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The stereotype press was used to make paper matrices after the type had been set. There were two types, flat stamping and roller stamping. Flat stamping took longer but gave a finer result. This machine is of the flat stamping type and works in a similar way to the squeezing machine. Paper matrices were used for large volume printing and for special printing materials. There were two approaches to lead type paper matrices. These were the wet paper type with brushes as well as the dry type used by newspapers.

This stereotype press was originally owned by the Mingshan Printing Company founded in Chiayi in 1936. Paper matrices were first used in China during the middle of the Guangxu Era when the Japanese opened the Xiuwen Printing Company in Shanghai to work on lead types. Most of its print plates were made with paper matrices. The Mingshan Printing Company also invested in electrical paper matrix machines to carry out the same task. Once the type was set, it was turned into paper matrices and then shipped to Japan for stereotyping plates. This was the method used for duplicating printing plates in early years. Modern technology means typesetting is now saved as virtual electronic information so that it can be duplicated at any time.

L:110.00 cm X W:61.00 cm X H:120.00 cm

Movable type printing