Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
Making the Lace Work Patterns.


Making the Lace Work Patterns.
Avery curious machine used by engrav-
ers in their work is called the geometric
lathe 1t is with the aid of this machine
that the peculiar and intricate lace-work
patterns so familiar on our paper money
are made. 1t looks very much like a scroll
saw, with a revolving bed and numerous
little cogs, pins and thumb screws. Pro-
iecting over the bed is an arm carrying q
| finely tempered steel graver. Still more
curious is it that it is impossible for the
operator on this instrument to reproduce ex-
actly the cutting he has made, of which he
has neglected to keep the record or combi-
nation. if one of the thumb screws is turned
the hundredth part of an inch it changes
the entire design.
After the engravers have finished their
work upon the die it goes to the hardening
room, where, by means of furnace heat and
certain chemicals, it is made so hard that
even file will not scratch it. Then the
die is put In the transfer press, and an ex-
act impression is made in the circumference
of a soft roll of steel. This is hardened
similar to the die, and transferred to the
printing press.
The first plate-printiug presses, and those
in general use to-day, consisted of two metal
rollers, between which is a slab of iron
running on four guide wheels The press
looks something like four-armed windmill.
Printing Bill by Man Power.
In using this press the printer first puts
his plate on small gas-stove, called a
'.jigger," rolls over the surface of the plate
with ink, removing the surplus with piece
of mosquito netting and the remainder with
his hand. Then he polishes the plate by
rubbing it over with the soft part of his
Will rb IL ~,
till it shines like a mirror, leaving the
engraved lines full of ink. History informs
US that bank notes were first printed by the
Chinese, 2697, b. c., and, even in that
early day, plates were polished by the palm
of the hand in the manner just described.
But now the Chinese are trying to learn the
art of bank note engraving from Americans.
Some time since l assisted in furnishing the
Japanese Government with an outfit which,
in time, will enable them to become expert
bank note engravers. The japanese, being
naturally artistic, will not make the poorest
engravers in the world.
printer places it in tine press, where it re-
ceives sheet of paper placed by female
assistant. Then ne gives a hard pull, the
plate passes between the cylinders and the
impression is made.
Finishing Up the Notes.
Bank note sheets after being printed are
taken to the driving room. where the steam
heated temperature is 25Oo above zero.
They remain here one night. In the morn
ing the sheets are examined for imperfec-
tions. Imperfect and torn sheets are thrown
aside. Perfect sheets are put in packages
of ], 900 with slip of paper to indicate each
hundred, are then put between mlll-boards
and pressed in an. hydraulic press. Then
the bills arc numbered by the automatic
numbering machine. Postal notes go
through similar process, with the differ |
ence that they are printed on a steam-plate |
printing machine, of which the following is |
an illustration.
By single movement the plate is auto |
linked, wiped off and polished, |
and the sheet is printed, counted, delivered !
and laid between tissue sheets. A piece of |
clean cloth passing over the wiping and |
polishing apparatus is fed into the machine
and corresponding amount of soiled rag
similar to a mosquito net is taken up; the |
labor of but one person is required to feed
the press.
The profession of an engraver is a good
vocation for boy, provided, of course, he
has the genius for the work. 1t is consid-
cred privilege to learn the business, and
the ranks of the profession are largely sup
piled by the sons and relatives OF engravers
themselves. have seen as many as three
generations in family-father, son and