190 Scientific Intelligence. — Arts. 



where newspapers and other periodical works having a large cir- 

 culation are printed, and of course where the greatest number of 

 impressions is required in the shortest possible time. Although 

 the machines have been very much simplified since their first intro- 

 duction, and much neater work is now accomplished with them 

 than at first, yet they are still so expensive, and the manual 

 presses so superior to them for the purposes of fine printing 

 and general economy in the case of small impressions, that it is 

 doubtful if the present kind of machines will ever come into 

 general use. In confirmation of this opinion, it may just be 

 stated, that long as these machines have been used in London, 

 only two offices in Edinburgh have as yet obtained them, and 

 we are not aware of there being a single machine elsewhere in 

 Scotland. The machines, however, possess in their inking 

 apparatus, one decided advantage over the common presses, 

 for by it the ink is applied to the types with the utmost regu- 

 larity and equality ; while, at the common press, it is laid on 

 in greater or less quantity, and with more or less regularity, 

 according to the care or judgment of the pressman. Hence it 

 frequently happens, in the latter case, that no two sheets, nor 

 even both sides of the same sheet, are perfectly uniform in colour, 

 though printed at the same press, and at all events seldom or 

 never if printed at different presses. — In printing each sheet at the 

 old press, two men are employed, the one for applying the ink, 

 and the other for laying on the paper; and within the last 25 years 

 a subsequent process of pressing or smoothing the printed sheets 

 has been introduced, likewise requiring the labour of other two 

 individuals. This last operation is performed by placing a 

 printed sheet and a thin glazed pasteboard alternately above 

 each other, till a sufficient number be obtained for filling a large 

 screw-press or hydraulic-press. This being done, a very power- 

 ful pressure is applied, and the whole then allowed to stand 

 consolidated for some hours, by which means the printed sur- 

 face is completely flattened, and a glaze at the same time im- 

 parted to the paper. A book is thus much improved in appear- 

 ance, but it is at a great additional expense to the printer, and 

 for which he receives no extra remuneration. It would there- 

 fore be of no slight advantage to him could the labour of print- 

 ing and pressing be diminished, and the inequality of inking at 



