The American Printer: A Manual of Typography: Containing practical directions for managing all departments of a printing office, as well as complete instructions for apprentices; with several useful tables, numerous schemes for imposing forms in every variety, hints to authors, etc.MacKellar, Thomas
History
The American Printer: A Manual of Typography: Containing practical directions for managing all departments of a printing office, as well as complete instructions for apprentices; with several useful tables, numerous schemes for imposing forms in every variety, hints to authors, etc.
MacKellar, Thomas
Graphic design (Typography); Printing -- United States -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Printing industry -- United States
In this nook below, our engraving is done. The drawing is made on the
block by the designer, as you see: then patiently and skilfully the
engraver cuts and digs out, till the lines and shapes and lights and
shades are all revealed in the beautiful picture. Our work in this
department gives so much satisfaction that we are seldom without orders.
Now, Mr. Typograph, we shall admit you into our editorial parlour. Walk
in, sir. It is not carpeted, and its principal furnishings comprise
a desk or two, a few presses, stands and cases, with multitudinous
type-surroundings. Here, sir, we edit and print our Specimen Books and
our Typographic Advertiser. Don’t you see poetical flies buzzing around,
and atoms of wit-dust floating in the air, and odours of sentiment
stealing out at the key-holes, and grains of common sense sprinkled all
over the floor. Will you have a few specimens as curiosities? You say
you have already a good assortment in our Advertiser and our Book? Very
well, sir: we hope you will treasure them up. You say truly when you
remark, that the printing done in this room is seldom, if ever, surpassed
in America. We know that; and we intend to stand on the topmost round of
the typographical ladder, and to show our fellow-artists what can be done
with type such as we manufacture.
We are afraid, Mr. Typograph, that your long excursion over the house has
wearied you. Let us go down-stairs again. These, sir, are our warerooms.
On these numerous shelves are ranged founts of all the various sorts of
types made by us, carefully put up, labelled and classified, and all
accessible at a minute’s notice. Our customers throughout the country
keep actively employed all these porters, packers, clerks, salesmen, and
bookkeepers. Many of our customers have never visited us; but we put up
their orders with as conscientious fidelity and care as if they were
standing before us and watching our every movement. We are happy to see
them, and hope none will visit our city without calling in and taking us
by the hand. We like to see them face to face, so that we can hang up
their portraits in our mental gallery; and, when we afterward receive
a letter from them, we can imagine that we are hearing them talk to us
rather than reading their writing.
The side-door on which your eye has just rested leads to one of our
fire-proofs. Enter it. Here, sir, are safely stored many thousand
matrices, as well as moulds, when not in use. As it would require the
labour of many weary years to replace them if destroyed, we endeavour to
keep them secure from the danger of ruin by fire. The upbuilding of a
complete type-foundry is a work of generations.
You will hardly care to look into the basement,—the storehouse of ink and
other typographical appliances? Your time is exhausted? Then, sir, we bid
you good-day. A safe return to your pleasant family, Mr. Typograph.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
IMPLEMENTS OR TOOLS OF THE ART.
TYPES.
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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