origin of 3D-printing?

[Stan Sieler via cctalk]

Hi,

Perhaps not quite on topic, but it's antique ... and computer-tech related
...

I just found what might be the first ever reference to the concept of
3D-printing.

In the Decmber 1951 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction magazine is a story
"With These Hands" by
Cyril M. Kornbluth.  In it we see, on page 74:

   "You just pour in your cold-set plastic, the
   nozzles ooze out a core and start crawling over
   to scan — a drop here, a worm there, and it begins
   to take shape."

The text is discussing how a 3D statue is created from multiple photos of a
person.

https://archive.org/details/galaxymagazine-1951-12
(magazine page 74, PDF page 76)

I was wondering if any earlier references to the idea existed.

thanks,

Stan Sieler