The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-05-12
THE POSTAGE STAMP
HOW IT IS WADE BY UNCLE SANS
EyFERT WORKMEN.

The Manufacturing Process From
the Engraving OF the steel Die 10
the Finished Gummed, Pressed and
Perforated Printed sheet
The FIRST mechanical process In the
manufacture Of postage stamp is the
cutting. Of engraving, OF the die. This
Us a piece Of steel Of the finest quality,
on the polished surface Of which a man
slowly and patiently cuts, line by line,
The portrait or other emblem which
has been adopted for this particular
stamp. 4 steel engraving Is what Is
called an iuclscd patc-that H., every
line which is 10 show I'm the finished
print rs cut into the surface instead OF
being left in relief, as in wood engray.
Ing.
The die which the engraycr cuts rs q
negative" jn other words, reversal
OF the design which the stamp will
show. The reason Tor this soon be.
comes apparent.
When the die Is finished and proofs
show II 10 be satisfactory II Is hard
ened aud fixed IN the bed Of n powerful
press. over IL is then passed a steel
roller, the circumference Of which is
several times, perhaps four times, the
diameter Of the die Immense pressure
is applied, 80 that every line on the
surface OF the die rs Impressed upon
thc surface Of The roller as many times
as the circumference of the roller Is
Al. .Il In t,iu
way four perfect copies Of the die are
reproduced on the roller, but reversed.
Each Of these impressions IS q posi-
tive"
This roller is now hardened IN turn
lu order that Il may transmit the inn
prcssiong once more, this time 10 the
plate from which the actual printing
Is TO be made This plate is also Of
steel. The size Is sufficient 10 print
whole sheet of stamps ps-frOm 200 TO 800
at n single Impression.
Into the surface of this plate the Inn
preston on the roller IS forced by great
pressure, cIAe for each stamp In the
subsequent sheet, and then the plate
IL hardened. These impressions arc
negatives, so that the prints from them
tho stamps themselves viii be posi-
tlycs
The reason FOR all this preliminary
work Is most interesting I'm the first
place printing could not be done from
q single die because OF the vast guam
titles Of stamps required I'm the sec
ond place, # could not be done from
the roller because on that the lines are
In relief instead OF being lncscd, and
i'm the third place, it would not bc
feasible TO have several dies or n large
number Of them engraved, both be-
cause the expense would be prohibit
tive and because no two would then be
absolutely alike, The present system
makes II certain That every stamp Of
certain lot is exactly like every 9th
cr Of the same lot great safeguard
against countcrrciting.
When three printing plates have been
made they arc all fastened 90 the bed
Of n special printing press. When the
machinery is started the first plate is
iukcd, then automatically wiped until
lt Is like q mirror The wiping removes
all the ink except what clings I'm the
lines Of the 200 duplicate engrayngs
which dot the surface.
over the plate Is laid a sheet OF
dampencd paper, the plate Is slightly
warmed In order to permit the ink to
swell md heavy pressure Is applied.
Meanwhile the second plate ia rccciv-
ing ITS ink, and then the third comes
into play. so that. although ali three
are ON the same press, each Is nc q
given moment undergoing a different
process from either of the other two.
This has wrought great saving OF
time over the old process Of printing
10y hand When the printed sheets are
dry they 90 to the cumming machine,
la which they pass between n dry
roller ON one side and one moistcned
with mucllagc ON the other From
these rollers they are east out, wet
side up upon an endless web, which
carries them through a steam heated
box.
rhoy come out dry, ready for the
pcrfor1Uuus. which permit them to be
torn apart easily. iheSt are very 'dSl'
iy made by passing the sheets between
ono cylinder studded with steel pins
aud another perforated with holes TO
match the pins The two together act
like the Jaws OF a conductors punch
The last process is pressing the sheets
bv hydraulic power TO countCract tho
tendency to curl, which is impaired by
The mucilage.
The printing OF stamps like the print
ing OF gold and silver certificates and
bank notes. is subject TO the most care
mi and constant inspection
Every sheet OF paper is counted be
fore it is delivered 20 the printer, and
before ne goes home at night be must
return exactly the same number Of
sheets. either of perfect stamps or
spoiled paper and NO seconds or
samples are given away to yisitors.-
Edward Willston Frcutz in Youths
Companion