Hand-book of The Useful Arts (page 2/2)

Front Cover

A simple binding with the title in gold on the spine.

Title Page

Putnam’s Home Cyclopedia [more...]

Copper-plate, or Rolling-Press.

“The rolling-press, which is employed in nearly every species of copper-plate printing, is divided into two parts, the body and the carriage. The body consists of two wooden checks, placed perpendicularly on a stand or foot, which sustains the whole press. From the foot, likewise, rise four other perpendicular pieces, joined by cross of horizontal [...]Frankfort Black, mixed with nut-oil that has been well boiled; the two being ground together on a marble slab, in the same manner as printers grind their colors. [...]” (p. 488, s.v. Press) [more...]

Lord Stanhope’s Printing Press

“Very little improvement in the construction of this instrument took place from the first introduction of the art into Europe till the late Earl Stanhope applied the powers of his mind to the subject, and introduced a new press of a decidedly superior construction. The old press was made of wood, with an iron screw that had a bar fitted in it; to the lower end of this screw was attached, horizontally, a flat piece of woos, called the platen, which was brought down by means of the screw, and pressed the paper upon the face of the types; and thus the impression was obtained. This press has, however, entirely given place to presses made of iron.

Lord Stanhope’s press is constructed of iron with a screw; but the bar is fixed to an upright spindle, to which a lever is attached connected with a second lever fixed to the top of the screw by a connecting bar. These two levers are placed at different angles to eac other; and when the platen is brought down to the face of the types, and pwer is wanted, the two levers take such a position with each other as to act with the greatest advantage, and thus an almost incredible accession of power is gained, which enables the pressman to print larger sheets of paper in a superior manner, with less labor, and with greater ease to himself. It does not [more...] [$]

J. Z. A. Wagner’s Brick-Moulding Machine

The moulding of bricks in the country is altogether performed by machinery; one of the latest improvements in which is the invention of J. Z. A. Wagner, of [...] [more...]

Vertical Steam Engine—For Manufacturing Purposes.

The accompanying engraving represents a vertical high-pressure engine, not occupying much space and adapted for printing or manufacturing purposes. [more...]

Spinning Jenny

The Spinning Jenny as shown here was originally invented by James Hargreaves in 1766; like Samuel Crompton who invented the mule-driven version, the mule jenny, James Hargreaves died without much money, despite the huge contribution of both machines to the Industrial Revolution in England. [more...]