Chapter V: The Development of Printing Presses

The development of printing machinery has already been described to a considerable extent in two of the preceding volumes of this series (No. 6, Platen Printing Presses, and No. 7, Cylinder Printing Machines). It may be worth while, however, to review briefly in this place the main points of progress in this direction. As we already know, American printers originally and for many years imported all their presses as well as their type. This condition, however, could not be permanent. As early as 1775 good presses were being made at Philadelphia and Hartford. These presses were of the Blaeu or “Dutch” type. They were wooden machines with stone beds and had undergone practically no change for a couple of centuries. The best known builder of these old presses in America was Adam Ramage, who came from Scotland to Philadelphia in 1790. Ramage was not only a good workman, but of an inventive turn of mind, and introduced several improvements, notably the substitution of an iron bed for the stone one. The iron press was invented by Lord Stanhope, in England, about the year 1800 and was the beginning of the improvements in printing machinery which were to go so far in the course of a century.

Mr. Henry L. Bullen is authority for the statement that no Stanhope press was ever brought to America. The reason lies probably in the fact that an American invented an iron press at about the same time. This was George Clymer, of Philadelphia, who after much experimenting produced the Columbian Press, an iron machine which came into general use in England as well as in the United States about 1816. It was a complicated machine, but in spite of its complexity was very durable and beautiful as well as powerful. It was worked on the ordinary hand-lever principle, but the leverage system gave a fine chance for the pressman’s skill. It had wonderful possibilities in the production of the most perfect work when in the hands of a skillful workman. It won and long kept well-deserved favor. It was introduced into England in 1807, and in 1817 Clymer himself followed it to England, where he spent the remainder of his life.

In spite of the capacity of the Columbian press for the production of artistically perfect work there was a great and increasing demand for presses of a different type. The demand was for a simpler press and also for one that would mechanically turn out larger quantities of work than were possible under the old leverage system. The first demand was met by the invention of Peter Smith, of New York, who built a press somewhat on the lines of the Columbian, which was very heavy, carried larger forms, and used shorter levers, and by Samuel Reid, who, in 1824, invented the simple but excellent Washington hand press, which is still in common use.

From this point on there are two lines of development which may be followed separately, one the development of the power printing press in which the bed and platen are brought together by a power-driven gear rather than by a hand-moved lever, the other the development of the cylinder press.

The first known attempt to apply power to a printing press was made by William Nicholson, of London, in 1790, in connection with his abortive attempt at the invention of a cylinder press, to which reference will be made later.

The first American attempt to use power was made by Nathan Hale, father of the famous Edward Everett Hale, who took possession of the Boston Advertiser in 1814.

Daniel Treadwell, of Boston, invented and built for Hale the first power press used in America. It was a very large platen with a wooden frame. The presses of Isaac Adams (1830) and Otis Tufts (1834) also had originally wooden frames, but later were built with iron frames. Very few Treadwell presses were ever used. At first they were driven by horsepower, later by steam. The early power presses were worked by horses, by men known as crank-men, and even in the case of small machines by dogs. These crude power appliances soon gave way to steam, and within a few years steam has been largely supplanted by the electric drive, with a tendency to a preponderance of individual motor-driven machines. The electric drive, by the way, is an American invention.

In 1830 Samuel Adams, of Boston, built a platen power press, which was long the only power press capable of fine work and exact register. Not long later S. P. Ruggles, of Boston, invented the Diamond, a small, rapid machine for the quick production of cards, envelopes, and other small work, and later, in 1839, the Ruggles rotary, a successful and popular power jobber. In 1856 George P. Gordon began the line of Gordon presses, still made in improved models by the Chandler & Price Company, of Cleveland, and very extensively used. The advantages of the Gordon were simplicity of design, a strong impression, high speed, and lightness of running.

