US : Scott 599 : Gripper Cracks.

I have just read this description of a variety,
can someone explain a gripper crack please

The rotary press plates were laid down, form into a semi circle and then surface hardened (typically by a cyanide pot). The plates were then attached to the drum with outboard clamps. The area around the clamps would sometimes develop surface cracks that woul migrate into the print area thus forming gripper cracks. The crack itself would normally be a simi-circular "star" but the impression on the printed stamp would be one or more "lightening bolt" indications as most of the crack is of of the print area.

If the plates are mis-formed so that excessive flexing occurs in operation then surface cracking can occur in isolated areas near the clamp. On On the 599 the cracks are normally in positions 1, 10, 11, 20, 151, 160, 161 and 170.

Anyone have an illustration? Are they common in any particular issues?

Scott 599. I believe Plate 26701 Pos 1 Crack is most noticeable between "t" and "N" in "Washington" and throught the toga button and the neck.

This is a detail from the patent drawings for the small Stickney rotary press which was the exact press that produced the early rotary coils including the Scott 599. The plate grippers are circled in red.

Thanks Russ. I'm still getting to grips (Grippers Haha) with the different production methods and their results. I feel Educated

Plate gripper on large Stickney drum

That type of information is extraordinary, Russ.
We are fortunate to have you among us.
Thanks very much.

I am always impressed with people who have tons of information. I think that somehow they should make arrangements to preserve their lifetime acquisition of knowledge for posterity. That would make it unnecessary to continually re-invent the wheel, so to speak.

rohumpy, I keep all of my research notes on my computer and have started arranging and formating them so that they will make sense to others. I am about 70% done and the text is about 2200 pages. When I started putting it together (about a year ago) I thought it would be about 600-700 pages. I don't even want to think about the number of hours involved.

Are you going to publish your work? Please?

please #2

I still have tons of notes and other info to incorporate the I will see where it stands. I wight just post it on the web for those who can use it.

Russ, that would be a noble goal. I know that I, for one, would love to have access to that kind of resource.

Another member here who has a great database is Rod222. From what I can deduce, he has many thousands of stamp images. That would be a tremendous resource to have available.

Russ are those cracks visable with the naked eye?

I think it is only right that we should win one for the gripper. Sorry , couldn't help myself.