Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-26
ALL DONE BY MACHINE
PATENT OFFICE WORK AT Gov
EMINENT PRINTERY.

For the first time in the history of the
United States patent office all the compost
ton for the specifications of patents for the
weekly issue, with the exception of about
so trademarks. is being produced by type
setting machines. Some hand work may be
required on particularly large issues for
few weeks. but the operators are said to be
rapidly becoming conversant with the key
board. and shortly the entire patent work
will be produced by the machines. The
machines for handling the heads have
not yet been put in operation. and the OPP
eratives of the keyboards and casters are
not thoroughly experienced, but 1t Is said
that Notwithstanding these facts the work
has made favorable impression at the
patent office.
The Gazette division has been doing all its
work on the machines for over year, and
the result has been a decided reduction in
the number of employees. A record of over
1000 ems per hour has been made on the
claims of patentees in this division, as COM
pared with the daily stint" of 640O ems
on the same work in the days of hand COM
position. Some of the learners in the speci-
fication division have already made
record of over five times the amount of the
stint formerly required and the con-
sensus Of opinion appears to be that IL the
patent office will consent to preparation OF
the copy not only will the wearisomeness
of the work be reduced, but the volume of
output increased.
The specificati ton division has long been
the "bugaboo" of Uncle Sans printers on
account of the technicality of the style re-
Quired by the patent office and the effort
necessary to perform the stint required
by the office. The list of compound words
furnished to employees fills a large volume,
and the multiplication and coming of words
by inventors is said to be source of con-
slant bewilderment to even the experts
Horse hay-rake'' is required to prevent
the impression that it is rake for "horse-
hay" and new compositors have made
many laughable mistakes in applying these
rules After setting a specification for
reversible baby carriage" the compoSltor
was surprised that the proof reader should
decide that a reversible baby-carriage'
was what was intended, and that the car
riage and not the baby was to be reversed
The work at the government printing
office Is arranged that In case of patent
copy being less than required to keep every
one busy other copy can be supplied. one
job was run off in addition to getting out
the last issue on the forty-eight machines
used in the spec" division. One complaint
of the correctors is that the type is bright
and affects their eyes, but 1t is said to be
possible to form mixture that can be APP
piled with the gasoline or I've used to re-
move the ink when the proof is taken that
will lessen the brightness.
Among the Printers.
The printers In the second division of the
government printing office are arranging to
give banquet the evening before Washing
tons borthday. A similar function was
given last winter and proved to be most
enjoyable occasions. Several brand-new fea-
lures are promised for the coming affair.
William Williams, compositor of the
first division, government printing ONCE
has been transferred to the Department OF
Agriculture branch printery.
J. A. Dent, linotype machinist, who re-
Gently came from Utica. N. Y, to accept
"sit." at the government printery, has been
transferred to the night force. -
DR.. Charles w. Radley Of the sixth diyi-
sion has returned from Batavia, N. Y,
where he went to attend the funeral of his
venerable mother.
The bookbinders of the government print
ing office will give their annual reception
and dance the evening of February u at
the National Rifles Armory. Mr.. John w.
Touey is chairman Of the arrangements
committee.
Public Printer Stillings has announced
that in making promotions in his depart
ment he will be guided by the individual
records and efficiency of the persons to be
considered Or as official expressed IL,
Merit and not political pull will be the
winning card"