Trade Wrinkles.

Cold Stereotyping.—The Paper and Printing Trades Journal gives an account of the cold process of stereotyping invented by Messrs Byles & Sons, proprietors of the Bradford Observer. It has been found that the heat of the ordinary papier maché process tends to elongate the type, and cause subsequent irregularities in printing. « To avoid this and other disadvantages, Messrs Byles invented the cold process, wherein the matrix is dried separately, being removed when moist from the form, as soon as the impression on the matrix is obtained. It is then placed face-downwards on a bed of sand heated by gas as much as possible, short of burning the sand. In this way the form is never heated, and there is a saving of time in making the plate, as the period for drying the matrix is reduced from seven minutes to one minute—no inconsiderable advantage in a newspaper office. Or, the mould may be laid on a frame-work of wire gauze within an iron frame, so constructed as to secure rapid evaporation of all moisture. A few thicknesses of flannel are then laid on the mould, and upon the flannel is placed an iron frame interlaced with wire and of sufficient weight to prevent buckling. This is prevented by leverage from pressing on the mould unduly until a certain amount of moisture has been drawn off. The rest of the drying is done by the sand-bath heated by gas…. We have recently seen an impression from a form of one page of the journal, the type whereof has been in use for no less than nine years. Without a magnifying glass the proof might be thought to be printed from new type. This is certainly a wonderful result, and a most beneficial one to all concerned. »

Front-Edge Cutting under Difficulties.—We have a hint to offer, and will ask the reader to imagine that a number of books have been marbled contrary to order, and the customer demands that they shall be re-done. Of course there is then no alternative but to re-trim them, and it is upon re-trimming that we ask attention. Now, to trim the ends of these books would not be a troublesome job, but with the fronts it would be, especially if a large number had to be tied and jogged up, as is usually done. The common practice of tying-up books so that the round shall not slip back to its original position before the cutting has been completed is a long process, but there is a more simple and speedy way of accomplishing the same end, and to describe this is our object now. It is as follows:—Cut a piece of No. 50 binders' board the exact width and length of the front edge to be cut. Set the gauge of the machine to the right distance, and with the binders' board push the front of the book so that it becomes perfectly flat and nearly even with the knife, and so that when the cutting is done only a mere shaving can be cut off. The man at the cutting-machine is the one who should see that the book is pushed to the right distance, while the boy holds the clamp lightly upon it, and at the proper time gives the last pull, so that the book may be held down firmly at the time the cutting takes place. At the first thought it may appear impracticable that a book could be pushed back in this way and trimmed perfectly, but it can be, and thus the importance of giving a detailed account of this ingenious remedy for saving books as well as time under very critical circumstances.—The Bookbinder.