In 1869 Merritt Gally invented the Universal press, using a different mechanical system and producing a perfectly parallel impression. Gally’s invention was later improved by John Thomson, who produced a machine which has been extensively used and is well known as the John Thomson press. In 1875 Gally also invented a heavy press for embossing, cutting, and creasing heavy stock. In 1885 the Colt’s Armory universal press, a very excellent machine especially adapted to heavy work, was placed on the market.

In 1885 Wellington P. Kidder invented a platen press of the Gordon type, with automatic feed and delivery.

In 1890 Albert Harris invented the Harris press, the first really successful high-speed automatic jobber. Two other familiar high-speed presses, the Auto Press and the Kelly, are small high-speed cylinders.

The first known attempt to make a cylinder press was that of William Nicholson, of London, who invented, in 1789, a machine that should apply the paper to the type by means of a cylinder. As we have seen, Nicholson went so far as to invent application of power to his machine, forseeing that power would be necessary for the use of any successful cylinder presses. Nicholson was not a printer, and his idea, although it had attracted attention, did not assume practical shape.

Ten years, or so, later Dr. Kinsley, a Connecticut man, developed Nicholson’s idea and produced a cylinder press, which is described at considerable length by Isaiah Thomas in his History of Printing. Thomas seems to have been a good deal interested in the machine, although he appears to have regarded it as promising rather than successful. He says that it saved labor and did good work. He was sufficiently interested to print a picture of it although his book is not otherwise illustrated. In a general way it was not unlike a modern cylinder proof press. It printed on one side only and was not so arranged as to secure perfect register if an impression was desired on the other side.

Several other attempts were made at the invention of cylinder presses, which attracted considerable attention, but which were not commercially successful. The first real success was made by Fredrick König, a native of Saxony, who, in 1814, invented a cylinder press which was immediately put into use in the press room of the _London Times_. König’s invention, like most first inventions in a new field, was susceptible of improvement, especially in the direction of simplicity. These improvements, however, were soon made, and the cylinder press started on its career of wonderful development. The first cylinder press used in America was a Napier brought out from England in 1825, and set up in the office of the _National Intelligencer_ in Washington.

The development of the cylinder press in America is largely connected with the name of Hoe. Robert Hoe, a Leicestershire farmer’s son, was born in 1784, and in due time was apprenticed to a carpenter. In 1803 he came to New York, where he worked at his trade. After a time he became associated in business with his brother-in-law, Matthew Smith, Jr. Smith was a carpenter and a printer’s joiner (that is to say, a maker of press frames and other wood work used by printers) and a brother of Peter Smith, the press inventor, who has already been mentioned. Through this association the firm got into the business of building presses, first of wood and later of iron.

Both the Smiths died in 1823 and Hoe inherited the business, which he carried on in the name of Robert Hoe & Company. Hoe was always enterprising and his attention was quickly drawn to the Napier press, which had been set up in Washington in 1825. As usual, this machine was not patented in this country and Hoe proceeded to imitate it, with such changes as occurred to him, and put on the market, in 1827 and 1828, the first flat bed and cylinder press made in the United States.

Robert Hoe retired on account of failing health in 1832, but he left the business in the capable hands of Richard M. Hoe and Matthew Smith, the son of Matthew, Jr., Robert Hoe’s original partner. The concern went on building and improving presses and in 1842 they patented a new bed-driving motion of which the well-known Meihle press of today is a development.

In 1845 Hoe & Company brought out the Hoe type-revolving machine. This was the first press distinctively for large newspaper circulations, which they afterward developed to so wonderful a degree, and which henceforth was their leading line of production. In this machine the type forms were imposed on turtles and fastened on a central cylinder, against which revolved as many impression cylinders, from two to ten, as were required. This machine put American printing machinery in the first rank. In 1858 the Hoe firm bought out the Isaac Adams patents and business.

