The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
n
How They Are Manufactured and Some of
Their PecullRrities.

AnEH
Perhaps no part OF the typewritinR ma
chimes euulpmenth has given greater perploxity
to its promoters than the ribbon. To obtain
one that would not clog the type or smirch the
paper. and from which the ink would not
eyaporate when exposed 10 tho air. was a dim
Guilty with which operators had TO contend and
which inventors tried hard to remedy. II Is
only within tho last two years that ribbons have
been made which appear TO satisfy the general
demand. While ribbons have been required
since the time OF the modern typewriter's in
PRODUCTION, It is in the last ten years that
the business OF making them has reached
its greatest proportions. Four years ago IL
was said that this kind Of ribbon making was
engaged in by at least forty manufacturers in
the United States. and their output was esti-
/ mated to be not less than 600.0 600 ribbons an
nually. To-day the annualp production lie prob
ably more than twice as large as 1t was then.
and makers declare that they are kept very
busy filling their orders. The thousands Of
American typewritera in use abroad are prac-
tlcally all supplied with American ribbons. and.
rs the average life OF a ribbon is only about
four weeks. their OK portation constitutes an Inn
! portant branch Of the business by itself.
Ribbons are made in almost every %conceiv-
able color and variety, and with copying and
non-copying ink. Their length and width de-
pend upon the requirements OF the machine
for which they are intended. The average
length Is eight yards. although a few are made
as long as eighteen yards. Some ribbons write
in, one color and show an entirely different
color when n,t the writing ,rhiTS is copied . With a letter
blue or green. making the record much more
clear on certain kinds ofpaper than it would be
partment OF a large typewriter house on Broad
way recently gave some facts concerning ths
and care required In its prosecution.
Here in New York" said the manager.
there are probably i've hun PLACES where
cities of the Union there are many thousand.
Some Of the dealers handle eight or ten differ
ceipts is often very large, The different makes
OF ribbons in the market number from fifty to
tured here in the East. 1 estimate that the
I n mh Sr6 Of ri6b e6S 6 Hsed n my a year ranges from
to suppose that there are between 100000 and
5000 ribbon-using typewriters here and
abroad. but OF course some Of the machines are
fully oner-thiird Of the rfhb;bons we make are eS.
ported. and there are also other manufacturers
""oniy persons connected with the business
can understand how much care and expert
which will give good satisfaction. 1t is an easy
matter to succeed In making a good ribbon
now and then, or perhaps several dozen good
must be strictly o. k.'or else complaints will
surely I be made; and the h.. m nSa u VII
one poor ribbon might mean the loss of several
customers who would be misled as to that par
ticular brand.
One Of the chief aims OF the manufacturers
is to produce a ribbon which will leave a per-
manent impression, on the paper. Ink which
Il cannot be extracted by acids and will not
fade BY long exposure to the light, The rib
bons in most common, use are the black copy;
made y any one Of them may be REGARDED as
absolutely lasting, Many OF the best ribbons
have selvaged edges, which prevent their
ravelling and curling when in use. They are
nearly uniform, In. thickness, though. come
ribbons are made Of very thin texture for use
"The cloth OF which the majority Of ribbons
nainsook. most (which comes from England
and Germany. The ink is applied by means Of
rollers and is forced between the nbres OF the
cloth by revolving brushes. Then the surplus
ployed TO accomplish that purpose. Each
maker has a secret process for producing his
individual ribbon. and the secret is guarded
Of a ribbon factory is. the only man there who
knows the exact formula for mixing the
n ISs o,p or !. PIE ETosn used 80 in in max making nn The ink All all
the foreman or by printed instructions.
1t Is the rule in making ribbons to apply the
turer. however. inks only one side. saying that
ribbons mixed in that way do not clog the type
50 often as those which are linked on both sides.
His assertion might be true il the ~clogRing
were caused solely by the ink. but it isn't. Little
particles of the cloth are being detached con-
~stantly. which work into the type. and whether
ink is present or not. the letters are bound to
be filled occasionally.
An effort has been made in Germany to
make ribbons which would take the place OF
those imported from America, but the German
manufacturer failed to induce the trade to ac-
our foreign friends are able to bring, out rib:
bons which will supplant those made here. and
our manufacturers have little cause to fear
competition from that source"