SCIENCE IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD 



TYPE-SETTING MACHINES 



It would seem that there would be little call for type- 

 setting machines proper that is, machines that actually 

 set the types themselves instead of making them as they 

 go along once the monotype and linotype machines 

 were invented; and in America such machines are not 

 popular. But in Europe they are preferred by some of 

 the largest and most progressive printing houses. The 

 fact that type-casting machines have been brought to 

 such a high stage of perfection, and that the types can 

 be filled into the magazines of the type-setting machines 

 automatically, has made it possible for these machines to 

 compete at all. Yet there is unquestionably one decided 

 advantage in this kind of machine: the operator has 

 the composing stick, with the type falling into place, 

 directly in view, so that he can read and correct mis- 

 takes as he goes along. In this way he is able to turn 

 over to the pressmen more nearly perfect copy than is 

 possible with either of the other machines. 



Despite these slight advantages of the type-setting 

 machines, however, it is probably right to regard them 

 as obsolescent as the highest representatives of a 

 mechanical system that has been superseded by an 

 entirely different and better one. Electricity is certain 

 to come more and more into use as in the case of the 

 "graphotype," just described, and with the simplifying 

 of mechanisms that is sure to follow, machines that make 

 and set their type at the same time are sure to gain in 

 popularity. Nevertheless it would be unjust to the 

 type-setting machines, which are marvels of ingenuity, 



