other press either in this or
any other country that turns out COM
plete paper, printed In five photographic
oolors, the work of which compares favor
ably with the photographic color weeklies,
Puck and Judge.
The title page of the July issue of Com
fort shows an encouraging picture of
Uncle Sam viewing the signs Of returning
prosperity. The upper half of the picture
illustrates the great war clouds that over
shadow all Europe, while our own coun
try is basking in the sunshine enjoying a
revival of trade and commerce, and enter
ing upon an era of industrial activity
greater than any heretofore known. Com
fort now presents such an attractive ap-
pearance that demand has been made
for it to appear hereafter on the news
stands.
AS this color press will now be running
every day all are welcome to call at the
Comfort office and See it in full operation.
When 1t Is understood that it would re-
quire more than 4S of the old style fat bed
presses and over a hundred men and boys
to feed the sheets into the numerous pres
SEES and folders ono can form some idea of
the marvellous amount of work this ma
chine with the small crew of five men is
capable of accomplishing. and the great
advance there has been made in the print
ing art.