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machine。
Stereotyping has a curious history。 Many attempts were made to
obtain solid printing…surfaces by transfer from similar surfaces；
composed； in the first place； of movable types。 The first who
really succeeded was one Ged； an Edinburgh goldsmith； who； after
a series of difficult experiments； arrived at a knowledge of the
art of stereotyping。 The first method employed was to pour
liquid stucco； of the consistency of cream； over the types； and
this； when solid； gave a perfect mould。 Into this the molten
metal was poured； and a plate was produced； accurately resembling
the page of type。 As long ago as 1730； Ged obtained a privilege
from the University of Cambridge for printing Bibles and
Prayer…books after this method。 But the workmen were dead
against it； as they thought it would destroy their trade。 The
compositors and the pressmen purposely battered the letters in
the absence of their employers。 In consequence of this
interference Ged was ruined； and died in poverty。
The art had； however； been born； and could not be kept down。 It
was revived in France； in Germany； and in America。 Fifty years
after the discovery of Ged； Tilloch and Foulis； of Glasgow；
patented a similar invention； without knowing anything of what
Ged had done； and after great labour and many experiments； they
produced plates； the impressions from which could not be
distinguished from those taken from the types from which they
were cast。 Some years afterwards； Lord Stanhope； to whom the art
of printing is much indebted； greatly improved the art of
stereotyping； though it was still quite inapplicable to newspaper
printing。 The merit of this latter invention is due to the
enterprise of the present proprietor of The Times。
Mr。 Walter began his experiments； aided by an ingenious Italian
founder named Dellagana； early in 1856。 It was ascertained that
when papier…mache matrices were rapidly dried and placed in a
mould； separate columns might be cast in them with stereotype
metal； type high； planed flat； and finished with sufficient speed
to get up the duplicate of a forme of four pages fitted for
printing。 Steps were taken to adapt these type…high columns to
the Applegath Presses； then worked with polygonal chases。 When
the Hoe machines were introduced； instead of dealing with the
separate columns； the papier…mache matrix was taken from the
whole page at one operation； by roller…presses constructed for
the purpose。 The impression taken off in this manner is as
perfect as if it had been made in the finest wax。 The matrix is
rapidly dried on heating surfaces； and then accurately adjusted
in a casting machine curved to the exact circumference of the
main drum of the printing press； and fitted with a terra…cotta
top to secure a casting of uniform thickness。 On pouring
stereotype metal into this mould； a curved plate was obtained；
which； after undergoing a certain amount of trimming at two
machines； could be taken to press and set to work within
twenty…five minutes from the time at which the process began。
Besides the great advantages obtained from uniform sets of the
plates； which might be printed on different machines at the rate
of 50；000 impressions an hour； or such additional number as might
be required； there is this other great advantage； that there is
no wear and tear of type in the curved chases by obstructive
friction； and that the fount； instead of wearing out in two
years； might last for twenty； for the plates； after doing their
work for one day； are melted down into a new impression for the
next day's printing。 At the same time； the original type…page；
safe from injury； can be made to yield any number of copies that
may be required by the exigencies of the circulation。 It will be
sufficiently obvious that by the multiplication of stereotype
plates and printing machines； there is practically no limit to
the number of copies of a newspaper that may be printed within
the time which the process now usually occupies。
This new method of newspaper stereotyping was originally employed
on the cylinders of the Applegath and Hoe Presses。 But it is
equally applicable to those of the Walter Press； a brief
description of which we now subjoin。 As the construction of the
first steam newspaper machine was due to the enterprise of the
late Mr。 Walter； so the construction of this last and most
improved machine is due in like manner to the enterprise of his
son。 The new Walter Press is not； like Applegath and Cowper's；
and Hoe's； the improvement of an existing arrangement； but an
almost entirely original invention。
In the Reports of the Jurors on the 〃Plate； Letterpress； and
other modes of Printing；〃 at the International Exhibition of
1862； the following passage occurs： 〃It is incumbent on the
reporters to point out that； excellent and surprising as are the
results achieved by the Hoe and Applegath Machines； they cannot
be considered satisfactory while those machines themselves are so
liable to stoppages in working。 No true mechanic can contrast
the immense American ten…cylinder presses of The Times with the
simple calico…printing machine； without feeling that the latter
furnishes the true type to which the mechanism for newspaper
printing should as much as possible approximate。〃
On this principle； so clearly put forward； the Inventors of the
Walter Press proceeded in the contrivance of the new machine。 It
is true that William Nicholson； in his patent of 1790； prefigured
the possibility of printing on 〃paper； linen； cotton； woollen；
and other articles；〃 by means of type fixed on the outer surface
of a revolving cylinder； but no steps were taken to carry his
views into effect。 Sir Rowland Hill also； before he became
connected with Post Office reform； revived the contrivance of
Nicholson； and referred to it in his patent of 1835 （No。 6762）；
and he also proposed to use continuous rolls of paper； which
Fourdrinier and Donkin had made practicable by their invention of
the paper…making machine about the year 1804； but both
Nicholson's and Hill's patents remained a dead letter。＇2＇
It may be easy to conceive a printing machine； or even to make a
model of one； but to construct an actual working printing press；
that must be sure and unfailing in its operations； is a matter
surrounded with difficulties。 At every step fresh contrivances
have to be introduced； they have to be tried again and again；
perhaps they are eventually thrown aside to give place to new
arrangements。 Thus the head of the inventor is kept in a state
of constant turmoil。 Sometimes the whole machine has to be
remodelled from beginning to end。 One step is gained by degrees；
then another； and at last； after years of labour； the new
invention comes before the world in the form of a practical
working machine。
In 1862 Mr。 Walter began in The Times office； with tools and
machinery of his own； experiments for constructing a per