Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 6

Inventions, Processes, and Wrinkles

page 96

Inventions, Processes, and Wrinkles.

The Kneeland Quoin.—A new mechanical quoin, invented by Mr J. C. Kneeland, 32 Maple-st., Northampton, Conn., is spoken of in the highest terms by the Paper World, which, however, does not describe or illustrate the invention.

To give Dark Inks a Metallic Lustre—The Printing World says: Dissolve 1 1/2℔ shellac in one gallon of 65% alcohol or cologne spirit for 24 hours; then add 14oz. aniline red; let it stand a few hours longer, when it will be ready for use. Add this to good blue, black, or other dark ink as needed in quantities to suit, when, if carefully done, they will be found to have a rich bronze or changeable hue.

The Foster Reversible Chase.— « No more locking forms up crooked. No more crooked feeding. No more plaster paris. No more pie forms. No more cutting. » So says the enthusiastic inventor of the reversible chase for printing angular forms. It is a really clever idea. A chase with octagonal interior revolves in a square frame, and can be fixed at any point by a pair of screws. Mr Foster sends us specimens of printing, one portion of the work at an angle of 45° to the rest, done at one impression. His address is 446, Broadway, Albany, New York.

Dynamite as an Engraving Medium.—From recent experiments at the Newport arsenal, U.S.A., it is inferred that plates for nature-printing, and possibly for other purposes may be engraved with great rapidity and efficiency by means of dynamite. A small dried leaf accidently slipped betweer the dynamite cartridge and the iron block from which the charge had been fired. After the explosion, a perfect imprint of the leaf was found in the iron. Systematic experiments were tried with leaves and flowers between two plates of boiler-iron, and the minutest veins in the most delicate petals were impressed upon the iron surface. These imprints were much finer when the charge was exploded under water than in the open air.

Gloss for Black Ink.—Replying to a correspondent who wants to know how to obtain a « good permanent polish on ordinary commercial black work, » the editor of the Printing Times writes: « Use hard-sized paper, and keep the ink pretty stiff, thoroughly well incorporated with a little proportion of a mixture of two parts best copal varnish with one to one-and-a-half japan gold size. They must both be pure: it is false economy endeavoring to use so-called cheap materials. The gold-size assists the rapid drying, prevents tendency to brittleness, and helps the glass. If this does not succeed, the paper is to be blamed. This recipe is also available in litho-printing, especially over other tints or grounds; it throws up a gloss without hot-pressing. Also, a little bronze-blue ink adds to the effect if mixed with the black, which it much enhances. »

Deliquescent Copying Paper.—The Stationer, Printer, and Fancy Trades Register says: « Copying paper has lately been prepared in such a manner that there is no necessity to moisten the sheet before taking an impression of the manuscript. This is done by moistening the sheets in a solution of a deliquescent salt, and once prepared in this manner, the sheet is always ready for use. A French scientific journal recommends a solution of one-tenth part of chloride of magnesium, or one of one-twentieth part of calcined chloride of lime. » Much trouble would be saved by this invention; but we think that constantly damp paper would be very liable to disintegration, apart from the risk of the ink spreading and becoming illegible. And unless the chemical salts are fatal to fungoid growths, the copying book would inevitably be eaten up with mildew in a very brief space of time.

Samples, electrotypes, blocks, &c., intended for notice or illustration in Typo, from typefounders and manufacturers in the United States, may be sent, properly addressed, to the Hamilton Manufacturing Company, 16 Chambers-st.. New York, who have kindly arranged to forward them through their Australian agents, Messrs Cowan & Sons.