Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-10

adopted not only throughout the United
States, but also in Great Britain.
The type-revolving machine marked a
great advance in rapid printing. 1t was be-
heVed that the problem had been settled,
at least for a long time to come. It was
scarcely conceivable that any paper would
want to print more than 10000 copies per
hour.
The type-revolving presses had scarcely
been put into general operation in this
country and Europe before the constant
growth in circulation figures demanded still
further improvements.
Curved Stereotype Plates.
Various experiments had demonstrated
the possibility Of casting stereotype plates
on curve. The process was brought to
perfection by the use of flexible paper ma
triees upon which the metal was cast In
curved molds to any circle desired. These
plates were placed upon the type-revolvfng
machines instead of the type forms The
newspaper publishers were thus enabled TO
duplicate the forms and TO run several ma
chimes at the same time, with a view to
turning out the papers with greater rapid
lty In some of the large London and New
y ork offices as many as five of these ma
chimes Wclc kept in constant operation
Inc difficulty in obtaining high speeds with
these machines was not in printing fast
enough, but in getting the sheets 10 the
machine rapidly and in dispcsng of them
quickly after they had passed throu III the
press.
The demand was for a press which would
PRINT from a continuous roll of paper leav-
ing ing inc sheets 10 be cut and folded after
they mad passed through the machine 1t
was necessary, too. TO insure satisfactory
results that the machine should perform all
thesa operations itself. 1t was found that
human hands could not work fast enough
10 keep up with the requirements of the
modern newspaper.
In 1871 r. Hoe & Co. set to work Ia studv
mis- problem in comprehensive manner
finYTlt Jae
attaining much higher speed than had ever
before been attempted.
Expert mechanicians were set to work on
different phases OF the problem Tirns
money and effort was expended withnmt
stunt III the study of existing models. in
erecting experimental machines and in try-
ing all manner Of devices suggested to meet
the requirements of the situation
New Ink and New Paper.
The difficulties were not wholly of a
mechanical nature. One was In the set
off of the first side of the sheet printed.
Ihis was avoided by the cooperation of
the ink makers, who were induced to de-
wise special, rapid-drying inks
Another drawback was In obtaining Manor
in the roll Of uniform perfection and
strength. The paper makers were led to
make study of producing large rolls of
PAPER meeting these requirements They
solved the problem of finding a strong and
the daily press.
While these improvements were beine
wrought out, the press manufacturers were
working on the problem of q rapid sever
ance of the sheets after printing and the
reh3ble and accurate delivery of the print
ed papers.
The most important device relating to
TINS matter was the patent of Stephen ID
lucker, a member of the firm of r Hoe &,
Co II was called a gathering and de-
nVerlng cylinder" and was able to handle
the papers as fast they were printed,
II Is the mechanism on which the great
speed or the modern press depends With
Hut II one of the great machines would
plock press room with papers before II
| had been IN operation fifteen minutes
In Response to a Demand
| mus 1t will be seen, the rapid-workins
"ep press is composite for which no one
man deserves the entire credit 1t is one
OF the most notable examples of a really
wonderful mechanism constructed In re-
Spouse to specific demand, The expert
! inechanicians engaged in the manufacture
| OF presses knew what was wanted They
sat oo"h ana figured to these results tust
as experts In other fields might solve prob
IeHlS IN mathematics or military tactfcs
u IS concrete illustration Of the saving
that no matter what the demand is if II
Is strong enough 1t will be satisfied
Inc press, which was constructed In 1871
as result of these Investigations was fed
from q roll or web OF paper over cylinders
carrying stereotyped plates which printed
ii on both sides.
The sheets were not entirely severed by