Decatur Democrat, Volume 47, Number 2, Decatur, Adams County, 19 March 1903 — Page 3

THE EAR MARKS OF GENUINE PROGRESS

The Democrat Installs a “Simplex” Type-Setting Machine.

A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY’S OLDEST AS WELL AS GREATEST NEWSPAPER.

This is the twentieth century. Time is traveling at a rapid rate of speed and progress in keeping pace. When it comes to progress there is jierhaps no profession on the calendar that 'lias witnessed half as many lightning changes of improvement as lias that of newspaper making. Not fifteen years ago the readers of the Democrat read the news of Adams county in a four paged paper, half of it “ready print." leaving but two pages for the chronicling of the home news of this city and county, the sinu > being printed on a Wash- . .. r :lU ,l press at the Hite <rf about two hundred printed papers an hour. This even then was an achievement, and the country editor who possessed the business to warrant such flagrant outlay

‘V lof capital was considered a prince in the newspaper business. At this stage The Democrat changed from a •‘patent" to "all home print" and later the Washington hand press gave waylto a cylinder press, which traveled as slow as Mallonce’s horse, but at that time was considered a revolution in the printing of the Democrat. Seven years ago the present owner became Bonnnected with The Democrat, and since then the Ichanges have Isren many and costly. The “patent” gave way to eight pages all printed in this office, and the news increased until every week twenty-five to thirty columns, all pertaining to this city and county, was printed in the columns of Tile Democrat. It's subscription list grew and its business spread out with smazing alacrity. Os the office seven years ago there I-scarcely a remnant left, she presses have all been replaced, and others iddeil. with the exception

if one solitary jobber, and it's inly mission is to daily print the Burt House bills of fare. New and pleasant faces of type on the joint system has taken the plan >f the antiquated sizes and styles ormerly in vogue, and as has been laid, but little of the old Democrat vniains. On January 12. 1903, The )aily Democrat made it's initial low, and it's reception and growth ince has been phenominal. Every lay from twelve to fifteen colhnns of set type finds it's way pto Tlie Daily Democrat, Ireing nore news than ten years ago ound space* in the weekly edition. Ibe establishment of the rural outes and the delivery of mail v ery day at the home of the farmer “sojiencHl anextensive field for the “ily and it is certainly to their redit to show such a distinct prefernce for their home pajier. But ‘ w the march of civilization and togress in which we are wont to peak. Today we greet you with V 'D’ line of news type set by mabinery. This is an innovation us yet 1 the country field of journalism, llt one that is rapidly taking root n| l branch, and the successful pubslier will have to get into the swim. “' type setting machine is an in‘’’•ent looking creature. Standing ""it as high as a tall man's head, dot's not impress one with it's w*ivcness, and yet you are going ' ** something new—when it pins its operations. The circular I*or cylinder as it is called, is piously ribbed with long chanf* the width of type, and extendP from top to bottom. Thiseyl- | " ls in two parts—upper and I"' r ~~ Hn d the top half revolves, J ’ng little stops from channel |' mnnel. This part is like rural j" delivery; it travels around.

dropping i n w h channel that letter or character for which it is intended, the chareaters being sejiarated by means of nicks in the body of the type, and when out of the machine the type is seen to lie so curiously nicked as to represent miniature Yale-lock keys, or something of that nature. Thus we liave the machine’s body divided into two parts—one, the stationary part containing the type separated in upright channels ready for setting, and the other, a “merry-go-round’’ taking with it, in short, quick, jolly steps, the channels of mixed type for proper distribution. At each stop one can see where several get off at, and they sink into place as if relieved that the whirl around is ended. But in connection with each of these two parts one has a suffix and the other an affix —are the really wonderful features of the machine. The suffix is what is technically known as the “loader" —‘which feeds the type into the “whirl i gig" the distributor. Small brass trays called galleys are made to take the whole of one short col-

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umn of typo. This is put, by the attendant, into a tier th made for it near the top of the machine. An automatic device has its sleeves up and is ready to receive it. With the pressing in of a little lever, it carefully thrusts one line at a time into the channels of the revolving cylinder as they Ixreome empty. With no human hand to aitl it it handles from one to hundred or more separate ty]x*s without spill at each movement. On the lert and watching for a chance, it passes by those channels that are not emptied, only to thrust a full load into place at the first opportunity. The “afix” is a term used to designate the "setting of the tyix 1 ,” from stationary cylinder or reservoir. Underneath the I channels of the resservoir is a swiftly revolving carrying disk, and the long channels of type are held above it by a delicate piece of steele. This is called the ejector and attached to the keyboard which resembles that of a typewriter. A key is presssed down, the ejector pushes the desired piece of tyix 1 onto the disk and, quick as a flash it shoots around and presents itself in a long channel which crosses the key h xird in front of the operator. A second is pressed and another letter in the smallest fraction of a s 'cond lines up with the first; then a third and a fourth until,, when the operator has spiled a word on the keylxxird the word stands Irefore him for insjrection. What a lot of failures the irerfgetion of such a machine means! Now many were the hardships and headaches the inventors must have had, and what genius was displaytxl in its final completion. The inventors of type setting machinery have done their share in making it possible to buy daily papers at a very little cost.

