STEREOTYPING is a process by which the com posed types of a page are founded in one piece. The object is to preserve composition so that it cannot he distributed, to cheapen cost. and save wear of type. Many methods have been invented, but two only are now in use: stereotyping by the papier-mache process, and electrotyping. The papier-mache process is preferred for its speed by daily newspapers: electrotyping by book print ers for its greater accuracy, and its applicability to fine engravings in relief. Crude experiments at soldering composed types together and at making duplicates by the pressure of pages on type metal softened by heat were made in the eighteenth century, but the first practical work was done by William Ged, a goldsmith, of Edin burgh, in 1725. Ilk invention was not kindly received by the printers and publishers of Eng land. and soon fell into disuse, but it was revived and improved by Earl Stanhope of London, about the year 1802. For nearly fifty years afterwards it was preferred for book work, and was general ly known as the plater process. The page of type to be stereotyped was put in an iron pan and a preparation of plaster of Paris poured over it, which was afterwards baked dry in an oven. The dried mold so made was then submerged in melted type metal that penetrated every crevice.
When properly cooled, the mold was broken, and a duplicate of the composed type appeared on one side of the plate. The rough side of the plate was planed down, its edges were beveled, and faulty letters corrected, until it became a pre sentable duplicate of the type work. Stereotyping by plaster was brought to Newark by David Bruce in 1S13. Stereotypes have also been made by pressing the types upon prepared dampened china clay, but the clay process is rarely used. The papier-mache process, invented by Genoux, of France, in 1829, was neglected for ninny years, but is now in favor with all daily newspapers. Sheets of thin tissue paper, pasted together and backed with damp unsizcd thicker paper, consti tute the mold or matrix for the papier-mache process. They are firmly and evenly impressed on the page of type, which may be flat or curved, and are then dried upon the page. When dry the matrix is removed, and adjusted to an iron mold on which melted type metal is poured from sev eral openings. The plate so made is then cooled, planed, and beveled to fit the press. All the operations. aided by machinery, are made with great speed. Ten minutes is the ordinary time.