June 22 (Bloomberg) -- Beginning July 2, the New York Public Library will operate a 1,660-pound, Internet-connected book- making gizmo that can deliver a 200-page paperback in six to eight minutes -- although mine took 12.

Through the Web, the ``Espresso Book Machine,'' from New York-based On Demand Books LLC, has access to 200,000 titles in the public domain -- that is, books that aren't protected by copyright.

On Demand is trying to secure arrangements with publishers so its 8-foot-long machines eventually can print and sell virtually any book published.

``It's kind of a funny-looking revolution,'' co-founder Dane Neller said yesterday at the NYPL's Science, Industry and Business Library on East 34th Street. The machine will be displayed there until Sept. 7. ``But it is a revolution.''

Neller, 51, appeared at a briefing in which top publishing and financial executives outnumbered reporters. Neller's partner is Jason Epstein, publishing entrepreneur and former editorial director of Random House books. He said he started thinking about a company to deploy an automatic book machine after lecturing at the library in 1999 about his career and the Web's limitless potential for distributing books.

``All that's missing is a machine like an ATM,'' Epstein, 78, said in an interview.

After the lectures, Epstein found that a man named Jeff Marsh was already developing the technology in St. Louis. They joined forces. Neller, a former chief executive of privately held gourmet retailer Dean & DeLuca, signed on with the company in 2005. Early versions of their book machine are at the World Bank in Washington and the Bibliothecca Alexandrina in Egypt.

Bookstore Buyer

This year, they're leasing one to a bookstore in Manchester, Vermont, and selling one to a campus bookstore at the University of Alberta in Canada. Prices were not disclosed.

Peter G. Peterson, whose Blackstone Group LP buyout behemoth went public yesterday -- earning him about $1.8 billion -- was also on hand at the demonstration. A friend of Epstein, he asked during the briefing about the threat from established printing companies, such as Hewlett-Packard Co.

``We are in discussions with a large printing company,'' Neller said. Neller added later they're also talking about linking with an equipment manufacturer, in order to turbocharge their printing process. Currently it prints 20 double-sided sheets of paper a minute, or 40 pages.

The machine comprises an off-the-shelf black-and-white laser printer to create the book's pages and a color printer for the cover. On Demand has patents on the technology that automates the process. Version 2.0, planned for next year, will be smaller than the current setup.

Enhance Sales

To flourish, On Demand needs cooperation from publishers. Some are wary they'll lose control of their business, Neller said. But he and Epstein claim that decentralized printing will enhance book sales and human knowledge. Books in any language would theoretically never go out of print or be unavailable.

``The possibilities are fantastic,'' said Doron Weber, who helped secure a roughly $750,000 loan for the company from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, where he's a program director. ``I can't believe they're the only ones doing it. It's such a no- brainer.''

Some publishers are game.

``For us, it's a tremendous opportunity,'' said James Atlas of independent publisher Atlas Books, who was at the library. ``Once the technology is invented, there's no going back.''

Neller won't say how much the machines cost. As for book prices, ``We'll leave that to the retailer.'' Book prices may fall, he said, as publishers minimize their printing and shipping and focus on editing and promotion.

Giveaway

The New York Public Library will give away the books its Espresso Book Machine prints. To avoid the inevitable gridlock as visitors decide among 200,000 books, it's limiting titles to 20. They include ``The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,'' ``Moby Dick,'' ``A Christmas Carol'' and Epstein's ``Book Business'' --an expanded version of his 1999 lectures.

Following the press conference, I requested ``Book Business.'' Though several other books had already come out fine, the technology proved to be imperfect. After about 12 minutes, my copy of the 187-page memoir and treatise came out legible and tightly bound -- but with a mangled cover.

No matter. Neller and Epstein are betting that you can't judge a book -- or its potential to disrupt a business -- by its cover.

(Philip Boroff is a reporter for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer on this story: Philip Boroff in New York at pboroff@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 22, 2007 15:45 EDT