Difference between revisions of "Spirit Duplicator"

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'''Spirit Duplicator''' is commonly referred to as the "direct, or fluid, process" (''Encyclopedia Britannica''). Hectographs are divided mainly into the processes involving gelatin (see image to the right) or direct spirit. Essentially a spirit duplicator is a form of hectography which uses ''spirits'', or alcohol, to make its duplications.  
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'''Spirit Duplicator''' is a form of hectography that evolved from the gelatin hectograph (see image to the right), which uses a gelatin pad. A spirit duplicator is called a fluid hectograph because it uses ''spirits'', or alcohol, to make its duplications. The maximum practical number of copies is 500 with the maximum size of 11 in x 17 in. (Doss 2).
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 +
 
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==Hectograph==
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The spirit duplicator was an improvement to the gelatin hectograph process: "the gelatin pad was replaced by a waxed- paper master sheet, and the liquid ink was replaed by a form of carbon paper, which made distinctively purple impressions "on the master" (Owen 47).
 
[[Image:gelatinduplicator.jpg|thumb|right|(Fisher 33)]]
 
[[Image:gelatinduplicator.jpg|thumb|right|(Fisher 33)]]
  
===Process of Duplication===
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==Process of Duplication==
Unlike the gelatin hectograph, the "fluid or "spirit" process of duplicating omits use of the gelatin blanket. Copy is typed with the hectograph carbon sheet behind the master, and the anuline dye-treated carbon appears in mirror image on the reverse side of the master. This master is placed on a drum of the rotary duplicating machine. The blank copy paper is slightly moistened by spirit solvent as it is fed through the machine and picks up enough of the aniline dye as it presses against the revolving master to form a sharp image of the typed characters." (Fisher 33-34).
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"The fluid process of hectography is employed when up to about 500 copes are needed. In this process the master is prepared in reverse by placing the hectograph carbon face up on the back of the master. To make copies, the master is placed on the drum or cylinder with the inked side up. Rotation of the drum causes a sheet of paper to be moistened with alcoholl it is the pressed against the master, thus transferring a small amount of the dye to the paper" (Doss 17).
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 +
Unlike the gelatin hectograph, the "fluid or "spirit" process of duplicating omits use of the gelatin blanket. Copy is typed with the hectograph carbon sheet behind the master, and the aniline dye- treated carbon appears in mirror image on the reverse side of the master. This master is placed on a drum of the rotary duplicating machine. The blank copy paper is slightly moistened by spirit solvent as it is fed through the machine and picks up enough of the aniline dye as it presses against the revolving master to form a sharp image of the typed characters." (Fisher 33-34).
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 +
 
  
  
"instead of water to dissolve a small part of the ink, a special "spirit" solvent is iused to accomplish the transfer of an aniline dye" (Fisher 33).
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"instead of water to dissolve a small part of the ink, a special "spirit" solvent is used to accomplish the transfer of an aniline dye" (Fisher 33).
  
 
"In principle spirit duplicating (or hectography) is a process whereby the text is typed or written with the aid of an alcohol soluble dye-carbon which is transferred to the paper in a number of copies" (Gardiner 77). In order to duplicate documents, it was necessary to first copy them onto the appropriate spirit master.
 
"In principle spirit duplicating (or hectography) is a process whereby the text is typed or written with the aid of an alcohol soluble dye-carbon which is transferred to the paper in a number of copies" (Gardiner 77). In order to duplicate documents, it was necessary to first copy them onto the appropriate spirit master.
  
 
===Spirit Masters===
 
===Spirit Masters===
"A master is any original from which copies may be phsyically duplicated" (Fisher 33). Masters can be made by typing, printing, writing, drawing, or stamping" (Fisher 33).
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"A master is any original from which copies may be physically duplicated" (Fisher 33). "Masters should be made on hectograph master paper, and copies should be made on hectograph paper stock to get the best results" (Doss 16). Masters can be made by typing, printing, writing, drawing, or stamping" (Fisher 33).
  
