Printing was not only costly, but dangerous to one’s health. Nova Scotia did not start producing its own paper until 1819, when a paper mill was established in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Paper had to be imported from Pennsylvania, at a substantial cost. This made the printing process very expensive.īesides not being able to buy type locally, they also could not get their paper locally. Before the colonies began to produce their own type, printers had to order sets of types in six or seven different fonts from Caston in London, England. Then the paper rolled up and was pressed against the type, leaving an impression of the type on the paper.Įarly printers in the colonies had several complications to deal with, one of which was the availability of resources. The rollers rolled over the ink plate, picking up the ink, and then rolled over the type, covering them with ink. The type was placed backward into a metal frame called a chase, which was then placed in the front of the press. Women were preferred as typesetters because they were very good at it and were a cheap source of labor. Examples of popular guidelines were: he/she was not allowed to waste his/her master’s goods, get married, play cards or dice, or visit ale-houses or taverns.Īpprentices were involved in almost every step of the printing process, from setting type to cutting the final product. The apprentice was required to sign an agreement stating that he or she would abide by the guidelines set forth by the printer. As a result, many master printers hired an apprentice, also known as a devil. Unfortunately, the wooden presses that were brought to the colonies were rather slow and required two men or women to operate. The presses that were brought over to the British North American colonies were easy to ship because they were made from wood. Although the first press was invented in the fifteenth century, North America did not receive its first press until 1638. When the first metal press did emerge, the rollers were made from glue and molasses.
Early presses were made from wood rather than metal and inking was done by hand with inking balls. The first printing press was invented by Johann Gutenberg in 1450.
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