*. Pho SiiUplex Type Setter in this office doos the work of five comp<»i tors and it will never ask for a summer vacation. Many inventions are lost to the public lx'cause of lack of business organization to properly exploit them. There is the same amount of genius required into his part as in the building of the machine. but it is of a different sort. The great plant of the Unitype company of Manchester, Connecticut, manufacturers of the Simplex Type Setting Machine, is a tribute to the ability of such an organiza tion. By excellent management, the company has stepped into great prominence in the manufacturing world and the orders for Simplex Type Setters are keeping the factory employes busy night and day. We have no reason to doubt the statement that several hundred of these machines are already in operation, though they have been on the market but a short time, comparatively. Mr. S. S. Wolcott, who is representing The Unitype company, and who set up. The Democrat type setting machine and is giving our operators the necessary primary instructions, is a gentleman of the first water and we can not but congratulate the company upon having in their employ such a thorough and competent man. With the introduction of the Simplex together with one of the latest and best news-

folders, we are enabled to print, fold, mail and deliver to the ]x>stoffic<-, 2,000 newspapers, all within one hour’s time. This will seem somewhat kindergartenish to the city publisher whose capacity is ten times this number, but it is a rapid pace for the country editor, and one that insures to him security in his certain field of journalism. To The Democrat it means that tin* business in its departments, will be carried on with that degree of promptness, which pleases the eus-tomer and gives the publish! r that pride and satisfaction so essential to success. We ix'rluips owe a few apologies for our inability to comply promptly in the delivery of job printing during the jiast few weeks, but the installation of tbo Simplex relegates thio feature to the background, and we stake our reputation that hereafter the delivery of work will never bo thirty seconds behind time. It is possible that

but few people in Adams county ever saw a type settling machine in actual operation, and the installation of this one, will give you the opportunity. So we invite you. We not only extend the invitation but we insist that you come and stay as long as you like. There are no formalities whatever to encounter or embarrass you. The office is constructed along the lines of Jeffersonian simplicity, so any mode of attire or any hour of the day—except Sunday—a ill admit you. So come. A welcome is yours without the asking And by the way of suggestion. we can not help adding that if you expect to read all the news every day, and are not a regular subscriber to The Daily or Weekly Denurerat, you are missing something good. S. O. Buskirk claims to lx> a kind of "snake man,” and he gives every’ indication of eligibility to that distinction, though the distinction is obtained at great inconvenience to him. In the first place he has to shed his skin each year, after the nature of a snake, and in the second place, ho has to remember the word "keratolysis,” so that he may tell inquisitive folks what is the matter with him. The skin disease from which he suffers, however, is known to a simpler manner under the term of deciduous skin. It seems that the name is about all that is known about the disease bv physicians. They know that there are a few persons who lose their entire skin at regular intervals, but they are completely’ mystified at to the cause, and can suggest no effective remedy. Occasional cases have lxx>n reported in medical lxx>ks but the disease is rare. This is the first freak of this nature that has. apixxired this season.

I * • ® * • • Brittson Brothers —l9O3 —• Here’s what you are looking for—Something distinctly new; not like your neighbors, but a buggy with individuality. It is not only roomy and comfortable, but neat as well. Elkhart Buggies, The quality and the price correspond.. We know that both will please you. Come in and take a look. Michigan Buggy Co's Buggies, , Deer Flows, wm - aWfly Deer Corn Plows, ( 11 " g’* ft— —1 MSB Deer Hay Loaders, —— — Here is another article with individuality. NothDeer Hay Rakes, ing else in the market touches “The New Elk” for strength, adjustment, ease in handling and working There are more “John Deere” corn plows Deer Corn Planters, “Y use than the combined makes ° f “y °‘ b " concerns. There is a reason for this. You know ,-wTiat it is. Rock Island Hay P* ’ Loaders, ’ll MOLINE.U.L. U Rock Island Corn - ZTk Planters, JT 1..... \ I / !r-— 11 1 11/ K \ "*W fc 1 » || I jlfk \ ’ 1 IgjW IJ O Bucher & Gibbs’ . XA\ wl'M/l Plows, IT uJKZfcJ hrA’fezi vWn Bhcher & Gibbs’ W 1 f fl ? Harrows, ' Milwaukee Corn 4'W Huskers, ' This isn’t a good cut of the plow. It is a combination plow, that is you can either ride or walk, and you can balance your plow at all times so that you American Fence, , , , , have no neck weight on your horses. We have it in pin or spring break. If you are in need of a corn plow “The New Elk” will interest you. Meyers’ Pumps, We don’t mean to say that buggies and corn plows Meyers’ Hay Tools, are all the good things we have to offer you. We are showing for the year 1903, one of the most complete lines of hardware, implements and buggies in the Pcnninsular state of Indiana - Ranges, A glance at the list here given will show you that whether you want a buggy, a farm tool, hardware, or a kitchen utensil, we can supply you from the most Etc Etc Etc standard goods of the world’s product. We want your business, and if you will give it to us, we believe you _ will voice the opinion of our large army of customers, when they say “it pays to trade with BRITTSON BROS. ' * Decatur, Indiana.