The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-07
PRINTING REvOLUTIONIzeO.

A veteran compositor, talking of Ott-
mar Mergenthaler. the inventor OF the
typesetting machine. who died few
days ago. said 10 Washington Post
reporter:
"Mergenthaler upset the calculations
of men about as much as did old Gut
enberg when he began making type out
OF wooden blocks. He inaugurated a
revolution, and peaceful one at that.
which brought about more changes
than a half dozen wars would have
done. He invented a machine that will
90 anything but talk out loud. 1t is
too busy to sop for that. Ii comes
nearer having all the intelligence OF
human beng than any mechanism that
was ever contrived. Ii has made iOr-
tunes for hundreds of people VINO had
tle rerSe 10 invest in the STOCK Mhen
II could be had tor song, before the
machine was perfected.
'Mergentha4er got his firsI patent IN
1874. lie got another in 1881, and others
In 1880, l6s6, 1891 ana so OiI. but me
machines were still IN the experimental
stage, and while the inventor succeeu-
ed IN p,aClng them III seNeral sllces'
they were thrown out as being ueneleht
in many ways. The typos were JUDI
that "A matchmaker in Baltimore had
invented and was perfecting a type
setting machine. 1t was along IN the
eighties. 1t was common expression
at the time: You can't make a ma
chine with brains. But that same pa
tient matchmaker did all he set OUT 10
do, and more. His machine is the
most wonderful thing ever planned by
the brain of man. AS / look at ii when
in operation, and see IL doing hall "A
dozen things at the same time, there is
something uncanny about its move
ments.
I'm 1858 the machines were first tried
in Washington, so far can remember.
They did not stay long. 1t was while
che invention was In its imperfect state
that the printers had a chance To get
control OF IL themselves. Mergenthaler
offered IL To the Typographical union,
but his proposition was refused Rs be-
ing absurd and chimerical. Some of
the older ones advocated taking 1T. but
the younger ones were in the majority
and they fought IL bitterly.
In 1893 the linotype first really sup
planted hand labor i'm Washington. and
IL was about this time that the printers
began TO feel the machines ali over the
country. To show that printers are
pretty sensible people. / should state
that the union never made any fight
against the Introduction of the ma
chimes.
When they were shown u be per-
feet, the inevitable was gracefully ac-
cepted. I have heard that there was
some small opposition i'm Louisville in
1888 but that was before the invention
was deemed practicable. The union has
never stood in the way Of progress. We
have always thought well Of Mergen-
thaler. and he has at all times shown
triendliness toward US
-, h.,
machines was easily made. As a usual
thing the operators were made up from
the ranks OF the younger printers. All
the men in each office were given trial
or three weeks. and the dozen or more
who were most proficient at the end OF
that time were taken on. In some Of
-hceS they -trX- In get experts at the start
but this is rot favored by the union
which wants to give the old men a
chance to learn.
The great feature OF the MerCen-
thaler from financial standpoint has
been the marvellous manner in which
the stock has increased i'm value.
good many can remember the time
when Ii was held at 10 cents on the
dollar. OF course that was in the early
days of the invention. Some people
bought IL al low water mark. and sew
eral in this city have made fortunes
out Of a trfling investment. Since that
time 1T has steadily increased. When
it began to approach par ii attracted
the attention of shrewd investors. Then
it's rise became almost without prece-
dent. 1t is now held at 20S, and ii pays
a dividend Of 20 per cent per annum.
This is paid quarterly. 2la regular and
2lh additional. 1t is held by compare
lively few people, and some families
are reaping enormous fortunes from its
pref T..
The machines are used in London
and other parts of England now. and
several Of TIE European countries. in
Guiding Germany, are preparing TO use
them in ihe newspaper Offices