The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-25

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believed that the pgOnlsm had been set
was scarcely conceivable that any paper
would want 10 print more than D!eae cop
teg an hour.
The type-revoiving presses had scarcely
been put into general operation In this
country and Europe before the constant
growth In c1rcufAtfon ngures demanded
still further improvements varseus ex-
per5ments had demonstrated the possibility
Of casting stereotype plates on . curve.
The process was brought to perfecsion BY
the use Of flexible paper matrices upon
which the metal was cast In curved
nolds 10 any circle desired. These plates
were placed upon the type-Yevolving ma
chimes instead Of the type formA The
newspaper publishers were thus enabled
TO duplicate the forms and TO run several
machines as the same time. with view
10 turning out the papers with greater
rapidity, In some OF the large London
and New York Offices as many a. ave Of
these machines were kept In constant OPP
GRAFTON.
The difficulty In obtaining high speeds
with these machines was not In printing
fast enough. but In getting the sheets q
the machine rapidly and in dispostng OF
through the press The demand was for
o press which would print from con-
tinuous roll Of paper. leaving the sheets
TO be cut and folded after they had
passed through the machine. II was
necessary, too. to insure satisfactory re-
suits that the machine would perform all
these operations itself. II was found that
human hands could not work fast enough
10 keep up with the requirements OF the
modern newspaper In 1871 X. Hoe 4
Co. set to work to study this problem In
q comprehensive manner and to solve the
difficulties In the way OF attaining much
higher speed than had ever before been
attempted. Expert mechanicians were
set to work on different phases OF the
problem. Time. money and effort were
expended without stint In the study OF
existing models. Ia erecting experimental
machines, and In trying all manner OF de-
vices suggested to meet the requirements
OF the situation.
The difficulties were not wholly Of q
of Of the first side OF the sheet printed.
This was avoided by the cooperation Of
the inkmakers, who were induced to de-
wise special. rapid-drying inks Another
drawback was In obtaining paper In the
roll OF uniform perfection and strength.
The papermakers were induced 10 make
q study OF producing large rolls OF paper
meeting these requirements. They solved
the problem Of finding strong and cheap
paper such az could be afforded by the
daily press. While these improvements
were being wrought out. the press manu-
facturers were working on the problem
of rapid severance OF the sheets after
printing and the accurate delivery OF the
printed papers. The most important de-
vice relating to these matters was tho
patent Of Stephen D. Tucker. member
Of the firm Of r. Hoe 4 Co. 1t was called
q gathering and delivering cylinder. and
was able to handle the papers as fast as
they were printed. II is the mechanism
on which the great speed Of the modern
press depends. Without ii one OF the
great machines would block press room
with papers before II had been in opera
ton fifteen minutes.
Thus II will be seen. the rapid-working
web press Il q composite for which no one
man deserves the entire credit. 1t y ono
OF the most notable examples OF . really
wonderful mechanism constructed In re-
Spouse to a specific demand. The expert
mechanicians engaged in the manufacture
OF presses knew what was wanted. They
sat down and figured 10 these results just
aa experts In other fields might solve prob
lens in mathematics or military tactics. II
II coucrete ILLUSTRATION OF the saying that
no matter what the demand Il. II 1t ts
strong enough II will be satisfied.
The press which was constructed In ISL
a. a result of these investigations was fed
from roll or web OF paper over cylinders
carrying stereotyped plates which printed
II on both sides. The sheets were not en-
tirely severed by the cutters, but were
simply perforated after the printing. They
were drawn by acceierasing tapes, which
completely separated them. into q gather
ing cylinder 90 constructed that SIX. or any
desired number. OF perfect papers could be-
gathered one over the other. These, by
means of . switch. were at the proper mo-
ment turned of onto sheet flyers. which
deposited them on the receiving board.
This press for the first time did away COM
pletely with hand labor IN the process OF
printing. 1t was therefore. the beginning
Of rapid printing as that term h under
stood today. The only duties men were re-
ouired 10 perform In connection With II
were the starting OF the press. watching
to see tina. It's work was performed proper
ly. and taking away the papers after they
were piled nat on the receiving board.
When the first OF these web perfecting
presses was put into successful operation
IL was said that there was no limit to Its
speed except the ability OF the paper TO
stand the strain Of passing through the
press. This statement seemed to he ,us'i-
fsed by the fact that 5000 an hour we're
however. the maximum speed obtained oy
this press. In moe. offices 1900 an nour
was the actual running speed.
One feature IN the later Improvement cs
the web press illustrates the way In Saich
demand has acted TO stimulate invention
In this field The first press did not fold
the papers. but delivered them fiat. They
were given TO the carrierw In rolls. and il
Was left 10 those who sold them to fold
them. Here was a chance and demand
for "a ,ime-saving mechanical device. The
nswsmen wanted the folding done In the
offices. Al length folder was devised and
put in operation. IL was found immediate
~ that men nurrying TO their offices or
trains would purchase the folded papers
sn preference TO the others, OF course such
an advantage OF competition could not be
allowed 10 remain in the hands Of a single
publisher. All the Offices had to put in
folders, The advantage Of combining this
operation with the others performed by the
press was clearly apparent And so one
more function was added ID the tlreidy
complex duties OF the printing machine.
So IL has been with every advance. The
enlargement: Of papers by the addition %
supplements o. odd pages brought ahou.
the necessity OF passing or stitching these
rsges into the main body al the paper. A