Composition roller

It consists of a cylinder made of a substance known as "roller composition" or simply "composition", a mixture of hide glue and sugar (in the form of molasses or treacle), with various additives such as glycerin depending on the particular recipe.

[1] Early recipes also included gypsum plaster and tar, though these were eventually found unnecessary.

The difficulty and time involved in making and using ink balls led to various attempts to use cylinders, which could be rolled rather than pounded.

[4][5][2] Eventually, a substance was found with the right adhesion and elasticity to make suitable cylindrical rollers.

[2] The mixture is cast into molds around a wooden or metal "stock" or core, which after cooling and seasoning is then hooked onto the handle or printing press.