TYPOGRAPHIC TECHNICAL SERIES FOR APPRENTICES—PART VIII, NO. 55 TYPE AND PRESSES IN AMERICA A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF TYPE CASTING AND PRESS BUILDING IN THE UNITED STATES BY FREDERICK W. HAMILTON, LL.D. EDUCATION DIRECTOR UNITED TYPOTHETAE OF AMERICA [Illustration] PUBLISHED BY THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION UNITED TYPOTHETAE OF AMERICA 1918 Copyright, 1918 United Typothetae of America Chicago, Ill. Composition and electrotypes contributed by POOLE BROS. Chicago CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 5 CHAPTER I THE PIONEER TYPE FOUNDERS 8 CHAPTER II THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TYPE FOUNDING 14 CHAPTER III COMPOSING AND TYPE-CASTING MACHINES 29 CHAPTER IV ELECTROTYPING 32 CHAPTER V THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRINTING PRESS 34 INTRODUCTION A study of type founding and of the development of presses and other printers’ machinery in America presents many interesting considerations. If the attempt were made to give in detail the story of American type founding and the accomplishments of the notable American type founders, and at the same time to chronicle the improvements and inventions which American genius has contributed to the machines and processes used in printing and the allied industries, a very large book might readily be produced. While such a book would not be without interest and would certainly have very great value, it would be valuable mainly as a work of reference and would lack the interest which ought to attach to a book of the sort contained in this series. It has seemed to the writer best, therefore, not to attempt to collect an encyclopedia of information, but to give a brief sketch of the development of types and presses in the United States, with a special view to the beginnings in both departments. It is greatly to be hoped that a more competent hand may later be set to the production of such an encyclopedic volume as has been indicated, but such a work does not belong in this series.