Levingraph Technology
Historical equivalent: Steam-powered Rotary Printing Press
While the manual printing press has been in production for hundreds of years, the process of changing the keys and pressing the ink into the paper was time consuming and frought with human error. In 1864, dwarf engineer Richard Hoe applied the newly developed elemental technology to the problem and invented the levingraph. The levingraph was able to speed up printing dramatically, printing up to 8,000 pages per hour. Today, modern levingraphs are able to produce 90,000 4-page sheets or 48,000 8-page sheets per hour.
Rarity. Levingraphs are have been standardized and are commonly used by governments and even small printing houses across Europa. These machines are generally too large for private use.
Bound Elemental. Air elementals are bound to a central flywheel that controls the moving parts of the levingraph, though some models might use water elementals for their ability to control the flow of the ink.
What do they look like?
The levingraph is an overlarge contraption with what seems like far too many belts and flywheels than might be strictly needed, except each of the various automated parts are controlled by one central flywheel and the air elemental bound into the central EBC.
How are they operated?
Large, cast iron plates are added to inked rollers, while lighten-lantern plates are added for pictures. Calibrating this machinery is extremely complicated, even for a trained professional, requiring a DC 20 Intelligence (Tinker's Tools) check to calibrate and set up a print run. To repair a levingraph device requires a DC 25 Intelligence (Tinker's Tools) check.
Where are they found?
Levingraphs are found in printing houses and government buildings across Europa, but the largest and fastest machines are in the biggest cities.
