Scientific Intelligence — Arts. 191 



the press remedied ; and it is conceived that both of these objects 

 may be accomplished by the following or some similar means, 

 to which the attention of engineers or of others acquainted with 

 the subject is requested. 1^^, As to the inking apparatus, that 

 attached to the machines of Messrs Cowper and Applegath, 

 might be placed immediately behind the tympans of the Stan- 

 hope or Columbian presses, and be worked by steam-power 

 as at present. Were the tympans and carriage of the press in 

 separate pieces, but made so as exactly to fit into each other, 

 the carriage might, after each impression, be taken from the 

 hand, upon reaching a certain point, by the inking apparatus, 

 and, upon the types being rolled, returned to the same point. 

 In the interim the pressman could be laying on and oiF his 

 sheets, and by the time he had done so, the form would be again 

 stationed at his hand, and ready for his taking another impres- 

 sion. It is obvious that the great difficulty to be overcome here 

 will be the construction of the machinery for receiving and re- 

 turning the carriage, and making the carriage so nicely to fit 

 the frame-work of the tympans as to preserve register^ as it is 

 called ; but, after the ingenious contrivance of Mr Napier in his 

 machine for receiving and giving off the paper, there can be little 

 doubt of these difficulties being soon obviated. In this way the 

 great desideratum of securing an equality of colour would be 

 supplied ; and the expense of an apparatus for each press, with 

 an engine-power for the whole, would be compensated, by only 

 one half of the men being required. 2</, We have lately seen 

 a cylindrical machine by Mr A. Moir of Glasgow, used for 

 pressing and glazing white paper, and, although this machine^ in 

 its present state, is not altogether suited for the pressing of 

 printed sheets of books, yet it may also be easily adapted ta 

 this purpose. The labour of turning it, however, is perhaps 

 such as to prevent its adoption, unless where steam-power is at 

 hand ; but, were every printing-office supplied with this power, 

 the cylindrical pressing machine would probably soon supersede 

 the tedious operation and expense of the glazed boards and hy^ 

 draulic press. — It will thus be perceived that the object sought 

 to be attained is a still farther combination of manual labour 

 and mechanical power ; and could the above, or similar sugges- 

 tions, be carried into effect, another great step would undoubt- 

 edly be gained in the art of printing. 



