diaphragm mimeograph
Date1900-1910
Inventory NumberRS0183
ClassificationCopier
Subject
Maker
A. B. Dick Company
1884 - 2004
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions13.5 x 52 x 35 cm (5 5/16 x 20 1/2 x 13 3/4 in.)
Material
DescriptionRectangular wooden case with hinged lid. Inside 3 rectangular plates, 2 empty bottomes, thin brush and roller.
Signedpainted on lid: THE EDISON MIMEOGRAPH / ORIGINALLY / DESIGNED AND PATENTED BY / MR. THOMAS A. EDISON / MADE BY / A.B. DICK COMPANY, CHICAGO, U.S.A. / N.B. THIS MACHINE IS SOLD BY THE A.B. DICK COMPANY WITH LICENSE RESTRICTION THAT IT CAN / BE USED ONLY WITH STENCIL PAPER INK AND OTHER SUPPLIES BY / A.B. DICK COMPANY / CHICAGO, U.S.A.
Inscribedpainted on lid: THE PATENTS DESIGNATED BELOW ARE OWNED BY US, AND OPERATED UNDER BY / EXCLUSIVE LICENSE. PART OF THE PATENTS APPLY TO THIS PARTICULAR MACHINE, PART TO OTHER / TYPES OF MIMEOGRAPHS MADE BY US. PART TO THE SUPPLIES USED THEREWITH. / - DUE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN - / A.B. DICK COMPANY, Chicago, USA / - U.S. PATENTS - / JULY 6TH, 1886 SEPT. 30TH 1890 JUNE #TH, 1894 JUNE 23RD, 1896 JULY 5TH, 1898 / OCT. 4TH, 1887 NOV. 18TH 1890 SEPT. 4TH 1894 JULY 7TH, 1896 JAN(missing)9 / FEB. 7TH, 1888 NOV. 25TH, 1890 MAY 7TH, 1895 MAR. 18TH 1897 JAN. 16TH (missing)0 / MAY 28TH 1889 JAN. 5TH 1892 MAY 14TH 1895 JAN. 4TH 1898 SEPT. 18th 1900 / JUNE 11TH, 1890 JAN. 26TH 1892 AUG. 27TH, 1895 MAR. 29TH, 1898 SEPT. 18TH, 1900 /MAR. 25TH, 1890 SEPT. 26TH, 1893 MAY 5TH, 1896 MAY 24TH, 1898 JAN. 22ND, 1901 / FOREIGN PATENTS / (column 1) ENGLAND / No. 12013 SEPT. 5, 1887 / No. 22426 NOV. 20, 1894 / No. 14954 JULY 20, 1899 / No. 18381 SEPT. 12, 1899 / (column 2) BELGIUM / 112831 NOV. 20, 1894 / No. 143984 JULY (missing), 1899 / No. 145112 SEPT. 12, 1899 / (column 3) FRANCE / No. 24299 (missing)20, 1894 / No. 291008 JULY, 20, 1899 / No. 292498 SEPT. 12, 1899 / (column 4) SWITZERLAND / No. 2708 SEPT. 8, 1891 / (column 5) GERMANY / No. (missing) NOV. (missing) 94 / No. 115349 SEPT. 18,1899 / No. 116683 (missing) 99 / (column 6) CANADA / No. 61978 SEC. 7, 1898 / No. 673(missing) MAY 17, 1900 / No. (missing)903 OCT. 4, 1900 / - OTHER PATENTS PENDING -
on panel inside: THIS MACHINE IS SOL(obscured by ink)ICK COMPANY WITH THE LICENSE / RESTRICTION THAT IT CAN BE USED (obscured by ink)ICIL PAPER, INK AND OTHER SUPPLIES BY / A.B. DICK CO(obscured by ink)Y, CHICAGO, U.S.A.
painted on side: N##1 / DIAPHRAM MIMEOGRAPH.
on inside frame: IMPORTANT DIRECTIONS: 1st When through printing remove the stencil. 2nd Replace / Diaphram by laying a portion of an old newspaper underneath as well as on top of it, and pass the inking roller over / it with pressure. 4th Clean the diaphragm thouroughly with a piece of Cheese Cloth saturated with Benzine, after / having placed a newspaper or other absorbant paper underneath it. 5th If machine is in use daily, the Diaphram / will not require cleaning oftenwe than once a week. 6th TO AVOID CLOGGING THE DIAPHRAM use only the Diaphram ink made for this express purpose by the A.B. DICK COMPANY, CHICAGO.
