The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-13
RIBBONS FOR TyPEWR|IERS
SOMETHING ABOUT THE METHOD
OF MANUFACTURE.
IL Is in the Past Ten Years That the
Business of Making Them Has
Attained Its Greatest Proportions
Average Length Eight Aards.

Perhaps no part OF a typewritiuS ma
chimes equipment has given greater per-
plexity to its promoters than the RIBBON.
says the New York Sun. To obtain one
that would not clog the type or smirch
the paper and from which the INK would
not evaporate when exposed 20 the ar
was q difficulty with when operators htd
70 contend and which inventors tried
hard 10 remedy. IL is only within the
las, two years that ribbons nave been
made which appear to satisfy the gen
eral demand. While ribbons nave been
required since the time OF the modei n
typewriter's introduction, IL is IN the last
ten years that the business OF making
them has reached lis greatest proper
tions. Four years ago II was said that
this kind of ribbon-making was engaged
in by at least forty manufacturers IN the
United States. and their output was es-
tinated to be not less than to9.th Ribbons
annually. Today the annual production
is probably more than twice as large as
il was then and makers declare that they
are kept very busy filling orders. The
thousands of American t$peWriters IN
use abroad are practically all supplied
with American ribbons, anu as the aver
age life OF a ribbon is only about Tour
weeks. their expectation constitutes an
important branch OF the business by
itself.
Ribbons are made in almost every con-
ceivabie color and variety. and with copy
ing and aon-copying ink. Iheir length
and width depend upon the require
ments of the machine for which they are
Intended The average length Is eight
wards although a few are made as long
az eighteen yards. Some ribbons write
in one color and show an entirely differ
ent color when the writing Is copied with
letter press A ribbon which writes
back may copy blue or green. mai x
the record much more clear or certain
kinds Of paper than Ii would II made in
black Tie head OF the ribbon depart
ment OF a large typewriter house on
Broadway recently gave some facts con
corning the extent Of the business in
question and tie skill and care required
IN IT'S prosecution
there are probably 5A1 places whore
typewriter ribbons are sold. while In all
the cities in the Union there are many
thousand. Some OF the dealers handle
eight or ten different STYLES and the
amount Of their monthly receipts is often
very large. The different makes Of rib
bons In the market number from nay
- seYentY~bTe. ana most or them are
manufactured here ia the East. / estl-
mate that the number 81 ribbons used
in a year ranges from l,ose-e1 10 LOO. tssi-
There Is gnuG Feasou to suppose that
There are between 5le 0so and S5J.a s0 no.
notl-uSlnE tEpewFlters here and abroad,
but. Of course, some of the machines are
not EMPLOY 81 actively. / should say thaI
fullv one-t third 81 the ribbons We make
are exported. and there are also other
manufacturers who export large quaint
ties.
yees can understand how much ears tn0
exrertress are necessary in turning tat
ribbons which viii give good satlsfac-
ton. ii - an easy matter u Sue e*3 IT
making good yIbh0n Tow ana then, OF
perhaps several dozen good ONES. hat
that Wont d., every single ribbon must
t.e strictly -. n. or else Complaints viii
surely he made. and the manufacturer
viii suffer IL consequence the effect
produced by one poor ribbon might mean
tha sosS Of several customers $40 would
~. rrtxlss as to that particular brand
One oE The chef aims Ct the manu-
saetnrer s. so produce Il ribbon whicE.
Will leave a permanent impression on tae
axse- Ink which mas aaEGposark &
base ia always permanent. IL cannot De
extracted ~ acids and viii not fade ~