STEREOTYPING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 April 1937, Page 1 (Supplement)

STEREOTYPING

Conversion of Type Efficient Plant Stereotyping, plainly stated, consists simply in converting type from a flat form into a cylindrical form. It is obviously impossible to bend the page or “forme" of type into a curved shape, the linet of which it is composed would simply fall in a confused heap. Accordingly, two more processes are necessary. The first step in stereotyping is to laKe another impression of the original type in the “forme." This impression is secured by placing a sheet of special material (a composition which, for the purposes of rough description, may be said to resemble a line cardboard I ovei the forme itself The forme and the cardboard are then placed under a powerful press, which exerts a pressure of some hundreds of tons, forcing the composition hard on to the type.

When it is released, the type is reproduced in a new impression on the cardboard itself. This composition material, bearing the impression of the type, is known as the “flong.” And, if it is impossible to oend a page of type into a curved shape, it is not imposible to do so with a piece of cardboard material. PAGES OF SOLID METAL The next step is to take another impression—this time in lead-off the flong. The flong is placed in a semicylindrical steel box, and, next to the surface which bears the impression of the type, a space of uniform thickness (a little under an inch) is left. Molten lend is then poured into this space, and, when it has solidified and the box is unlocked, the page of type has been reproduced in one solid piece of lead of semi-cylindrical shape. Thus two such pages, held together, will form the complete cylinder required, and from them it is possible to print by running the stream of paper over the revolving cylinder. FINISHING PROCESSES Before the pages in their new form —“stereo plates” is the term usually applied to the semi-cylindrical page of olid lead—can be set on to the rotary press, however, they must undergo at least three minor processes. First, the edges must be trimmed. Secondly, they are fitted inside a large cylinder while a heavy knife revolves, cutting them on the concave side; this process ensures uniform thickness in every part of the plate. And lastly they are subjected to a final “dressing-up" by which projecting pieces of the metal, which are not required to appear in ~rint. are r-ut off. The ' lates are now ready, however, to be clamped on to the rotary press from which the actual printing is done < ___________ i