ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERT. 



the foot-letter is always an intaglio, or sunken letter ; and as the face 

 in which it is sunk is hardened in the manufacture, and receives a 

 stout coating of silver by electrical deposition, the metallic surface 

 formed by the feet of the type presents the appearance of a neat but 

 boldly-executed engraving of a page identical as regards matter with 

 what a proof would present. By means of the letter on the side, which 

 is also an intaglio, the type can be immediately distributed from pi, and 

 with the greatest ease. When the distribution from pi is going for- 

 ward, the spaces, which are of steel, being thin and light, will readily 

 be attracted by the poles of a magnet, passed over the type, by the 

 distributor, while the type-metal not being magnetic, will not embarrass 

 the work by requiring separation. 



The cases for the type are arranged in a crescent form, and the com- 

 positor stands in the centre a pair of nippers being employed in com- 

 position for seizing the type. Another alleged improvement is in the 

 use of " logotypes," or little blocks of type, representing words, pre- 

 fixes and terminals. The use of logotypes is not, however, a novel 

 one. Towards the end of the last century, one of the London news- 

 papers was printed with these types ; and efforts have since been 

 made, with little or no success, we fancy, to introduce mixed founts 

 into use in printing-offices. The frequent repetition of certain words 

 articles, conjunctions, and prepositions, more especially would 

 lead to the supposition, as a matter of theory, that a mixed fount would 

 be useful ; yet the additional size of the frames and the complication 

 of elements appear to constitute a difficulty greater than the corres- 

 ponding advantage. 



Mr. Beniouski's improvements also relate to the use of india-rubber 

 inking-rollers, in place of those ordinarily constructed of glue, &c. 



Wilkinson's Cylindrical Rotary Printing Press. The New York 

 Tribune furnishes the following description of this new printing press, 

 invented by Mr. J. Wilkinson, of New York. The press is of the most 

 simple construction, and very compact. It is not more than 8 feet in 

 length, by 4 breadth, and perhaps 5 in height. A secure frame- work sup- 

 ports two pairs of cylinders, each about 18 inches in diameter. Upon 

 one of these cylinders are the types that print one side, of the paper, 

 and upon the other those that print the reverse, the printing-cylinder, 

 which gives the impression, being below in the one pair and above in 

 the other. A roll of printing paper is suspended on an iron rod or 

 axle, on one end of the frame-work of the press, on a level with the 

 cylinders, and but a foot or two removed from the nearest one. And 

 this, with the inking rollers and the cutting apparatus, constitutes all 

 of the machinery. The process of printing is commenced by taking 

 the end of the paper from the roll and drawing it through the press on 

 a nearly horizontal line, passing it under one of the type cylinders and 

 over the other. The power is then applied, and the cylinders revolve, 

 causing a corresponding revolution of the roll of paper which is thus 

 passed between the cylinders, receiving its impression on either side 

 as it goes. As it passes out at the opposite end of the machine, it is 

 cut off at regular intervals, and the separate sheets fall regularly into a 