 
[[Image:rapidcopyingduplicator.jpg|thumb|left|"This machine printed from a "master" created in the same manner in which hectographic master sheets for spirit duplicators were made, but considerably before their introduction" (Rhodes and Streeter 109).]]
 
[[Image:rapidcopyingduplicator.jpg|thumb|left|"This machine printed from a "master" created in the same manner in which hectographic master sheets for spirit duplicators were made, but considerably before their introduction" (Rhodes and Streeter 109).]]
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*electrically operated systems or line selecting machines
 
*electrically operated systems or line selecting machines
  
===Ditto===
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==Ditto==
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Ditto: The trademark name of a line of hectographic duplicators and supplies manufactured by Ditto, Inc." (Doss 29).
 
[[Image:representativeDitto.jpg|thumb|right]]
 
[[Image:representativeDitto.jpg|thumb|right]]
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The spirit duplicator is sometimes referred to as a Ditto machine because for "rotary spriti duplicators, the best known of which were produced by the Ditto Co." (Owen 47).
  
 
-marks
 
-marks
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-
  
 
 
==Relation to Other Copying Processes==
 
===Mimeograph===
 
  
 
==Costs==
 
==Costs==
  
==Smell==
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==Spirit==
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"The "spirit" in that name refers to methyl alcohol, a small amount of which was applied to each sheet of copy paper as it entered the machine, dampening it just enough to dissolve a bit of the waxy purple ink from the master, which was attached to a rotating drum" .
  
==Ink Stains==
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===Smell===
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"The alcohol gave the copies a characteristically terrible smell, adored by schoolchildren of my generation" (Owen 47).
  
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===Notion of ''Spirit''===
  
==Settings==
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===Ink===
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There is possibility for multicolored copies, although most copies were typically purple: "At least eight colors are available but purple is generally used because of its density and contrast" (Doss 15).
  
===In the Office===
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"In general, [the spirit duplicator] produces a darker copy than the [gelatin hectograph] because the moistened fibers of the paper are dyed by the transfer of the ink in the fluid process, whereas in the gelatin process the dye is deposited on the surface of the paper. This factor increases the legibility and permanence of the reproduced material when the fluid process is used.
  
===In the Classroom===
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===Settings===
  
 
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The spirit duplicator was typical equipment in offices and schools.
 
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==Notion of ''Spirit''==
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==Xerox==
 
==Xerox==
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The
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This copying processing was less troublesome to complete than the spirit duplicator because it did not need an extra step to create a spirit master.
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==Works Cited==
 
==Works Cited==
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*Gardiner, A. W. ''Typewriting and Office Duplicating Processes''. New York: Focal Press, 1968.
 
*Gardiner, A. W. ''Typewriting and Office Duplicating Processes''. New York: Focal Press, 1968.
 
*hectograph. (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved October 30, 2007 from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9039781
 
  
 
*Owen, David. ''Copies in seconds : how a lone inventor and an unknown company created the biggest communication breakthrough since Gutenberg: Chester Carlson and the birth of the Xerox machine''. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.
 
*Owen, David. ''Copies in seconds : how a lone inventor and an unknown company created the biggest communication breakthrough since Gutenberg: Chester Carlson and the birth of the Xerox machine''. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.

Revision as of 13:14, 31 October 2007

Spirit Duplicator is a form of hectography that evolved from the gelatin hectograph (see image to the right), which uses a gelatin pad. A spirit duplicator is called a fluid hectograph because it uses spirits, or alcohol, to make its duplications. The maximum practical number of copies is 500 with the maximum size of 11 in x 17 in. (Doss 2).


Hectograph

The spirit duplicator was an improvement to the gelatin hectograph process: "the gelatin pad was replaced by a waxed- paper master sheet, and the liquid ink was replaed by a form of carbon paper, which made distinctively purple impressions "on the master" (Owen 47).

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(Fisher 33)

Process of Duplication

"The fluid process of hectography is employed when up to about 500 copes are needed. In this process the master is prepared in reverse by placing the hectograph carbon face up on the back of the master. To make copies, the master is placed on the drum or cylinder with the inked side up. Rotation of the drum causes a sheet of paper to be moistened with alcoholl it is the pressed against the master, thus transferring a small amount of the dye to the paper" (Doss 17).

