Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-22
ELECTRICITY AND COPPER.
The Two Necessities to the EIectrotyp-
ing Business.
The Process by Which the Augusta Publishers
Procure Their Plates.

block, is the place where the electro
tipping is done that is required by the
large publishing houses of the city. Ii
is a place that few outside those in
| terested know about. but it is, never
theless. an interesting place to visit.
and to see the forms of the many pa
pers as they are made ready for the
press.
This establishment has been operated
for the past six years by r. w. Car!e-
ton of this city, the past two Of which
he has been in the present quarters
| 1t is a part Of the printing business
| that is not wholly the printers part.
| though the printer is essential to keep
the business in operation, 1t is here
| that the plates are made that print 50
| many thousands of sheets of paper,
and were il not for this mode of max
ing. the printers would find it very
difficult 10 print so very large editions
of the paper.
First Of all the type is set in the pub
fishing houses and the forms are filled
| with the columns of type. These
! going to the printing press, but in
stead they are sent to the foundry
| once there they are placed in a mas
sve press where each form separately
| is placed in the machine. and on top Of
| ii is placed Il plate covered with wax.
| This wax is hard and the type make
| perfect indentations into its surface.
/ Taken from the press this wax is
| treated BY having the top surface
, shaved off evenly by a man who does
4 the work With hot knife. Thus the
| surface Of the wax is the same all
| over, leaving it 50 that one would
| suppose hot metal was to BE poured
! upon it, thereby casting the type over.
| Not 50. 1t is placed in machine
| filled with graphite and with brushes
| which polish the wax as bright as 4
| young mans face on his wedding day.
The wax plate is then hung in the
battery. a solution Of certain chemicals
where a current Of electricity is con-
stantly passing through it, In this
battery the copper forms on the face.
| making a shell of copper over the
! matrix. This is taken out and is
backed by coating of type metal
about a quarter of an inch in thick
ness. IT IL planed To the proper thick
ness and otherwise treated. when ii
passes to the man who prepares it for
man inspects each line and letter Of
the plate to see If it is level with the
others. and in case it is not. it is his
part Of the work 10 mark on the back
Of the line or letter that is low, and
with certain instruments cause the
place to BE- On a line with the rest Of
the type.
Ii requires two or three days to com
p!ete an clectrotype of form. though
it could be done in a rush in little
over a day.
There is an extra shell of copper
made Of each form 20 that in case the
one that is sent to the publisher is
faulty or wears away after il has been
used through a part Of the edition. this
one can be mounted with the lead back
ana made ready for the press. In such
a ease a third shell! is made and placed
in pickle
This copper proves to be much better
for the great amount of wear
that the forms Of the local
publishers are required 20 under
90. one publication at the Gan
nett Publishing House runs off over
million and a quarter of copies. and
the wear to the type can be imagined.
At times the wear is SO great that the
second shell has 10 be called into use.
There is in this business slack
time. each month, when there IS not
the rush Of the other time. when they
are getting out the elcctrotypes for the
following month. Many smaller jobs
are given the foundry by the local
newspapers and also by other papers
ana publishing houses in the State. IS
there = but one other regular electro
typing foundry in the state and tina;
I,nrtlppI
1t has often been wondered by many
whv The large publishers do not put III
their own plant, hut the reason seems
10 be that the expense Of the ma
chinery is 50 great that they would no'
gain much. unless they were to conduct
he nusiness many years. and som"