FunctionThe mimeograph, or stencil copier, was the predominant "cheap" copying technology from the late 19th century to the 1970s, when it was superseded by photocopying.
This particular mimeograph dates from the early 20th Century, and already includes indications for its use with typewriters.
The mimeograph (a name originally trademarked by A.B.Dick) combined several innovations made by Thomas Edison in stencil copying, with Albert B. Dick's flatbed system, and was commercialized with the blessing and further help from Edison.
In general, mimeographs work by the principle of a stencil master, which has been prepared by writing, drawing or typing on it small perforations, which will make those parts permeable to ink. The master is then placed firmly (with a frame) on a flatbed with blank paper on one side. As the user passes a roll of ink or an inked press on the other side, the ink on the perforated portions is transferred to the paper opposite. This process can be repeated for multiple copies.
For an explanation of early mimeographs and their historical context, see the page dedicated to them at the OfficeMuseum.com, here.
This particular mimeograph dates from the early 20th Century, and already includes indications for its use with typewriters.
The mimeograph (a name originally trademarked by A.B.Dick) combined several innovations made by Thomas Edison in stencil copying, with Albert B. Dick's flatbed system, and was commercialized with the blessing and further help from Edison.
In general, mimeographs work by the principle of a stencil master, which has been prepared by writing, drawing or typing on it small perforations, which will make those parts permeable to ink. The master is then placed firmly (with a frame) on a flatbed with blank paper on one side. As the user passes a roll of ink or an inked press on the other side, the ink on the perforated portions is transferred to the paper opposite. This process can be repeated for multiple copies.
For an explanation of early mimeographs and their historical context, see the page dedicated to them at the OfficeMuseum.com, here.
Zeiss-Aerotopograph
Date: circa 1950
Accessories: in wooden storage case with metal handles; documentation booklet is now kept in the instrument's file; all other accessories are kept in the box and are included in the description.
Object number: 2009-1-0002b
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1960
Accessories: black storage case
two white cards with conversion tables inside case
Object number: 1997-1-2000
Gottlieb Coradi
Date: 1907
Accessories: carrying case
Object number: 1997-1-0250
E. Hartnack & A. Prazmowski
Date: 1870-1880
Object number: 1998-1-0584a
E. Hartnack & A. Prazmowski
Date: 1870-1880
Object number: 1998-1-0584b
Richard W. Thomas
Date: circa 1861
Accessories: bottle and beaker (1998-1-1634a); hydrometer and manual (1998-1-1634b)
Object number: 1998-1-1634
Ernst Leitz (company)
Date: circa 1919
Accessories: oculars (2): 3, 8x; accessory box; Leitz objectives (5); wrenches (2); ground glass; N.A. 1.45 condensor cap; Abbe condensor; rotary stage; case
Object number: 1345
Jakob Amsler
Date: circa 1906
Accessories: instrument is in four (4) parts; the rail is in own box and is inventory # 2006-1-0002b; letter from Prof. William Brower containing the complete history of ownership and use (missing)
Object number: 2006-1-0002a
Bausch & Lomb Optical Company
Date: 1897-1908
Accessories: ocular: 2; objectives (6): B. & L. 1/12, 1/2, 2, Reichert No. 3 and No 7a (missing), Spencer & Smith 1/4, 1; immersion oil in canister; blue filter; square cover glasses; dark-field stop; empty pillbox for cover slips; 5 Triple Alliance glass slides in paper; magnification table; case; key.
Object number: 1387