A COPYING MACHINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

A COPYING MACHINE.

As we'll as being a useful and timesaving article, the hectograph (as this copying machine, is called) will give much amusement. For young peoples who are secretaries of clubs, and have to send out notices, it is specially good, and also when getting out programmes for entertainments it will be of great assistance. All the materials necessary are easily obtained from the chemist, and do npt cost more than a few shillings. This is how you make onesSoak an ounce of overnight in enough Cold water to cover it well, and to make all the gelatine swell. Prepare a salt water bath by dissolving 2oz of common salt in a pint of water. Place about half a pound of glycerine in a, vessel over the salt 'bath, and heat it until it almost boils. Pour off the surplus water from the gelatijie, and add the gelatine to the hot glycerine. Continue the heating for an hour, stirring the mixture all the time. After the hour's 'boiling add 20 drops of oil of cloves. The mixture is now ready for pouring into the vessel to hold it during use, such as a shallow cake tin. When tlhe( tin is filled is must be placed in a level position in a cool place, covered from dust, and not be disturbed for six hours. To prepare the pad for use you pass a wet sponge lightly over the face of

the gelatine, and then allow it to become almost dry before taking the first copy. If this is not done the face of the pad will be ruined by the first transfer. _ The writing or drawing to be copied must be done in hectograph ink, iising a steel pen. There are several ways of making hectograph ink. Select the most convenient from the following recipes:— (1) Dissolve loz of aniline, violet or blue, in 7 fluid oz of hot water, and when cool add loz of wine spirit, ioz glycerine, a few drops of ether,, and a drop of carbolic acid. Keep it in a tightly-corked bottle. (2) Make a solution from 14 parts of water, 1 part nigrosine (aniline, black), and 5 parts glycerine. (3) A good black ink can be made by mixing loz aniline black, 2oz methylated spirits, and 4oz of glycerine in 2oz of warm water. To make green ink, and methyl green, and for red ink add eosin. When the writing you intend to copy is dry it is placed on the pad face downwards, and rubbed gently to make sure it touches everywhere. Leave it there for about a minute, a,nd, after removing it, take the copies by gently pressing the blank paper on the pad. In lifting the copies begin from the corner shown in the figure. After taking all the copies you want, or when the copies become too pale to continue, the pad is washed lightly with a sponge and cold water. The pad must then dry before being used again. As the pad is used the surface may become uneven. You will then have to repeat it over the salt bath, and cool as in the first place. ■Should the hectograph not prove_ a success it will very 'likely be due to insufficient heating or to the use of too much glycerine.