SCIENCE IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD 



As the types enter the stick their faces are presented 

 directly in view of the operator, who can read and cor- 

 rect them at will. A bell gives warning when a line is 

 approaching completion, and a gage at the side of the 

 channel in which the line of type is formed, shows how 

 much the line is short or how far the operator has over- 

 run the standard measure he is setting. When the line 

 is full the operator touches the line key, and then with- 

 out further attention on his part, and without delaying 

 the composition of the next succeeding line, the stick 

 of type turns half-way round and the line of char- 

 acters is thrust by a blade to a point on the raceway 

 called the "bridge," where the process of justification 

 begins. 



"The Dow distributor is entirely separate from the 

 composing machine, but its mechanism is of the same 

 positive character. The operation by which it distrib- 

 utes the various types in their respective channels is 

 automatic, and allows a normal speed sufficient to supply 

 three composing machines with type. For purposes of 

 distribution the body of each type-character has a 

 special identifying nick. The distributor, which lies 

 flat, consists of a central disk joined to a set of channels 

 radiating like a fan. Upon the periphery of the disk are 

 supported thirty-six type-carriers, and as these are 

 rotated past the galley channel on one side, each re- 

 ceives a single type, which is carried round until it 

 is opposite the proper channel, when it is pushed out 

 of the carrier into the channel, the distributor continu- 

 ing its rotation." 1 