About this time two other important inventions were made, both of which were later utilized by the Hoes. In 1853 Pratt built for the Brooklyn _Daily Advertiser_ the first perfecting press, or press printing both sides of the paper without removing the sheet. In 1860 William Bullock began to experiment on a rotary self-feeding or web printing press, and finally succeeded in achieving success in 1865. The Bullock machine was self-feeding, but cut the sheets from a web before printing.

In 1847 Hoe & Company began work on a rotary printing press to print from the web without first cutting it into sheets. This involved all the essential parts which had been discovered and gathered them into one machine. The experiment was successful, resulting in the production of the wonderful multiple press, which may be seen today in the press room of any great newspaper.

The invention of the Hoe press, the development of the autoplate, a machine invented in 1900 by Henry A. Wise Wood, of New York, whereby the process of stereotyping is made in a practical way subsidiary to newspaper printing, and the invention of wood pulp paper have made possible the modern newspaper.

We have thus very hastily traced the process of development in types and presses in the United States. Much might be said, if space permitted and the purpose of this series required it, of the invention of other presses, appliances, and methods, and of the improvements which are constantly being made in the tools and materials used in printing and the allied industries. These matters, however, are of only secondary historic interest. So much as the apprentice needs to know about them he will learn in the course of his work, as he comes in contact with them and learns their use. Perhaps the purpose of this book has been sufficiently accomplished in showing the milestones along the historical development of the two great tools of the printer, his type and his press.

The list which follows is a brief statement of the most important contributions of American inventors to the art of printing:

Web rotary presses. Automatic stereotyping machines. Printing machinery under electrical control. Two-revolution cylinder presses. Sheet feed rotary presses. Multicolor presses. Rotary direct and rotary offset presses for lithographic work.

This, of course, includes only the inventions which are fundamental and original. Improvements of some fundamental invention, made elsewhere or earlier, are not included, although in this connection it is worth while to mention one important thing which owes to America almost everything except its original invention. This is process printing, both in black and white and in colors. Process printing was not an American invention. It is safe to say that it would be only a scientific experiment if it had not been made practical by American inventions, such as coated paper, first made for half-tone work by the Cumberland Mills Company for Mr. De Vinne, ruling machines for half-tone work, which were first made by Max Levy, of Philadelphia, about 1880, and three-color process plates, which were first made by Frederick Ives, of Philadelphia, in 1881.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
SUGGESTIONS TO STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS

The following questions, based on the contents of this pamphlet, are
intended to serve (1) as a guide to the study of the text, (2) as an
aid to the student in putting the information contained into definite
statements without actually memorizing the text, (3) as a means of
securing from the student a reproduction of the information in his own
words.

A careful following of the questions by the reader will insure full
acquaintance with every part of the text, avoiding the accidental
omission of what might be of value. These primers are so condensed
that nothing should be omitted.

In teaching from these books it is very important that these questions
and such others as may occur to the teacher should be made the basis
of frequent written work, and of final examinations.

The importance of written work cannot be overstated. It not only
assures knowledge of material, but the power to express that knowledge
correctly and in good form.

If this written work can be submitted to the teacher in printed form
it will be doubly useful.

