Electrotyping Tank For Woodblocks
by Sheila Terry
Title
Electrotyping Tank For Woodblocks
Artist
Sheila Terry
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The need to make thousands of prints for mass publications from engraved woodblocks was achieved in the nineteenth century by a process of electrotyping. Here, gutta percha (latex) moulds are made of the engraved woodblocks and after coating with blacklead (graphite), they are suspended in a tank filled with blue vitriol (copper sulphate solution). The moulds are connected to the positive pole of a galvanic or electric battery, the negative pole to a copper plate. A film of copper is deposited on the graphited surface of the moulds, and, after a certain time in the bath, reaches the required thickness. This layer is removed from the mould, reinforced with type metal and suitably mounted so as to withstand the enormous pressures of the printing presses.
Uploaded
July 26th, 2016
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