New battery of thirteen multiple magazine linotypes supplant fifteen which gave Mrvice
for twenty-two years. New models do more and better work than fifteen formerly did.
ma, w.iar n'1 i,tnr 'Oil1 nil iarn i-nrm ni-Titnef -a...
Song of the Linotype
(With apologies to Edgar Allen Foe.)
Hear the linotypes today, ,
Every day,
Preparing for the paper all th thing! man do or y.
How they "click-ly, click-ly, click-ly"
In the big competing room
While each matrix drops o quickly,
And each slug is made to spick-ly
With a molten metal "boom."
Keeping time, time, time,
In a linotype rhyme '
To the fascinating "click-ly boom" that sings lis roundelay,
From the li-no, li-no,
Li-no-type,
From the smoothly-running, click-ly
Li-no-type.
1 he Model "14" in Action.
THE linotype ! Second in importance only to the invention
of printing itself, is the invention of this machine which
sets up most of the body type in the world today. ,
All the body type in The Bee is set Up' on linotypes.
Also all the ordinary headlines and all the type in the ad
vertisements, too, except that which is larger than 24-point,
(one-third of an inch).
Of course, you've heard of linotypes, but perhaps you
don't know just what they are. j
For many years all type had
, to be set by hand. Naturally,
there was a "lone-felt want"
for a machine that would do
the work. And inventors
worked on it.
But most of them tried to
devise a machine that would
handle those little square
pieces of metal- called type.
Nothing but the human fin
gers, backed by keen intelli
gence and sharp eyes could
do that.
Then Otto Mergenthaler in
vented the linotype. Instead
of pieces of type, the linotype
uses "matrices." A matrix is
a flat piece of brass about an
inch wide and an inch and a
half long. On its edge is a
mould of a letter, instead of
the letter itself.
The linotype operator has a
keyboard before him much
like that of a typewriter. As he
strikes the keys the corres
, ponding matrices drop down
from the magazine containing
them, through chutes, and are
assembled in a line. When one
line has been set this is carried up to a little slit in front of the hot
metal pet. There the hot metal is poured against the line of matrices
and, presto, in an instant that line has been moulded all ready to print.
Then the matrices are carried away, and by an ingenious
arrangement are automatically distributed back into their various
magazine compartments, ready to be used again. In a minute after
they came out they are back in the magazine again. And everything
except the striking of the keys by the operator is automatic.
Before the linotype was invented the distribution of the type
after it had been used was half of the work. This is done auto
matically by the linotype.
There is much of romance that attaches to the linotype. It is
the almost-human machine which quickly and easily sets into type
most of the material which the world reads today. The news is
gathered from the remotest corners of the earth. It comes flashing
across the cables under the ocean. It is hurled through the air on the
wireless. It is flashed across the telegraph wires from all sections of
this continent. It is telephoned in from surrounding towns and cities.
It is sent in by rush mail. It is brought in by reporters.
Then it is taken in hand by editors who cut out the unimportant,
edit the "copy" and write heads for it.
Then comes the linotype, setting up all this news, quickly and
neatly and efficiently, and distributing the type again while it is
setting up more, as rapidly as a man can click the keys, doing every
thing automatically with almost human intelligence.
The Efficiency of the Linotype on The Bee
EFFICIENCY, the keynote of any manufacturing business, depends
mainly upon two elements perfect machinery and tools and ideal
working conditions. The second, naturally, follows the induction of the
first. Good light, air and fair treatment being taken for granted. The
Bee recently modernized its plant, bringing it up to the highest point of
efficiency, and in so doing laid the foundation solidly by the purchase of
modern linotypes, the product of the Mergenthaler Linotype Co. of New
.York.
When The Bee was founded by Edward Rosewater in 1871 the lino
type had not been invented. And had it been the little sheet could not
have afforded one, and, indeed, would scarcely have needed one, as it
consisted of but two pages, 12x18 inches in size.
Twenty-three years ago The Bee, as usual, leading the procession, in-,
stalled its first linotype battery of twelve machines, and it has been setting
its body matter on linotypes ever since. ; s
As Omaha developed and the paper expanded new linotypes were
added from time to time, and in 1906 the first two-magazine machine
was installed.
This tyjJe of machine proved so satisfactory that last May The Bee Installed a complete
equipment of thirteen big multiple-magazine linotypes. ';
The first linotype had only one magazine. That is, only one size of type could be set on it.
On each of the thirteen machines in use today, from four to six different kinds and sizes of
type can be set. Movement of a lever by the operator changes the kind of type.
On one machine, called the "head-letter machine," the headings of articles are set. It will
set type as large as 24-point, which is one-third of an inch in height. , ..
The efficiency of The Bee's composing room consists not only in the use A these won
derful machines, but in perfect lighting and ventilation. Because placed directly under a sky
light, The Bee's machines get ample light and air. At night the room is illuminated by elec
tric lights of the indirect radiation.
There are no overhead wires. Lamps for each linotype are placed on adjustable brackets
coming up from the floor. Each machine, moreover, is connected with an individual electric
motor.
The mechanical perfection of these machines is wonderful. Though running prac
tically all day and night, none of the linotypes has given the slightest trouble at any time.
The Bee has a battery of thirteen linotypes and claims it is the best and most efficient
battery in the United States.
"The flexibility of our battery of linotypes is such that we can handle any class of matter
on which there is a specially big run at any time," says the superintendent of the composing
room.
"Department store advertising, which formerly caused us to tremble and Bhlver, now does
not mean any more than the ordinary run of business, as the three Model 8's in the news bat
tery, which we use for advertising in an emergency, in connection with our two 14's, make this
copy disappear like a June snow after the sun rises.
"The model 4 on heads gives us a great variety of head faces, including two styles of 18
point, one of 10-point, one of 12-point and one of 24-point, which allows us to keep ahead of
the game during the rush in making editions. And, last but not least, the seven model K's give,
us control of the news situation, no matter what happens. The plant must be seen to be appre
ciated, and we believe that their exposition in The Bee office is not equalled in any other com
posing room of the continent." -
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The Model "K" handling News and Want Ads.