QUESTIONS

1. What general course of development do we find in the United States in relation to European influence?

2. How has this worked out in the case of type and presses?

3. Who cast the first type made in this country?

4. Who was Mitchelson, the type founder, and what did he do?

5. Tell the story of Adam Buell.

6. Tell about Benjamin Franklin’s attempt at type founding.

7. Tell the story of the first successful type foundry in the United States.

8. Tell of the attempt of Mappa to start a type foundry in the United States.

9. What were the prospects for successful type founding in America about 1795?

10. Tell the story of the starting of the first permanently successful type foundry in America.

11. What were the first steps taken to enlarge its facilities?

12. What inventions did the senior partner work on?

13. Give a brief sketch of the firm from the retirement of the senior partner to the present time.

14. What other type founder was at work in 1805, and what was he doing?

15. Tell the story of the starting of the second successful type foundry in the United States.

16. Who were the Bruces, and how did they start in business?

17. What did the Bruces do in 1814 and 1815?

18. How did the Bruces become type founders?

19. What improvement did the Bruces attempt in 1822, and with what result?

20. What was W. M. Johnson’s invention, and what became of it?

21. What development took place in the type founding business, and what was the result?

22. Who was Augustus Ladew, and what did he do?

23. Who was Louis Pelouze, and what did he do?

24. What can you tell about the Boston Type Foundry?

25. Tell about the work of J. W. Phinney.

26. Who was Henry Barth, and what did he do?

27. What do we owe to John Marder?

28. What do we owe to L. R. Benton?

29. What invention followed the work of Benton and Werner, and why?

30. What need became acute in composing room, and what was done to meet it?

31. What invention changed the course of development along this line?

32. Tell the story of Ottmar Mergenthaler.

33. What did Tolbert Lanston invent?

34. Tell the story of the discovery of the electrotyping process.

35. Who was the first to apply this process to printing, and what were the defects of his method?

36. Give a sketch of the development of the process of electrotyping, naming five principal inventions with dates.

37. What was the greatest single step in advance, and when, where, and by whom was it made?

38. Where did the first American presses come from?

39. How soon were presses made in America, and what were they like?

40. Who was the best known American press builder before 1800, and what improvement did he make?

41. Who invented the iron press, and when?

42. Who invented the Columbian hand press?

43. What demand soon arose, and how was it met?

44. Who invented the Washington hand press and when?

45. What was the first attempt to use power in press operation?

46. What was the first American attempt to use power in press operation?

47. What sort of power was originally used?

48. Tell about the inventions of Adams, Ruggles, and Gordon.

49. Tell about the invention of Merritt Gally.

50. What were the inventions of Kidder and Harris?

51. What types of high-speed small presses are made?

52. What was the first attempt to build a cylinder press?

53. What was the first American attempt to build a cylinder press?

54. Who invented the first successful cylinder press?

55. Tell the story of Hoe & Co. down to 1845.

56. What important invention did Hoe & Co. bring out in 1845?

57. What were the inventions of Pratt and Bullock?

58. What did Hoe & Co. produce in 1847?

59. What did Henry A. Wise Wood invent?

60. Give a list of the most important American inventions in printing machinery.

61. Why is the list not longer?

TYPOGRAPHIC TECHNICAL SERIES FOR APPRENTICES

The following list of publications, comprising the TYPOGRAPHIC TECHNICAL SERIES FOR APPRENTICES, has been prepared under the supervision of the Committee on Education of the United Typothetae of America for use in trade classes, in course of printing instruction, and by individuals.

Each publication has been compiled by a competent author or group of authors, and carefully edited, the purpose being to provide the printers of the United States—employers, journeymen, and apprentices—with a comprehensive series of handy and inexpensive compendiums of reliable, up-to-date information upon the various branches and specialties of the printing craft, all arranged in orderly fashion for progressive study.

The publications of the series are of uniform size, 5 × 8 inches. Their general make-up, in typography, illustrations, etc., has been, as far as practicable, kept in harmony throughout. A brief synopsis of the particular contents and other chief features of each volume will be found under each title in the following list.

Each topic is treated in a concise manner, the aim being to embody in each publication as completely as possible all the rudimentary information and essential facts necessary to an understanding of the subject. Care has been taken to make all statements accurate and clear, with the purpose of bringing essential information within the understanding of beginners in the different fields of study. Wherever practicable, simple and well-defined drawings and illustrations have been used to assist in giving additional clearness to the text.

In order that the pamphlets may be of the greatest possible help for use in trade-school classes and for self-instruction, each title is accompanied by a list of Review Questions covering essential items of the subject matter. A short Glossary of technical terms belonging to the subject or department treated is also added to many of the books.

These are the Official Text-books of the United Typothetae of America.

Address all orders and inquiries to COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, UNITED TYPOTHETAE OF AMERICA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U. S. A.