Transfer Roll Picture

Don't know if anyone would be interested in see a scan of a photo of a transfer roll and other stuff.

Quality of this photo is rather ratty, but there it is.

Stampmaster

Part "A" on this machine.

Any idea how the press functions? Paper feed, ink application, perforation?

Moyock.
see Siderography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siderography

The engraver does the master on a plate (In reverse)
The transfer roller transfers the image onto the soft steel of the transfer roller.
This is then hardened and used as the master die for the plates.
Hope this makes sense.

Ergo, all printed stamps are facsimiles of the original engraved die.

A fabulous explanation from our member Russ.........

https://goscf.com/t/11260#11260 br /

For intaglio (recess engraved) printing: Original single die (reversed sunk) impression from which die proof impression can be taken (unreversed raised). Die impression (reversed sunk) transferred on to transfer roller (unreversed raised) impression in order to transfer it to the printing plate as many times as needed (reversed sunk) impression. Transfer roller (unreversed raised) impression transferred to printing plate (reversed sunk) impression on printing plate as many times as needed from which printing plate proof impression and printing of plate can occur (unreversed raised). See: http://www.stampsmarter.com/learnin...graving.html

This was an awesome lesson. Thank you, all.

One more question. Was the stamp material hand fed or was it somewhat automated?

I just came across this thread, while researching siderography. I have a couple of these transfer rolls myself, though without a transfer press they are really just glorified paperweights. This one was used on a railroad bond. It weighs about 6.5 lbs. American Bank Note Co. sold off thousands of these when it divested its archives.








A very late answer: you are confusing a transfer press with a printing press. Transferring an image from a metal roll to a metal plate was a completely separate process. Once the printing plate was created, it could be used on a printing press. In the early days of stamp production, paper sheets were hand-fed. But a more automated method was in place by the 1880s.

Btw, there is a terrific thread in a different category that explains this process very well: https://goscf.com/t/11260#11260

Greg Alex, that is very cool.

Very interesting! From what book was it taken?

See here for another photo: https://goscf.com/t/77604

There is also a link to the photo (Library of Congress) at which the photo can be greatly enlarged for study.

In the photo a sideographer is working on a 400 subject plate.