Page:The Story of the House of Cassell (book).djvu/268

 laughable now that that type of machinery has long been obsolete.

In those not forgotten but happily superseded days there were seventeen machines constantly running in No. 1 building. The best class of work was done on double platens built by Hopkinson and Cope, and by Brown and Kirkaldy. A practical printer would be interested to learn that the output of these machines was very limited—say, 500 per hour at each end—the sheets, of course, printed only-on one side. They required very careful boys, both layers-on and takers-off—especially in the former case when "pointing" or perforating was being done. Undoubtedly, also, they were expensive to repair, as the crank working the platen was constantly getting out of order owing to the sudden jar of the impression.

An improved platen was invented by Messrs. Napier; the pressure being exerted by a pair of knuckle-joints. This machine was decidedly superior, but was eventually discarded owing to its limited capacity. Two Double Royal Napier machines were also in work. The large (quad royal) Anglo-French machine was at this time a general favourite, and turned out really good work. It was employed to print the Quiver and Cassell's Magazine. But the speed of these machines was only about 700 per hour, which compares somewhat unfavourably with the speedy cylinder machines and the improved rotaries of modern construction.

There was one machine (No. 7) by Dryden, a quad crown—which, to explain, indicates the size of paper it eats—continuously employed in printing the country newspapers. This machine was the quickest in the works, and ran at the speed of 1,700 per hour. There was little or no "making ready," as high-class work was not looked for in a newspaper. No real rotary machine was then perfected; but a two-feeder by Middleton supplemented the work of No. 7. This, however, only turned out 2,000 per hour printed on one side, viz. 1,000 from each board.