PRINTING AND MAKING OF BOOKS 



to pass them on without a more detailed description of 

 one of the well-known makes. There are several which 

 work perfectly and apparently with equal efficiency, 

 but the Dow machine may be taken as a representative 

 type. 



This machine consists of two parts, a composing 

 machine for setting the type, and a distributing machine, 

 the mechanism and operation of which have been 

 described as follows: "The composing machine is a 

 little over six feet high, and weighs about two thousand 

 pounds. It is operated by means of a keyboard similar 

 to that of a typewriter, but with ninety characters. 

 The keys descend only three thirty- seconds of an inch, 

 and are used simply to release certain parts, the driving 

 power of the machine accomplishing the rest of the 

 work. For greater ease in handling, the main type- 

 magazine is divided into two parts. In the type 

 channels, which are four feet in length, the types lie 

 with their faces in sight, resting on their sides in order 

 that a large number may be placed in one channel. 

 For further increase of capacity, additional channels 

 are devoted to letters in frequent use. 



"At each touch of the keyboard a single type is 

 pushed from the magazine and advanced to a type 

 raceway in front of, and parallel with, the magazine. 

 This raceway, which is in a continuous horizontal line, 

 widens at one end, so that as the type enters and is 

 pushed along by a rapidly reciprocating type-driver, it 

 is stopped at the center by the narrowing of the race- 

 way. From this it is conveyed into an upright channel 

 or "stick," each type forcing down the preceding one. 



