supplies the drive force to the several printing couples 2 3 4 and 6 as is shown in fig1 d c motor 7 supplies power to longitudinal drive shaft 8 at the end of the line of printing couples 2 3 4 and 6 at a location adjacent end printing couple 2 a torque measuring shaft 9 is connected to the longitudinal drive shaft train 8 at a point at least between printing couples 4 and 6 or generally in the vicinity of the free end of the torsional oscillator this torque measuring shaft 9 can be connected to the longitudinal drive shaft train 8 between any two of the printing couples as may be seen in fig1 torque measuring shaft 9 measures the torque m u03c4 produced by the torsion oscillations of the multiple mass oscillator which is what the plurality of in line offset rotary printing couples 2 3 4 and 6 effectively form this torque valve m u03c4 f t is measured and is then passed on as proportional electrical signals u u03c4 f t which are represented in fig2 as may be seen in fig2 the electrical signal u sub u03c4 includes not only the low frequency torsional oscillations but also includes much more high frequency noise.