Technological Change and Electrification in the Printing Industry, 1880-1930

摘要

Printing was one of the first industry groups to adopt electricity and, concurrently, to experience significant increases in labor and capital productivity. The electrification of the printing industry illustrates an association between electricity use and productivity in manufacturing. The period from 1880 to 1930 witnessed important technical improvements to composing, plate-making, and printing machinery, yielding greater output relative to input. Application of electric unit drive enhanced productivity further. The availability of electric power facilitated the mechanization of small plants and permitted several notable improvements to printing machinery. (ERA citation 10:018543)