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Patent Model of a Plate Printing Press
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Patent Model of a Plate Printing Press

Oakes, W. H. · ca 1860 · metal (overall material)

From the collection of National Museum of American History. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

This patent model demonstrates an invention for an intaglio system that was designed to speed the operation of copperplate wiping, using an ordinary platen lever press. After paper was pressed against the face of the engraved plate, ink was piped from a reservoir to spaces under the plate and then forced up through holes in the plate into the engraved lines. Here the ink made contact with the paper. Unused ink was then sucked back out of the lines, leaving the plate clean as the platen was lifted again for the next sheet. The invention was granted patent number 30495.

National Museum of American History’s own description
Credit linePatent Model of a Plate Printing Press. ca 1860. Oakes, W. H.. National Museum of American History. CC0.

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