"The Dublin Penny Journal" Illustrates its Printing Machinery

On January 5, 1833 J. S. Folds, the original publisher of The Dublin Penny Journal, published an eloquent essay explaining his decision not to employ printing machinery. Later that year Folds sold the magazine to Philip Dixon Hardy, who clearly disagreed, and wasted little time in installing printing machinery, probably the first in Ireland. By the 97th issue of the magazine published on May 10, 1834 Hardy published a feature article on his double cylinder perfecting machine with one of the more unusual wood engraved illustrations of his machine room, including statements to the effect that it would be uneconomical to attempt to publish the magazine without the aid of printing machinery rather than hand presses, which they were continuing to use for shorter run projects. Hardy also emphasized the advantages of stereotyping as a cost saving, and provided perhaps the most interesting illustration of a stereotype foundry published in the 1830s.