Unlike the gelatin hectograph, the "fluid or "spirit" process of duplicating omits use of the gelatin blanket. Copy is typed with the hectograph carbon sheet behind the master, and the aniline dye- treated carbon appears in mirror image on the reverse side of the master. This master is placed on a drum of the rotary duplicating machine. The blank copy paper is slightly moistened by spirit solvent as it is fed through the machine and picks up enough of the aniline dye as it presses against the revolving master to form a sharp image of the typed characters." (Fisher 33-34).



"instead of water to dissolve a small part of the ink, a special "spirit" solvent is used to accomplish the transfer of an aniline dye" (Fisher 33).

"In principle spirit duplicating (or hectography) is a process whereby the text is typed or written with the aid of an alcohol soluble dye-carbon which is transferred to the paper in a number of copies" (Gardiner 77). In order to duplicate documents, it was necessary to first copy them onto the appropriate spirit master.

Spirit Masters

"A master is any original from which copies may be physically duplicated" (Fisher 33). "Masters should be made on hectograph master paper, and copies should be made on hectograph paper stock to get the best results" (Doss 16). Masters can be made by typing, printing, writing, drawing, or stamping" (Fisher 33).

File:Rapidcopyingduplicator.jpg
"This machine printed from a "master" created in the same manner in which hectographic master sheets for spirit duplicators were made, but considerably before their introduction" (Rhodes and Streeter 109).


Machine Types

The spirit duplicator is essentially divided into three types:

  • hand operated portable machines
  • electrically operated machines
  • electrically operated systems or line selecting machines


Ditto

Ditto: The trademark name of a line of hectographic duplicators and supplies manufactured by Ditto, Inc." (Doss 29).

The spirit duplicator is sometimes referred to as a Ditto machine because for "rotary spriti duplicators, the best known of which were produced by the Ditto Co." (Owen 47).

-marks

-


Costs

Spirit

"The "spirit" in that name refers to methyl alcohol, a small amount of which was applied to each sheet of copy paper as it entered the machine, dampening it just enough to dissolve a bit of the waxy purple ink from the master, which was attached to a rotating drum" .

Smell

"The alcohol gave the copies a characteristically terrible smell, adored by schoolchildren of my generation" (Owen 47).

Notion of Spirit

Ink

There is possibility for multicolored copies, although most copies were typically purple: "At least eight colors are available but purple is generally used because of its density and contrast" (Doss 15).

"In general, [the spirit duplicator] produces a darker copy than the [gelatin hectograph] because the moistened fibers of the paper are dyed by the transfer of the ink in the fluid process, whereas in the gelatin process the dye is deposited on the surface of the paper. This factor increases the legibility and permanence of the reproduced material when the fluid process is used.

Settings

The spirit duplicator was typical equipment in offices and schools.

Xerox

The This copying processing was less troublesome to complete than the spirit duplicator because it did not need an extra step to create a spirit master.


Works Cited

  • Curwen, Harold. Processes of Graphic Reproduction in Printing. London: Faber and Faber, 1963.
  • Doss, Milburn P. (Ed). Information Processing Equipment. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, 1955.
  • Fisher, Harrison M. Today's Business Machines. Chicago: American Technical Society, 1959
  • Gardiner, A. W. Typewriting and Office Duplicating Processes. New York: Focal Press, 1968.
  • Owen, David. Copies in seconds : how a lone inventor and an unknown company created the biggest communication breakthrough since Gutenberg: Chester Carlson and the birth of the Xerox machine. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.
  • Rhodes, Barbara J. and Streeter, William W. Before Photocopying: The Art and History of Mechanical Copying, 1780-1938: A book in two parts. New Castle and Northampton: Oak Knoll Press and Heraldry Bindery, 1999.
  • Schwartz, Hillel. The Culture of the Copy: Striking Likenesses, Unreasonable Facsimiles. New York: Zone Books, 1996.